There's much to enjoy aboard Brilliance of the Seas: the amenities, the secret hideaways, other passengers, and the crew. Many have written about those things, but I want to look at a different set of issues that have special meaning to me.

I'm in my 50s, have a disability, and use a wheelchair full time. I travel with my fully able wife, who provides minimal assistance. I've been reluctant to consider cruising until now, since family and friends have described all kinds of physical barriers and challenges aboard older cruise ships -- step-over sills in every public restroom and in other public areas of the ships, as well as cabins far too small to accommodate the space requirements of a wheelchair.

Brilliance's architects, Jos. L. Meyer Werft, and Royal Caribbean have done a fabulous job of providing an amazingly accessible cruise ship. I'm thrilled at the comfortable experience we had on Brilliance on our just-completed cruise of the Eastern Caribbean. Read more