Radiance of the Seas
Royal Caribbean International®
Overall Rating 
Based on 29 reviews
Submit your review Cruise reviews reflect the opinions of travel editors and cruisers/ readers and may not represent those of our company.
Radiant Ship and Staff
January
Pros: Perfect size ship! Not too big and not too small. Excellent staff in dining room, Windjammer Cafe and Cabin.
Cons: Ship could use refurbishing!
Recommended: Yes
We thoroughly enjoyed our 7 day Caribbean Cruise on the Radiance of the Seas. Our balcony cabin was very nice and always kept very clean by the steward. Our dining experience in the Cascades couldn't have been any better each evening at 5:00 with wait staff going out of their way to make sure we were satisfied and pleased in every way with food, service and atmosphere. We also had nothing but a positive experience in the Windjammer Cafe with a marvelous buffet, whether it was breakfast, lunch or dinner. All the shows were excellent in the Aurora Theater and we enjoyed the events in the Centrum. I am especially thankful for the special event recognizing all the Veterans onboard. The weather was perfect at each of our Ports of Call and getting on and off was very efficient. Our best experience was at Coco Cay! We had no problems with Embarkation or Disembarking.
Fun Trip Tired Ship
July
Pros: Entertainment
Cons: Quality of Food, Stateroom Attendant, Waiters, Ships condition
Recommended: No
First time cruisers so had high expectations based on what everyone told us. Found the ship to be very tired and in need of love. The bathroom floor felt like it would collapse anytime with floor tiles coming off. It was very clean so we just overlooked the rest. The quality of food needed attention with the first being the replacement of the dessert/pastry chef. We ate main dining for every dinner and Windjammer (smorgasbord) for breakfast and lunch. The best dessert overall was the soft serve ice cream machine which always had a waiting line. The best overall food at Windjammer was the chicken nuggets. I missed having a selection of salads such as pasta salads, potato salad, Cole slaw etc. Something other than just lettuce. The Main Dining offered a nice selection of entrees and they were okay The wait staff was all business and lacked a personal attentive attitude. Get them in and get them out. We had issues with the Maitre D the second night of seating which set the stage for the rest of our dining experience. Our stateroom attendant did a great job leaving the room clean when she remembered to clean it. Overall, we were disappointed in the Radiance of The Sea.
First Fantastic Cruise Experience
July
Pros: Staff was unbelievable in making sure you were accommodated at all times. Our favorites were Albert and James from main dining. Absolutely the best team waiters I have ever experienced. I can’t say enough about their willingness to make sure your meal was excellent! We always asked for them when we ate in the main Dining area
Cons: None - everything was absolutely wonderful!
Recommended: Yes
The staff onboard were very hard working and spoke to you at all times. From the Washy Washy lady at the Buffet making sure you sanitized your hands to the hard working Ronald making your rooms neat and clean. Our favorite staff members in the dining area were Albert and James. Words cannot express how much they went over and beyond their duties to make sure our dining experience was wonderful. Please, please let them know again how much we appreciated all they did to please us, especially 6 year old Salem! They are certainly top notch!!!
Alaska 2024
June
Pros: Great selection of exursions, lots of variety on shipboard activities, enjoyed the various productions, and the puppies! Enclosed Solarium kept the pool area warm enough to enjoy the salt water pool.
Cons: Hot tub stayed busy and could have been warmer (probably 94-96) in the Solarium. Did not try the "outdoor" hot tubs - they were always busy! Ice Cream station is indoors on the Radience, so limited hours to embibe.
Recommended: Yes
Our fourth attempt to do this cruise and well worth the wait. Alaska is just spectacular and got to see many whales, seals and eagles throughout the trip. Radiance shined!
Jim & Elaine Turcotte
June
Pros: Friendliness of the staff.
Cons: Quality of food.
Recommended: Yes
The quality of food in the Windjammer was lacking. The service in Chops was way off.
Radiance
February
Pros: Great staff, clean, fun activities
Cons: Food quality has decreased
Recommended: Yes
Radiance is a smaller, older ship but it’s sturdy and well made. Classy. The staff is amazing, as always on RC. Food quality has declined overall.
The dinning room staff, at the Cascades, were excellent. The rooms are spacious and kept clean.
November
Pros: Wait staff was amazing
Cons: Not enough shows. The food was not as great as expected, other that at the Cascades restaurant.
