Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas - Cruise Review

From :    tmilano832@yahoo.com (Tom Milano)
Subject :    Review
Date :    Tue, 31 Dec 2002 06:02:12 -0500

Age: 75
Occupation: Retired: Restauranteur
Number of Cruises: 28
Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
Ship: Brilliance of the Seas
Departure Date: December 2, 2002
Itinerary: 11Night Circle the Caribbean

(Our review is quite long. We Suggest it would be more enjoyable if you printed it.) .

Mary & I would first like to thank our many readers for the correspondence we have shared with you over the two-year period we have had our page on Tom Ogg’s Cruise Reviews site. We are happy to inform you that in this two-year period more than 72,000 cruise enthusiasts, like yourself, have visited our page and we thank you for that. We will continue to share our cruise experience with you, hoping it will help you decide if the ship we are reviewing is the ship you might want to select for your next cruise. If we can help you in any way, it would be our pleasure Send us an E-mail and we will get back to you... Now for our review:

We thought the Voyager and the Explorer were the most beautiful ships we have cruised on, that is, until we sailed on the ‘Brilliance of the Seas.’ In thinking of a word or phrase that would best describe this magnificent vessel, the first thought that comes to mind is that it is Spectacular. In our opinion, Royal Caribbean’s design team is second to none in the cruise industry. Their ships give one the feeling of being in a luxurious hotel, with a great deal of attention being paid to the most minute details. The Brilliance is a master piece in engineering and design and has to be seen, to be believed. The ‘Brilliance’ and her sister ship the ‘Radiance‘without a shadow of a doubt, are the most beautiful ships of the entire cruise industry.

Just as impressive as the ‘Brilliance’ was, the crew was even more impressive. The crew had only been together for a matter of months, but by the professional manner in which they performed their duties and the way they catered and pampered their guests, you would think they had been together for years. The ‘Enchantment of the Seas’ has held the honor of being the friendliest crew of the RC. fleet, but I predict they are going to be hard pressed to fend off the ‘Brilliance.’ Adrian Iftene, Food & Beverage Manager and his staff and particularly Bryce Clarke, the dining Room Manager, have done an outstanding job of getting this crew to perform at a very high level. I will tell you more about them later in our review.

This was a very special cruise for us because we were celebrating Mary’s seventy ____th birthday and my 37th anniversary. If you’re confused by my saying, my 37th anniversary and not our 37th anniversary, I will explain later in our review.

If you have read any of our reviews, you know Mary & I refer to our cruises as ‘Honeymoons.’ We have now had twenty-nine. The first was when we were married and the other twenty-eight have been at sea aboard the magnificent floating resorts they call cruise ships. If you are wondering why we call our cruises ‘Honeymoons,’ I will repeat what we say in every one of our reviews. Mary & I can’t think of a more romantic, intimate way of spending quality time with the one you love then when cruising. We have found that cruising has added a completely new dimension to our life. Its like taking an adult time out from the rigors of everyday life, to recapture those wonderful, exciting first moments of being married. Being we are in our mid seventies, we have to go back quite away to recapture those feelings, but we are able to do that when we cruise. Cruising has helped to make our latter years the most enjoyable and most fruitful period of our life.

We all come from varied backgrounds and circumstances. As you read this review, remember that reviews are written from the perspective of the writer, which might be very different from yours. The veryreasons we book a certain cruise line and a specific ship, might be the very reasons that you would not choose them for your booking. You can tell if we have similar likes and dislikes by reading our opening remarks at the top of our Home Page. If you read something you don’t agree with, please remember we are expressing our opinion, that doesn’t make it right or it doesn’t make it
wrong, it’s just our opinion.

As our readers know, our reviews are different from the usual postings on the Internet. Besides giving a detailed, comprehensive review of our cruise experience, we often digress and tell about some of the things that have made our latter life so beautiful and rewarding. Sometimes, things of a sentimental and romantic nature find their way into what we write. This usually occurs when we tell how Tom, when he assumes his Wimpy persona, goes out of his way to do all sorts of little things that Mary loves him to do. You know, those things that macho men consider wimpy. Before we go any further, for our new readers, let me explain how this Wimpy character evolved.

**Tom had been a Macho man most of his early life. In his latter years he began to realize when he did those little wimpy things that Mary loved him to do, his lovely Mary gave him a lot more reason to smile. Although Tom was macho, he wasn’t dumb. When Tom is at sea, on another of their ‘Honeymoons,’ he takes on the Wimpy persona to it’s highest degree by using these occasions as an opportunity to do all sorts of lovely little wimpy things for his Mary**

If anyone reading this review would rather not read our thoughts on matters of a sentimental and romantic nature, it probably would be best if you didn’t read any further, because our review is interlaced with thoughts on both these subjects.

To expedite the reading of our reviews, we have consolidated our suggestions at the end of our review in a section entitled,‘Suggestions That Could Enhance Your Cruise-[SEC]’ which includes;

Things to do Before You Cruise:
Tipping Suggestions:
The Magic of the $2 Bills:
The First Hours Aboard Ship Are Important:
Should You Buy Cruise Insurance?:
Addresses of Informative Cruise Web Sites:
All Ships of a Cruise Line Are Not the Same:
Writing a Review:

Be sure to read “Loose Ends & Random Thoughts” [LR] at the end of our review

These are Some of the Things You Will be Reading About in Our Review:
......Wimpy’s Marriage Maintenance For Mary’s Birthday:
......What I Meant When I Said it Was MY 37th Anniversary
......How to Get a Free Margarita at Pancho’s in Cozumel.
......Mary & I Got Married Again
......Memories Can Chase The Blues Away!
......Getting The Best Possible Price When Booking a Cruise.
......Suggestions That Could Enhance Your Cruise.
......What You Write on The Cruise Line Questionaire Can Effect a Servers Pay.
[LR]
......A.A. Ninth Annual Reunion Cruise to Paradise!

Embarkation:
We had a very pleasant drive from our home in New Smyrna Beach to the Port of Miami. Mary had prepared well for her position as the director of en-route music programming. She carefully put together a collection of CD’s of combo’s we had danced too on previous cruises. [If we enjoy a vocalist or a combo, we purchase their CD.] As we were driving along, the sounds of their music brought back many beautiful memories. We found it to be a wonderful way of re-living many off the special moments we experienced while cruising. Time passed quickly, as it does when your having fun, and before we knew it we were dropping off our luggage at the terminal.

The embarkation process was much slower than normal because RC’s computers were down and there was only two or three terminals that were working, to check in two thousand guests. We arrived at the terminal at 11:45 but didn’t board until 2:00...so much for boarding... now come with us as we go to our cabin.

