Brilliance of the Seas Review
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This was our first time to sail out of Tampa. The port was easy to get to, and we were able to board immediately after check-in (approx. 11:00 am), as we were in a Grand Suite (Cabin 1030). Check in was quick and efficient. The ship is mid-size, with a Centrum as opposed to a Royal Promenade, so it does not feel crowded at all. We prefer these smaller ships, as they tend to have a more intimate atmosphere, and you get to know the crew members better. The ship is nice, but shows wear & tear. We’ve learned that it is going into dry dock in April 2018 for refurbishment, so it will be like new again.
Venues onboard: Schooner Bar is very nice – much more room than on other ships & as usual, the hub of activities such as trivia games. There are 2 floating billiard tables for fun while sailing. The casino is small, but has an interesting variety of slot machines & table games. It can get quite cramped in the evenings, so be prepared to wrestle for space. The King & Country Pub is nice. The theatre is large with ample seating on 3 levels – offering a variety of views depending on your preference. We attended 2 headliner shows (a tribute to Journey and a Broadway review). Neither was “fantastic”, and we’ve seen much better on RC cruises. One evening a feature film was shown in the theater as opposed to the limited-seating cinema, which showed movies daily.
For dining, we chose not to use the dining room, as our style is not to sit for 2 hours for more formal dining. However, being in a Grand Suite, we had the option of ordering room service from the main dining room menu, which we did a couple of nights and really enjoyed. For breakfast, suite guests can eat in Chops Grille with made to order menu and no crowds – a very nice amenity we took advantage of daily. Otherwise, we ate in the Windjammer, which was its typical not-bad-but-not-great buffet fare.
Cabin Review
Grand Suite
We usually book a junior suite, but got upgraded to a grand suite. It is amazing, with almost twice as much square footage. There is a nice seating area, a bar area, large bathroom and ample closet space. The bathroom has a tub/shower, 2 medicine cabinets, 2 lower storage cabinets & 3 large drawers. There is a vanity area with 3 clothing drawers on each side, 2 upper storage cabinets, as well as 2 lap drawers perfect for makeup. There is even a magnifying makeup mirror – much needed in all cabins in my opinion! The balcony wasn’t deep, but had a lounge chair in addition to a table with 2 chairs. Our stateroom attendant, Sudheer, was fantastic and responded to our requests in a very timely manner.
Port Reviews
Key West
Duval Street was quaint and entertaining. We had a beer at the Smallest Bar and lunch at Sloppy Joe’s Bar. There are plenty of shops for souvenir buying, trolley tours of the town, and ghost tours as well. Even after the hurricanes of 2017, it is a lovely port.
Cozumel
We have been there several times & only got off the ship for a short while. A good thing to know is that the Mexican government offers an 8.9% rebate on certain purchases, so ask about it if shopping for jewelry, etc, as that offers a considerable savings.
Costa Maya
Our first time here, and we were pleasantly surprised. It is a small village, but the shopping area just off the pier is very modern and has nice shops as well as local cultural entertainment. Be sure to check out Kakaw for locally made chocolates.