Brilliance of the Seas- Jan 10- 31, 2011- A Pleasant Surprise!

[DGF]

After a successful back to back cruise- Jan 10 Barcelona to Dubai and Jan 24 Dubai to Dubai, have put together the following notes which hopefully will be helpful to fellow cruisers considering the same cruise/ ship:

Note: Many of the sites, tour guides, etc mentioned in the following report have web links attached to provide you with details

General comment- The Brilliance of the Seas (Passenger Capacity: 2,114 double occupancy; 2,502 maximum) has been a pleasant surprise. The company has positioned themselves in the bottom tier (from a price point) of the “Premium Ships” (for the 21 day cruise, we paid $188/ per person per day, pricing which we have not seen for years) with add-on charges for almost everything- i.e. freshly squeezed orange juice, specialty coffees, soft drinks, bottled water, inflated wine prices/ excursions and prohibition on bringing on board any wine or alcohol; but have maintained very good food quality (although not the higher level of the Silversea, Crystal, Cunard Grill, or Oceania), reasonable caliber of entertainment in comfortable two level theatre with good sight lines, ship is attractively finished with very good social centres and very good service from staff. The décor in the Schooner Bar and Colony Room (with reasonable sized dance floor, band) is equal to a five star cruise ship. The multi deck Atrium/ Centrum (7 stories) was impressive, with the sound of the band and singers resonating upward from Deck 4- a memorable experience.

However, the Ship suffers from:

i) insufficient staff on the Guest Relations Desk,

ii) not enough elevators (be prepared for waits) but on the plus side many of the elevators provided views of the Centrum and sea,

iii) a very small unstaffed inadequate library and

iv) lacking tech support staff for computers- not available until you push up the line to get required assistance and their lack of maintenance of the printers was noticeable- main printer on Deck 4 never did work for me and had to use printer on Deck 7

Embarkation/ Disembarkation- Went smoothly and quickly. We took the RCI transfer from the airport to the ship ($60) but took a taxi from the ship to the airport in Dubai, for two reasons- RCI transfer times were well in excess of what was required and cost- Taxi fare was only 70 dinars with tip

Our Junior suite 1578- Deck 10 - We were in a junior suite which was a notch or closer to two notches below a five star cruise ship in décor, linens (from time to time towels were coming apart and had hardly noticeable rust stains) and furnishings; but bed and furnishings were certainly comfortable enough and everything worked. Walk in closet was adequate for a 21 day cruise. The suite had two umbrellas (started with one but on request received a second). What was missing/ normally found in suites were i) bathrobes & slippers (Gayle asked Jessica our cabin stewardess who is one of the best we have had and received), ii) no access to concierge lounge which was miniscule in size compared to five star ships, iii) no in suite wireless web connection, iv) no coffee table enlarger to create a reasonable sized breakfast table. Had a pay as you use small bar fridge. Air conditioning worked well (quiet and kept the required temperature level).

A few Caveats-

i) there is a huge overhang from the deck above which eliminates being able to lounge on the verandah sunning yourself or viewing the stars at night

ii) during the night we could hear noise from the deck above when staff were working in the area, which from time to time was disturbing,

iii) lighting system did not allow one to read in the sitting area and turn off all lights in the sleeping area which was partially screened with a drape that could be drawn part of the way,

iv) Inroom Breakfast menu options lacking resulting in us using the Windjammer for Breakfast and

v) the deck overhang had been recently scraped, not a proper clean up with paint chips left over the deck furniture and overhang never repainted.

Dining Experiences- Main Dining Room- Consisted of two floors, deck 4 being fixed dining and deck 5 open dining. There also is a separate dining area off the main dining room on Deck 4 called Zephyr which does not have the ambience of the main dining area. Nice comfortable furnishings and very good décor including a waterfall. We were in the centre of deck 4 and had no noise problems. We chose fixed dining since we like to have the same wait staff and get to know our fellow dining guests on the first leg which was mostly sea days. Our dining room waiter on the first leg (Paola Saa from Chile) was top quality and our table mates, two single ladies- Jane and Annie- were great therefore we always looked forward to dinner and conversation. We were fortunate again with our tablemates on the second leg, but due to scheduling did not join them for much of the cruise (We found the fixed dinner reservations at 6:00 PM not workable on the second leg. First seating was originally 6:30 PM when we booked many, many months ago but unfortunately was changed to 6:00 PM which just did not work for longer private land excursions).

