Vision of the Seas

Vision of the Seas Shows and Theater

There are plenty of entertainment options aboard Vision of the Seas. Each night of the cruise features live shows in the 870-person Masquerade Theatre (Decks 5 and 6, forward), from comedians to Broadway-style productions featuring the Royal Caribbean singers and dancers. Tiered seats with few obstructions are comfortable and have cup holders. The space is fairly simply decorated in blue, green and tan hues.

On our cruise, shows included "Boogie Wonderland," a throwback to 1970s hits featuring singing and dancing, and several comedians. The main evening production is usually performed twice to accommodate the two main dinner seatings. There is often another late-night performance, as well, such as an adult comedian, or the "Love and Marriage Game Show."

The comedians and audience interactive shows were popular, though it wasn't typically difficult to snag a seat or two.

On some sea days, the Masquerade Theatre hosts afternoon movies.

Vision of the Seas Daily Things to Do

To stay on top of all the activities offered on Vision of the Seas, check out the Royal Caribbean app. You can also pick up a printed Cruise Compass at guest services.

The daily schedule usually begins with a variety of fitness and recreation activities in the morning, such as water aerobics or morning stretch, and a poolside movie. Later in the morning and into the afternoon, the cruise director's crew hosts several line dance classes, either poolside or in the Centrum. These Vision of the Seas activities are particularly popular with younger passengers and families.

Around lunchtime on sea days, there is usually a poolside event. When there's not an event going on, you can usually hear live music throughout the afternoon. Doesn't sound like your cup of tea? Head to the adult-only Solarium, where it's a whole lot quieter.

Some of the most well-attended activities during our cruise onboard Vision of the Seas were the trivia and quiz games hosted in the Schooner Bar several times a day, typically in the morning, afternoon and evening. Families and groups traveling together really seemed to enjoy hanging out in this space, enjoying a cocktail and working together on games such as a Michael Jackson music quiz, blockbuster movie trivia and Harry Potter trivia.

Feel like staying inside? Check out the live string music played in the Centrum throughout the afternoon and evening. There are usually a few open play card games scheduled in the Aquarius Dining Room, while bingo is frequently offered in the Some Enchanted Evening Lounge.

Passengers can attend classes on napkin folding, cooking or learning a new language. The spa and art gallery also hosts several talks promoting various services or upcoming events.

Nightlife on Vision of the Seas

Besides the theatrical productions onboard Royal’s Vision of the Seas, evening entertainment abounds throughout the ship. Before or after dinner, start out with a round of evening trivia in Schooner Bar, followed by a whirl around the dance floor in the Centrum to tunes from the live band performing there.

After that, consider taking in a poolside movie. Or join the cruise director staff for the latest wildly popular passenger-powered game, from "Finish That Lyric Game Show" to "The Quest Scavenger Hunt" to the "Love and Marriage Game Show."

Karaoke lovers will want to take their singing skills over to Some Enchanted Evening Lounge, where karaoke welcomes young and old each night. Microphones at the ready onstage and lyrics on the big screen, the dance floor is transformed into a place where adoring karaoke fans can join in on the chorus.

Vision of the Seas’ casino offers a range of gaming offerings, from roulette to craps, Texas Hold'em and dozens of slot machines. Complimentary gaming lessons are offered here regularly, as well as poker tournaments (check the Vision of the Seas Cruise Compass). There is a bar inside the casino and smoking is allowed.

Vision of the Seas Bars and Lounges

R Bar (Deck 4, midship): This bar is located on the bottom floor of the Centrum. The granite-topped bar has just a handful of high-top chairs arranged in front of it but there is plentiful seating throughout this area, which comes alive in the evenings when the cruise director's team leads games, dance events and more. R Bar tends to stay busy during these times, but is quieter during the day.

Schooner Bar (Deck 6, aft): Your prime location for all things quiz- and trivia-related, this nautical themed bar also hosts piano entertainment, and has several intimate tables and booths to cozy up in and enjoy a drink.

