Liberty vs Vision? How are they holding up?

[Jenna]

I want to book a Bermuda cruise for September/October 2025 but our only two choices are Liberty or Vision. 
Which would you choose, and for those that have sailed on them recently, how are they looking?

My husband has only cruised on Symphony and Anthem, with an upcoming cruise on Icon. I’ve also been on Explorer, but it was in 2008. I’m worried he will be bored with not as much to do?

[George C]

Much more entertainment on Liberty, Broadway play , ice show etc etc

[moposh]

I was on Vision in August and am sailing again next month.  I have a cruise on Liberty in August.

 

Vision was nice.  It is smaller than Liberty.  Liberty has an ice skating rink, ice show, promenade.  Depends what you're looking for.

[Another_Critic]

16 nights (in 2BR GS) on Vision in Aug/Sept 2017 (Arctic Crossing)

9 nights (in inside) on Liberty in Sept 2022 (NE/CA)

 

I would personally choose Liberty for the Bermuda itinerary, assuming the price is comparable.

 

P.S.  IIRC, ships from Cape Liberty spend more time in Bermuda than ships from Baltimore.

[Jimbo]

Not even close, Liberty.

[CanobieFan]

I wouldn't book Vision again, ever...

[kruzerci]

Liberty is newer and larger but both are very dated and overdue for refurb. Liberty was overdue prior to Covid. Original carpets, staterooms, and largely untouched since 2007 aside from the water slides that were added. Not good. 

[LuCruise]

We were on Liberty Dec 2022 and had a great cruise.  Sure she's not one of the newest ,   but didn't notice it worn down or anything (but wasn't looking for it).  Enjoyed Saturday Night Fever, the ice show and others.  We are on Liberty again in June and looking forward to it.

 

Can't comment on Vision

[Tatka]

We sail both this and next year.. we like both classes. Liberty of course is much newer and advanced. Liberty had amazing entertainment! For 5 dayer it’s out of the world entertainment.

 

Liberty spends longer time in Bermuda as they don’t need to sail in and out of Chesapeake Bay. 

[rrraydon]

I sailed Vision this past December for the first time. I had a great cruise. The staff on the Vision give such personal service and are so very accommodating. The food was great as was the service in the MDR as well as in Chops.

 

I look forward to sailing Liberty in April and in June, I've not yet sailed on her.

[Tatka]

Liberty offers the best ice show we’ve seen on RCI ships.

Broadway show: Saturday Night Fever and Circus de Soleil like show: In the Air 

 

That is my video about Liberty & Bermuda last May.

As for Bermuda itself we were there  3-4 times multi days (3-4) so this time we took it easy and only went to Hamilton. Didn’t even go to the beach. But you can get idea about Liberty.

 

I love 12 dayers from Baltimore to Southern Caribbeans on Vision class too. Different type of experience though.

Edited February 17 by Tatka

[The Fun Researcher]

On 2/16/2024 at 10:40 PM, Tatka said:

Liberty offers the best ice show we’ve seen on RCI ships.

Broadway show: Saturday Night Fever and Circus de Soleil like show: In the Air 

 

That is my video about Liberty & Bermuda last May.

As for Bermuda itself we were there  3-4 times multi days (3-4) so this time we took it easy and only went to Hamilton. Didn’t even go to the beach. But you can get idea about Liberty.

 

I love 12 dayers from Baltimore to Southern Caribbeans on Vision class too. Different type of experience though.

Thank you for the wonderful video Tatka.  Brings back great memories of sailing on Liberty (our previous sailing was out of Galveston).

 

In Bermuda, did you tour on your own and use local transportation or did you book through Royal.  We're doing the 5 night on Liberty to Bermuda in June this year.

[Another_Critic]

1 minute ago, The Fun Researcher said:

In Bermuda, did you tour on your own and use local transportation or did you book through Royal.  We're doing the 5 night on Liberty to Bermuda in June this year.

 

I have used local ferries or buses.  Or mini-bus to Horseshoe Bay (local bus drops/picks up at the top, mini-bus drops/picks up at the bottom).

[Tatka]

1 hour ago, The Fun Researcher said:

Thank you for the wonderful video Tatka.  Brings back great memories of sailing on Liberty (our previous sailing was out of Galveston).

 

In Bermuda, did you tour on your own and use local transportation or did you book through Royal.  We're doing the 5 night on Liberty to Bermuda in June this year.

 

You are very welcome.

In Bermuda if we travel somewhere we use public transportation which is wonderful! Even local schoolkids are very polite and quiet.

Both buses and ferries.

For multidays sometimes it makes sense to buy multiday pass.

 

https://www.gov.bm/public-transportation-fares

 

We do not always leave West End as there are so many things to do there. Even a little beach called Snorkeling park.

 

During our first visits when we had 3 days we took bus trips through whole island visiting Crystal caves and town of St George's.. and returning back using ferry. I enjoy even just riding a bus. 🙂  

Edited February 20 by Tatka

[LeeW]

Just got off Liberty.  Three and four day cruises, so crowd was considerably different from what you are thinking about.  Liberty does need refreshing but crew tries very hard to keep things looking good.  Buffet is small (so is Vision's) and was mobbed many days.  Couldn't really use Cafe Promenade because food and fancy coffee were all one line with few servers.  Park Cafe on Vision is in the solarium and very convenient.

 

There is more entertainment on Liberty than Vision (Vision does a lot of entertainment by crew in the atrium).  Liberty has Saturday Night Fever, another production show and ice show.  Liberty has slides, Vision doesn't.

