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Favorite Royal Caribbean Ship


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Lucky enough to have been on each class, and . . .

FREEDOM OF THE SEAS

is our overall favorite.

----A great blend of size and function. Lots and lots to do without being overwhelmed or feeling crowded. Fantastic crew. Port Canaveral is an easy in/out. She's the best.

 

Runner-up:

OASIS OF THE SEAS

----Can't beat it if you are more about the ship than the ports

 

Sentimental all-time favorite that is still a great ship today:

VISION OF THE SEAS

----Beautiful, great size, never feel crowded and always feel loved :o:D

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Freedom of the Seas! Just a spectacular ship, from the people to the amenities. However, we are booked for the Oasis next year, and we are excited for that, too! But like someone said, it's very personal. We like the Freedom because it was our Honeymoon ship. Nothing will top that!

 

 

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Radiance Class ships. So far I've only cruised on Serenade, but have Jewel coming up next.

 

My first cruise was on a Voyager Class ship (Adventure) and WOW...I was amazed at how much MORE I liked it compared to my six previous cruises with Carnival.

 

Then I stepped UP to Freedom Class (Freedom) and loved it...but found I preferred Voyager. They were not all that different, but the crowds were noticeably larger at big events on the Promenade and it took forever to get an elevator!

 

My next cruise was a tough choice. I wanted to cruise in the Southern Caribbean, which meant Adventure (my favorite RCL ship to that point) or Serenade (smaller ship with no ice rink or Royal Promenade). I preferred Serenade's itinerary, so I opted for that ship, expecting to be a little let-down by the older and smaller ship.

 

I was wrong. I LOVED the fact that the emphasis is on the OCEAN! Radiance Class ships never let you forget you're AT SEA. Lots of windows - even exterior facing elevators. I LOVED the increased intimacy of the smaller ship. The Quest show was SO MUCH more fun in the smaller setting - more participatory and less a spectator event. The 70s party, one of my FAVORITE on-board activities, was held in the Centrum where the "Village People" danced WITH the crowd, not on bridges above them in the Royal Promenade. The service seemed better on the smaller ship and I LOVED the outdoor seating in the Windjammer...a HUGE perk in my opinion.

 

Count me among the fans of the smaller, more elegant ships!

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For me it's Freedom class first Oasis class second and the Voyager class third. I really wanted to like the Radiance class but never could get into the layout. Sailed Monarch many times so I have fond memories if it but it will never make the top 5 or 6 ships. And of the three Freedom class ships it's Freedom, Independence then Liberty.

 

What are the differences between the Freedom class ships? I would think being the same class, they would all rate about the same.

 

Thanks,

Brad

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Radiance Class ships. So far I've only cruised on Serenade, but have Jewel coming up next.

 

My first cruise was on a Voyager Class ship (Adventure) and WOW...I was amazed at how much MORE I liked it compared to my six previous cruises with Carnival.

 

Then I stepped UP to Freedom Class (Freedom) and loved it...but found I preferred Voyager. They were not all that different, but the crowds were noticeably larger at big events on the Promenade and it took forever to get an elevator!

 

My next cruise was a tough choice. I wanted to cruise in the Southern Caribbean, which meant Adventure (my favorite RCL ship to that point) or Serenade (smaller ship with no ice rink or Royal Promenade). I preferred Serenade's itinerary, so I opted for that ship, expecting to be a little let-down by the older and smaller ship.

 

I was wrong. I LOVED the fact that the emphasis is on the OCEAN! Radiance Class ships never let you forget you're AT SEA. Lots of windows - even exterior facing elevators. I LOVED the increased intimacy of the smaller ship. The Quest show was SO MUCH more fun in the smaller setting - more participatory and less a spectator event. The 70s party, one of my FAVORITE on-board activities, was held in the Centrum where the "Village People" danced WITH the crowd, not on bridges above them in the Royal Promenade. The service seemed better on the smaller ship and I LOVED the outdoor seating in the Windjammer...a HUGE perk in my opinion.

