Conde Nast: 5 of Top 10 Mega Ships goes to RCCL!

[kath00]

I just got the recent Conde Nast traveler and RCCL took 5 of the top 10 spots and 8 of the top 15 spots as "best of the best" in the Mega Ships category! Independence was voted the top ship from RCCL's line and 3rd overall. Yipeeeeeee.

 

Here is the top 10, FYI:

 

1) Celebrity Solstice

2) Disney Wonder

3) Independence of the Seas

4) Disney Magic

5) Ruby Princess

6) Sapphire Princess

7) Mariner of the Seas

8) Emerald of the Seas

9) Liberty of the Seas

10) Brilliance of the Seas

 

We'll be on Mariner in 2 days. Can't wait.

 

Katherine

[megr1125]

Uh...thanks, but there is no Emerald of the Seas...it's either Emerald Princess or Enchantment or Explorer of the seas..

[jmf123]

Uh...thanks, but there is no Emerald of the Seas...it's either Emerald Princess or Enchantment or Explorer of the seas..

 

#8 went to the Emerald Princess (maybe RCI needs an 'Emerald of the Seas'...in a Radiance class size!). ;)

[megr1125]

HAHAH.....

 

that would REALLY confuse things.....but that is a cute name..

[grand isle joe]

Funny how a cruise line with only two ships are in the top tier. Maybe smaller is better?

[kath00]

Funny how a cruise line with only two ships are in the top tier. Maybe smaller is better?

 

Huh???

 

Anyway, there was a smaller ship and a tiny ship category too. :)

 

Katherine

[grand isle joe]

Meaning less ships in the fleet to insure quality over quantity.

[mjsshipboy]

Funny how a cruise line with only two ships are in the top tier. Maybe smaller is better?

 

The fact that a cruise on Disney generally costs at least double what it does on RCI or Princess maybe has something to do with that.....

 

You can cruise on one of the deluxe niche lines for teh same or less than the cost of a Disney cruise... and not have the joy of 1000+ kids sharing the ship with you!

[CruiseSlacker]

Where exactly did you get your information? All I could find were:

 

 

1) Solstice of the Seas

2) Wonder of the Seas

3) Independence of the Seas

4) Magic of the Seas

5) Ruby of the Seas

6) Sapphire of the Seas

7) Mariner of the Seas

8) Emerald of the Seas

9) Liberty of the Seas

10) Brilliance of the Seas

[VillaHappy]

#8 went to the Emerald Princess (maybe RCI needs an 'Emerald of the Seas'...in a Radiance class size!). ;)

 

I like the sound of Emerald of the Seas! :D

[DGF]

I am frankly beginning to wonder about the Condo Nast rating system.

 

Firstly to be a mega ship you need to be in the 150,000 plus tons range; and secondly any poll that leaves out Grill Class Queen Mary 2 is suspect (rated five stars by Douglas Ward, the "Dean" of the Cruise industry)

[jmf123]

I am frankly beginning to wonder about the Condo Nast rating system.

 

Firstly to be a mega ship you need to be in the 150,000 plus tons range; and secondly any poll that leaves out Grill Class Queen Mary 2 is suspect (rated five stars by Douglas Ward, the "Dean" of the Cruise industry)

 

Disney's Wonder and Magic are in the Mega Ships category at only 83,000 tons each, and accommodate up to 2,700 passengers. And included in Conde Nast's Mega Ships poll (top 15 rated ships) is Cunard's Queen Mary 2 who came in at #14. The methodology is that 471 ships were rated on a 100-point scale. Ships had to receive a required minimum number of responses to be included in the rankings. Small Ships carry few than 500 passengers, Large Ships, 500 to 2,500, and Mega Ships, more than 2,500 passengers. Each ship was judged on seven criteria:

 

Activities/Facilities

Cabins

Crew/Service

Design/Layout

Food/Dining

Intineraries/Schedule

Shore Excursions

 

Rounding out the remaining spots from the initial 10 listed by kathOO are:

 

11) Navigator of the Seas

12) Adventure of the Seas

13) Crown Princess

14) Queen Mary 2

15) Freedom of the Seas

 

Royal Caribbean did quite well!

[DGF]

Thank you

 

It is interesting to note that Douglas Ward has a slightly different breakdown and in his large (Resort Ships) (over 1600 passengers), 2009 edition, RCI ships are not in the top 25.

 

Have to get the 2011 edition when it comes out and have a look at the RCI Oasis ships with interest for a destination ship resort cruise and compare to our two cruises onboard Queen Mary 2 (Grill Class)

 

Off target question- I note that you are moving around between cruise lines as we are. How did you like the Paul Gauguin as a ship? The French Polynesian Islands are spectactular

 

DEAN

[Pumbaamd]

Uh...thanks, but there is no Emerald of the Seas...it's either Emerald Princess or Enchantment or Explorer of the seas..

 

Maybe Empress of the Seas (aka Nordic Empress)?

Too bad she's gone. We enjoyed her several times.

Rick and Deirdra

[jmf123]

Thank you

Off target question- I note that you are moving around between cruise lines as we are. How did you like the Paul Gauguin as a ship? The French Polynesian Islands are spectactular

 

DEAN

 

Hi Dean- While it's been much too long since we've cruised on this wonderful ship, the Paul Gauguin is absolutely our favorite. Less than 20,000 tonnage and only 320 passengers (at the time), it felt almost like our own private yacht at times. And our second sailing on her was just as perfect as the first one! We loved the ship, the staff's outstanding service, the cuisine, the local entertainment onboard, the itinerary, the fellow passengers we enjoyed meeting and getting to know...it was an amazing two weeks in paradise that we will always treasure. ;)

[CanuckMO4]

I just got the recent Conde Nast traveler and RCCL took 5 of the top 10 spots and 8 of the top 15 spots as "best of the best" in the Mega Ships category! Independence was voted the top ship from RCCL's line and 3rd overall. Yipeeeeeee.

 

Here is the top 10, FYI:

 

1) Celebrity Solstice

2) Disney Wonder

3) Independence of the Seas

4) Disney Magic

5) Ruby Princess

6) Sapphire Princess

7) Mariner of the Seas

8) Emerald of the Seas

9) Liberty of the Seas

10) Brilliance of the Seas

 

We'll be on Mariner in 2 days. Can't wait.

 

Katherine

I find that to be a joke given the Oasis isnt in there.

[BecciBoo]

She will be next year!