Brilliance of the Seas Cabins to Avoid

One of the older ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, Brilliance of the Seas still has a lot to offer, and she proves to be one of the more popular smaller ships for the cruise line.

But even amongst her many thousands of fans, there are some who don’t always have the best cruise onboard. And often, it could’ve been avoided if the guest had planned their cabin choice more before they booked.

Not all cabins are equal, and there are some that may not suit you and your style of cruising. So read on to learn which of the Brilliance of the Seas cabins YOU should avoid, and which are the best options.

How to Choose the Best Cabin

Some things to look out for are specific to a ship, while others are tips for all cruise ships. To help, I’ve made a free checklist of everything to look out for when booking a cabin, regardless of the ship you’re on. Leave your details here if you want a copy, and I’ll send it right over.

The Different Rooms on Brilliance of the Seas

To understand the best rooms and the cabins to avoid on Brilliance of the Seas, it’s best to start by looking at all the cabins onboard. There are 1,075 rooms in total, which includes 66 Suites.

Of all the rooms on the ship, 54% have a balcony, which is pretty consistent with most of the ships in the fleet – the smaller and older Vision-class ships stand out for having a much lower percentage, though.

In total, Brilliance of the Seas has 19 different cabin types, although some of these are only marginal differences. Here’s the list in full, including sizes and where you’ll find them:

Room	Type	Max. guests	Decks	Average Size (sq ft)	Average Balcony Size (sq ft)
Interior	Inside	4	2-4, 7-10	170	N/A
Interior Accessible	Inside	3	3-4	258	N/A
Studio Interior	Inside	1	4	108	N/A
Ocean View	Ocean View	4	2-4	170	N/A
Ocean View Accessible	Ocean View	4	4	276	N/A
Connecting Oceanview	Ocean View	4	3-4, 7	170	N/A
Spacious Ocean View	Ocean View	2	7-8	170	N/A
Ultra Spacious Ocean View	Ocean View	6	7-8	265	N/A
Ocean View Balcony	Balcony	4	7-10	179	20-41
Obstructed Ocean View Balcony	Balcony	5	7-9	179	41
Connecting Ocean View Balcony	Balcony	2	7-10	179	41
Spacious Ocean View Balcony	Balcony	5	7-10	204	41
Junior Suite	Suite	4	10	299	41
Junior Suite Accessible	Suite	4	10	362	86
Grand Suite – 1 Bedroom	Suite	4	10	385	106
Owner’s Suite – 1 Bedroom	Suite	4	10	532	57
Grand Suite – 2 Bedroom	Suite	8	10	548	86
Owner’s Suite – 2 Bedroom	Suite	8	7-9	584	151
Royal Suite	Suite	4	10	952	172

Brilliance of the Seas Room Sizes

One thing that’s important to note is that the room sizes in the table above are averages. While most rooms will be right, there may be some that are a little larger than others.

It’s a good idea to browse the Brilliance of the Seas deck plans on the Royal Caribbean website, because then you can see all of the rooms to scale – and maybe grab yourself a room with a little more space. Or a balcony like this one..?

Accessible Cabins on Brilliance of the Seas

The Accessible cabins on Brilliance of the Seas are those that have been adapted for wheelchair users. This means they’ll have slightly wider doors, and a wet room instead of a traditional bathroom, with supports.

There are plenty of options available, including the cheapest interior rooms and suites, too. So whatever your budget, if you need an adapted room then you’ll be able to pick one that’s in your price range and has the amenities you want.

While not listed in the official cabins, there are accessible balcony cabins on Deck 7. They do have an obstructed view, but they are a lot more spacious than a regular balcony stateroom too.

Brilliance of the Seas Cabins to Avoid

While there are no real ‘bad’ rooms on Brilliance of the Seas, there are some that might be best avoided, depending on your personal preferences. So this is a list of the cabins you might want to avoid on the ship.

1. Obstructed View Balcony Cabins

Balcony Cabins 7050 to 7090, 7550 to 7590, 7110 to 7150, 7610 to 7650, 7160, 7164, 7664, 7670, 8058, 8060, 8558, 8161, 8164, 8662, 8664, 8666, 9048, 9050, 9252, 9254, 9652, 9654

On many cruise ships, some of the ocean view or balcony cabins that you can book will be advertised as having a restricted view. It is often the lifeboats that are the cause, but it can also be steel railings (due to high winds) or other objects in your view.

Typically, to make up for the partially ruined view, you pay less for these rooms – so it’s a good value option for cruisers who don’t mind not having an unspoilt balcony or window view.

And that’s the case on Brilliance of the Seas, which has some obstructed view rooms on Deck 7 due to an overhang above the lifeboats, along with a couple of other cabins obstructed by poles higher up the ship.

What’s really interesting though is that Brilliance of the Seas has three sister ships – Serenade of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, and Radiance of the Seas. They all have this canopy above the lifeboats, but only Brilliance of the Seas treats the cabins as having enough of an obstructed view to make the cabin worth discounting.

It’s one to avoid if you want to sit and enjoy the view of the ocean below, but if you don’t care about the view, you just want the fresh air of a balcony and you want to save money, these rooms are actually a good choice.

2. Cabins Below the Pool Deck

1028 to 1052, 1528 to 1552

A common problem on cruise ships is the noise that can carry through the floor or the ceiling. And one of those problematic spaces is on Deck 10, situated right underneath the pool deck.

