Jump to content

My View: The Blonde, The Bullethead, and The Brilliant Ship (Semi-live B2B)


APDMOM
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hello from sunny skies and calm seas on Brilliance!  We are doing a back to back on this new-to-us-ship.  We live on a strict cruise budget so that we can enjoy these special treats!  We have therefore been on 30 cruises since 2004, and even moved to Florida to be close to the ships.  Our favorite ship to date is Allure, but we found that so many CC members favor the Radiance class that we just had to try it ourselves.  So, it became an easy excuse (as if I need another one) to book a cruise.  Of course, anything shorter than 7 days is too short, so we booked a back to back.  

 

I will not be typing too much in this trip report, as we are enjoying our vacation.  I will post pictures, the Cruise Compass, and only make a few comments  After our 9 days, I will share the verdict of our view of Brilliance, along with a summary of our experience when we get home.

 

For now, please feel free to ask questions.  I will try my best to get answers while we are onboard.

 

With that said, come sail along with Blonde and Bullethead... (Just for the record, I am not responsible for his hair loss 😁)

 

46DEA35A-3785-400E-9382-6CB511F5DF59.thumb.jpeg.7e0d482cb5aac9dbc607c638f7ff006c.jpeg

  • Like 4
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We receive an e-mail telling us not to show up at the port until after 12.   The shift was undergoing a routine customs inspection. From experience, we knew we could ignore this email. We decided to show up early anyway, as we would rather wait at the park then in a hotel room. We ended up boarding by 11:15 AM. 

 

We pre-paid for parking through Park Connect.  The parking garage is right across from the port.  You just have to park on level 3 or higher, and you end up paying a fraction of the price (I think about half).

 

A few views on the way to the port:

D5EF7A4C-BE15-4A26-B233-C0DEBDEC62B3.thumb.jpeg.a0c5b14e9fdef8a34ca6c2a0e46b8607.jpeg

 

Brilliance docked at Terminal 3, which is right next to the aquarium:

D803E6D0-3781-47CA-B5C9-9F42138CF587.thumb.jpeg.55aa52c36f84513037d569d4b0ffd0b3.jpeg

 

6010A6E1-27A5-4FA1-9D8A-3A4C30BAD977.thumb.jpeg.2653d272f4b24254d705a2f73db0a094.jpeg

 

Check in was a breeze at 10:20.  We were seated in the captain’s lounge by 10:30:

B0D87D47-4A8E-4158-804C-95CB3D57E7E7.thumb.jpeg.b072dcfb4173aa92aea5889362633e4b.jpeg

B72CF4A6-4EE5-45A2-BD4C-CA09D3097DD0.thumb.jpeg.d05124a243fc36836a66b1a8e11c41e4.jpeg

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Due to the Coast Guard inspection, our rooms were not ready until 2 p.m.  Unfortunately, this caused us to miss out on the CC meet up.

 

The safety briefing (Muster drill) was very easy and quite relaxing.  Our muster station is in the Schooner bar, so we were able to sit in the air conditioned space for the duration.

 

A few sailaway from our balcony:

5A95CF9E-569A-4F9F-8926-21090A476E90.thumb.jpeg.17f9b73298477e55452e6fb54a8c0bd8.jpeg

 

D55C0491-E52F-4AF6-AE6D-75F415332CA9.thumb.jpeg.8722008c47cd33c13582de368a4ef2bc.jpeg

 

Leaving the USA for a few days:

00C8BCBB-E6AF-40C3-84D6-04AA298AD9B6.thumb.jpeg.4962efb9f6de540e0847b6c54f56aadb.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, APDMOM said:

After boarding around 11:15, we went straight to the aft outside seating of the Windjammer for a quiet lunch:

C96D4216-DAE6-47B2-AD1E-42751C597187.thumb.jpeg.d24aab7711187a5b6bc956c97119ed40.jpeg

 

The “late” Rita’s Cantina:

D4BD09B5-F973-4159-85A3-4F463C156BF3.thumb.jpeg.eb74bfdb458af06ec3c13b4220a2f984.jpeg

 

2DDF6D30-5FAD-4624-B783-74BE1BB425F0.thumb.jpeg.e00848fd12529bf819b0d65c82583b59.jpeg

 

2A2F1DD6-C643-4343-AC65-0BC2F2FC5AF2.thumb.jpeg.c0aa521e9ba2efea41948f4f7404f932.jpeg

 

9433031A-7A58-42A4-BAE5-047ED4BCE800.thumb.jpeg.62baaea1392e576bd95cffadd8e498d5.jpeg

The outdoor WJ seating is a plus but it's just one of the reasons we enjoy this class of ship.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dinner timing was a bit poor for sailaway.  I would have stayed on the balcony, but this was Bullethead’s birthday.  So, I decided to go to the main diningroom with him for this dinner.  We can always skip dinner on Monday when we sail away for our second leg of the cruise.

