The 7 classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, explained

Gene Sloan

Editor's Note

Even if you're a newcomer to cruising, you've probably heard of Royal Caribbean 's giant Icon Class and Oasis Class ships. With the exception of a single MSC Cruises vessel , they're far bigger than any other cruise vessel afloat and like nothing else you'll find at sea.

Indeed, when you hear people talking about the wow factor of Royal Caribbean's "floating megaresorts," it's likely they're referring to the six ships in these two sets of vessels. This includes the just-unveiled Icon of the Seas — the world's biggest cruise ship.

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That said, not all Royal Caribbean ships are similarly supersized. While the line is perhaps best known for giant vessels — it operates six of the 10 biggest cruise ships in the world — it also markets some relatively smaller, more intimate ships.

In fact, Royal Caribbean has eight vessels that are less than half the size of the Oasis Class ships.

If you're thinking about booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, you'll find the line offers a wide range of ship styles and designs.

With the relatively recent removal of two older ships from its fleet, Royal Caribbean — the world's largest cruise line by passenger capacity — now has 27 oceangoing vessels in all. That's more than any other major cruise line, and it means that you have a lot of choices when it comes to picking the perfect Royal Caribbean ship for you.

Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean

The good news for those of you trying to get a handle on all the options is that the 27 ships can easily be bunched into just seven groups of vessels that have similar amenities. If you know one member of the group, you know them all.

These seven groups are made up of ships constructed around the same time with the same basic design. They're known in cruise industry lingo as "classes," and each has its own look and feel.

An introduction to Royal Caribbean ships

rccl cruise ship classes

For the most part, Royal Caribbean operates big, bustling megaships that will appeal to people who like a megaresort experience. The company has built its brand around offering vacationers a ton of diversions on its ships, whether for dining (some vessels have more than 20 distinct places to grab a bite) or entertainment. Its vessels are lively and fun.

The over-the-top megaresort experience on a Royal Caribbean ship varies from class to class, though.

Related: Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean cabins and suites

The line's one Icon Class and five Oasis Class ships are unlike anything else you'll find at sea when it comes to size, amenities and capacity. They each can hold more than 6,600 passengers, with every berth full.

Somewhat smaller in size but still giant by any measure, each of the line's five Quantum Class and three Freedom Class vessels has a total capacity ranging from around 4,500 to 5,600 passengers. With space for around 3,800 passengers at maximum occupancy, the line's five Voyager Class vessels are relatively large, too.

Together, the 19 vessels of these five classes — Icon, Oasis, Quantum, Freedom and Voyager — make up Royal Caribbean's big-ship fleet. The line's remaining eight vessels, split among two classes, are smaller, with maximum occupancy topping out at around 2,500 passengers.

While no longer the focus at Royal Caribbean, the smaller ships (which are generally the line's older ships) allow it to offer itineraries to places that aren't as easy for big ships to visit. Not all ports in the world can handle a ship the size of Icon of the Seas.

The smaller ships also appeal to a subset of Royal Caribbean fans who prefer more intimacy in a cruise vessel and don't mind giving up some onboard amenities to get it. They are also often less expensive to sail per day.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

As you might expect, the biggest Royal Caribbean ships have the most amenities. With each step down in size, you'll find fewer restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and attractions. Even the smallest Royal Caribbean ships still have quite a bit to offer, though.

If you're sailing with the line for the first time, it's important to understand that not all of Royal Caribbean's signature attractions and venues are present on all its ships. For instance, while every Royal Caribbean vessel now has one of the line's iconic climbing walls (some have two), only the 19 ships of the line's big-ship classes have a FlowRider surfing simulator. Only the 14 ships of the Icon, Oasis, Freedom and Voyager classes have ice skating rinks.

Here is a look at the seven classes of Royal Caribbean ships in more detail.

Ships in class: Icon of the Seas (2024), Star of the Seas (coming in 2025); unnamed vessel (coming in 2026)

Size: 250,800 tons

rccl cruise ship classes

Is your idea of a great vacation a trip to a megaresort loaded with more restaurants, bars, theaters and watery amusements than you can imagine? Royal Caribbean's new Icon Class is the ship class for you.

As mentioned above, Icon of the Seas — the only Icon Class ship currently in operation — is bigger than any other cruise vessel afloat at 250,800 tons, and for big-ship lovers, there's really nothing quite like it. The two more Icon Class ships debuting soon will be equally over-the-top in size and venues.

Each of the Icon Class vessels that are operating or soon to debut has been designed with seven separate pools (a new record for a cruise ship), a water park with six waterslides (also a record), a kiddie splash zone, surfing simulators, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and even a zip line. And that's just on their top decks.

Inside the vessels, you'll find more lounges, bars, restaurants and shops than you can imagine — plus huge casinos, spas and showrooms with Broadway-style shows. They even have indoor ice skating rinks, just in case you want to get your Michelle Kwan on.

What you won't find on the Icon Class ships is intimacy. These are vessels that can carry as many as 7,600 passengers when every berth is filled. They operate with around 2,300 crew members. That means you could be sharing your vacation with nearly 10,000 people.

If the above sounds downright outrageous to you, it is. Keep in mind, though, that the biggest megaresorts on land are even bigger. The biggest resort in the U.S. — The Venetian in Las Vegas — has 7,092 rooms. That means it can hold more than 14,000 guests, assuming there are two people per room.

By that measure, Icon Class ships are almost small.

rccl cruise ship classes

Icon Class ships also don't necessarily feel as crowded as they are. Royal Caribbean's designers are masters at creating vessels that can carry thousands and thousands of people but still feel relatively uncrowded — at least in some areas. You can have a quiet afternoon reading a book on a bench in the sometimes nearly empty, tree-lined Central Park area of Icon of the Seas while, just a few decks above, thousands of vacationers are frolicking about at the ship's pools.

Related: Why Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas won't feel as crowded as you think

Only one ship in this series (Icon of the Seas) is currently operating, but the second vessel in the series (Star of the Seas) is already open for bookings. Its maiden voyage is set for Aug. 17, 2025.

Quantum Class

Ships in class: Quantum of the Seas (2014), Anthem of the Seas (2015), Ovation of the Seas (2016), Spectrum of the Seas (2019) and Odyssey of the Seas (2021)

Size: 168,666 to 169,379 tons

rccl cruise ship classes

Unveiled in 2014, the Quantum Class may be Royal Caribbean's most innovative class ever.

In addition to a wide range of restaurants, bars and showrooms, the five ships in the class feature some of the most unusual new attractions you'll find at sea. This includes bumper car pavilions (yes, somehow they found room for these) and skydiving simulators.

The ships also have glass-enclosed capsules mounted on mechanical arms that will take you soaring into the sky for bird's-eye views. They're called the North Star rides, and they may be the oddest attractions ever added to the top of a cruise ship.

Quantum Class ships also feature unusual, multilevel entertainment spaces with floor-to-ceiling glass walls called Two70. The spaces are home to innovative shows that often feature aerial performers, singers and dancers who emerge from openings in the floor or the ceiling. At certain times of the day, the glass walls transform into an expansive ambient surface called Vistarama that projects real and imagined scenes.

Related: The 10 wildest attractions you'll find on a cruise ship

All the above come in addition to many of the core Royal Caribbean attractions you'll find on most of the brand's ships, including pools, rock climbing walls, casinos, spas and Broadway-style shows. But don't expect all the classic Royal Caribbean features on Quantum Class ships. For instance, you won't find ice skating rinks on the vessels even though they're a staple of all other big Royal Caribbean ships. Quantum Class ships also don't have water parks.

The Quantum Class ships aren't quite as big as Royal Caribbean's Icon Class and Oasis Class vessels (and thus don't have quite as much room for things like ice skating rinks). At around 169,000 tons, though, they're still among the biggest ships at sea, with a significant number of venues.

rccl cruise ship classes

They also can carry a lot of people. Most of the ships in the class hold 4,180 passengers at double occupancy — 4,905 if every berth is filled. One exception is Spectrum of the Seas, which was specifically built for the China market with some design differences. It can hold up to 5,622 passengers. Additionally, the newest ship in the series, Odyssey of the Seas, can hold up to 5,498 passengers.

