Radiance of the Seas Cabin

Hi there

Just wondering whether anyone has ever booked a cabin right at the stern of a ship. We're looking at one on Deck 9 of the Radiance and are wondering what are advantages and disadvantages. We note that the balcony is somewhat larger.

The stern cabins on the Radiance are wonderful and do have very large balconies. The area is generally very quiet and views of the wake are mesmerizing. We did B2B in one - Sydney > Perth > Sydney in cabin 1100 and it was our favorite cabin ever, on any cruise line. The disadvantages - they're quite a walk from the elevators and they sell out very quickly! If you get a chance to book one, do a search for the ship and cabin number on the RCI forum or on Google or even YouTube - there are usually plenty of pictures and reviews due to the popularity of the cabins.

We were in 8672 which is at the stern in the middle - one floor down. Advantages: The room is quiet because there is no foot traffic (being at the end and you can use either corridor to get there); full view left, right and the wake; the balcony is huge with 2 loungers, 2 chairs and a table. Disadvantages: None, but if you don't like walking it's about one munute 40 seconds walk from the centrum. I think they're the best cabins on the radiance class ships.

Hi Seaboots,

We've been in an aft cabin twice recently, and are also in one on Radiance in Feb 2015. We love them ! First time was on Rhapsody centre aft in 2012 for their Christmas cruise, and second time was on Sun Princess when we were upgraded to an Owner's Suite........magnificent cabin in a wonderful position.

We have never been troubled by any noise from propellers etc, but you do get a little vibration when the ship is manoeuvring in or out of port using the thrusters.......only for a very short period of time and we are usually awake at that time anyway to see our arrival or departure. I have also noticed vibration from the side thrusters when in a side cabin as well.

Personally I would always try to get that area for my cabin, and the balcony is usually deeper too than those on the side of the ship.

The view of the wake is unbelievably magnificent in my opinion, and one of the main reasons for choosing an aft cabin.

We have never had any cabin in particularly rough weather, so I cannot judge whether an aft cabin feels the swell more than anywhere else on the ship, as I imagine it would, just like one right at the front.

I would always try an aft cabin at least once, if I was you, and judge for yourself.

Hope you feel the same as me after your Radiance cruise,

Rosee

The aft cabins are the best with possibly one exception, that being those on the hump on Radiance class, but the afts have the biggest balcony. Room size is the same. The JS cabins have monster balconies on Rhapsody.

If you like to leave the door open, then make sure you turn the handle down to put the brake on otherwise the slightest rolling action will cause the door to slam side to side and annoy your neigbours as well as getting a you getting a nasty message from reception.

The side cabins dont have this problem as the doors are orientated forward-aft.

Hugh

The stern cabins on the Radiance are wonderful and do have very large balconies. The area is generally very quiet and views of the wake are mesmerizing. We did B2B in one - Sydney > Perth > Sydney in cabin 1100 and it was our favorite cabin ever, on any cruise line. The disadvantages - they're quite a walk from the elevators and they sell out very quickly! If you get a chance to book one, do a search for the ship and cabin number on the RCI forum or on Google or even YouTube - there are usually plenty of pictures and reviews due to the popularity of the cabins.

My Hubby & I are interested in the B2B Sydney - Perth and reverse. We are wondering if there are things closed on board since ship is close to land a lot? We just did a British Isles with Princess where out of 12 days the casino was closed 4 consecutive days and only open between 2 and 3 hours on the next 2 days. Some licensing problem (between 2 nations & they didn't want to take the chance either would file claim against them, so they didn't open at all, not even Bingo or cashiers to assist with currency. You can understand why with that length of trip, hubby is being overly cautious. Also how was the internet service? If you used it, hubby has to do work via internet off & on daily during cruises. Thank you for your assistance on this.

My Hubby & I are interested in the B2B Sydney - Perth and reverse. We are wondering if there are things closed on board since ship is close to land a lot? We just did a British Isles with Princess where out of 12 days the casino was closed 4 consecutive days and only open between 2 and 3 hours on the next 2 days. Some licensing problem (between 2 nations & they didn't want to take the chance either would file claim against them, so they didn't open at all, not even Bingo or cashiers to assist with currency. You can understand why with that length of trip, hubby is being overly cautious. Also how was the internet service? If you used it, hubby has to do work via internet off & on daily during cruises. Thank you for your assistance on this.

We did the circumnavigation in 2012 on the Radiance. When you get to Australia, buy a Telstra Dongle (go to a Telstra shop and tell them what you are doing and you want a pre-paid Dongle - dont let them talk you into anything else) it will also be beneficial if you have a port side cabin if you are cruising Sydney to Perth via Brisbane etc or starboard if you are going the other way. You will get the Internet for a good portion and when you can't, you can use the ship's net.

Cheers

Di

My wife and I had cabin 7172 on the Radiance, the corner cabin on the port side of deck 7. We had read a couple of times of noise and vibration from the ship's propellers and also the deck below with the Colony Club, but if there was any it doesn't hold any particular memories after 6 months.

The rooms are a fair distance from the centrum, but this gave us a good chance to walk off dinner or work up an appetite.

The balcony was lovely and did wrap around, though it did get a little tight towards the sides. With a bit of nimble manouvering we could get to the very edge. I understand they're much more roomy the higher decks you go.

We hit the tail-end of a cyclone on the second night. We spent most of the night having drinks with friends who were travelling with us in the Colony Club, directly below the cabin. The rain was really battering the windows and the ship was definitely moving a lot, but it was no better or worse there than anywhere else. Our friends had a room midships lower down and when we walked them back to their cabin, the ship was still heaving about but it didn't feel any different to what was happening in our cabin.

The only negative regarding that cyclone was that the balcony began to flood. You wouldn't have wanted to go outside anyhow, but that's when the fun really starts and the rain came to us. A large amount of water got into the door frame and crept under the door itself, and while it was interesting at first watching it splash from one side of the door to the other on the outside as the ship moved, it began coming in at a pretty fast rate fairly quickly. Nothing to ruin the evening, but the cleaners came up pretty quickly with a fan to dry it as we put towels down. A bit noisy, but not to worry as we grabbed our jackets and went back down for another few drinks.

We had 8168 corner aft port side on Serenade (identical ship layout as Radiance) and it was wonderful! The corner afts are much larger than the middle aft balconies. I've attached a couple pictures of 8168 balcony. The walk isn't much more and definitely worth it for the peace and quiet you get.

We had 8168 corner aft port side on Serenade (identical ship layout as Radiance) and it was wonderful! The corner afts are much larger than the middle aft balconies. I've attached a couple pictures of 8168 balcony. The walk isn't much more and definitely worth it for the peace and quiet you get.

How was the motion back there? Was there much when the ocean was a bit rough, up and down for example? Also, was there a tail wag?