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Royal Caribbean Cruises aboard the Radiance of the Seas
Above: Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Radiance of the Seas Cruise Ship.

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Ship Details
Began service:
March, 2001
Guest capacity: 2,100
Total staff: 859
Length: 961 feet
Passenger decks: 12
CDC inspection score: 99



Radiance of the Seas Overview

The Radiance of the Seas cruise ship departs from Miami, FL, Honolulu, HI, and Vancouver, BC. Throughout the year, she offers ocean cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, and Caribbean.

Check Dates & Prices for cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, and Caribbean.

The first of a new class of ship for Royal Caribbean, Radiance of the Seas incorporates the best features of her predecessors: the variety of activity and entertainment options of the Voyager-class (like rock climbing), the sleek profile of the Sovereign-class, and the global itineraries and wealth of windows, glass doors and canopies of the Vision-class. RCI's loyal following will feel right at home in this ship and all ocean lovers will welcome her spectacular use of glass (half the ship's exterior is glass), including outside elevators spanning 12 decks.

Cabins

Of the 1,050 cabins, 813 are outside and more than 71 percent of those have balconies which makes Radiance of the Seas the veranda champ among RCI ships. The most lavish accommodation is the Royal Suite (1,034.55 sq ft. with 172 sq. ft. of balcony) with amenities such as a baby grand piano, wet bar and entertainment center with 42-inch flat screen TV, stereo and VCR, and bath with whirlpool, bidet and steam shower. Good middle-of-the-road choices in a balcony cabin are Categories E1, E2, and E3 measuring 179 sq ft. with a 41 sq ft. balcony. These are situated on Decks 7, 8, 9 and 10 with the ones on Deck 10 closest to the pools and other outdoor amenities. The most affordable accommodations are Category Q - these are inside cabins measuring 166 sq ft. All cabins have Internet ports. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are available in a variety of categories.



Dining

The main dining room, Cascades, is an elegant, two-level restaurant featuring a grand staircase, impressive columns, and a cascading waterfall. Two smaller dining rooms, Breakers and Tides, perfect for private parties, adjoin Cascades. Service was attentive. Breakfast and lunch are open seating; dinner is served in two seatings. ShipShape selections (less than 30 percent of calories from fat) and vegetarian dishes are offered for lunch and dinner. Alternative restaurants include Chops Grill serving premium steaks, chops and other grilled entrees; and Portofino, an upscale Euro-Italian restaurant. Reservations are required for Chops Grill and Portofino (fee is $20 per person at each). A casual, no reservations, no-fee dinner alternative is served in the Windjammer Cafe where breakfast and lunch are also served buffet-style with a choice of indoor and outdoor seating. The Seaview Cafe offers fast food with no reservations or fees. Complimentary 24-hour room service is available, including egg dishes for breakfast.




Entertainment

The three-level Aurora Theatre is themed to the Arctic with a stage curtain inspired in the Aurora Borealis. Sightlines are excellent for revues like Rockin' in Paradise, a special-effects-rich tropical music explosion. Other nightly entertainment options include the Hollywood Odyssey nightclub, where comedians, jazz ensembles, pianists and vocalists take turns entertaining; movies in the Cinema; dancing in the Starquest disco; an interactive game based on the sports game called the Pennant Race in Scoreboard; a game of pool in the Bombay Billiard Club; and piano in the Schooner Bar or Singapore Sling's. The Casino Royale features 211 slot machines and tables for blackjack, craps and roulette.

Fitness & Recreation

Destined to become one of the most popular spots on the ship, the African-themed Solarium has a raised pool (featuring a counter current) two whirlpools, and relaxation areas covered by a retractable glass roof. A bar and pizzeria are located within the Solarium. The ocean view ShipShape Spa is divided into three sections: beauty and health center with 12 treatment rooms including Rasul and thermal suite (fee is $15 for a half-hour); aerobics area with mirrored wall and aerobics floor; and the gym with 18 treadmills, 10 Reebok Recumbent Cycles, eight Reebok Body Peaks, four Reebok Ridge Rocker Cycles, four Reebok Body Treks, free weights and multiple benches. There is a stereo sound system and TV monitors throughout. Fitness activities include stretching and aerobics classes, aquadynamics, and sports tourneys. Other challenges await at the Rock-climbing Wall, rising 200 feet above the sea with five separate climbing tracks. A Sports Club & Country Club has golf simulators, ping-pong, a basketball court, and deck games; and there is a 9-hole miniature golf course and a jogging track (6.3 times around equals one mile).

Public Areas

Glass is the dramatic element of the public rooms throughout the vessel including floor-to-ceiling windows in the nine-deck Centrum atrium, ShipShape Spa, Solarium, Seaview Cafe, the Colony Club, the Windjammer Cafe, Portofino and Chops Grill, the Schooner and Champagne Bars, Viking Crown Lounge, and the Concierge Club. Every time you turn your head, you are very likely to see the sea. The heart of the vessel is The Centrum, an RCI signature feature, is decorated with a greenery, a waterfall, and a colossal abstract sculpture (part of the $6 million-plus art collection onboard).

Intimate spaces include the library, reminiscent of a traditional English study; Books, Books & Coffee, a book retail outlet featuring 200 titles and serving them up along with cappuccino, pastries and pizza. The Champagne Bar and Lobby Bar, both with a capacity for 50 guests, are perfect spots for a cocktail before dinner. Other public areas include Royal Caribbean Online (the Internet center with 12 stations) and the nautically-inspired Schooner Bar. The Viking Crown Lounge is perched 11 decks above the sea with two nightclubs: the Starquest, a futuristic dance club with a revolving bar; and the Hollywood Odyssey, a more intimate, relaxed lounge, featuring Hollywood memorabilia. Scoreboard is a baseball-themed sports bar. There are no self-service launderettes; laundry/dry cleaning is available.

Kids

Free, supervised activities for children 3-17 are featured (offered by age group: 3-5 years, 6-8 years, 9-12 years, and 13-17) in age-appropriate activity centers. Facilities include a Computer Lab, outdoor area, play stations with video games, and Adventure Beach with splash pools and a water slide. Kids earn coupons for participation in activities that can be redeemed for gifts. A children's menu with games and crayons are also featured. Group babysitting is available for $4/hour per child; in-stateroom sitting, booked through the Guest Relations Desk at least 24 hours in advance, is $8/hour for one or two children in the same family or $10/hour for three children in the same family. Teens have their own coffeehouse/disco with flat-screen TV's and soda bar.

Expert Radiance of the Seas reviews are edited by Michelle, and provided by Ian and Cruise Critic.com, an award-winning cruise community. This objective information can help you choose just the right ship for your next cruise vacation.

Check Dates & Prices for cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, and Caribbean.

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Radiance of the Seas cruise reviews

Cruise Ship Inspection Report
All passenger cruise ships arriving at US ports are subject to unannounced CDC inspection. Radiance of the Seas Score: 89

Cruise Critic: Radiance of the Seas
The Cruise Critic gives Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas a 3+-ribbon rating.

Web links

RCL Cruises
Request a brochure, or find a travel agent who represents Royal Caribbean Cruise Line at the company's official Web site.

Cruises main guide
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