- Windjammer café- Bright open dining room with sea views on deck 11. We were pleasantly surprised by the options and quality of the buffet offerings for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. At times was crowded but with a little work we could always find a table. Being able to sit outside (covered and uncovered), when the weather permitted, was a plus

- Seaview café- on deck 12. A pleasant retreat for snack foods, pizza, etc. where you could sit outside or inside; often used by the ships staff

- Latitudes- on deck 5. A specialty coffee house (Seattle’s Best) with extra charge for the specialty coffees; but pastries, which were very good, were free. Comfortable furnishings, nice décor. We often frequented.

- Alternative dining- For a fee, ship has two- Chops Grille (features steak and salmon)- $25.00/ person and Portofino (Italian)- $20.00/ person (?). We tried out Chops where the service was great but the food did not justify the additional price (steaks in a specialty restaurant should be properly aged and require little assistance from a knife to eat) and cancelled our future reservations for both. Dean tried their steak that could also be ordered in the main dining room for an additional charge but same result.

- Ship lacked the “High Tea” found on other ships

Fitness Facilities- On Deck 12. Thought this facility was appropriate to be next for comment. Dean found the exercise equipment more than adequate and the jogging track good which can be expanded by walking around the complete deck. Unfortunately on too many days wind made the walking uncomfortable. For group activities, one could partake with the crew in sports (volleyball, basket ball) on the Sports court. There was also a golf simulator. We did not partake in the Spa facilities so can’t comment; although one of our table mates did and was pleased

- On Deck 13, Rock climbing wall. One day Dean will have the nerve to try this

Bar experiences- We were again pleasantly surprised with the options, comfort and décor of each. We were pre warned about the pricing (If you would like a copy of the current bar menus with pricing, drop us a note at deangayle@rogers.com and we can provide). To mention a few

· Champagne Bar on deck 6 with nice views of the sea

· Viking Crown Lounge on deck 13 with panoramic views in the day and turns into dance club at night. Nice spot to retreat and read during day at sea

· Lobby Bar on deck 4

· Schooner Bar on deck 6 with a very pleasant décor

· Colony Club with dance floor, band

Theatres- Two level production theatre on deck 5 & 6 with comfortable furnishings and good sight lines. Quality of entertainment is always a personal matter but we found the orchestra very good, ship’s dancers and singers performance mixed, and special entertainment from good to very good. Again, given the ships price point, more than adequate. Reportedly also had a movie theatre which we did not use

Fun options- On Deck 13, putting green, rock climbing and on deck 6 two billiard tables that have special levelers to keep table on even keel

Casino- Rather than the standard two for one payout on black jack they paid out only 6 for five. This change in the odds to create an extra ship profit, quickly eliminated Dean’s blackjack table play after noticing. On Formal nights the Casino was non smoking

Pools- again more than adequate, one kids’ pool with slides, one outside pool with whirlpools, and one inside pool called the Solarium which turned out to be a favourite for us given the unexpectedly cooler weather for much of the trip and ability to use for snacks and light lunches

Children Facilities- We never took part but noted: i) on Deck 12, Teen Disco, Adventure Ocean, Adventure Beach ( pool with a slide which Dean would have loved to experience but was often closed due to cool weather)

Internet- Two areas where computers and printers available- Deck 4 and Deck 7. Several hot spots for Wi Fi throughout the ship. Connection at times was slow. You can purchase packages which were good for both Dean’s laptop and on ship’s computers. If you want the current rates, drop us a note at deangayle@rogers.com

Visas- RCI completely dropped the ball on the new requirements for visas for Canadians- Crown and Anchor telephone staff had no, limited, conflicting and at times wrong information. Caveat- on the Dubai to Dubai leg of the cruise, you need two visas per person, one for entry and departure from Dubai, and a second for leaving UAE to enter Oman and returning back to Abu Dhabi, UAE. I noted that on the first leg of the cruise on board ship staff were arranging for the missing second visas. Costs per visas was different based on who you were dealing with. Ours cost $100/ person x 4= $400 given we needed to obtain the visas on an emergency basis. Otherwise would have cost $75/ person. We successfully got our visas thru:

