Brilliance of the Seas

The main pool deck has a large pool, two whirlpools and loungers in sun and shade, with the Pool Bar anchoring it all and a big LED screen for movies and games at night. The Sky Bar serves the sun deck above. Forward, the glass-roofed Solarium is climate controlled, with a pool crossed by a small bridge, a hot tub, the Solarium Bar and Park Café for grab-and-go bites and a salad bar.

Brilliance was one of the first Royal Caribbean ships with a rock climbing wall, and it is still included in the fare. Nearby are a gentle waterslide and splash area for younger kids, plus a half-court for basketball, soccer and dodgeball. The mini golf course wraps around the very top of the stern with lighthouses, statues and wide-open wake views. Shuffleboard sits close by, and the Challenger's arcade costs extra.

Izumi is the first specialty restaurant on the tour and Danny's personal favorite. The sushi bar is the place to sit, with booths and window tables for larger groups. The menu goes well beyond sushi rolls and sashimi, with soups, small plates like chicken karaage and pork gyoza, teriyaki, ramen and poke bowls, and desserts such as mochi ice cream and a warm chocolate lava cake. It costs extra, alone or with a dining package.

Danny calls the Radiance Class Windjammer his favorite buffet design, because the stations are spread out instead of packed into one line. It has made-to-order salads, hot dishes, paninis, pizza, burgers and a dessert station. Both ends have outdoor seating, and the aft deck is tiered, so guests can carry a plate outside and watch the wake. Complimentary soft serve is right nearby, and drink service covers the whole area.

High in the Viking Crown, the lounge Danny knows as the Starquest has walls of windows, a grand piano for the cocktail hour and a big dance floor for game shows, trivia and late-night parties. Its bar has a rotating seating platform, one of Royal's quirkier firsts. Nearby, the Suite Lounge serves full-suite guests and top-tier loyalty members with a concierge, specialty coffee, light bites and an outdoor area. Crown & Anchor's Diamond Lounge is up here too.

Royal Babies and Tots cares for little ones from 6 to 36 months, with a nap area, reading time and movie time. Adventure Ocean splits kids into Aquanauts (3 to 5), Explorers (6 to 8) and Voyagers (9 to 11), with crafts, science, gaga ball, video games and dance parties. Teens ages 12 to 17 have their own lounge with a dance floor, DJ booth, gaming consoles and foosball, plus sports and pool events around the ship.

The spa has separate men's and women's locker rooms, each with a complimentary sauna and steam room, which Danny notes is rare on ships today. A relaxation room opens and closes each treatment. The Thermal Suite costs extra by the day or the cruise, with an ocean-view steam room, aromatic room, ice and rainforest showers and heated stone loungers. One level up, the gym has ocean-facing treadmills, machines, free weights and a studio for classes.

The Centrum climbs the full height of the ship, with glass elevators, a stage, a dance floor and the retro R Bar. Café Latte-tudes overlooks it from Deck 5, Vintages wine bar sits above, and the nautical Schooner Bar hosts piano sing-alongs, which Danny calls a must on every Royal cruise. Forward, the stadium-style Pacifica Theater stages production shows like Now and Forever, and Brilliance also has a real movie theater, the English Pub and Casino Royale.