Brilliance of the Seas

Do you know how a lot of cruise ships visit Puerto Rico to explore its rich culture and beautiful beaches, usually departing from Miami or Orlando and then returning a week or so later? Ah, the memories, and the tears running down our faces as we wave goodbye to El Morro Fort or Castillo San Cristóbal. 

Well, someone stopped to think… what if it was the other way around? The market in San Juan is huge, so having a ship depart from there to explore the Southern Caribbean only made sense. That’s where Brilliance of the Seas comes in. It’s a ship that can travel all the way to Canada and even explore Europe sometimes, but its main focus is the sunny Caribbean with exclusive cruises departing from hermoso San Juan.

What we like about Brilliance of the Seas

Brilliance is a very standard mega-resort at sea, holding tight to that middle ground between a massive mega-resort and a smaller ship. It offers some nice entertainment options, but nothing overwhelming like you’d find on the newer Royal Caribbean ships. There are plenty of fun activities too, but think mini-golf and a rock climbing wall instead of carousels, ice rinks, or bumper cars. 

This is a more mature ship than the Voyager-class vessels and usually has slightly fewer children onboard compared to ships like Adventure of the Seas or Radiance of the Seas. Even the shows lean more toward adults, with bands playing Broadway classics and a production that pays homage to the tango in Buenos Aires.

Let’s also not forget that, for 2025 and 2026, Brilliance of the Seas is focused heavily in San Juan and the Southern Caribbean, but it also travels to Europe offering Mediterranean cruises late 2026. 

As for specialty dining, you get Izumi, Chef’s Table, Chops Grille and Giovanni’s Table, which is a pretty standard selection. I do wish there were more options for a slightly more adult oriented ship that focuses on week long itineraries. The real star of the show, however, is the Schooner Bar. This venue is found on every Royal Caribbean ship, but Brilliance of the Seas has one of the best versions around. It is large, with plenty of seating, an amazing atmosphere that leans into the nautical theme, and live music to top it off. If you are planning a Brilliance of the Seas cruise, there is a good chance the Schooner Bar will become your go to spot every single night.

What we don’t like about Brilliance of the Seas

One letdown on Brilliance of the Seas, and something common across the Radiance class ships, is that you just don’t get many of the features found on newer vessels or even on the older Voyager class ships. For example, there is no Royal Promenade with shops and restaurants, no ice rink which is a Royal Caribbean staple, and no FlowRider, Splash Zone, or even a single waterslide. Sure, this is a more mature ship and many guests onboard will not care much about that. But keep in mind that Brilliance sails from San Juan to the Caribbean and also visits the Mediterranean, so a few more family friendly venues and activities would definitely be welcome to enjoy these sunny destinations.

There are also a few small details that take away points from Brilliance of the Seas. One of them is that the ship feels dated in certain areas, which is expected for a vessel that is more than twenty years old. Some balconies show rust, the gym showers look worn, and a few venues have dents on the walls. Certain design choices also do not make much sense. For example, the atrium music can get so loud that you cannot hear the nearby elevators arriving, which makes moving around harder. Even worse, some of the expensive suites are located directly under the Windjammer buffet, which means you may end up paying a premium only to wake up early to the sound of chairs scraping across the floor.

Conclusion

Brilliance of the Seas is a great ship for couples traveling to the Caribbean, especially on itineraries departing from San Juan. Honestly, there are better options for families with children or for foodies, but if you are looking for something more classy, you are likely to have an amazing time onboard.