Prejit Sebastian

Senior Project Executive - Cruises

Arabian Adventures

T: + 971 4 303 4771

F: + 971 4 343 2251

M: + 971 50 6500206

E: prejit.sebastian@emirates.com

One of our fellow cruisers ended up having to fly into Dubai, go directly to the UAE Immigration, and after several back and forth taxi trips was issued the required two visas. A gamble that paid off

Caveat- Double check the visas they send you by e-mail. Initially for the second visa they copied the first visa rather than provide the required second visa with different permit number; which ship noted and Prejit’s staff quickly had corrected

Ship Personnel- A big difference between the five star cruise lines and the premium four star cruise lines was that on the five star lines, you never passed a crew member without him/ her greeting you, and a real effort was made to learn and call you by your name. Much to our pleasant surprise, the Brilliance of the Seas staff has adopted the five star cruise line approach. Well done Brilliance of the Seas

SHORE EXCURSIONS

We try to always arrange private tours as it allows us to meet the people, go to the restaurants the locals use, cover more ground, and stop to take pictures when we want to stop

Accordingly, Janice Meade, one of our group, took on the task of arranging most of the following private tours (thank you Janice- a job well done):

Alexandria- Ramses Travel Group of Egypt. www.ramsestours.com; Email:info@ramsestours.com. Full day tour with van and Egyptologist Guide. Cost for group of 7- Cost: $85.00/ person. Target tour, which was too ambitious and weather (rain) did not co operate so cut the tour short:

· Kom el Dikka (Roman Amphitheatre)

· Villa of the Birds

· Pompeii’s Pillar

· Kom al Shaqqafa (Catacombs)

· Graeco- Roman Museum (Alexandria Museum) including the gardens for the statues

· Quaitbey Fort for exterior photo op rather than to enter the fort

· Bibliotheca Alexandria (Alexandria Library) for a quick photo op and tour. Would have liked to have spent more time here- i.e. 1.5- 2 hrs

· Royal Jewelry Museum to view the former palace in which the museum is located

· Drive along Alexandria’s Corniche, stopping off to enjoy a coffee/drink at a location the locals use- Never Did/did not have the time

· Summer palace of King Farouk incl Montaza Gardens- Not in bloom but would be beautiful in spring/ summer

· Abu al- Abbas al-Mursi Mosque

· Attarine Souk (Antique Bazaar) to walk thru some of the narrow streets to get a flavor as well as possible purchases- Never did as it was raining and muddy

· Drive thru of Modern Alexandria with photo stops as desired-

· Lunch at the Fish Market Restaurant overlooking the water

Conclusion- Recommend Ramses

Aqaba for Petra- Petra Nights Tours- www. Petranights.com; e-mail sales@pntours.com. Cost $188/ person. Tour with comments:

· Picked up in a comfortable van for six with driver with good English: Mazin Al-dgamash, P.O. Box 2184, Aquaba, Telephone 962 777 863440 Fax 962 3 2013283; mobile 962 79 5 502946

· Paved good roads all the way with many silent policemen.

· Extremely windy and very cold in stop off on way to Petra. We were not properly dressed. Should have taken a sweater and Fall jacket.

· Met at the Petra parking lot by our guide: Mohammed Farajat, e-mail- mofarajat@hotmail.com or mofarajat@yahoo.com. Excellent. Will try to use for our planned returned trip to Jordan. Advised that one needs three days to thoroughly visit Petra= we need another three nights, two days for Petra. He suggested we need 7 days to visit all of the sites in Jordan

· Tour included taking horses from the parking/shops area to Siq. We declined due to Gayle’s back

· Walked to Petra, developed by the Nabataeans, down hill with guide to Siq, thru Siq to Treasury which is now not open for entry. Then took a tour down the Streets of Façade (rows of Nabataean tombs whith carvings in various state of ruins) thru the Theatre (also not in good shape), past the hill to the right in which are carved many dignitaries tombs, one of which is the Palace Tomb (is open for entry), down the Collonaded Street which previously led thru the city centre reported having a population of 30,000. Street was formerly flanked by temples, public buildings and shops. Marble pavement in spots is still visible; past the Qasr al-Bint two storey free standing structure, the only one still standing. Had lunch included in the tour in the Al-Anbat Restaurant with passable food. Across the street next to the Museum is a Crown plaza restaurant which looked much more inviting. Museum is of interest to spend a short time. Guide left us before lunch. We could have taken a donkey or walked the 800 some steps to the Monastery but left this for the next trip.