 

Count me among the fans of the smaller, more elegant ships!

 

I agree!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

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Radiance class is our favorite. And Jewel in particular. It's the most beautiful ship we ever sailed on. That class of ship is the perfect size and layout for us. It does not have the royal promenade, or bells 'n whistles that we don't particularly care about.

 

 

Jewel is my personal favorite as well... we love the atmosphere of the covered solarium and go outside if we want to tan.

 

We also love that Jewel is in her original form (not having gone through the revitilization that the other Radiance Class ships have). We far prefered the Radiance Class ship before the recent additions.

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DH and I vacation to relax and spend time together, so amenities are not as important, relaxation is the key. That is why we are about to go on our fifth cruise on Granduer. It holds fond memories of cruises alone and with our sons. We like the size as I don't want to stand in lines or fight crowds. We have always had great service in our cabin and with dining staff and feel certain this trip will add to our memories.

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What are the differences between the Freedom class ships? I would think being the same class, they would all rate about the same.

 

Thanks,

Brad

 

For me each ship while essentially the same except for the décor have a different feel based on the crew and cruise director. I have been on the Freedom 6 times and each time I get the feeling that the crew really cares about the passenger's experience and makes it a special cruise each time - plus I like the Freedom ice show the best. I've been on the independence 4 times and the crew is competent and go a good job but they just don't seem to have the same passion about their jobs which detracts from the cruise experience. The liberty, which I've been on 4 times, the crew just goes through the motions - maybe because they do 4 and 5 day sailings not sure. Now I'm also sure that many people will disagree with my opinions but they are how I feel about those three ships. BTW the Monarch which was the oldest ship in the fleet (now retired) had one of the friendliest crews that you could ever find and it showed up in their ratings and guest experience.

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Been on Navigator (twice), Indy (once), Oasis (twice), Jewel (once), Allure (four times). I like them all in different ways. Jewel is IMO by far the most *beautiful*. Glass elevators overlooking the sea, small, intimate - but a covered solarium which I don't like (at least it was covered on our cruise, even though the weather was glorious). Indy and Navigator - not much to choose between them. Indy has the flow rider but I've never been on that. I like the royal promenade. Oasis and Allure - amazing. More like hotels than ships so if you mind that, you might not like them as much as other ships. Entertainment and facilities second to none - but large. Quite a lot of walking. Don't feel crowded though. Nothing at all to choose between these two - they're identical. So just select for the shows and the itinerary. Chicago and Hairspray were both equally good. We have a particular affection for Chicago which is why we've been on Allure so much (we've seen it in lots of other places as well lol).

 

I can't remember whether its Indy or Navigator that have a weird thing that you can't walk from one end to the other on Deck 4? That can be a bit annoying.

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Been on Navigator (twice), Indy (once), Oasis (twice), Jewel (once), Allure (four times). I like them all in different ways. Jewel is IMO by far the most *beautiful*. Glass elevators overlooking the sea, small, intimate - but a covered solarium which I don't like (at least it was covered on our cruise, even though the weather was glorious). Indy and Navigator - not much to choose between them. Indy has the flow rider but I've never been on that. I like the royal promenade. Oasis and Allure - amazing. More like hotels than ships so if you mind that, you might not like them as much as other ships. Entertainment and facilities second to none - but large. Quite a lot of walking. Don't feel crowded though. Nothing at all to choose between these two - they're identical. So just select for the shows and the itinerary. Chicago and Hairspray were both equally good. We have a particular affection for Chicago which is why we've been on Allure so much (we've seen it in lots of other places as well lol).

 

I can't remember whether its Indy or Navigator that have a weird thing that you can't walk from one end to the other on Deck 4? That can be a bit annoying.

You must be thinking of another ship or deck. Deck 4 is open from one end to the other, either inside thru Schooner Bar and the Casino, or the outside deck.

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