6 Cruise Ships Experienced Travelers Would Avoid Booking

Royal Caribbean is one of the biggest names in cruising, and its parent company describes Royal Caribbean as the world’s largest cruise vacation brand. The line is known for massive ships, family-friendly entertainment, onboard attractions, private destinations, and a steady push toward bigger and newer cruise experiences. But that does not mean every ship in the fleet is the right fit for every traveler.

Before booking a cruise, it helps to look beyond the itinerary and compare the actual ship experience. Older vessels, crowded layouts, cabin wear, limited dining options, service complaints, or mismatched expectations can all shape how a trip feels once you are onboard. For some travelers, a smaller or older Royal Caribbean ship may still be a great value. For others, customer reviews can reveal ships that may not deliver the vacation they had in mind.

This Seattle Travel list looks at Royal Caribbean cruise ships that travelers have criticized most often in reviews, with attention to recurring complaints rather than one-off bad experiences. The goal is not to say these ships are always worth avoiding, but to help cruise-goers know what to watch for before spending their hard-earned vacation time and money.

Rhapsody of the Seas

According to CruiseCritic, the Rhapsody of the Seas earns middle-of-the-road (or sea!) reviews from both customers and the site’s editors. With an average rating of 3.7 out of 5, the Rhapsody seems to be a basic, bland Royal Caribbean offering overall. Originally launched in 1997, the Rhapsody is showing its age. Plus, the dining options are limited and reportedly nothing to write home about.

Critique of Rhapsody of the Seas

One of the primary complaints surrounding the Rhapsody has to do with amenities. Many Royal Caribbean ships offer top-of-the-line entertainment, including water slides and quality performances. However, the Rhapsody is a smaller ship, something that may be a pro or con for your situation. The compact design of this ship allows it to venture where larger, more exciting Royal Caribbean ships can’t reach, but you will sacrifice some comfort and amenities in the process.

Navigator of the Seas

Full of flash and recently refurbished in 2019, the Navigator of the Seas may seem like a good option for your next cruise. While the editors of CruiseCritic give the Navigator 4.5 out of 5, customers rate this ship at an average of 3.8 out of 5. These negative critiques have manifested recently as well, especially when it comes to reviews surrounding dining and cleanliness.

Critique of Navigator of the Seas

Many guests aboard the Navigator mention cramped, dirty cabins for the duration of their stay. When paired with extra meal costs at most of the popular dining options as well as disappointing rooms, the Navigator of the Seas may not end up cracking the top of your cruise ship list.

Vision of the Seas

Also launched in the late 90s like the Rhapsody, Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas has its quirks. Customers and editors of CruiseCritic give it a 3.6 on average, citing boredom and pressure to spend money onboard as key influences for such low reviews. The Vision holds just over 2,000 people, which may not sound all bad. However, a mellow cruise ship experience may not be what you’re looking for.

Critique of Vision of the Seas

Being on board such a small ship can have its drawbacks, especially if there isn’t anything to do. That is the main complaint from guests on the Vision. While amenities aren’t everything, this ship only has two pools and very few other offerings in terms of entertainment. Plus, some itineraries on the Vision include multiple days at sea, something that grows reportedly tiresome.

Quantum of the Seas

CruiseCritic gives the Quantum of the Seas an average review of 3.3 out of 5. Dated, mid-sized, and typically traveling the freezing waters of Alaska, the Quantum is designed with winter weather in mind. Most amenities are indoors or take account of the weather in other ways. However, this can easily lead to cabin fever and other negative feelings from guests onboard. 

Critique of Quantum of the Seas

While it isn’t fair to blame Royal Caribbean for the weather patterns of certain destinations, the Quantum is reportedly in need of some major overhauls. Most furnishings are out of date or damaged in guest cabins and the dining options are blasé at best. While there are more amenities aboard the Quantum compared to smaller Royal Caribbean vessels, this ship may offer a bland experience overall. 

Grandeur of the Seas

It’s no wonder that the Grandeur of the Seas makes this list, given the fact that it is Royal Caribbean’s oldest and smallest vessel still operating. While CruiseCritic gives the Grandeur an average review of 3.8, this ship has plenty of evidence pointing to its disrepair and overall deflated state. 

Critique of Grandeur of the Seas

The main critiques surrounding the Grandeur involve its age, as much of the ship needs upgrading and refurbishment. Additionally, the smallness of this vessel means fewer amenities, though fewer guests can be a positive for some cruisegoers. While a classic, the Grandeur doesn’t offer much for families or those seeking endless entertainment onboard.

Anthem of the Seas

While the Anthem of the Seas offers enough amenities to keep guests entertained for the entirety of their itineraries, it maintains an average rating of 3.7 on CruiseCritic. Most of the other ships on this list earn their low ratings because of a lack of amenities. So why does the Anthem have such poor reviews if it, in theory, offers so much? 

Critique of Anthem of the Seas

Despite having plenty of entertainment and clean lodging options, the Anthem struggles to deliver when it comes to dining– particularly dining included in the cruise cost. Most meals worth having on the Anthem need to be paid extra for, a common theme aboard Royal Caribbean cruises. Additionally, the Anthem may leave you feeling overwhelmed in terms of the number of guests and just how long it takes to do certain activities, including eating onboard!