Royal Caribbean Ship Classes: What I’ve Learned Sailing Them All

By Tonya Vega, Cruise Travel Advisor in Jupiter, Florida

I started sailing Royal Caribbean back in the 1990s, long before cruise ships had neighborhoods, AquaTheaters, Central Park, or waterslides hanging over the side of the ship. I have watched Royal Caribbean grow from there.

I remember when Freedom Class debuted and thinking the ship was absolutely enormous. A FlowRider on a cruise ship? The Royal Promenade? At the time, it was hard to imagine ships getting much bigger. Then Oasis came along and proved me very wrong. Fast-forward to today, and Icon Class makes some of the ships I once thought were huge look pretty small.

After more than 20 Royal Caribbean cruises, I’ve sailed all seven current Royal Caribbean ship classes. I still enjoy getting on a ship I haven’t sailed before, or even returning to one I have, because I always notice or learn something new. One thing all those cruises have taught me is that newer and bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better.

Royal Caribbean has such a wide range of ships that two people can both take a Royal Caribbean cruise and have completely different experiences. A week on a Vision Class ship feels nothing like a week on Icon Class. One is not necessarily better than the other. It depends on what you want from your vacation.

Vision Class: Smaller, Simpler, and More About the Destination

Vision Class offers a more traditional cruise experience. These ships are much smaller than the ones most people see in Royal Caribbean’s current advertising, and they do not have all the attractions found on the newer ships. But not everyone is looking for that.

I consider Vision Class when I really like the itinerary, the departure port is convenient, or someone prefers a smaller ship. There is something nice about that classic, small-ship feel. You learn your way around quickly, and everything feels a little easier.

Expectations are important with this class. If all you have seen are pictures and videos of Icon or Utopia, Vision will feel very different. That doesn’t make it a bad choice. You just need to understand what kind of cruise you are choosing.

Best fit for: Travelers who care more about the itinerary, value a convenient departure port, or prefer a smaller and more traditional cruise ship.

May not be the best fit if: Your family is choosing Royal Caribbean for waterslides, extensive dining choices, large-scale entertainment, and the attractions featured on the newer ships.

Radiance Class: One of My Favorites for Destination-Focused Cruising

I have always liked how much glass there is on Radiance Class ships. You can see the water and scenery from so many places around the ship, which is a major advantage on certain itineraries.

Alaska immediately comes to mind. When I am sailing somewhere like Alaska, I want to see Alaska. The scenery is such a significant part of the trip that I don’t need the ship competing for my attention every minute.

Best fit for: Destination-focused itineraries, especially when the scenery is one of the main reasons you are cruising. Alaska is a perfect example.

May not be the best fit if: The ship itself is the main attraction for your family and you want a long list of activities and entertainment from morning until night.

Voyager Class: When Royal Caribbean Started Thinking Bigger

Voyager Class was a big deal when it arrived. Royal Caribbean put a Royal Promenade and an ice-skating rink on a cruise ship, which sounds almost normal now. It definitely didn’t then.

I think the Voyager Class still holds a strong place in the Royal Caribbean fleet. You get many of the features people associate with Royal Caribbean without moving up to the size of Oasis or Icon Class. Depending on the sailing, these ships can also offer great value. If the itinerary is right and the price difference is significant, I would have no problem choosing Voyager Class over one of the newer ships.

Best fit for: Travelers who want the Royal Caribbean experience and plenty to do onboard without automatically paying for one of the newest or largest ships.

May not be the best fit if: You are specifically looking for Royal Caribbean’s newest restaurants, entertainment venues, neighborhoods, and family attractions.

Freedom Class: This One Takes Me Back

I have a soft spot for Freedom Class because I remember when it was the new big ship. I sailed Freedom Class when it first debuted, and I really did wonder how cruise ships could get much bigger. The FlowRider was a huge deal, the Royal Promenade was impressive, and the whole ship felt enormous.

Royal Caribbean clearly wasn’t done. Even with all the newer ships that have come along since, I still really like Freedom Class. For me, it offers a nice balance. It offers plenty of dining, entertainment, and activities without the sheer size of Oasis and Icon Class. Sometimes you want a lot going on without needing a map every time you leave your stateroom.

Best fit for: Families, couples, and multigenerational groups who want an active ship with plenty happening onboard but do not need the biggest ship in the fleet.

May not be the best fit if: The newest attractions and the largest selection of restaurants and entertainment are high on your priority list.

