10 things I hated about the Royal Caribbean Oasis Class Ships. Of Royal Caribbean's 26 . The notion of a "worst Royal Caribbean ship" may make sense in a way, because so many other aspects of life we gauged by best versus worst. We usually go with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess, Cunard. But there's one exception: The Majestic, which despite earning a respectable 4.5 in the editors' reviews, strikes out with cruisers. Thoughts? The areas you will notice quickly a difference in moving to a smaller ship is less top deck signature activities, less specialty restaurants, and less wide-open spaces. In my case maybe not so much. Bigger ships offer more space for whizz-bang amenities, but smaller ships offer a more intimate and classic cruising experience. Adventure of the Seas 4.47 7. Where there were any tie-breaks Ive then used my own judgement to place one slightly higher based on the features and experiences on board. Reviews keep referring to it as a really nice ship great for getting a taste of the Royal experience without feeling crowded. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. While MSC dominates this list with its four three-star ships, this doesn't mean it's a disappointment across the board; the rest of its 19 ships fare better. Love that she is a beautiful, modern ship with alot of high tech stuff. The lifeboat disconnected from the ship. Symphony of the Seas 4.61 2. 1-866-562-7625 Website All photos (1,845) Traveler ( 398) Common Areas ( 968) Dining and Bars ( 351) Itineraries for this ship Itinerary 7 Night Cruise to the Southern Caribbean Departure date Sunday, 03/05/23 Route San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts (Port Zante), San Juan View Map Overview About I'm so sorry that this post wasn't useful for you! Water slides, production shows, public spaces and dining choices are just some of the ways a cruise ship can differentiate itself. Reading a past Cruise Compass provides a ballpark idea of expectations sincesailings on a particular ship do not change that much from week to week in terms of the activities or entertainment offered. Join 40,000 cruiserswho readmy email each week You forgot adventure of the seas also it has a massive casino realtive to its brothers in the same class. According to the average customer review scores, the top 5 Royal Caribbean ships are: Heres how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise. With 25 cruise ships, Royal Caribbean is one of the largest lines sailing the ocean today. I think we all can agree that Enchantment is the bottom of Royals fleet. It's all learning! She is still considerably smaller than later ships in the fleet, so dont expect the same amount of activities for younger guests. But we couldn't understand the entertainers, etc. Independence of the Seas 4.44 12. Pretty atrium but everything else was compartmentalized and felt stuffy and if things weren't in a box in a room, they were in the middle of the ship in the way. Through the power of the internet, it is pretty easy to get a good idea of what is available to do on any Royal Caribbean ship. The ship could probably do with another refurbishment if its going to keep sailing for Royal Caribbean though there are areas that are either getting old or need a really deep clean to revitalize them, according to some past guests. Paste as plain text instead, As soon as the ship has enough sailings and enough passengers to build up a score then Ill update this article and place it in the list. Quantum of the Seas debuted in 2014 as the first of the new Quantum-class ships, with some fantastic features making their first appearance for the cruise line, including North Star, Two70 and the Bionic Bar. When CruiseCritic editors don't even provide a review of a ship, does that say something about the Fascinosa? Princess a bit better. The biggest ship in the world offers more activities, entertainment, dining and experiences than . Skip these ships. But she is a purposely built cool weather ship, which is perfect for the northeast. That said, not all Royal Caribbean ships are similarly supersized. Surprised by the worst cruise ship in the fleet? (soro01), "Like most western passengers we too had a very disappointing cruise." One of the newest ships in the fleet, Spectrum of the Seas was the fourth Quantum-class ship to sail for Royal Caribbean and the first of the Quantum Ultra sub-class, ships that are slightly larger. The first time we were on Rhapsody it was run down (2017), but the friendliness of the crew made up for that. It may be one of the better Royal Caribbean ships for adults, though many still prefer the bars and restaurants on newer ships too. Reviewers are not impressed with the ship's cramped dining spaces and pool, average-at-best food and, as one reviewer puts it, "SO MANY GIMMICKS" including robot bartenders that don't add much to the experience. You better make sure you measure your trimmers prior to boarding if you plan on taking them along. What to Consider. In 2004, Royal Caribbean made a public commitment through its parent company RCG to install advanced sewage treatment systems on all of its cruise ships by 2008. The only thing ships out of Galveston offer that others do not is Dr. Pepper. (gettinold), "Have travelled on other cruise lines, but this was the worst ever." The Wonder of the Seas is the most fun Royal Caribbean ship in the fleet currently, but Icon of the Seas will have the most features when she launches so she will become the most fun ship in the fleet. She could do with another refresh, if shes to remain sailing with the cruise line, as reviews do mention dated decor and signs of wear and tear. