Brilliance of the Seas

[Lisa353]

Has anyone sailed on Brilliance of the Seas before?  I have only ever sailed on Freedom of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.  Next year I will cruise on Anthem of the Seas for the first time.  I am currently looking at Alaska cruises on Brilliance of the Seas and was wondering what the ship is like.

[Tlbecker1]

We were on the Brilliance in May for 2 weeks.  The Brilliance is a smaller ship than the Voyager.  They were replacing windows in the Windjammer while we were on her.  The crew was great.  It doesn’t have any bells and whistles, we just went on it for the Greece and Croatia itinerary.

[orville99]

Brilliance (Radiance Class) is our favorite class of ship. We are on her sister Jewel in three weeks, and when we board Serenade in February we will have sailed on all four. 

[lovesthebeach2]

Brilliance is our favorite ship….we love all the Radiance class ships. They’re small and no frills, but so much glass to view the ocean, because that’s one reason I cruise…. I love the ocean.  It’s my zen.

 

 

[George C]

We sailed her to Europe, nice ship , doesn’t have the entertainment or food options as the larger ships .

[time4u2go]

It's a nice ship...easy to get around.  Nothing is too far away.  It's showing its age in some ways.  Windows that need replacing, rust, elevator buttons in need of repair.  Nothing major though.

[nunuc2000]

12 minutes ago, orville99 said:

Brilliance (Radiance Class) is our favorite class of ship. We are on her sister Jewel in three weeks, and when we board Serenade in February we will have sailed on all four. 

We are on the Jewel in three weeks as well 🙂 And agree... love the Radiance class size.. we were on the Brilliance for our Baltics and British Isles cruises a few years ago and she was wonderful!! 

[Swath]

That Class of ship was also built to fit through the Panama Cannal

[CruisinNole]

We've cruised on Brilliance around 10 times. It's our favorite Royal ship. We'll be on her in less than 2 weeks. She is older and doesn't have all the bells and whistles but we like the size of the ship. She was our last cruise before Covid lockdown so it will be interesting to see her condition 3 years later. 

[Joseph2017China]

Two main types of ships today.  The first is a "destination" ship, where you go on it because you want to be on a ship, and don't care about the islands that you went dozens of times already.  The other type of ship, is a ship that takes you to destinations.  It is not filled with resort activities.  It has lots of food, a show every night, and plenty to drink.  It takes you to ports daily, which is your destination.  

 

So what do you want?  A Destination ship, or a ship taking you to a destination?

 

[NJoynCruisin]

We've been on Brilliance once before and Radiance class 4 times.  We will be on her the 26th with cruisinnole.  We've done 2 On Navigator this year. We've never done bigger than Voyager lass.  It will be interesting to be back on Brilliance.  We love the smaller ships.  This one is a B2B, our first.  Probably back to Navigator next year because of location.

[cruiselvr04]

3 minutes ago, Joseph2017China said:

Two main types of ships today.  The first is a "destination" ship, where you go on it because you want to be on a ship, and don't care about the islands that you went dozens of times already.  The other type of ship, is a ship that takes you to destinations.  It is not filled with resort activities.  It has lots of food, a show every night, and plenty to drink.  It takes you to ports daily, which is your destination.  

 

So what do you want?  A Destination ship, or a ship taking you to a destination?

 

I think this is good description of the classes of ships.  You can still have fun on the smaller ships, more sometimes because the ships are more intimate and often go to places other then Cozumel and St Thomas.  
 

Brilliance is a lovely ship.  What you will find is more views of the ocean, park cafe, an outside seating area in the windjammer, a helipad you can sit on and a quick walk to anywhere on the ship.  You will still have a casino, good food and evening entertainment.  We plan to live on her for 2 months in 2024.  (The only thing I don’t like are the shower curtains!)

[2travelcats]

Hoping someone, who was recently on Brilliance OTS, can tell me if there are still free male and female saunas and steam rooms.

 

There seems to be some confusion concerning the Brilliance as I think a thermal suite exists but the free, single-sex saunas and steam rooms are also still there.  

 

Past reports said these free saunas and steam rooms were located in the men’s and ladies’ dressing rooms in the spa area.

 

Thanks for a recent report!

[njkruzer]

Sailed Brilliance.  Love Radiance class ships.

[Lisa353]

23 hours ago, orville99 said:

Brilliance (Radiance Class) is our favorite class of ship. We are on her sister Jewel in three weeks, and when we board Serenade in February we will have sailed on all four. 

I have also been looking at a cruise on the Jewel also.  Is that a similar size ship?

