Rock Climbing/ Sports Court/ Mini Golf/ Arcade/ Outdoor Cinema
Kids activities from toddlers to teenagers
*Additional charges apply for specialty dining venues. Specialty beverages, beer, wine and soda are charged separately and are offered at current bar menu prices.
DAY 3 - 11 Sep 2023
Time at Port: from 6 AM to 5 PM
Just a short distance from Athens, Piraeus is the biggest port in the Mediterranean and sees over 20 million cruisers each year. This port city is a perfect example of life by the sea, boasting an impressive harbour and authentic seafood dining, as well as the rich and fascinating history of ancient Greece. Whether you’re looking to discover archaeological findings or just want to relax in the sun at a friendly café, Piraeus is the place to be.
Things to do in Athens (Piraeus):
Agia Triada Church
Despite being a modern construction, Agia Triada features Byzantine architecture as well as an impressive dome that is visible from every spot within the church. Overlooking the port of Piraeus, Agia Triada is a must visit to discover the history of the town and take in the tranquillity.
Castella
This vibrant and colourful district is nestled on top of a hill with views out over the bay. A walk around this neighbourhood will take you to quaint cafes, neoclassical architecture, Prophet Elias church and the Veakeion outdoor theatre.
Archaeological Museum
Covering the Mycenaean period to the Roman era, the Piraeus Archaeological Museum offers artefacts excavated from Piraeus’ landscape, as well as collections donated from other sites. Visitors will discover monuments, statues, artwork and more.
Hellas Liberty
One of only three surviving Liberty ships, the SS Hellas Liberty is a fascinating vessel to explore. This floating maritime museum was presented to the public in 2010 and covers a range of exhibits people of all ages will enjoy.
Zea Bay
With stunning views of the Saronic Gulf and the beautiful vessels moored in the harbour, the bay of Zea is the perfect place to go for a walk, enjoy a delicious coffee and take in the sunshine. You’ll find many hidden gems here, including ancient walls.
Mykonos Town, Mykonos
DAY 4 - 12 Sep 2023
Time at Port: from 7 AM to 7 PM
Whether you’re in the mood for stretching out on an idyllic beach, itching to explore the maze of streets in search of seafood, or even looking to dance the night away at a seaside superclub, Mykonos has something for everyone. History buffs will be fascinated by the archaeological site of Delos, while Mykonos Windmills provide the perfect holiday snap. A romantic dinner along Little Venice is a must for couples- especially at sunset.
Things to do in Mykonos Town, Mykonos:
Little Venice
This row of 18th century fishing houses looks out onto the crystal clear sea, providing beautiful views both day and night. Though they aren’t fishing houses anymore, the shops, restaurants and bars that have replaced them still give a very enchanting waterfront experience.
Beaches
Boasting plenty of sun-kissed beaches, including Fokos and Kapari beaches, there's plenty of space and options for a relaxing day on the sand by the blue sea.
Paraportiani Church
Paraportiani Church is one of the most photographed churches in the world, and it’s easy to see why. The whitewashed structure stands out vibrantly against the ocean backdrop, creating fantastic photo opportunities and a romantic place to take a stroll.
Mykonos Windmills
Featured on many postcards you’ll find in Greece, the Mykonos Windmills are an iconic sight of the island. Once vital to the economy, the seven windmills are now a beautiful spot to take photos and explore- particularly at sunset.
Matoyianni Street
Day or night, Matoyianni Street is bustling with shopping, dining and bars. It’s the perfect place to find handmade souvenirs, such as jewellery and even sandals, as well as other designer boutiques. Visitors will also love the live music here!
Delos Archaeological Site
This small island is one of the most prominent archaeological sites in Greece, and is simply teeming with mythological and historical insights. Visitors will marvel at the artefacts exhibited here, including sculptures of Apollo and Artemis.
Chania, Crete
DAY 5 - 13 Sep 2023
Time at Port: from 7 AM to 5 PM
Teeming with beautiful beaches, picturesque streets and rich history, Crete’s second largest city has seen many cultures throughout time. Because of this, you’ll find Roman, Byzantine, Venetian, Ottoman and many other influences in its architecture, as well as in the artefacts displayed in the museums. Discover the grizzly stories of Firka Fortress, or take a romantic wander through Chania’s Old Town, where you’ll find numerous quaint eateries.
Things to do in Chania, Crete:
Archaeological Museum of Chania
Found in the Venetian church of St Francis, this beautiful building’s exhibits boast a wide range of pottery, carvings, sculptures and more on display and provides great insight into the history of Chania.
