Short review of Brilliance of the Seas

[Sir_Randy]

They offered a one day drink package on the last day. The cost was $55 I believe, not sure if that included the tip or not as we did not purchase it

Thanks again...may have to do that....Bloody Mary's with breakfast...a couple frozen foo foo drinks poolside...a couple Mai Tai....glass of wine with dinner....a couple Goombay Smash at the piano bar...a couple White Russians at the casino....One thing I like about cruising...do not have to worry about drinking and driving.

[sofietucker]

Boarding March 7th, excited! Did they offer daily drink (adult) specials (discounted prices)? I heard their drink prices have gotten stupid expensive, and trying to decide if a drink package would be best? Thanks for the review!

 

Couple things: If you get it, *everyone* in your cabin has to get their own package too--no sharing. So forget about giving your sweetie any extra drinks. Plus, the package only covers drinks/wine/beer up to a certain amount ($8 a glass, last week) so if you want call liquor or "good" wine, you STILL have to pay for it. But many regular drinks do tend to run $12 or so--martinis, etc.--so depending on what you like, it may be a deal for you.

(BTW, specialty coffees are also in the drinks pkg--along with water & sodas. So that could be a great bargain.)

 

That being said, there were 3 other useful offers for us: frequent 2-for-1 on 'boat' drinks by the pool (mango mai tais, etc.); drink of the day for $7 (also boat drinks);and if you're a repeat guest, a benefits package pre-loaded onto your seapass that includes one-time use of: 2 for 1 drink, a discounted drink, and a discounted special coffee. Look for the letter in your cabin describing these, the day you board.

But make sure that you're picking what you want to use them on (tell the bartender), otherwise they automatically get deducted first time you order a drink.

[live2vayk]

They offered a one day drink package on the last day. The cost was $55 I believe, not sure if that included the tip or not as we did not purchase it

 

It was $55.00 a day, but the bill for it was around $65 when all was said and done with tax and I think they also added gratuity....

[live2vayk]

Couple things: If you get it, *everyone* in your cabin has to get their own package too--no sharing.

 

That being said, there were 3 other useful offers for us: frequent 2-for-1 on 'boat' drinks by the pool (mango mai tais, etc.); drink of the day for $7 (also boat drinks);and if you're a repeat guest, a benefits package pre-loaded onto your seapass that includes one-time use of: 2 for 1 drink, a discounted drink, and a discounted special coffee. Look for the letter in your cabin describing these, the day you board.

But make sure that you're picking what you want to use them on (tell the bartender), otherwise they automatically get deducted first time you order a drink.

 

This was not what we experienced, I didn't buy the package special, but my cabin mate did.... we didn't share of course, I just paid as I went. And I had a few of those buy one get one specials on my letter in my cabin, but I had to ask them to apply the discount, they did not automatically do it for me. Not a big deal, but I had to ask them for the deal.

[springmac]

I appreciate the review. We are doing the 5 day on March 12th. I live in Tampa, and I believe the reason for your delay was most likely related to the annual Gasparilla activities that take place down here every year! It was around the same time. Glad you enjoyed your trip!

[PH8]

I appreciate the review. We are doing the 5 day on March 12th. I live in Tampa, and I believe the reason for your delay was most likely related to the annual Gasparilla activities that take place down here every year! It was around the same time. Glad you enjoyed your trip!

 

No, Gasparilla was Sat Jan 30th...this cruise was Thursday Feb 4th.

Edited February 13, 2016 by PH8

[cincicruisers]

Thanks for taking the time to post your review.

[jakesmom04]

Thank you for the information....we will board her in April. Will be watching for that review.

 

 

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[springmac]

No, Gasparilla was Sat Jan 30th...this cruise was Thursday Feb 4th.

 

Oops...my bad. I thought the cruise was the 30th!

[nessa14141]

What shuttle service did you use to get back to the airport after the cruise? We will be doing this sailing in April :D.

