Radiance Of The Seas

The 2001-built Radiance of the Seas cruise ship is the first Radiance-class Royal Caribbean liner, with sister ships Jewel OTS, Serenade OTS, and Brilliance OTS.

The vessel (IMO number 9195195) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311319000) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

Royal Caribbean International (RCI) is a US-based passenger shipping company, trademarked travel brand, and subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group (RCG/shipowner). Founded in 1968, RCI currently accounts for over one-fifth of the global cruise market and operates RCG’s largest fleet by both vessel count and gross tonnage.

All RCI cruise ships have names ending with “of the Seas”.

When Royal Caribbean introduced its first-in-class Radiance cruise ship in 2001, guests were impressed by the abundance of natural light streaming through her glass-rich exterior. A decade later, RCI invested US$20 million to give the 2140-passenger vessel a refreshed identity.

During the 2011 refurbishment, Radiance OTS gained eight dining venues already featured on the larger Oasis OTS and Allure OTS, including a Japanese specialty restaurant and a Brazilian churrascaria. The upgrade also included stateroom enhancements throughout, bow-to-stern Wi-Fi coverage, and a large poolside LED screen. Additional improvements comprised a brand-new nursery for children aged 6 to 36 months (another Oasis-class feature), twelve new staterooms, interactive HDTV systems in all accommodations, and the installation of touchscreen “wayfinder” panels to help guests locate venues and activities onboard.

Decks and Cabins

Radiance Of The Seas staterooms (1061 total, in 32 categories) include 64 Suites, 513 Balcony, 241 Oceanview, and 243 Inside cabins (3 Single). Most cabins measure 165-190 ft2 (15-18 m2). Most balconies are sized 45 ft2 (4 m2). The smallest accommodation is the Studio Interior (110 ft2 / 10 m2), while the largest is the Royal Suite (1000 ft2 / 93 m2 plus a 105 ft2 / 10 m2 terrace). The ship has 15 wheelchair-accessible cabins.

The vessel has 13 decks, of which 12 are passenger-accessible and 8 contain cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The two-story Cascades is Radiance’s main dining room. It features oversized mirrors and column drapery, creating a light and airy atmosphere, and seats 1110 guests. Cascades also includes two private dining rooms: the 30-seat Tides (port side) and the 102-seat Breakers (starboard side). Breakfast is served on the lower level from 8:00 am to 10:00 am, offering a waiter-service menu with classic breakfast items such as omelets, bacon, sausages, French toast, pancakes, smoked salmon bagels, and a daily special.

The buffet area offers a limited selection of pre-prepared items. Lunch is served from noon to 1:30 pm and features the Brasserie 30 menu, designed for guests wishing to complete their meal within 30 minutes. The “Tutti” salad bar includes items ranging from tomatoes, lettuce, eggs, and grated carrots to prawns, tuna, meats, cheeses, and bread. Dinner menus offer nine appetizers, ten entrées, three soups, seven desserts, and classic selections. The menu also features the Chef’s Inspiration, highlighting the chef’s recommended starter, main course, and dessert of the day.

Follows the complete list of Radiance of the Seas restaurants and food bars.

• Cascades Restaurant (1110-seat aft Dining Room, with two private dining rooms: 30-seat Tides and 102-seat Breakers)
• Windjammer Cafe Lido buffet restaurant (797 seats; Early Breakfast 6:30 am, Breakfast 7:00-11:30 am, Lunch 11:30 am-3:30 pm, Dinner 6:30-9:00 pm)
• Chops Grille (90-seat specialty restaurant; reservations recommended)
• Giovanni’s Table (Italian specialty restaurant; reservations recommended)
• Chef’s Table (14-seat gourmet dining venue)
• Park Cafe (complimentary deli restaurant serving the Solarium area)
• Izumi (74-seat Asian specialty restaurant)
• Rita’s Cantina (84-seat Mexican specialty restaurant)
• Samba Grill (Brazilian steakhouse)

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Radiance of the Seas offers a wide range of onboard activities, including a large fitness center, rock-climbing wall, basketball and volleyball courts, and a full-service day spa. Guests can relax by the pool or stroll around the ship to enjoy panoramic sea views. The African safari-themed Solarium provides an adults-only retreat, while shuffleboard, bingo, and other organized activities are offered throughout the voyage.

For younger guests, Adventure Ocean provides age-appropriate programs and activities. The ship also features an indoor/outdoor country club with a golf simulator.

Additional amenities include complimentary 24-hour room service, supervised youth programs, Internet/Wi-Fi access, and self-service laundry facilities.

Follows the complete list of Radiance of the Seas lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues for children, teens, and adults.

• Aurora Theatre (868-seat venue hosting large-scale production shows, comedy, games, and acrobatics)
• Starquest nightclub disco and lounge
• Photo Gallery and Shop; Art Gallery
• The Centrum (social hub featuring aerial acrobatics); The Colony Club (102-seat venue hosting religious services); Jakarta (45 seats); Singapore Slings (90 seats); Bombay Billiard Club (8 seats); Seven Hearts (40-seat card room); Crown and Anchor Lounge; Crown Lounge (formerly Diamond Club Lounge & Bar for past guests only, 34 seats); Explorer’s Lounge; Concierge Club (184-seat lounge for suite guests and loyalty members); Viking Crown Lounge and Nightclub
• Lobby Bar (53-seat atrium bar); Cafe Latte-tudes Bar (40-seat specialty coffee bar, Starbucks Coffee); Quill and Compass English Pub (102-seat sports bar); Schooner Bar (144-seat piano bar); Sky Bar
• Centrum Boutiques (duty-free shopping for clothing, perfumes, accessories, jewelry, souvenirs, and General Store items including alcohol and cigarettes)
• Casino Royale (256 seats)
• Royal Caribbean Online Centre (24-hour Internet computer room)
• Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center; three whirlpool hot tubs; two swimming pools
• Solarium lounge (with Cafe Bar, pool bar, and adults-only pool area)
• Cinema (53 seats)
• Video Games Arcade; Optix Teen Disco Club; Royal Babies and Tots Nursery
• Adventure Beach; Adventure Ocean kids area
• Sports Court (golf simulator, table tennis, basketball court); Jogging Track; Rock-climbing Wall; Mini-Golf Course

Itineraries

Radiance of the Seas’ itinerary program is centered on Alaskan cruises from Vancouver, BC, Canada during the summer season. For the remainder of the year, Radiance OTS operates in Australia from Sydney, NSW, as well as on transpacific crossings to Hawaii between Australia and Alaska (Sydney-Vancouver).

Following a two-year hiatus caused by the Coronavirus crisis, Radiance OTS was scheduled to resume operations on April 23, 2022, with a six-day repositioning cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver, followed by a seven-day Alaskan program with voyages between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska.

In March 2022, RCI announced a change in the ship’s deployment for the 2022-2023 winter season (November through April), moving her from Australia (Sydney) to the Caribbean. Departures were scheduled from Port NOLA (New Orleans) and Galveston, Texas. The redeployment included a Panama Canal transition voyage from Los Angeles to New Orleans, starting on October 20, 2022.

• 4- to 7-night Western Caribbean roundtrips from New Orleans visiting Mexico, Belize, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman
• 7- to 10-night Western Caribbean roundtrips from Galveston beginning in Q1 2023 (itinerary details to be announced)