Bob Hersey

Age: 54
Occupation: Retired Airfield Firefighter
Number of Cruises: 15
Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International
Ship: Radiance of the Seas
Sailing Date: January 12th, 2002
Itinerary:  Southern Caribbean

We did something that we have never done before. We took back-to-back cruise, first on the Radiance of the Seas and then on the Adventure of the Seas. For my wife Hellen and I these were our 15th and 16th cruises (7th and 8th on Royal Caribbean International, formerly Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.).

Because we did two cruises it's tempting to compare them. Let me say at the outset that the Radiance OTS was a far better cruise for us than the Adventure OTS. After reading both reviews, you will know why. The first review is of the Radiance followed by the Adventure.

The Radiance sails from San Juan on Saturdays first to St. Thomas on Sunday (shops close at noon in town) then on to Antigua, St. Maarten, St. Lucia and then Barbados with the final day at sea. This cruise is a port intensive itinerary indeed. We've sailed this route several times before and we have always enjoyed it.

- Review -

She lives up to her name in every way; radiant is the Radiance of the Seas. Our two cruises adventure started in Boston, a day early, on Friday, January 11th when we unexpectedly flew down to San Juan, PR to avoid a forecasted snowstorm for Saturday that never materialized. Oh well, it was God's will that we left a day early and we would discover why when we checked in to the Condado Plaza Resort and Casino on Ashford Avenue in San Juan. Our flight on American Airlines from Logan (Boston) was perfect. We arrived at the airport two hours early expecting to find security delays but we didn't. Our bags were checked in at the curb and we went through security with only a slight delay. Our flight was on time. We caught a cab from the airport in San Juan to the hotel for $16, plus tip.

When we arrived at the hotel we were prepared to make one request of the clerk - a quiet room high up and away from the traffic noise. We gave our names but before we could make our request the desk clerk directed us to the Plaza Club on the top floor for check-in. She said that we were upgraded. Hellen and I looked at each other with questioning smiles. The bellhop keyed the elevator and when the door opened again, we were standing in front of the Concierge's desk at the Plaza Club. She greeted us warmly and told us that she was putting us up in the Presidential Suite. We started to laugh because we couldn't believe it but believe it we did when she escorted us to the room or I should say, rooms. No kidding (we have pictures). We were in the Presidential Suite of the Condado Plaza Hotel. It was beautiful. The tub, big enough for us both, had air jets like a Jacuzzi. The adjoining suite had a baby grand piano. We had a great stay with enough cold and hot hors d'oeuvres that night so as not to have to find a restaurant. We also had a fine continental breakfast the next morning in the Plaza Club lounge.

We didn't purchase transfers. We took a cab to the pier on Saturday around noon - $8 plus tip. We wheeled our bags to the terminal baggage check-in tipped the porter and proceeded on to the small line that was forming to the check-in agents. We were met at the head of the line by a RCI representative who directed us to the special Platinum/Diamond Club desk for priority check-in. It worked well for us. After purchasing a wonderful bottle of ginger brandy, to help calm Hellen's cold, we were soon standing in front of the photographer and smiling for our coming aboard photo.

We boarded on to the boat deck (promenade deck), first stopping at the security check point to present our boarding cards and having our picture taken. The automated machine makes a pleasant "ding" when it detects a good card but a rather unpleasant sound when a bogus card is inserted in the slot. We would hear the unpleasant sound on the Adventure OTS all too often.

We mistakenly thought that the lady who greeted us was another passenger when we didn't see any recognizable sign that she actually worked for the ship. She was dressed casually in slacks and sported a small lapel button with the line's logo and her name. She asked us if we needed help in finding our cabin and we said no. She pointed out the elevator and wished us a happy cruise.

We dropped our carry-on bags on to the bed and went to our private balcony to check on the view. This was our first balcony cabin and we must say it was wonderful. We were on deck 9 in cabin 9040 on the port side of the ship and somewhat aft. Our attendant was a young lady from the Philippines. I won't mention her name because, although she was pleasant enough, her service missed the mark. At around 2:30 we called her on the phone and got her voice mail. Ah, the wonders of the modern age. We left a message and she called back around 3:30 saying that she wasn't on duty until 4:00. We asked for extra hangers and our Platinum Club bathrobes. They were not in our cabin at check-in. We have never encountered this before. The cabin attendants are usually in the hall waiting to greet us.

The stunningly gorgeous Cascades Dining Room is on two decks with a wrap around balcony and is richly appointed. Dining room seating is open on the first night. We checked with the Maitre d' to make sure that we had the large round table we asked for. We were mistakenly assigned to a rectangular table next to a window and in the corner of the lower level. We asked to change and he placed us at a round table on the main flour. The room has large white columns that at first glance appear to be made of marble. On second glance, it is evident that the columns are drapes. The effect works well.

After dinner, we went to the welcome aboard show in the Aurora Theater, perhaps the most oddly designed and uninspiring theater that we've seen. The Aurora was a letdown from the Millennium's beautiful theater. The show was less of a show and more of an introduction to the staff. We then went to the bow for sail-a-way. We always enjoy watching the cruise ships slip away from the piers and out of the harbor. This night was especially nice in that it was warm and almost no wind at all. Following sail-a-way we had a nightcap in the Crown & Anchor Lounge and then we turned in for an evening of smooth sailing to St. Thomas.