Chania Old Town
A must visit to truly get to the heart of this beautiful destination. Wander down the quaint alleyways and admire the ancient architecture as you stumble across shops, cafés and hotels, or take a walk along the waterfront in the sunshine.
Firka Fortress
As the main fortress of the town, Firka Fortress was a key structure throughout the 16th century. It was once a barracks and a prison and now houses the Maritime Museum of Crete as well as picturesque views of the harbour.
Splatzia
Getting lost in the vibrant, colourful community of Chania’s Old Town is a brilliant way to discover local gems. From traditional tavernas (classic Greek restaurants) to stylish coffee shops, you’ll find a new favourite dish in this lively district.
Zakynthos
DAY 6 - 14 Sep 2023
Time at Port: from 8 AM to 6 PM
At Sea
DAY 7 - 15 Sep 2023
You will be at sea on day 7 while travelling from Zakynthos to Kotor.
Kotor
DAY 8 - 16 Sep 2023
Time at Port: from 7 AM to 6 PM
Nestled among the mountains, Kotor provides the setting for a picturesque cruise holiday. A walk around Old Town Budva will take you past timeless architecture, while San Giovanni Castle has the best photo opportunities. Kotor is not just for relaxing and scenic strolls though, with Aquapark Budva providing a fun-filled day for all the family. Don’t forget to stop by the many charming eateries in between for an authentic taste of Kotor cuisine too.
Things to do in Kotor:
Jaz Beach
If you are looking for a secluded beach tucked away in serenity by beautiful rock coves, head to Jaz Beach where you’ll be able to sunbathe and relax.
St Tryphon’s Cathedral
After being restored numerous times following earthquakes, St Tryphon’s Cathedral continues to represent the expertise of Roman architecture. With many stunning artefacts and decorations, this cathedral is well worth exploring.
Lovćen National Park
A short drive from Kotor, Lovćen National Park is home to imposing mountains including the spectacular Mount Lovćen standing 1,749 metres high. With no shortage of outdoor adventures to discover, visitors will love quad biking and zip lining in particular.
Old Town
With countless boutiques, authentic eateries, and bars as well as a quaint museum teeming with ancient artefacts, Old Town Budva is a delightful place to explore. Enjoy dessert from a charming bakery, admire the view from the citadel and bask in the peace and quiet.
San Giovanni Castle
After climbing 1,350 stairs to a height of 1,200 metres you’ll find this impressive fortress built between the 9th and 19th centuries. With Byzantine and Venetian roots, this structure is beautifully preserved and teeming with fascinating history to discover.
Aquapark Buvda
Nestled in lush surroundings with views over the town nearby, Aquapark Budva is perfect for spending a hot afternoon cooling off. The park features multiple pools and waterslides to suit a range of ages, as well as a restaurant, bars, shops and lockers.
Split
DAY 9 - 17 Sep 2023
Time at Port: from 7 AM to 4 PM
As Croatia’s second-largest city, Split is an integral tourist hotspot in the Adriatic Sea. The unique setting of coastal mountains and bright blue ocean makes for the perfect backdrop to a cruise holiday, while the city itself has a very homely, local feel. Stroll past high-rise, rustic apartments and discover the many hidden gems and highlights such as Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that will leave you in awe.
Things to do in Split:
Diocletians Palace
As one of the most well-preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world, it’s no wonder this fortress is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Now home to many shops, restaurants and apartments, the palace is a beautiful place to wander, day or night.
Krka National Park
Home to breath-taking waterfalls and lush, thriving forest, Krka National Park is a must visit for lovers of the outdoors. Discover over 800 species of plant life, over 200 species of bird and 18 species of bat, as well as the tiny island of Visovac.
Peristil Square
The central square of the palace, Peristil Square was once the perfect space for opera theatre and now provides the scenery for a delicious cup of coffee. Towering above is the 57-metre belfry where, once climbing the steps, visitors will find gorgeous views across town.
St Duje's Cathedral
This excellent example of beautifully-preserved ancient Roman architecture is where you’ll find the bell tower, treasury and even a crypt. Built in the 4th century, it houses many artefacts, sculptures , carvings and murals.
Marjan Hill
For breath-taking views out across the city, Marjan Park is the place to be. The walk up from Old Town Split is fairly easy, and visitors will find a café as well as the lookout point. From here, you can continue the hike to the Church of St Nicholas, a beautiful, small stone church.
Campanile Bell Tower
Built in 1100 AD, this beautiful Romanesque bell tower stands at 60 metres tall with sweeping views of the city and mountains. Though this landmark may not be for the faint of heart, climbing the many steps is well worth it to admire the landscape at the top.
