back from Brilliance 4-19 cruise

All I can say is "WOW"! This ship's beauty blew me away, and my husband as well. We've been on VOS, ROS, several Princess ships, and this is the most elegant. I won't write a full review, but will address some of the concerns that others have posted recently.The staff was cheerful, friendly and efficient. Our cabin was made up before noon every day. We recieved robes shortly after asking for them. We were on board at 11:40,went straight to the room, found it made up, saw our steward and asked if we could leave our carry on. No problem. We both agreed that the food in the Windjammer was an improvement over that on VOS. The pizza was very good in the buffet. Only a couple of times did I get something that was not as hot as I wished. But never was it cold. Also the bacon was nice and crispy every morning. Our Meet and Mingle was handled very nicely with servers carrying fruity drinks,and a table of elegant hors d'ouvers. RCI also provided lanyard-held plastic cases for name cards, which we kept. The dining room meals were the same as what we have experienced on VOS, and much better than ROS. I am impressed with many of RCI's sugar free desserts. I didn't see excessive chair saving, except perhaps in the Solarium. I didn't spend a lot of time in there, but I did see a lot of empty chairs with towels. To be fair, they could easily not have been vacant more than 30 minutes. The gym is very nice with 16 treadmills. Even the gym is beautiful! Disappointed, however, that there was only one aerobics class the whole time. The shows were mixed, depending on your taste. However, I thought the dancers were very good, showing a lot of classic ballet training. No one I spoke to enjoyed the magician. I left halfway thru' his show.(I always sit in the last row so I can leave without disturbing anyone.) The Pacifica Theater curtain is a work of art. Go see it, even if you don't stay for shows. Several different bartenders gave me free drinks. Met lots of people just by visitng different venues before and sometimes after the shows. You have GOT to watch folks play pool on the self-leveling tables. Absolutely amazing! Looks like defying gravity! My husband had a great time in the casino, playing all 11 nights on his winnings, and paying for a tour and some cab rides as well, and still getting home with a bit of their money. I was not so lucky but had fun the nights that I did play. We had a wonderful group of players from UK and Ireland at that table nightly, as well as US. What a ball! I really can't think of anything that needs improvement on this elegant ship, except that better signage directing to the gangway on port days is needed. Also sometimes the Compass listed an activity in the wrong location, as well as showing the wrong deck for the gangway. Certainly a minor problem. We signed up on board for April 8, 2005 Panama Canal on Brilliance. There was a $200 on board credit for our balcony cabin. By the way, I checked several Feb. sailings as well as this final April one, and the one I booked was the only cruise with aft cabins available. We were lucky to get 1 of the last 3 left, and it was exactly next door to the one we had on this cruise! It will be identical with that marvelous balcony! I will post comments on ports on the Ports of Call boards. I will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

39august:

My wife and I got off this ship as you were getting on........I agree with your review 100%. Welcome home neighbor......it is a great ship.....we did the Panama Canal and you will love it.

Jim

Nordic Prince 8/88

Viking Serenade 3/93

Enchantment 3/01

Rhapsody 9/02

Splendour 4/03

Rhapsody, 9/03

Brilliance, 4/04

Until our Caribbean Princess cruise

Until Hawaii on Inifinity

So happy to read a positive posting about the Brilliance. We will be sailing on her on Jan 24,2005. We have an aft cabin booked, 8672, booked. Just wondering what cabin you had on this cruise and what you thought of it. What was your view like? Could you see the ports when you were docked? Did the ship back into the ports? DH didn't want me to book an aft because he thinks that we will have terrible views. Any information would be appreciated so I can keep convincing him that he will love it.

If you haven't cruised the Panama Canal yet you will love it. Having an aft cabin for that sailing would be awesome. I would think that lots of people will want to be friends with you

God bless you and yours.

