This cruise far outweighed our expectations. It was one of the best ships that we have been on. The layout of the ship and the entertainment was excellent as was the food and service.
The itinerary speaks for itself and was wonderful. Definitely would recommend this trip, cannot go wrong. The weather was great. One morning of rain in Copenhagen and if it rained again, it was at night when we were on the ship.
Embarkation
2 out of 5
No fault of RCI, the staff at check in completely mucked up our booking, insulted us in Dutch. Was finally moved to an experienced lady and we finally got checked in. We did found out later that one of our drinks packages had been moved to our 16 year old daughter so it was cancelled. Had that fixed up whilst on board by Guest Services. Also, one minor thing our bags, as with a lot of people, were not at our door they were way down the corridor. Some nice lady, knocked on our cabin door and told us that our bags were down the corridor, not sure why.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
All the food on the ship was excellent. In the MDR, food came on hot plates and was very tasty and generous. In the Windjammer the food was of a high quality as well. We did the Murder Mystery Dinner in Giovanni's and the food was sensational, the Filet Mignon was to die for, so tender and delicious.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
We did the trivia's during the day and they were very good and well run. We played mini golf a couple of times which is always fun. Having two billard tables was different and fun.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We found that the entertainment on this ship was the best that we have ever had on any other ship. It was so nice that from mid afternoon to late at night there was always live music being played around the ship. The stage shows were also very good, we enjoyed them all especially when the house band played. There is nothing better than listening to live music.
Children's Programs
5 out of 5
Our daughter participated in the teens club and it seemed to be run very well. She enjoyed herself and made some nice friends.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
One thing that we did notice was that all the staff on the ship looked happy and seem to enjoy their work.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The ship was extremely clean. The layout of the ship was fantastic. There was so much room to sit without hunting for seats was really good. The Schooner Bar was very well laid out and the room behind it (cannot remember it name) was great as you could dance. The centrum was very well designed as you could hear and see the entertainment etc from any deck.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The cabin was great. There was minimal noise from above. I think because it was a cooler climate cruise not too many people were on the pool deck.
We arrived from Belguim the day of the cruise and went straight to the ship. We have been to Amsterdam before (love it) but wanted to see another part of Europe before boarding.
We didn't do an excursion through the ship, we did our own walking tour using Rick Steve's. We walked to a bus stop and it took us into the city. A beautiful city especially by the water.
We walked into the Old Town and explored by ourselves, went to the Museum which was interesting, then walked outside of the wall to the modern city. Very interesting.
We did a 2 day deluxe tour with DenRus. Getting through customs wasn't as bad as what we thought, didn't take that long. Our tour was fantastic, so glad we have had the opportunity to visit St Petersburg, didn't realise how nice it was with all the canals and wide streets. All the palaces were so oppulent and grand. Learnt a lot.
This was a surprise city. We walked in, took about 30 mintues. It was a nice walk along the water then by some parks. Helsinki is such a pretty town. There were markets on whilst we were there, stopped and had morning tea of some local fare. We did a walking tour again using Rick Steve's. Would recommend so much - really nice place, would love to visit again.
At this port, we caught an Uber over to Djursgarden to visit the Vasa Museum. This museum is a must. Then we walked into town to visit the History Museum (free) this was also very good. We then walked to town for a quick look around. Unfortunately, we weren't in port that long so didn't get to see everything. An excuse to go back...
This was also very surprising because when reading about this town, there didn't seem much to do. We walked in which was very easy and it is such a pretty place. The main street was opened with lots of shops and cafes. We walked around for about an hour and then went back to the ship for lunch. Would recommend looking around to stretch the legs if there is no tour that is of interest.
So glad that you had such a fantastic time!!!! I have sailed Brilliance twice & it is hands down my favorite!!! I love your positive attitude too!!! Great review. Thorough & informative!! 😀👍
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