Cabin:
When we entered our cabin Mary was surprised when she saw the birthday decorations above the bed area and the Sunflower bouquet on the desk, both surprise gifts from Wimpy. After receiving a hug and a kiss, I looked around the cabin and could see that it was tastefully appointed and functional. There was a very nice seating area across from the desk, with a love seat and a small table. I was particularly impressed with the wall lamps beside the bed and on the wall next to the love seat. They had two switches. One turned on the full light and the other turned on a small swivel
light at the base of the fixture. Not only were they great for reading but also great for creating a very romantic atmosphere. When we cruise we drink a lot of water, usually two bottles a day. At one of the Captains parties, a Captain told us that the drinking water on the ship is as pure, if not purer than what we get at home. We switched and began drinking the ship’s water. The first day we drink one of the bottled water, and when we empty it, we refill it and keep it chilled in the frig. The only negatives we found was the lack of lighting for the closet and the shower curtain that took a liking to our bodies.

Our cabin attendant Raymond came by and I did my usual thing with him [SEC]. Raymond was the perfect cabin attendant. He was very pleasant, kept our cabin immaculate, did everything that needed to be done, was a pro at making animal sculptures and we rarely saw him.

As soon as Wimpy finished his inspection of the cabin, he unpacked his cabin enhancers, the same ones he takes with him on every cruise...two Wizard scented plug-ins...an extension cord with a three outlet connection...a night light...and a can of air-freshener for the bathroom. Within moments of Wimpy plugging in the Gardenia scented Wizard, we begin to detect the sweet fragrance of Mary’s favorite flower. Mary sidled over to me and put her arms around me and said, “I love Tom with all my heart, but this Wimpy guy is really something special.”...I ask you, how could a guy
not do all kind of special things for such a sweet lady? ... we’ve told you enough about our cabin, now come with us as take you on a tour of all the venues. We will start with the heart and soul of the Brilliance, the Centrum.

The Centrum:
When I first saw the Centrum, my mind, which can’t remember something that happened yesterday, kicked in and brought back a memory from the mid seventies. I was putting up for sale one of four very expensive spec homes I had built in the Boca Bath & Tennis Club, in Boca Raton, FL. It had a number of unique features. An Italian mason working for me told me in broken English, “Whena dey walka trew yaw hause, ana yewa heara dem sey fore “Ooohs” and fore “Aaahs, ” yewa solda yaw hause.” When Mary & I saw the Centrum for the first time, everything our eyes took in was reason for an “Oooh” or an “Aaah.” The designers took the very best from the Centrums on all the R.C. ships and then added some new concepts that make it a triumph in artistic and functional design. It is stunning and is the heart and soul of the ‘Brilliance.’ I am going to try my best to describe it for you.

The Centrum is the town square of the Brilliance. Whatever venue you are heading toward, you have to pass the Centrum. Part of a five million-dollar art collection and filling the space inside the Centrum, is the 66-foot high stainless-steel mesh sculpture by American artist’s Warren Seelig and Sherrie Gibson. It spans nine full decks. At night the lighting is subtly adjusted creating all kinds of interesting effects. The base of the Centrum is a dance floor with the design of a ship’s compass done in various shades of marble, surrounded by settees and cocktail tables. One side of the base is the domain of two combos that play before and after dinner music. As they play for the dancing and listening pleasures of the guests, their music carries upward through the nine decks and filters into the various venues. On the wall on the sides of the main entrance are back lighted waterfalls cascading down from the first deck. Your eyes are drawn to the stairway leading to the second deck that appears to be suspended in air. I imagine that is why they call them floating stairways. A stunning effect is created by a pale green light that shines through the transparent steps. The two panoramic elevators that are opposite the band area, taking passengers to the higher decks, look like rockets heading for outer space. On the other side of the elevator landing, are four panoramic elevators that give a full view of the ocean.

On each of the decks, beside walkways with railing, there are a series of balconies that give you a clear view of everything that is happening in the Centrum. A neat place to do some people watching. On the upper levels are a number of interesting rooms with our favorite being the “Late-tudes Coffee Bar.” RC, like many of the cruise lines keep on introducing new ways to add to their cash flow. RC has a Seattle’s Best Coffee stand, where you can buy various upscale coffees, pastries and cookies. We stopped by most every day at the Latte-tudes and had a Coffee Latte and one of the pastries or cookies that were 99 cents. It was a nice place to sit and sip our Latte as we read the daily Times.

The Centrum is one of the main dance venues and meeting places. People would congregate there before and after dinner. If people weren’t dancing, they were sitting watching other people dance. During the day it was used for cooking demonstrations, carving exhibitions, art auctions and numerous other events. It was the most popular place on the ship... now come with us as we take you to see the newly designed and much improved Windjammer.

The Windjammer Cafe:
After checking our table assignment [SEC] we headed for the Windjammer to have lunch. We have cruised on a number or RC ships, although usually beautiful, we never felt the Windjammer was something to write home about. Take my word. The newly designed Windjammer is the silent star of the Brilliance. From the moment you leave the elevator landing, walk along the wide marble walkway and enter the Windjammer, you get the feeling your going to experience something special. Remember the congestion around the food islands on some of the other ships, well that’s no longer the case. It’s quite remarkable how giving the islands a little more space and locating them in a little different position could make such a huge difference. Other than the Egg Stations, rarely did we see a line at any of the Food Islands.

The area is inviting, warm and beautiful. The carpeting is blue and the walls are a dark, teak like paneling, with numerous paintings of the America Cup races. The chairs and tables and amenities give one the feeling of being at a swanky Yacht Club. The glass walls afford a clear view of the sea and gives the room a very bright, open feeling.

The selection of food was excellent and they had a carving station each day for breakfast and lunch. Usually ham for breakfast and roast beef for lunch. There are also two very good sandwich stations that you could get different kinds of sandwiches and wraps. They had two egg stations that served eggs as you liked them, quickly and always with a smile. They also had a very popular pastry island and a stand for soft ice cream. Another new feature was the two coffee and drink bars. Instead of having to go to a drink machine to get coffee, lemonade or ice tea, you went to either of the bars and the two attendants would serve you whatever you wanted and always with a smile. This innovations made a noticeable difference.

All the way aft is a spacious outdoor section with tables and chairs that was always busy. When you leave the main part of the windjammer, on the way to that area, there was a row of deep cushioned love seats, with tables in between, called the “Windjammer Alfresco.” It looked like an arrangement you might find in a classy garden room. It was a very popular area to eat and in the afternoon a popular area to sit and read a book. There was also a stairway in this area that lead to the Seaview Café on the upper deck.

We couldn’t help but be impressed and take notice to how friendly and helpful the crew was. If you gave the slightest indication you needed something, someone was at the table to help you. From the moment you are greeted by the young lady at the entrance to the Windjammer, during lunch and until you leave, if you made eye contact with one of the servers or crew or even those in management, they would immediately break into a smile. The food, the service and ambience in the Windjammer are absolutely the best we have experienced... having been smiled at so often and feeling the effect it had on us reminds me of a story I read about a newspaper boy and a pretty lady...

