Recent Brilliance Cruise-Grub

[swampy III]

We recently concluded 11-niter aboard RCI Brill. Have withheld comments until Brother-in-law concluded recent aboard Serenade. Now feel confident in asserting that quality of dinners in dining room(main) have deteriorated unbelieveably since our last outing on "Enchantment"(6 years ago) Out of 11 dinners, we found only O N E that met usual exprectation for Cruise cuisine. Beef dishes must be made of Com'l grade meat now. Most preparations inundated with spicy sauces to cover up for the lack of any flavor. Other comments? By the way, I'm NOT you're basic casual brick-bat type.

[Host Karen]

We found the food to be good but we usually had shrimp, chicken, pork or pasta. (We ate our meat dinners in Chops.) I certainly wouldn't classify the food as outstanding, but if I'm looking for that, I know I'll have to pay for it on Seabourne or Crystal. Can't comment on the changes over six years, though, since our first RCI cruise was only in early 2003.

Sorry you didn't enjoy it.

Karen

Read my [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=6873085377"]2/6/04 Brilliance review[/url]

Infinity in... [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;12;5;21;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

Brilliance 6/05
Infinity 12/04
Brilliance 2/04
Adventure 11/03
Brilliance 2/03
Grand Princess 3/02
Dawn Princess 11/01
Ocean Princess 5/00

[Nancyquilts]

Just got off Brilliance yesterday. There was always something (except the night they had duck) that was enjoyable(IMHO). The lamb was very good, the lobster was good, if small - one person at our table ended up eating 4. The desserts didn't do a lot for me, but I ended up gaining 2 pounds anyway. For the price we received good value. The assistant waiter was rarely seen, but that's another thread. Nancy

[The Admiral]

Sorry guys on this one I agree with the OP swampi III. I too just came back from RCI and was very disapointed with all the changes, service, etc, (read my post Et Tu RCI ) which I posted yesterday for more info.

[cmjaffe]

I "think" that this is DEFINITELY a Brilliance thing... maybe they're skimping on provisions since they're a 10/11 night sailing (especially looking at the pricing). Also, have you noticed that the majority of those returning with comments about mediocrity have been from Brilliance (not Serenade or Radiance). Have had 3 cruises (all of which where when we were Diamond) since August and Brilliance was the only one that we felt was "lacking".
Carolyn

[Catnip]

I also just returned from Brilliance (returned on Friday from a 11-day cruies). I found the food in the D/R better than last year. But still cost-cutting measures were noticed. We had a super-duper waitress and assistant waitress, so no complaints there.
Food in Windjammer was pretty good most days. (now the pizza is a different story!)But they ran out of lemonade 3 days before we finished the cruise and ran out of punch the last day at sea. I noticed up in the Windjammer, they did not have as many folks going around cleaning up tables as they used to.
But, all in all, better than last year.

"To live on the land...we must learn from the sea" (Calypso)

(26 prior cruises. Nobody cares, so why list them all?)

[SUZCRUZ]

I have been reading all the posts on the Brilliance. We have been so looking forward to sailing on her,April 19,2004, 8 days until we sail. I must say, we are pretty easily to go with the flow and just take things as they come.(Glass is half full) I am a little anxious for there have been a few posts on how the cut backs have affected the quality of service. I so hope we won't be disappointed [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

[pconkli1]

The food is a constant.....you are all moving.

I thought on a 1-10 the food ranged from 5-9. Chops was good as usual. Windjammer lacked variety. But all in all a good time was had by anyone wanting to adjust. Stop moving people.

Second time for this ship and we have signed up for our third. That means we can eat it.