I don't remember much about the views. It seems that we had a decent port view in San Juan. We had a mixed view in Nassau, but a good view toward the left at Atlantis and some yachets. In St. Martin there is no port view. You get some views of boats in St. Thomas, but no port view, and I think that's the most beautiful port of all.(but we've seen it several times, so we didn't mind.)We had a pleasant view of various boats in St. Lucia, but no port view. If you want to see the port view, I suggest you go over to whichever side is facing the port and take a chair for a few minutes. We got great views leaving Miami. Also, as you leave ports, you can see both sides of the port you are leaving. Belive me, that wide expanse of wake and ocean from the aft is more than worth giving up a little of port views. Also, we were in 7176 which is slightly toward port side. This is a catagory D cabin whicn is quite roomy for two, with lots of storage space. All D's should be the same size. Catagory E's are a bit smaller.

Hi, we just came off the same cruise as 39august and had cabin 8672. After reading a great deal about aft cabins on these boards, I found that there are definite pro's and con's. The size of the balcony would be the biggest pro, it was nice to have the 2 lounge chairs and the regular chairs out there. The wake view was nice as well, but I think any balcony view is great! Sail away in particular was nice. the biggest negative was the LONG walk to and from your cabin to get anywhere. We are in pretty good shape and it still got to be a pain in the backside that every time you wanted anything from your cabin, it took a long time to get there. Your view at the ports can be a little confusing because we were never awake most of the time when we docked and it was hard to orient yourself. I don't remember any port we backed into.

Hope this helps!

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Driftwoodgal:

So happy to read a positive posting about the Brilliance. We will be sailing on her on Jan 24,2005. We have an aft cabin booked, 8672, booked. Just wondering what cabin you had on this cruise and what you thought of it. What was your view like? Could you see the ports when you were docked? Did the ship back into the ports? DH didn't want me to book an aft because he thinks that we will have terrible views. Any information would be appreciated so I can keep convincing him that he will love it.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The "Bean's" Brilliance Cruise!

Very nice review, 39august. The Brilliance is beautiful and we too enjoyed it very much, the Solarium was my favorite place, so relaxing.

The cruise we were on, they had just begun some of the new procedures, maybe they got some of the bugs worked out to make it a better system....lets hope so anyway

Glad you had a good time!

Soveriegn 92 E. Caribbean

Majesty 95 W. Caribbean

Granduer 97 E. Caribbean

Rhapsody 00 Mexico

Vision 02 Alaska

Radiance 03 Panama Canal

Brilliance 3/29/04

Radiance of the Seas/Panama Canal 10/18/2003

Are we there yet?

My bags are always packed!

Brilliance 3/29/2004

39august: So glad that you loved the Brilliance.

WE just booked the 4/8/05 sailing today and that

is the date you booked also. Is there a roll call date

for 4/8?? Please give us more details ASAP.

Brilliance 10 day 4/8/05

39August,

Thanks for your response to my post. I am also reading your posts on the Port of Calls. Thanks for you time in posting there it sure helps others make plans for their own tours. It looks like you do research like I do. I have found that I get more for my money booking independently if I can.

LisaB19,

Thanks for responding as well. Gosh I would love to see any pictures that you took. Walking doesn't bother us. In fact the more that I walk the more I get to splurge. We were in the bow of the Splendour on our last cruise. I got DH up and walking the track every sea day in the morning and when we got back on port days. We never took an elevator...ooppss that was a fibe I think once after a long port day. Seven flights of stairs that day was to much. We within reason and didn't put any weight on. The walk won't bother me, might DH... but good for his heart. The view will be the problem. Would love to hear what you did in the ports of call. I wish I was cruising tomorrow ...but that would mean that I am almost a year older. Time slips by fast enough as it is.

God bless you and yours.

Just back from the 4/19 sailing.

Have to say it was THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SHIP, with a crew that seemed like family. We had an aft cabin 7174, and loved it. Upon disembarking, we had a chance to see the difference between a cat D, which is what we had, with a sofa, and an E cat, with a chair.

Glad we had the D, but the E had a nice balcony,(on the side of the ship) which would make having a smaller cabin ok.

Casino crew were so nice!

