Brilliance of the Seas Review

We were trying to accumulate more points until now.

Review for the Southern Caribbean Cruise on Brilliance of the Seas
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alphagal
2-5 Cruises • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Oct 2014
Cabin: Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony

This was our fourth cruise. My husband and I were so looking forward to the same wonderful service, excitement and entertainment we were used to having sailed on the freedom of the seas. We were some of the younger passengers in our fifties, while the median age seemed to be 70 to 80. Apparently this cruise had over 350 diamond members which left little service or preference for non-diamond members. There seemed to be a collective sense of entitlement by this crowd that left many servers and waiters exhausted. Folks were not friendly, unless you were from the east coast or were in the "diamond club."

Frustrated, we gave up our "my time: dining because we were told we could not reserve or have preference for where we wanted to sit, while all the diamond members took all window seats and had them every night. (I thought that was the purpose for my time dining) Twice we came to the dining room and the seating waiter was given a seat for us but by the time we walked to our specified table, it was already occupied by another couple, causing us to turn around and find whatever was available, each time away from where we wanted to sit. So we relegated ourselves to the windjammer where they will offer you half and half for your coffee unlike the dining room where they said they did not know what 1/2 and 1/2 was and tried to tell you that non-dairy creamer was cream.

The Pool Areas: while there were signs saying no reserving chairs around the pool, by 8:00 am all chairs were reserved in both the solarium and main pool. They were reserved for hours upon hours. I saw seniors with leg sores in the hot tub, each day I saw the same people dominating the hot tubs, some sleeping with their mouths gaping open. The majority of the seniors in the Solarium would sleep under their towels around the pools with mouths gaping open. This was not the view my boyfriend and myself imagined for our vacation. When we went to the pool bar, their were passengers arguing with the bar tender who was yelling back at them. I found that very disturbing. I thought it humorous and sad to have disco music playing in the background with these views. If I ever cruise RC again, I will call ahead to find out if the cruise is dedicated to seniors, or mostly diamond or pinnacles members, so my boyfriend and I can enjoy ourselves on a more active cruise, and one that will enforce the "no pool chair reservation" rule.

Cabin Review

Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony

This was our first balcony room. Though the cover for the life boats obstructed our view somewhat, we loved having a balcony. This room was our sanctuary. Not being able to find space around the solarium or main pool, we often went back to our balcony. Unfortunately we had neighbors who woke up very early and went to the balcony to loudly clear their throat and nasal passages. It sounded like we were in a hospital. I had to plug my ears and close our balcony door to avoid the hacking.

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