Brilliance of the Seas- Med/Venice REVIEW

[nellydean]

'Fellow Guests- The majority of those onboard were foreign with a lot of German and Spanish. There was a large number of from the United Kingdom, and other European countries and American's were also represented well. We were told that beginning with the cruise following ours there would be more American's than foreigners. With the ship having so many foreign country guests, you had to adjust for cultural differences such as line jumping, pushing etc. It wasn't a huge issue, but at some times it was a bit frustrating. The main thing that started to bug everyone is the Germans who are notorious for chair hogging. They would literally get up at 5am and place a magazine on a deck chair and not use the chair all day. Some nights I saw the same magazines still on the chairs and never did see a person sit there. With this in mind, we simply took the items off the chairs or had one of the deck attendants remove them and sat down.'

 

A gentle reminder that YOU were the foreigner here, and that the Spanish and German guests were much nearer home than you were, particularly the Spanish, from whose port you departed! We had similar ratios of guests on the Navigator from Barca last summer and really enjoyed the cultural mix.

 

That said, you were spot on about the Germans, we Brits have had to put up with their towels on sunbeds antics in Majorca and the Costas for years, but we now have a solution - we simply chuck the towels into the pool :D

 

Excellent review, I will print off and keep as reference for our Venice/Med cruise next summer, it's just a pity that you didn't go to Dubrovnik, otherwise you have our itinerary pretty much covered.

[Loyal2RCCL]

Nellydean-- I wasn't complaining about the cultural mix, but rather mentioned it as a reference for others taking this cruise in the future.:)

 

We did this same trip on Brilliance in 2006 and stopped in Dubrovnik rather than Split and I much preferred Dubrovnik. If you need any info, please let me know.

[critterchick]

Well, look who the cat dragged in...:rolleyes:

[tinkerme1]

Well, look who the cat dragged in...:rolleyes:

 

Could it be? You bet!:eek: :rolleyes:

[dirtgirl]

Well, look who the cat dragged in...:rolleyes:

 

Could it be? You bet!:eek: :rolleyes:

 

 

Nawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.....it just couldn't be!:p :rolleyes:

[cruisinisforme]

What a great review! I am definitely in the worst post cruise depression after coming back from the med it is such an unbelievable experience and reading yours just brings back memories.

 

We also used Benvenuto limos for both rome and Naples...I absolutely loved that restaurant they took us to in Positano...it was definitely a highlight of our trip! They were great in both ports I so recommend them!

 

I also loved your perspective on doing this a second time. I too feel now that we have gotten the major sites out of the way we can go back and this time really enjoy Italy! I had so wanted to do a wine tour in Tuscany but opted for Pisa and Florence since we had not been there..but next time I go back that is just what I am going to do, I loved Tuscany!

[windjamming]

For any U.S. citizens who have recently been on the Brilliance, were your passports retained at embarkation? If so, what itinerary were you on?

 

According to the discussion linked below, passports were being held on a recent NOS cruise (also out of Barcelona, I think):

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=858356

 

This possibility concerns me as I have to show my passport to pick up tickets I've booked in advance for several port attractions... I'm on the 12 Night Mediterranean - Venice cruise next month.

 

I believe you do not have to surrender your passports because you do not leave the EU. I was on the Mediterranean/Greek Isles cruise and we (US citizens) did have to surrender our passports, as one of our ports was Kusadasi, Turkey and as such, we were leaving the EU and returning.

[windjamming]

Loyal2RCCL, what a wonderful review. You have given me inspiration to write a review on my cruise, which was a few sailings after yours!

 

I have to agree about the food. Now, I am not a picky diner by any means, but there were certainly a few evenings where I just didn't feel as satisfied as I usually am in the DR. We'd just been on the BR in April, and we felt there was a substantial change in the food, so the explanation of the "relief" chef makes sense.

 

That said, it was just about the only thing that was even remotely not excellent in the 12 days.

[CanTex]

I believe you do not have to surrender your passports because you do not leave the EU. I was on the Mediterranean/Greek Isles cruise and we (US citizens) did have to surrender our passports, as one of our ports was Kusadasi, Turkey and as such, we were leaving the EU and returning.

Our cruise stops in Split, Croatia and Croatia is not in the EU either (yet). We shall see...

[windjamming]

Our cruise stops in Split, Croatia and Croatia is not in the EU either (yet). We shall see...

 

Ah..good point. Then I am not sure why on the Venice itinerary US passengers did not have to surrender their passports, yet we did. I do know that if you ask early enough, Guest Relations can make copies of your passport front page. (I saw someone on our cruise ask to have those done in case he hit it big at the casino in Monte Carlo!)

 

Better yet, I suppose you can make copies at home just in case. That might be enough for the excursions.

[CanTex]

Ah..good point. Then I am not sure why on the Venice itinerary US passengers did not have to surrender their passports, yet we did. I do know that if you ask early enough, Guest Relations can make copies of your passport front page. (I saw someone on our cruise ask to have those done in case he hit it big at the casino in Monte Carlo!)

 

Better yet, I suppose you can make copies at home just in case. That might be enough for the excursions.

Yes, I always carry copies regardless, so if my passport is held, those will have to do. I have two passports (I'm a dual citizen) and now wish I had used my other (non-U.S.) passport for the attraction tickets!

[EmpressofPurple]

Nawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.....it just couldn't be!:p :rolleyes:

 

No question... HWMNBN:D

[gal2travel]

Thanks for such a great review! Can't wait to go.

[gal2travel]

Quick question on 9260. Does it appear they changed the carpet or is there any lingering odor from the past flooding?

 

Thanks...

[twoputt.plusone]

We also kept our passports.

 

Have a great cruise!:D

 

Hi Karen. Glad to hear you had no plumbing problems. ;)

 

We just got off the Navigator and all of us had our passports retained, even the Americans. I'm thinking that it may have been because we had Istanbul in our itinerary. We didn't have to get visas like I'd read on the Med. boards but we were provided with Landing Cards that we were to keep with us for both days of our stop. Once we left Turkey, we all picked up our passports again.

 

2P.P1

[HMSDingy]

[quote name='MickyBridges']"The majority of those onboard were foreign with a lot of German and Spanish. There was a large number of from the United Kingdom, and other European countries and American's were also represented well. We were told that beginning with the cruise following ours there would be more American's than foreigners. With the ship having so many foreign country guests, you had to adjust for cultural differences such as line jumping, pushing etc."

Thank you for your review. The above paragraph provides an interesting insight into your point of view. Subsequent readers may wish to bear this in mind.[/quote]

With all due respect to the OP, how can you state that "line jumping , pushing etc" is a cultural diversity. Its simply bad manners and even North Americans are guilty of that.