Murder Mystery dinner lots of fun with so much yummy food and wine!

Portofinos and Chops are a must do!

Did alot of fun shore excursions, especially in St. Lucia. We hired a private guide, Cosol. He was the best, and we saw all of what there is to see of the Island and fit in some snorkeling also.

IMHO, you can't go wrong on the Brilliance!

We were on the 4/19 Brilliance sailing as well. We LOVED our aft cabin 1100. It had a great balcony and was very comfortable. Our cabin steward met us before muster and asked for our requests to make our cruise special. She had every one of them in our room before we returned from muster. She made up our room before 10 am EVERY day, and again while we were out to dinner we had no complaints with her service and she didn't complain to us about being overworked either like i've read in reviews before we sailed. We really didn't mind the walk to the centrum but walking up and down those hills in Old San Juan was a killer for flatlanders like us from Florida.

The food was very good in the dining room including the dreaded RANCH STEAK that we ordered medium rare and was tender and juicy. The maitre'd was very good and gave our table a second night of filet mignon when we commented how much we enjoyed that meal. He also arrange for us to have a LARGE plate of chocolate covered strawberries to share for desert the evening of the chocolate buffet that we were all to stuffed from dinner to attend. The waiters had great personalities and did their jobs well. Buffet food was good too no complaints from us. We planned on going to Chops at the end of the cruise but food wasn't high priority by then and there would have been no way we could finish such a large meal so we cancelled out.

We had a large Cruise Critic group onboard that really made this cruise special. They were a lot of fun to hang out and party with.

Our meet and mingle was a huge success, Peter the cruise director came (something new for us) and the Brilliance crew put out a great buffet of hors dourves for us to nosh on while chatting. Our M&M was on day two and most of us had already met by then in other areas onboard by wearing yellow ribbons to be noticed as a CC member. Best group of people I've ever sailed with.

We didn't attend most of the shows so can't comment on them, spent many hours enjoying the company of friends in the schooner bar or casino, which BTW, was tight until the final day of the cruise IMHO.

Embarkation and debarkation was a breeze, We never even had time for a cup of tea before our color was called to get off the ship.

I'm totally SOLD on aft balconys after this cruise. Great location!!!!

Brilliance 4/19/04

Had cabin 8670 on 3/29 Carribean sailing. Wonderful balcony - good sun in the morning on the way and afternoon sun heading back. Great sail away views and great sunsets if you have late seating. We had main seating and missed a few.

Hi All,

This seems to be turning into a board for the 4/8/05 cruise on Brilliance I got cabin 9660 (aft). I can't believe it, this huge balcony all to myself

RCCL Sovereign 1/02

RCCL Explorer 1/03

NCL Sea 4/03

RCCL Mariner 9/04

RCCL Brilliance 4/05

drftwoodgal, just wanted to let you know

that we had room 8672 and thought it was the

best cruise room/experience we've ever had.

the views are great and it isn't noisy.

we actually have booked the same room again

for next march.

Nancy - We will going on the Greek Isle cruise in September in cabin 8670. Does the balcony wrap around a bit? I'm sure you enjoyed it! And I know we will.

Sandy and Del in TX

Brilliance of the Seas Greek Isle Cruise

Ryndam - 5/96;Ryndam - 11/97; Ocean Breeze - 11/98; Crown Princess - 9/99; Renaissance - 2/00; Volendam - 11/00; Sky - 2/01; Sun - 10/01; Horizon -11/01;Grandeur - 2/02; Grandeur - 9/02; Dream - 11/02; Holiday - 12/02

; Volendam - 3/03 ; Coral Princess - 5/03

; Grand Princess - 9/03;

How many formal and smart casual nights were there on the 11 night? Thanks.

