Brilliance Of The Seas-Dubai And Arabian Sea
Brilliance of The Seas-Dubai and Arabian Sea |
1 of 1 people found this review informative
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Reviewed By: SIRMAN, STANWAY on 17th Mar 2010
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| Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean Cruises |
Times cruised before: 6-10 |
| Cruise Ship: Brilliance of the Seas |
Sailed:
March,
2010 |
| Destination:
Dubai
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Age: 56-65 |
| Cabin: Balcony |
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RCI have just started this itinerary and we picked up some issues from reviews of the initial cruises. Most of these reviews have been resolved.
The overall organisationj was very good. Efficient transfer from Dubai airport to the ship, via a breakfast hospitality stop. We landed at 7.00, were on the Brilliance at 11.15 and had our cases delivered to our room by 13.15. Excusions all left on time.
Excursions were surprisingly good value for money. We did the Dubai City Tour (on the Tuesday a.m. after arrival and before the Tuesday p.m. sail away from Dubai), Abu Dhabi City Tour, Mystical Muscat and Ancient and Modern Muscat. Stayed on the Brilliance at Fujairha (apart from a brief walk around the commercial port area). Also took the free shuttle bus directly outside the Brilliance to Dubai Mall on our return to Dubai at the end of the cruise. Others took taxis or the much lauded hop on/off buses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi but, for once, I thought the RCI excursions were better-we saw a lot for very reasonable prices.
The crew: passenger ratio has reduced and it showed at times; clearing up was slower (e.g. food trays, sun beds). Other marginal glitches were stained coffee/tea mugs (the RCI dish washes can\'t cope with the numbers/design) and periodic running out of tea bags/hot water in the 24 hour machines. Stafff were all friendly and helpful though, although, being extra busy, they had less time for general chats with passengers
Food quality was good/very good-in the Windjammer/dining room and Sea View cafe. Dining room service was fine.
There was a good buzz around the ship, part of RCI\'s marketing of bringing in a different passenger base, with more noise and a higher attendance at the bars etc. Fine by me, but \"traditional\" cruisers may need to be aware.
Sun beds were a problem. There are now so many that they clutter the decks, during the day and the evening. For reasons which escape me, passengers flout the \"no reserving\" policy leaving many beds idle during most of the day save a reserving towel (and with no sign of a human body). If no-one selfishly reserved, there would be plenty for everyone even with half of the current number of beds. RCI can be criticised for allowing this flouting but most of the blame must attach itself to the reserving passengers.
The formal enertainment/shows were all excellent, including a MoTown cover quartet, French Acrobats, Argentinian tango, Danish magician and the RCI singers/dancers. Music around the ship was good and varied.
Ports were all interesting except Fujairha; although there were a few who did Fujairha cross country excusions which they said were fine. New Dubai itself I thought disappointing/soulless, preferring old Dubai (The Creek etc)
Weather was hot.
The minor points, summarised above, mean that I\'m giving it a 4 out of 5 rating. On a more generous day, I could give it 5. It was a excellent criuse
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| Quality of Food |  |
| Winjammer. Dining Room. Sea View Cafe | | Entertainment |  |
| All \"formal\" shows were very good/excellent | | Shore Excursions | |
| Abu Dhabi City Tour-excellent (included the FI Ciircuit as a late extra). Bahrain (Ancient/Modern), Mystical Muscat, Ancient/Modern Bahrain, Dubai City Tour fine | | Staff | |
| All friendly and helpful, reducing crew:passenger ratios mean less time for general conversations | | Children's Facilities | n/a |
| | Onboard Activities |  |
| Some may find limited, but seeing plasces a lot of the time, withy 2/3 hours relaxing by pool in p.m. | | Cabins | |
| Fine, kept clean, no maintenance issues | | Overall Rating | |
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