When we talk about favorite restaurants on Royal Caribbean Blog, Izumi is at the top of the list and for good reason.

On Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas, we had the chance to dine at Izumi. Three times. Suffice to say, we had a pretty good look at what Izumi offers.

With Izumi, Royal Caribbean offers its passengers a high quality Japanese cuisine experience.  And with sushi being as popular as ever, we had to give Izumi another try on Brilliance of the Seas to ensure the experience has not changed.

Read on to see what our experience was like.

Atmosphere

Izumi is located on deck 12 at the aft of Brilliance of the Seas, where the Seaview Cafe used to be located.

Looking purely at the exterior, you would be hard pressed to know there is a Japanese restaurant inside, given that the traditional hallmarks of a Japanese restaurant are not evident outside.

Once inside Izumi, you quickly get that feeling of being in a Japanese restaurant.

Izumi on Brilliance of the Seas features a lot of dark woods and oranges mixed with bright colors, notably a light blue.

I am not certain I could pull off the color motif found in Izumi in my living room, but it is aesthetically pleasing, especially at the bar.

The seating area is comprised of one large room, with optional seating at the sushi bar.

The best seats have to be by the window, which offer views out to the ocean and deck twelve.  The larger capacity tables are at the center of the restaurant.

You may not mistake the restaurant for a little piece of Tokyo from looks alone, but the food will make you second guess yourself!

Eats

On Brilliance of the Seas, we dined at Izumi on three separate occasions for "research" purposes.  The Izumi menu offers a fairly wide selection of food.  

Sushi dominates the menu, but there are also a good selection of starters, salads, soups and ishiyake (hot rocks).

It should be noted that there is no cover charge at Izumi on Brilliance of the Seas. Rather, you will pay a la carte pricing for all items on the menu.

All guests receive a complimentary bowl of edamame soy beans, sprinkled with salt.  It is a delicious appetizer and I highly recommend trying them.

Interestingly, the miso soup at Izumi on Brilliance of the Seas now costs extra.  On all of our previous Izumi experiences, the miso soup was complimentary as well, but it seems to be a change on some ships.

I ordered the miso soup and at $2, it was the largest serving of miso soup I have ever had.   

Like all Royal Caribbean specialty restaurants, there is a full bar selection.  I would be remiss not to sample the hot sake while dining at Izumi.

There is a serving of hot organic sake that is included with the premium unlimited alcohol package and it definitely hit the spot. Try ordering a beer and dropping a cup of your sake in it for a sake bomb!

By far, the reason most guests go to Izumi is for the sushi and this was no exception.  Guests will find a large selection of sushi to choose from, including hand rolls, sashimi, combinations, signature rolls and chef's signature rolls.

The best value is in one of the combination plates, signature rolls or chef's signature rolls.  We found it difficult to order any of the nigri or sashimi pieces without realizing we were better off financially to order one of the combination plates.

In addition, the signature rolls offer more pieces and the best quality sushi.  There is nothing wrong with the individual pieces of sushi, but we gravitated towards the signature rolls and combinations for those exact reasons.

You might be wondering how good the sushi is and I can easily tell you it is as good or better than many land based sushi restaurants I have been to.  The basic hand rolls were a bit small, but any of the signature rolls were ample in size and serving.

There is also something to be said about presentation, and the sushi chefs at Izumi do a fantastic job at making their food as pretty to look at as it is to eat.

Those looking for the best value, stick with the combination plates, which offer a lot to enjoy in one price.  If you want the best sushi Izumi has to offer, go with any of the signature rolls. 

If sushi is not your thing, there are some other options worth considering.  My wife has no love in her heart for fish, so she picks the hot rock plates.

Essentially, the hot rocks are slabs of rock that are heated to to 575 °F and guests are invited to cook their choice of seafood, chicken, or beef.

If this sounds fun, it really is.  And not to worry if you are not sure what you are doing, because the staff is happy to help you cook the pre-seasoned food.

