Brilliance of the Seas Review

4.0 / 5.0
1,565 reviews

Brilliance of the Seas - Eastern Mediterranean

Review for the Eastern Mediterranean Cruise on Brilliance of the Seas
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tomsaint11
First Time Cruiser • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Jul 2007
Cabin: Family Ocean View Stateroom
Traveled with children

My wife and I booked a twelve-day Mediterranean cruise through Royal Caribbean (R.C.) on the Brilliance of the Seas (B.O.S.). We took our three grown children ages 23, 21, and 19, along with our youngest son who was 12. The cruise began on July 8, 2007 and ended on July 20, 2007. Recognizing that many readers have particular areas of interest, specific areas of discussion have been set in bold throughout this review.

We booked our flights through Royal Caribbean International. On the outbound flights we flew Air France. The usual evaluation of Air France is that the food is great and everything else is a maybe. Our trip tended to validate this opinion. The food was great and, unlike most United States carriers, alcoholic drinks were gratis in coach. The entertainment was also up to today's standards: There was a nice selection of movies, video games, flight data, television shows, and news. However, significant issues deterred from the fine fare and viewing.

We left Los Angeles late, but the captain made up the time in-flight. Grateful to have plenty of time to catch our connection to Barcelona, we gleefully prepared to disembark our Boeing 777 upon arrival to Charles D'Gaulle Airport. Unfortunately, there were no open gates, which meant we sat on the tarmac. Fifteen minutes later a gate opened up. Once at the gate we all stood up, as passengers leaving planes tend to do---and we waited. After ten minutes we were told that the gangway had broken. Thirty minutes later, the problem was rectified, but time was now more critical. In the airport we discovered that Air France operated many terminals, none of which were connected. Thus, we asked for directions. Following the pointing finger of a Frenchmen, we hopped on what we hoped was the appropriate train to head to another terminal. Yet when we read the signs, it was obvious the train we were on was not bound for anywhere we wanted to go. Back off the train, mildly panicked, we looked for a friendlier Frenchmen and new directions. This time we were told to get on a bus, which we dutifully did. Thankfully, the bus was the right one and we made it to our gate. When we arrived it was obvious that there was a large, angry crowd at the gate. The flight was not only late, but it could not come to this gate; we were to be bussed out to a runway-holding area for boarding.

Cabin Review

Family Ocean View Stateroom

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