Related: 4 things you'll love about Royal Caribbean's new Odyssey of the Seas

One more big difference between the ships of the Quantum Class and other big Royal Caribbean ships: The Quantum Class ships are designed to be more versatile.

If you look closely at their deck plans, you'll notice that more of their main attractions are indoors and protected from the elements than the ships of the Icon, Oasis or Freedom classes, for example.

One of the two main pool areas on each Quantum Class ship (except Odyssey of the Seas) is enclosed. The bumper car pavilions are, too, doubling as roller skating rinks or indoor basketball courts. This allows Royal Caribbean to send the ships to cooler regions of the world, such as Alaska and Northern Europe, where the temperatures aren't always conducive to outdoor activity.

Royal Caribbean has also used some Quantum Class ships for sailings out of China.

Related: Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean's loyalty program

Oasis Class

Ships in class: Oasis of the Seas (2009), Allure of the Seas (2010), Harmony of the Seas (2016), Symphony of the Seas (2018), Wonder of the Seas (2022) and Utopia of the Seas (coming 2024)

Size: 226,838 to 236,857 tons

rccl cruise ship classes

Until this year's debut of Icon of the Seas, these were the world's biggest and most venue-packed cruise ships. Although they're not quite as big as the new vessel, they remain among the very best options for vacationers who love nothing more than a big, bustling resort with every sort of amusement known to humans.

Each of the Oasis Class vessels has three separate main pool areas, a kiddie splash zone, surfing simulators, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and a zip line on their top decks — a nearly as wide array of features as the new Icon of the Seas. Inside the vessels, as on Icon of the Seas, you'll find a seemingly endless number of lounges, bars, restaurants and shops, as well as large casinos, spas and showrooms. Like Icon of the Seas, each ship has an indoor ice skating rink.

As is the case for Royal Caribbean's new Icon Class ships, which have many similarities with the Oasis Class ships, these vessels carry a huge number of people. They can carry as many as 6,988 passengers when every berth is filled. They operate with around 2,200 crew members. That means you could be sharing your vacation with more than 9,000 people — not quite as many as the nearly 10,000 you could find on an Icon Class ship but still a huge number.

The good news for those of you worried about excessive crowds is that, as is the case with the Icon Class ships, the Oasis Class ships don't necessarily feel as crowded as they are. Royal Caribbean designed them with a "neighborhood" concept that spreads passengers out in seven or eight (depending on the ship) distinct areas, such as the Pool and Sports Zone and the Boardwalk amusement zone. A lot of thought went into how passengers move between these neighborhoods, too.

rccl cruise ship classes

Note that there are a few differences from ship to ship in the Oasis Class series. For starters, the three newest and largest ships in the series — Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas — have a few additional attractions and venues. Among them is the Ultimate Abyss, a terrifying slide that drops nine decks. (Royal Caribbean says it drops 10 decks, but don't be fooled; the line counts a nonexistent Deck 13.)

There are also giant waterslides on four of the five ships. Only Allure of the Seas is missing them. There are plans to add waterslides to Allure of the Seas, but they were put on hold after COVID-19 shut down cruising in 2020.

Related: The 6 most spectacular waterslides and watery fun zones at sea

A handful of restaurants also differ from ship to ship in the series.

The newest and largest ship in the series, Wonder of the Seas, has the most differences from the other Oasis Class vessels. At 236,857 tons, it's about 4% bigger than the next biggest ship in the series; the extra space is devoted to such additions as a dedicated suite area with a private lounge, a restaurant and a sun deck.

Related: Why Wonder of the Seas is awesome for families | Wonder of the Seas cabin comparison | A wild race to try every Wonder of the Seas attraction in 2 days

A sixth ship in the Oasis Class series, Utopia of the Seas , is scheduled to debut in July. Construction of the vessel began in April 2022 at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France — the same shipyard that built Wonder of the Seas.

Radiance Class

Ships in class: Radiance of the Seas (2001), Brilliance of the Seas (2002), Serenade of the Seas (2003) and Jewel of the Seas (2004)

Size: 90,090 tons

rccl cruise ship classes

Not sure you want to sail on a megaship with 6,000 people but still want a vessel with a good amount of features and activities? The Radiance Class ships may be the perfect solution.

At 90,090 tons, the four vessels in the series are less than half the size of Royal Caribbean's massive Icon Class and Oasis Class ships, but still big enough that they have a lot to offer.

Each vessel has more than a half-dozen places to eat, including the main restaurant, a casual buffet, a steakhouse, an Italian restaurant and an Asian venue.

You'll also find three pools on each ship, whirlpools, a rock climbing wall, a miniature golf course, a sports court and an adults-only solarium. Each ship has a theater, a spa, a casino, and multiple bars and lounges.

What you won't find on the ships, because of their smaller size, are all the gee-whiz attractions — such as ice skating rinks, surfing simulators, giant waterslides and bumper car pavilions — that Royal Caribbean has put on its bigger vessels. If you can't live without those sorts of features on a cruise ship, the Radiance class probably isn't for you.

Each Radiance Class ship holds more than 2,100 passengers at double occupancy (plus a few hundred more with every berth filled). That's less than half the number of passengers on the biggest Royal Caribbean ships.

That makes them perfect for cruisers who want to get away from the sort of crowds on the biggest megaships without giving up many of the amenities that big ships offer.

Freedom Class

Ships in class: Freedom of the Seas (2006), Liberty of the Seas (2007) and Independence of the Seas (2008)

Size: 154,407 to 156,271 tons

rccl cruise ship classes

As recently as 2009, these were the biggest cruise ships in the world, and they're still quite big compared to almost all other cruise vessels afloat.

While no longer on the list of the top 25 biggest cruise ships — they've been displaced by Royal Caribbean's Icon, Oasis and Quantum Class vessels, as well as several ships from other lines — the Freedom Class vessels offer a classic big-ship experience with lots of restaurants, bars, showrooms and deck-top attractions.

The Freedom Class ships, notably, were the first Royal Caribbean ships to feature a FlowRider surfing simulator on their top decks — now a signature attraction for the line. The vessels also have multiple pool areas, a water park, a miniature golf course and a rock climbing wall on their top decks (which are among the most activity-packed at sea).

Indeed, the top decks of Freedom Class ships are more loaded with attractions than any other Royal Caribbean vessels except the Icon Class and Oasis Class vessels. You just won't find several of the most over-the-top attractions, such as zip lines, that Icon Class and Oasis Class ships have.

rccl cruise ship classes

In their interiors, Freedom Class vessels have the mall-like Royal Promenade spaces filled with eateries, bars and shops that have become standard on bigger Royal Caribbean ships. They also have large casinos and spas.

Related: Royal Caribbean just fixed the worst part of cruising

At around 156,000 tons, the Freedom Class ships are about 38% smaller than the Icon Class ships and 31% smaller than the Oasis Class ships, a significant step down in size. They're nearly 8% smaller than the Quantum Class ships.

They also carry significantly fewer passengers than the Oasis Class ships. Freedom of the Seas and Independence of the Seas carry about 3,900 passengers at double occupancy (closer to 4,600 with every berth filled). Liberty of the Seas can carry several hundred more.

Voyager Class

Ships in class: Voyager of the Seas (1999), Explorer of the Seas (2000), Adventure of the Seas (2001), Navigator of the Seas (2002) and Mariner of the Seas (2003)

Size: 137,276 to 139,999 tons

rccl cruise ship classes

The Voyager Class ships are similar to Freedom Class ships but shorter in length. In other words, the Freedom Class was a stretched version of the Voyager Class.

Like the Freedom Class vessels, the Voyager Class ships have many of Royal Caribbean's signature attractions, including rock climbing walls and ice skating rinks. In fact, the ships were the first at Royal Caribbean to have those attractions.

Voyager Class ships were also the first to feature a Royal Promenade with bars, cafes and shops in their interior. Each also has several specialty restaurants in addition to the main dining room and casual buffet; specialty restaurants include a version of Royal Caribbean's signature Chops Grille steakhouse and an Italian restaurant.

One of the main differences between the Voyager Class and the Freedom Class is that the Royal Promenades on Voyager Class ships are shorter. The top-deck areas of the Voyager Class ships are also more truncated than the Freedom Class vessels.