There are also a good variety of salads and soups, although I cannot speak for them since I always saved room for the sushi!

Overall

When looking at Izumi on Brilliance of the Seas, I am biased in the sense that I really love sushi.  But on the other hand, I eat so much sushi on land that I feel I can make an informed decision about how good or bad Izumi is.

In terms of service, Izumi has a very attentive staff that responded very well to everything we asked for.  

The bottom line is Izumi offers great sushi (and other Japanese cuisine) for a fair price.  Most of the prices you will find at Izumi are about what you would pay at any reputable sushi establishment on land.  As noted earlier, the combination plates are easily the best value of the menu, given how much you get for the price.

I would love to hear your opinion on Izumi.  Have you enjoyed dining at Izumi? Let us know in the comments below.

Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas is scheduled for an April 2016 bow-to-stern $30 million renovation that will bring a lot of big changes to the ship.

During her refurbishment, Jewel of the Seas renovation features will include

• New 2 bedroom Family Suite stateroom
• All staterooms will be renoveated with an additional 42 staterooms added
• New specialty restaurants will be added
  • Giovanni's Table (replaces Portofino)
  • Vintages (replaces Champagne Bar)
  • Izumi (replaces Seaview Cafe)
• Pervasive Wi-Fi & Digital signage throughout the ship
• New poolside movie screen
• Diamond Club added to the Viking Crown Lounge
• Renovated Chops Grille
• Renovated Spa and retail shops
• Concierge Club will replace Hollywood Odyssey
• Shoreside Dining Room, Explorer’s Court and Yacht Club will be removed.
• Addition of Voom high-speed internet

The newly renovated Jewel of the Seas will include 42 new staterooms

• Deck 2 will have 9 new staterooms
• Deck 4 will have 9 new staterooms
• Deck 7 will have 1 new stateroom
• Deck 8 will have 2 new staterooms
• Deck 9 will have 7 new staterooms
• Deck 10 will have 2 new staterooms
• Deck 11 will have 12 new staterooms

Royal Caribbean says staterooms will be available to book beginning December 2015.

From May through October 2016, Jewel of the Seas will cruise round-trip from Rome on an array of itineraries showcasing the best destinations of Italy, Greece and Turkey. These 7, 8, and 9 night itineraries mainly sail through the Greek Isles.

Jewel will complete her European itinerary in October 2016 after which she will return to her home port of San Juan, Puerto where she will sail 6, 7, 8 and 9 night Southern Caribbean itineraries.

We have gotten reports of construction taking place on the Royal Promenade of Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas this week.

Royal Caribbean Blog reader James Carruthers sent us these photos of the construction walls that are up near Cafe Promenade.

No word yet on what the construction is there for, but it will be interesting to see what is there once those construction walls come down.

Hey everyone! Episode 122 of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available for your listening pleasure.

This week, Matt is back from his latest Royal Caribbean cruise on Brilliance of the Seas and is sharing everything about his experience onboard this impressive ship.  From what's new on the ship to the dining to the ports of call, this episode is full of details from Matt's cruise experience.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 122. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS or on iTunes!

Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think! Please rate and review the podcast on iTunes and leave your comments below!

Going on Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas means you will find a beautiful cruise ship with a lot to see and do, and naturally, you will not want to miss any of it.

We present our list of the top ten hidden secrets and gems that you should not overlook if you get the chance to sail on Brilliance of the Seas.

10. Comfy chairs at Vintages

I am always looking for the best spot to relax and enjoy a drink, conversation with friends or just a good book and on Brilliance of the Seas, the best place if you want pure comfort is Vintages.

Located on deck 6, Vintages offers some eccentric looking furniture that is just as comfortable to sit in as it is pleasing to look at.

If you like to sprawl out, the couches in Vintages will be perfect for you!

9. Thermal spa pass & Ultimate spa pass

If you are looking to indulge, be sure to consider the thermal spa pass on Brilliance of the Seas.

