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#1
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Brilliance 12-15/12-19
I just want to make clear even though there were some real wacko
passengers, the staff of the Brilliance was terrific. Especially in light of some of the passengers they had to deal with. Rusty at the Champaign bar, Eric and Freddy at the Schooner bar, and Ann who was their supervisor were standouts. Plus the food and service in the steak house/grill was outstanding and worth the extra $20 each. It was EVERY bit as good as Shula's or Morton's. Plus they even had ONE non-smoking bar, the lobby bar. I won $270 on a slot machine too. But the entertainment was pretty average, at least in my opinion. Adult karaoke was much more entertaining than the actual paid entertainers in the showroom. There were two male juggler/gymnasts from Australia and a female Charlie Prose type another night, not too good. |
#2
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Brilliance 12-15/12-19
Heard from my friend's daughter...she hated the cruise. She said the
ship was beautiful, but several things disappointed her. She said although there appeared to be a youngish crowd onboard (she is 22 and her boyfriend is about the same age), it was dead at night. No disco? Is that possible? Also, she said after second dinner seating, there was no food available anywhere but from room service. You know kids, they don't start making their plans to go out until 9 or 10 p.m., so not being able to get food after 8:30 was a disappointment to them. Also, I understand the weather wasn't so good. She said they could only sit out in the sun one day. She's not a rowdy party type girl, but she was hoping for something a bit livelier. She had been on the Carnival Imagination last year, and while she said the Brilliance was a beautiful ship, she had a lot more fun on the Carnival cruise. Jo-Ann (DaFlaBear) wrote in message ... I just want to make clear even though there were some real wacko passengers, the staff of the Brilliance was terrific. Especially in light of some of the passengers they had to deal with. Rusty at the Champaign bar, Eric and Freddy at the Schooner bar, and Ann who was their supervisor were standouts. Plus the food and service in the steak house/grill was outstanding and worth the extra $20 each. It was EVERY bit as good as Shula's or Morton's. Plus they even had ONE non-smoking bar, the lobby bar. I won $270 on a slot machine too. But the entertainment was pretty average, at least in my opinion. Adult karaoke was much more entertaining than the actual paid entertainers in the showroom. There were two male juggler/gymnasts from Australia and a female Charlie Prose type another night, not too good. |
#3
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Brilliance 12-15/12-19
I just want to make clear even though there were some real wacko
passengers, the staff of the Brilliance was terrific. Especially in light of some of the passengers they had to deal with. Rusty at the Champaign bar, Eric and Freddy at the Schooner bar, and Ann who was their supervisor were standouts. I agree, the staff are fantastic. Though, by the time of your cruise, 12/15 they had switched some of the staff. Rusty was off during our 11 day 11/24/03 cruise. We missed him, a lot. He was stationed in the Champagne Bar on our 11/11/02 BOTS cruise. Finally met Eric, although briefly. He wasn't the bartender in the Schooner Bar, 11/11/02, or this year's 11/24 cruise. But, heard lots of people sing his praises, online, through various online sources! Last year Arvin and Joseph were the Schooner bartenders. This year Arvin was in the Champagne Bar, along with Marly. The Schooner bartenders this year were just as terrific, Emilito (from the Phillipines) and Myron (from , I want to say Trinidad, but DH says, no.. Grenada). Btw, Ann was also the Assistant Bar Manager, nice enough to us..(on the surface, anyway, initially), and the other paxs, (although, we quickly detected that she was very, very phony) but well hated by the crew, shipwide. As the cruise went by, we could see why. Same Bar Manager this time, Guy Charles, from St. Lucia. 4th time sailing with him. (pronounced French, not phonetically, although, he seemed to be unperturbed by the cruiseline practice of abbreviating proper names down to a level that, mostly, American's could wrap their tongues around! Nice man. Ran into him the first day, nice to be remembered...big hug and a kiss, addressed us by name. Our cruise was wonderful, the best cruise yet. Food was good to great in dining room, outstanding, as usual in Chops and Portifinos. Met loads of new friends, again, another nice mix of paxs, age range wise. Average age, late 40's to 50's, early sixties, with lots and lots of young newlyweds onboard..20's Btw, there was more than 1 bar that was non-smoking, besides the Lobby bar. The Solarium and the bar in the library area of the Colony Club were also non-smoking. I was actually, quite, relieved that there were places to smoke. Right before