There are also fewer cabins on the Voyager Class ships, resulting in fewer passengers on board a typical sailing. Most of the ships carry around 3,100 passengers at double occupancy — about 800 fewer than the typical Freedom Class ship.

At around 139,000 tons, the ships are about 11% smaller than the Freedom Class ships.

There are also some variations in attractions among the five Voyager Class vessels. Navigator of the Seas has a relatively new waterslide zone that's home to The Blaster, the longest waterslide at sea . You won't find that on the other ships, though most of them have different waterslides. Only three of the five ships — Voyager of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas — have laser tag courses. Adventure of the Seas is the only vessel in the class with a kiddie splash zone.

Related: Why the overhaul of Navigator of the Seas was so great

Vision Class

Ships in class: Grandeur of the Seas (1996), Rhapsody of the Seas (1997), Enchantment of the Seas (1997) and Vision of the Seas (1998)

Size: 73,817 to 82,910 tons

rccl cruise ship classes

Dating to the 1990s, the Vision Class ships are the smallest at Royal Caribbean, and they offer fewer onboard attractions and amenities than is typical for the line's vessels.

In general, they appeal to cruisers looking for a more intimate experience on a cruise ship as well as those who care more about the destinations they visit than the onboard attractions.

Along those lines, Royal Caribbean often sends some of its Vision Class ships to Europe in the summer to operate port call-intensive itineraries. The vessels also often sail longer trips in the Caribbean that include less-visited southerly islands. In both cases, the allure of the cruises has more to do with the ports the ships visit than the onboard experience.

Vision Class ships are also sometimes based in secondary ports such as Baltimore or San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the size of the local cruise market might not warrant a larger vessel.

Except for rock climbing walls, the Vision Class ships have none of the signature Royal Caribbean deck-top attractions such as surfing and skydiving simulators. For the most part, their top decks are lined with pools, whirlpools and sunning areas, as is typical for ships built in the 1990s. All have at least two pools and six whirlpools, except for Enchantment of the Seas, which has three pools and six whirlpools.

Related: Is cruising right for you? Start by asking yourself these 7 questions

In addition to main restaurants and casual buffets, each ship has at least one (and often several) additional specialty restaurants. The line's signature Chops Grille steakhouse and Italian eatery Giovanni's Table are two of them. Rhapsody of the Seas has the biggest selection of dining; Enchantment of the Seas has the smallest. Three of the four vessels — all but Enchantment of the Seas — have an Izumi Asian restaurant.

Each of the ships varies slightly in size. Grandeur of the Seas is the smallest of the four vessels, measuring around 74,000 tons. Enchantment of the Seas is the biggest, measuring around 83,000 tons (it was, notably, lengthened by 73 feet in 2005).

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Versed Traveler

Comprehensive Royal Caribbean Ship Class Guide: Everything You Need to Know

  • Versed Traveler
  • September 25, 2023

aerial photography of white and blue cruise ships during daytime

Royal Caribbean is a cruise line that offers a wide range of ship styles and designs. While the line is perhaps best known for its giant vessels, it also markets some relatively smaller, more intimate ships. With the removal of two older ships from its fleet, Royal Caribbean now has 26 oceangoing vessels in all, more than any other major cruise line. This means that travelers have a lot of choices when it comes to picking the perfect Royal Caribbean ship for their next adventure.

The 26 ships can easily be grouped into six classes, each with its own look and feel. These classes are made up of ships constructed around the same time to the same basic design, and each has similar amenities. Whether travelers are looking for a giant Oasis-class ship or a more intimate vessel, they can find the perfect fit with Royal Caribbean.

Check out this post to learn how to pick the best cabins

birds eye photography of structures

Table of Contents

An Introduction to Royal Caribbean Ships

Royal Caribbean operates a fleet of 26 ships, ranging in size from smaller vessels with a maximum occupancy of around 2,500 passengers to the largest cruise ships in the world. The company has built its brand around offering vacationers a ton of diversions on its ships, whether for dining or entertainment.

The biggest Royal Caribbean ships have the most amenities, including an interior, mall-like Royal Promenades with shops, eateries, and bars. With each step down in size, there are fewer restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, and attractions. Even the smallest of Royal Caribbean ships still have quite a bit to offer, though.

Royal Caribbean groups its ships into classes based largely on the ship’s general design and structure. The line’s biggest ships are the five Oasis-class ships, which each can hold more than 6,600 passengers with every berth full. These ships are unlike anything else you’ll find at sea when it comes to size, amenities, and capacity. They have midship openings that are home to tree-lined central parks, and there’s room for three distinct pool areas plus a kiddie splash zone on their top decks.

Somewhat smaller in size, but still giant by any measure, are the line’s five Quantum-class and three Freedom-class vessels, which each have total capacities ranging from around 4,500 to 5,600 passengers. With space for around 3,800 passengers at maximum occupancy, the line’s five Voyager-class vessels are relatively large, too.

people walking inside building during daytime

Together, the 18 vessels of these four classes — Oasis, Quantum, Freedom, and Voyager — make up Royal Caribbean’s big-ship fleet. The line’s remaining eight vessels, split among two classes, are smaller, with maximum occupancy topping out at around 2,500 passengers. While no longer the focus at Royal Caribbean, the smaller ships (which in general are the line’s older ships) allow it to offer itineraries to places that aren’t as easy for big ships to visit.

If you’re sailing with the line for the first time, it’s important to understand that not all of Royal Caribbean’s signature attractions and venues are present on all its ships. For instance, while every Royal Caribbean vessel now has one of the line’s iconic climbing walls (some have two), only the 18 ships of the line’s big-ship classes have a FlowRider surfing simulator. Only the 13 ships of the Oasis, Freedom, and Voyager classes have ice skating rinks.

Royal Caribbean is currently developing an entirely new class of even bigger ships, the Icon class. The first of the vessels, Icon of the Seas, is scheduled to debut in early 2024, with two more ships coming in 2025 and 2026, respectively. It’ll measure a record 250,800 tons and have room for more than 7,000 passengers.

In conclusion, Royal Caribbean’s fleet offers a wide range of ships, from smaller vessels to the largest cruise ships in the world, each with its own unique amenities and attractions. Whether you’re looking for an over-the-top megaresort experience or a more intimate cruise vessel, Royal Caribbean has a ship to fit your needs.

a person sitting on a boat

Quantum Class

Quantum Class is the newest and most innovative class of ships from Royal Caribbean. The class includes five ships: Quantum of the Seas (2014), Anthem of the Seas (2015), Ovation of the Seas (2016), Spectrum of the Seas (2019), and Odyssey of the Seas (2021). These ships have a size range of 168,666 to 169,379 tons.

Quantum Class ships feature a wide range of restaurants, bars, and showrooms. They also boast some of the most unusual new attractions found at sea, including bumper car pavilions and skydiving simulators. One of the most unique attractions is the North Star ride, which is a glass-enclosed capsule mounted on a mechanical arm that takes guests soaring into the sky for bird’s-eye views.

The Quantum Class ships also feature unusual, multilevel entertainment spaces with floor-to-ceiling glass walls called Two70. These spaces are home to innovative shows that often feature aerial performers, singers, and dancers who emerge from openings in the floor or ceiling. At certain times of the day, the glass walls transform into an expansive ambient surface called Vistarama that projects real and imagined scenes.

In addition to the unique attractions, Quantum Class ships offer many of the core Royal Caribbean attractions found on most of the brand’s ships, including pools, rock climbing walls, casinos, spas, and Broadway-style shows. However, some of the classic Royal Caribbean features are not found on Quantum Class ships. For instance, ice skating rinks and water parks are not available on these vessels.

rccl cruise ship classes

“ RCL Quantum of the Seas ” by Thank You (23 Millions+) views is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The Quantum Class ships are not as big as Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class vessels, but they are still among the biggest ships at sea, with a significant number of venues. Most of the ships in the class hold 4,180 passengers at double occupancy, with a capacity of 4,905 if every berth is filled. Spectrum of the Seas, which was specifically built for the China market with some design differences, can hold up to 5,622 passengers. Additionally, the newest ship in the series, Odyssey of the Seas, can hold up to 5,498 passengers.