Guests can purchase a thermal spa pass, which gets them access to

• Steam room
• Sauna
• Heated stone chairs

If you want even more relaxation, try the ultimate spa pass, which includes everything in the thermal spa pass plus a Rasul treatment session. The Rasul treatment is essentially a couple’s exfoliation, shower and facial and costs $99 per couple.  It is a great value for the time and money.

8. Surprise at the top of the glass elevators

The ocean facing elevators elevators on Brilliance of the Seas offer some fantastic views of the ocean that are unique to the Radiance class of ships.

However, there is a little surprise for those that go all the way to the top of the ship.

At the very top are two fisherman that are cane pole fishing and it is a feature of the ship few discover and fewer notice.

7. Lounge chairs on deck 12.5

If you are looking to sun yourself but either want to get away from the crowds or need to find a good place if all the chairs are taken by the pool, then head up to this special deck on Brilliance of the Seas.

Go to deck 12 and then walk forward until you find a set of stairs that lead to a smaller deck that has plenty of lounge chairs as well as a great view of the ocean.

This spot on deck twelve and a half is rarely full and most guests never even know it is there!

6. Outdoor Windjammer dining area

The Windjammer is a staple of any Royal Caribbean cruise experience, and on Brilliance of the Seas, guests can dine with the ocean breeze in their hair at one of the outdoor seating areas.

The Windjammer features a few dining annexes that are offer partial or full exposure to the sun, breeze and views.

Our favorite is the outdoor dining area at the aft of Brilliance of the Seas, because being able to enjoy your food while seeing the ocean pass you by is a wonderful view.

And since we are always on the lookout for comfortable places to dine, there are some great couches if you prefer to enjoy your Windjammer goodness in style.

5. Best spot for sailaway

If you want the best spot on Brilliance of the Seas to watch as she pulls out of port, then it has to be the helicopter pad at the front of the ship.

Located on the bow, guests can walk to the helicopter pad and enjoy the unobstructed views that you can only get from the helicopter pad.  

The perspective from this spot is hard to beat and many guests do not know it is possible to go here.

To access the helicopter pad, go outside on deck 5 and then walk forward, climb up a set of stairs and continue walking forward until you reach the helicopter pad.

4. The Cinema

Brilliance of the Seas has a movie theater onboard, which is a feature not many Royal Caribbean ships offer.

The Cinema is a small movie theater, where guests can watch a variety of movies throughout their cruise.

Movies in the cinema are complimentary and it offers a great way to see your favorite films as they were intended to be shown.

The cinema is located on deck 6 forward, near the King & Country Pub.

3. You can play darts

Royal Caribbean has been adding English-style pubs to its cruise ships for years, but for those that want the full pub experience, how about a game of darts to go along with that pint?

On Brilliance of the Seas, guests in the King and Country Pub can play darts whenever they please.

Like so many of the activities onboard, darts are complimentary and a great way to pass the time onboard.

2. Self-leveling billiards table

Brilliance of the Seas features self-leveling billiards tables that are the perfect way to enjoy a game of pool, even if the ship is rocking a little (or a lot).

These billiard tables utilize gyroscopes to always keep the top of the table level so that the billiards balls do not roll around.  

Not only is this a really impressive bit of technology, but it also means guests can enjoy a few rounds of pool regardless of the sea conditions.

1. Park Cafe

If you are looking for a bite to eat somewhere a little less hectic than the Windjammer, try the Park Cafe in the Solarium on Deck 11.  Not only is it less busy, but they have some really great choices!

Park Cafe features Make Your Own salad options, where guests can select the salad ingredients and the whole thing is  made in front of them.

There is a also a good variety of sandwiches, healthy snacks, desserts and more.

Park Cafe is also home to these small, but amazing, roast beef sandwiches.  These little bad boys are quite tasty and it (and the salads) are complimentary!

Royal Caribbean's third Oasis class cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas, will feature a hand-crafted carousel in its Boardwalk neighborhood and we have a look at some of the horses and other animals guests can ride.

