Brilliance was brilliant.

Cruise was excellent in virtually all aspects. Food in the dining room was very good. Service by the waiters was excellent. Cabin steward was very attentive and exceeded our expectations. In addition, the shows we attended were well done. The only negative was the cigarette smoke that occasionally drifted from the casino. The Izumi restaurant was outstanding as we had “made to order” sushi and impeccable service. The cabin steward keyed into my wife’s fascination with towel animals and had several created for her during the cruise. The windjammer cafe offered a wide variety of foods including smoked salmon, fresh fruit, and mass quantities of bacon, so we ate all our breakfasts there. The boat (Brilliance of the Seas) is an older model but it was well maintained and easy to navigate. All in all, the cruise met or exceeded our expectations in virtually every category. We would highly recommend this particular cruise.

Great family cruise

My family and I thoroughly enjoyed this cruise! The crew on the Brilliance was fantastic, consistently going above and beyond to make our trip special. Dining was a highlight for us, with great meals and attentive service. Each evening, our server even brought us an extra dish or two for the table to share, most of the time suggesting the Indian/Curry dishes and if he or our assistant waiter noticed we didnt like a particular dish, they were quick to ask us if we wanted a replacement. While the weather was a bit chilly, it didn’t stop us from enjoying the indoor amenities, like the cozy lounges and engaging trivia games. That said, we’ll have to save the tanning for another cruise! It had been a long time since we cruised on an RCCL ship without a Royal Promenade, and we missed it more than we expected. The placement of Park Café in the Solarium felt a bit out of the way, and the pizza quality didn’t quite match what we’ve had on the larger ships. However, the ship’s layout still worked well for us, and we loved how easy it was to navigate. Looking ahead, we’d love to sail on the Brilliance again, but perhaps on an Alaskan itinerary or a Southern Caribbean cruise from Puerto Rico—both destinations we think would pair perfectly with this ship’s vibe. Overall, we had a wonderful time and would definitely recommend this ship, especially if the itinerary is a good fit!

Smaller Ships Are So Much Better!

I am giving this cruise 5 stars -- with a few "despites," so let me get all of that out of the way now. Despite the fact that my family caught COVID on the ship, despite the fact that the ship is a bit worn down (smashed window in the main dining room, chairs needing new upholstery, rust on the ship's exterior, broken curtain hooks in our cabin, and a sewage smell on the lower decks), the experience we had was wonderful. Why? Because on this ship, it's all about the crew -- kindhearted and committed individuals who will go out of their way to exceed your expectations. This is why the smaller ships are so special! Special recognition goes to our hardworking cabin steward, Widicar; our amazing waiter, Gusti; our fine Assistant Waiter, Loftus; our lovely headwaiter Lorena; Nathan, the wonderful performer in the pub; Kayshelle, our sweet server in Izumi; Alejandro and Vijay, the bartenders in the pub; and especially to Pramod, the Food and Beverage Director, who showered us with free gifts just because we recognized him from a past cruise. Also, let me say how great it was to chat with the friendly cast members when we met at Paradise Beach Club on Cozumel. Again, this ship is all about the people! As far as the food goes, it wasn't the best we've had, but then again, this is my 44th cruise and 22nd on Royal, and I know what to expect. Izumi is delightful -- some of the best sushi we've ever had, but the food in the dining room and Windjammer are just OK. One night in the dining room, we ordered a steak, which we simply could not cut. There are loads of activities to enjoy. Three that I recommend you attend are the Quesst, the Captain's Corner, and the Parade of Nations on the last day. Our balcony cabin was comfortable with lots of storage. Our shore excursion in Belize was canceled due to "operational issues," but the Shore Excursions rep did a herculean job rebooking dozens of folks on other tours. We enjoyed the two production shows -- the cast works really hard, despite technical difficulties that ensued, and the guest entertainers, a juggler, a comedian and an outrageously talented rock band with singer called Rookie, were all very, very enjoyable. Getting on and off the ship were quick and easy. So, here's the bottom line: If you want a relaxing cruise without the bells and whistles, and where the people you meet are the true destination, this cruise is for you. Plus, it leaves from New Orleans, which is a delightful city to explore before or after your cruise.

Brilliant Brilliance of the Seas

Embarkation: we got the 1030 to 11am slot to board, it wasn't too busy. Watched the lifeboat drill video on the app and went to the muster stations to check in and complete the demo. This is still much more preferable than having to do the drill on deck with the whole ship which some cruise lines have re-introduced. Cabins: a little dated and and wear marks on the drawers etc. The charger outlet in the bathroom seems to have been replaced with a nightlight. Some showers have the original workings and some have been replaced as the 2 cabins we had were different. I lost hot water one day which was promptly Fixed by 3 maintenance men who are very apologetic. Overall clean and cosey. One of the beds was extremely hard even with the mattress topper. I moved to the other side and that was fine. Food and drink: I just love the coconut cookies! I like that all the ships have the same food. The main Dining room menu is the same as all the other ships we've been on. Maybe time for a little change! Thoroughly enjoyed the windjammer. Wish they had Weetabix for breakfast though apparently that's just a European thing and Australian. I brought my own. Park Café was handy for milk, orange juice and a few snacks in the morning. I did notice that the orange juice was quite weak in most venues apart from one area in the Windjammer Buffet. Lunch in the Windjammer was excellent as was dinner, lots of choice. Sadly no ice cream in tbe buffet except for the Mr whippey soft serve which was nice though. We also had dinner in the main dining room a few times but the Service was often slow with our waiter absent 10-15 minutes most nights at the start and I did have cold food on a few occasions. However the manager was excellent. The only thing this ship lacks for me is a Johnny rockets for their milkshakes! Service: Royal Caribbean crew always seem very happy and friendly people, determined to make you have a good time. Pool bar staff excellent. Entertainment: I have to say I thought this was the only thing I could rate as poor. The bigger ships certainly have more budget spent entertainment in terms of headliner shows. Otherwise plenty of things to do all day and night. Disembarkation: very well organised, you had to be out of the staterooms by 8 am. We found a nice quiet area to sit rather than one of the public lounges.