One significant difference between the Quantum Class ships and other big Royal Caribbean ships is that the Quantum Class ships are designed to be more versatile. More of their main attractions are indoors and protected from the elements than the ships of the Oasis or Freedom classes. For instance, one of the two main pool areas on each of the Quantum Class ships (except Odyssey of the Seas) is enclosed. The bumper car pavilions are also enclosed, doubling as roller skating rinks or used as indoor basketball courts. This allows Royal Caribbean to send the ships to cooler regions of the world, such as Alaska and Northern Europe, where the temperatures are not always conducive to outdoor activity.

The indoor SeaPlex venue on Quantum Class ships is a bumper car pavilion that doubles as a roller skating rink and can be used for basketball and games. Royal Caribbean has also used some Quantum Class ships for sailings out of China.

Oasis Class

The Oasis Class is a series of cruise ships by Royal Caribbean that includes Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and the upcoming Utopia of the Seas. These ships are the biggest cruise vessels afloat, and they offer a wide range of amenities that cater to big-ship lovers.

Each of the Oasis-class ships has three separate main pool areas, a kiddie splash zone, surfing simulators, a miniature golf course, a basketball court, and even a zip line. On their top decks, passengers can enjoy various amusements, including miniature golf courses, basketball courts, surfing simulators, and more. Inside the vessels, passengers can find more lounges, bars, restaurants, and shops than they can imagine, along with huge casinos, spas, and showrooms with Broadway-style shows. They even have indoor ice skating rinks, just in case passengers want to get their Michelle Kwan on.

The Oasis-class ships are designed to carry as many as 6,988 passengers when every berth is filled, and they operate with around 2,200 crew members. That means passengers could be sharing their vacation with more than 9,000 people. However, despite their size, the ships don’t necessarily feel as crowded as they are. Royal Caribbean’s designers are masters at creating vessels that can carry thousands and thousands of people but still feel relatively uncrowded, at least in some areas. Passengers can have a quiet afternoon reading a book on a bench in the sometimes nearly empty, tree-lined Central Park area of Wonder of the Seas while just a few decks above, thousands of vacationers are frolicking away at the ship’s pools.

rccl cruise ship classes

“ Oasis of the Seas ship-outside ” by www.wbayer.com – www.facebook.com/wbayercom is licensed under CC CC0 1.0

The Oasis-class ships also have a few differences from ship to ship. For example, the three newest and largest ships in the series, Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Harmony of the Seas, have a few additional attractions and venues. Among them is the Ultimate Abyss, a terrifying slide that drops nine decks. There are also giant waterslides on four of the five ships. Only Allure of the Seas is missing them. There are plans to add waterslides to Allure of the Seas, but they were put on hold after the COVID-19-caused cruising to shut down in 2020.

A handful of restaurants also differ from ship to ship in the series. The newest and largest ship in the series, Wonder of the Seas, has the most differences from the other Oasis-class vessels. At 236,857 tons, it’s about 4% bigger than the next biggest ship in the series, and the extra space is devoted to such additions as a dedicated suite area with a private lounge, restaurant, and sun deck.

The Oasis-class ships are designed for passengers who love big, bustling resorts with every sort of amusement known to humans. They are perfect for families, groups, and anyone who wants to experience a cruise on a massive, state-of-the-art ship.

Radiance Class

Radiance Class ships are a series of four vessels that were built between 2001 and 2004. The ships in this class are Radiance of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, and Jewel of the Seas. They are smaller than the Oasis-class ships, but still offer a variety of features and activities.

At 90,090 tons, the Radiance-class ships have more than a half-dozen places to eat, including a main restaurant, casual buffet, steakhouse, Italian restaurant, and Asian venue. Each ship has three pools, whirlpools, a rock climbing wall, a miniature golf course, a sports court, and an adults-only solarium. The ships also have a theater, spa, casino, and multiple bars and lounges.

However, due to their smaller size, the Radiance-class ships do not have all the gee-whiz attractions found on the larger Royal Caribbean ships, such as ice skating rinks, surfing simulators, giant waterslides, and bumper car pavilions.

Despite the lack of these features, the Radiance-class ships offer a more intimate cruising experience with a maximum occupancy of 2,100 passengers at double occupancy, which is less than half the amount of passengers found on the biggest Royal Caribbean ships.

rccl cruise ship classes

“ Radiance Of The Seas ” by Prayitno / Thank you for (12 millions +) view is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Freedom Class

Freedom Class is a class of cruise ships operated by Royal Caribbean International. These ships were launched between 2006 and 2008 and include Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas. They were the largest cruise ships in the world at the time of their launch, and while they have since been surpassed in size by other Royal Caribbean ships, they still offer a classic big-ship experience with a range of amenities.

The Freedom-class ships are between 154,407 and 156,271 tons, making them significantly smaller than the Oasis-class ships but still quite large compared to other cruise vessels. They can accommodate around 3,900 passengers at double occupancy, with Liberty of the Seas able to carry several hundred more.

The top decks of Freedom-class ships are some of the most activity-packed at sea, with multiple pool areas, a water park, a miniature golf course, and a rock climbing wall. They were also the first Royal Caribbean ships to feature a FlowRider surfing simulator on their top decks, which has since become a signature attraction for the line. While they do not have some of the over-the-top attractions of Oasis-class ships, such as zip lines, they offer a range of other activities.

In terms of interior spaces, Freedom-class vessels have the mall-like Royal Promenade spaces that have become standard on bigger Royal Caribbean ships. These spaces are filled with eateries, bars, and shops, and the ships also have large casinos and spas.

Overall, the Freedom-class ships offer a classic big-ship experience with a range of amenities and activities. While they are not as large or as packed with attractions as some of Royal Caribbean’s newer ships, they still offer plenty to keep passengers entertained.

Voyager Class

The Voyager Class is a group of five Royal Caribbean cruise ships that were launched between 1999 and 2003. These ships are Voyager of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, and Mariner of the Seas. They have a size range of 137,276 to 139,999 tons.

The Voyager-class ships are similar to the Freedom-class ships, but shorter in length. In fact, the Freedom class was a stretched version of the Voyager class. These ships have many of Royal Caribbean’s signature attractions, including rock climbing walls and ice skating rinks. In fact, the ships were the first at Royal Caribbean to have those attractions.

Royal Caribbean ship

“ Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas ” by Traveloscopy is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

The Voyager-class ships were also the first to feature a Royal Promenade with bars, cafes, and shops in their interior. Each ship also has several specialty restaurants in addition to the main dining room and casual buffet. Specialty restaurants include a version of Royal Caribbean’s signature Chops Grille steakhouse and an Italian restaurant.

One of the main differences between the Voyager class and the Freedom class is that the Royal Promenades on Voyager-class ships are shorter. The top-deck areas of the Voyager-class ships are also more truncated as compared to the Freedom-class vessels. There are also fewer cabins on the Voyager-class ships, resulting in fewer passengers on board a typical sailing. Most of the ships carry around 3,100 passengers at double occupancy — about 800 fewer than the typical Freedom-class ship.

At around 139,000 tons, the ships are about 11% smaller than the Freedom-class ships. There are also some variations in attractions among the five Voyager-class vessels. Navigator of the Seas has a relatively new waterslide zone that’s home to The Blaster, the longest waterslide at sea. You won’t find that on the other ships, though most of them have different waterslides. Only three of the five ships — Voyager of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, and Mariner of the Seas — have laser tag courses. Adventure of the Seas is the only vessel in the class with a kiddie splash zone.

In a major overhaul of Mariner of the Seas in 2018, Royal Caribbean added a new attraction called Sky Pad. It’s a virtual reality bungee trampoline experience.

Vision Class

The Vision Class ships are the smallest ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. The ships in this class are Grandeur of the Seas (1996), Rhapsody of the Seas (1997), Enchantment of the Seas (1997), and Vision of the Seas (1998). They range in size from 73,817 to 82,910 tons.

These ships are designed to offer a more intimate experience to cruisers who prefer a quieter, less crowded environment. They have fewer onboard attractions and amenities than other Royal Caribbean ships. The appeal of these ships is more about the ports they visit than the onboard experience.

