At the time of this particular sailing, the Vision of the Seas was a 15 year-old, classically beautiful ship without some of the amenities that many cruisers seem to expect these days. However, I found that this well-designed ship is just the right size, it lacks nothing that is necessary for a wonderful cruise experience, and it is very easy to find one's way around on. The Vision of the Seas is meticulously well-maintained, and is staffed by a cheerful, friendly, and accommodating crew. Despite its age, one would have to look very hard to find signs of wear on this very well-maintained ship.

Embarkation was delayed for more than 2 hours. The reason that was given was recent budgetary cutbacks affecting U.S. Customs and Border Protection staffing, but it seems that the real reason was a decision that the ship would undergo a thorough cleaning by a special sanitation team, because some of the passengers on the preceding cruise had experienced gastrointestinal diseases. We were contacted beforehand via e-mail and advised not to arrive at the Ft. Lauderdale cruise terminal prior to 12:30 p.m. However, from the time we arrived at the terminal, it took us less than 30 minutes to board the ship. Because of continual warnings about personal sanitation, very few passengers on our cruise experienced any gastrointestinal illnesses.

Our stateroom included a queen-size bed, sofa, desk/vanity, adequate closet space, compact bathroom, and a private balcony. Read more