Pssst...tell me a secret about Brilliance

[Cour10ay]

Taking my very first Radiance Class cruise on the Brilliance, Med Venice to Barcelona. Have sailed RCI many times, but never on one of these babies. Cruising with 2 Cruise Virgins, and 2 RCI fans, so anything and everything will be interesting to know.

 

Best bar for socializing? Worst main course on the dinner menu? How to get a decent bottle of wine at dinner (my one gripe with RC is the dreadful wine selections...)? Quiet spot for hiding away on sea days? What's not to be missed? Cabins to avoid?

 

Share your secrets, tips, Bests & Worsts, please?

[Sue L]

Seaview cafe, which is a alternate to the buffet and there are self leveling pools tables

[Cour10ay]

The Seaview serves what exactly? Is it pizza and burgers or more healthy fare?

 

Yes, I've read about the pool tables. Are they often crowded?

[Sue L]

The Seaview serves what exactly? Is it pizza and burgers or more healthy fare?

 

Yes, I've read about the pool tables. Are they often crowded?

 

 

The seaview cafe has a different menu then other ships. Why? don't know. I haven't been on the BOS yet, but will be in 20 days! The menu is panninis, pasta, pizza, etc. I have never seen a copy of the selection but have heard from other posters.

[Pumbaamd]

We preferred Seaview's previous menu. However, the Italian themed menu is very good. Never have seen the pool tables busy. They are near the Schooner Bar.

One of Brilliance's premier bartender's is Danny (aka "Fish") from Lithiuania. Last time we saw him he worked the Lobby Bar, but he could turn up anywhere. The bartenders do rotate, so they know the ropes of each of the many bars.

Tell Danny that Rick and Deirdra say hello and we will sea him in Miami in December! Thanks.

Rick and Deirdra

[DCPIV]

The Seaview has pizza, panini, and pasta. You can get a carafe of wine, also. It's fun, different, and included in the cruise. Try to go at an off time for a snack. Find out when you are passing Stromboli, the volcano, and time your visit then. You get a great view.

 

Don't save your pool day for that last day. Often, the weather is terrible. That's just the way it is in that part of the Med (according to the Captain we had about a year and a half ago). Hurricane force winds and a rocking ship don't make for much pool fun. Be prepared to stay inside.

 

When you are in Dubrovnik, you have a very tough choice to make. You either hang around the Old City, or you get out into the country. Both are excellent. We enjoy more local culture, so we went with the excursion that was something about lunch at a family home. There was enough grappa, food, wine, and Croation music that the whole room was having one hell of a party at the end. The drive through the country was beautiful, also. You still have some time to visit the Old City or relax with a beer just outside the walls.

 

If you prefer to just see the Old City, though, you do not have to book an excursion. The ship has a shuttle bus that drops you off right outside a big gate into the Old City.

 

If you've never been to Pompeii, you need to see it while docked at Naples. We booked the excursion where we went to Sorrento for lunch, then to some lemon/olive grove (very interesting), and finally to Pompeii. It was a fairly long day, but a very interesting and fun one.

 

A great place to hide out is the Colony Club (6 aft, just aft of the pool tables) while no activity is in there. It's very comfortable, with a chess table and checkers table. Of course, there is no service while there is no activity, but the Schooner bar is nearby. Of course, there's nothing at all wrong with hanging around in the Schooner Bar.

 

The Sports Bar is better place to socialize (6 midship, between the casino and the theatre). It's a little small, but they will put football on the screens. :D

 

If you can, spend some extra time in Barcelona. We were surprised at how much we enjoyed that city, and we wish we had stayed for an extra couple of days. I mean, shoot, if you're there, you may as well see it. Plus, you won't have to deal with the cruise rush to get out at the Barcelona airport. That was just awful.

 

Other than that, she's a beautiful ship. You should have a great time.

 

 

D

[Travelgrrl]

There is a little room off to the extreme left of the Windjammer entrance (you almost have to backtrack a little to this side room, once you are inside the Windjammer) where there is a table with a huge Pappasan wicker type chair and I loved scoring that table and having my breakfast there and reading a little - you can turn the chair and see the ocean and not anything around you. Perfect for dining alone!

 

On our Med trip last summer I was able to sit there for breakfast on 11 of 12 mornings. Most people don't know this extra room exists, I suppose. Also it has more tables in case the rest of the Windjammer is full.

 

Seaview Cafe is great but a little hard to find (behind children's pool on 12) so it also is less trafficked. Solarium on Brilliance is gorgeous. I think there are also wicker chairs near the spa in a little outside alcove.

 

Pool tables are fun, back of the Colony Club (by the wake of the ship) is deserted when there's not an activity going on; Hollywood Odyssey is almost always empty during the day.

 

We loved going up on pool deck after a day of touring in some of the prettier ports (south of France, Turkey, Greek islands) and swimming and looking up at the fantastic views. Soooo lucky to have gone!

[bayou cruiser]

The Champagne Bar on the Brilliance is my favorite bar on all the ships we've sailed.

[Pumbaamd]

And the Champagne Bar will usually have some kind of appetizers before dinner.

[cb at sea]

Yes--that was great, since we had late seating--the drinks were extremely strong, and the "munchies" helped with that, a bit! Lovely, hot h'or deuves!

