Brilliance of the Seas Review

4.0 / 5.0
1,563 reviews

Somewhat Mixed Review

Review for Transatlantic Cruise on Brilliance of the Seas
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CTLeeA
10+ Cruises • Age 70s

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Sail Date: Aug 2014
Cabin: Superior Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony

We've cruised about 29 times and this was our 3rd RCCL cruise. The ship, about 12 years old, is still very pretty and easy to navigate. Our cabin, 9034, was a balcony and far enough away from the atrium to avoid the noise that others have complained about. The cabin attendant was perfect. The ship itself had some issues. We needed to call to report plumbing problems four consecutive days. Others had the same unfunctioning toilet and lack of hot water issues we did. Repairs were made promptly, and repeatedly. The cabin was rather large and comfortable, and had a lot of storage space.

The entertainment was varied...the first production show featured mostly songs from broadway and the west end that apparently didn't make it big...we go to a lot of theater and never heard them. The exception was the ABBA part of the show. The singers were excellent, We had the pleasure of having lunch with Tracey, one of the singers, in the Faroe Islands, and especially enjoyed that. During the sea days crossing the Atlantic, they had a matinee theater show each day as well as the evening show. Besides the usual games, there were lectures and we were not at a loss for things to do. The ports were interesting and the Faroe Islands was the nicest surprise for us. We enjoyed it more than Iceland which had several main attractions but the drives getting there were rather boring.

Now, the disappointing part: the food and the dining room service. Aside from the standby entrees, the ship offered 5-7 entrees each night and two of them were Indian food, which we don't eat. I asked about that and the Head Waiter said it was because there were a great many Indians onboard. Technically, he was correct but the only Indians we saw were the food staff...we saw not one Indian among the passengers. The food portions were small, the soup all broth like (even the french Onion Soup which was served without cheese) and there was no choice of salads in the main dining room at night...just Caesar. Food in the Windjammer was slightly more varied. We dined once in the Giovanni;s restaurant which had basically the same food as the main dining room...they just renamed the entrees. This was a 14 day cruise and I didn't gain a pound. At breakfast, the same server forgot something I ordered four consecutive mornings. On the fifth day, she got the breakfast right but served me lunch belonging to someone at a different table. We had a good laugh about that.

Cabin Review

Superior Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony

Large, clean, had maint. issues. Quiet and far from the noisy atrium. near the front elevators.

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