we left, 11/23, Mr. Tractor posted a review of the ROTS, and, specifically, mentioned that smoking was significantly, limited. (mid cruise, IIRC) I was so relieved to see ashtrays on the Schooner Bar..we headed straight to it after dropping off our carry-ons in the stateroom. I even went so far as to ask the Bar Manager, Guy, and the Hotel Manager (name escapes me, right this minute, the more I think of this, the more I realize that I don't and won't remember his name) if there is to be a change in the smoking policy. The answer was no... not only that, they stated that they could not understand why or how the ROTS cruise that Mr. Tractor was on, could have instituted a change in policy. Don't get me wrong... I'm not, in any way, disputing or denying Mr. Tractor's account of HIS cruise, neither were the BM and HM......furthermore, they DID say that if anything, the Schooner Bar will NEVER, EVER be designated non-smoking...that, in fact, the SB, on all ships, fleetwide, are always to be designated smoking, fleetwide. I even went further than that...just to be sure...I took a cruise compass with us, compared the compass, word for word, with the compass from 11/11/02...same legal speak/company cover their ass, party line.....to quote..RCL BOTS is *primarily* a non-smoking ship..blah, blah, blah!...even goes on to say that smoking in bed is forbidden! Anyway, I had, totally, forgotten that the Daily Compass from the 11/11/02 cruise stated/said, the exact same thing. I'm thinking of posting/doing a review...I know it's a bit tardy/late...what can I say?!...I suffer, greatly/badly Le Syndrome, lack of sea legs! (my term...I know, I know, silly! And, I do know the real/official term for the malady, and it ain't pretty, by any means...it, plainly, sucks, big time! ) Last 2 cruises, it lasted 6 weeks! Cripes/Yikes! I really, really hope it is a much shorter period, this time around. Lots more to say, I'll get to it, eventually. In the mean time, anyone who hs any questions, just ask! Either here, at RTC or via email. Eileen --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.553 / Virus Database: 345 - Release Date: 12/19/03 |
#4
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Brilliance 12-15/12-19
In article , EileenMcDonald
wrote: furthermore, they DID say that if anything, the Schooner Bar will NEVER, EVER be designated non-smoking...that, in fact, the SB, on all ships, fleetwide, are always to be designated smoking, fleetwide. They don't make the policy. There is no never, ever. I live in a state where tobacco was a major crop. It was just banned in all bars in my county. A statewide ban is being proposed and while it may not be next year, it is probably only a matter of time for the state. I don't think anyone even imagined that a few years ago. If smoking generaly becomes banned in bars and indoor public places in the United States which is a trend that seems to be spreading, the cruise lines will probably end up doing the same. -- Charles |
#5
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Brilliance 12-15/12-19
Charles wrote:
If smoking generaly becomes banned in bars and indoor public places in the United States which is a trend that seems to be spreading, the cruise lines will probably end up doing the same. You're correct Charles; they probably will. And perhaps a few special ships (lines?) will emerge that are specifically geared to smokers and those who are not bothered by, or paranoid about, second hand smoke. Although I might miss the company of many interesting, non-smoking pax whom I have met on ships, overall I would be delighted to sail on such a ship. Howie - remembering all those cruises where he lingered in the dining room after dinner, laughing and chatting with very cool people from many different places. |
#6
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Brilliance 12-15/12-19
On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 00:51:28 -0500, "EileenMcDonald"
wrote: .furthermore, they DID say that if anything, the Schooner Bar will NEVER, EVER be designated non-smoking.. Go ahead and bet on NEVER EVER; I'll bet on the growing swell of legislation banning smoking in all public places to reach the cruise ships in the future. |
#7
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Brilliance 12-15/12-19
On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 08:07:29 -0500, Howard Garland
wrote: You're correct Charles; they probably will. And perhaps a few special ships (lines?) will emerge that are specifically geared to smokers and those who are not bothered by, or paranoid about, second hand smoke. Anyone who does not smoke, and is stupid enough NOT to be paranoid about second hand smoke, should enjoy their second hand diseases. Although I might miss the company of many interesting, non-smoking pax whom I have met on ships, overall I would be delighted to sail on such a ship. I hope you get that chance, and love the experience so much, that you decide to retire permanently on one. |
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