need a RCCL expert..

[Jim C.]

Hi all- Looking at maybe doing an RCCL cruise next time and want to try a Voyager class ship.. What are the names of the Voyager ships so that when we are trying to pick cruises, we are looking at the right ones? We would like to try something besides the carribean (Maybe the west coast of Mexico out of SanDiego or LA?)

Follow on questions- Freedom's sister ship- when is it supposed to launch/start cruising?

What are the next "newer" ships from the Voyager class?

[Dave]

I am far from being an RCCL expert. SonnyV is a diamond plus member with that line.

But I can answer your questions...

Voyager, Mariner, Navigator, Explorer, and Adventure are the names of the Voyager class ships.

The Liberty Of The Seas is the second Freedom class ship. It's maiden voyage is next May.

The Radiance class of ships are actually sort of concurrent with the Voyager class. Brilliance, Jewel, Radiance, and Serenade.

[Jim C.]

Great.. thanks Dave! Maybe SonnyV will chime in. Not counting the Freedom.. Is there any of these that have better amendities (family orientated) than the others of there class are are the about the same. I guess what I'm asking for is which are the choice ships to cruise on for the Voyager and Radiance classes if there is any significant difference.

[Dave]

Other than some differences in layout (for example Voyager has a sports bar where Mariner replaced it with a wine bar), there isn't any difference in amenities. I'd be happy on either class of ship and would look more at which port I wanted to leave from and the itinerary.

I don't think they have any of the Voyager class ships sailing from L.A. The Voyager itself is supposed to be coming to Galveston, but that is another western Caribbean cruise.

[Sonny V]

Jim, all the "Voyager" class ships are pretty much the same. The Mariner and Navigator have a better layout in the Windjammer. Other than that, I can't think of anything significant. The Freedom has the H20 zone which is great for kids, and the Flowrider. The Freedom is an "Ultra Voyager" class ship. There will be a total of three "Ultra Voyager" class ships built. The "Genisis" will be larger then the "Ultra Voyager" class ships. I thinK it will be 2009 before we will see the Genisis.

[Jim C.]

Thanks for the info Dave and SonnyV. Sounds like as Dave puts it, I should concentrate on the itinerary a little more than the ship as long as its either of these classes.

While Galveston is our best bet for a port, we have all but exhausted the itineraries available from there. So, if we are going to look towards LA or some other port to get a "new" cruise, we figured we would also pick and choose a ship.

[Dave]

The slightly older Vision Of The Seas does the Mexican cruise out of L.A.

[Sonny V]

Jim, if you have never been on a "Voyager" class ship, you'd probably be very happy if you picked one with an itinerary you prefer. It looks like you have never been on a RCCL ship by the ships you have listed.

Sonny

[NancyN]

As SonnyV and Dave have rightfully stated, there is insignificant difference between any of the Voyager Class ships. However, while I personally prefer the Radiance class ships, for families I think the Voyager class ships are a much better fit. The children's area and sports facilities are more suited to young children and teens than those on the Radiance class. There is no ice skating rink or promenade on the Radiance class ships, nor is there an inline skating track or miniature golf course on the Radiance class.
Nancy

[Sonny V]

NancyN said: "There is no ice skating rink or promenade on the Radiance class ships, nor is there an inline skating track or miniature golf course on the Radiance class."

Nancy, there is a miniature golf course on the Radiance class ship.

Sonny