Oasis Class: When the Ship Became Part of the Destination

Then came Oasis.

Wonder of the Seas

I sailed Oasis Class when it first debuted, and I remember being amazed by the whole concept. Central Park on a cruise ship was something completely different. Then there was the Boardwalk, the AquaTheater, the variety of restaurants and entertainment, and the distinct neighborhoods that made different areas of the ship feel completely different from one another.

For me, this was when the ship really became part of the destination. I have sailed Oasis Class many times since then, and it is still a class I recommend often.

You also cannot assume every Oasis Class ship offers the same experience. The ships have evolved considerably. Some have been amplified, newer ships have different venues, and I prefer certain ships within the class. Those differences are one reason I continue sailing and touring them.

Best fit for: Families with older children or teenagers, multigenerational groups, and anyone who wants the ship to be a major part of the vacation. I also like this class when people in the same group want very different things from their cruise.

May not be the best fit if: You prefer smaller ships, quieter surroundings, or a cruise where the ports are clearly the main focus.

Quantum Class: A Great Fit for Certain Itineraries

Quantum Class is different again. North Star, SeaPlex, and Two70 are some of the obvious features, but I think one of this class’s greatest strengths is how much you can do indoors.

I sailed Ovation of the Seas in Alaska and thought the ship worked particularly well there. Alaska weather can change quickly, so you are not necessarily spending every day around the pool. I appreciated having so many indoor spaces while still enjoying the views.

That sailing also reminded me that choosing a ship isn’t only about comparing activities. Where the ship is sailing matters. A ship that makes perfect sense for one itinerary may not be the one I would choose for another.

Best fit for: Itineraries where the weather can be cooler or unpredictable and travelers who appreciate plenty of indoor spaces and activities. Alaska is where this class made the most sense to me.

May not be the best fit if: You are looking for the neighborhood-style layout and expansive outdoor pool decks found on Oasis and Icon Class ships.

Icon Class: Royal Caribbean’s Newest Generation

It is funny to think about Icon Class compared with the Royal Caribbean ships I sailed in the 1990s. Even Freedom, which once seemed enormous to me, feels very different from what Royal Caribbean is creating now.

Icon and Star of the Seas

Icon Class has an incredible amount happening. The pools, neighborhoods, dining, entertainment, and family areas can easily make the ship itself a major part of the vacation.

For some families, that is exactly what they want. For others, it isn’t. I wouldn’t automatically recommend Icon Class just because it is the newest. Some people will love having that many choices. Someone else may be happier on Freedom or Oasis Class, while another traveler may prefer one of Royal Caribbean’s smaller ships.

Best fit for: Families and travelers who want the ship to be a major part of the vacation and enjoy having extensive dining, entertainment, pools, activities, and choices.

May not be the best fit if: You prefer smaller ships, don’t care about the extra attractions, or would rather put more of your vacation budget toward the itinerary than the ship itself.

So, What Is the Best Royal Caribbean Ship?

This is one of the questions I am asked most often, and after sailing all these different classes, I still don’t think there is one answer.

Who is traveling makes a significant difference. Are there little kids or teenagers? Is it an adults-only trip or a multigenerational family vacation? Then I want to know whether the ship or the ports matter more to you. How important is entertainment? Do you want lots of restaurant choices? Do you want a quieter vacation, or do you want something happening all day? And, of course, what do you want to spend?

Those answers tell me more than the ship’s age.

Once onboard, I naturally pay attention to the details. I walk the ship, try the restaurants, see the shows, and look at different stateroom locations. I want to understand how everything actually works once onboard rather than simply reading a list of what a ship offers.

After all these years and all these ships, I don’t think the best Royal Caribbean ship is necessarily the biggest, newest, or most expensive. It is the one that fits the way you want to vacation.

Not sure which Royal Caribbean ship is right for you? I can help you compare the ships, itineraries, staterooms, and onboard experiences based on what matters most to you. Contact me to begin planning your Royal Caribbean vacation.

About Tonya

Tonya Vega is a cruise travel advisor with Travel With The Magic based in Jupiter, Florida. She has been planning vacations professionally since 2013 and has personally sailed more than 75 cruises. Her firsthand cruise experience includes more than 20 Royal Caribbean sailings across every current Royal Caribbean ship class. Tonya specializes in ocean cruises, river cruises, guided land tours, Disney and Universal vacations, and all-inclusive resorts.