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Royal Caribbean International

MV Brilliance of the Seas

Your Rating:
Reviewed by: Doug Adam
# previous cruises: 4
Date of Trip: January 26, 2004
Itinerary: Mediterranean

11 day cruise. Ship is fabulous, but many irritating shortcomings, which we assume were cost-cutting, in operations. No laundry, pop $6.50/day, generally no food available late evening on, alcohol brought on board quarantined, Windjammer food repetitious, smoking areas not posted. Our 2 Princess + 1 Holland-America cruises did not have similar negative features.

Basically the ship & crew were great. The expanded curved areas straddling several upper decks reduced the slab-sided appearance. Casino seemed right size.

We prefer flexible dining times, as in other cruise lines, so mainly used the buffet. The island-type layout there was preferable to the continuous line-up of other ships, but did not always get the re-stocking. Staff started to close one side some time before closing, and closed all counters promptly at closing time.

Two complaints: shower too tight to permit much bending without popping curtain on wrong side of sill, sink faucet only dispenses hot water, so used bottled water. Shades of hotels on China!

We really enjoyed the different shows every night.

Generally got up late, lazed in the sun reading a book, and ate. Gambled and caught a show in the evenings. We called at San Juan, St. Thomas, Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Maarten & Labadee. Didn't do any of the pre-arranged tours, but took cab tours with other passengers, as well as shopping, of course.

Mainly 60+ passengers, since this was an 11 day cruise. We were surprised to see a fairly large contingent from UK.