**There is an old story about a ragged little newsboy and a beautiful actress on a bitter winter’s night. “Are you cold?” she asked him. And he said, “I was until you smiled at me.”

What is this simple movement of human muscles that is able to work such magic? The first thing we watch for in a new baby; Look, she's smiling! And the one thing that comforts us at life's close; He died with a smile on his face. Why? We only know that it befriends the lonely, cheers the ill, soothes the angry, flashes signals of hope and joy. The boss is smiling, looks like we'll have a good day...Dad can't be cross about the car, he's smiling...Guess what? This boy smiled at me!

A smile is a mystery; nobody knows its biological cause, only its emotional effect. For the person who smiles feels better himself. His smile is not only light to another's spirit, its curve swings inevitably back to light his own.

Few of us have the time or money to do as much as we want to for the poor, the sick, the lonely. But this one gift we can always bestow. Invaluable as it is, it costs nothing, takes no time, requires no sacrifice. A smile never wears out, and it is impossible to run out of smiles. The more we use them the more we have to give.

Smile today! Smile at a child, smile at a neighbor, smile at a clerk, smile at a stranger on the street. Smile at the person who looks cross...for it is said nobody needs a smile so much as the person who has none to give; it may change the world**..... Now that I have you smiling, come with us as we tour the Schooner Bar, the Colony Club, the Portofino, Chops Grille and the elegant Minstrel dining room.

The Schooner Bar:
The Schooner Bar is located on the sixth deck, just off the Centrum, on the port side. It’s an area approximately 40ft. wide by 175 feet long, with the entrance to the Colony Club at the far end. Regardless of how many superlatives I can think of to describe this area, I can’t think of one that could do it justice. .

As you enter, you get the feeling of luxury and opulence. The floors were a combination of wood, interspersed with marble and tile, forming exquisite patterns. On both walls are nautical displays of ships’ gear and rigging. To the left is an enormous sixteen foot scale model of a six masted sailing vessel, with the masts touching the ceiling. An awesome sight. A little further on the right, is a section of railing of an old sailing ship, with ropes and rigging. Further on the left, you pass a replica of the deck area of the bridge of a Schooner, with a full size Captains wheel. It was a popular place
for taking pictures. It never ceases to amaze me, the many creative thing’s RC designers do to make the ceilings an integral part of the over all design of an area. Affixed to the ceiling is a three-dimensional wood sculpture of a hull of a boat. It is a stunning effect. All this, and we haven’t yet, entered the main part of the Schooner Bar. I heard what I think is a very apt description for this area. I heard one of the guests say, “When I walked into the Schooner Bar, I felt like I was walking into a nautical museum.”

After leaving the entrance foyer, the lounge section extends some 125 ft. to the entrance of the Colony Club. The wall on the left side runs the full length of the lounge and is all glass from floor to ceiling. It was a favorite place for many people to watch the sunset. The area was furnished with handsome settees and unique cocktail tables. David Curtis entertained nightly at the baby grand Piano Bar. Opposite was a very attractive bar, which got a lot of action. On the sides of the bar were the entrances to the Portofino Italian Restaurant and Chops Grille. Just past the bar on the way to the Colony Club was a scale model, 12 to 15 ft long, of another of the grand old sailing vessels. When entering the Colony Club we notice a complete change in the decor.

The Colony Club:
The Colony club is a cluster of five unique, beautifully decorated rooms, with wood herringbone floors, oriental rugs, dark wood paneling and a lot of cozy nooks and crannies. It has a romantic piano bar and lounge with groupings of comfortable armchairs that stretch across the aft end. It has a stage and dance floor area and the much talked about self-leveling pool tables in the Bombay Billiard Club. There is also a card and game room off to one side...

We enjoyed dancing in this room the night of the Captains party. It was the first formal night and Mary had on a beautiful gown, (as you can see in the picture) and looked absolutely gorgeous. As usual, I made sure we covered the entire dance floor, so everyone could see how pretty she looked. The combo Sister Sez, played many of the old standards and everyone had a grand time... now let’s Waltz you over to the Portofino restaurant.

The Portofino Italian Restaurant and Chops Grille :
We had a wonderful dining experience at both these restaurants. Dr. Arthur Thompson and his lovely wife Eileen were our dinner companions.

As you can see by the pictures, these are two elegant dining rooms. The Portofino’s decor of soft golds and reds make for a warm and inviting atmosphere. The focal point of the room is a hand painted mural of an Italian market scene that stretches across an entire wall. While in Chops Grille, the decor is of Mahogany wood, deep browns and burgundies and features an open cooking area that allows you to watch your steaks and hops being prepared.

We have dined at the alternative restaurants of every RC ship we have been on and we have never been overly impressed with the food. But we are happy to tell you, RC has hit the bull’s eye with both these restaurants. We found the food to be outstanding and the service impeccable.

The food and the service in both rooms were outstanding. Seldom have we found a Maitre d` that added so much to our dining pleasure as the Maitre d` in these restaurants. Antonio in the Portofino was everything a Maitre d` should be. He said all the right things, did all the right things and exhibited just the right degree of friendliness. He introduced us to our waiter Carlo and came back to our table a number of times to see if there was anything he could do. He added immeasurably to our dining experience.

Sinten, the Maitre d` of Chops Grille, is a very special lady. She had a warm, charming personality and made us feel completely at ease the moment we met her. She seated us on a banquet and introduced us to the three servers who were going to wait on us. In between courses she would come and visit with us. She was delightful. She never stopped smiling and her smile was infectious. I noticed that she made it her business to be at the grill counter whenever an order was being picked up, to make sure it was perfect before it was presented at the table.

If you sail on the Brilliance, whatever you do, don’t miss a chance to dine at these magnificent restaurants. There is an additional charge of twenty dollars per person but it’s a small price to pay for the dining experience they offer. We went back to both restaurant the second time. Our friends the Thompson’s were so impressed with the food and service, they made reservations for every night of the remaining thirteen nights of their back to back cruise. Make sure you make reservations as soon as you board. [SEC] ... now come with us as we have dinner at the elegant Minstrel Dining room.

The Minstrel Dining Room:
The Minstrel is an impressive looking dining room that gives a glimpse of what the dining rooms of the ocean liners of yesteryear might have looked like. It spans two decks with a broad winding stairway leading from the balcony to the lower level. Between the stairs is a small stage with a baby grand piano and behind it is a cascading waterfall. Our table was on the lower level but on formal nights I made sure we entered the dining room on the upper level so I could walk my Mary down this grand stairway. As we walked to our table, our eyes were drawn to the towering columns draped in a golden material. The tables were set with light tan table clothes, surrounded by comfortable arm chairs, upholstered in a soft moss green covering. The over all appointments of the room are Stunning.