 

The solarium on Liberty is open top and has lots of standard mesh loungers (not real comfortable).  Vision has some padded ones and solarium is covered. 

 

Casino on Liberty actually had more and better machines than Oasis or Anthem class ships.  And video poker even paid double for quarter single line jacks or better or bonus poker.

[Oceansaway17]

On 2/16/2024 at 10:49 AM, Jenna said:

I want to book a Bermuda cruise for September/October 2025 but our only two choices are Liberty or Vision. 
Which would you choose, and for those that have sailed on them recently, how are they looking?

My husband has only cruised on Symphony and Anthem, with an upcoming cruise on Icon. I’ve also been on Explorer, but it was in 2008. I’m worried he will be bored with not as much to do?

I sailed on both last year and they were each in good shape.

I loved the Vision having the buffet in front of the ship and the theatre is very nice and different alyout and nice seats.   Vision uses the central atrium for a lot of things.   Nice seating areas outside down along the outdoor promenade,

 

The Liberty has a water ride that the two sisters do not (Freedom, and Indy).  Liberty has a nice show called Saturday Night Fever!!! I am sure you have heard of it, and it is a full production just like Oasis class ships (well not Wonder)

[broadwaybaby123]

I was just talking to a friend of mine who cruises Royal a lot and has been on Independence (Liberty's sister ship, Freedom class) and Brilliance (Radiance class).  Radiance class is comparable in size to the Vision class.

 

For background, I'm booked on Liberty for June (first time) and have the opportunity to book either Liberty (for a second time) or Brilliance.

 

My friend has been on Brilliance before, and while he liked it, it was smaller than the Freedom class and didn't offer as much to do,

[alfaeric]

We were on Liberty last Dec and on Vision right now. They really couldn’t be much different experiences. And to be honest- both are great if it’s what you are looking for. 
 

But we generally we sail small ships to get into small ports. So all things being equal, we would choose Liberty. 

[pcur]

I was on the Liberty last November and loved the ship.  No complaints.

 

I was on the Vision for 21 days last month (January), and I will not sail on the Vision again.  The ship, and my cabin, has maintenance issues.  The joke around the ship was the two inside elevators that you must take to get up to Deck 11 are scary.  They indicate going up, then go down, and vice-versa.  You get on and empty elevator and it won't register the floor you want, and goes to some other floor.  The elevator doors are almost impossible to re-open if they are closing.  

 

It's like those elevators have their own agenda.

 

The food was meh, in my opinion.

 

And the over-crowding in the Crown Lounge was outrageous, while the Concierge Lounge was near empty almost all the time.

[Tatka]

Oh, thanks we won’t use Crown lounge then. We like Royal Viking one anyway 🙂 Our next is Vision in March for 12 days.

Edited February 21 by Tatka

[The Fun Researcher]

The more we've sailed on varying styles of ships, the more we appreciate the Royal Promenade/Esplanade.  They make it very easy to navigate around the ship and provide a grand casual space. 

 

We do not care for Centrums at all.  They don't provide the grand space inside the ship like you get with the Promenade, and makes the inside feel chopped up.  It's a night and day difference to us, reinforced by our sailings on NCL and Celebrity both of which only had Centrums.

 

You mileage may vary but that's our take.  Liberty for sure all else being equal.

[LeeW]

The ghost is in the Liberty elevators as well.  Push a button, it lights with three other buttons and goes out.  Skips floors.  Goes up instead of down.  Three or four buttons broken on each elevator...

Edited February 21 by LeeW
edit

[The Fun Researcher]

5 minutes ago, LeeW said:

The ghost is in the Liberty elevators as well.  Push a button, it lights with three other buttons and goes out.  Skips floors.  Goes up instead of down.  Three or four buttons broken on each elevator...

Ooh, sounds exciting!  We should name the ghost.

[Tatka]

1 hour ago, The Fun Researcher said:

The more we've sailed on varying styles of ships, the more we appreciate the Royal Promenade/Esplanade.  They make it very easy to navigate around the ship and provide a grand casual space. 

 

We do not care for Centrums at all.  They don't provide the grand space inside the ship like you get with the Promenade, and makes the inside feel chopped up.  It's a night and day difference to us, reinforced by our sailings on NCL and Celebrity both of which only had Centrums.

 

You mileage may vary but that's our take.  Liberty for sure all else being equal.

 

We enjoy all classes for the different reasons.

 

We only sailed Radiance class once so we cannot make judgement, but on smaller ships like Grandeur/Enchantment and soon Vision we love how everything is so close and we just move between musical lounges (including Centrum) easily.

 

Also we noticed that there are much more music on Vision class. It starts earlier and does not have gaps. I understand that it is a compensation for lacking of more grand entertainment, but we found to be enjoying this format. Especially because we repeat ships and grand shows are more difficult to substitute. Also we find better variety of headliners on Vision class.

 

Every year we sail twice on Quantum class ships, once on Freedom/Voyager class, once on Oasis class (last year it was two cruises on Liberty instead of Oasis) and once on Vision.

[alfaeric]

Big v small- the ONLY way you will know is if you try them. Assuming you totally agree with other people is a fallacy, as far as I am concerned. What is helpful is to know the pluses and minuses of each ship- then you will be aware before you board. 
 

Posters complain about the big ships and they complain about the small ones. People adore the big ships and others adore the small ones. We all value different things when cruising, so just don’t be afraid to try them. If you assume smaller ships are universally bad, you will never go to places like Iceland. If you assume big ships suck, you will never experience the aqua show.