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BRILLIANT BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS
Reviewed By: SCHOFIELD, SOUTH SHIELDS on 3rd Jul 2008
Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean Cruises	Times cruised before: 1-2
Cruise Ship: Brilliance of the Seas	Sailed: June, 2007
Destination: Mediterranean	Age: 56-65

THIS WAS OUR SECOND CRUISE WITH RCI AFTER BEING ON THE EMPRESS OF THE SEAS. THE BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS WAS PRISTINE WITH CLEANLINESS AND THE FURNISHINGS WERE VERY COMFORTABLE. WE OPTED FOR AN INSIDE CABIN AS WE FOUND OUT FROM OUR 1ST CRUISE THAT YOU ONLY SPEND THE TIME SLEEPING IN YOUR CABIN AND LIFE IS SO BUSY DOING EXCURSIONS AND ENJOYING THE SHIPS FACILITIES. WE FOUND ON THIS SHIP THAT THE DRESS CODE WAS NOT KEPT AS STRICT AS THE 'EMPRESS'. THE FOOD WAS EXCELLENT THOUGH THE MENU COULD HAVE HAD MORE CHOICE IN THE DINING ROOM. THE WINDJAMMER HAD A GREAT CHOICE OF FOOD THOUGH SOMETIMES THE PLACE COULD BE NOISY. THE 'SECRET SEAVIEW CAFE' SERVED PIZZA AND BURGERS AFTER THE MAIN DINING WAS CLOSED WHICH NOT MANY PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT. THE STAFF WERE FRIENDLY AND OUR CABIN STEWARD WAS SO HELPFUL. OUR FIRST PORT OF CALL WAS VILLEFRANCHE AND WE TENDERED TO THE SHORE. WE BOUGHT TRAIN TICKETS (STEPS TO THE STATION IS ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF A CAFE CALLED CAPPUCCINO) TO MONACO AND NICE FOR £15 RETURN. WE ENJOYED FLORENCE, PISA WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING. POMPEII IS A MUST IF YOU LOVE HISTORY. AGAIN THE HEAT WAS UNBEARABLE AT TIMES. ROME...WOW.. TOOK 45 MINUTES ON THE BUS TO GET THERE. WE DID OUR OWN TRIP AND THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS GO ON AN OPEN TOP BUS. YES, IT WAS TOO HOT TO SIT THERE SO WE GOT OFF AT THE COLISEUM. FAB. WE ALSO DID TREVI FOUNTAIN, PANTHEON, VATICAN CITY AND COULD NOT WAIT TO GET BACK ON THE BUS TO THE SHIP TO COOL OFF. VENICE WAS FANTASTIC ESPECIALLY THE SHIP SAILING PAST ST MARKS SQUARE AND THE VIEWS ARE FABULOUS OF ALL THE BUILDINGS. CORFU WAS RED HOT AND WE TOOK THE SHUTTLE BUS INTO TOWN AND WALKED TO THE NEAREST BEACH TO HAVE A SWIM TO COOL OFF. BEWARE OF THE SEA URCHINS. THEY LEAVE NASTY SPINES IN YOU FEET. DUBROVNIK WAS SO DIFFERENT TO EVERYWHERE ELSE ESPECIALLY THE OLD TOWN. WE WALKED THE CITY WALLS IN THE BLAZING HEAT BUT ONLY MANAGED HALF WAY. THE ENTERTAINMENT ON BOARD WAS FIRST CLASS. WE ENJOYED THE SHOWS. THERE WERE PLENTY OF PLACES ON THE SHIP WHERE WE COULD JUST RELAX AND HAVE PEACE AND QUIET. WE HAVE BOOKED ANOTHER CRUISE TO SCANDANAVIA/RUSSIA ON THE JEWEL OF THE SEAS WE CAN'T WAIT!!!
Quality of Food
BREAKFAST/LUNCH IN WINDJAMMER EVENING MEAL IN RESTAURANT
Entertainment
WE ENJOYED ALL THE SHOWS. THE PEOPLE WERE VERY PROFESSIONAL ENTERTAINERS.
Shore Excursions
ROME WAS OUR FAVOURITE PISA WAS DISAPPOINTING
Staff
OUR CABIN STEWARD. NOTHING WAS ANY TROUBLE FOR HIM
Children's Facilities	n/a

Onboard Activities

Cabins
OUR INSIDE CABIN WAS BIG ENOUGH AND THE BED WAS VERY COMFORTABLE. THE LINEN WAS IMMACULATE.
Overall Rating

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Comment by WHITE, ROMFORD (19 Oct 08 19:17) about this REVIEW.

DOES THE WINDJAMMER DO FRESH FISH & CHIPS LUNCH TIME?

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Comment by SCHOFIELD, SOUTH SHIELDS (25 Oct 08 10:53) about a COMMENT by WHITE (19 Oct 08 19:17)

The food choice is different most days in the Windjammer. You can certainly get fish and chips on the Brilliance at some point in your cruise. Enjoy yourselves

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Question by hartley, leics (13 Sep 08 22:51) about this REVIEW.

Hello there, we're sailing on the brilliance in november we were wondering if anyone can tell us if there are shuttle services (inc. costs) as well as the regular excursions particularly for Nice, Rome & Florence. We have a little boy and would like him to see some of the sights but think we could be pushing our luck taking him on a regimented tour - hope you can shed some light on this.

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Answer by SCHOFIELD, SOUTH SHIELDS (15 Sep 08 14:05) to a QUESTION by hartley (13 Sep 08 22:51)

Hi, firstly its good know people read these reviews. I know they have been very helpful in our organisation of tours! We did not dock at Nice but Villefranche as stated in review so sorry don't know whether there is a shuttle or not. Rome is 45 minutes away from the dock and as far as I am aware there were no shuttles laid on because of the distance. People did take the train to cut down on costs but you never know if your going to get back to the ship on time.Florence is the same and we never enquired about a shuttle bus. I would ring Royal Caribbean as they are very helpful with the excursions and they will tell you where they have shuttle buses on the tours. They are mainly used for city docking. Hope you have a fabulous time, infact you will!!

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