Our waiter’s name was Chee and his assistant was Nazene. Chee was an absolute delight. He had a winning personality and was an excellent waiter. Our assistant waiter was an Indian boy named Nazene. This young man always had a smile on his face and hovered around our table like a bee around a flower. We felt an immediate bond with both off them. They were a good team and they were everything you would want your servers to be. They were quite surprised when I handed them envelopes with their gratuity for the week [SEC].

We found the appetizers, soups and desserts served in the main dining room was better than we have experienced on other RC ships but the selections and preparation of entrees were very weak. We had a similar experience when we sailed on the Voyager on one of its initial cruises. We were very disappointed with the food but when we cruised on the Voyager for the second time, a short time later, the food had improved dramatically. I don’t believe it will be very long before the same thing happens with the Brilliance.

We had a problem with our table assignment but were unable to get it changed for the first night. The next day the dining room manager Bryce Clarke called our room and told me he had a better table for us on the upper-level but I turned it down. I told him we liked our servers and would rather stay with them than change our table. He stopped by our table that night to say hello and we had a very pleasant conversation. He told us about his interesting background and he was very surprised to hear that we were former restaurant owners. During our cruise we had a chance to have further conversations with Bryce about all aspects of the restaurant business. After hearing his thoughts and seeing the way he paid attention to everything that was happening in the dining rooms, the Portofino and Chops, it was obvious why the servers were performing at such a high level. Bryce Clarke and his superior Adrian Iftene, have done an outstanding job of taking crew members from a number of different ships of the RC fleet and molding them into a smooth cohesive unit. We commend them for their efforts... now for a change of pace... I have said it before and I will say it again... my Mary is like a rare vintage wine... she steadily improves with age... each and every year she becomes more valuable... more appreciated... and yes... more intoxicating... and I ‘m going to tell you what Wimpy did to surprise his Mary for her birthday. (When I read this to Mary she said, “Did I hear you say I was more intoxicated.) We had a good laugh.

Wimpy’s Marriage Maintenance For Mary’s Birthday:
I remembered reading that a marriage may be made in heaven, but the maintenance must be done on earth. This prompted Wimpy, being the romantic he is, to use special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine week, past presidents birthdays, all bank holidays and other sundry events, as an opportunity to practice major marriage maintenance with his lovely Mary.

Wimpy looked at Mary’s birthday as a great opportunity to do some serious marriage maintenance. He decided that celebrating Mary’s birthday just for one day was not enough, so he formulated a plan to make the entire eleven day cruise a celebration. He started by arranging for RC’s birthday decorations for the cabin and a large bouquet of Sun flowers. He knew that Mary had saved every card and every note he had given her for the thirty four years they were married. This thought triggered his mind and gave him an idea. Mary’s birthday was December 2nd, the same day we were to begin our cruise. Wimpy knew that being Tom had planned on giving Mary her birthday card that morning at home, she would be surprised and touched if he gave additional cards during the cruise. He spent hours reading Hall Mark cards in the, “For The One You Love” section, until he found seven cards that spoke his heart. He then composed some ‘Roses are Red’ poems. You know, the kind we used to make up when we were in school. Like: Roses are Red... Violets are Blue... There isn’t anyone as lovely... and exciting as you! Not exactly a Walt Whitman or Longfellow effort by any means, but my Mary was impressed. Every other night at dinner Wimpy gave Mary one of the cards and on the other nights one of the ‘Roses are Red and Violets are Blue’ love poems. He made a series of tear out perforated coupons, in booklet form which he also included in the envelopes with the poems. One had four redeemable coupons for four different type massages for ‘Wimpy’s Cabin Spa.’ (None which I am at liberty to tell you about.) Another was a ‘Movie Coupon Book,’ with four coupons for the latest movies, redeemable when ever Mary wanted to go. Wimpy knew this would go over big with Mary, because she knew Tom hates going to the movies. Wimpy also earned additional credits with Mary with morning and evening pillow surprises. It was a lot of fun to keep on surprising Mary and I want you to know, not only did I do a lot of smiling during the cruise, but since I have been home, I find myself smiling, even when there isn’t anything to smile about.

We have been fortunate to experience many, many, very special moments in our life but this birthday cruise on the Brilliance has to go to the very top of our list. These moments with my Mary, plus some others I will soon be telling you about, have provided us with memories that will line the walls of our hearts forever... now make sure you put on your jungle attire and your pith helmet, as we are going on a Safari into an up-scale African Animal Reserve..the Solarium... to look for some Elephants..

The Unique Solarium--The Spa and Gym:
We don’t have to look very far. As soon as we enter the Solarium we spot three large Indian elephants adorned with elaborate head dresses, surrounded by a waterfall spilling through the lush vegetation into the pool. These huge elephants were carved from solid gray stone. Also, on the sides of the pool are two smaller sculptures of kneeling baby elephants. There is a bridge across the far end of the poll and on the opposite end is a large Jacuzzi with a pink canopy. Behind the very attractive chaise longues stand four bronze Buddhas. There is dense vegetation ever where you look. The Solarium on the RC ships is one of our favorite at sea venues. Everyone we have seen has a different theme and are very impressive but they pale in comparison to this one. The East India theme of the Solarium and the Spa, is absolutely breathe-taking.

We are not Spa people so we can’t tell you much about the various treatments, but the comments we hear were very favorable. And as I’ve told you earlier, Mary didn’t have to partake of the Spa services because she had already arranged for a series of massages at “Wimpy’s Cabin Spa.”

Since being operated on for a strangulated hernia this past May, I have stayed away from gyms and have restricted my workouts to walking, swimming and using some light dumbbells. But our friends the Thompsons work out for 2-3 hours a day and they said it was one of the best equipped gyms they have seen...

We prefer the Solarium pool area on RC ships because anyone under the age of sixteen is not allowed to use this area. We also like it because it has some shaded areas and has a moveable glass canopy that can be closed in inclement weather. The main pool is very nice but it did appear to be a bit small. There was two Jacuzzi and there were deck chairs everywhere. The resident Calypso band ‘Surfside’ entertained pool-side and did a very nice job. In front of the bandstand is a very large area for dancing and was used for various pool-side games.

Further forward was a good size children’s pool with a twisting water slide, a basketball/volley ball court a miniature golf course, a jogging track and the famous rock climbing wall, introduced on the Eagle class ships.

The Seaview Café:
All the way aft, above the outdoor area of the Windjammer is the Seaview Café, which stays open until 2-3 in the morning. It’s meant to be somewhat similar to Johnnie Rockets on the Eagle class ships, but it falls far short. Someone missed the boat when they laid out the Seaview. As soon as you walk in the door, you find yourself among a group of people all looking up at the menu’s, which are posted overhead. It caused a lot of confusion. The people don’t know where to look or where to go. They have a limited menu. You could have four or five different type sandwiches, Chili, Fish and Chips and soups. The food could be better and the traffic pattern has to be changed. As it is, it’s unworkable. I’m sure the powers to be are aware of this and will make the needed changes... now we have to tell you about an unfortunate accident that occurred.