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. The package is inclusive of luxury brands bottled water, luxury brand amenities and products . Having said all this, my favorite ships are the Oasis class. I've sailed her twice and had the best time because of the crew and the activities - and - having a good attitude. Its taken until the 18th position on the list but weve reached the first of the Vision-class ships for Royal, the oldest class still sailing for the fleet. The U.S. Coast Guard has launched an investigation after one of Royal Caribbean's largest ships, Harmony of the Seas, sailed into an exclusion zone drawn around the planned flight path of a Falcon 9 rocket, . Now, heres a table showing the review score for each of the Royal Caribbean ships according to the most popular review sites. Other complaints? Before booking a cruise vacation, you will want to check out the special features available on that vessel, as well as what it lacks. But if someone comes off a ship with their cruise ruined simply because of the ship, they're doing it wrong. Everyone makes mistakes, and RoyalCaribbeanBlog readers shared some of the cruise mistakes they wish they could have a do-over. Quantum of the seas was NEVER royals largest ship. A few with P&O. A member of Royal Caribbean's Quantum-class , Ovation provides revolutionary onboard experiences such as RipCord by iFly, the high-octane skydiving simulator, plus imagination-bending dining venues, and a high-tech Bionic Bar that employs robotic mixologists. We were disappointed. Cruisers agree, citing its excellent shows and beautiful design as reasons to set sail. Carnival is the worst. Royal Caribbean 's inside rooms on Wonder of the Seas can be as compact as 149 square feet, though most measure 172 square feet (and there are even 260 square-foot Spacious Interior. Carnival Corporation has 30 ships sailing the seven seas, and most of them have excellent reviews. I did 4 Oasis class cruises in 2022 (2 with family, 2 solo) and loved every single one! If Quantum class ships are the worst of the bunch, you can't go wrong with any ship in the fleet which is probably the case. All of the Oasis-class ships have the best selection of food with many restaurants to choose from. The best Royal Caribbean ship for babies and toddlers is Anthem of the Seas. (water slides, pools, outdoor features). With the majority of these ships nabbing 3.5 to 4 stars, the leader of the pack is Carnival Vista, which received a 5.0 from CruiseCritic editors and 4.5 stars from fellow passengers. (BarryandU), "The food on this ship was shocking. Reviews are overwhelmingly positive and bad reviews dont focus on specifics of the ship much, although the Main Dining Room service does get a couple of mentions again maybe from passengers used to smaller ships and therefore with less busy waiting staff? In the end you have to research the ship you're going on and the destinations. Wrote Sandystruis after sailing the Mediterranea: "Having read so many negative reviews, we were very skeptical and even contemplated canceling before sailing. It's a pain to sit through that." And Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Sea changed course from planned stops in Curacao and Aruba after 55 cases of Covid-19 were identified. Looking at the reviews, the reason it scored lower seems to be some recurring ship problems leading to cancelled excursions and with Quantum sailing Alaska, the excursions play a huge part in the experience. Families, in particular, will love it. I chalk that up to cultural differences, not a problem with the ship. What Customers Say About Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas. Guess well have to wait and see! A mega-ship, such as Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, might just be the best cruise ship to avoid seasickness. (Sgonzalez100), "Every port we came to we could not wait to get OFF the ship." On the other hand, will the absence of all the bells and whistles that every other ship in the fleet has add up to a complete downer? Ships & Ratings All Royal Caribbean ships are listed below. My best advice is to try out a small ship after you get a few "big ships" under your belt, and try to pick an itinerary where you will spend a lot of time in port to reduce the need to rely on what's offered onboard. My worst ship is the one I don't have scheduled yet. The newest ship currently sailing is Wonder of the Seas, which launched in 2022, while the oldest is Grandeur of the Seas, still going strong since she launched in 1996. I