Brilliance of the Seas Review
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We booked this cruise rather on the spur of the moment - we live locally, know all the ports well, and looked on it as an opportunity primarily for an on-board getaway. The Brilliance of the Seas delivered a first-rate experience across the board.
Embarkation went smoothly (being in a Suite helped, as at our arrival time, about 3:00, there was a substantial line. Even so, it did seem to be moving fairly well for all passengers), and within 20 minutes of being dropped at the port, we were in our starboard Grand Suite.
First impressions were extremely positive, and they remained so throughout our week. I'm a little mystified by reviewers who say that this ship isn't well-maintained - everything we saw sparkled, every corner was spotless, and the ongoing maintenance of little things that did crop up was around-the-clock (a call to fix a toilet problem was taken care of within five minutes, for example). Even the Windjammer, which must be a nightmare to keep clean given its heavy use, was immaculate, with tables quickly bussed and order generally maintained.
Cabin Review
Grand Suite
1530 is a standard (i.e. non-hump) Grand Suite. The only slight drawback is that is just aft of the broadest part of the ship, meaning that the left-side balcony juts out, so one can see something of one's neighbors and vice versa. We never really found it an issue, however. We especially liked the location, as the forward stairs and elevators are just around the corner, meaning its a quick trip pretty much anywhere on board. We had no issues with either overhead or corridor noise.