Our cabin was not overly spacious but it was well designed with good cabinetry for stowing our goods and it did have that great balcony. The shower was especially small. One of the smallest we've seen. All of the services worked well especially the air conditioning. Our neighbors to the sides of us were like church mice. We never heard a peep. Across the hall was a service door leading to the ice machine. We were worried that it might be a noise problem but it wasn't.

Our first port of call was Sunday in St. Thomas. We went to Coki Beach for snorkeling and sunning. The weather was warm and sunny. The fish and coral have returned to Coki. Coral World is located at this beach. Several years ago, this area was damaged by a hurricane. We returned to the ship in the afternoon, ate lunch at the Windjammer Café and then hung about the pool. Sadly, the pool deck was one of the most uninspiring decks that we've seen. The color scheme was disturbingly odd, the pool bar had too few seats and the deck chairs were annoyingly crammed together. We missed having the Jamaican bar waiters, in their colorful shirts, spinning their trays like professional basketball players spin a ball. The Jamaican waiters have long been a signature trademark of Royal Caribbean but alas, no longer on the Radiance.

What the pool area lacked the solarium made up for with its African safari design. It is without a doubt one of the nicest we've seen. No detail escaped the designer. Jungle sounds played over the speakers. While in the hot tub, we looked up to the canopy over the tub and saw a lizard clinging to the underside. A plastic lizard, that is. We would return to our safari camp often for refreshment and libation.

Formal night in the dining room found me in my tuxedo and Hellen in her red evening gown. We were the first couple to arrive at the table. With open seating the night before we had not yet met our tablemates. They soon arrived and we discovered that they were three couples, our own age, traveling together from Dayton, Ohio. Our waiter was Metin from Turkey. I know this has been said over and over but we really did have a terrific waiter in this handsome and gregarious man who was not only friendly but was an attentive waiter who never mixed up an order. Our waiter assistant was a young girl named Armi.

The food in the main dining room of the Radiance was fine but not outstanding. The menu was an odd selection of choices and the appetizers never seemed to go with the entrées. The appetizer and soup courses have been combined on the menu. The first night out this was a little confusing. Budget cutbacks have affected the choice of specialty items. Two of our familiar favorites were absent - caviar and pate'. All in all we would rate the food selection and quality as good. The saving grace was the deserts. They were light, flavorful and eye appealing. To capture our interest, Metin would show us three of the best choices for desert. The flourless chocolate cake is legendary in the Royal Caribbean fleet and it should be, it was delicious. Soft drinks were complimentary but you must ask or you may be served one from the bar at $1.50.

The Radiance has the familiar Windjammer Café on pool deck. It was pleasantly designed with royal navy blue, as its main color, well laid out and served a reasonably wide selection of food. Sushi was missing and the only ice cream was soft serve from the self-serve machine. My one big pet peeve, the hamburgers were not served hot off of the grill but were left to sit on the steam table. A sandwich bar made fresh "wraps" that proved to be very popular. Service was efficient and friendly. Absent was an outdoor patio.

The Radiance has two alternative dining rooms, Portofinos and Chops. For a fixed, per person price of $20 diners can experience a menu more suitable to a fine restaurant and more personalized service than found in the main dining room. We visited both rooms. They were pleasantly charming. We did not eat in either. We believe that $20 is too much to pay. We do not want to encourage these trendy eateries until the price returns to a reasonable sum. The hostess at Portofinos made a point to mention that the server's tip is included in the fee but that many diners feel the need to give something extra to the server in appreciation of special service. We can still remember our first alternative dining room on NCL's Seaward. It was first introduced as free then later, a $5 gratuity was imposed.

The wine list for both the main dining room and the specialty restaurants was extensive and diversified. Wine lovers, like us, will be happily satisfied with the choices but not the prices. In our estimation the wine is overpriced. A bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape was listed at $40. A more reasonable price for this two year old red table wine would be about $34. A corkage fee of $8 for wine brought to the dinner table was charged. 15% gratuity is added to the price of the wine. Wine stewards have been eliminated from the main dining room on Radiance. This service is now provided by the wait staff. We sorely miss the service of the sommelier. Bar waiters made the rounds with shooters each night at $6.50 a shot. You may keep the souvenir glass. They were a different color each night.

A brief word about the entertainment. About three weeks before we sailed, the production entertainer troupe was fired. Something about getting intoxicated on a shore excursion and not being able to do a show. They were eventually replaced with a new troupe. We saw both of the production shows, Welcome To Our World and Rockin' In Paradise. The singers and dancers where fine but there was no chemistry with the audience and they lacked a strong lead male and female voice. Both productions suffered from bad arrangements, choreography, costuming and set design. The band was great. Of the two, Rockin' would have been the one to pass on. Of the headliners, Michael Eric Hall was worth seeing. We missed the Knudsen Brothers show and heard that they we pretty good.