 

I did quickly hop over to the outdoor promenade to catch a couple of bridge pictures.  Hopefully, we will have good weather again on Monday so that I can catch the bridge from deck 12 forward.

 

E0ED1669-00F9-4350-B2B0-2FEE1AA82415.thumb.jpeg.89583f31bb040f7ab46559b98ebab8b8.jpeg

 

0CD1B0FB-DEB6-456A-B792-E5A52C530110.thumb.jpeg.b8f6f5a28600a0e4f8864912761191d6.jpeg

 

Day 1 Dinner Menu:

D14FF074-5D4F-4B75-BD63-A7E9CE76DE61.thumb.jpeg.2e50a2da593c2f1893c05b013d10c3c7.jpeg

 

Dinner favorites on tonight’s menu included the Waldorf salad, Fish of the day (Barramundi), Salmon and The Warm chocolate cake:

53D3662E-6171-4AEE-AC7F-B0CBD140DFD7.thumb.jpeg.57e9aec1ba256b0f838f383ce78a32e1.jpeg

 

209615B9-7D32-409E-9D03-4FEBE0F12B26.thumb.jpeg.39444b98058dd1b6e41f460ef7248a70.jpeg

 

The two of us in front of a waterfall in the MDR:

1A202BF9-4192-41F8-8A02-7FA3B27CF27B.thumb.jpeg.aec8939761dd31d178983f2735250306.jpeg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, ILCTCRUISER said:

The outdoor WJ seating is a plus but it's just one of the reasons we enjoy this class of ship.

I agree!  We are finding so many things we love about the ship! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On that note... here is another thing we love about the ship: The Atrium.  Our stateroom is on deck 8, right by the elevators and atrium.  It is super noisy and the music does not stop until after 11 p.m.  I thought this would bother me, but it was so much fun last night!  We decided to join in from deck 8 and really loved all the activity.  From a band performing to “Finish that Lyric” (GO Mr. DC!) and Rock-a-Rokie (karaoke with a live band) to Country Line Dance, the entertainment was endless.  The atrium leans itself to a GREAT atmosphere with people cheering all the way from deck 4 to 10.  Such Fun!  By the way, that band (Locomotion) is excellent! 

F80DF1F6-0717-4701-846A-60D8C3A26C36.thumb.jpeg.29fe6a210e9372e134cc1e9dad2ae324.jpeg

 

6A11A9C4-2F6A-48A0-B24F-11C7C047BBDB.thumb.jpeg.6a554e61ece8397be627cc6aeaf4bb99.jpeg

 

9F399E46-E775-401D-A6FA-5F8B075E7342.thumb.jpeg.21b0f0d90c512f58573a0735ce6ce6ef.jpeg

 

I have not figured out how to add video from my camera to the iPad... will have to do that at home from my computer. 🙂

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great review.  We join the ship the day you leave and we too are doing a B2B.  Thanks for the parking idea.  I've cruised out of Tampa a few times but never heard of that site but if it's just right there then sounds like a winner.  Looked like it was on the shopping side of the Chanelside parking garage but for as you put it about half off looks like it's a win win.  

 

Look forward to reading your adventures. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, nivek82 said:

Great review.  We join the ship the day you leave and we too are doing a B2B.  Thanks for the parking idea.  I've cruised out of Tampa a few times but never heard of that site but if it's just right there then sounds like a winner.  Looked like it was on the shopping side of the Chanelside parking garage but for as you put it about half off looks like it's a win win.  

 

Look forward to reading your adventures. 

Enjoy your final planning days!

 

Here is a map of the parking garage and distance from the port.  It is a very easy walk.  You drive in from 12th street where there is a large sign announcing Channelside Parking Garage.  The elevator exits at Channelside drive:

D43E8847-4524-47F4-9CE1-EE4314E05FEA.thumb.jpeg.6685308278d76987b8b7d9a21553bf0a.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for following along and for the compliments!  It is definitely more fun when there is a virtual crowd “cruising” along.😁

 

I almost forgot to post this beautiful sunset from day 1:

7BD09871-C280-43EA-A5B0-DADCDBF07998.thumb.jpeg.ff5de016c4386c3248612bf0ee3b7f63.jpeg

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...