The Vision Class ships are often sent to Europe in the summer to operate port call-intensive itineraries. They also sail longer trips in the Caribbean that include less-visited southerly islands. These ships are sometimes based in secondary ports such as Baltimore or San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the size of the local cruise market might not warrant a larger vessel.

Royal Caribbean ship

“ RCL Vision of the Seas ” by A Guy Named Nyal is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

Unlike other Royal Caribbean ships, the Vision Class ships do not have the signature deck-top attractions such as surfing and skydiving simulators. However, they do have pools, whirlpools, and sunning areas on their top decks. All of the ships have at least two pools and six whirlpools, except for Enchantment of the Seas, which has three pools and six whirlpools. Enchantment of the Seas also has a bungee trampoline area, which is something none of the other vessels offer.

Each of the ships has at least one, and often several, additional specialty restaurants in addition to main restaurants and casual buffets. The line’s signature Chops Grille steakhouse and Italian eatery Giovanni’s Table are two of them. Rhapsody of the Seas has the biggest selection of dining, while Enchantment of the Seas has the smallest. Three of the four vessels, all but Enchantment of the Seas, have an Izumi Asian restaurant.

The size of each ship in the Vision Class varies slightly. Grandeur of the Seas is the smallest of the four vessels, measuring around 74,000 tons. Enchantment of the Seas is the biggest, measuring around 83,000 tons. It was lengthened by 73 feet in 2005.

In summary, the Vision Class ships offer a more intimate cruising experience with fewer onboard attractions and amenities. They appeal to cruisers who care more about the destinations they visit than the onboard experience. Despite their smaller size, they still offer a variety of dining options and have pools, whirlpools, and sunning areas on their top decks.

Royal Caribbean ships

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rccl cruise ship classes

Complete Guide to Royal Caribbean Fleet & Ship Classes

rccl cruise ship classes

Of the major cruise lines, few offer a more diverse lineup of ship classes than Royal Caribbean. In fact, for the most-part, Royal Caribbean ship classes are quite distinguishable from each other. In this post, we’re highlighting class specific features and giving you the insight to choose the best ship for your next Royal Caribbean cruise.

Royal Caribbean has been a leading innovator in the cruising industry for over five decades. From 1996 through 2021, Royal Caribbean introduced a new cruise ship every year in all but six of those years. Their current fleet of 26 ships which includes two under construction, are grouped into seven ship classes, each with their own base of specific common features.

Vision Class

Currently the oldest vessels in the fleet, Vision Class ships were launched between 1995 and 1998 and of the original six ships in this class there are four remaining. With two full decks of balcony staterooms & suites, Vision class ships made the once out-of-reach balcony stateroom more accessible for cruisers. Theses ships were also the first to feature Royal Caribbean’s adult-only Solarium.

Grandeur of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2023 Itineraries: Southern Caribbean (Barbados), Short Caribbean (Galveston), Caribbean (Miami)

Rhapsody of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2022 Itineraries: Europe (Venice), Caribbean (Tampa)

Enchantment of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2022 Itineraries : Bermuda (Baltimore), Bahamas/Caribbean (Baltimore), Canada/New England (Baltimore)

Notes: Enchantment of the Seas was lengthened in 2005 by cutting the ship in two and adding a new 73-foot section. This resulted in increased capacity with 151 new staterooms, kids splash area, many new venues and the unique bridges on the pool deck.

Vision of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2023 Itineraries: Caribbean (San Juan, Fort Lauderdale), Mediterranean (Barcelona)

Voyager Class

Voyager Class was not only a game-changer for Royal Caribbean, but also the cruise industry. These incredible five ships launched between 1999 and 2003, proved that just about anything is possible on a cruise ship. Aside from their tremendous size, Voyager Class introduced many firsts like ice skating on real ice, the rock-climbing wall, the Royal Promenade with interior facing staterooms, Johnny Rockets Diner with waterview booths, plus expanded food and beverage options, entertainment venues and enhanced Royal Caribbean signature spaces. Over the years, these ships have been upgraded many times to include some of the latest most popular features from across the fleet.

Voyager of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2023 Itineraries: Japan/Far East (Tianjin), Southeast Asia (Singapore), Baltics/Russia (Copenhagen, Stockholm), Canada/New England (Boston), Caribbean (San Juan)

2019 Amplification Highlights: – Addition of Perfect Storm Waterslides – Glow-in-the-dark laser tag – Redesigned Spa, Fitness Center & Kids Spaces – Addition of 72 new staterooms

Explorer of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2023 Itineraries: Caribbean (Galveston, San Juan, Miami)

Notes: Explorer of the Seas was to receive a major amplification in 2020 which is now on hold indefinitely.

Adventure of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2023 Itineraries: Bahamas (Nassau, Cape Liberty), Caribbean (Galveston), Bermuda (Cape Liberty), Canada/New England (Cape Liberty)

Notes: Adventure of the Seas was to receive a major amplification in 2021 which is now on hold indefinitely.

Navigator of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2022 Itineraries: Bahamas (Miami, Fort Lauderdale), West Coast/Mexico (Los Angeles)

2019 Amplification Highlights – Addition of Blaster Aqua Coaster, Riptide Mat Racer – Reimagined Pool Deck – Glow-in-the-dark laser tag – Royal Escape Room – Redesigned Spa, Fitness Center & Kids Spaces – Several new dining venues and bars including Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Hooked Seafood, El Loco Fresh, Lime & Coconut, Bamboo Room

Mariner of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2023 Itineraries: Bahamas (Port Canaveral), Caribbean (Port Canaveral), Bermuda (Port Canaveral)

2018 Amplification Highlights – Addition of Perfect Storm Waterslides – Sky Pad – Glow-in-the-dark laser tag – Royal Escape Room – Several new dining venues and bars including Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Jamie’s Italian, Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, Bamboo Room

Radiance Class

The four ships of the Radiance-Class were launched between 2001 and 2004. While Royal Caribbean was building the much larger Voyager class ships during that time, Radiance class ships were designed to Panamax standards to allow them to pass through the Panama Canal. There are many design elements carried over from previous classes, however, Radiance-Class ships were all about taking in the views. In fact, these ships boast exterior view elevators, two-level glass sections in the dining rooms, many ocean-facing public venues and over 500 balcony staterooms.

Radiance of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2022 Itineraries: Caribbean (Miami), Alaska (Vancouver, Seward)

Notes: With their large use of glass throughout the vessels, Radiance Class ships have made a career visiting Alaska and other very scenic destinations.

Brilliance of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2023 Itineraries: Caribbean (Tampa), Bahamas (Tampa), Mediterranean (Venice)

Serenade of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2023 Itineraries: Australia/New Zealand (Sydney), Alaska (Vancouver), Caribbean (Tampa), Bahamas (Tampa)

Jewel of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2022 Itineraries: Europe (Copenhagen, Stockholm, Amsterdam), Canada/New England (Boston), Caribbean (Miami, Port Canaveral)

Freedom Class

The three ships of the Freedom class launched between 2006 and 2008, built on the success of the Voyager class ships with many enhancements. While the overall design between the two ship classes is quite similar, the increased size of Freedom class allowed designers at Royal Caribbean to push innovation and provide more onboard experiences. Freedom class introduced the lines first cantilevered whirlpools, FlowRider Surf Simulator and dedicated kids splash park, plus expanded dining and entertainment venues in the larger Royal Promenade and around the ship.

Freedom of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2023 Itineraries: Bermuda (Cape Liberty), Canada/New England (Cape Liberty), Caribbean (Miami), Bahamas (Miami)

2020 Amplification Highlights – Addition of Perfect Storm Waterslides – Reimagined Pool Deck – Glow-in-the-dark laser tag – Conversion of H2O Zone to Splashaway Bay – Redesigned Spa, Fitness Center & Kids Spaces – Several new dining venues and bars including Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, El Loco Fresh, Lime & Coconut

Liberty of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2023 Itineraries: Caribbean (Galveston), Bahamas (Port Everglades)

Notes: Liberty of the Seas was to receive a major amplification in 2021 which is now on hold indefinitely. During her 2016 dry dock, Liberty of the Seas received Perfect Storm waterslides, including the only boomerang water slide at sea, Tidal Wave, conversion of H2O Zone to Splashaway Bay and new dining and beverage venues.

