Brilliance 10/4-10/11 - somewhat live maybe

[stjohnpa]

Will be on Radiance in a few weeks. Was wondering if they have put the soda machines on board? Thanks.

Hope you're enjoying the northeast.

[mauimary]

Sheila...didn't realize you were doing a live blog. Just found it today. You have so many fun photos. I think our favorite part of the ship is on the aft outside the Windjammer. Is there a Skyview Cafe up on deck 12 on the aft above the Windjammer on Brilliance? Looks like you are also having amazing weather. Hope you continue to find some free wifi so you can keep the photos coming!

[negc]

Sheila...didn't realize you were doing a live blog. Just found it today. You have so many fun photos. I think our favorite part of the ship is on the aft outside the Windjammer. Is there a Skyview Cafe up on deck 12 on the aft above the Windjammer on Brilliance? Looks like you are also having amazing weather. Hope you continue to find some free wifi so you can keep the photos coming!

 

Seaview Cafe no longer exists on any Radiance Class ships except for the Jewel and she is scheduled to lose that popular dining venue when she undergoes her "revitalization" sometime next year. I think Izumi will be taking its place.

[The Grumpus]

revolving bar is in the Vortex on Deck 13. I don't believe that it starts rotating until around 7 pm. That section is sometimes used as an overflow area for theDiamond Club. Across the hallway is the Hollywood Odyssey, the private lounge for evening cocktails for Suite guest, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members.

Thanks, I should have specified. Sometimes I just assume everyone understands what I am talking about.

[mslaabs]

Just docked in Halifax. Not sure what the plan is today.

 

Sunrise today

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mslaabs]

Sheila...didn't realize you were doing a live blog. Just found it today. You have so many fun photos. I think our favorite part of the ship is on the aft outside the Windjammer. Is there a Skyview Cafe up on deck 12 on the aft above the Windjammer on Brilliance? Looks like you are also having amazing weather. Hope you continue to find some free wifi so you can keep the photos coming!

 

 

Sorry Mary, i posted the link on our other board, looks like it failed to post.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mslaabs]

Will be on Radiance in a few weeks. Was wondering if they have put the soda machines on board? Thanks.

Hope you're enjoying the northeast.

 

 

No machines on Brilliance.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mslaabs]

It looks like you've had some nice sunny days so far!

 

 

Yes, we have been very lucky with weather. On our sea day some people opted for shorts and were in the pool. I did not find it quite that warm, but did do short sleeves and no jacket.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mslaabs]

Did not find much at the dock, but it was suggested we try the harbor walk which turned out to be very nice. Nice boardwalk along the water with a couple of shops and restaurants along the way. Saw bike, kayak, and segway rentals too.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mslaabs]

Thanks, I should have specified. Sometimes I just assume everyone understands what I am talking about.

 

 

Was in the bar twice after 10pm and the bar was not rotating. Idid see where the track is still in place should they wish to rotate it.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mslaabs]

There is a farmer's market located at the end of the terminal building row.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ILOVEHI50]

Thank you, I'm so ready to get on this ship. It looks like our weather will also be good this coming week. I'm at lunch now, and then only 3 more hours of work. Headed straight to the airport.

[mslaabs]

These are probably the last posts until I get home. Tomorrow us a sea day. I leave you with more Halifax photos and some from the ship.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mslaabs]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mslaabs]

Thank you, I'm so ready to get on this ship. It looks like our weather will also be good this coming week. I'm at lunch now, and then only 3 more hours of work. Headed straight to the airport.

 

 

Have a great cruise.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mauimary]

Love your Halifax pics. so fun to see all the photos walking around the dock area. Will be awaiting your next group.

[mslaabs]

Luggage tag number called at 8:40, in the taxi by 9:00. I believe this was my quickest and easiest departure process. Photos and more detailed review coming.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mslaabs]

Was in the bar twice after 10pm and the bar was not rotating. Idid see where the track is still in place should they wish to rotate it.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 

Crew member confirmed bar does still rotate, they did not know the times.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mslaabs]

We made it home and I am now all unpacked, but still have laundry to do. Unfortunately I did not get to post as much as I wanted to live, but I have lots of photos and I'll try to get them up the next few days along with more details about the ports and ship. The boarding process was fairly easy, but they definitely need more chairs. Compared to Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, the Boston terminal seemed less organized after you visited the check in desk. I can't remember the exact time we got on the ship, but I do remember the staterooms were ready earlier than the published times. As you are leaving, the city skyline will be on the port side if that interest you. Here are some of the photos from sailaway.

