Review: Just completed Brilliance of the Seas western Caribbean

[Cycler48]

This review will attempt to hit all the highlights of the entire trip, including the extra day in Tampa to begin and a day in Clearwater Beach on the last day.

 

 

We arrived one day early and stayed in a Comfort Suites a few miles from the airport. If we do this again, we will definitely stay in Clearwater Beach instead. It is well worth the twenty minute drive. Beautiful hotels, white sand beaches, and more Italian restaurants than in Italy. Go to Coffee Culture, for sure.

 

 

Embarkation: As usual, Royal Caribbean had it down to an art. We boarded at 10:30, supposedly a special time for Diamond members and above and anybody on deck ten. Very short lines and helpful agents. Also, we had rented a car from Thrifty and they provided a shuttle from the airport to the ship at no cost. Same thing for Dollar and probably most of the other car rental companies. Once on the ship, the Windjammer was open. Rooms were ready at 1 PM and our baggage arrived almost immediately…a first.

 

 

Muster drill: As always, no need to take your lifejacket. We were outside this time instead of one of the bars or lounges.

 

 

Sail away: Be on the right side of the ship (is that port or starboard?) if you want the best view of Tampa while leaving. Or go to the pool and dance.

 

 

SeaPass Card: Don’t go anywhere without it. Anywhere. It is your life while onboard and you can’t get off the boat for an excursion without it. You can’t get back on without it. Don’t lose your SeaPass Card.

 

 

Food: For the first time ever, we did not use one of the specialty restaurants on this trip. But I can tell you from other trips that our favorite is always Chops. Giovanni’s Table and Izumi (sushi) were also available. We’ve only done Giovanni’s Table before and it was good, not great. The Park Café is good for light snacks but is part of the Solarium, as opposed to on the Boardwalk on the bigger ships. We did My Time dining in the main dining room. Unfortunately, our waiter did not meet Royal Caribbean’s standards. If you’ve done Royal Caribbean before, you’ll recognize all the menus. They have not added much. Most main dishes are good, not great. The escargots is great. Almost all soups are great. You want to know what the best food was that we had all week? Lobster? Nope. It was the ribs in Windjammer one day at lunch. Don’t miss them. Fill your plate, then go back and get another plate.

 

 

Diamond Lounge: Brilliance has added a Diamond Lounge, which was great for drinks and appetizers from about 5 to 8 PM. No, we didn’t stay the whole time but we went almost every night. It was busy, also.

 

 

Entertainment: You’re asking the wrong guy. I only did the Horizon Motown show and it was good. I didn’t see the comedian or any of the production shows. Actually, the last show was cancelled because of the rough seas. I was devastated. *sarcasm* The Cruise Director (Clo from Ireland) was good. We’ve had her before.

 

 

Kids Program: My kid’s 35. I’m sure they do a good job and who wouldn’t want their kid in a program all day on a cruise???

 

 

WiFi: Expensive and sporadically weak. We always do it anyway. Buy a package and save a little. Check your coupon book for discounts.

 

 

Casino: We are casino users and this one was not good. They appear to have taken all the older machines and deposited them on the Brilliance. That’s fine if they paid. These didn’t. However, as I might have posted earlier, I had one lucky spin on a dollar machine an won $360 or somewhere around there. Other than that one spin, I got nothing. My wife did OK at roulette. It’s just that the penny machines are not at all modern.

 

 

Debarkation: Maybe the quickest ever. We had luggage tags number two and got out around 8:15 AM. Bags were easily found and we breezed through customs. The Thrifty shuttle was waiting for us. I’d complain about something but I can’t.

[Deatsch]

Hey almost neighbor,

 

We're headed out on Brilliance on Monday.

 

Was there a blackjack tournament on the second sea day?

 

Thanks,

[Cycler48]

Hey almost neighbor,

 

We're headed out on Brilliance on Monday.

 

Was there a blackjack tournament on the second sea day?

 

Thanks,

 

I'm afraid I'm a slots player, not table games. But I posted all of the Compasses on my blog at http://cycler48.blogspot.com

 

It should be listed if there was one.

[PINEVIEW01]

What is "The Thrifty shuttle". Is it something you had to reserve in advance? I will be on the Brilliance 12-2,7,12&16. My DH is going home after the 12th. I still need to figure the easiest way to get him off, thru, customs and to the air port. He has never done this as I do all the planning and he is also starting do have some cognitive age related issued.

 

Any hints would be great.

[Cycler48]

What is "The Thrifty shuttle". Is it something you had to reserve in advance? I will be on the Brilliance 12-2,7,12&16. My DH is going home after the 12th. I still need to figure the easiest way to get him off, thru, customs and to the air port. He has never done this as I do all the planning and he is also starting do have some cognitive age related issued.

 

Any hints would be great.

 

If you rent a car from Thrifty or Dollar at the Tampa airport and return it the day you get on the ship, they will take you to the dock in a shuttle. Likewise, if you rent a car on the day the ship arrives, they will pick you up at the dock and take you to the airport.

[PINEVIEW01]

Thanks! I just need to figure the best way to get the DH off the ship and to the airport. He has never done this without me. He has never had to claim luggage, clear customs, check-in to a airport not alone change planes. I'm getting nervous about it.

[nolesrule]

Thanks for the review. We're going on Brilliance next Saturday.

 

But as someone who is local, you can't get to Clearwater Beach in 20 minutes from the airport. Too many traffic lights. I'll give you 30. Maybe 25 if you're speeding on the Causeway. :)

[Cycler48]

Thanks for the review. We're going on Brilliance next Saturday.

 

But as someone who is local, you can't get to Clearwater Beach in 20 minutes from the airport. Too many traffic lights. I'll give you 30. Maybe 25 if you're speeding on the Causeway. :)

 

What if I said it was Thanksgiving Day, after the Turkey Trot was over, and maybe I was speeding a tad?

[LBumb]

thanks