Man Overboard:
During the middle of the night we were wakened from a sound sleep by Captain MacDonald, who made an announcement a man had fallen over board. The Captain said he was turning the ship around and starting a search pattern. He made periodic announcements as he continued the search. Mid morning he announced that Coast Guard Helicopters from Puerto Rico were joining the search. Passengers could be seen on every deck trying to spot the man but all it was no avail. It was like looking for a needle in a hay stack. The ship and the helicopters continued their search until the night time. Captain MacDonald then made an announcement that they did everything they could and were now proceeding on to Miami. He said that even though we had lost a good part of a day, he believed he could make the time up and be at our berth on time. He said the ship could do 25.6 knots and he was going to go full speed. He warned us, that were 8-10 foot swells it might be a little bumpy.

The Brilliance has the latest in technological enhancements. One major improvement is what they call Azipods. Azipods have replaced the propeller shafts, rudders and stern thrusters, which were the main source of vibrations. We went at full speed through the night and all the next day and we never felt the slightest vibration. We made up the lost time and arrived in port at the designated time.

What I Meant When I Said it Was My 37th Anniversary:
The reason I say it’s my Anniversary is because December 2nd, the same day as Mary’s birthday, is my 37th year in the A.A. program. It’s suggested to A.A. members that they not break their anonymity. The only time I have broken my anonymity, is on the pages of some of our more recent reviews. I do so in the hope that someone who reads my review and has the same problem I had, might become aware there is a place they can go to get help and begin a whole new life.

From the age of 21 and for most of my whole adult life, alcohol was a very important part of what I did. I started my sales career as a salesman for Budweiser when I was twenty and I ended my selling career as a state manager of a number of states for Schenley distillers. I then bought a restaurant Glynn’s Inn, in 1965, that was a Long Island landmark. I was only in business for six months when with God’s grace, I was made aware that I had a problem with alcohol and I had to do something about it. The date I walked into my first A.A. meeting was December 2nd, 1965, and I was fortunate to be able to retire in 1973. I will forever be grateful to God and the A.A. program for the wonderful life we have had. We will be married for 35 years May 8, 2003 and my Mary has never seen me take a drink. Another of God’s mighty blessings.

We attend A.A. meetings on all our cruises. On the Brilliance we were fortunate to meet an amazing group of Friends of Bill W. from all over the United States and Canada. Meetings were every day at five and we made most of them. It is always inspiring and moving, to see the deep compassion that is shown to those who are struggling. We made friends with a number of these people and have been in contact with them since we returned home. A number of them expressed an interest and some made a commitment to join us on the Sobriety @ Sea ninth annual reunion cruise aboard RC’s sister ship of the Voyager and the Explorer, the new “Navigator of the Seas,’ September 13, 2003. If anyone would like further information, you can go to the Sobriety at Sea web site at http://Sobrietyatsea.com Mary & I look forward to seeing you... I think it’s time for us to go to the beautiful Pacifica Theater and I will also tell you about the entertainment..

The Pacifica Theater:
As you enter the showroom, your eye is immediately drawn to magnificent stage curtain. The inspiration for the room is the Pacific Oceans Ring of Fire – the Volcanic islands of Hawaii, Japan, and Indonesia, with the stage curtain being the focal point. The curtain is designed in such a way that it looks like a Volcano erupting and spewing its red hot fiery lava upwards in all directions. It’s a fiery mass of all shades of red, purple, and gold. The same colors that appear on the curtain run in sequence on the backs of all the chairs in the showroom. The carpet pattern was designed to appear as if it was molten lava flowing from the erupting volcano. There are also giant lava lamps in the entry ways of the showroom. All the RC ships have exquisite curtains but the Volcanic eruption that is depicted on the Brilliance is a work of art. I can’t understand why the photo shop didn’t feature a
photo of this curtain. It really has to be seen to be appreciated.

Mary and I had a favorite place to sit. It was a box arrangement to the side on the uppermost balcony all the way forward toward the stage. There were four very comfortable arm chairs and we often made use of them when the Thompson’s joined us. The reason they were always empty is because the sight lines weren’t that great, but we didn’t care. It made us feel as if we were seated in a box at the Lincoln center. (We do have an active imagination)

The Entertainment:
The entertainment was a assortment of the in-house band and show by the production company and more than normal number of outside acts. There was two productions show that were pretty much standard cruise fare. The acts that we enjoyed the most were:

Norm Crosby: He was the best we have ever seen him. He had a hilarious routine and had us rolling in the isles. He’s like my Mary, he gets better with age.

Bobby Arvon: He was on the same card with Norm Crosby and did a very nice job. He was well received.

Judy Kolba: She was a combination of Toby Fields and Charo. I think she even said “Hoochie Cochie.”a couple of times like Charo does. She is a very, very funny lady. She was a little on the chubby side and was wearing a dress like the gals did in the flapper days, with row after row of white tassels. During one part of her act she stood in one spot in the middle of the stage and did a series of quick half turns back and forth and I swear she looked like one of those large vertical brushes in a car wash. She went into the audience a number of times got everyone involved in her act. We
really enjoyed her performance.

Marty Allen & Kate Blackwell: Mary allen is the opposite of Norm Crosby, he hasn’t gotten better with age. He’s still using material from the Ed Sullivan days.

Hal Frazier: Hal Frazier had a nice voice and a nice delivery but he did more talking than singing. If he stuck to his singing he would have a much better act.

Burt Leigh: Unfortunately he performed on an off night and had a very small audience to work with. He had some good material but there weren’t enough people to give him a decent feed back.

Kenny Martyn: Kenny Martyn was a pleasant surprise. We almost didn’t go to the show. I said to Mary he’s billed as an instrumentalist lets skip the show. She wanted to go so we went. He was excellent. He played a number of instruments but the highlight for us was when he did a medley of Benny Goodman standards on the clarinet, that were outstanding. We would like to see him again.

The Cinema: They also have a separate Cinema that has stadium seating for fifty or so people. First run movies were scheduled for 2 o’clock every day. ... I think we are getting very close to being finished... aren’t you glad?... but before we wrap it up... I want tell you about our favorite Caribbean restaurant, Pancho’s backyard in Cozumel, Mexico, and how you can get a free Margarita when you go there for lunch.

Cozumel, Mexico Was The Only Port we Went Ashore:
Whenever we cruise the Western Caribbean, we never fail to have lunch at Pancho’s Backyard, our favorite Caribbean restaurant. We took a cab from the terminal [$6] to the most complete store in the Caribbean, Los Cinco Soles. The entrance to Pancho’s is through the store. The store, the restaurant and the women’s Boutique are under the same management. As we walked into the tiled courtyard, we began to hear the strains of Amor, Amor, Amor being played by the two old Mexican gentlemen that have been playing the Marimbas at Pancho’s for many years. We were warmly greeted by our friend Manuel Hernandez, the manager. While we were having lunch Jay Johnson and his lovely wife came in and joined us. Jay was a member of a group of 125 people that took advantage of the new RC-Celebrity promotion of holding Cruise Critic parties on their ships. I will explain more in our “Loose Ends and Random Thoughts” section at the end of our review.