Solarium Bar (Deck 9, aft): Located at the Solarium pool, this bar continues the antiquities-themed decor of the rest of the Solarium and stays busy serving up ice cold beers, daiquiris and other frozen poolside creations.

Pool Bar (Deck 9, midship): The Pool Bar gets a lot of traffic during the peak hours of midday sun, serving cold drinks to all the sun worshippers.

Viking Crown Lounge (Deck 11, aft): Appointed in rich red and gold, this lounge is located near Izumi and goes basically unused during the day, so it's a great quiet place to curl up and read or enjoy a quiet conversation while overlooking the ship and ocean. At night, it's the hot place to dance and enjoy a cocktail.

During our trip, Vision of the Seas restaurants did not disappoint. The food quality was above average, and the service was impeccable. You'll find fewer options for specialty dining aboard Vision than on newer Royal Caribbean ships -- for example, no specialty pizza or hamburger restaurants.

Your inclusive meal choices include the Aquarius Dining Room and Windjammer, in addition to two cafe-style options. There are also four fee-based restaurants, plus room service and an ice cream shop. Despite the lack of included restaurants on Vision of the Seas, we had a wonderful experience dining in the main dining room.

The fee-based restaurants were also above average and, though the food was good, the real draw was the experience of being in a quieter, romantic environment away from the crowds with generally the best dining views overlooking the ocean.

We actually ended up liking that the onboard dining options were more limited, since there wasn't much opportunity for FOMO (fear of missing out) that sometimes happens on cruises. When we wanted to change up the routine, we simply visited one of the specialty restaurants onboard.

The weakest link of all the dining choices was the Windjammer. Though the crew tried mightily to direct traffic, clear dishes and provide table service (such as drink refills and small treats), the crowds during an at-capacity cruise can become nearly unbearable during peak breakfast and lunch times. The small variety of options and food quality here just weren't enough to make us want to endure those crowds often.

Included Restaurants on Vision of the Seas

Aquarius Dining Room (Decks 4 and 5, aft): The two-level Aquarius dining room on Vision of the Seas is decorated in tan and blue. It features a large crystal light fixture in the center, a glass-walled upper level, winding staircase, large porthole windows overlooking the ocean, and artwork inspired by constellations, including a light-up twinkling Aquarius-themed mural that spans the wall of both decks.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served here most days (with the exception of port days, when there's no lunch). For dinner, passengers will either have fixed seating, or flexible My Time Dining (you can avoid waiting for a table at peak times by calling in advance for a reservation). Breakfast and lunch are first-come, first-served.

For breakfast, the Vision of the Seas menu includes a selection of fresh pastries, cold and hot cereals, pancakes, French toast, kippered herring, omelets and traditional bacon-and-egg selections. There's also a kids' menu with banana pancakes, French toast fingers and the like.

Lunch in the Aquarius features a salad station, where a chef prepares a salad to your specifications, plus a made-to-order pasta station. Other entrees include chicken sliders, fattoush salad, harissa-charred tilapia, a beef burger and fusilli pasta. For dessert you'll find options such as praline chocolate crunch, warm cherry custard crepes and almond polenta cake.

For dinner, baskets stocked with freshly baked bread are always on the table. You'll have your choice of starter, main course and dessert. Starter options might include roasted poblano pepper soup and arugula and radicchio salad. Baked French onion soup, Caesar salad, escargots and fruit salad are always available. Main courses might feature braised beef short ribs, creamy wild mushroom risotto and lasagna al forno.

A fish of the day, chicken breast and New York strip steak are always on the menu -- and you can pay a fee to upgrade your entree to include a whole Maine lobster, Chops Grille filet mignon or surf and turf. The dessert menu might offer creme brulee, apple pie a la mode, chocolate cake or cheesecake. There's always a no-sugar-added option, ice cream of the day and artisanal cheese plate (which we loved).

The menu clearly lists vegetarian, lactose-free, gluten-free and no-sugar added items, and the wait staff takes special care with passengers who have food allergies or sensitivities. A children's menu always has kid-friendly favorites like chicken fingers, spaghetti and cheeseburgers.