Recommended: Yes
The Cascades restaurant waiters Radi and his assistant were amazing. They went above and beyond to see that we had a pleasant experience
Our Perfect Getaway
October
Pros: A+ quality service aboard from all staff members
Cons: Lacking kids activities wishing there more things for the kids to enjoy
Recommended: Yes
Excellent cruise for a getaway for young and older couples. Kids activities were scarce.
Great Older Ship
October
Pros: Friendly Staff, Very well kept, food was very good.
Cons: Cold water is warm in the stateroom
Recommended: Yes
The Radiance is an older ship which is in great shape. Some of the best service I ever had on a ship, especially in the dining room. Food was very good and the Chops and Giovanni's were outstanding. The only negative was because of the hurricane we were forced to stay at sea for 7 days straight. The staff made it pleasant.
The Panama Canal Ctuise
October
Pros: Excellent staff and captain. Beautiful weather and many wonderful activities.
Cons: Missed Cabo due to a hurricane which we had no control over.
Recommended: Yes
All of the staff welcomed us and made us feel like home.
at best mediocre
June
Pros: We were with our daughter and her family. Kids liked it very much.
Cons: Bad, boring food, mediocre everything else
Recommended: No
The scenery in Alaska is gorgeous but if you like good food this is not the cruise for you. The choices in the buffet were limited, similar and boring every day. The choices in the dining room were also boring and food was precooked, at best mediocre.
Everything costs extra so plan on a cruise that nickel and dimes you to death only they're all $, not dimes.
There was also a leak from our bathroom to the cabin right next to the bed so the carpet was wet for half the days.
50th Anniversary Family cruise - two years later.
March
Pros: Staff helped with seasickness as needed. Staff also good with the kids and took notice of the peanut allergy we had in our group.
Cons: Departure line was long at end of cruise. Everyone going at once even though we all had departure times
Recommended: Yes
Other than the Gulf being rough on the first day out we had a very enjoyable cruise with 10 family members. Kids 6 to 17 had a great time. Could even watch the NCAA tournament on TV.
Radiance of the Seas
January
Pros: The crew was friendly, the food was great and I couldn't find anything negative about the ship
Cons: Nothing
Recommended: Yes
We had a most enjoyable time on this cruise.
All the crew and passengers seemed to be
Having a good time and we hated for the cruise
To end.
Food
August
Pros: Lots of activities
Cons: Didn’t have to much Mexican food more Indian food
Recommended: Yes
Chops was the best restaurant we dine there twice
First cruise
July
Pros: Everything was wonderful!
Cons: None
Recommended: Yes
We were very pleased with our first cruise experience. Staff was very accommodating & friendly.
Review of Radiance of the Seas Alaska June 7
June
Pros: Staff
Cons: Food could have been better.
Recommended: Yes
Our wait staff (Clayton and Jun) and our state room attendant did an outstanding job!
Afterwards thoughts
August
Pros: everything was fantastic
Cons:
Recommended: No
I have taken three cruises and this was the best. Service in the dinning room with Biswas felt like royalty exceptional !!! Our room service was just terrific with Brevino Cardozo. He provided fresh towels and enjoyed the animals made from towels. Getting on board and off board went so smooth ! I felt very safe at all times and we picked the best excursions and had a ball.
August in Alaska
August
Pros: Always great Royal Caribbean Service and Amenities
Cons: Seemed to be a smaller crew than usual in buffet dining
Recommended: Yes
We had an awesome experience and are "Royal Loyals".
This time, we frequented the Windjammer for most meals. It seemed that the wait staff was not as aggressive in their coming to help at the table with beverages or clearing your table of used plates.
First Cruise and WOW!
June
Pros: Everything was right there! Entertainment: every evening at 10 pm in the Centrum there was an incredible music tribute and everyone participated!!!!, Great food (everywhere!!!), friendly staff. The kid's camp was wonderful-my grandchild looked forward to it daily. I have a food allergy and the dining room staff made a point of pre-ordering my dinner choice each day. We met so many people from all over the world. Even exchanged addresses because we want to stay in touch!! The excursions were amazing and the land/sea experiences on these outings were fantastic! We will definitely cruise again!!
Cons: We are craft beer fanatics, and were told the ship would have some of Alaska and the Northwest's finest craft beers...disappointed there. No one knew what an IPA was. For first time cruisers the disembarking process was a little confusing, but everyone was friendly and helpful. All in all: Awesome!!
Recommended: Yes
Incredible experience. We are already talking about where we will cruise next! The staff was so caring...How often do you hug your dining room server good-bye??
MY DREAM TRIP TO NEW ZEALAND
February
Pros: I felt absolutely safe the entire cruise, in the hands of the Royal Caribbean captain.