Cruise director, Gordon Whatman, was a hoot. Gordon is the epitome of what a good cruise director is and should be. He was a delight. Great stage presence and always with a smile. We saw Gordon about the ship more often then we have seen previous directors.

The Radiance of the Seas is mastered by a Canadian - Captain James MacDonald. He was the master on the Grandeur of the Seas when we were aboard several years ago. He's a fine officer and it was a pleasure to see him again. On Monday evening, while attending the repeat passengers cocktail party for the special member guests of the Platinum/Diamond Club Crown & Anchor Society, Captain MacDonald was preparing to address the gathering when the lights went out - literally. Radiance of the Seas lost all power and we were dead in the water. The staff captain came on the PA system and assured us that everything was under control and that we were in "safe waters". Emergency lighting kicked in within a couple of minutes and main power was restored soon after. Panic was avoided, at least in the Colony Club Lounge, where we were. The problem was too much lubricating oil injected into the turbines and the auto-safe system shut the engine down. All in all, well done Captain MacDonald and staff officers.

This review is less about the ports of call and more about Radiance herself but I should mention that we did go ashore in all ports and that we had a fine time in each. In Antigua, we cab shared to Long Bay Beach for snorkeling. It was a gorgeous day and the offshore snorkeling was good.

In St. Maarten, we spent the day at Orient Beach. We took a mini van cab for $5 per person each way and spent the day in the wind swept surf. This beautiful, clothing optional, beach is popular and there were a lot of beach goers there. Two chairs and an umbrella were $15. There are restaurants and shops along with water sports rentals.

In St. Lucia we went on the Land/Sea Tour to Soufriere, a combination bus trip and catamaran sail. We have done this tour before and it was just as wonderful. We visited an active volcano, sulfur springs, waterfall and floral gardens. We were treated to a buffet lunch at a restored estate. We sailed and danced on the catamaran with a brief beach stop for swimming.

In Barbados, our final stop, I took a scuba diving excursion to the Marine Reserve at Folkstone for a two-tank dive on the reefs. Great dive but I lost my watch. Hellen shopped in town.

We arrived in San Juan early Saturday morning and disembarked without any problems. We were treated to the use of the Platinum/Diamond Club Lounge (a small room set up with coffee, juice and pastries) to await our departure. It was here that we met a couple whom, like us, were back-to-back on the Adventure of the Seas. Because we were staying overnight in San Juan, we were among the last passengers to disembark the beautiful Radiance of the Seas, leaving behind fond memories of a wonderful week's cruise.

- Summary -

We enjoyed the Radiance. There was really nothing bad that we could say about her, except maybe the uncomfortable beds and the cocktail parties. The captain's cocktail party, along with the repeat passenger party, were eliminated for main seating guests. Those on the main seating had to attend the parties for the second seating guests, usually at 7:45 or 8:00. By combining the two, the room was overcrowded with limited seating and we were never offered a drink at any of the three parties we attended. After desert and coffee following dinner, we were not in the mood for cocktails. This whole affair was badly done.

We would recommend this ship. Another Radiance class ship is due soon - the Brilliance of the Seas scheduled for debut July 15, 2002.

Bon Voyage!

Bob & Hellen Hersey
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
http://www.cybertours.com/~bobby/radiance_of_the_seas.htm
bobby@cybertours.com

- Rankings -

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Good - ship décor, friendly staff, cleanliness, golf course and ports of call.

The Bad - rubber hamburgers at the Windjammer, pool deck design, Aurora Theater ambience, crowded elevators and the absence of sorbe, caviar and pate.

The Ugly - our lifeboat captain's demeanor, the beds, the blackout, 4x6 color photos at $9.95 and more rubber hamburgers.

Overall Rating ***

Seamanship and safety of the vessel: ***
Sanitation ****
Food Service In The Dining Room ****
Food Quality In The Dining Room ***
Food Service In The Cafe ***
Food Quality In The Cafe ***
Stateroom Amenities **
Stateroom Comfort ***
Stateroom Attendant **
Room Service ***
Production Entertainment **
Headliner Entertainment **
Show Band ****
Pool Band ****
Lounge Entertainers ***
Cruise Director ****
Cruise Staff ***
Ports of Call ****
Shore Excursions ***
Meet and Greet - N/A
Reservations **

- Rating Schedule -

* Poor
** Fair
*** Good
**** Excellent
***** Outstanding

- Ship Facts -

2100 Double occupancy cabins.
3360 Coast guard passengers limit.
105 Ft. Ship beam.
24 Knots Cruising speed.
88,000 Tons.
961 Ft. Ship Length.
Built at Meyer Werft Papenburg, Germany Inaugurates on 10-March-2001 Registry : Liberia
International Crew.
1079 dining capacity
2 dining rooms.
859 crew.
1050 total rooms.

237 interior rooms.
813 exterior rooms.
Delivery: 15-February-2001

Ask a Question About Royal Caribbean Cruises

Ever thought about becoming a home based travel agent? Check out my web site for home based travel and cruise agents located at;

Home Based Travel Agent