Brilliance Review

MaryLou · #1 (**permalink**) April 8th, 2003, 08:43 PM

My review of Brilliance of the Seas is up if anyone is intersted in reading it.

http://www.cruisemates.com/Articles/...illiance17.cfm

Post Edited (04-08-03 20:44)

ErnieMCC · #2 (**permalink**) April 8th, 2003, 09:09 PM

Marylou... lovely review and a joy to read!!!

I loved the Brilliance, too. If I were to take any issue with you at all, it would be that I love both classes of ship... the Millennium Class and the Radiance Class... each in its own way. I don't see them as competing... with RCI being in the mid-range of the Premium Brands and Celeb at the top end (the reason RCI bought Celeb to begin with). Both consistently deliver a superb but somewhat different cruise product!

Again, thanks for sharing your experience in such an interesting and absorbing way!

Post Edited (04-08-03 21:10)

MaryLou · #3 (**permalink**) April 9th, 2003, 05:57 AM

Ernie...I couldn't agree with you more. I guess I really didn't mean to compare the two...but since I've had such few experiences....I couldn't help but compare. I still love Milli for her unique-ness. But, there was just something about Brilliance........

#4 (**permalink**) April 15th, 2003, 12:50 PM

Great review, Mary Lou (hmmm... that rhymes....)

You were right on with everything. I'm kind of sorry we missed all the shows, but I have a feeling I would have been snoozing in a lot of them, even as good as they would have been.

I wish I could do my work at sea!

Philip

Michele · #5 (**permalink**) April 19th, 2003, 03:04 PM

Thanks for the review. We are thinking of going next April on 11 day cruise. I have a couple of questions for you. How were the pools? and do you know if the dividing partiitons between balconies can be removed if you are travleing with other parties in adjacent balcony cabin?

#6 (**permalink**) April 19th, 2003, 03:10 PM

Michele,
The pools were nice.

No, the partitions cannot be removed between balconies.

You should definitely consider going. Brilliance is a great ship.

Philip
-----
Norwegian Sea 4/00
Vision of the Seas 3/01
Explorer of the Seas 9/01
Rhapsody of the Seas 12/01
Rhapsody of the Seas 5/02
Celebration 9/02
Brilliance of the Seas 3/03

#7 (**permalink**) April 25th, 2003, 11:33 AM

Great review Mary Lou. It echoes our experiences on the April 7th sailing of the Brilliance. Weather conditions required us to bypass Grand Cayman and Jamaice on the way to Aruba, where we arrived a day earlier than scheduled. We did make it back to Grand Cayman enroute back to Miami, and I never heard a complaint about the itinerary change, It was Captain James MacDonald's first cruise after returning from vacation. We sailed with him on the Transatlantic and he is a wonderful representative of the line. He quickly informed everyone of his decision to alter the ship's route, explained his reasons, and kept everyone up to date as the cruise progressed. I think that his (and cruise director Bobby Brown's) accessibility and willingness to share information with the passengers was the reason that there was such a ready acceptance of the change in schedule. Arriving in Aruba on Sunday instead of Monday, meant that we could not have dinner at El Gaucho as originally planned, but we found the Kuku Kunuku bar hopping excursion was a worthy substitute, especially since so many of the folks we met on the cruise boards (22 of us had dinner at Lombardi's in Miami the night before our cruise) were on the rowdy bus with us. This was our second time onboard Brilliance and the ship, her crew and especially all our new-found internet friends made this one of the best of all our cruises. There seems to be a special atmosphere about the Brilliance and anyone who sails her should be in for a real treat.

#8 (**permalink**) May 9th, 2003, 04:29 PM

We have sailed Celebrity (Millie, Century, Zenith),NCL(Norwegian Crown)Prrincess(Sky, Coral) but have never sailed RCL. we are thinking of booking Brilliance- March 19, 2004- cabin 8168. Can anyone give us some info. The t.a. will hold this cabin until 5/11.
Thanks,
Baby G

#9 (**permalink**) May 9th, 2003, 04:51 PM

Baby G,
What kind of info are you looking for?

Philip

#10 (**permalink**) May 11th, 2003, 02:44 PM

Very nice , makes us WANT to go back for another cruise. Thanks again,
Mike & Kathy Joliet

#11 (**permalink**) May 15th, 2003, 03:41 PM

Phillip,
I responded to you under a different thread Brilliance on cover of Travel magazine.
Any information you could tell me to convince me that I made the right decision to sail on Brilliance would be great.
Thanks, Phyllis

#12 (**permalink**) May 15th, 2003, 03:43 PM

Phillip
I responded to you on a different thread. (I'm new at this)
Any info you can give me to convince me that I made the right choice would be great.
Thanks, Phyllis

#13 (**permalink**) May 17th, 2003, 01:24 PM

Cruisemates-

To all who have answered my questions re: Brilliance of the Seas, thanks so much.
We are really looking forward to 3/19/04. Booked cabin #9658- any thoughts?

Phyllis

#14 (**permalink**) May 19th, 2003, 04:41 PM

CM- Has anyone stayed in Cabin 9582 or 9594? After thinking it over we decided against the aft cabin.
Any info on the above cabins would be appreciated.
Thanks
Phyllis