Independence of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2023 Itineraries: Caribbean (Miami), Bahamas (Port Canaveral)

2018 Amplification Highlights – Addition of Perfect Storm Waterslides – Sky Pad – Glow-in-the-dark laser tag – Royal Escape Room – Conversion of H2O Zone to Splashaway Bay – Several new dining venues and bars including Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, Fish & Ships, Sugar Beach

Oasis Class

When it comes to major leaps forward within the cruise industry, the introduction of the Oasis class ships in 2009 has been one that has set the bar to such a high level, that even after more than a decade, no other cruise lines have come close. The four Oasis Class vessels, with a fifth under construction and another on order, are vessels whose design is so revolutionary in size, amenities, varieties of accommodation and awe-inspiring onboard experiences. Royal Caribbean delivered a long list of firsts with Oasis class ships. These include the first Zip Line at Sea, diving and entertainment venue the AquaTheater, two-level loft suites, hand-crafted carousel and the two split hull sections of Central Park and Boardwalk, offering dining, entertainment and the first non-ocean view balcony staterooms.

Never to be outdone, even by their own vessels, in 2016 with the launch of Harmony of the Seas, the third Oasis Class ship, Royal Caribbean introduced the Ultimate Abyss slide that winds its way from Deck 16 down to the Boardwalk on Deck 6, The Perfect Storm waterslides including the line’s first champagne bowl slide, Splashaway Bay and the Bionic Bar.

These new features and more have also made their way to Oasis of the Seas following her 2019 Amplification with Allure of the Seas currently waiting to receive a similar makeover at a future date.

Oasis of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2023 Itineraries: Bahamas (Cape Liberty), Caribbean (Miami), Canada/New England (Cape Liberty)

2019 Amplification Highlights – Addition of Perfect Storm Waterslides – Addition of Ultimate Abyss – Reimagined Pool Deck – Glow-in-the-dark laser tag – Royal Escape Room – Conversion of H2O Zone to Splashaway Bay – Several new dining venues and bars including Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Music Hall, Lime & Coconut, Portside BBQ, El Loco Fresh

Allure of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2023 Itineraries: Caribbean (Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, Galveston), Mediterranean (Barcelona, Civitavecchia)

Notes: Allure of the Seas was to receive a major amplification in 2020 which is now on hold indefinitely.

Harmony of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2023 Itineraries: Caribbean (Port Canaveral), Mediterranean (Barcelona, Civitavecchia)

Notes: Harmony of the Seas continued the evolution of the Oasis Class with the debut of the Ultimate Abyss, Perfect Storm waterslides, Splashaway Bay and Bionic Bar.

Symphony of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2023 Itineraries: Caribbean (Miami)

Notes: Symphony of the Seas debuted casual eatery El Loco Fresh, Hooked Seafood, Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade and the Ultimate Family Suite.

Wonder of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2022-2023 Itineraries: Caribbean (Port Everglades, Port Canaveral), Mediterranean (Barcelona, Civitavecchia)

Notes: The fifth Oasis Class ship, Wonder of the Seas is currently under construction with a planned debut in 2022. Originally built for the Chinese cruise market, Royal Caribbean decided to reposition her debut. She will continue the evolution of the class with many new spaces and a design that is quite different from her sisters.

Quantum Class

Sometimes it’s not about building bigger, but smarter. Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class is a convergence of style and technology that delivers an incredible array of features and onboard experiences. Firsts in this class include Ripcord by iFly, the only sky diving simulators at sea, North Star, where guests get elevated 360 degree views from the comfort of their observation capsule and SeaPlex, a two-level multi-purpose indoor space offering activities like bumper cars, roller skating, basketball and more. Be entertained in the one-of-a-kind theater, Two70, where the latest tech in robotics and high-definition displays envelopes the audience and is part of the show experience. Add to that, sophisticated dining choices and some of Royal Caribbean’s most popular features spun in a totally new way.

Quantum of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2023 Itineraries: Far East (Singapore), Australia/New Zealand (Brisbane), Alaska (Seattle)

2019 Dry Dock Notes: During Quantum of the Seas scheduled 5-year dry dock in 2019, she received an Escape Room and Laser Tag along with routine maintenance.

Anthem of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2022 Itineraries: Europe/Mediterranean (Southampton), Bahamas (Cape Liberty), Caribbean (Cape Liberty)

2020 Dry Dock Notes: During Anthem of the Seas scheduled 5-year dry dock in 2020, she received routine maintenance.

Ovation of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2022 Itineraries: Australia/New Zealand (Sydney), Alaska (Seattle)

Notes: Ovation of the Seas was the third and final Quantum Class ship before the arrival of the enhanced Quantum Ultra Class.

Quantum Ultra Class

Expanding on the successful technological wonder of the Quantum Class, Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Ultra Class ships deliver the same excitement with some new additions. New to this class is Sky Pad, offering thrills of a virtual reality bungee trampoline, loads of new dining and beverage spots and glow-in-the-dark laser tag. Tweaks were also made to elevate the onboard experience throughout the ship.

Spectrum of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2022 Itineraries: Far East (Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Tianjin)

Notes: Spectrum of the Seas was designed specifically for the Chinese cruise market and features exclusive venues not found on any other Royal Caribbean ships.

Odyssey of the Seas

rccl cruise ship classes

2021-2023 Itineraries: Mediterranean (Civitavecchia), Caribbean (Port Everglades)

There’s not a lot publicly known about Royal Caribbean’s future new builds under the Icon Class. Currently, there are three ships in this class on order with the first scheduled for 2023 and vessels 2 and 3 following in 2025 and 2026. These ships will be an all-new design, likely featuring some incredible new experiences plus incorporate many of Royal Caribbean’s most popular ones. The 200,000-gross ton, 5,000 guest vessels will be larger than Quantum Class, but smaller than Oasis class and utilize new propulsion technology with an eco-friendly LNG drive system significantly reducing emissions.

How many of these Royal Caribbean ships have you sailed on? Let us know in the comments.

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Royal Caribbean Ships by Size, Age and Class (2022)

Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas

Royal Caribbean has an active fleet of 26 ships currently. They plan to launch a further 4 more ships between 2022 and 2026 ( Icon on of the Seas , Utopia of the Seas and two unnamed currently) which will bring them to 30 ships and keep their position as the largest cruise line fleet in the world.

Introduction to Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean is an American cruise line headquartered in Miami, Florida. It was founded in 1968 in Norway by three Norwegian shipping companies and the first ship to sail for the company was Song of Norway in 1970.

Later on, the company merged with the greek cruise line Celebrity Cruises but kept the brand alive whilst also running Royal Caribbean. A further acquisition in 2018 of Silversea Cruises added another brand to the company, aimed at luxury cruise travellers.

Royal Caribbean is seen as one of the most innovative cruise lines in the world with many ‘firsts’ at sea (surfing, rock climbing, aqua theatre, world’s biggest ship and more) – they are very popular for all age groups and cater massively for families.

Their fleet of ships sails from dedicated ports around the world year-round and additionally they own two private islands which are visited by most of their Florida-based cruise ships.

This guide will help you work out which Royal Caribbean ship is which!

Royal Caribbean Ships Frequently Asked Questions

What are royal caribbean’s newest ships.

The latest ships to launch in the Royal Caribbean fleet are Wonder of the Seas (2022) and Odyssey of the Seas (2021)

What is the biggest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet?

The biggest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet currently is Wonder of the Seas .

How many Royal Caribbean ships are there?

There are currently 26 ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. With a further 4 ships on order.

Which Royal Caribbean ship is the most fun?

That would depend on your definition of fun! However, the Oasis-class ships offer the most facilities at sea because they are bigger and have more activities on them.

What is the smallest Royal Caribbean ship?

Grandeur of the Seas is the smallest Royal Caribbean ship in the fleet.

What is the oldest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet?

The oldest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet is Grandeur of the Seas which launched back in 1996.

What is the biggest cruise ship in the world?

Wonder of the Seas is currently the world’s biggest cruise ship at 236,857 GRT.

Which ship is bigger, Oasis or Anthem?

Oasis of the Seas is the bigger of the two ships. She is an Oasis-class ship whereas Anthem of the Seas is a Quantum-class ship, which is smaller.