don't think I have a worst ship, but I do have worst airport (MCO), worst port (Port of Los Angeles) and least favorite ship so far was my actual favorite until I sailed Oasis and Freedom class, which is Mariner of the seas. Eight years later, the ship was lengthened, making her slightly bigger than her sister ships. Carnival is known to have a stigma attached to it as being bottom rung "Trailer Park of the Seas" as well. I was very impressed with Odyssey and had a great vacation. She now offers Caribbean cruises year-round. Here is a guide for the major considerations most cruiser seem to care the most about: These are starting points, but are a good example of the subjective concerns you may have when choosing the right ship. Watching a YouTube video allows anyone to visualize the flow of a cruise ship, and get a good understanding of what is onboard. Wonder of the Seas docked in Roatan, Honduras. Here's how I get the lowest price when I book a cruise Here, we take a look at the worst cruise ships to take. A very common mistake first time cruisers make isnot understanding the features and amenities each ship offers guests, and booking a ship primarily based on price because they assume the ships are all the same. The entertainment is a little less exciting than on the bigger ships, according to some guests, but the food gets better reviews on Enchantment of the Seas than it does on similarly-aged Royal ships. What's worse? To me it takes a lot of things to make something the worst, pretty much means no redeeming qualities. From Broadway-worthy shows, to celebrity-inspired menus, to gigantic water parks and thrill rides, cruises can be an amazing vacation. Thats why Ive chosen them theyll give the best average scores. You know you're in trouble when headlines warn "think again," "never again" and "beware.". The ship's size, which several reviewers note is, at the least, impressive. Jewel of the Seas was the final Radiance-class ship to launch back in 2004 and while shes a little worn in places, most people still have a really positive cruise experience thanks to her tranquil atmosphere and good service. And I agree that any cruise, on any ship, is better than no cruise and I take these types of articles (click bait) with a grain of salt. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. For three years, Independence of the Seas was one of the largest ships in the world along with her Freedom-class sisters. Youll be surprised by which ship it is though. cruise under the RC umbrella. I'm going on my very first ever cruise on Enchantment in December. It depends on what youre looking for from your cruise because different ships appeal to slightly different tastes. Again, her review scores are still mostly positive, but there are a few comments that she just feels too crowded and that the crew arent great at managing queues to make sure things run smoothly onboard. I am doing a Voyager class, Grandeur, in Jan. I won't be sailing the Voyager (or probably Voyager class ships again). CruiseCritic's Managing Editor Adam Coulter describes the ship as "breathtaking, both in scale and ambition.". (Tinkerbell8), "It was our first time cruising and it has certainly NOT given us the 'bug'!!" Wonder of the Seas is the latest ship and among its many venues it includes Giovannis Italian Kitchen, Wonderland, Hooked Seafood and the ever-popular Chops Grille. Every size of cruise ship offers a little different kind of experience, and smaller ships definitely rely more on the "classic cruise experience", which means focusing on spending time relaxing by the pool, in your cabin, or in public areas. The Magellan should set sail again under its new ownership, Seajets, but only time will tell if it will earn better marks. Best Budget: Carnival Elation. She is our favorite ship. . Oasis of the Seas 4.45 10. Ovation of the Seas 4.51 5. It wasn't bad, just annoying. I think they will be receiving the short end of the stick. Would I avoid any of them? This was named the worst cruise in the world. A CruiseCritic editor ranked it 4 out of 5 stars, which sounds like they were being kind to a heavy advertiser, as the reviews by passengers were much worse. I'm doing a 12 nighter on Enchantment over Thanksgiving myself. Royal Caribbean is actually a fabulous cruise line with many top-rate amenities, cabins and excursions. The biggest criticisms for Jewel seem to be levied at the food quality, which many say has taken a downturn in the last couple of years. Overall rating: 3.5 Cruise: 7 Night Western Caribbean (Miami roundtrip) Date: January 2020 Ship: Oasis of the Seas Cabin type: Balcony Traveled as: Couple "Please serve sweetened ice tea. Thank goodness we didn't. I have a love/ hate relationship with Anthem (Quantum class). Epic Caribbean 0 Odyssey of the Seas This has to be the best international cruise out there this year. Our biggest award winners SYMPHONY of the Seas MARINER of the Seas NAVIGATOR of the Seas HARMONY of the Seas Meet the world's biggest, boldest ships These engineering wonders take home awards every year for their cutting-edge design, first-of-their-kind