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Cruise Ship Tour: Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas

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Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas

Last May we set out on a transatlantic cruise with Royal Caribbean to start out our two month stay in Europe with the kids. Not only was it our first transatlantic cruise, it was our first time cruising with Royal Caribbean period. We’ve never checked them out before but were definitely lured into giving them a try due to their inexpensive prices when it came to transatlantic travel.

Now, if you want to know What a Transatlantic Cruise is Really Like, you’ll have to read that post. Just click the link. It’s all the truths about travelling across the pond for two entire weeks!

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas Pool Bar
Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas Pool Bar

First things first: the pool area. It’s allll about the pool area for the kids and us. Does the pool have a great bar? Then we like it.  I liked the pool area on the Brilliance of the Seas. The bar was tended by good staff and the drinks were delicious!

kid smiling in front of Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas Pool Bar

Do you notice the dude at the bar in both of these photos? Guy in the navy shirt with white stripes?

Why are we not surprised that it’s Mike?

Son sitting while his Father holding 2 drinks in front of Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas Pool Bar

Now for those of you that would rather swim than drink ( AKA anyone under 21) the pool area is great. I watched many a movie on that big screen while sipping away at my latest cocktail.

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas Pool Are with a Big Screen
Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas Pool

Like this strawberry daiquiri.

holding a glass of strawberry daiquiri with a slice of lime

Or this Pina Colada.

a glass of Pina Colada with cherry on top and a slice of lime

The adult only pool ( allowed for kids in inclement weather, I do believe if I remember correctly) we called the Elephant Pool, but it was known as the Solarium.

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas Solarium Pool
Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas Solarium Pool

And it also had a bar.

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas Solarium Bar
Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas Solarium Bar

Now I know I sound like someone that drinks far too much when I say this, but purchasing the drink package for the cruise was the best thing we’ve ever done. We had calculated the costs out to breaking even at 5 or 6 drinks a day and (here I go sounding like a lush) on a cruise it’s not that hard to do. We bought the second from the top package that didn’t include mimosas and coffee, but included cocktails and wine up to a certain point.

We spent a lot of time in their wine bar Vintages (pictured below), in a before dinner ritual of trying out all sorts of wines

Now really. Picture two cocktails by the pool in a couple of hours in the sun (remember, they are slushy and not that boozy and you don’t finish them usually) followed by a glass of wine before dinner, relaxing for an hour, followed by the ability to request a glass of wine for each course at dinner ( again, not needing to finish it but pairing it with the meal) and then perhaps a cocktail later on at 10 if you are at the casino or listening to music.

Didn’t take much to get up to 6 drinks, did it? Now, it’s definitely WAY past the one or two glasses of wine per day that is recommended, but it’s vacation.

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas Casino

The ship, while older, is in nice shape. I’m not that picky of a cruiser, to be honest. When you get a cheap cruise, you are going to get an older ship. We chose the Brilliance instead of a cruise on one of their new Quantum ships that just came out in 2015 because it was literally 2 thousand dollars cheaper. When you’re spending 2 months in Europe, Mama needed that two grand!

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas Casino

Oh look, another bar! The Centrum bar was filled with live music and entertainment every night, a great place to hang out and sip a wine.

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas Centrum Bar
Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas Centrum Bar

The Centrum was a great place to see small little quick musical guests and other fun activities.

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas Centrum
Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas Centrum

Speaking of activities, there was plenty to do. The kids are always up for a round of mini golf and while it gets windy up there, it was a lot of fun.

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas Mini Golf
Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas Mini Golf

The kids loved the kid club – Adventure Ocean Youth Club- on the ship. They always make cruise ship friends and my daughter this past time made a friend she loved to bits. She’d call her up and they would go meet at the club for hours of fun.

kid at the Adventure Ocean Youth Club on the ship calling on the phone

There are also lots of family activities, more than we could possibly attend in a day. She loved the Build a Bear workshop in the kids club and used some of her money to make a souvenir.

girl sitting and holding a Bear with the ocean view

The food was good, the typical cruise ship fare. We did sneak away to the “pay” restaurant Izumi and had hot rock and ramen, which was a nice treat but I honestly wouldn’t bother again with it. We really enjoyed the sit down dinner every night and to be honest, even the buffet was good every time we went.

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas Izumi
Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas Izumi

So while I could write for hours, I’ll call it an end here! If you have any questions, comment below and I’ll get back to you!

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Brilliance of the Seas <

Make sure to check out all of my posts on cruise ship food, cruise ship rooms, cruise ship tours, travel and information as well! 

Cruise Ship Tour: Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas

What’s A Transatlantic Cruise Really Like?

Disney Wonder Dining: Triton’s

Disney Wonder Dining: Animator’s Palette

Disney Wonder Dining: Goofy’s Galley

Disney Wonder Dining: The Parrot Cay

Disney Wonder Dining: The Beach Blanket Buffet

Disney Wonder Dining Rotation & How It Works

Ten Things That Will Surprise You On Your Disney Cruise

What is There for Kids to do on Cruise Ships?

Disney Wonder Cruise : Review of Dolphin Extreme Swim & Turtle Farm, Grand Cayman

Disney Wonder Stateroom Review and Walkthrough: Cabin 6083

Disney Wonder Stateroom Review and Walkthrough Cabin 6630

Disney Wonder Merrytime Disney Cruise – Christmas on a Cruise?

Happy cruising!

Karlynn

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Karlynn Johnston

I’m a busy mom of two, wife & cookbook author who loves creating fast, fresh meals for my little family on the Canadian prairies. Karlynn Facts: I'm allergic to broccoli. I've never met a cocktail that I didn't like. I would rather burn down my house than clean it. Most of all, I love helping YOU get dinner ready because there's nothing more important than connecting with our loved ones around the dinner table!

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  1. Heather Pollock says

    We did a Mexican riviera cruise on Mariner of the Seas, Caribbean cruise on the Allure of the Seas
    We also did a 2week family Caribbean cruise on the Grand Princess. I 💕cruising but my hubby hates it😔 he gets bored on ship.
    I would love to retire and spend winters cruising😎☀️🛳

  2. Elisa Boyce says

    I have sailed a couple of times throughout the Caribbean! Years ago. Loved the ships! I bought a lot of artwork from the auctions they held!! And jewelry!

      • Catherine MacIntyre says

        Not sure what you are talking about with the drink package. If it was the alcoholic package it certainly includes mimosas and specialty coffee and any other imaginable drink. We cruise Royal all the time.

  3. Lakeisha Coley says

    I see these ships passing by in the evenings or at nights from my kitchen window. Sometimes three of them on a Wednesday. My children always gets so excited.

    • The Kitchen Magpie says

      They are so majestic aren’t they? How they float is beyond me!

  4. Brenda Hahn Robarge says

    Independence of the seas and the Oasis of the seas

    • The Kitchen Magpie says

      Ok how were those? I was very happy with the price of Royal Caribbean and want to sail with them again. Where did you go Brenda Hahn Robarge?

    • Brenda Hahn Robarge says

      they were both awsome! both Caribbean cruises Jan of 2015 we went and then again in Nov of 2015 because we won a free cruise on the first cruise playing bingo! Can’t go wrong with Royal Caribbean International

    • The Kitchen Magpie says

      You won another cruise?? That’s like my dream come true!! \U0001f60d\U0001f60d

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