Does Royal Caribbean own Silversea?

Yes. Royal Caribbean acquired Silversea in July 2018. Before then it was a family-owned cruise line.

Is the Titanic bigger than a cruise ship?

No! Titanic is relatively small in comparison to modern cruise ships. Titanic was only 269m long compared to Wonder of the Seas at 362m long. Titanic was 46,328 GRT compared to Wonder of the Seas with 236,857 GRT!

Royal Caribbean Ships by Size (from largest to smallest)

What does ‘tonnage (grt)’ mean.

GRT (Gross Registered Tonnage) is a term used to calculate the volume inside a ship. It is a measure of cubic capacity and is calculated by the total volume from inside the hull and decks of the ship. 1 GRT = 100 cubic feet of space. In essence, the bigger the GRT – the more ‘space’ the ship has for passengers, cargo, etc.

How are ‘Passengers (Max)’ calculated?

You’ll see multiple numbers for passengers on ships – this is because many ships include extra beds in cabins (such as the sofa/couch can convert to a pull-out bed) – but the majority of cabins usually have 2 people in them. the ‘Max’ number is if every cabin used their additional pull-out bed, etc. This number is unlikely to be reached very frequently.

Royal Caribbean Ships by Age (from newest to oldest)

Are all royal caribbean ships new builds.

Yes, all ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet have been built specifically for them. Some of their ships have at times been earmarked for transfer to other brands ( Grandeur of the Seas was due to move to Pullmantur, but was cancelled)

Royal Caribbean Ships by Class (from newest to oldest)

What is the difference between the oasis-class ships.

There are currently five Oasis-class ships and the sixth one is on order ( Utopia of the Seas ) – there are differences between each ship, although structurally they are all the same class of ship.

The first two ships are near-enough identical sisters, however, Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas both added the Ultimate Abyss – the world’s longest slide at sea.

The fifth ship, Wonder of the Seas added an eighth neighborhood ‘Suite Neighborhood’, a new restaurant ‘The Mason Jar’ and a new bar ‘ Vue’.

Final Thoughts

Royal Caribbean makes it easy for choosing a cruise ship to sail on – they have ships of varying different sizes and capacities – allowing them to sail from multiple ports around the world year-round.

Whilst their most-popular cruises leave from Miami, allowing calls at their private islands, many people enjoy Royal Caribbean sailing in Europe (to the Canaries and the Norwegian Fjords) and also in Asia, where Royal Caribbean has experimented with homeporting ships for the Chinese market in the past.

Oasis-class ships still get the most reviews (they of course also take the most passengers) but also because of more facilities and thus activities onboard.

That said, the Quantum-class ships are extremely popular with many delighted by the ‘ North Star ‘ attraction on the top of each Quantum-class ship.

Enjoy this guide? Read our other guides on MSC Cruises , Holland America Lin e and Disney Cruise Line .

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ELEVATE YOUR VACATION IN ROYAL SUITE CLASS

Royal Suite Class, Labadee Private Destination

THE ROYAL SUITE CLASS

Family Enjoying Exclusive Labadee Cabana Suite

ALLURE OF THE SEAS

ANTHEM OF THE SEAS

HARMONY OF THE SEAS

OASIS OF THE SEAS

ODYSSEY OF THE SEAS

OVATION OF THE SEAS

QUANTUM OF THE SEAS

SPECTRUM OF THE SEAS

SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS

WONDER OF THE SEAS

ICON OF THE SEAS

UTOPIA OF THE SEAS

LUXURY IS VIP ON EVERY LEVEL

For some, exceptional service, world class comforts and exclusive access represent ultimate luxury. And when you sail in Royal Suite Class, you’ll get all that and more —not to mention a lavish suite to come home to after a day spent discovering the best that Royal Caribbean has to offer.

Spacious Junior Class Suite with Ocean View

This is Sea – a cruise suite to recharge between adventures and rest up before another day filled with exploration. In these spacious suites with plenty of spacious living spaces, sumptuous design and flawless attention to detail is just the start of the journey.

Oasis of the Seas Portside BBQ Family Dinner

This is Sky — spectacular accommodations, attentive service and exclusive experiences. As Sky Class guests, you have access to a Concierge who crafts your personal adventures, from restaurant reservations to recommendations for shopping or dining at ports of call.

Family Being Escorted by Genie into their Loft Suite

This is Star, the new definition of VIP. It isn’t priority access – it’s all access. And it starts with the largest and most unbelievable cruise suites at sea. Plus a Royal Genie that takes your VIP status ship-wide.

Royal Loft Suite

Royal suite, star loft suite, crown loft suite with balcony, grand suite, owner's suite.

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Moskva-Class Cruisers

Separate design teams often attempt to meet a set of ship specifications with completely different, although equally valid, strategies. To fulfill the requirements issued in April 2169 for the successor (NX-223) to the Daedalus class, which was introduced at the end of the Romulan War, Prosser & Ankopitch proposed a ship with an extremely large, spherical command hull attached to a nearly vestigial engineering hull. The proposal from the Mikoyan-Tupolev-Dassault Bureau used a long narrow command hull with a minimal frontal silhouette counterbalanced by an equally long engineering hull.

The engineers at Tezuka-Republic decided that the division of ship's functions between a command/crew hull and an engineering hull was arbitrary and unnecessarily restricted design options. Therefore, rather than gathering all the specified facilities in a single hull, their design TR-223A spread them across two hulls, as in Daedalus , and segregated the SSWR-IV-C warp core to a "bustle" at the extreme aft end of the secondary hull. This bustle could be separated easily and quickly from the rest of the engineering hull in the event of a warp core breach. The now-unpowered warp nacelles would then be shed. In this way, the demands of safety would be met without warp dynamics being degraded either by an excessively large frontal silhouette or by longitudinal warp field imbalance.

Although the Ship Specifications Review Board praised Tezuka-Republic for its creative solution to the problem of admittedly contradictory requirements for extreme safety and improved warp performance, they were forced to disqualify design TR-223A for not precisely meeting contract specifications. Therefore, in October 2171, construction contract NX-223 for Starfleet's new cruiser was awarded to Prosser & Ankopitch for what would become the Wasp class .

However, almost no one was happy with the new Wasp ships. Even before the contract was awarded, voices within Starfleet and within industry had strongly criticized the specifications of April 2169. These critics charged that they would lead to a mediocre, albeit safe, fighting ship. Two separate classes were needed, not a single class that was neither a proper explorer nor a proper warship. When Wasp was finally launched in 2173, her performance during precommisioning trials clearly showed that the critics had been correct. Although the performance problems were related in part to the continuing unavailability of the more powerful Tezuka-Republic Hiryu ("Flying Dragon") mark III warp nacelles, Wasp was obviously not the ship Starfleet had hoped for.

In a second attempt to obtain a reliable and capable warship, new specifications (NX-374) were issued in September 2175, little more than a year after USS  Wasp had entered service. Adding to this sense of urgency were intelligence reports suggesting that the Romulans had either developed or otherwise acquired matter/antimatter (M/AM) reactors. This time the specifications put less emphasis upon safety. The original requirement for completely separate command and engineering hulls was eliminated; instead, any hull configuration was allowed as long as the warp core could be quickly separated from the rest of the ship. Furthermore, requirements for speed, acceleration, and maneuverability both under impulse power and under warp power were increased, as were performance levels for target acquisition, tracking, and servicing.

These new specifications were a clear, albeit belated, admission that the critics had been correct all along: one class could not be expected to serve as both an explorer and a main battleship. In fact, starship technology was not considered sufficiently mature for a single ship to adequately fulfill both mission profiles until 2245, when the Constitution -class heavy cruiser was launched. (The controversy continues even today in the wake of the problems of the Galaxy -class explorer.)

Luckily, the designers and engineers at Tezuka-Republic had not been idle since their disappointing loss of the Wasp contract in 2171. Instead, they had spent their time refining design TR-223A so that their new entry (TR-374A) was markedly superior to what had been submitted 5 years earlier. In particular, the new SSWR-V warp reactor allowed the bustle to be made smaller, lighter, and even more easily separable. Therefore, it was hardly surprising when in November 2176 Tezuka-Republic was awarded the production contract over designs from Shimata-Dominquez, Prosser & Ankopitch, Mikoyan-Tupolev Dassault, Monarch R&U, and Thornycroft/Ebisu for what was to become the Moskva class.