attractions, world class dining and accommodations, and unforgettable experiences. Again, the balance of size vs. crowds keeps the Freedom of the Seas popular with guests, since there is loads to see and do but not the same packed-out atmosphere of the Oasis-class ships. that the editor spending 10 days aboard couldn't sample everything. This isn't true. This isnt just my personal opinion. The only complaints I found that were relevant to the ship were that the Main Dining Room was a little uninspired, and the ship felt a bit crowded since there was so much to see and do, but on a ship not quite big enough to contain it all. The Fewer The Better Fare. A good travel agent that specializes in cruising can really help make your first Royal Caribbean cruise a big success. Related: TPG's ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean ships and sailings The sale on pre-purchased packages comes even as base fares for Royal Caribbean cruises are on the rise . And when you're staying in one place for any length of time, personal space becomes a precious commodity. I haven't been on the great big brand new ships, Liberty is the biggest I have been on, so I don't have those to compare it to - and honestly, between Liberty and Enchantment, I liked the experience on Enchantment better. Sabor is far from Texas style Mexican. The first Oasis-class ship, Oasis of the Seas launched all the way back in 2009 and has wowed guests for many years now. Your link has been automatically embedded. Free cruise offers always sound suspicious. The simple answer is there is no singleworst Royal Caribbean cruise ship in the fleet, because each cruise ship offers a different experience that caters to specific styles of cruising. Jewel of the Seas 4.44 11. While its low-rated trips cater to an international crowd, two of its North American ships in particular are nailing it: the MSC Divinia and MSC Seaside, the latter of which gets a nearly flawless score by the editors. No votes so far! While that might be interesting, it is extremely subjective since it would just be based on one person. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 20 cruises. The simple answer is there is no single worst Royal Caribbean cruise ship in the fleet, because each cruise ship offers a different experience that caters to specific styles of cruising. While I agree that the Enchantment is the worst ship, I think the design of the Quantum class is worse for a western audience. (JandBtravelers), "Will not meet expectations if you have cruised anywhere else." Be the first to rate this post. 9 Questions you should always ask on a Royal Caribbean cruise, I sailed with a first-time cruiser to see what she thought about a Royal Caribbean cruise. I've only done smaller ships and enjoyed them. (gmlaetta), "I know why I choose Princess cruises!" Carnival ships are beloved by reviewers, with thousands of reviews for practically all ships but Sunrise. Biggest mistake I have made in my life." And that's just in the first entry. Worst: Revue-style shows felt tired, even without having seen any other shows on any other ships Anthem of the Seas Best: Two70 -- great place for breakfast and enjoying the wake view in the morning, incredible shows and entertainment there at night She was also one of the best ships for UK cruisers, being based in Southampton for a few seasons in a row. Anyway, I'm not worried about the ship. Big, bold, and high-tech, Wonder of the Seas is exactly that -- a wonder upon the seas. Every cruise line has its plusses and negatives about it, but quite a few non-Royal Caribbean cruise ships made people's lists: Norwegian Epic: "Service was the worst and it took hours to get passengers off at the private island." Carnival Sensation: "There were so many things about it that just made me want to go on another cruise." Ha I feel you. Most cabin balconies are sized 55 ft2 / 5 m2. Like her sister ships, theres a good balance between fun and size, although not quite as much variety as the larger Freedom, Quantum and Oasis-class ships. The ship's reputation has never recovered. Overall, our worst ship experience was Explorer out of Southampton, but I think it was because the food was British rather than American (no surprise). (Im British and I suspect thats partly true). Exceptional in every way Excellent Very good Good Fair Limited appeal. All rights reserved. One passenger, who had been on 60 cruises, said this was her worst experience. Shutterstock. Royal Caribbean. The ships then receive a score out of 100, which is published as part of the Summary of Sanitation Inspections of International Cruise Ships. There is no worst ship when you look at it in a vacuum. The Best Royal Caribbean Ships for Adults, Royal Caribbean Ships by Size: Comparison Chart. Any of the Oasis-class cruise ships for Royal Caribbean is the most kid-friendly as they have the widest selection of activities on board. Like what you see? I've been on Enchantment twice this year, and enjoyed it very much. Carrying thousands of passengers on ships that are five times bigger than the Titanic, cruise lines have amped up