· We casually returned walking up a gradual slope thru city of Petra and the Siq to the shops where we arrived around 5:00 PM and back to ship. Note: in addition to horses, one can take a return ride on a two seat horse drawn buggy with driver. Cost not known

Comment: A must see site, but in DF’s opinion did not live up to expectations. Some of our party who have been to Ephesus in Turkey said Petra is not as good as Ephesus. We plan to go back and spend 1-2 days doing a tour in more depth. Have mixed feelings on Petra Nights Tours as a result of their policy of asking for full payment up front

Safaga- Bedouin Desert Camp excursion. Memphis Tours, E-mail- marwa.amer@memphistours.net. Cost US$65/ person. Tour with comments:

· Memphis Tour representative picked us up in port by ship in land Rover, but with uncomfortable bench seats rather than standard seats. Drove to Hurghada which is a resort town with a large enclosed mall shopping centre. Tour leader collected the money and left us with driver

· Bumpy ride thru the desert with several stops for pictures and one where Ernie and Dean walk up a steep hill and down the other side thru deep sands. Wished we had a sled to slide down the sand dunes

· On to a Bedouin village. Occupied by approx 60 villagers, but was not truly a Bedouin Camp- Permanent structures rather than traditional tents woven from sheep/ camel hair. Guide who took us thru the village had poor English showing us their thatched homes in which the Bedouins lived. Took a camel ride (short walk), saw a makeshift museum and a small zoo of local wildlife. Some of the other tour operators had arranged for dune buggy rides thru the desert sands. We just had hot tea, three hot dog buns with cream cheese for lunch and became antsy with our Memphis guide at the village.

· Day was salvaged by Abduol Ahmed, employed by the “Bedouin Services”, Hurghada - mobile 002 0128597682 who was an excellent guide with excellent English (self taught). He was a young man from Luxor, told us about his life, arranged marriage by mother- was shown picture, met wife to be with family, woman and man said yes or no to marriage, then spent a managed year of engagement and then were married. They were a young couple with a son, living in Hurghada, with plans to return to Luxor in three plus years. He provided us with details on the Bedouin life- Houses, food, education (children are family taught, did not go to school), religion, culture. All men were required to join the army for three years but other than that were not a part of Egyptian society (no taxes and no services provided)

· No sunset nor stars as was a cloudy sunset, but on return thru the dessert at night had a bright moon

· Drove down to a enclosed wall entertainment area where “served” a buffet dinner (everyman for himself as insufficient food for all). Entertainment was a belly dancer, a whirling dervish, and some other skilled entertainers.

· Extremely windy/ cold and DF glad he had brought sweater with fall coat. Gayle and rest of the group were cold. Returned thru the desert in the dark to the highway and back to the ship for a light dinner in the Windjammer Restaurant

Comment:If had known then what we know now, DF would skip as was not an authentic Bedouin Village. For anyone who goes, bring warm clothes/ dress/ in layers, have tour include dune buggy excursion into the desert, and insist on having an English speaking guide while in camp. Start out earlier, to allow for a couple of hours to visit Hurghada.

Dubai- First day- Dean & Gayle had a business meeting with a local rep for a Canadian company, having lunch in a local Lebanese restaurant and viewing the Souk Madinat Jumeriah, Mall of the Emirates with aquarium & ski slopes, and Dubai Mall seeing the

; all from a local’s perspective. Excellent day and all sites a must see

Fujairah- Today we took the ships 5 hr tour- East Coast Tour - FG03- Cost- $50/ person. “The lush, fertile landscape of the United Arab Emirates is yours to discover during this memorable tour of the scenic East Coast. Depart via motor coach for a scenic drive along the East Coast of the UAE, a region characterized by excellent beaches, the rugged Hajar Mountain range and lush green expanses. Photo stops will be made at the Fujairah Fort, Oasis in Bithna and the Masafi Pass. Visit the Friday Market and Dibba plus photo stop at the Bidya Mosque before returning to the ship.”

