Off Brilliance Today

[Rocky Top]

Just got home (alabama) from Miami. Got off Brilliance this morning (6:30am) and wanted to post a short report.

 

The recent reviews from this ship & and the Panama Canal have been wonderful and I could not add any additional information. Everything from embarkation to disembarkation was great and even better than a diamond member could have expected. My goal here is to provide any info to fellow CC members that might not have been covered in the recent reviews.

• Drove to Miami
  
• Spent night on way in Vero Beach
  
• On ship at 11:45
  
• D-1 cabin 9572
  
• Great meals
  
• Wonderful shows
  
• 30 minutes to disembark

Going to bed now (been up 19 hours) but if anyone wants to ask a question, I will answer tomorrow (Saturday)

[doggypaddle]

Hello. We just booked on Brilliance for the Panama Canal on 4/6. I'm searching for tips/advice/suggestions for excursions and anything else you might find helpful. We are cruisig with our 5 and 8 yr. old children who are adventurous but may dictate which excursions we try.

 

Can't wait!

[Rocky Top]

Good Morning Doggypaddle - DW & I are mid 60s and take the more sedate excursions. However we saw children having a good time on the water toys in Labadee and also on the jungle tours in Panama. Some of the more exotic tours have a minimum age for participation so be sure and check those. We really enjoyed the bus tour in Aruba but young children would be bored I'm afraid. In Curaceo we went snorkeling which was fun but a lot of rum punch was consumed on the way back to the ship. We loved it but again I'm not sure about children.

Our fellow CCers with children could better answer this question, but believe me you are in for a great time on the Brilliance. Have FUN !!!!!!

[CruisinMommas]

Rocky Top so glad you posted. I am happy to read you review. We are off to the Brilliance in just 8 days . We sail Monday the 12th. We are about your age give or take a few years. Thanks. I can not wait to get on the road.

[cck0000]

Thanks for posting.

I am glad you had nice cruise!

Which of the shows did you enjoy most?

Any favorite meals?

Was there a murder mystery dinner?

 

We will be on the 10 day Brilliance in March!

thanks:) :)

[Rocky Top]

This is our third time on the Brilliance and found it as good this time as we did in 2003 & 2005. However the beds have not been upgraded yet and are getting a little worn. Nothing bad because we slept great, but if you are expecting the new bedding, I didn't want you dissappointed. They do have the egg carton padding if you want it.

The food was excellent. We had planned on Chops one night, but decided that the dining room was better than we expected so we cancelled.

Only problem we had was that the in room movies were in many languages BUT NOT ENGLISH. First time we have experienced this on RCI. They have a movie theater on board but we never go there. Like to watch movies in bed at night.

You are going to really enjoy the Canal cruise. Wish I was going with you.

[Sue L]

Hey Rocky Top,

 

 

Do you by any chance have the menus or remember how they handled them? Did they just repeat the 7 day again the last 4 days or were there different things? I am on the 3/26 sailing!!

 

Any info would be great

[Rocky Top]

Which of the shows did you enjoy most?

• Marty Allen & his wife. However they just signed a contract with a hotel in Vegas and will not be doing cruise ships.
  
• Also the guest violinst that also played the piano & sung was wonderful
  
• They had a matinee show one day with the Brilliance orchastra which was my favorite. They played everything from "Big Band" to Broadway and was the talk of the ship. Don't miss if you have an opportunity

Any favorite meals?

• As always, the last formal night was lobster & carved prime rib which was cooked to perfection
  
• Italian night was also very good.
  

Was there a murder mystery dinner?

I believe there was but not sure. I will unpack later today and see if it's in the Compass.

[Rocky Top]

Don't have copies but each night was different. Did not repeat any particular night but did repeat some items.

[Sue L]

Don't have copies but each night was different. Did not repeat any particular night but did repeat some items.

 

 

Thanks for the info. I am so excited to go. Are you going to post any pictures? I love seeing everyone's.

 

 

Sue

[the herd]

Glad you had fun! Six of us are doing the 11 day sailing on 3/26/07. Are they still checking for carry on beverages? and if so do they just restrict alcohol or can you carry on soft drinks?

 

Since they don't have a self service laundry, do you remember if they had a "bagfull special" part way thru the cruise?

 

Hear any comments by other cruisers on excursions they took?

 

Thanks!

[Sue L]

Glad you had fun! Six of us are doing the 11 day sailing on 3/26/07. Are they still checking for carry on beverages? and if so do they just restrict alcohol or can you carry on soft drinks?

