Brillance of the Seas VS. Vision of the Seas?

[Calidoo]

Since both have been refurbished, any comments on which is preferred? Also, recommendations on best cabin numbers (balcony) for both.

[Clarea]

All things (price/itinerary) being equal, I'd take Brilliance for the outdoor Windjammer seating, pool tables, and glass elevators with a view outside.

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

We would do any Radiance class ship over a Vision class ship.

Bigger, better layout and overall better cabins size and layouts.

For instance the D cabins on Vision all the beds are near the door not the balcony, makes it difficult to move around. JS on Vision class are a nice size but no walk in closets. OV on the Vision class are pretty small compared to Radiance class.

 

Those are just a few of the reasons we prefer Radiance class.

 

***

[Boston lab girl]

Brilliance of the seas hands down for all the reasons the previous poster wrote. Best cabins are the aft. Large balconies. After trying aft balconies on other ships these are the only ones I love.

[CRUISEBOY305]

What are the itineraries like? If you're doing the Tampa cruises, I think Vision is doing 7 days and Brilliance is doing 4 and 5 days. If you're cruising just to be on a ship then I'd go with Brilliance. But you're looking at ports and length of time, I'd give Vision a chance. You can also do a Back to Back on Brilliance.

Edited May 3, 2014 by CRUISEBOY305

[cruisingsince94]

No contest for us. Brilliance all the way.

[cb at sea]

The only downside to Brilliance is the enclosed Solarium.....they say the roof is retractable, but it's never opened!!! No tanning in the "adult" area is possible.

[Justmekaren918]

Brilliance :) and I loved my quiet, but convenient 7040 really big balcony, and can handle multiple loungers and you do have a 1/3 of your balcony people can't see and I had a real table on balcony to eat dinner on! She is just an amazing ship! I am so glad I did her first on my way back to cruising! Thomas was an awesome steward!

 

Does anyone know maybe if RCI might retrofit that 2'6" with the blinder panels?

[Cruisin4]

All things (price/itinerary) being equal, I'd take Brilliance for the outdoor Windjammer seating, pool tables, and glass elevators with a view outside.

I would agree. We just got off Vision, it was very nice but we were on the refurbished Serenade last October and I liked that ship better (Serenade is a sister ship, size wise to Brillance).

[BillB48]

What we like about the Brilliance has been expressed already by the other posters. One area of balconies on that class of ship we avoid are on deck 7 starboard side aft of the hump. The area out side the centrum to deck 5 on the starboard side is a designated smoking area and the odor did travel. I am not trying to start a hot button issue, only that we do avoid this area. Our favorite balcony cabins are forward of the forward elevators... better view to the water.

 

Also like the layout of the forward upper decks (11 and 12) on the Brilliance as opposed to the Vision.

[missemo12345]

BiilB48 we are on Brilliance cabin 7598 ( hump ) do you see this being a problem with the smoke smell that was mentioned? Thank you for your input...

[PSCruiser]

The only downside to Brilliance is the enclosed Solarium.....they say the roof is retractable, but it's never opened!!! No tanning in the "adult" area is possible.

 

I think the Vision has an enclosed Solarium also.

Anyway, I think of an enclosed Solarium as a big plus! I'll take it any time in rain or cold.

 

In general, Brilliance all the way - while Vision class is nice, when Radiance class (Brilliance) came out, it was like the new, upgraded version of Vision class. Best sea views on this class.

[BillB48]

BiilB48 we are on Brilliance cabin 7598 ( hump ) do you see this being a problem with the smoke smell that was mentioned? Thank you for your input...

 

I would think you will be OK in that balcony. Even though smoking is permitted on that side of the ship, the larger gathering area always seemed to be in the vicinity of the sliding glass doors to the centrum. Being jutted out on the hump I don't think you will have a problem. Enjoy:)!

[Pete B]

Have not been on Brilliance yet but sailed on Jewel a couple of years ago and then on Splendour last year.

The Radiance class is soooo much better IMHO. There was a Real issue on Splendour with the Windjammer. It just wasn't big enough and there was a scrum every day. It was awful !

I thought the Jewel was beautiful with a fantastic layout and did not feel crowded like the Vision class.

[KeywestK]

Brilliance. Try for an end of hump balcony--they are very large.

 

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[Priusprof]

We've been on Brilliance 4 times with another planned for next year. Radiance class is a particulr favorite of ours. We live in Tampa and are booked B2B on the cruises that reposition her from FTL to Tampa this November. We are anxious to see what the refurbished Vision is like.When we sailed on her 10 years ago we loved the experience. Now that she has a Concierge Lounge and the specialty dining we can't wait.

