Condition of Brilliance?

[cruisin from florida]

We have a few upcoming cruises booked on the Brilliance, one of our favorite ships. We're in Cozumel on the Celebrity Silhouette, and docked right next to the Brilliance. She's looking pretty rough..  lots of rust and peeling paint. How is her interior? Is she going to get a break to get some needed maintenance?

Again, she's one of our favorites, and it was a bit sad to see her needed maintenance so clearly.

[resetjet]

Shes fine inside.  Of course its an old ship.  

[kruzerci]

Unfortunately since the pandemic they have really cut back on ship maintenance and it is beginning to show. She’s in pretty good shape onboard. Much more so than Serenade. 

[Ashland]

1 hour ago, kruzerci said:

Unfortunately since the pandemic they have really cut back on ship maintenance and it is beginning to show. She’s in pretty good shape onboard. Much more so than Serenade. 

We were on Serenade twice recently...Alaska & Panama Canal and she was just fine.

[Biker19]

"

Passengers on Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas current voyage in the South Pacific are forced to return to port in Sydney and its March 30 voyage has been cancelled due to technical issues.

Royal Caribbean has announced compensation and itinerary adjustments for affected guests.

Royal Caribbean has announced an unexpected change to Brilliance of the Seas’ itinerary due to technical difficulties. Slated to depart on a 5-night Tasmania cruise on March 30, Royal Caribbean announced that the voyage on the 2,543-passenger Brilliance of the Seas is now cancelled.

 

“Brilliance of the Seas experienced a technical issue on its last sailing, and we’re returning early to begin required maintenance,” said the cruise line. “Our crew has started working on restoring the system, and we’re deploying the best experts. Despite our efforts, we are unable to complete the needed repairs to be ready in time for our 30 March 2024 sailing.”

 

The ship is currently on an 11-night “South Pacific Cruise,” which departed Sydney on March 19, 2024. Slated to call on Lifou and Noumea, New Caledonia, and Mystery Island, Vila, and Luganville, Vanuatu, before returning to Sydney on March 30, a propulsion issue has forced the cruise to cancel March 23’s call in Noumea.

 

The issue is serious enough that the cruise line also cancelled all remaining port visits, leading to an increased number of sea days as the ship returns to port for maintenance.

 

A passenger aboard the ship alerted others of the issues via Reddit, writing, “We are currently sitting in Santal Bay, New Caledonia, near the island of Lifou, while the crew attempts to repair whatever is wrong with the ship.”

 

The Reddit post was updated to reveal the ship was returning to Sydney and skipping its remaining five port calls.

 

Royal Caribbean apologized to passengers scheduled to sail to Tasmania for the cancellation, stating, “We know how much time and effort go into planning your cruise, and we’re truly sorry for this disappointing news.”

The cruise line details a full compensation plan, announcing a 100% refund of the cruise fare, along with taxes, fees, pre-paid packages, and gratuities, credited back to the original form of payment.

 

Compensation also will be offered for any flights or additional travel expenses booked through Royal Caribbean. Passengers who booked their flights and packages must work with those carriers and providers regarding the cancellation.

 

However, the cruise line is covering change fees for all affected passengers on domestic travel up to $250 per guest and up to $400 for international changes. It also promised reimbursement for non-refundable, pre-purchased travel fees incurred, such as hotels, train tickets, or rental cars.

 

Travelers who utilized a Future Cruise Credit for the sailing will also receive a refund of any new funds paid above the certificate amount, along with the reissuance of the original certificate.

In a gesture of goodwill, Royal Caribbean is offering a 50% Future Cruise Credit that can be used within one year. 

 

Following the announcement of the return to Sydney, the Reddit poster revealed full details on compensation for those currently onboard Brilliance of the Seas had yet to be revealed. However, passengers were initially given $200 onboard credit due to the inconvenience caused.

 

While the current disruptions on Brilliance of the Seas are substantial, they are not an isolated event. Oasis of the Seas encountered propulsion problems as recently as October 2023.

 

Other vessels, such as the Quantum-class Anthem of the Seas have had to adjust their itineraries over the past year due to ongoing engine maintenance. Similarly, Radiance of the Seas also faced challenges, resulting in the cancellation of two complete sailings following emergency engine repairs in Alaska last September."

