Vision-class cruise ship

Vision class is a term Royal Caribbean International uses to refer to six cruise ships operated by themselves and Marella Cruises. Although called a "class" by Royal Caribbean, the Vision-class ships were built as three pairs of sister ships. Each pair differs from the others in size and design, so the six ships do not constitute a single ship-class by the common usage of the term. The class was further split when Enchantment of the Seas was lengthened by 73 feet in 2005. Unlike other Royal Caribbean classes, the Vision class is not named for the first ship built (Vision of the Seas was named for the class, not vice versa).

Vision-class ships were designed to have more glass windows than any other ships at the time they debuted, and therefore greater views of the oceans from interior spaces. Ships in the Vision class were also the fastest built in 25 years thanks to their diesel electric propulsion systems (the first in the Royal Caribbean fleet), which allowed the larger engines to be placed closer to the middle of the ships for better weight balance.^[1]

Two of the ships were built at Kvaerner Masa-Yards, Helsinki New Shipyard, Finland, while the others were built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France (both shipyards are now a part of STX Europe).

Ships

Royal Caribbean International

Grandeur of the Seas & Enchantment of the Seas

Built in 1996 and 1997 by Kvaerner Masa-Yards, approximately 74,000 gross tons when built. Enchantment was lengthened by 73 feet in 2005, making it over 80,000 gross tons.

Ship	Year Built	Entered service with Royal Caribbean	Gross tonnage	Current Home Port	Notes	Image
Grandeur of the Seas	1996	December 14, 1996	73,817	Baltimore, Maryland	A collision occurred in 2005 where a long hole was torn in the hull of the ship A fire broke out in the early hours on Memorial day (May 28) 2013 causing extensive damage to the aft portion of the ship.
Enchantment of the Seas	1997	July 13, 1997	82,910	Miami, FL	In 2005, a 74-foot (23 m) midsection was added to Enchantment of the Seas, allowing for the addition of a pool, suspension bridges, specialty restaurants, additional staterooms, and expanded areas for guest comfort.

Rhapsody of the Seas & Vision of the Seas

Built in 1997 and in 1998 by Chantiers l'Atlantique, approximately 78,000 gross tons.

Ship	Year Built	Entered service with Royal Caribbean	Gross tonnage	Current Home Port	Notes	Image
Rhapsody of the Seas	1997	May 19, 1997	78,491	Tampa, Venice	Received upgrades in 2012 to add an outdoor movie screen, new dining venues, digital signage, Wi-Fi internet access, concierge and diamond lounges, and a nursery.
Vision of the Seas	1998	May 2, 1998	78,340	Galveston, Texas/ Amsterdam, Holland	Received upgrades in 2013 to add an outdoor movie screen, new dining venues, digital signage, Wi-Fi internet access, concierge and diamond lounges, and a nursery.

Marella (formerly Thomson) Cruises

Legend of the Seas & Splendour of the Seas

Built in 1995 and in 1996 by Chantiers l'Atlantique, approximately 70,000 gross tons. The only two ships in the Vision class to feature miniature golf courses.

Ship	Year Built	Entered service with Royal Caribbean	Gross tonnage	Current Home Port	Notes	Image
Legend of the Seas	1995	May 16, 1995	69,130	Malaga, Montego Bay, Santa Cruz, Tenerife	Legend of the Seas is the most-traveled ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, having been based in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the South Pacific, Alaska, Central America, the Caribbean, the Baltic, Mediterranean and the Middle East during her career. Retrofitted in 2013. Sold to Thomson Cruises and renamed in 2017, first as TUI Discovery 2,[2] then as Marella Discovery II, as part of Tui's rebranding of their cruise businesses
Splendour of the Seas	1996	March 31, 1996	69,130	Palma Mallorca; Bridgetown Barbados	Sold to Thomson Cruises, renamed TUI Discovery in 2016. Previously operated until 2016 by Royal Caribbean International as Splendour of the Seas[3]

References