[Hoopster95]

Since both have been refurbished, any comments on which is preferred? Also, recommendations on best cabin numbers (balcony) for both.

 

I think I'm one of the few who like the Vision Class just a tad better, specifically Vision or Rhapsody (and Enchantment's pool deck is by far and away better than Radiance, plus it had Boleros Lounge). Considering all the "Glass" Radiance has, I don't spend my time on a cruise ship sitting in the Centrum for hours looking out the windows or in the elevators going up and down. I personally found the Vision & Rhapsody much easier to navigate:

 

Just my $.02

Vision pros:

• front to back, close to everything no matter where your cabin is
  
• easier and more roomy Centrum for amount of passengers to view events
  
• Nice open pool deck with plenty of chairs and room
  
• Easy to navigate through Casino to theatre
  
• Incredible wrap around aft balcony cabins
  
• Excellent location (Rhapsody) of Diamond Lounge aft deck 6
  
• Well located Park Café within the Solarium
  

Vision cons:

• Smaller room sizes than Radiance (ie. balcony and suite square footage)
  
• Gym does not have as much equipment facing out the windows, some face a wall or a mirror so you can't see out to sea
  
• No sports court/basketball area
  
• No access to Helipad at all
  

 

Radiance pros:

• Access to Helipad at all times
  
• Awesome rear aft eating/table area past Rita's Cantina, best part of the ship by far
  
• I liked the look of MDR better on this ship
  
• Spectacular Solarium
  
• More dining venues (has Rita's as mentioned and Samba Grill + Chop's & Giovanni's))
  
• Self levelling pool tables!
  
• Half basketball court
  
• Very nicely appointed and bright gym with full view
  
• Fantastic Viking Crown with rotating bar and dance venue
  

Radiance cons:

• Deck 5 and 6 I find are chopped up/enclosed, not as open as Vision into other public areas
  
• The other lounge/pub (English Pub) are stuck smack dab in the middle of the ship, no views or windows anywhere
  
• Sports deck is useless and hardly used I found
  
• The kids area (pool, mini slide) again rarely used I found, waste of expensive real estate on the ship
  
• An extremely small main pool for size of ship and number of passengers.
  

[critterchick]

I also prefer Radiance over Vision class ship, but the refurbishments have narrowed the gap. I would pick Brilliance if the itineraries were identical, but would pick Vision if the itinerary is more to my liking (and I like that the beds aren't by the balcony in the D-1 and D-2 cabins on Vision).

 

In any event, I would go for an aft cabin on either ship, hump on Radiance class if the afts weren't available.

[Susie51]

Thank you for your opinions. I've always wanted to try a Radiance class ship, but my next cruise will be on Navigator. The pics of both classes of ships look so nice.

[Priusprof]

The balcony cabins D 1 and D 2 are only 3 sq ft difference on Vision compared to Radiance. The JS are another story. The difference between Vision and Brilliance is more than 50 sq. ft. When we were on 10 years ago we were in an aft D and we went to see someones JS. We were not very impressed with the difference but on Radiance class the JS is 50% bigger than a D.We will sail in a JS from time to time depending on the pricing.

[Priusprof]

Since both have been refurbished, any comments on which is preferred? Also, recommendations on best cabin numbers (balcony) for both.

Top of the Page!

 

On Vision 7660 aft balcony right down the wake. Brilliance 9256,58,60 for D cabins. 1100 is best JS, aft corner wrap around balcony. 1600 best GS for the same reason.

Edited June 6, 2014 by Priusprof

[Fifibeck]

Sailed on both in past six months. Vision superior in my opinion.

 

 

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[Fifibeck]

We were in JS 1578 on brilliance and aft 7562 (corner) on vision. Both cabins were excellent. But Vision better on all other accounts.

 

 

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[Margy23]

Brilliance :) and I loved my quiet, but convenient 7040 really big balcony, and can handle multiple loungers and you do have a 1/3 of your balcony people can't see and I had a real table on balcony to eat dinner on! She is just an amazing ship! I am so glad I did her first on my way back to cruising! Thomas was an awesome steward!

 

Does anyone know maybe if RCI might retrofit that 2'6" with the blinder panels?

Cabins 7040 and 7540 are favorites of ours on all the Radiance class ships. I am, however, looking forward to our first cruise on Vision, where I have read that the bed is not next to the balcony. I can't decide which I will like more (somehow we've been on Enchantment twice - before and after the elongating - without even noticing the bed placement was different, so I doubt it will be very important).

 

I think it would be very hard to spoil a cruise for us!

 

Margy