Early Monday morning of my 36th birthday, I was given the chance to tour Brilliance of The Seas - one of the finest cruise ships in the world. It is owned and operated by Royal Caribbean, holding about 800 staff and crew members with about 3,000 passengers on board.
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| Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of The Seas |
When it docked in Stockholm in the morning, we were escorted by a friend of Irene as we walked around the ship to see the different entertainment and dining areas. We were able to meet some of the pleasant crew members who were also welcoming guests of their own.
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| At Stadsgården - By The Water |
Stadsgården. We got off the train at the
Slussen station and walked all the way from there. Right outside the station, we turned right, worked our way through a maze of staircases, way past Viking Line to the specific port where the cruise ship was docked by following the blue, yellow, and red lines on the ground after Fotografiska Museét. However, there are times when this same cruise ship docks at a different port called
Frihamnen, which is a totally different labyrinth to traverse given the current state of Stockholm during the summer with all its road constructions.
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A Quick Guide
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Entrance to Brilliance of The Seas. Prior to this visit, we were required to submit a copy of our passports to be allowed onto the cruise ship. At the first entrance, our passports were checked against a guest list. The second entry point double-checked our passports with
their guest list. At the third entry point, we were asked to leave our passports in exchange for an ID that needs to be pinned during the duration of the tour. After being allowed to step onto the ship about a few meters from the third entry point, we brought all our belongings out for a security check, similar to the ones at airports before boarding the plane. At this fourth entry point, my picture was taken. I gathered my belongings, and we were finally able to start the tour. *phew* It felt like stepping onto a different country even if it were just a few meters offshore. We also need to be escorted the entire time. The placards by the entrance show the places and countries the ship has visited.
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Brilliance of The Seas - Placards at the Entrance
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Godmother of Brilliance of The Seas. Every ship has a godmother, and Marilyn Ofer is the godmother of this cruise ship.
The Tour. We started at Level 3, and worked our way up towards the deck, then lunch afterwards. Passengers were out touring Stockholm, and were expected to be back at around 3 p.m. Crew and staff members have a later call time, if I remember it correctly.
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Brilliance of The Seas - Gala and Dining Area
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Gala and Dining Area. This was our first stop. We were told that formal dinners were held here and had strict dress codes. No one is allowed inside without the proper attire: no shorts and sandals allowed. On the first night of the cruise, the Captain dines by a table in front of an artwork at the far end of the dining area. The artwork lavishly extends from the ceiling to the floor of this two-level dining room. The table where the Captain sits at is at the lower level, easily seen in the middle of the lower level of the dining room as well as a clear view of him even from the upper level. This is a perfect time to meet and greet the captain of this cruise.
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| Lobby | Main Area |
Main Area. Entrance to halls, restaurants, bars, and indoor lounging areas at the ground floor.
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| With F&B Director Christophe Poitevin from France and Executive Chef Alastair Gilliott from England |
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| Shops of Centrum |
Shops of Centrum. Here you can buy branded products tax-free, and they are always closed when docked. They reopen when passengers are aboard and when the ship sets sail again.
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| Pacifica Theatre
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Pacifica Theatre. In the theatre is where they hold events, live shows, and even meetings with the entire crew. It is big enough to seat about the entire crew during big meetings, and then some. We estimated about a thousand visitors can be received at a time. Seating is free, but can be booked, and booked passengers are given priority.
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| Wilfred at The Casino Royale aboard Brilliance of The Seas |
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| Tables at The Casino Royale
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| Modern Slot Machines at Casino Royale |
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| Casino Royale | Cash Crane |
Casino Royale. When passengers want to try their luck at the ship's slot machines and card games.
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| Bars and Pubs at Brilliance of The Seas | Schooner Bar |
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| Schooner Bar | Schooner Bar |
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| Chops Grille | Schooner Bar |
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| The Colony Club |
Walking About. Farther on, we passed by
Schooner Bar, The Colony Club, Giovanni's Table, Chops Grille, and Chef's Table where pubs and restaurants are. This area also seems to be able to cater to smaller functions and have a dance floor in the middle.
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| Wilfred and the Baltic Cruise Ports
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Our tour guide, Wilfred Burce, explaining the different ports and countries they docked at for the Baltic cruise of Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of The Seas.