Comment: Was the least impressive port stop and if we had known then what we know now would have stayed on board the ship for a relaxing day.

Muscat, Oman- Day 1- Mark Tours- ashok@marktoursoman.com; www.mark-oman.com. Tour “Inspiring Interior” Duration :- 8 Hours. Cost- $55/ person

Took free shuttle from ship to pier gate and tour guide waiting- Hisham al Khakhalili, mobile 096899813823.

· First stop was Nizwa Souk which is in a large building broken up into specialty areas located in front of the Nizwa Fort

· Nizwa Fort where we spent too much time falling behind in the schedule.

· Had a traditional lunch in a private room, eating on mats on the floor, in Bin Ateeq Restaurant for Omani Foods (a memorable experience)

· Then quickly drove on to the Jabrin Fort (also called Jabrin Castle- Palace of Imam Bilarab bin Sultan)and returned to the port around 6:45 PM. Sites missed were:

· Walking old Nizwa

· Bahla, for pottery and town for its cultural value is on the Unesco’s list of heritage monuments

Muscat, Oman- Day 2- Mark Tours. Tour: “Mystic Muscat” - Muscat City Tour (Full-Day). Cost- $53/ person. Tour started at 9:00 AM. Duration :- 7 Hours

Took free shuttle from ship to pier gate and tour guide with comfortable van and driver waiting

· The tour started with a visit of the Grand Mosque (located in the old port area). A must see

· Fish and vegetable markets in Muttrah.

·

· A drive past the Corniche and to the capital area for a photo stop at the Sultan’sPalace flanked by the 16th Century Portuguese forts of Jalali and Mirani.

· Bait Al Zubair Museum for a fine display of Omani culture and history.

· Local restaurant for lunch.

· After lunch, to Qantab beach via the fishing villages of Sidab & Haramel and past Omans’ premium hotel, the Al Bustan Palace hotel. Continue the drive to Qantab Beach.

· Modern shopping complex zone in Al Qurum.

· Drive along the embassy area and then on to the Corniche.

Comment- Recommend Mark Tours

Abu Dhabi- Today we struck out on our own, having purchased combo tickets on the Big Bus Company, a hop on and hop off two decker bus with top deck open for a tour of the Island City, with English commentary. Single day- $55.00, Combo two cities- $95/ person. One day was not enough to visit the City in any detail; we limited our time available to:

· Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (a must see).

· Abu Dhabi Mall

· Doing several round trips on the bus tour

Comment: We have extensive notes with maps on the Big Bus routing and stops. If you would like a copy please ask deangayle@rogers.com

Dubai- Second Day- We again headed out on our own on the Big Bus doing both the Red Tour and Blue Tour routes, with English commentary, and finished off the day with a pleasant Dhow Cruise included in the ticket. We stopped off at:

· Jumeirah Public Beach, walking up the beach/ road to and visiting Jumeriah Beach Hotel

· Walked on to the entrance gate to the all suites Burj al Arab hotel (one day hope to win the lottery and stay here for the experience)

· Walked on to the Souk Madinat Jumeirah (a must see) and Gayle did some shopping while Dean relaxed with Cafe Latte at Seattle’s Best Coffee

 

Comment: From the first day, it became apparent that we should have stayed on in Dubai after the cruise for another two- three days; as there is so much to see and do. We have extensive notes with maps on the Big Bus routing in Dubai and stops. If you would like a copy please ask deangayle@rogers.com

OTHER EXCITING EVENTS

Suez Canal- Unfortunately the ship entered the canal at night and we did not see a good part of the canal

Pirates- On the way to Dubai, passing thru the troubled waters, the ship advised the passengers of special procedures to follow if we encountered a problem, and we picked up a naval escort for several days at sea

CONCLUSION

Brilliance of the Seas- Extremely good value, but their alcohol policy will be the killer for us since we like to sample local wines and bring them on board (not applicable to this cruise since no local wines to sample). Otherwise recommend the ship but would stay away from cabins with the deck above overhangs that block out the sun and stars while sitting on the balcony.

Timing- We found the weather much cooler than expected and would choose a different time of the year for the leg of the cruise which takes you thru the Suez Canal to Aqaba/Petra and Safaga.

