Radiance of the Seas Review

Spectacular, through the rain and a few rays of sun

Review for Alaska Cruise on Radiance of the Seas
User Avatar
berrytini
6-10 Cruises • Age 60s

Rating by category

Cabin
Family
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service

Additional details

Sail Date: Aug 2022
Cabin: Ocean View Balcony
Hubbard Glacier, AK
Radiance of the Seas coat of arms
View from balcony, cabin 7600, leaving Juneau, AK
Icy Straight Point, Hoonah, AK - calm sea, view from balcony, cabin 7600, Radiance of the Seas

From boarding in Vancouver to departure in Seward, our Alaska getaway was SPECTACULAR! The crew on Radiance provided service beyond expectations and made sure every guest had everything they needed and more. Our cabin steward, Rico, made sure we got a lighter blanket as the comforter was too thick and hot for us; brought ice and extra towels. He was there when we needed him, friendly and pleasant. The absolute highlight for us was Chef's Table. Sommelier Mark and Chef Jermaine provided an experience which will never be matched. The food was delicious, the wine perfectly paired and the company of fellow passengers made the 5 hours fly by!. Samba Grill also provided a great experience with delectable food and terrific service. Main Dining room meals ranged from satisfactory to terrific. We sat in 3 different sections with My Time Dining and 1 team stood out, Arun and Attiabe. I wish we had been able to sit in their section every night. Our favorite excursions included the Mendenhall River Float in Juneau, Glacier Bay small boat(worth every penny!) to get close to the Hubbard Glacier and Musher's Camp in Skagway. If I had a do-over, I would not do the Forest Tram tour in Icy Straight Point and the Fin Island Kodiak and Buffet in Sitka. We saw whales from our balcony and enjoyed the few glimpses of sunshine (August is the rainy season). The best pre-cruise purchase was the Frog-Tog rain suits I got through Amazon! Radiance of the Seas is perfect size and easy to get around, off and back on the ship. It is starting to show some wear and tear and I hope RCL will invest in upgrading her soon. Her crew and the itinerary are fantastic. Why a rating of 4? The post-cruise tour.....did not live up to expectations. Too much bus time, not enough wildlife, "tired" tour guide and someone on that bus had Covid.....

Cabin Review

Ocean View Balcony

Cabin 7600, on the bump out, opposite the elevators. I was nervous about being above the Champagne bar and possible Centrum noise but there was no need to worry, we had no trouble with excessive noise. The fixtures showed a little wear but everything was clean and comfortable. We were on the land view side for the trip northbound and saw a few whales from the balcony.

Port Reviews

Icy Strait

Only 2 restaurants on shore were open, we chose Crab House and it was expensive, chaotic and did not have any variety to the menu. Took the gondola ride up to the top and a tram tour which was short and uninformative. I had originally planned to stay on the ship and wish I had, we would have had a better chance of seeing whales from our balcony.

Juneau

Mendenhall Glacier River Float tour was fantastic, despite the pouring rain. Easy walk to shopping and it looked like there were restaurants available for anyone who wanted to get off the ship. Wish we had more time to explore.

Skagway

Had to take a shuttle to get to shopping in town, ran about every 10 minutes. The day we were there it was pouring rain and windy so many tours were cancelled. Our scheduled tour to the Mushers Camp was great! Dogs took us for a "sled" ride and we got to hold the puppies! Leaving Skagway, the sun came out!

Vancouver

So much to see and do in Vancouver! We had 1 day and chose to go to Stanley Park for the horse drawn trolley tour, which was fantastic. We also had afternoon tea at Neverland Tea Salon which served as our lunch and dinner. Finally, took the Skyrider at Canada Place which provided a bird's eye view of the best of Canada. After our brief taste of Vancouver, we will need to go back for a full meal!

25 Helpful Votes
previous reviewnext review

Find a Radiance of the Seas Cruise from $312

Any Month

Get special cruise deals, expert advice, insider tips and more.By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

© 1995—2024, The Independent Traveler, Inc.