Second cruise booked! Brilliance of the Seas, 12/29/18

[KJ1231]

Well we couldn't talk our 17 and 20yos into cruising Alaska so we opted for Brilliance of the Seas 5-night 12/29/18-1/3/19 sailing from Tampa-Grand Cayman-Cozumel-Tampa.

Not sure how much better we would have done with Next Cruise when we were on the Radiance 2 weeks ago but couldn't nail it down before we disembarked.

Alaska #2 will have to wait until 2020. Any rumors as to whether RC will be offering any new ports then? HA includes Homer and Kodiak in their 14-day. Would love to see RC add them, too!

[twangster]

From your Alaskan blog it sounds like you had a great time!  Your kids have no idea what they missed.  I took my mid-20s son with me on Explorer to Alaska and he loved it.

2020 is anyone's guess.  We'll have to see how Ovation does in 2019.

 

 

[Matt]

9 hours ago, KJ1231 said:

Any rumors as to whether RC will be offering any new ports then?

Nothing that I've seen or heard

[KJ1231]

Working with Michelle from MEI on this cruise. Booked connecting cabins 8618-8620.

She got us r/t air for under $270 PHL-TPA; FLL-PHL (going to Naples for a few nights after the cruise).

Flying to Tampa 12/28 - leery of flying same day, especially with Philly winter - so got a room at Marriott Waterfront with points.

Fun times!

[CaptTJ]

I love brilliance, still one of my favorite ships. Leaving out of Tampa is a nice scenic route. You get to see Right in the center of downtown, then see St Pete. The skyway is a awesome thing to see and to finish it off Edmonton key. It’s a neat sail for a couple hours. 

[Matt]

1 hour ago, KJ1231 said:

Working with Michelle from MEI on this cruise.

Thanks for supporting our sponsor!

[yaya luvs to cruz]

We did our first Med cruise on the Brilliance in 2004. Love her. You'll have a wonderful time.

[alamode123]

I did a similar cruise on Brilliance with my teen girls. As it was or first RC cruise, they constantly compared the ship to our previous cruises on the disney Dream.

Tampa is a nice place to cruise out of. I'd also recommend Nachi Cocom in Cozumel.

[Sweety]

I was on Brilliance this past January. I love the ship. I am waiting for the next cruise deployment.

[KJ1231]

4 hours ago, Sweety said:

I was on Brilliance this past January. I love the ship. I am waiting for the next cruise deployment.

Thoughts on excursions for Grand Cayman and Cozumel?

[eaglesfaninfl]

22 hours ago, CaptTJ said:

I love brilliance, still one of my favorite ships. Leaving out of Tampa is a nice scenic route. You get to see Right in the center of downtown, then see St Pete. The skyway is a awesome thing to see and to finish it off Edmonton key. It’s a neat sail for a couple hours. 

Completely agree on the Brilliance and the sailaway, especially under the Sunshine Skyway. However, sailing in December, it will be dark, the Skyway lights are fun but Edgmont Key is probably impossible to see at that time of night.

[Sweety]

19 minutes ago, KJ1231 said:

Thoughts on excursions for Grand Cayman and Cozumel?

In Cozumel, went downtown and walked around. We actually will be back in Cozumel twice, we have a B2B. We are going to the a tequila run. The second time in  Cozumel we haven't decided.