Brilliance of the Seas Review

We Had a Great Time, But----

Review for the Western Caribbean Cruise on Brilliance of the Seas
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crshann
2-5 Cruises • Age 70s

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

This was our third cruise and we have been loyal to Royal Caribbean the entire time. First cruise was Freedom of the Seas, second on Jewel and this one on Brilliance of the Seas which is the same class as Jewel of the Seas. Embarkation was straight forward with only one new little addition and that is to fill out a health questionnaire primarily related to Ebola. Once on the ship, we explored a little bit and found this ship very similar to Jewel of the Seas with the addition of aerial entertainment in the Centrum. The stateroom was ready at 1:30 and with the exception of a bag that was misplaced in front of another cabin, everything was fine. The weather during the entire time at sea including leaving Tampa could not have been worse. Thunderstorms and rain leaving Tampa put a damper on any kind of sail away parties on the upper decks so all 2100 people had to rely in interior public spaces for their leisure time. This is where this ship is woefully inadequate, all the interior spaces were jammed and what covered space there was on the upper pool deck was commandeered by people who monopolized the only hot tub there and did the usual throw the towel over a chair to save it and then disappear for a long time. Thank goodness we had a balcony to give us some relief but because of the rain, it too was of limited value. The sea days were overcast and bumpy for the most part but not "hug the rail" seasick bumpy. During the last sea day the swimming pool toward the forward end of the ship was closed because all the water was washing up over the sides. It didn't seem that bumpy but the pool told a different story. Shore time in Grand Cayman was cut short by an unfavorable weather forecast and high swells making the tendering process an adventure that was not appreciated by anyone in particular but kudos to RCL ship staff in ensuring the tendering process was safe. I can't say enough about the quality of the staff on board this particular ship. Every single person, regardless of what job they had were friendly and eager to make the cruise as pleasurable as possible. From that standpoint, this cruise was the best of the three we have taken. Leaving the ship at the end of the cruise was the usual hurry up and wait but was not a big deal at all. Even the customs officials looked bored. Overall the cruise was not super but we still had a great time. Just a few comments about the ship itself. Brilliance of the Seas had a makeover in 2013 with some changes in the Centrum area and some of the specialty restaurants. It is very nice but it can't hide the fact the interior appointments on the ship from the public areas to the staterooms are beginning to looked very dated and starting to show a lot of wear. The ship has not entered into a state of "stately shabbiness" and is maintained but needs more than just some modifications of restaurants and Centrum area. It needs a makeover. Even our bedding and mattress was starting to get that smell from too many bodies sleeping on them before changing them out. I consider that a big deal. The last comment is directed to Royal Caribbean itself. The cruise line seems to be slipping into the airline style of fees. What used to be an all inclusive cruise is now riddled with activities and eating that are upcharges from the basic cruise fare. I hope it doesn't get to the point where all you get for your money is the cruise and basic dining and everything else is on a charge basis. If that continues, our choice of cruising versus other vacation activities will be an easier one.

Cabin Review

Superior Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony

Cabin D2

This cabin is on Brilliance of the Seas, Deck 9. It is situated on the port side of the ship just slightly aft of mid ship. Interior appointments seem to be standard for this type accommodation, king size bed near the balcony door, couch and dressing area with a fairly large closet complete with shelves. Bathroom is somewhat small with a small shower, compensated for by it's circular design which makes it seem bigger than it actually is. Balcony consists of a table and two chairs. The curtains can be pulled to almost blackout conditions so bright daylight will not affect late sleepers. Access to the room is with the company issued "SeaPass" card which is the universal card used on the ship. That's the description, here's the impression. It was our first balcony and only our third cruise so we were anxiously anticipating a memorable event. It didn't seem that much larger than a standard interior stateroom such as found on Freedom class ships. The balcony made it seem much larger than it actually was. Perhaps that oversize closet makes up some of the difference. We had a light on the right side of the dressing area that was burned out, reported at guest services and never fixed. Perhaps it was more than a bulb but it left me wondering if complaints were taken seriously. I would have expected our stateroom attendant to have noticed the burned out bulb as well and in her defense, perhaps she was aware of it but it was a repair that would have to be undertaken during the turn-around in Tampa. The room was not shabby but the furnishings, bedding and all the interior appointments are seriously showing their age, tired looking and in dire need of an upgrade, at least cosmetically. The ship was updated in 2013 but I don't think that extended to the cabins.

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