After having a delightful lunch we sat with Manuel and he told us some very interesting news that we want to convey to you. On December 15th, 2002, Los Cinco Soles is opening another store with the name Los Cinco Soles #2. And Pancho’s Back Yard is opening its second restaurant on January 15th, 2003, and you guessed it, with the name Pancho’s Backyard #2. Both will be located in the new beautiful complex that is located by what is called the Carnival pier.

A reminder! If you have lunch at Pancho’s and would like to have a free Margarita, go to the Los Cinco Soles website and print the page and present it at Pancho’s when you go there for lunch. A copy of the page is a coupon for a free Margarita. Print a page for each one that is having lunch. While The page address : http://www.loscincosoles.com/loscincosoles/coupons.htm While you’re at this site, go to their home page and you will see the link that will show you pictures of Pancho’s Backyard.

Mary & I Got Married Again:
For the third time this year we renewed our marriage vows aboard ship. I told Mary if we keep this up, she will have married more times than Elizabeth Taylor. Every morning there was a Catholic Mass held in the Colony Club. The celebrant was Father Patrick. He was very organized and the service was very meaningful. One morning after Mass, he announced that he would be holding a service for those couples who wanted to renew their marriage vows. I could tell by her vise like grip on my hand that we were going to get married again. More than forty couples attended. It was a very beautiful service. Father had us read some of the love passages from the bible and we sang some hymns and then he had us stand, facing each other and asked us to look into each others eyes. He told the men to hold their wive’s hands and repeat after him their vows and then he asked the wives to do the same. It’s surprising that after doing this many times in the past 34 years, we both still get misty eyed when we do it. Wimpy is really a lucky guy. Whereas most guys only get one chance to marry their sweetheart, he has had the thrill and excitement of getting married to his sweetheart, time and time again.

Memories Can Chase The Blues Away:
The subject of memories seems to have struck a chord with our readers. We received numerous e-mails commenting on what we wrote about memories in our ‘Norwegian Sun review.’ We thought you would like to read an excerpt from Amy Dean’s book, ‘Growing Older, Growing Better’ on how memories can help you shake the blues.

***It has been said that “Much unhappiness results from an inability to remember the nice things that happen to us.” You may find that when you have days of feeling you’re “down in the dumps” or find it hard to shake a particularly blue mood, it helps when you can recall a joyful memory. Reliving the memory in your mind can help you to wipe off a frown and put a smile on your face and walk with a bounce in your step instead of a dejected shuffle.

One of the most wonderful benefits of getting old is realizing how certain moments of your present life--which, at the time, may seem almost insignificant-- magically breathe life back into memories of past joys, laughter, friendships, loving moments, great times and special occasions. Such memory triggers are pleasant reminders of all the wonderful people, places, and things you’ve been blessed to experience in your life. Each is like a panel on a comforting quilt that warms your heart; also, each is like a note which, when joined with many other notes, creates a moving symphony of a rich and fulfilling life. For even though those special times are over, the fact that they existed and you can remember them makes them forever young, forever alive and forever lasting in your mind.***

After reading these inspiring thoughts, Mary & I decided we would adopt one of Amy’s ideas for putting a smile on our face when things are not quite what we would like them to be. When we have one of those days, which... thank God... aren’t too often... I go to my files and pick out a copy of a review of one of our past cruises. May & I then retire to our den, get comfortable, and as I read the review to Mary, we relive the wonderful times we experienced on that cruise. It’s almost like taking the cruise over again. Not only does it lift our spirits but it also reminds us how fortunate we are to be able to do the things we do.

If you have one of those blue days, it doesn’t have to be a cruise review that will put a smile on your face. You can trigger your memory in many ways. Maybe with those special letters you saved from loved one and friends or that photo album with those pictures you treasure of the wonderful family occasions that brought you so much joy. For as Amy wrote, “For even though those special times are over, the fact that they existed and you can remember them makes them forever young, forever alive and forever lasting in your mind.”

Conclusion:
After attending Mass with Mary, I find myself sitting at my computer on Christmas morning, trying to think of how I can put into words what I feel in my heart. Mary and I are so utterly grateful to God for giving us a second chance at having a happy, fruitful life. We were both married for more than twenty years to our former spouses and here Mary and I are approaching the year 2003, a year that we will be celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary and Mary has never seen me take a drink. He has made our lives into something beautiful and we will forever be grateful and always keep in mind, that the only things we can take with us when we die, is what we leave behind. (That is a quote of Father Phaugh, the first Catholic priest in A.A.)

We have taken more time to write this review than any of our reviews because our e-mails tell us that there is an unusually great deal of interest in the second of this new class RCCL’s ship, the new “Brilliance of the Seas.” As many hours as I have spent on writing this review, I could have spent many more hours if I tried to describe every detail of this magnificent vessel. We were on this ship for eleven days and even though we are very observant of our surroundings, as we walked in the same areas we had seen many times, we still found ourselves saying “Oooh and Aaah.” To put it very simply, the “Brilliance” is beyond describing. It’s spectacular in every respect.

Being this is the season to be thankful, Mary & I would be remiss if we didn’t take this opportunity to thank Tom Ogg, our editor and the owner of Cruisereviews.com. When Tom asked us to be contributing editors and have our own page on his site, we could never have imagined it would gain the popularity it has. I thank you for visiting our page and your many e-mails. I am going to make a confession. I think you have surmised that I pen the words of our reviews. But I want you to know my Mary is the inspiration for whatever I write and the part of the review I enjoy writing the most, is when I am writing about her.

We will be cruising February 12th, with our dear friends the Phillips, on the new Princess class ship, “The Coral Princess.” This is another new class ship for the line and is creating a great deal of interest. Wee will be cruising for the second time on Celebrity’s Summit and we hope Dr. Thompson and his wife Eileen will be able to join us. And a cruise we are really looking forward too, is the ninth annual Sobriety at Sea, A.A. Reunion Cruise, on the new RCCL “Navigator of the Sea.” Because the “Navigator” is the last of the Eagle class ships, the designers and engineers had additional time to make some changes. They have made some changes and have added some things. One of the major changes was to revamp the Windjammer so it conforms to the new layout on the Brilliance.

We would be happy to answer any question you might have, especially those from first time cruisers.

May your next cruise be your best,
Our very warmest regards,
Tom & Mary
tmilano832@yahoo.com

Getting the Best Possible Price When Booking a Cruise: A day doesn’t go by that we don’t receive an e-mail from one of our readers, thanking us for our suggestion on how to get the best possible price when booking a cruise. Take our word for it, our suggestion is a win/win situation. If you would like us to send you our suggestion, drop us a line.