the bells and whistles to convince travelers to ride the seas with them. The right ship for you will depend on what you like and don't like, but I want to provide some basic tips to remember when choosing. Nearly 25 years and two owners later, the ship was still sailing before the pandemic hit, and not racking up awards for awesomeness. I'm not sure I'm ready for a smaller ship than Freedom class, but keeping an open mind and an eye on everyone's experiences. With 27 ships, there are bound to be a few that slip through the cracks, and for RCCL, one of those is Ovation of the Seas. If not, just leave blank, First time cruisers: Royal Caribbean's SeaPass card. Harmony of the Seas 4.60 3. See the Carnival cruise ships ranked and the NCL cruise ships ranked to see which ships in those respective fleets are the best and worst. By a large margin. Near Activity Decks. I've read the love/hate over Enchantment. The ships have also been renovated in recent years to include waterslides and other new features. The Quantum-class ships in general are better for adults due to their modern, innovative features. A few things to remember though none of the Royal ships were badly reviewed, so even the worst ones are still great. Does the ship have a nursery for children under 36 months old? While first time cruisers may not know exactly what they want in a ship before stepping foot onboard, there are certain expectations guests come with based on commercial advertising, as well as stories from friends and family. Which things to do for families and kids are available? A Coast Guard officer in contact with the ship at the time of the sinking claimed he told Schettino to get back onboard. Royal Suite Class staterooms are in all 3 service levels: Sea Class cabins. (kbcm341), "We love cruising but this cruise is not good." Here's a breakdown of Royal Caribbean's cruise ships to help you find the perfect fit for your vacation. (andbolton), "If you have self-respect, don't even book." The largest Royal Caribbean ship is Icon of the Seas, which is also the largest ship in the world. Now, lets take a closer look at the best and worst Royal Caribbean cruise ships to see what exactly it is that people like and dont like about these ships. I find that every one has its charm. Or perhaps the Brits just like to moan? The line's biggest ships are more than 20% bigger than any others afloat and feature every type of amusement imaginable, from rock climbing walls and surfing pools to Broadway shows and ice skating rinks. The comments from people that were less than impressed are quite varied poor ship design, an older average passenger, and a ship that looked a little tired and needed updating. Enchantment of the Seas was the third of the Vision-class ships to launch, debuting in 1997. On most ships, the elevators are located in the front and back of the ship, while the biggest ships have them in the center as well. . Over half of Royal Caribbean's cruise ships were built in the last decade, and 17 ships have carrying capacities of more than 5,000 passengers and crew. We are sailing the Quantum in June to Alaska out of Seattle. More bad news for Costa. All 128 Cruise. The most common complaints are related to the ship's poor food, described at turns as "bland" and "cold;" subpar dining service (a few complained about getting sick from the cuisine); and hospitality desk staffed by employees with limited knowledge. Where your ship sails to is an important factor, so be sure to weigh what each port of call offers and the appeal of different itineraries. Rooms could do with some quality updates, including things we take for granted now like USB ports, while the shows are a little more traditional and could be better. Allure of the Seas 4.56 4. For a ship thats over 20 years old though, she has plenty of life in her yet. Which specialty restaurants are available onboard? (cruise freek), "This cruise offered an amazing itinerary but it was terrible." But alas, one ship made it onto the worst-of list: the Sunrise. Independence of the Seas has some design quirks which means that there are some cabins that you may wish to avoid when cruising on this ship. (Wendyro), "Nice ship but not a lot of atmosphere." A few weeks ago a cruise to Bermuda 8 days on the Carnival Conquest. I am looking forward to the voyage exactly to the same degree as I am looking forward to my other bookings. (Lorrie200), "I first chose this cruise for the ports it was stopping at, what a mistake, the embarkation at Singapore should have told me what was to come how can it take 4 hours to board a ship." Want a fabulous cruising experience? mjfun78 called the Crown Princess a magical cruise that did not disappoint, while coloradolovestocruise loved the Emerald Princess and called it "another excellent Princess cruise.". "Majestic," it seems, is not an entirely apt descriptor. The first ship built in this millennium for Royal Caribbean, Explorer of the Seas was the second Voyager-class ship to launch and continued the theme of exploring new and exciting activities including plenty of fun features for adults and kids alike.