We were impressed with the delightful service during our mealtimes in the Aquarius Dining Room. One's experience is often dependent upon one's particular wait team, and we lucked out on our cruise. The first night our waiter asked us if we enjoyed Indian cuisine, and later in the cruise, he had the galley prepare a variety of off-menu shared plates just for our group.

Our children were spoiled with nightly plates of fresh fruit and free pink lemonades with drink umbrellas waiting for them.

Windjammer (Deck 9, forward): The central dining hub for breakfasts, lunches and snacks on Vision is the cafeteria-style space known as the Windjammer. It's generally open for breakfast, lunch, an advertised "teatime," which is basically limited snacks, and dinner.

This dining area, like many others on the ship, is filled with light streaming in from the windows. There's even a lovely skylight surrounded with glass flags of different countries in the central dining area.

There are buffet lines on both the port and starboard sides of the ship offering mostly identical items -- for breakfast: eggs, breakfast meats, fruits, cheeses. For lunch and dinner: salads, soup du jour, breads and fruit.

In the middle of the Windjammer, there's a made-to-order area where chefs prepare omelets in the morning and dishes such as stir-fry chicken, fajitas and a meat-carving station later in the day. There's also a Grab-n-Go buffet line with prepared sandwiches, pizzas and burgers. A drink station is available here with water, iced tea, lemonade, coffee and milk.

Farther forward under the skylight is a cold buffet with more self-service items (cereal, doughnuts, yogurt and pastries, for example).

Crew circulate through the Windjammer throughout the day with carts to refill drinks, clear dirty dishes or offer pastries. This was particularly helpful in the morning when we needed a coffee refill and the crowds were heavy.

Though the space is visually pleasing, we found the layout was not ideal for the large flow of traffic at peak times during breakfast and lunch, with passengers frequently bumping into each other and longer than average waits. The food left something to be desired here, too, both in terms of flavor and a lack of variety. We missed the variety of salad fixings we've had on other Royal Caribbean ships, for example.

It's worth mentioning the two self-serve ice cream machines located just outside the Windjammer near the main pool -- there is a soft-serve dispenser on both the port and starboard sides, usually with two different flavor combinations, and cones. Our kids enjoyed these immensely, and we usually had to make at least one stop each day.

Park Cafe (Deck 9, aft): If you're looking for a quieter and less crowded meal or snack option, check out this cute little cafe located within the Solarium. It’s typically open for an early riser continental breakfast, lunch, and a late-night snack.

Breakfast items at Park Café on Vision of the Seas include yogurt parfaits, fresh fruit cups, juice and milk; lunch and snack options are tuna salad and egg salad sandwiches, hot carved sandwiches, made-to-order salads and soups.

A refrigerated case offers more grab-and-go selections perfect for enjoying poolside such as pasta salad, coleslaw, Greek wraps, three-cheese panini, Cuban panini, and cookies and other desserts like panna cotta and Jell-O.

There's a drink station here where you can fill your own glass up with ice water, lemonade, apple juice and flavored water -- we loved that option for when we were relaxing at the Solarium pool.

Cafe Latte-tudes (Deck 6, midship): The complimentary snack options here are a bit of a hidden gem on the ship. Many passengers love the extra-fee specialty coffee here and the scoops of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, but they don't realize that they can also grab a quick snack for free. The selection is similar to -- though more limited than -- the Park Cafe. Examples include prepared croissant sandwiches, wraps and submarine sandwiches, Jell-O, cookies and slices of cake.

Room Service: There is a delivery fee for most room service items, but passengers can still get a complimentary continental breakfast delivered, limited to coffee, tea, juice, pastries and cold cereals.

For-Fee Dining Options on Vision of the Seas

Chef's Table (Deck 4, aft); prix fixe: This super exclusive specialty dining experience is tucked away in a small wood-paneled room off the main dining room with a chandelier made out of silverware and a limited number of seats.

