Seasoned Royal Caribbean cruisers have a special fondness for the Radiance Class ships, particularly Brilliance of the Seas.
Brilliance of the Seas was launched in 2002 and has the capacity for 2,112 guests at double occupancy. Just 848 crew members live onboard.
At 962 feet long, she is a medium-sized vessel in the Royal Caribbean fleet.
Royal Caribbean veterans love Brilliance, praising her size, layout, and charm.
As a fan of larger ships like the Oasis Class, I wanted to see what I had been missing.
I booked a cruise on Brilliance this past month, sailing for 7-nights out of New Orleans. The Western Caribbean cruise visited Cozumel, Mexico; Georgetown, Grand Cayaman; and Yucatan, Mexico.
In the end, I enjoyed Brilliance way more than I expected—and I can definitely see why seasoned cruisers love her so much.
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Brilliance appeals to cruisers who prefer a tranquil vacation
Loyal-to-Royal cruisers who appreciate Royal Caribbean's legacy of luxury, family-centered cruisers love what Brilliance has to offer.
Though smaller in size, she offers amenities such as a cinema, rock climbing wall, gym, and a self-leveling pool table.
The ship also has adult-centered venues that have become favorites across the fleet, like the Schooner Bar and Vintages Wine Bar.
I also noticed an older crowd onboard Brilliance: fewer children and more parents with adult children.
The ship’s smaller size fosters a more communal and intimate onboard experience. You start the see the same faces every day—whether it's fellow cruisers at karaoke or the crew members in the Windjammer.
I was able to chat and connect with crew members and even the onboard musicians, making it a memorable cruise. I began to love the atmosphere on Brilliance.
The ship also boasts ocean views and a sun-filled layout
Before my cruise, I saw Royal Caribbean fans on the Internet praising Brilliance's design in particular.
When I got on board, I could immediately see why. Instead of a long Royal Promenade walkway, the ship features a circular Centrum in the middle. It's enclosed by all-glass elevators, and covered in bright lights and patterned panels.
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On my previous cruise, when I told someone I would be sailing on Brilliance next, she lit up, immediately describing to me how beautiful the Solarium was.
And she was right—the adults-only pool area was adorned with tropical foliage and a rustic, elephant-themed pool deck. It looked almost like the courtyard of an Indian palace.
Not only that, but the walls along the sides of the ship—especially on Deck 6 and the pool deck—offer huge glass windows.
Brilliance of the Seas offers so many ocean views.
One of my favorite places to spend time was the Colony Club. Located past the Schooner Bar, this wide venue featured glass on the back of the ship, as well as comfortable seating in a vintage-brown setting.
Plenty of large windows allow natural sunlight and ocean views to fill the ship.
The entertainment and live performers were incredible, drawing happy crowds
Brilliance of the Seas offered some of the best nightlife I’ve experienced, despite lacking the flashy amenities of Royal Caribbean’s mega-ships.
Multiple live bands, guest musicians, and singers filled the experience onboard with music. I could walk from one venue to the next—the Colony Club to the Schooner Bar to the Centrum—and hear live music in every location.
These performers attracted enthusiastic cruisers, leading to nightly dance parties and a lively atmosphere.
Not only were the live musicians amazing, but the performances onboard, like the Welcome Aboard showtime and Center Stage performance, also featured quality performances.
From the musicians to the singers, dancers, set design, and costumes,
it was a feast for the senses, providing awesome entertainment on a cruise ship.
The dining venues onboard Brilliance also served excellent food
I was surprised by the quality of the food onboard Brilliance.
I dined at the complimentary venues onboard: The Main Dining Room, the Windjammer Buffet, the Park Café, and Café Latte-tudes.
The vessel also features a few specialty venues: Chops Grille, Chef's Table, Giovanni's Table, Rita's Cantina, and Izumi Asian Cuisine.
However, the complimentary food was surprisingly good. The Main Dining Room dishes were served with care, and the Windjammer featured quality ingredients.
I also noticed meals being served that I haven't seen on any other ships in the fleet.
For example, the Windjammer buffet served authentic oxtail on Caribbean night.
The Park Café located within the Solarium served fresh po-boys every night and occasionally served carved roast beef for the popular Kummelweck sandwiches.
Although the dining venues were limited, the food was genuinely delicious and of high quality.
There was one disadvantage: the limited pool deck
Despite Brilliance's beautiful layout, she did have one aspect I disliked.
The two-fold pool deck—divided into an outdoor section and an indoor Solarium—was small and limited.
With just two pools and three small hot tubs, finding space to swim was often challenging. The hot tubs especially could only fit about five people at a time. At times, I had to wait for space to become available.
On busy sea days, it was hard to find a pleasant spot to swim in. Plus, if anything happened in the pool (like a kid's accident or a medical emergency) everyone onboard was affected, and couldn't swim until the issue was resolved.
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However, there were usually enough chairs around the lido and the Solarium to find a place to sit.
Cruisers who prioritize their pool time might want to consider booking a bigger ship.