Adventure Ocean and Nursery and Optix Teen Disco and Lounge. Where children and teenagers can stay and get entertained while parents go about the activities aboard the cruise ship.
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| Challengers Video Arcade
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| Top Deck Pool
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Sky Bar. Swimming pool area, more beach chairs around the pool bar, mini golf, rock climbing wall, and a basketball court.
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| Spa and Fitness Center
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| With Wilma Casanare and Susan Arellano at The Spa and Fitness Center
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Spa and Fitness Center. Continuing with the tour, we passed by the gym and headed to the spa, housed with several rooms for different kinds of treatments.
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| Spa and Fitness Center
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We could not enter all the rooms, as most were occupied, but we were allowed into the sauna for women, as well as another treatment room with curved heated seats. This room has a beautiful view of the water with other ships cruising by. Imagine having this treatment while cruising along beautiful islands in the Carribean. It would be such a pleasant experience.
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| The Solarium |
The Solarium is a place of quiet. By the entrance is the back wall lined with three elephant head statues as part of its interior. Right in front of it is a decorative bridge over the edge of the bathing pool, which extends to the middle of the room -- always guarded by a lifeguard, and surrounded by reclined beach chairs where people can sit to read or to take in the surroundings in silence. One can bathe there under the heat of the sun, with the retractable sun roof to cover them should there be rain.
Artworks. Everywhere. As we made our way to the exit after having lunch at Windjammer, one would notice art pieces on all corners of Brilliance of the Seas. From galleries of photo exhibits to paintings right outside different function rooms and on the walls of stair landings, art appreciation will always be part of this cruise ship.
Booking. We truly were enticed by this tour and we got interested in checking out available cruises for this year. Much to our disappointment, we found out that Brilliance of The Seas gets filled fast, so most of the passengers have booked one year ahead. One can book a cruise for as low as USD 1000 for an inside cabin (no window) and an affordable USD 1500 cabin with windows. Some packages include food and gratuity already. On this note, I remember being told that The Oasis (another Royal Caribbean cruise ship) holds about 9,000 crew members and passengers put together. I can only assume that entertainment and activities on that cruise ship would be twice as much!
Crew and Staff. Gratuity is part of cruise etiquette for a passenger. I saw staff working from room to room while the passengers were out on a tour in Stockholm, cleaning the rooms and the hallways so everything is spic and span when the passengers board back in again. At times, the tips can be included as part of a package you purchase for the entire trip. Otherwise, feel free to tip here and there. They are aboard this ship several months at a time, leaving family behind, and taking care of the passengers. That is the job they chose, we can ease it with a bit more gratuity to send home to family in need.
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| Irene Chua and I |
Marine Navigation 101. It is important to read basic information when travelling. For example, it would be helpful to know basic words in a non-English speaking country you are visiting, and in this case, parts of the ship that would most likely be in conversations with fellow passengers, crew members, or instructions aboard the ship.
- Bow: The front of the ship.
- Stern or Aft: The rear of the ship.
- Port: The left side of the ship when facing the bow.
- Starboard: The right side of the ship when toward the bow.
- Bridge: The control center of the ship, typically in the bow.
- Decks: Floors of the ship.
- Galley: Where food is prepared; the ship's kitchen. Larger vessels may have more than one.
- Muster Station: The designated meeting spot for passengers during emergencies or evacuations. Your muster station will be noted in your cabin.
- Cabin or Stateroom: Your room or sleeping quarters on board.
- Lido: A term meaning resort often used to describe a particular deck, usually where pools are located.
- Gangway: The entrance / exit area of the ship used while docked, typically on a lower deck.
Emergency Protocol. Should there be an emergency, they let out 7 short blasts, and 1 long blast. If docked, other boats or ships will send help. If it were to be in the middle of the ocean, they transfer to life boats that can hold up to a hundred people each. These yellow life boats are only for passengers, and they line up both sides of Brilliance of the Seas.
Staff and crew members use marine evacuation system (
MES) which can hold up to 300 members, if I remember it correctly. They automatically inflate upon contact with water.
Additional Information. Here are some
fast facts about Brilliance of the Seas and another helpful article I found for
first-time cruise passengers of Royal Caribbean. I am hoping that next time I am aboard Brilliance of the Seas, it will be a cruise to the Caribbean as a passenger.
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| Stadsgården's Sidewalk Line Guides Back to Downtown Stockholm |
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