[Sue L]

And the Champagne Bar will usually have some kind of appetizers before dinner.

 

 

Does the Champagne Bar serve all kinds of drinks?

[bobbie0253]

Okay....not sure if this counts...and it is a bit silly.

 

IF you are up really late at night (drinking helps) take the glass elevator all the way to the top floor. And then hit the button for the bottom floor. Put you head on the glass facing the ocean and look down. It is soooo cool. Feels like you are going to hit your head.

[snausman]

Okay....not sure if this counts...and it is a bit silly.

 

IF you are up really late at night (drinking helps) take the glass elevator all the way to the top floor. And then hit the button for the bottom floor. Put you head on the glass facing the ocean and look down. It is soooo cool. Feels like you are going to hit your head.

 

I read this and just started to laugh. I am still giggling as I am typing this, but you know what, I am going to try this just to see for myself next week. Thanks for the laugh today!

 

Laura

[bobbie0253]

I raed this and just started to laugh. I am still giggling as I am typing this, but you know what, I am going to try this just to see for myself next week. Thanks for the laugh today!

 

Laura

 

That's what happens when you get tipsy on a cruise. :D Have fun!

 

p.s. the crew member who saw us doing that were laughing their a$$es off, but it was 3am!

[Pumbaamd]

Yes, the Champagne Bar will serve whatever you like.

Rick

[chitowngoose]

Does the Champagne Bar serve all kinds of drinks?

 

 

The Champagne Bar on Brilliance did not have the ice slusher machine, which means no 'frozen-type' drinks, like Pina Coladas and such.

[Sue L]

The Champagne Bar on Brilliance did not have the ice slusher machine, which means no 'frozen-type' drinks, like Pina Coladas and such.

 

 

That's fine I drink vodka gimlets, thanks for the info

[DCPIV]

Okay....not sure if this counts...and it is a bit silly.

 

IF you are up really late at night (drinking helps) take the glass elevator all the way to the top floor. And then hit the button for the bottom floor. Put you head on the glass facing the ocean and look down. It is soooo cool. Feels like you are going to hit your head.

 

I'll laugh about that, too!

 

On that note, don't let the little fishermen sitting on the windowsill freak you out at the top of the elevators. :D

 

 

D

[Cour10ay]

I'll try that elevator thingy...sounds like something I'd do anyway.:)

 

Your suggestions and hints are great, thanks! I will hide out in the Colony Club when it's quiet, find that amazing papasan chair hidden off the Windjammer, and give the Saeview Cafe a try. I think our M & M is planning a Bar Crawl one evening, so I should get a chance to give all of them a try.:eek:

 

This is my 3rd Med Cruise with RCI, but my first time to Dubrovnik and Messina, so the Dubrovnik hints are appreciated!

 

I know they got rid of sommeliers on US sailings...do they still have them for the European ones? If not, does the Head Waiter tend to the wine as they did on my last cruise?

[Radiomark]

When we were on Serenade last year, the swimming pools were saltwater. I've heard rumors that they might be going to freshwater pools on RCL. We'll be on Brilliance for the Panama Canal. Can we look forward to freshwater pools, anybody?

 

Mark

[Grumm]

Okay....not sure if this counts...and it is a bit silly.

 

IF you are up really late at night (drinking helps) take the glass elevator all the way to the top floor. And then hit the button for the bottom floor. Put you head on the glass facing the ocean and look down. It is soooo cool. Feels like you are going to hit your head.

 

Did you meet the Elevator Fairy who changes the gold day plaques in each one? I've stayed up till the wee small hours and have yet to meet her/him.

 

Alan

[Pumbaamd]

Mark, Get used to the salt water. It's not that bad.

Goose, they don't really need that ice slusher machine. Their blender/food processor will crush the ice just fine.

Rick

[Cour10ay]

Good to know I can get my T & T at the Champagne Bar while my friends are sipping their bubbly.

 

Another ? My last Med cruise on the Splendour was 2003 and the evening dress, especially on formal nights, was really quite dressy. Mostly tuxedoes for men and long evening gowns for women. Is it still that way? We had maybe about 25% Americans on board - seemed to be mostly Brits (many of whom who were still partying when we got up in the AM :)), Germans, and Spaniards.

 

Also, do they do Quest on the Europe sailings? I don't recall that they did when we sailed in 03.

 

Thanks for all the great replies!

[cruisingrightalong]

And also around 6 p.m. they put out rice rolls/sushi in the Windjammer...a good little pick me up before you head to the Schooner Bar for drinks.

 

Lou

[DCPIV]

Good to know I can get my T & T at the Champagne Bar while my friends are sipping their bubbly.

 

Another ? My last Med cruise on the Splendour was 2003 and the evening dress, especially on formal nights, was really quite dressy. Mostly tuxedoes for men and long evening gowns for women. Is it still that way? We had maybe about 25% Americans on board - seemed to be mostly Brits (many of whom who were still partying when we got up in the AM :)), Germans, and Spaniards.

 

Also, do they do Quest on the Europe sailings? I don't recall that they did when we sailed in 03.

 

Thanks for all the great replies!

 

In September, 2005, it still was quite dressy on formal nights. They also had The Quest, then. I have heard on CC (but only on CC) that RCCL no longer has The Quest on European sailings, though I have not confirmed that with RCCL.

 

 

D