Why I love Radiance Class Ships

[hapster85]

Not sure abiout the hot tubs, but all pools on the smaller classes (Voyager and below) are salt water. We like the increased bouyancy in the salt water pools.

Increased buoyancy is nice. I'll give salt water that. I'm usually good until I get a mouthful, and then not so much. Love being on the ocean, though. As well as listening to waves crashing on shore. The good definitely outweighs the bad.

[vacationlover_mn]

We loved Brilliance. For those who've been on Radiance and BOS, do you find them to be very similar?

 

 

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[Clarea]

We loved Brilliance. For those who've been on Radiance and BOS, do you find them to be very similar?

Very similar, though Radiance has more specialty restaurants.

[impatientlywaiting]

I don't get people who say that they like the smaller ships because they like being able to see the ocean. The only time I am really looking out at the ocean is when I am top side or on my balcony. I never actually find myself looking for a place inside where I can stare out at the ocean other than in my room when I have the curtains pulled back. Then looking out of windows at night does not make a difference anyway. But hey that's just me. :cool:

 

I guess it's fortunate that we don't cruise together then! We love watching the ocean on Deck 5 on the many sea days when we're on a TA or sailing up from, or down to, Australia in the South Pacific. IMHO, that's one of the main reasons for cruising, to be out on the ocean. If I wanted to spend all my time in the casino, or walking around in a park like atmosphere, I'd just stay on land.

[impatientlywaiting]

We are on Brilliance 30 June for 12 nights with two grandsons ,E1 balcony. I am a bit concerned about stateroom storage! Never been on a Radiance class ship before. We usually go with Celebrity. Never had more than two in stateroom either but that doesn't really bother me. I will make sure two cases fit into other two and hopefully will go under the bed? But maim concern is space for clothes!

 

 

We had 3 adults in a balcony on Serenade and there was plenty of room for all our clothes. I always take a cheap over the door shoe holder for the bathroom door so that takes care of a lot of small items. And I open up our large suitcases and slide them under the bed.

[bigque]

I guess it's fortunate that we don't cruise together then! We love watching the ocean on Deck 5 on the many sea days when we're on a TA or sailing up from, or down to, Australia in the South Pacific. IMHO, that's one of the main reasons for cruising, to be out on the ocean. If I wanted to spend all my time in the casino, or walking around in a park like atmosphere, I'd just stay on land.

 

Cool! :cool:

[impatientlywaiting]

Judging by your signature, you haven't even tried a larger ship, so you can't yet say it isn't for you.

OK, maybe not an Oasis Class ship, but you might not mind the Freedom Class or similar.

 

Our first cruise was on Majesty and if we had our choice, that's the size ship we'd always cruise on. The Radiance and Vision class are almost too big for us. We don't want, or need, anything bigger than what we've sailed on already. We don't need all the hoopla of the promenade, or a zip line, or 14 decks of cabins, or 20 different eating options, etc. We know what we want in a cruise ship, and the bigger ships aren't it.

[Biker19]

We know what we want in a cruise ship, and the bigger ships aren't it.

Your choices will narrow considerably in the next few years.

[negc]

Serenade. In April. Looks open to me

 

 

 

 

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Not to worry. Despite rebuttals from several posters, some posters will continue to post their biased views even when they conflict with reality.

Have yet to see any indication that they even read responses to their comments.

[John&LaLa]

Cool! :cool:

 

I like Oasis. I see the ocean every day from my condo. ;p

[molsonschooner]

Majesty is still around and why not do Empress?

BTW - I suggested that you try Freedom Class, not Oasis Class. I'm sure you would still enjoy it, and there are many places to see the ocean. Even Quantum Class with Two70.

 

The small ships are not my cup of tea - but I am qualified to say that having sailed two Radiance Class ships and a Vision Class. I don't even dislike those ships, just not enough to do for me, and I even wouldn't be opposed to sailing on Majesty for a weekend cruise, she seems great for the 3/4 day itineraries.

I don't understand why you would suggest a freedom class ship. They are huge compared to Radiance or Majesty. Not everyone needs or wants all a big ship offers.

[travelplus]

So nice to hear from others who enjoy the Radiance Class ships. As they say each to his/her own in terms of what ships you like to sail on.

 

I am very happy that Royal Caribbean is able to incorporate a lot of their "big ship" features on smaller ships. While the larger ships ma have more venues how many venues can you really dine at.

[molsonschooner]

You can't say something isn't for you or you prefer something else without trying it!

but the person said that the radiance class was almost too big for them. Why suggest they try something so much bigger.

[hapster85]

Majesty is still around and why not do Empress?

BTW - I suggested that you try Freedom Class, not Oasis Class. I'm sure you would still enjoy it, and there are many places to see the ocean. Even Quantum Class with Two70.

