Vision of the Seas in Helsinki, 28 June 2012

Vision of the Seas

IMO 9116876
Built 1998, Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France
Tonnage 78 491 GT
Length 278,94 m
Width 32,20 m
Draugth 7,80 m
2 435 passengers
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 50 400 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 22 knots

Often promised but rarely seen, here are the photos of the Vision of the Seas from last summer. Which are pretty perfect for today, as the Finnish winter in showing it's worst side again, with gloomy overcast skies and rain. Not snow, rain.

So yes, the photographs below show the Vision of the Seas departing Helsinki West Harbour in the afternoon of 28 June 2013. Photographed from Sisä-Hattu. Click on the images to see them in larger size.

Photogenic summer reeds in the foreground.

Photoenic summer reeds, part 2.

Now with a cameo appearance by The Photogenic Tree.

Not sure about the funnel placement in this class of ships, to be honest. It would probably look better if the funnel was more centrally located, near the Sky Viking lounge.

Finnish granite in the foreground.

Next time: If we continue chronologically, the Celebrity Eclipse.

Vision of the Seas, 12 May 2011

Vision of the Seas

IMO 9116876
Built 1998, Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France
Tonnage 78 491 GT
Length 278,94 m
Width 32,20 m
Draugth 7,80 m
2 435 passengers
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 50 400 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 22 knots

During the summers of 2010 and 2011 Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas has been sailing on one-week cruises on the Baltic with Stockholm as the port of departure. It's in fact also possible to start the cruise from Helsinki, but in these cases the cruise still ends in Stockholm, making it only a six-night cruise which reportedly even costs more than the full seven-night Stockholm to Stockholm cruise (I admit I haven't actually checked it out myself).

The photograhps below show the Vision of the Seas departing from Helsinki's Länsisatama on 12 May 2011. Photographed from Lauttasaari. Click on the individual images to view larger size.

I continue to think the funnel is placed too far aft on this ship. It would (probably) look much better if it were actually attached to the observation lounge like on earlier RCI ships.

This was actually a slightly misty day, but fortunately the wonders of treating pictures on your computer always bring out the best in any photo.

Pihlajasaari, as always, in the background as the ship is slipping out to the open seas.

And the mandatory panoramic photo.

Vision of the Seas, 2009-2010

Vision of the Seas

IMO 9116876
Built 1998, Chantiers de l'Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France
Tonnage 78 491 GT
Length 278,94 m
Width 32,20 m
Draft 7,80 m
2 435 passengers
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 50 400 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 22 knots

Vision of the Seas is a member of Royal Caribbean International's so-called Vision class. In actual fact the "class" is not a class at all, but three pairs of sister ships with roughly similar dimensions that have been grouped together by Royal Caribbean for marketing purposes. I don't really have much else to say about this ship. Not one of my favourites in terms of exterior design. She's sleek, at least for a contemporary ship, but the funnel is placed too far aft to look balanced, and the overall design lacks any elements that would make the ship individual or interesting-looking (apart from the too-far-aft funnel that is).

Photographs below are of the Vision of the Seas from Tallinn on 15 July 2009 and Helsinki on 6 July 2010. Click on the image(s) to view full size.

Pulling away from the cruise quay in Tallinn Reisisadam, 15 July 2009.

...and turning around before heading out. 15 July 2009.

Departing rainy Helsinki with Pihlajasaari in background. 6 July 2010. This picture had to be heavily treated to get anything resembling a presentable photo out of it.