The company creating the carousel for Harmony of the Seas, Carousel Works, has shared photos of a few of the carousel ride elements that are already shaping up to be quite beautiful.

The carousel on Harmony of the Seas is hand-crafted and especially designed by Carousel Works for Royal Caribbean and is one-of-a-kind.

The inspiration for the carousel was taken from turn-of-the-century carousel designs. Even the original artwork scenery panels located on the carousel’s eight Rounding Boards feature custom painted scenes to highlight the wistfulness of life on the historic boardwalks.

Royal Caribbean confirmed today that the Brodway musical Grease will be shown onboard Harmony of the Seas and Independence of the Seas starting in 2016.

Today's news confirms our earlier report of Grease coming to Harmony of the Seas.

This is the first time one Broadway show has been offered on two Royal Caribbean ships simultaneously.

The all-new, never-before-seen stage production, specially adapted by Royal Caribbean Productions, will boast a soundtrack of crowd favorites such as “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’,” “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee,” “Born to Hand-Jive,” “Beauty School Dropout” and more.

“Grease is a show that speaks to families of all ages and is sure to get guests out of their seats, singing and dancing, which is why we made the unprecedented decision to have it debut on Harmony andpremiere it onboard Independence immediately, starting in July,” said Nick Weir, Vice President, Entertainment, Royal Caribbean International. “As the first cruise line to bring Broadway performances onboard its ships, it’s only fitting that we would also be the first to bring Grease to the hospitality industry.”

Royal Caribbean has made a name for itself by offering Broadway shows on its cruise ships, including Cats on Oasis of the Seas, MAMMA MIA! on Allure of the Seas, Saturday Night Fever on Liberty of the Seas and now, Grease on Harmony of the Seas and Independence of the Seas.

Two Royal Caribbean ships met for the first time in Sydney harbor for the first time recently.

Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas arrived to her new home in Sydney over the weekend, where she was "welcomed" by sister ship Voayger of the Seas.

The two ships brought almost 10,400 passengers and crew and almost $1.6 million into the Sydney economy in passenger spend on this one day alone.

“With over 10,000 people on board the two ships, it’s the equivalent of having the entire population of Byron Bay out on the harbour at one time,” said Adam Armstrong, commercial director, Royal Caribbean International.

Explorer of the Seas arrived in Sydney, concluding a 16-night epic Australia and New Zealand voyage from Fremantle, with guests from more than 30 countries onboard eager to witness the new ship’s maiden Sydney arrival. While Voyager of the Seas departs Sydney on a seven-night Tasmania sailing bound for her first port, Melbourne, on Monday.

“We’ve invested US$160 million in makeovers on both ships in recent years and the result is two spectacular cruise ships offering the biggest choice of incredible Australian-first features including ice skating rinks, exceptional dining options, Broadway-style shows, 3D cinemas, completely refreshed public spaces and staterooms, rock climbing walls, full size sports courts and the Royal Promenade - an indoor street running the length of the ship with shops, a cafe and bars.”

At 138,194 gross tons, 311 metres long and 38 metres wide, Explorer of the Seas takes the crown of Australia’s largest cruise ship from twin sister ship Voyager of the Seas.

During her five month season Explorer of the Seas will inject almost $44 million into the Australian economy including almost $41 million in Sydney in passenger spend alone.

It is the last day of our cruise and that is never a day anyone looks forward to, but you make the best of it that you can.

We got up a little before 8am and got our day started early with breakfast in the Windjammer for breakfast.  

Had the usual omelet from the omelet station and we enjoyed breakfast outside.  

Speaking of outside, the weather today was quite lovely.  The day started out with a little motion but by lunch, it had smoothed out a lot.

Following breakfast and some walking of the ship, I began my trivia-a-thon, with morning trivia.

For the first time ever, my team won!  We were awarded glorious Royal Caribbean pens.