Klis Fortress
A must visit for fans of the hit series, Game of Thrones, Klis Fortress is well worth a visit just for the spectacular views alone. With over two thousand years of history, the ruins are fascinating to explore for all ages and provide fantastic photo opportunities.
Ravenna
DAY 10 - 18 Sep 2023
Time at Port: from 6 AM to 7 PM
While we enjoyed our recent cruise, I have to say that the price of the drinks was way too expensive - worsened by the additional 18% gratuity added. While all the staff were very friendly and helpful - and the food was very good - we would not either recommend or cruise again with Royal Caribbean, based purely on the extortionate price of the drinks. Also, we found out that the policy of the ship will wait for late excursion returns when guests use Royal Caribbean International trips, but they warn independent travellers that the ship will depart without them; rather distasteful. All in all, Royal Caribbean does not seem to be a very nice corporation and not recommended by my wife and myself.
Just returned from 12 night eastern med cruise on brilliance of the seas. I love the radiance class ships, for me , they offer something for everyone without being too big, and have a great layout, and easy to get around. The staff onboard this ship have been second to none and a credit to royal carribean. The atmosphere onboard brilliance was wonderful. It has a relaxed, happy, and good feel about it. The food was excellent with a good choice to please and cater for all tastes. I ate mainly in the dining room in the evening and all the meals where excellent with attentive and professional staff. Windjammer was as always great, but as usual on sea days this could get very busy and sometimes could be a problem to find seating. The outside wicker chair areas , the flooring could do with a good steam clean, but apart from that , the ship overall was very clean. The evening shows were great, well balanced to suit all tastes and once again clean, and bar staff very attentive and good humoured. Ports of call has been one of my favourite to date, which included an overnight stay in Venice.... wow. Venice is now my new favourite destination with kotor coming in a very good second! Fantastic itinerary! I have now sailed on jewel of the seas and brilliance of the seas, and I love both ships. Thank you to all the staff onboard brilliance and to all my new found friend is for a holiday of a lifetime. Wonderful memories have been created and my love for cruising has grown ever stronger! 10 out of 10.
This was our second Royal Caribbean cruise...we booked a 12 day Baltic cruise..we sailed on Adventure of the Seas on a 16 day Med Cruise last year...unfortunately the Brilliance did not meet up to the high standard organisation of the Adventure of the Seas...we were advised to call each morning to book at table for My time dining...but we were only shown to a table at the time we booked on 8 of the 12 evenings..the waiters in the Minstrel Dining room at My time dining seemed to be struggling to serve the guests and on at least 5 occasions we were not asked if we wanted a drink with our meal..the gentleman who greeted guests at the door of the Minstrel dining room seemed to exacerbate the problem by leaving his post on a nightly basis to check on the availability of tables...this NEVER happened on the Adventure of the Seas..the Captain when he did decide to use the Public Address system couldn't be heard...another major failing on this ship...toilets in public areas on 2 decks were unable to be used for over 24hrs due to blockages..there didnt seem to be any rush to fix this problem..certain lifts seemed to be programmed not to stop at deck 4..unfortunately this was our deck!...again this was unheard of on the Adventure of the Seas....if we do use Royal Caribbean for future cruises we will be giving the Brilliance of the Seas a wide berth!...but finally a word on our cabin attendant Fostor...he was a star! and deserves to work on a better ship
We cruised on brilliance of the seas on 29th july 2015 to the fijords and iceland. We had a splendid coach journey with eavesway coaches to harwich from south wales and went speedily through the passport control to the ship. A verygood start to the cruise.The stateroom was to our satisfaction also the attendant was very good..1st night dinner started off unfortunately we had specifically booked a table for 4 through our travel agent we were offered a table of 10 however after some plain speaking we were given a table for 4. From there on everything was 1st class nothing was too much trouble all round, everything was fine. One other problem was not enough warm heating with the shower in the stateroom this was soon put right. This was our first cruise with royal caribbean and we would certainly use Brilliance of the seas again. The disembarkation was trouble free, and in fact the best we have every gone through as was the coach journey home.
Our cruise was fabulous. The ship was excellent, the staff were all very professional and the waiters at our table in the evening, Covalen and Nitin were outstanding, they could not do enough to help you. The bar staff waiters were also very pleasant. The places we visited were all very beautiful in different ways and were all pristine. I would recommend this cruise to anyone.