Pre Cruise Things To Do:
For those of you who are reading our reviews for the first time, we suggest some pre cruise things to do, that have greatly enhanced our cruise experience.
Read: “Before, During and After Your Cruise.
http://www.TomandMarysCruiseReviews.com/ThingsToDo.htm
Read: “How to Heighten Your Cruise Experience”
http://www.TomandMarysCruiseReviews.com/CruiseExperience.htm:

Prepare Envelopes for Tipping Before you Leave for Your Cruise:
Many of our readers have tried our suggestion on tipping with great results. Following are some examples of the many e-mails we received.

<<The tipping went very well. I would recommend it for everyone. All in all we had a delightful experience made even more so by the tipping method. >> Mike & Pat Ball

<< I followed your tip suggestion on our last cruise and had the best service of any cruise thus far.>> Jay Krueger

<<I’ve been on 18 previous cruises and I never had the service or got the attention like I did after pre tipping the crew on our last cruise. Your suggestion worked like magic and it didn’t cost any more than I normally tip. Thanks for a great suggestion.>> Mike Sullivan

Our Tipping Suggestion:
We like to give the suggested tip for the week, to out waiter, assistant waiter, head waiter and to our cabin attendant, the first evening of our cruise. Tipping at the end of the week is like locking the barn door after the horse has run away. We make out [3x5] envelopes with a note that reads... The main reason we love to cruise, is because of servers like you who go out of their way to make our cruises special. We want you to know we appreciate what you do and would like you to have this as a down payment on your services...Thank you, Tom & Mary Milano.”

We have never had service on any of our cruises that was poor enough to warrant us tipping less than the suggested amount. By tipping the suggested amount on the first night, you let your servers know that you are appreciative of them and they can expect an additional stipend at the end of the cruise. [At the end of the cruise we usually give an additional $20 to the waiter, $10 to the assistant and $10 or $20 to the cabin attendant]. Giving an extra forty dollars for the week, is a small price to pay to ensure the very best from your servers. Take our word for it. It does make a difference.

Magic of the $2 Bill:
If what we hear from our readers is true, banks should start running out of $2 in the new future. This again is another low-cost way of getting a high return. We start collecting $2 bills weeks before the cruise. We take with us $20--$30 in $2 bills. I call these our magic potion. I take a $2 bill and keep folding it until I have a small square, with the large imprint of the $2 covering the surface. I use the $2 bills a lot in the beginning of the cruise. It's important what you say when you give it, otherwise it doesn't have much significance. When I give it to a server, I say to them, “Give me your hand.” When they give me their hand, I take it and with my other hand I show them the folded $2 bill; then I say to them, “I want you to know this is a magic $2 bill and I can promise you that during this coming week something special is going to happen to you, something that will make you very happy, and when it happens we want you to come tell us.” Very few servers have ever seen a $2 bill and that alone gets their rapt attention. Then you can see by their quizzical expression that their thinking; it's crazy but who knows, it might work. Who among us doesn't have some form of a lucky piece? A lucky coin, a rabbits foot, a religious medal. All we can tell you is, we have had the most amazing, wonderful things happen as a result of giving out these two dollar bills; not the least is the friendliness and the exceptional service we have received from our servers. [If you don’t tell the
story, the effect is greatly diminished] Start Collecting $2 Bills.

Make Your Luggage Easy to Spot:
85% of all luggage is black. It will save you a lot of time and aggravation if you put a colorful bow or luggage strap on your belongings. It will much easier to identify them among the thousands of pieces of luggage on the terminal floor...Tie Something Colorful On Your Luggage

The First Hours Aboard Ship Are Important:
Mary and I have found that there are certain things that we can do the first day that will set the tone for our entire cruise. The first thing we do is check our table assignment. We can’t stress enough the importance of doing this. It’s important to see if the table assigned you is what you requested. If it isn’t, speak to the Maitre`d as soon as possible and he will has a chance to make the change you desire. If after the first evening, you are not happy with whom you’re seated, speak to the Maitre`de and ask to have your table changed. If he can possibly change it he will, he wants to make you happy. If the ship has an alternative restaurant, this is the time to make your reservation. Most alternative restaurants have limited seating, so be sure to make your reservation as soon as you can...Check Your Table Assignment and Then Make Reservations For The Alternative
Restaurant.

All Ships of a Cruise Line Are Not the Same:
Mary & I come from large families. Our siblings have similar characteristics but each one has their own distinct personality. Cruise lines and their ships are like that. Not all ships of a cruise line are the same. They differ for many reasons. The age of the ship, the size of the ship (the tonnage), the amenities, the expertise of the Food Manager/Executive Chef but the most important difference is how the crew comes together under the guidance and the directionof the Hotel Manager. The effectiveness of his training of the servers is reflected in the way the crew caters to and pampers their guests.

The point we’re making is, if you want to increase your odds of booking the ship that will best fulfill your expectations, we suggest you learn as much as possible about the ships of the cruise line your considering booking. Read as many cruise reviews as you can. Frequent the cruise message boards; there are good ones that have many seasoned cruisers and TA’s as members. If you have a question about a specific ship or port, post your question and one of them will answer you. You shouldn’t leave every thing to your TA. Do as much research as possible so you can give your TA the information he/she needs to help you select the right ship and right itinerary for you. The Internet has a wealth of information about cruising.

The following are cruise web sites we recommend that will help you in your research.

Cruise Web Sites:
These are URL’s of interesting and informative cruise web sites. We will be adding to this list with each new review.

New-Tip Calculator http://members.aol.com/CruiseTip/
New-Sobriety @ Sea Reunion Cruise http://www.sobrietyatsea.com/pages/1/index.htm
New-Good Ladies & Men’s Packing List http://cruisediva.com/pack3.htm
Very Good Snorkeling Guide http://www.cruisereviews.com/info/snorkeling.htm
Cruise Reviews and Feature Articles http://www.cruisereviews.com/
Sites for the Caribbean Islands
http://www.shipboardcruiser.com/islandcruise/cb.html
One of the Best for Cruise Links: http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~rklein/cruise.html
Deck Plans: http://www.cruise.com/pez/ship_deck/decks.asp
New Ships & Cruise News http://www.cruisenewsdaily.com/newships.html
Singles & Parents Without Partners: http://www.cruisereviews.com/NancyNorris.htm
Cruise News-Updated Weekly: http://www.cybercruises.com/newsfile.htm
Royal Caribbean Discussion Group: http://www.evensens.net/rccl/rccl.html
Comprehensive List of Cruise Links: http://www.cruise-links.com
The Best Cruise Ship Pictures on the Internet:
http://home-4.tiscali.nl/~t411310/indx.htm

A good way to save these URL’s and have them readily available:
Swipe with your cursor and copy. Then in your e-mail program, open new message, then paste. Then address the message to your self and in the subject line write Cruise Sites. In a short period of time you will receive it as new mail. Open a new folder, name it Cruise Sites in your e-mail program and move the e-mail with the Cruise URL’s to that folder. This way you will have the URL’s handy whenever you need them.