[/img]

 

[/img]

 

Edited October 12, 2015 by mslaabs

[extremelybusymom1989]

How did you find the temperature on the ship itself? Did they have escargot on the MDR menu? Was there lobster tail dinner? How was the cruise director? How were the shows? How were the seas, as we haven't done any cruising out of Boston and north? Can't wait for our turn!!!

[mslaabs]

How did you find the temperature on the ship itself?

The majority of the ship was comfortable. In the Windjammer if you sat near the outside doors you could feel the cold air as people went in/out. I did find myself carrying a light jacket with me because I never knew when I would want to go to an outer deck. I didn't want to have to run back to the cabin for a jacket every time I wanted to cross the pool deck. Also note that I had on t-shirts so if you wore a sweatshirt around, the jacket may not be necessary to cross the outside decks.

 

Did they have escargot on the MDR menu? Was there lobster tail dinner?

I did see escargot, but not every night. Sorry I don't remember how many times it was on there since I'm not an escargot eater. There was lobster on the second formal night (day 5). Not realizing formal night was day 5 rather than day 6 which we were accustomed too, we booked Chops that night so I can not comment on the lobster dish itself.

 

How was the cruise director? How were the shows?

The cruise director was Clo O'Connor. She was funny and entertaining. I only went to one show, but our table mates attended several and said they were all good. They were split on the comedian, the husband thought he was funny the wife did not. I went to the Michael Buble three man tribute show. The singing was good, but they need to work on their dance coordination. They were never really all in sync.

 

How were the seas, as we haven't done any cruising out of Boston and north? Can't wait for our turn!!!

We had some rougher seas in and out of Boston. The night we went from Portland to Bar Harbor I woke up to the ship rocking a bit more than normal, but the rest of the trip was ok. The last sea day, deck 5 was closed for high winds. Not sure if this photo helps or not, but this was taken on our first sea day.

[mslaabs]

Seaview Cafe no longer exists on any Radiance Class ships except for the Jewel and she is scheduled to lose that popular dining venue when she undergoes her "revitalization" sometime next year. I think Izumi will be taking its place.

 

Yes, Seaview Cafe was replaced by Izumi

[mslaabs]

We did not have any plans for this port, we mainly walked around town. As you exit the dock area, take a left and you can follow the sidewalk to the water front area. Along here you will find some tour operators. You can take any of the streets up into the shop area. I was able to find a self walking guided tour by doing a web search so we intended to give that a try, but quickly got side tracked. We would see a street that looked interesting so we would turn down that and be totally off track for the walking tour. We did manage to see the Henry Longfellow house, at least the outside of it. There was a charge to go inside, but the gardens were free so we chose to enjoy the nice weather and view the gardens. Warning...there are several hills if you intend to walk be prepared.

 

Portland streets and Longfellow house & garden

 

 

 

We ate lunch at Porthole and from the outdoor seating area we watched a seal waiting for fishing boats to feed him.

 

 

Edited October 13, 2015 by mslaabs

[mslaabs]

For those looking for leaf color, this is what we saw in Portland on Oct. 5th

 

When I returned to the ship I found this sampler plate in my cabin. There was no card with it so I'm not really sure what it was for or why it was there. It all tasted good and I'm not going to turn away free food :)

 

For dinner that night I had the shrimp raviolis

Edited October 13, 2015 by mslaabs

[mslaabs]

Bar Harbor is a tender port. There is plenty to do right near the tender landing and tour operators are plentiful. We booked Lulu's lobster boat excursion on the internet prior to the cruise. It's a very short walk from the tender drop off area and was really a fun excursion. In addition to learning about lobsters we also saw seals and even a bald eagle. After the lobster boat excursion it was low tide and the sand bar between Bar Harbor and Bar Island was accessible. We walked out to it, but we did not cross all the way over to the island.

 

 

 

Seals lounging on the rocks

 

Eagle