This was a repo cruise, so not the ordinary voyage and probably a much different vibe than other routes. Even the crew seemed to enjoy the break from the usual roundtrip. It got us from Canada to LA in an interesting and relaxing way. It was our first cruise, so we had no expectations. We would do a few minor things differently but overall it was fun and we would do it again.
Embarkation
2 out of 5
Vancouver, boarded around noon. Three ships boarding that day. 60 minutes without customs (our first port was Victoria, so no US customs). Well organized but too many people.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
First cruise, so nothing to compare it to, but we found the food plentiful, varied, and usually bland. It isn't hard to zero in on what works for you, though. The dining room was always efficient for breakfast and dinner; the Windjammer was usually chaotic but easy to find something to eat. Wish there were more drink options on the lower decks for folks without a drink package. The coffee made us wish we had the coffee card. One lunch in Giovanni's had super food and mediocre service.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Solarium was great - relaxing and usually not crowded, which was surprising. Outside dining area of the Windjammer was our preferred place to eat when we did the buffet. Promenade provided a brisk walk anytime. Easy to find a deck chair to sit and read during the day. With only 1 sea day the onboard activities were fine.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Musicians around the ship were good and added to the pleasant atmosphere. Stage shows were entertaining if somewhat uneven. Sound system in the Pacifica theater did them no favors.
Children's Programs
We did not travel with kids. There were families onboard but all the kids we saw were supervised and/or well behaved.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Superlative service everywhere except in the specialty dining restaurant. The relentless friendliness helped to set the overall civil atmosphere, which was a blessing.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Brilliance is headed for dry dock in April 2025, which may address some comments about maintenance. For a ship built in 2002 we thought it was remarkably well maintained.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Oceanview cabin was clean and comfortable, with better climate control than most hotels. Had a kettle coming out of Vancouver, which was a surprise and much appreciated. Quiet, except for a few thumps from neighbors.
Ship tip
If you get a dining room table next to the waiters' station you will receive excellent service.
Two days in San Francisco. Possible to do pretty much anything that interests you. We stayed around the waterfront and rode streetcars around but local transit makes it easy to get out via land or sea. Very cool to sail under the Golden Gate Bridge, twice.
Because this was repo cruise the passport check took place onboard enroute, making disembarking a quick walk through the San Pedro terminal to the pickup area. Easiest re-entry to the US I've ever experienced.
Welcome to the wonderful world of cruising. Appreciate your feedback on this unusual sailing. A good description of your adventure. Glad you first cruise. Hope you have many more. Great attitude.
*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.