 

Royal Caribbean Cancels Cruise Due to Technical Difficulties (cruisehive.com)

[Biker19]

[little britain]

Compensation is 

 

*50% of fare as FCC

*50% of fare as refundable OBC

*Wifi and phone lines opened. If you have bought VOOM prorated refund for remaining days 

*Most importantly for Australians (!) all drinks at 50% off, and if you have bought the beverage package you’ll get 50% refund for days remaining as OBC 

 

Latest update is she is cruising at 12kn but rumours of further delays 

 

 

[Chiliburn]

 Chatting with a friend onboard and she said the next 2 cruises have been cancelled.

[little britain]

Those on the following 5n to Hobart which is now cancelled receive 100% refund and a 60% FCC.

 

The current cruise has been cut short by 4n and with the next 5n cancelled means pax have to find hotel accommodation for up to 9n in Sydney at short notice. 

[cruiselvr04]

We got off her on Tuesday, after 46 nights.  At that time all was well.  Really feeling for those on board.  We met many who had booked to stayed on board until Vancouver. It sounds like they’ll be bumped off for 9 nights. Wondering if they’ll give up and fly back or attempt to stay on land that long.  Lodging and food isn't cheap in Sydney but maybe an Airbnb where you could do some light cooking would work. Disembarking late at night sounds awful so hoping they allow people to stay on board until the following morning at least. 

[Chiliburn]

5 hours ago, cruiselvr04 said:

We got off her on Tuesday, after 46 nights.  At that time all was well.  Really feeling for those on board.  We met many who had booked to stayed on board until Vancouver. It sounds like they’ll be bumped off for 9 nights. Wondering if they’ll give up and fly back or attempt to stay on land that long.  Lodging and food isn't cheap in Sydney but maybe an Airbnb where you could do some light cooking would work. Disembarking late at night sounds awful so hoping they allow people to stay on board until the following morning at least. 

Apparently they dock at 8:00 pm and there’s another ship booked for the next morning. It will be dark and they all have to get off 

Not the most glamorous situation.

[ShazM]

23 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

 Chatting with a friend onboard and she said the next 2 cruises have been cancelled.

I wonder if the transpacific is going to happen then

[Chiliburn]

2 hours ago, ShazM said:

I wonder if the transpacific is going to happen then

The transpacific is still on sale,so you would think so.

[Biker19]

"

Royal Caribbean International has once again reached out to guests booked on the April 4, 2024 sailing of Brilliance of the Seas following a technical issue with the ship’s propulsion that cancelled the ship’s March 30 cruise.

 

Just days ago, travelers were assured that the April 4 departure would move forward as planned, but now the cruise has been delayed and the itinerary shortened with a significantly different destination. Guests are being offered generous compensation for the change, however.

Despite an earlier notice reassuring guests that the cruise was intended to set sail as planned, Royal Caribbean International has now reached out to passengers booked on Brilliance of the Seas‘ April 4, 2024 departure from Sydney, Australia, with the unfortunate news that the cruise must be shortened.

 

Instead of departing on Thursday, April 4, as planned, the sailing is now delayed until Sunday, April 7, and will have a dramatically different itinerary due to the loss of time.

 

“While repairs for the technical issue that we encountered on one of our previous sailings was completed, during routine testing, we discovered that we’re going to need some extra time to get the ship ready for you,” the email explained.

 

“As a result, your Brilliance of the Seas 4 April 2024 sailing will now set sail on Sunday, 7 April 2024 as that is the earliest date we are able to secure a terminal in the Port of Sydney.”

 

The cruise line does not detail what the “extra time” is needed for to prepare the ship to welcome guests, and it is unclear whether it is a separate technical issue or may be related to supplies or other factors.

 

The overall delay is attributed to berth availability in Sydney. Checking the cruise schedule for the port confirms that Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge and P&O Cruises’ Pacific Adventure are in port on Friday, April 5, followed by Holland America Line’s Noordam, Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess, and Pacific Adventure again are all docked on Saturday, April 6.