Cheers,

Paul & Vickie

[img]http://w1.511.telia.com/~u51102888/anims/food1/cheese.gif[/img] [img]http://w1.511.telia.com/~u51102888/others/mixed3/palm2.gif[/img] [img]http://w1.511.telia.com/~u51102888/anims/human/handanim.gif[/img] [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=FF0000&cdt=2004;3;29;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[gobosox]

SuzCruz,
Don't worry about a thing. Just off the 3/29 sailing of Brilliance and thought everything was fine (actually fine to excellent). After reading a review of the 3/19 sailing, I, too, was worried. But have to say was pleasantly surprised with the food, service, ports and the ship is absolutely beautiful. Our cabin steward was the best we have had, even though we had heard that things had deteriorated in that dept. as well. Could have fooled us. Bar service was a little slow at times, but the comps sure made up for that. Have a great time on your cruise. I am jealous. PS-the staff was amazingly friendly. I truly belief that RCI reads these boards...our experience was very different from the folks who sailed this ship just 2 weeks before us. I could not be more pleased!!!!

[SUZCRUZ]

GOBOSOX,THANK YOU SO MUCH! I really appreciate you writing your post!
This will be the slowest week to get thru, waiting to go. Thank God for work. Did I just say that?

gotta pay for the cruises!
It seems like this might be the most glamorous ship we've been on yet! Love glass, brass, and views!

[cascdav]

Just off the Brilliance on 4/9. IMHO I think the food in the dining room was extremely disappointing. Only one meal even approached good. Windjammer food was fair at best. One bright note, the food in both Portofinos and Chops was EXCELLANT.

All in all, it was still a very good cruise as the dining room and stateroom service was excellent!!

[cmjaffe]

Oh, on a positive note about Brilliance...
when we sailed.. over New Years.. it was the time of the "brown water" postings. We DID have a problem in our cabin (odor) which was handled quickly and followed up for several days... we weren't passed on saying it "will pass" had housekeeping than an engineer go into a panel in hallway. Also, I think, mentioning it to Brett in concierge in addition to CS helped in the follow up. And as I mentioned earlier, given the price we payed, it was still a very enjoyable cruise ... cruise staff was great.
Carolyn

[justcruzin85374]

Also jsut off Brilliance 3/29 sailing. Definite decline from other cruises. We did dine in Chops one night, it was excellant!!!!
Every afternoon I checked the menu for the evening, 4 nights we did not care for anything on the menu so we dined in the Windjammer on those nights. Breakfast was the same every morning, room service was ok not great, but breakfast on the balcony was heaven
[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Soveriegn 92 E. Caribbean
Majesty 95 W. Caribbean
Granduer 97 E. Caribbean
Rhapsody 00 Mexico
Vision 02 Alaska
Radiance 03 Panama Canal
Brilliance 3/29/04



Radiance of the Seas/Panama Canal 10/18/2003
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2003;10;18;20;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]Are we there yet?
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2003;10;18;20;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

My bags are always packed!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;3;29;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] Brilliance 3/29/2004

[The Admiral]

I mentioned the Brilliance because I just got off her but my family members and I (who have not cruised at the same time) have noticed a decline throught the line in the past couple of years which seems to be accelerating.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by cmjaffe:
I "think" that this is DEFINITELY a Brilliance thing... maybe they're skimping on provisions since they're a 10/11 night sailing (especially looking at the pricing). Also, have you noticed that the majority of those returning with comments about mediocrity have been from Brilliance (not Serenade or Radiance). Have had 3 cruises (all of which where when we were Diamond) since August and Brilliance was the only one that we felt was "lacking".
Carolyn<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Lynnees]

Not to be the bearer of bad tidings, but we were on the Serenade in January and it too has declined. The quality of the food (to my tastebuds) (that's said to satisfy the RCL diehards) has declined terribly, the service in the dining room was poor (again, not the servers fault). Our stateroom was taken care of OK, but no chatting. The two that took care of it just didn't have time.

This is the first cruise we have ever taken where no one had time to chat with us for a bit and tell us anything at all about themselves and their families and homes. Too bad........that used to be one of the nicest parts of our cruises.........getting to know, not only our tablemates, but the crew as well.......

Such a shame.........

Cunard - various ships over many years
Song of America
Grandeur of the Seas
Dreamward
Infinity
Azur
Sovereign of the Seas
Serenade of the Seas


[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2004;6;19;17;00;00&timezone=GMT+0100[/img] Til the Brilliance in the Med.!!!

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2005;1;17;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] Nordic Empress



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