Chef's Table is a multicourse dinner paired with wine that takes place most nights, and participants are advised to plan for a two- to three-hour dinner. The prix fixe menu varies, but it might include scallop carpaccio, a smoked tomato soup, Maine lobster salad, roasted branzino and, for dessert, a Valrhona chocolate bar salted caramel with dulce de leche gelato.

Chops Grille (Deck 6, aft); prix fixe: The Vision of the Seas steakhouse is open nightly for dinner and on sea days for lunch. Passengers are encouraged to make advanced reservations for all of the specialty restaurants, but on our cruise, we didn't have a difficult time getting reservations.

Chops Grille is gold-toned with mirrored accents and feels very much like an exclusive, upscale dining experience. You'll start with a selection of soups and salads, such as a crispy goat cheese salad, lobster bisque or wild mushroom soup. Appetizers include charred beef carpaccio, grilled black pepper bacon and tuna tartare.

This is a great place to order a perfectly prepared steak -- choose from filet mignon, New York strip, bone-in ribeye -- or rack of lamb, grilled branzino, grilled Atlantic salmon or an organic half chicken, and pair with a selection of scrumptious sharable sides, such as Gruyere cheese Tater Tots, sauteed mushrooms, truffled French fries and mac 'n' cheese.

Cap off your experience with a dessert from the freshly made selections: Mississippi mud pie, New York cheesecake, red velvet cake or warm apple pie a la mode, among others.

Giovanni's Table (Deck 6, aft); prix fixe: The warm wood tones, extensive wine list and Tuscan artwork transports you to Italy for the day or night. Giovanni's Table on Vision of the Seas is open daily for dinner and on select days for lunch.

You're guaranteed not to walk away hungry, as there are several courses from which to choose. The meal starts with appetizers and salads (examples: focaccia della casa, carpaccio di Manzo and insalata caprese) and soups such as seafood stew and lentil and vegetable soup. A pasta course is followed by entrees such as grilled lamb chops, pan-seared sole fillets and veal tenderloin. Dessert includes cannoli, panna cotta and chocolate cake.

We loved watching the sunset during our dinner here while we savored each course. Tip: Don't let the dessert cart pass you by without grabbing a serving of tiramisu.

Cafe Latte-tudes (Deck 6, midship); a la carte pricing: This specialty coffee shop is located near the Centrum photo shop and serves up various hot and cold espresso-based drinks like caramel macchiato, cafe Americano and mocha frappe.

Ben & Jerry's (Deck 6, midship); a la carte pricing: This beloved ice cream chain has a scoop shop right beside Cafe Latte-tudes. Check the board for daily flavors, which might include Chunky Monkey, Phish Food and Cherry Garcia. You can also order a milkshake.

Izumi (Deck 12, midship); a la carte pricing: Izumi is Royal Caribbean's Japanese restaurant brand, and on Vision of the Seas it's generally open for lunch and dinner with the same a la carte menu. It's located a few stairs up from Viking Crown Lounge and is decorated in a simple and elegant Asian motif.

You'll start your meal with a hot towel to cleanse your hands and a complimentary appetizer of edamame. Other appetizer options include pork gyoza dumplings, mixed poke taco and crispy rice spicy tuna. Salad selections are ahi and albacore tataki salad and tofu salad, among others.

There are a variety of sushi rolls and nigiri (we ordered one of the chef's signature rolls, the truffle creamy lobster tempura, and thought it was fantastic). There's also a Hot Rock option, where you can order a steak or seafood and cook it over a hot rock at your table, with accompanying dipping sauces.

This was a great lunch option on a day when we didn't want to deal with the crowds at the Windjammer. We brought our kids, who happily ate ramen and were treated to a behind-the-scenes sushi demonstration by the kind sushi chefs.

Room service: Passengers can order room service 24 hours a day, with a continental or American breakfast and items such as chicken fingers, salads and sandwiches served the rest of the day. Royal Caribbean charges a fixed delivery fee for all room service orders except continental breakfast.