 

Since they don't have a self service laundry, do you remember if they had a "bagfull special" part way thru the cruise?

 

Hear any comments by other cruisers on excursions they took?

 

Thanks!

 

 

Please come and join our Roll Call, the link is in my signature. We have a great group, Also please sign up for the Meet and Mingle.

[Rocky Top]

Don't know about soft drinks, but had a traveling companion that had to "check his rum at the door" in Aruba. Heard another guy say he tried to smuggle some on board in Labadee in a beach bag and was caught. Saw him the last morning and he said it was delivered to his room on the last night.

 

Heard many positive reviews on plantation tours in Costa Rica, snorkeling tours in Aruba & Curaceo, and the jungle tours in Panama. Hope this helps.

[san4u2]

Hello. We just booked on Brilliance for the Panama Canal on 4/6. I'm searching for tips/advice/suggestions for excursions and anything else you might find helpful. We are cruisig with our 5 and 8 yr. old children who are adventurous but may dictate which excursions we try.

 

Can't wait!

 

We too are on the 4-6 sailling on the Brilliance. Have you signed up for the meet and mingle?

[cck0000]

Thanks for the answering all the q's

SO, how goes the unpacking and laundry?!;)

 

Did you play bingo or any other fun trivia/games?

How did the tendering go?

[kruze4fun]

Just got home (alabama) from Miami. Got off Brilliance this morning (6:30am) and wanted to post a short report.

 

The recent reviews from this ship & and the Panama Canal have been wonderful and I could not add any additional information. Everything from embarkation to disembarkation was great and even better than a diamond member could have expected. My goal here is to provide any info to fellow CC members that might not have been covered in the recent reviews.

• Drove to Miami
  
• Spent night on way in Vero Beach
  
• On ship at 11:45
  
• D-1 cabin 9572
  
• Great meals
  
• Wonderful shows
  
• 30 minutes to disembark

Going to bed now (been up 19 hours) but if anyone wants to ask a question, I will answer tomorrow (Saturday)

 

I know, that drive is a killer. We drove to Miami once back when we lived in Alabama, I don't know where in AL you live, but we lived in Anniston for years and that was the worst drive of my life. I thought it would never end. I remember leaving after work on a Friday and driving all through the night getting there at about noon on Saturday :eek: . We're retired and live in Ft. Walton, FL , right south of Alabama, but we still won't drive to Miami!

 

Glad you had a great cruise on Brilliance.

[Rocky Top]

My DW says to tell you that while I am on CC talking to you & others, the unpacking & laundry is going fine, not that I should know.

We played bingo two days and then the final day ($3575 jackpot) which we let another person win.LOL Also gave a lot of donations to Casino Royale. Love and marriage game was fun but it was like most others. Karoke was not well attended on this ship. A little dissappointed. Belly flop was the best we had seen on previous cruises.

The only place we tendered was Labadee which is very organized and easy. Did not wait to get off ship or to get back to ship. Did not get off at Gatun lake which is also tendered.

[cck0000]

:) youre funny!

[canusa]

I see you were in cabin 9572. We are thinking of booking 9570 and 9571 across the hall. Could you tell me how you liked the location and also what was across the hall in the area that is blank on the deck plans.

Thanks, Jane

[Rocky Top]

This is our third time on Brilliance and we love the location. Close to center elevators, very little movement and really quite. We always book close to this location on Radience class ships. The blank spaces are two cabin attendant work rooms. One has supplies and ice and the other appears to be a staff elevator and storage. Very little happens in these rooms and we never noticed any unusual noise. The two cabins you are thinking about would be great for a family. Plenty of room in the balcony cabin for family time.

 

Enjoy your planning which is part of the fun.

[Barbiegator]

RockyTop

Just got off SOS and I agree about the movies on TV.My only compliant on survey was that we needed a movie schedule for TV. Never knew what movies were on and what time.

We enjoy taking a break and watching movies in room.

I think we had this on Princess Cruises.

[Pumbaamd]

Were you lucky enough to have Hanna serve you at dinner, or have the pleasure of Danny (aka Fish) as your bartender?

Rick

[AFT_LOVER]

I have been emailing him a bit. Very cute guy. Stated new bed are to be installed this month so we will sleep tight on April TA.

[AFT_LOVER]

I have been emailing him a bit. Very cute guy. Stated new bed are to be installed this month so we will sleep tight on April TA.

[ianturner]

Roky Top, glad to here you had a good trip.

Need to know how many formal nites did you have?

My wife & I will be on Brillaince in eight days.

Thanks.