 

No other cruise ships are currently on the schedule for Sunday, April 7, so Brilliance of the Seas would be able to use the terminal that best suits the ship’s size and passenger complement.

 

The April 4 sailing was originally planned as a South Pacific cruise, visiting Noumea and Lifou Island in New Caledonia as well as Mystery Island in Vanuatu before returning to Sydney on Friday, April 12.

Because it takes two full days at sea to reach those destinations, however, the original itinerary is no longer feasible with the shortened timeline. Instead, Brilliance of the Seas will now be visiting Hobart, Tasmania for an overnight call from 8 a.m. on Tuesday, April 9 through 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10.

 

“The temperature in Hobart is going to be between 16-19 degrees C (61-66 Fahrenheit), so we recommend packing some warmer clothing for your time in port,” the cruise line is advising guests.

 

Hobart is approximately 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) southwest of Noumea, the southernmost port of call on the original itinerary. The two destinations have radically different climates, and in comparison, the temperature in Noumea on April 9-10 is forecast to be 22-29 Celsius (73-84 Fahrenheit).

 

Because of the shortened itinerary and radically different destination, Royal Caribbean is offering significant compensation to guests. All travelers will receive a 50% refund of their cruise fare, as well as a 50% future cruise credit for another sailing.

 

Likewise, pro-rated refunds for daily packages – beverage packages, internet access, and dining packages – will also be processed. Any pre-paid gratuities will also be pro-rated for the shortened cruise length.

As is typical when a port of call is changed, all pre-paid shore tours booked through the cruise line will be refunded to guests as refundable onboard credit. Of special note is that Royal Caribbean is also discounting drinks for the voyage as a special thank you for guests’ understanding.

 

“We want to enjoy our upcoming days together, so we’ve opened the bar at a discount!” the email said. “All drinks will be at a 50% discounted price.”

Guests who have already paid for beverage packages will receive a 50% refund of the package cost back as onboard credit, in addition to the pro-rated refund for the shortened itinerary.

 

Airline change fees up to $250 (USD) for domestic travel and $400 for international travel will also be reimbursed, and likewise, hotel costs up to $250 per night for up to three nights before the sailing will also be reimbursed. If guests booked flight or hotel arrangements through the cruise line, their travel arrangements will be adjusted automatically.

 

Finally, all travelers will still receive full credit for the original 8-night cruise in Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor Program, ensuring that their loyalty does not go unnoticed despite the fact that the cruise will now only be a 5-night voyage.

 

This sailing is Brilliance of the Seas‘ last roundtrip voyage from Sydney for the season. The next departure – April 12 – is a 16-night one-way trip to Honolulu as the ship begins repositioning to Vancouver for the Alaska sailing season.

 

The 90,090-gross-ton, Radiance-class Brilliance of the Seas will not be returning to Australia for any upcoming deployments, but instead will move to New Orleans in October, and in 2025 will offer seasons with multiple departures from Athens, Boston, and San Juan."

 

Royal Caribbean Delays Cruise Despite Earlier Assurances (cruisehive.com)

Edited April 4 by Biker19

[cruiselvr04]

Such a bummer for the people who had booked these cruises. We were on the cruise just before her break down and met many, mostly Americans, who were staying on until May in Vancouver.  Those people have now been displaced for 2 weeks while she was fixed.  I’m not in contact with any of them but am wondering if they gave up and went home or if they stayed in Australia hoping to get back on.  We had debated the TP and had even booked the SP once but decided to back out before final payment.  The crew has gotten a break but they have also lost 2 weeks of tips.  
 

Stuff happens, being flexible in travel is key, but it’s still disappointing for those involved.  
 

[xeriod]

I was on the Brillance when it broke down. 2 days to get to Lifou at  20 knots. Then 4 days to get back to Sydney at 13 knots. We got back 4 days early and they offer $250 per night for 3 nights. Try to find a hotel in Sydney for $250 ! Flights back were booked , so we stayed those 4 nights at $280 per night.Took 2 hours of standing in line to get off the ship as everyone rushed to get off and ignored the supposed assigned time slot. Royal issued me that $750 yesterday, now I need to contact the trip insurance folks to get back hotel and food costs.