Embarkation was a breeze. We stayed in Tampa the night before our cruise so we arrived at the terminal early. We were checked in and ready to board by 10:30.
My 10 year old son loves to explore so we checked out the entire ship. Grabbed a quick drink and a bite to eat in the Windjammer and headed to our room as it was ready by 1:30. Our cabin was nicely appointed. The newly refurbished Brilliance is a beautiful ship. Some areas still show aging but nothing major, mostly carpeting. I loved the open areas and the glass elevators overlooking the sea. When I'm on a cruise I prefer to see the beautiful landscapes as opposed to "boardwalk" areas but that is just my preference.
The entertainment was good, not great. The solo guitarist (can't remember his name) was fantastic! The centrum area is crowded during shows and needs more seating.
Plenty of storage. The bed was not very comfortable and kept coming apart in the middle. The pullman was fine for my son but every time he moved and bumped the wall it would make a loud bang.