UAE Amazing development- Abu Dhabi and in particular Dubai are two amazing cities, given that not too long ago they were deserts inhabited by fishing villages and Bedouins. When oil was discovered, the rulers with great wisdom ploughed back the oil revenues into the intra structure, free medical, and free education (kindergarten thru University) and developed modern cities with imaginative architecture while creating an attractive business climate to allow diversification/ avoid an economy relying on oil. Dubai, for example reports that only 6% of their revenues are now generated from oil revenues

[GMoney]

Great review and easy to read

[suzyluvs2cruise]

Thanks for the great review. :)

[cujosmom]

Thanks for the review. We are considering doing this repositioning cruise...maybe next Fall (unless problems in Egypt continue and RCL decides to cancel itineraries that stop in Egypt) and your review will be very helpful to us in our planning.

[Merion_Mom]

Thank you for such a well-written and thorough review, Gayle.

 

I had to smile while reading it. You frequently discussed "luxury, five star cruises" - Royal Caribbean makes NO claims to being anything other than a mainstream cruiseline.

 

If they ever hit or even approached "five star", then you had a wonderful RC cruise!

[Rancher Dave]

Good review. I have to agree and add to what M/M said above, BOTS is not advertised as a 5 star or luxury line, its considered a mainstream line. To that end it does sound like BOTS may outside some of her sister ships.

[kimberley]

Great review. I was surprised that you were not impressed with Aqaba and the Treasury. I found it amazing as you walk between the overhangs of the cliffs and catch a glimps and shafts of sunlight shinning on the treasury. Amazing and is in my top ten of moments along with Rio. I hope it hasn't changed !

[Mary Ellen]

Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

[DGF]

Great review. I was surprised that you were not impressed with Aqaba and the Treasury. I found it amazing as you walk between the overhangs of the cliffs and catch a glimps and shafts of sunlight shinning on the treasury. Amazing and is in my top ten of moments along with Rio. I hope it hasn't changed !

 

 

This section was edited and might leave one with the wrong impression. So let me correct with more detail

 

I was impressed with Petra and would recommend everyone to visit; but I was not prepared for the amount of deterioration. I agree it is in the top 10 of the ruins I have visited, but close to the bottom.

 

When I compare it to other ruins such as Machu Picchu (being guided by a descendant of the Incas and seeing it thru his eyes), Valley of the Nobles in Luxor (where we saw the drawings on the walls in the same condition they were when originally done), some of the non public tombs we visited in Valley of the Kings (where the guide turned off the lights and with mirrors showed us how the workers carved out the king’s tomb), Luxor/ Karnack temples, Abu Simbel, and riding out on horses in the desert/ sitting on the sand dunes watching the sun rise over the Pyramids and listening to a young Egyptian talking about his future and hopes for his country, I felt Petra was not as memorable event. But we will be back, hopefully with less crowds, visiting Petra, Little Petra and the other Jordan sites

 

Pertaining to Rio, we loved the city, notwithstanding the lousy weather we had. We were blessed with an outstanding guide, doing what the locals do, and will be returning with her to experience Carnival in 2012!! Did you get up to see Iguaçu Falls? Phenomenal

DEAN

[DGF]

Thanks for the review. We are considering doing this repositioning cruise...maybe next Fall (unless problems in Egypt continue and RCL decides to cancel itineraries that stop in Egypt) and your review will be very helpful to us in our planning.

 

Yes, a fall trip should provide you with warmer weather and acordingly greater opportunity to enjoy the outdoor faciltiies on board the ship

 

DEAN

[DGF]

Thank you for such a well-written and thorough review, Gayle.

 

I had to smile while reading it. You frequently discussed "luxury, five star cruises" - Royal Caribbean makes NO claims to being anything other than a mainstream cruiseline.

 

If they ever hit or even approached "five star", then you had a wonderful RC cruise!