However, engineering prowess may not have been the only factor in Tezuka-Republic's winning of the contract. There were accusations that the delay in delivery of the Hiryu warp engines was an attempt by Tezuka-Republic to prevent Wasp from reaching her designed performance levels. While no conclusive incriminating evidence has come to light, the delivery of the long-awaited engines shortly before the scheduled launch of Moskva in December 2177 is certainly suspicious. Tezuka-Republic maintains that if their submission of 2169 had been selected, its performance would also have not have met design specifications without the Hiryu engines. However, critics charge that TR-223A was not as reliant as Wasp on the type of engine used. Furthermore, once the Wasp contract was awarded, and even after Wasp was launched, Tezuka-Republic certainly made no efforts to accelerate delivery of Hiryu.

These controversies were soon rendered moot as the new Moskva class was recognized as a significant advance in starship design. The most important new feature was Moskva's discoid primary hull. Earlier designs had chosen a spherical primary hull for reasons of economy. Simple geometric relationships dictate that a spherical hull has the smallest surface area for a given volume. Therefore, construction costs are lower and shields are more efficient. Furthermore, institutional inertia had led nearly all exploratory cruisers originating until that time from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States Astronautics Agency, the United Earth Space Probe Agency, and its successor organizations to have spherical hulls.

rccl cruise ship classes

The designers of USS  Moskva employed a biconvex disc for several reasons. Their initial motive was to increase hull volume while minimizing both frontal and lateral silhouettes. A warship with large frontal and lateral silhouettes would be at a greater disadvantage in most tactical situations than would be a ship with an increased superior silhouette. However, the discoid hull allowed the traditional radial layout of command hulls to be retained.

More important than these tactical advantages were functional advantages. As was shown with the Wasp class, warp field geometry would have been awkward if a spherical hull with its relatively large frontal area had been used. The discoid hull was also found to channel warp field flow across its upper surface towards the bussard ram scoops of the warp nacelles. This channeling effect improved field efficiency at all power levels and speeds. As the understanding of warp field mechanics was refined, the trend towards saucer-shaped primary hulls would be intensified in later Starfleet vessels.

rccl cruise ship classes

In most respects, the Moskva class continued design and engineering trends established in the Comet and Daedalus classes introduced at the end of the Romulan War. As in these classes, ship functions were clearly divided between a command/crew hull and an engineering/propulsion hull. The bridge was returned to its customary position atop the command hull and the shuttlecraft bay was again placed in the secondary hull. The fusion reactor was centered along the longitudinal axis of the ship, and impulse thrust ports exited immediately in front of the warp bustle detachment seam.

Weaponry was the then-standard mix of fusion-warhead missiles and lasers. New to this class was an early type of ultraphased pulse laser cannon, two of which were mounted in the chin of the primary hull. Although the on-target energy output of this new weapon approached that of early phasers, its power requirement was higher and its range was substantially less. However, subsequent refinements lead to steady improvement and, ultimately, to the development of true phasers in 2202. Although Moskva -class ships were the first to be fitted with phasers in 2204, lasers were still carried by the Moskva class and later classes until the 2220s. Finally, warp capability was supplied by the long-awaited Hiryu mark III drive units.

The first ship of the new class, USS  Moskva (NCC-374), entered service with Starfleet in April 2179. An additional 30 ships (NCC-375 to NCC-404) joined the fleet through 2183. Moskva -class ships gained immediate popularity with officers and crews. First, total laser firepower was increased some 75% over that in the preceding Wasp class. Second, because the ship's mass was more equally distributed along the longitudinal axis than in the Wasp class, Moskva was significantly more maneuverable at both sublight and warp speeds. Finally, the more warp-dynamic design allowed greater cruising and maximum speeds.

The Moskva class had an outstanding safety record. No ships were lost because of mechanical failures. However, an incident occurred aboard USS  Johannesburg in 2186 when a faulty nacelle flow monitor falsely indicated a runaway positive feedback power loop within the plasma flow governor. Believing that a catastrophic warp core explosion was imminent, Chief Engineer Roberta Bocharnikov ordered the warp nacelles and warp bustle to be separated. Although unnecessary, these maneuvers were successful in causing the separated warp core to initiate its automatic shut-down routine. The warp core, nacelles, and the rest of the ship were towed to Starbase 13, where they were successfully re-mated. Despite her supreme embarrassment, Bocharnikov oversaw the reassembly and relaunching of Johannesburg and retained her position as chief engineer.

Although most ships of the Moskva class had left front-line service by 2215, some continued to serve as auxiliaries and training vessels until the 2240s. After retirement from active duty, Moskva -class ships were used as testbeds for many emerging technologies owing to the similarities of their layouts to those of succeeding classes. USS  Moskva was the site of the first successful ship-to-surface transport of a Human being in 2206, and USS  Gato was the first ship to fire photon torpedoes in 2214. In addition, Taurus -class tugs, which entered service in 2182, and Sanford -class repair tenders, which entered service in 2185, were derived from the Moskva class and used the same primary hull and warp drive assembly.

The Moskva -class cruiser USS  Aurora (NCC-377), a participant of the Battle of Eohippus IV, is on display at the Starfleet Museum.

Standard displacement: 67,750 t

Crew complement: 160 (27 officers + 133 crew) Weapons: 8 Type VI laser turrets (8 × 1 mounts), 2 Type VII laser cannons (fixed mounts), 2 missile launchers with 36 Spartak missiles Embarked craft: 4 medium cargo/personnel shuttlecraft, 2 light personnel shuttlecraft, 5 fighter/scouts Warp drive: SSWR-V-A spherical cavity M/AM reactor with 2 Hiryu III nacelles Velocity: wf 4.0, cruise; wf 5.0, supercruise; wf 5.2, maximum Units commissioned: 31

  • Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Cool Cruiser

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

5,000+ Club

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

RachelG

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

  • 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

greygypsy

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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  16. What Are the Royal Caribbean Icon-Class Ships?

    Icon-class ships are the first Royal Caribbean ships to feature a family-specific neighborhood of cabins, suites and activities called Surfside. As well as a huge amount of water fountains, splash ...

  17. Royal Caribbean's Vision-class Ships

    Royal Caribbean's Vision Class is a unique ship class for the cruise line in that all four ships differ slightly in terms of what they offer as well as by size -- though, generally speaking, all ...

  18. All about Freedom Class cruise ships

    There are three Freedom Class ships: Freedom of the Seas is the first ship of the class and sails from Miami, Florida. Liberty of the Seas is the second ship of the class and sails from Galveston, Texas. Independence of the Seas is the third ship of the class and sails from Port Canaveral, Florida. Their gross tonnage ranges between 154 ...

  19. Royal Suite Class

    Consistently awarded Best Ship year after year by Travel Weekly Readers, the biggest, boldest ships at sea also boast some of the best cruise activities — including Royal Suite Class. Sail on Harmony®, Allure®, Symphony®, Oasis®, Quantum®, Spectrum®, Odyssey® and Wonder of the Seas® and discover why Royal Suite Class is setting a new ...

  20. GCT M/S Tikhi Don

    GCT M/S Tikhi Don - St. Petersburg to Moscow, River Cruising

  21. The Starfleet Museum

    The first ship of the new class, USS Moskva (NCC-374), entered service with Starfleet in April 2179. An additional 30 ships (NCC-375 to NCC-404) joined the fleet through 2183. Moskva -class ships gained immediate popularity with officers and crews. First, total laser firepower was increased some 75% over that in the preceding Wasp class.

  22. GCT M/S Tikhi Don

    This is a review of a St. Petersburg to Moscow river cruise from 5/31/2012 - 6/14/2012 with Grand Circle Travel. Ill divide the review into sections starting with the ship so folks can jump to those sections of interest & ignore what isnt pertinent to them. For an excellent discussion on pre-...

  23. Best of Moscow by high speed train

    Sure would appreciate someone who has taken Best of Moscow by high speed train from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day. Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also wha...