[Lisa353]

21 hours ago, Joseph2017China said:

Two main types of ships today.  The first is a "destination" ship, where you go on it because you want to be on a ship, and don't care about the islands that you went dozens of times already.  The other type of ship, is a ship that takes you to destinations.  It is not filled with resort activities.  It has lots of food, a show every night, and plenty to drink.  It takes you to ports daily, which is your destination.  

 

So what do you want?  A Destination ship, or a ship taking you to a destination?

 

To be honest I like both.  Someone asked me recently do I prefer being on a large ship or a small ship and I actually like both but for different reasons.  I do like smaller ships because there will be less people but at the same time I like a larger ship as there will be more to do and more food options.

[njkruzer]

4 minutes ago, Lisa353 said:

I have also been looking at a cruise on the Jewel also.  Is that a similar size ship?

Yes, same class ship. Both are Radiance class.

[lovesthebeach2]

22 hours ago, cruiselvr04 said:

I think this is good description of the classes of ships.  You can still have fun on the smaller ships, more sometimes because the ships are more intimate and often go to places other then Cozumel and St Thomas.  
 

Brilliance is a lovely ship.  What you will find is more views of the ocean, park cafe, an outside seating area in the windjammer, a helipad you can sit on and a quick walk to anywhere on the ship.  You will still have a casino, good food and evening entertainment.  We plan to live on her for 2 months in 2024.  (The only thing I don’t like are the shower curtains!)

I’ve solved the shower curtain issue. I use a couple of magnets to attach the curtain to the wall and it keeps the water in the shower 😉

[orville99]

25 minutes ago, Lisa353 said:

I have also been looking at a cruise on the Jewel also.  Is that a similar size ship?

They are twin sisters

[cruiselvr04]

I actually take a plastic shower liner from dollar tree and put it inside the one on the ship.  Solves the problem of touching a used shower curtain and it makes it more stiff so it doesn’t blow in on you.  I leave it behind.

6 minutes ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

I’ve solved the shower curtain issue. I use a couple of magnets to attach the curtain to the wall and it keeps the water in the shower 😉

 

[little britain]

17 hours ago, 2travelcats said:

Hoping someone, who was recently on Brilliance OTS, can tell me if there are still free male and female saunas and steam rooms.

 

There seems to be some confusion concerning the Brilliance as I think a thermal suite exists but the free, single-sex saunas and steam rooms are also still there.  

 

Past reports said these free saunas and steam rooms were located in the men’s and ladies’ dressing rooms in the spa area.

 

Thanks for a recent report!

I’m onboard now and can confirm that there is free sauna and steam room in ladies locker rooms in the solarium on deck 11 forward.  I just used it! 
Reception desk confirmed likewise for the gents as I didn’t peek 🫣 in there! 
 

Edited November 16, 2022 by little britain

[Tree_skier]

22 hours ago, Joseph2017China said:

Two main types of ships today.  The first is a "destination" ship, where you go on it because you want to be on a ship, and don't care about the islands that you went dozens of times already.  The other type of ship, is a ship that takes you to destinations.  It is not filled with resort activities.  It has lots of food, a show every night, and plenty to drink.  It takes you to ports daily, which is your destination.  

 

So what do you want?  A Destination ship, or a ship taking you to a destination?

 

Good assessment.  We have done Alaska twice in the last two years.  Once on Serenade in 2021 (sister to Brilliance) and once on Ovation in 2022.  We loved both trips but they definitely different cruises.  We'd gladly do either again.  The highlight of an Alaskan cruise is always Alaska.  The other stuff is just extra in my opinion.  If I was going to the W. Caribbean I'd want Voyager class or bigger.

[little britain]

Just now, little britain said:

I’m onboard now and can confirm that there is free sauna and steam room in ladies locker rooms in the solarium on deck 11 forward.  I just used it! 
Reception desk confirmed likewise for the gents as I didn’t peek 🫣 in there! 
 

 

[2travelcats]

THANKS so very much little britain!!!  I really appreciate that you took the time to reply to my question and then also added the picture.  Now I have one more reason to look forward to our Alaska cruises in June.

[Longford]

On 11/15/2022 at 12:03 PM, lovesthebeach2 said:

….we love all the Radiance class ships. They’re small and no frills, but so much glass to view the ocean, because that’s one reason I cruise…. 

I sailed on Serenade of the Seas 11/5.  My first cruise, and I enjoyed the smallish vessel.  Yes, lots of windows.  Many, maybe most needed a good cleaning so that there were not blurred or distorted views (including the one in my stateroom).