If you are debating between RC Navigator or Carnival Radiance for your next trip, definitely choose the Navigator, the ship and entertainment program is exponentially better. But if you are set on Carnival Radiance, lower your expectations on mostly everything except the pizza restaurant (SO delicious) and the comedians (top notch, hilarious!)
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Embarkation was quick and smooth.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
The dining room is great and the service is very excellent, but the menus got pretty repetitive and very heavy on the red meat. Would have liked better vegetarian/fish options. For specialty restaurants: the sushi was very very good, Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ was mediocre at best, Shaq's Chicken was bland and rubbery, the mexican restaurant was awful (several bones found in the chicken tacos, the tortillas are awful, no tortilla chips for the salsa bar, etc), the burger joint was average (fries werent good), but the star of the specialty dining was the pizza restaurant. The pizza was PHENOMENAL! I am glad they had specialty dining restaurants because the buffet is tiny, crowded, and basic compared to the buffet on the RC Navigator ship doing the same route. Also the dining room isn't open during lunch which surprised us.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The ropes course was okay, kind of something you do once and then forget about. Mini golf was average (more fun on the RC Navigator). I have never been on a ship with so few areas to hang out with family that aren't restaurants. On other ships, there are lounges and libraries to chill and read a book or play a game with family. This ship has very slim options for activities and places to hang out.
Entertainment
2 out of 5
On every other cruise line I have cruised on (3 other major cruise lines in addition to Carnival), there are theatrical performances at least 3 of the 4 nights of the cruise. This entertainment program was the worst of any cruise I have ever been on. Lackluster, forgettable, basic shows that didnt require much talent. Thank goodness the comedians on the ship were absolutely top-notch because otherwise I would have been super mad about how lazy Carnival is with their entertainment program.
Children's Programs
5 out of 5
My kids were in the 2-5 and 6-11 age groups in the kids club and they both really enjoyed it. This is the ONLY thing that Carnival does better than other cruise lines we have been on. The Camp Ocean program is great and my kids who are normally reluctant to go to childcare like this, ran right in every time we brought them and always were so happy about their experiences.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Service was good! We had some great servers in the dining room, like Mario in the Sunset dining room. The service at the specialty restaurants like the pizza restaurant, BBQ restaurant, etc was very slow and lackluster.
Ship Quality
1 out of 5
Awful ship design. No centralized promenade area, we were constantly crisscrossing back and forth from the front to the back of the ship. I would absolutely never go on this ship again or recommend it to anyone else. It is a terrible layout and very boring ship
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The room was fine. The bunkbeds were perfect for my two kids. Very spacious room and no complaints besides how we could hear literally everyone that walked past in the hallway. No soundproofing at all
I'm booked on this ship for a 14 day cruise to Hawaii next October. I'm really excited. For the last several years I have cruised the larger newer ships. (Vista, Horizon, Magic). I will be on the Mardi Gras in August. I'm looking forward to cruising on a much smaller ship. It's been awhile. I do enjoy all the ships. Each one offers something different and unique.
To each their own, I love the layout of the Radiance. The ship is very clean and well kept, but I tend to agree about the entertainment piece. This ship has more quiet areas out on the deck to relax than any other ship I’ve been on, and I love it though.
*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.