Specifically, it’s the sound of deck chairs being scraped across the wooden deck that can often wake guests in the early hours. If you enjoy a lie-in, consider avoiding this part of the ship directly underneath the pool areas.

3. Cabins Above the Theatre & Bars

Most of Deck 7

Another potentially noisy spot is Deck 7, since on the deck below you’ve got the Theatre and several of the ship’s bars. So this is less of a problem if your priority is a lie-in, but if you like an early night, you might find the evening noise runs a little long and is a little loud.

That’s my second recommendation for avoiding rooms on Deck 7 – if you want a good balcony view and a peaceful night, then definitely skip these rooms.

4. Small Studio Interior Cabins

While it’s great that Brilliance of the Seas offers single cabins for solo travellers, think carefully before you book one. The size of these cabins is pretty small and even on your own, they can feel a bit cramped.

Take a look at this video to see just how small it is…

If the price is good and it removes all single supplement fares, then it’s probably worth it. If not, consider booking a regular interior cabin and paying a little extra – you’ll get almost double the space.

5. Connecting Cabins

There are plenty of options for connected cabins on the Brilliance of the Seas, but if you’re not planning to book both of the linked cabins, it might be a good idea to steer clear of them.

The door that connects these cabins is thinner than a regular cabin wall. So, even when it’s shut and locked, you might catch some of the sounds from the neighbouring room.

Typically, this isn’t much of an issue unless your neighbours are being loud. But if they are, especially when you’re attempting to catch some shut-eye, it can get pretty annoying – and let’s face it, who wants their sleep disrupted?

6. Smaller Cabins for Families

A lot of the Interior and Ocean View cabins can sleep up to four guests, but when those sofa beds and pull-down beds are in use, they become very cramped, very quickly.

If you’re travelling with more than three people on Brilliance of the Seas, I would recommend you either book an Ultra Spacious Ocean View, or you choose a suite.

Best Rooms on Brilliance of the Seas

1. Aft-View Spacious Balcony Staterooms

The balcony staterooms on Brilliance of the Seas are already good choices, since they’re pretty roomy, but the Spacious Balcony Staterooms just feel a bit more special with the extra square footage.

Take a look at this video which gives you a good idea of the size…

And the best of those are at the rear of the ship with an aft view. Aft views are always popular on cruise ships – you’re sheltered from any wind and being able to look out over the ship’s wake is pleasant.

These rooms do cost a bit more than a regular Balcony Stateroom but if you want to make the most of your balcony, they’re a great choice.

2. Interior Staterooms

Brilliance of the Seas is a little dated in places, and she is an older ship. So when I recommend the Interior Staterooms as some of the best on the ship, it’s not because they’re stunning, or because they’re packed with the latest tech like you might find in modern Royal Caribbean interior rooms.

But, they are a decent size – not big, but there are many smaller cabins on other cruise ships. And they’re a good price too. If you’re on a budget then the interior rooms are a really solid choice, especially if you want a good sleep – being in total darkness with no window can be very soothing.

Suggested read: Why I (Almost) Always Choose an Inside Cabin

3. Royal Suite

The Royal Suite is expensive, and for most people, it’ll be well outside their budget. But you can’t mention the best staterooms and suites on Brilliance of the Seas and not include it.

Compared to the rest of the rooms on the ship, it’s huge, and yet it isn’t designed to be crammed full of people. It’s all about enjoying luxurious space, with a balcony that’s bigger than hundreds of the actual staterooms on the rest of the ship! Plus you can take advantage of some great suite perks too.

Take a look at this video to see more of this impressive suite…

What is the Best Deck on Brilliance of the Seas?

The best decks on Brilliance of the Seas are decks 8 and 9. Here you’ll find some of the better accommodation options, and you’ll be surrounded by cabins above and below, which helps to minimise the noise levels.

What is the Best Room on Brilliance of the Seas?

The best room on Brilliance of the Seas is the Royal Suite – it’s huge and has a very large balcony. The Owner’s Suites and Grand Suites are other good options. For guests who can’t afford a suite, the Spacious Balcony Staterooms are the best choice.

Choose Your Own Room or Go For the ‘Guarantee’ Option?

When you book a Royal Caribbean cruise, you’re typically presented with two options – let the cruise line decide your room for you, or pay an extra fee to select your exact room. You’ll be shown two prices:

If you are happy for Royal Caribbean to choose your room then you still get to decide what type of room you want – Inside, Ocean View etc. – but the cruise line picks exactly which one. This is called a ‘guarantee’ cabin.

If you don’t really mind which cabin you’re assigned to, then just pay the lower fee and let Royal Caribbean decide where to put you. But if you want to avoid those noisy locations, it’s best to pay a bit more and choose your cabin number.

Find More Information About Brilliance of the Seas Cabins

I’ve spent a lot of time researching this guide, using Facebook groups and forums. If you want to spend a bit more time digging even deeper, then check these out:

• Brilliance of the Seas Fans Facebook Group
• Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas Facebook Group
• Brilliance of the Seas Reviews on Cruise Critic

Related Posts:

• Brilliance of the Seas Statistics & Facts
• Royal Caribbean Ships by Age – Newest to Oldest
• Royal Caribbean Ships Ranked From Best To Worst