Monarch of the Seas 09/92

Majesty of the Seas 11/93

Sovereign of the Seas 09/94

Majesty of the Seas 11/95

Grandeur of the Seas 11/99

Grandeur of the Seas 11/00

Grandeur of the Seas 06/01

Grandeur of the Seas 02/02

Navigator of the Seas 12/02

Rhapsody of the Seas 06/03

Radiance of the Seas 11/03

Grandeur of the Seas 05/04

Navigator of the Seas 11/04

We also just returned from the 4/19 sailing of Brilliance. I agree 100% with the above posters about the ship and the cruise overall. We had some minor issues with the quality of the work the room steward did, but certainly not enough to ruin our vacation or make us want to cruise with another line!!!! I think that some of the issues others have posted about previously are working themselves out!!! It was a fantastic vacation overall.

We went to most of the shows. They were all fairly good, IMHO. My kids loved the magician. (I thought he was "ok").

The Solarium was beautiful. The artwork all over the ship was a unique collection of pieces that just flowed with the tone of the ships design. It truly must be the most beautiful ship afloat!!!!!

The childrens program was amazing!!!! If anyone is considering cruising with kids... the staff on the Brilliance is fantastic to them!!!! Our kids wanted to move onto the ship!! They made friends that I am sure they will continue to keep in touch with!!!!!

We loved the ship so much that we plan to sail on her again next Spring... also a Panama Canal sailing... just not sure which one yet. We are last minute (less than 60 days out) planners!!!!

Nancy

To Masterbaker:

We, too, have Cabin 1100 booked for the 2/4/05 Panama Canal sailing. I would love to hear a bit more about it, including what type of requests that you made to the cabin steward. Always love to get new ideas!

Glad to hear some good reviews of the Brilliance.

Marsha

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Until we sail the Voyager of the Seas!

Marshaatn, our needs are pretty simple. All we asked for were Robes, Feather pillows, and extra ice. She iced down our cooler every day and basically did her job in a timely manner. Since you are sailing almost a year from now, I'd expect you might have a different steward. This girl was way above adverage, making her job look easy because she had excellent organizational skills while some of the other stewards we observed appeared to be running around like chickens with their heads cut off. I never heard one word form her about being overworked and she was finished with her cabins long before some of the other stewards. She needs to be promoted or teach the others how to do their jobs properly. It CAN be done and any steward that tells a guest differently, needs to get better organized.

Panama Canal Transit 4-16-05

thanks for the very positive reviews. we are also going on april 8th 2005 and have #1102. would also like to here more about the aft cabins.

UNTIL WE SAIL AWAY ON THE BRILLANCE OF THE SEAS

So nice to read good things about this ship. We will be in 9660 on the Panama Canal sailing in November. We had 8670 on the Serenade last fall, and got totally hooked on the aft balconies! I'll never sail without one again.

Only word of caution is that if you tend to sleep without much on make sure that you close your door curtains at night. We woke up in St. Thomas to find ourselves back to back with a Celebrity ship and people standing on their balconies not more than 50 feet away staring right into our rooms! Scared the heck of out of us - and probably them too!

Mary

Serenade of the Seas

Sandel - 8670 is not a wraparound, but a stern balcony that is about 12-13 feet deep. Very quiet and private. You will only see your neighbors at the railing.

Hi fellow 4/19 Sailers-Had a ball also. Had a side B Category but really liked the aft cabin. "Masterbaker" is being modest and not telling about the wonderful wine feast and parties she had in 1100.

I'm booked for the 4/8/2005 also.

EB

SUZCRUZ, how did you get in touch with Cosol? Was wondering how much it was and some of the places you went? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

4/19 Brilliance of the Seas

WEll you guys have me convinced that we have the right cabin. I totally agree that the cruise can be even more special by the CC Members. Our cruise on the Splendour to the Panama Canal in 2/04 will be hard to beat. Our table was made up of posters on our thread. There was never a dull moment for 12 days. We did some excursions together, which was the cherry on top of the sundae. I am in hopes that our 2005 will be just as much fun.

God bless you and yours.

Masterbaker --thank you so much for your response. I also read your review -- great review. Thanks for taking the time to do it.

Marsha

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Until we sail the Voyager of the Seas!