[Clarea]

What shuttle service did you use to get back to the airport after the cruise? We will be doing this sailing in April :D.

Hard to beat a taxi. Ship to airport is flat rate of $25.

[live2vayk]

What shuttle service did you use to get back to the airport after the cruise? We will be doing this sailing in April :D.

 

Taxi's were available, so that would certainly be easy to do. But because we were a group of 10 I pre arranged a shuttle with "super shuttle". I did it all online, it was easy. That morning they sent me a reminder email and confirmed the time, and when we got out of the terminal we were pointed in the direction of where we could expect our shuttle. There was a worker from Super Shuttle there in a uniform, and he called our driver and told him we were ready to go. It was very simple and for 10 of us with tip the total was $100.00. I would recommend them if a shuttle is what you would prefer. But as I said, taxi's were very easy to be had.

[cruisegirl1]

Thank you OP and (Ellen) for the information on the four night brilliance. We are taking that ship and itinerary at the end of March.

 

OP, please let us know when the full review is posted.

 

Thank you

M

[hollyberry]

Did they have any theme nights on the 4 night cruise? Thx

[Clarea]

Did they have any theme nights on the 4 night cruise? Thx

70's night for sure.

[bella1540]

Thanks for your review we are going from Tampa on Mar.7th-same deck! I found conflicting info. about smoking in the casino. Do you remember if there was an actual smoke free night at casino during your trip? I've read there is a smoke free area but is meaningless since its open area. Thanks in advance!

[bella1540]

I was told there were no theme nights on the 5 day cruise? is that incorrect?

[Clarea]

Thanks for your review we are going from Tampa on Mar.7th-same deck! I found conflicting info. about smoking in the casino. Do you remember if there was an actual smoke free night at casino during your trip? I've read there is a smoke free area but is meaningless since its open area. Thanks in advance!

We saw no smoke free night on our recent Brilliance cruise.

 

The smoke free nights in the casino seemed to have stopped around the same time that smoking was prohibited on the balconies.

[runawaysoul]

Thanks for your review. The Radiance class of ships are my favorite, but I have not been on the Brilliance. It's definitely on my bucket list!

[live2vayk]

Thanks for your review we are going from Tampa on Mar.7th-same deck! I found conflicting info. about smoking in the casino. Do you remember if there was an actual smoke free night at casino during your trip? I've read there is a smoke free area but is meaningless since its open area. Thanks in advance!

 

There was not a specific night that was smoke free in the casino on this cruise. There is an area that has no smoking, and it is tucked into the corner that leads out of the casino on one side, so while smoke of course wafts over there, it really wasn't bad. I realize that is very subjective, if I were really sensative to smoke it would not have been OK probably. But, it was mild and I didn't stink after I left..... that I noticed! :)

[live2vayk]

I was told there were no theme nights on the 5 day cruise? is that incorrect?

 

Hello! I am unsure if they were "officially" theme nights, not sure if there is a distinction to that. I can tell you that they had a 70s dance party in the centrum one night lead by the CD and staff, and they did a disco party in one of the lounges following that. They had things going on in the centrum area each night.

[JohnDO01]

We just enjoyed a 5-day on the BoS in 12/2015 and loved it. They did have theme nights each night, such as 60s/70s/80s, etc. no white-outs or anything, though. The atrium parties were off the hook! What a blast! This is such a small ship, compared to Oasis, it's like a ship-wide party!

 

 

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[monctonguy]

Loved the 70's show on the 4 day I did last year on here...especially when the Village people came out and got a cpl older ladies to join them in the glass elevators as they went up and down on them....lol

 

Doing a 5 nighter next week so will be interesting to see what else they add or is different...can't wait!

[JohnDO01]

Haha! That was epic! We loved the crowd participation on 70s night! And I must say the wife really enjoyed watching the scantily-clad and very muscular village people, although she wouldn't openly admit it.

[monctonguy]

haha...oh I know a quite a few of the women there enjoyed it to say the least..was defn a fun time so it will be a must do again on this cruise!