Vision of the Seas vs Luminosa

The Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas was built in 1998. It was renovated in 2013. It's 11 years older than the Luminosa, which was built in 2009 and renovated in 2022. The Carnival Luminosa originally sailed with Carnival's sister cruise line, Costa Cruises. Because of that, it will have some differences compared to other Spirit-class ships and will be missing some Carnival signature items like Guy's Burger Joint.

Comparison Overview

• Ship Size
• Number of Passengers
• Food and Restaurants
• Bars and Drinks
• Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ship Features and Activities
• Cruise Costs
• Onboard Costs

Ship Size

The Vision of the Seas is considered a small size ship. Coming in at 915 feet long and 106 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.5 football fields, as wide as 2 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 11-story building. Compared to the Carnival Luminosa, the Vision of the Seas is 16% smaller in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas holds about the same number of passengers as the Luminosa based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the Vision of the Seas has less space per person compared to the Luminosa.

Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Vision of the Seas has 14 different dining options like Windjammer, Chef's Table, and Chops Grille. Of those options, 8 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 6 options have an additional fee.

The Luminosa has the same number of dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Carnival Deli, JavaBlue Cafe, and The Chef's Table. 10 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 4 have an additional fee.

The Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas has about the same number of dining options as the Carnival Luminosa.

If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Luminosa might be a better choice then the Vision of the Seas. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.

Bars and Drinks

The Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas has 2 fewer bars than the Carnival Luminosa. The Vision of the Seas has 7 bars like Casino Bar, R Bar and Viking Crown Lounge. On Vision of the Seas, you can grab a drink at 9 different bars such as Alchemy Bar, Ocean Plaza Bar and Piano Bar 88.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. The Vision of the Seas serves Coca Cola branded products. That includes drinks like Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have Coke Freestyle machines where you can make 100 different flavor combinations. The Luminosa serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Vision of the Seas and the Luminosa below.

Pools and Hot Tubs

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas has a total of 2 pools and 6 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.

The Carnival Luminosa has the same number of pools as the Vision of the Seas and fewer hot tubs.

Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids
Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5
(Carnival Edition) (Royal Caribbean Edition)

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8
(Carnival Edition) (Royal Caribbean Edition)

Ship Features and Activities

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On the Vision of the Seas, 62% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Luminosa, only 58% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.

Cruise Costs

Royal Caribbean and Carnival are both considered "Mainstream" cruise lines. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas will likely be cheaper than on Carnival Luminosa.

Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.

Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, which means the pricing for many things will vary per sailing. The daily gratuities and tip are consistent across the fleet, but the pricing for the drink package, internet, and excursions will change. The only way to know your price is to consult the Royal Caribbean cruise planner once you're booked.

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