Following morning trivia was Crown & Anchor Society trivia, which was essentially Royal Caribbean trivia.

I am proud to say our team won again for this trivia as well.  I felt a good sense of satisfaction for flexing my geek muscle with those answers!

I followed up that with sports trivia in the King and Country pub.  

Sadly, my winning streak came to an end here.  Oh well, two out of three ain’t bad, right?

For lunch, it was back to the Windjammer. I did suggest Izumi but my wife shot me a look, so Windjammer it was!

Following lunch, we were both feeling a little tired so it was off to the pool for a nap.  

I love taking naps by the pool while on a cruise, and this was another successful napping event for me.

After my mid-afternoon slumber, I headed to Rita’s Cantina to sample the food.

I had heard and read a lot of negative comments regarding Rita’s so my expectations were low.

Here is what I will say about Rita’s Cantina.  It is certainly not an authentic Mexican restaurant and will not win any awards for its Mexican fare.  However, their prices are dirt cheap (average option is about $2-3).

I think Rita’s is good for those on an unlimited alcohol package who want to enjoy chips and salsa and maybe a snack.

It is not a destination for a meal in the way that Izumi, Chops Grille or Giovanni’s Table are.  

My favorite items were the salsa and tomatillo soup.  The guacamole was, well, awful.  Everything else  ranged between “okay” to “good.”

After my time visiting Rita’s, I headed down to the Casino.  I watched the slot tournament, which is an excellent test of will, determination and who has the strongest wrists.

I also managed to turn the last $10 in my pocket into $40.  Woot!

I rounded out my trivia day with “red trivia.”  This is essentially trivia with a theme that the questions or answers have something to do with the word red.  

It was interesting, but we did not win.  I was happy to trade my trivia luck to the casino.

As the afternoon started to dwindle, we headed back to the stateroom to get ready for our dinner at Chops Grille.  

While my wife got ready for dinner, I did some walking around the ship.  Someone in the comments asked for photos of the Centrum shops, so here they are!

I was also treated another beautiful sunset at sea.  Love these sunsets!

Dinner tonight was at Chops Grille and it was our first time back to Chops Grille in a couple cruises.

Chops did not disappoint, as it was another great meal.

What I love about Chops Grille, and the reason I recommend it, is because it is consistently a good experience across the fleet in terms of the quality food offered here.

I opted for the tuna, while my wife chose the filet mignon.  Both were excellent.

The two underrated aspects of Chops have to be the appetizers and desserts.  I am particularly fond of the red velvet cake.

Following dinner, we took a stab at evening trivia.  Lost, but had a great time!

Our last event of the cruise was the evening show, which is a tribute to live music and encompassed almost all the live musical acts onboard Brilliance of the Seas.

The highlight for me was the John Williams tribute portion of the show. Music from E.T.,  Star Wars, Superman and Indiana Jones!

This rounds out our Brilliance of the Seas live blog.  Thank you so much for following along and taking a virtual trip with me.

I loved all the comments and questions and can’t wait to do it again in February 2016 on Allure of the Seas!

Stray Observations

• Favorite bar for best mixed drinks: Schooner Bar (Solarium Bar in second place).
• I had heard a few guests try to compare activities/restaurants/events on Brilliance of the Seas to Oasis class ships. Very different experiences and no way to properly compare.  They each offer their own style of cruise.
• I found a lot of activities on Brilliance of the Seas, with the most events during the afternoon.
• This was my first cruise using the unlimited alcohol package (premium).  My wife and I likely broke even on the cost and I can definitely see the advantage of the package, especially at specialty restaurants.  But I also drank more than I probably otherwise would have.
• It seems like those without the unlimited alcohol packages are more and more less common.
• In terms of sporting events, college football games were limited to ESPN broadcasts, but for NFL games, broadcasts on FOX were shown.
• Places I spent the most amount of time: Solarium, Schooner Bar and pub.
• Places I spent the least amount of time: Colony Club, Café-Lattetudes and Vintages.