 

We both, especially Gayle, had some trepidations on going on the Brilliance of the Seas, given the many negative comments on the Boards and in some of the Reviews; and having just come off a transatlantic cruise on board the Silversea Spirit where they greeted you with free champagne poured from an unlimited free tap, free drinks, first class to gourmet food, etc. throughout the cruise- all inclusive five stars all the way

We took the Brilliance of the Seas cruise based on the itinerary, after a close review of the ships attributes, and of course price (less than half the cost to visit this area frequented by the five star ships)

I agree the Brilliance of the Seas is four star and does not pretend to be in the same category as a five star ship; but if I might, suggest one should not underestimate its capabilities and potential enjoyment.

When you are fortunate, as we were, to be served by very very capable staff who were sincerely interested in you as a person, remembered your name first time around, greeted you each time by name, sincerely enquired every day as to how it went, watched over you to ensure everything was up to your standards, were one step ahead of you on what you like to drink, blessed by outstanding table guests; and all put together on a ship that had everything we wanted (other than for the problems mentioned), I would be hard pressed to call the ship/cruise we experienced mainstream. I would rate it a notch or two below its sister company Celebrity, who are sharing the top of the Premium Cruise Line Pack

We were indeed pleasantly surprised with the ship, its facilities, staff, and got much more than we had expected. We certainly got a good bang for our buck on this cruise

DEAN

[CAT GIRL]

Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed review. I was on

your cruise and if I can add a few things for those planning this trip.

 

1. I was not prepared for how chilly the weather was going to be.

Our day in Petra was very cold and I didn't wear the proper

coat. I did buy a wrap at the first shop we went to that saved

the day.

 

2. The ship does not offer both Petra and Wadi Rum together but

you can do it as a private tour. We did Petra in the morning, had

lunch ,and got to Wadi Rum around 2:30. I didn't know what to

expect but we had a great time riding around the desert, seeing

baby camels, saw the supposed Lawrence of Arabia house, climbed

up huge rock formations, and could have seen an awesome sunset

if the clouds would have cooperated.

If I ever go back I would book an overnight at the desert. It

would be great to experience the vast night sky and the total

silence that the desert brings.

 

3. We loved Dubai and wished we had more time there. I also

wished I had planned better and had prebooked things. We

managed to figure out the train system and get around but as

far as doing a helicoptor ride or going up into the Burj Al Arab it

was booked. So do your homework and decide what you want

to do. We still had a great time shopping in the local markets and

having dinner at the Marina.

[DGF]

Could you share with us the private tour company & contact info you used to do the combo tour?

[Funkymonkeys]

Thank you for such a positive write up, we will be on ship 21-2-11 and are unsure what to expect following various comments. We have booked a grand suite which give us concierge service and we hope it's as good as when we traveled on independence of the seas.

[Cruising89143]

Very nice well written review. Thanks for sharing.

[CAT GIRL]

Could you share with us the private tour company & contact info you used to do the combo tour?

 

Yes, actually we also used Memphis Tours. We booked them for

both Aqaba and Safaga. It seems that in Aqaba they contracted

out the job to Petra Nights Tours because that's whose business

card was given to me. But, all my arrangements were made

through Memphis Tours. I have to say that everything went

off without a hitch. Everyone was there to pick us up on time and

were where they were supposed to be. For example, in Jordan, after

Petra, we were headed to Wadi Rum, pulled off the road to be met

by another driver waiting for us to take us into the desert. We spent

about 2 - 3 hours with him and he took us back to the main road

where our original driver was waiting. We were so glad to be able

to experience both and it was one of the highlights of our trip.

[DGF]

If I might ask, did you have to pay 100% up front?

 

DEAN

[CAT GIRL]

If I might ask, did you have to pay 100% up front?

 

DEAN

 

Nope, I paid the deposit via credit card when we booked and then paid the balance on day two of our trip.

In fact, I was worried that the people in Jordan wouldn't get their

money because we didn't give them anything (except a tip) and

then paid the rep our balance in Safaga.

[DGF]

Nope, I paid the deposit via credit card when we booked and then paid the balance on day two of our trip.

In fact, I was worried that the people in Jordan wouldn't get their

money because we didn't give them anything (except a tip) and

then paid the rep our balance in Safaga.

 

Thanks

 

Will add it to my report

 

DEAN

[jannypa]

Dean, thanks for taking the time to write this report. We, too, were sorry we did not have more time in Dubai. Thought Brilliance was a great value with a wonderful itinerary. It was delightful to cruise and tour with you and Gayle.