Cons: Would have liked more and better shows to watch on TV in my stateroom.
Recommended: Yes
I thoroughly enjoyed my entire trip. I had excursions, which I had pre-trip booked through RCCL Shore Excursions, which were delightful. I was concerned that I might have difficulty with the physical requirements of the different excursions I chose, but was so happy to find they were all easily enjoyed. My stateroom attendant, Fajar, was exceptional. He was so thorough and was so polite in his approach. Yet we had fun with little jokes. I was so impressed with the dining room staff - our waiter Freddie, assistant waiter Muhammed, and the head waitress Cheryl, were all just so enjoyable and friendly. They made us look forward to our dinner gathering every single day.
Alaska Cruisetour #1A
July
Pros: Activities were well planned and provided something for everyone, young and old.
Cons:
Recommended: Yes
This trip was in celebration of a 50th wedding anniversary and was perfect. Much of the entertainment was centered around the music of our high school years and early marriage, so it was very enjoyable. We were pleased with the facilities of the ship and very much enjoyed all the activities, both on ship and on land. We will definitely consider Royal Caribbean for any future cruises.
Local Alaska
July
Pros: Loved the local highlights at each stop, particularly Icy Strait Point.
Cons: Too much stress on shopping. Same stores at every stop. Bland desserts. Bed was very hard and the shower too small.
Recommended: Yes
Wonderful crew on the ship. Cruise director was amazing. Dessert chef missed the mark more than hitting it.
Started with the land tour but not sure if we'd recommend it. Loved parts but a lot of time spent on a bus.
Radiance of the seas review Scott Kinzie
June
Pros: Staff was very friendly and helpful. Service was good
Cons: Layout of the ship made it a little confusing but mastered by day 2
Recommended: Yes
Overall it was an excellent cruise and we will most definitely do it again
Transpacific 18 day amazing cruise.
April
Pros: We were able to see a bit of New Zealand, and a day each of Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Moorea islands. Those islands are alaways hard to reach for a regular vacation. Now after seeing them, unless I was on my Honeymoon there isn't that much to do on the islands. They are absolutely stunning (esp. Bora, Bora) but I was happy to do all my exploring in one day each.
Cons: The ship was not quite in top shape and we found out it was heading into dry dock to be fixed up once it finished the itinerary.
Recommended: Yes
We had a great time in general. The itinerary was so different from the ordinary Caribbean ones. We added onto both ends by 1 week to make it our Trip of a Lifetime. Hawaii is still one of our favorite places to be and by ending the cruise there was just perfect. I would love to try this ship in Alaska next time.
Alaska 7 night from Anchorage to Vancouver
June
Pros: The ship was in excellent shape.
Cons: Frozen french fries in speciality restaurants.
Recommended: Yes
We read a review from someone stating the ship was falling apart. The carpets were torn and nasty and the room were terrible. We found none of this to be true and would take this ship again. As a matter of fact we booked an Australia to Hawaii cruse I'm 2016 on the radiance.
mother nature no control
August
Pros:
Cons:
Recommended: No
Can not control the weather all was good We liked the land more then the water the only issue we had was my luggage was torn and the tour director took can of it . on a whole good trip
Alaska - July 2014
July
Pros: Helicopter and glacier walk in Juneau, kayaking in Skagway, and the check in process at Seward.
Cons: Room steward and maintenance of the room.
Recommended: Yes
We traveled with eight friends and had a blast. Alaska is beautiful and the weather was great. The land portion of the trip was nice and we had two great young ladies driving and directing our tour. The Radiance of the Sea was fine for what we needed. We were out on excursions during the day, and went to either the show, movies or a bar w/music after the late seating dinner.
We did have any issue with our room. The shower backed up twice, and the curtains were a little shabby. Our room steward was new (2 weeks), and needed more training in customer service. When we had issues, he tended to try to explain the issue, and how we could fix it, instead of saying he would take care of it. We did have the opportunity to speak to his supervisor and did notice that our steward was shadowed the next day for some on the job training.
Alaska Cruise
July
Pros: Excursions were great; Smaller boat than carribean cruise making it easier to manage. The personnel were fantastic
Cons: showers did not have glass partition so water leaked on the floor; bathroom cleaner had horrific smell
Recommended: Yes
Liked the ports. Gave opportunity to explore Alaska on land. Liked the variety of excursions.
Alaska cruise and land tour
June
Pros: All was top of the line
Cons:
Recommended: Yes
All well planned and organized.
Radiance of the Seas | Cruises
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