This is a pleasant cruise in a beautiful part of the world. Expect rough waters crossing the Tasman. Take plenty of clothes for cold and wet weather.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
As a JS guest, we had an expedited boarding process. It took less than 20 minutes from start to finish. Having said that, the embarkation process is quite efficient in Sydney.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We only eat at Windjammer when we cruise. This is merely a personal choice and not a reflection of the quality of the food or service in Cascades. We don’t drink and eat cery small portions, so it’s less confronting for us to select what we like from the Windjammer buffet. The variety for lunch and dinner was outstanding for the entire cruise. We only became bored with breakfast as there was little variety over the course of the cruise. Again, this is more a reflection of our choices. Always lovely service, and we enjoyed selecting a table in the same area so we could get to know the staff who served in that area.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The weather meant we had to do a lot more indoor activities. Unlike the “big ships”, Radiance isn’t overflowing with activities. It’s a more relaxed ship .
Entertainment
3 out of 5
The stage shows were average - much like watching high school productions. The karaoke contest was hilarious. The Tap Pack was exceptional, as was the comedian Gary on the final night.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Can’t fault the staff. They work very hard under difficult circumstances. They are friendly, polite, and eager to please. It was sad to see how they are treated by rude and arrogant passengers.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
I adore Radiance, she’s my favourite ship in the RCCL group if I’m honest. She’s small but comfortable. She is looking tired and aged in common areas, but she’ll sparkle once again after she undergoes her make-over soon.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
This is a nice JS cabin. The verandah is long but not very wide. The bathroom is of a very good size and comfortable. The walk-in closet is awesome - makes a perfect change room!! We thought it might be noisy being under the Windjammer region of the ship, but it wasn’t. There was some mechanical noise that occurred above us at irregular intervals but it didn’t impact on our experience. Overall, get a JS whenever you can; the extra space is worth every penny.
Ship tip
Get a Junior Suite if you can - it’s worth every penny. And be cool. Relax. Ask yourself whether your minor inconvenience is really worth ripping the face of another person who is being paid very poorly to care for you and your fellow passengers.
The worst part of any cruise is disembarkation because it’s all over (sad face!!). But the process is fairly efficient, with minimal lining up or delay. We choose to walk off with our luggage and will continue to take advantage of this with RCCL when we can.
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