 

Hanging out in Two70 during the day was one of my favorite things on Anthem. Amazing views, and very relaxing. We had breakfast or lunch there several times. My wife even got me to take a few dance lessons there.

[impatientlywaiting]

but the person said that the radiance class was almost too big for them. Why suggest they try something so much bigger.

Because they can't believe there are actually people who don't like the bigger ships and just can't leave it alone. No worries though, I know we won't be running into them on the smaller ships! [emoji2]

 

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[impatientlywaiting]

Majesty is still around and why not do Empress?

BTW - I suggested that you try Freedom Class, not Oasis Class. I'm sure you would still enjoy it, and there are many places to see the ocean. Even Quantum Class with Two70.

 

The small ships are not my cup of tea - but I am qualified to say that having sailed two Radiance Class ships and a Vision Class. I don't even dislike those ships, just not enough to do for me, and I even wouldn't be opposed to sailing on Majesty for a weekend cruise, she seems great for the 3/4 day itineraries.

I'm looking at Empress for a future cruise to Cuba!

 

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[vacationlover_mn]

Very similar, though Radiance has more specialty restaurants.

 

 

Ooooo... can't wait to try it :). 13 months to go :)

 

 

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[vavasmom]

I tried the Radiance class in March. It was a five day for my college aged daughter's spring break on Brilliance. Loved it - enjoying a glass of wine looking at the sunset from Vintages was a highlight. Agree about how nice the concierge and diamond lounges are - we were lucky very few D/D+ onboard. Enjoyed the outside windjammer seating, and the variety of restaurants/bars.

 

I will say the Solarium on our cruise was hot and stuffy.

 

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[ONECRUISER]

I don't understand why you would suggest a freedom class ship. They are huge compared to Radiance or Majesty. Not everyone needs or wants all a big ship offers.

Was just 29 yrs ago EVERY Cruise ship was smaller then the Sovereign(Majesty) class. None were even close to her size...

[GEARADRIFT]

I really love the Windjammer outdoor seating area on the Radiance Class ships to just sit outside and enjoy Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner or just read a book in between.

 

Now you are talking my language!! Having only been on the Brilliance (in the class), I am looking forward to sailing the Radiance in a few months. I am with you, if a ship of each class that we have sailed (Vision, Radiance, Freedom & Oasis) were sailing identical itineraries, I would select the Radiance Class. Not taking anything away from the other classes, we have enjoyed all of them immensely, there is just something about the Radiance Class.

[molole]

Semi newbie question: is there a way to see forward on the Radiance class? Serenade, specifically.

 

Also, given a choice of cabin 7174, 7040 and 9578, which one would you choose? The price difference is very little. Thanks for any feedback!

[Clarea]

Semi newbie question: is there a way to see forward on the Radiance class? Serenade, specifically. ...

The fitness center has expansive forward views.

[molole]

The fitness center has expansive forward views.

 

Thank you for the quick answer! Do I need to pay to use the fitness center?

[londongal796]

I haven't had the pleasure of sailing on a Radiance class ship, but I'm looking forward to it in 2019 (when they finally release the itineraries for Australia & the Transpacifics etc!). I've been on one Vision class ship and the thing I remember most about it was the lovely Centrum with the beautiful glass windows all around and the stunning views of the ocean outside. We spent a lot of time in some of the lounge spaces on various floors (often times with a cup of Ben n Jerry's!) enjoying the beautiful views.

 

While I personally continue to prefer the Voyager and Freedom class of ships, if you really think about it you do notice that there are very few options for getting outside views UNLESS you pay for a balcony+ cabin. (Most of the oceanview cabins have very small windows although some of the newer panoramic oceanview cabins are stunning though and are just as good as a balcony.) Anyway -- unless you've got the balcony cabin, it's hard to find an indoor space with nice views outside. And if there are such spaces, they are usually pay-for venues (such as Chops, for instance) or else the good seats are already taken!

 

We will be on three Vision class ships in a row so it will be interesting to see how we enjoy it this time around (having also been on an Oasis class ship). I think I will miss the Promenade but I will enjoy the lovely views outside from the Centrum instead! I also absolutely love the covered Solarium (whether retracted or not) as we have found many of our cruises are marred by inclement weather (we do a lot of repositioning and European cruises) so this is a major bonus for us.

 

I'm definitely looking forward to a Radiance class ship as I've heard lots of lovely things about them. I'd always wanted to sail on one of them. Do they still have the self-leveling pool tables?

[hapster85]

The Centrum is nice, but also has its drawbacks. They host quite a few activities there, so the area around the 4th floor (I think it was 4) can become quite crowded, with very limited seating. People would also gather around the railing on the next 2 or 3 floors, sometimes more.

 

That's the way it was on Radiance, anyway. From photos I've seen, it's like that for the other ships in the class.