Brilliance of the Seas Review

4.0 / 5.0
1,565 reviews

Horrible food; I'm going back to Holland America.

Review for Transatlantic Cruise on Brilliance of the Seas
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Sliver2907
10+ Cruises • Age 50s

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Sail Date: Sep 2015
Cabin: Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony

When I purchase a transatlantic cruise, I expect the food to be above average. We are not the college/Caribbean crowd that gets drunk and parties on a 4 night cruise out of Miami, the demographics on board are more affluent. I had a wonderful cruise on Royal back in 97 and had no problem booking them this time expecting the same. In the years between 97 and 2015, I had been over on Holland America, which I consider to be the gold standard for food without going up to a higher tier line such as Crystal. I had taken Holland about 8 times over the years, very impressed with them. I went back to Royal to join friends on the cruise.

It appears the cruise line has taken the approach of the airlines lately, cut costs at all costs. Here is a synopsis of the meals: French onion soup, came out as a watery brown broth, minus onions, and rather than covered in cheese melted over the sides, had a small piece of toast about the size of a cracker, with about 4 pieces of shredded cheese, previously melted on it, floating on top. Escargot: greasy, couldn't even taste garlic, with some sort of greasy topping, I could not identify. Prime rib, a big slab of fatty meat, didn't even eat more than a few bites. Lobster night....hahahahahaha, that is gone, yes gone, baby gone! Now you get a menu on the table offering lobster for $35. Not even on formal nights, pay up if you want it. Breakfast was the same. No eggs Benedict, no salmon; oh wait, after a week, I was told by a passenger that if you ask for it, they will make it, they HIDE IT! Not on Holland America.

The menu was even reduced. What used to be an appetizer selection, a salad/soup selection and an entree, has now been reduced to an appetizer and entree on the menu. You have to ask for separate selections. Now to the buffet, it's only open certain hours, no 24 hour food. It was not tasty, and sort of bad cafeteria style food, lacking taste. Once that is pulled out, your only option for food is a small corner cafe, that looks like a Starbucks food cooler, with sandwiches served in plastic containers, like you would find in a 7-11, "tomato salad", which was cut up tomato, in an Italian dressing, green bean salad, the same, and a pasta salad. Watery tasteless soup was also offered. Any attempt to get good food, means going to the pay restaurants, which some of our table mates wound up doing.

Cabin Review

Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony

Need refreshing, where are the robes? I can't pack something that big on a 15 night cruise.

Port Reviews

Harwich

Elevators broken. If you are coming from London by train, you will have to change trains. The train station has NO elevator, and elderly people were struggling to get luggage off the train and up and down stairs to go to another track while the train staff yelled at them to hurry up. Don't know how the guy in the wheelchair got over the tracks?

Halifax

Small town, easy to get on Hop On Hop Off bus.

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