23 June 2015 12 day Scandanavian and Russian Cruise. Thoroughly enjoyed the cruise and ports of call. Our stateroom and the ship in general was fantastic. However, though the food was good, it wasn't very hot which was our main complaint. The waiters couldn't do enough for you and if there wasn't anything on the starters which we liked, they would willingly arrange for you to have something of your choice - one evening we had salmon. I didn't much rate the shows in the Pacifica Theatre except for the flautist but loved the live entertainment in the Centrium!!!! We had a cabin with balcony which was lovely as a viewing point when entering/leaving port. St Petersburg was ab fab though hectic; can thorough recommend T J Travel, the independent Russian tour company we used. The only RC trip we did was Helsinki highlights and Ice Bar which for, £64, we thought was not value for money. We did our own thing at the other ports but were well armed with maps and guide books. The hop on hop off buses are a fantastic way of getting round the ports. We opted to pay our tips up front but were taken aback at getting an envelope the night before departure to enable us to give a further tip for "WOW service". We are Brits and we don't tend to tip willy-nilly!! Also all drinks at the bar (whether coffee, tea, alcoholic or soft drinks) had 18% added on as tips (which we were aware of) but there was space on the tab to give another tip which we thought was somewhat excessive!!! Neither my cousin nor I (both females) drink but for someone who likes a tipple, then I guess the drink package would be the best bet. Also, we only found out by accident when talking to someone that the tap water is actually purer than the bottled water in the fridge which wasn't cheap!!! I didn't use any more bottled water after this revelation. Overall, I enjoyed the cruise and the ship's facilities but if I cruise again (this is only my second cruise) I think I would try another cruise line. It was lovely to meet all the different nationalities (70 on the crew) and the other guests including Brazilian, American, Canadian, Israeli, Australians, New Zealanders etc ect.
We had a wonderful holiday on the brilliance sailing from harwich to the baltics, the food and entertainment were both superb as was most of the staff although a small amount were a little rude. We were however very disappointed in the fact that we were sold this cruise as all inclusive and when we tried to get drinks we were told we had a beer and wine drinks package which to us was not all inclusive. The holiday was advertised as all inclusive by lots of websites and travel agents, so anyone booking a cruise with royal Caribbean please be wary .
The cruise Itinerary, customer service, food quality, stateroom and organisation were excellentl. Some of the entertainment from the onboard staff was poor. Great cruise
Ship very good in most ways. Very expensive but glad to have had our drinks package included! The enterrainment in the theatre was a bit 2nd class (much better on Thomson ships). Also wifi very expensive. Cabins excellent as was food & ports of call. Trips in St Petersburgh organised through yourselves was excellent.
Just finished the Norway, Faroe and Iceland cruise aboard Brilliance of the seas. Nice ship with good facilities but with 6 'at sea' days, I did become a bit bored on these days. Yes there was a range of activities but often seating, particularly around the Centrum area was sparse and limited participation. Having been on a number of RCI cruises in the past, I got the distinct feeling that the accountants have been active with the scalpel as a number of the luxuries I have experienced in the past are no longer there. Stateroom staff seem to be stretched and the evening 'towel visitor' waiting to surprise you only appeared 4 times rather than every night. Corridor passageways seemed to be constantly filled with trolleys, vacuums suggesting that there are less stewards doing longer hours. Bar staff also seem in short supply with nowhere near the number of waiters on previous cruises. As for the dining rooms, the slick and speedy transfer from reception to table has vanished with long queues building up and the receptionist frequently having to leave their post on various occasions which only exacerbated the problem. In past cruises we always had two dedicated waiting staff per table but this seems to be more like 3 between 4 tables and without doubt the quality, variety and quantity of meals are only a shadow of the past. A good cruise for newbies who may have little comparative experience but sadly for RCI, it has had the effect of encouraging me to look at the other cruise lines for future trips. Interestingly, all of these comments were voiced by other guests so I think the board level members may need to look at their Corporate Strategy.
Just returned from Baltic cruise with wife, son, daughter in law and 2 grandchildren. I have never really fancied cruising, thought it would be boring, how wrong I was? From the start our cases were taken on board and taken to our really nice cabin there was something for all of us, the food the bars all the staff were all outstanding we all had a great time and we had great weather
^Summer Flash Sale 50pp reduction valid for new bookings only with a minimum selling price of £1599pp - Sale ends 30th June
All offers and prices are subject to change and availability at time of enquiry. Prices are based on two passengers sharing unless otherwise stated and are subject to the Tour Operator's terms and conditions. Cabin and Flight supplements may apply. Other supplements may apply in addition to the price shown above. Flight details, timings and routing may be subject to alteration. Other tour operator charges may also apply. Any Onboard Spending money or drinks package value shown will be per cabin, again based on two sharing.
Note: On 13 January 2018, new European legislation is being adopted in the UK which as result will mean that we may change our required method of payment at our discretion, irrespective of how any deposit or prior payment was made.