Our Final Suggestion is to ‘Write a Review: http://www.cruisereviews.com/submit/ After you adjust to being back home and you slowly recover from after cruise depression, sit down and write about all the wonderful things you experienced. You don't have to be a polished writer to write a review. All you have to do is write as if you were having a conversation with your best friend. The important thing is to be honest and forthright. Writing a review is a wonderful way to relive your cruise, and at the same time help fellow cruisers by sharing your thoughts. Tell them your opinion of the ship, the food, the crew, the entertainment, the ports of call and any special moments you experienced. Also write about the things that weren't so wonderful so your fellow cruisers can be forewarned. Include your spouse and ask her/him for suggestions on what you should include. And remember, don't be afraid of writing too much, longer is better than shorter. People are reading your review to determine if the ship your writing about is the one they should book. Put yourself in their place and tell them all the things you would like to know. But whatever you do, the most important thing is for you to have fun and enjoy what your doing. When your review is finished, Tom Ogg would be happy to post it on his web site, Cruise reviews.com If you need help, Mary and I would be glad to assist you.

A Teaspoon of Spiritual Nourishment: Mary & I have collected one page daily meditations for many years. Our local paper published them as a daily column. We now send them by e-mail, five nights a week, to our loved ones, friends, crew members of some of the ships we have sailed on and to readers of our reviews. If you would like to receive the ‘Teaspoon of Spiritual Nourishment,’ send us an e-mail and we will put you on our mailing list.
(Example)

Living is a process of learning and growing from the lessons we learn. One lesson worth learning early is that life gives back to us what we give to it. St. Paul’s formula of reflecting love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, will help us give our best to the world.

Each quality St. Paul mentions carries with it its own reward and as we take the time to develop them, our lives take on a fuller dimension. If we really want to be sought after, to “gain friends and influence people”, we should work to develop them, and as we do, we will reflect them in our lives, and others will be drawn to us like magnets. They will seek our company because of the love, comfort, companionship, and friendship they experience with us. And we will find we are our own best friend because those same qualities help us to love ourselves. They help us to be at peace with ourselves, to have more patience and joy in our hearts. We will learn how to treat ourselves with kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness. We will give to life what we seek from life and we will be rewarded with life’s greatest treasure...the very wholeness of life...

Discovering The Laws Of Life
John Marks Templeton
Living is a process of learning and growing from the lessons we learn.

We Were Invited to Have Dinner With The Captain: We were invited to have dinner with the Captain but because dinner was on the same day the crew member was lost at sea, it was cancelled. Of course we understood. Captain MacDonald is a very personable and congenial man has a very nice way of meeting his dinners guest. Instead of meeting his guests at the dinner table, he invites them to his cabin for cocktails.

Love Doesn't Keep Score: Sharing in love does not mean keeping a balance sheet of who is doing what and who is doing more. There will be times when we must give more than we get, but there will be other moments when we will need and receive more than we are able to give. Keeping score belongs in competitive sports, not in a mutually supportive relationship. True love is wanting to give to another person without any thought about who's getting the better of the deal. The idea that love involves some sort of quid-pro-quo is, at best, an immaturity that needs to be outgrown. At
worst, it is a distortion of love that turns two people into unhappy combatants vying for control. Of all the games that lovers play, this can be one of the most delicate. When the players are mature enough and care enough to stop keeping score, the contest is over. Love has declared another victory...Leo Buscaglia

Yesterday-Today & Tomorrow: Any man can fight the battle of just one day. It is only when you add the burdens of those two awful eternities... Yesterday and Tomorrow, that drives men mad... it is the remorse or bitterness for something which happened Yesterday and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring. This leaves only one day...Today... Live each day as if it were the first day of the rest of your life. A.A. Program

Staff Captain Karin Stahre Janson is Second in Command:
At the captains party Captain MacDonald introduced the ship’s officers. When he introduced his Staff Captain, the officer who is second in command of the ship, we were surprised to see it was a young lady Karin Stahre Janson. I think you ladies should feel proud that Karin has risen to such a prominent position in this male dominated world.

Rizal The Flower Man: I call this little fellow, the flower man because he not only sells the flowers aboard ship but also takes care of all the plants on board. Before this cruise we were on ship that did not have on live plant. Every one was artificial. On the ‘Brilliance’ all the plants including those in the Solarium are live and Rizal takes care of every one of them. If you meet Rizal tell him Tom & Mary said hello.

What You Write on a Cruise Line Questionnaire Can Seriously Affect a Servers Pay!
On one of our recent cruises, after having lunch in the main dining room, Mary & I were relaxing and we were enjoying our coffee and desert. An older server came to our table and asked us if we had enjoyed our lunch. A conversation ensued and when he learned we had owned a restaurant, it wasn’t long before we were chatting like old friends. We learned he was the senior server aboard and one of his responsibilities was training new crew members. The maitre d’ was standing close by, heard us, and joined in the conversation. Having retired from the restaurant business, I asked
them some questions about their operation. I was particularly interested in how many covers they gave each server. I was surprised by their answer. They told me that it was entirely up to what was said about them on the questionnaire, that is given to the guests at the end of the cruise, the one that you find in your cabin the last night. I asked them to explain what they meant. This is how it was explained to us.

The amount of money a server earns is governed by the amount of covers they have. Given the suggested gratuity of $3.50 per day, a server earns for two seatings, approximately $50 a cover. The waiter/waitress is assigned a certain number of covers for the cruise. Let’s set the number at sixteen for the sake of this explanation. At the end of the cruise, when the questionnaire remarks are tabulated, if he/she receives even one negative comment of any kind, they will get fewer covers assigned to them on the next trip. If the negative remark is considered serious, four ($200), six
($300) or eight covers ($400) will be taken from them. They said it doesn’t happen often but it does happen that a server has the entire station ($800) taken from them and is told to sit it out for the cruise.

Now please remember, what we have said applies to the line we were cruising with. I’m sure some of the other cruise lines use similar methods to achieve the same objective. Our point is, if you fill out the questionnaire, give serious thought to what you say about your dining room servers. If your dining room experience was significantly lessened because of a server, by all means state it. But remember, making an off hand, negative remark about something insignificant, can cause them to lose part of their weekly pay.

Cruise reviews can be extremely helpful to new and experienced cruisers by giving the cruise vacation consumer's view of various RCCL ships and ports. If you've sailed aboard an RCCL ship, we hope you'll write and tell us about it by using our special form here. Sincere thanks to those who take the time to do this so that others can have the benefit of shared information and experiences.

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