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Carrying
on the traditional name from the very beginning of Royal Caribbean's
cruising experience, Casino Royale comes next in an explorer's tour of
the Radiance. Decked out with a bright palette of lavenders, the
casino hosts an extensive variety of gaming to appeal to any level of
gambler. On this particular voyage, the casino hours were quite
limited with the times that we entered and departed United States
waters. As with other onboard venues, Casino Royal opens aft to
the Centrum and allows you to explore other interesting facets aboard. |
Entrance to the
Schooner Bar |
Another
Royal Caribbean tradition greets guest heading aft, the Champagne
Bar. I, along with my family, had the opportunity to enjoy a Kir
Royale here on the final evening of the voyage to toast the splendid
sailing. As I have stated in my other reviews of Royal Caribbean
ships, the Schooner Bar has remained a personal favorite in my eyes no
matter what the size of the ship is. That aboard the Radiance is
certainly no exception. The entrance to the Schooner Bar is
particular impressive with sweeping vertical beams to create the feeling
as if you are aboard a boat fighting fierce seas. Maintaining a
rustic scent and nautical appeal, the Schooner Bar offers the perfect
environment for a good drink and great conversation. |
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With
entrances nestled within the Schooner Bar, Chops Grille and Portofino
offer guests a gateway to an alternative dining experience. These
venues are by reservation only and are quite limited; guests are advised
to book as early as possible. A just reward for walking the entire
length of the ship is the impressive Colony Club. In my eyes, this
is one of the most beautiful public areas on any ship at sea. |
Colony Club Foyer
The Colony Club
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The
Colony Club is crafted with heavy, dark woods throughout and retains a
taste of cultural India as the names of the divided gathering places
therein suggest. Gaming in the Bombay Billiard Club proved popular
on this particular voyage. The billiard tables are self-leveling
for times while the ship is in rougher seas. Detailed furniture
with lush design patterns adorn the Colony Club and make any spot an
attractive place to relax. This lounge is quite multi-faceted for
entertainment purposes with three whimsical venues : Jakarta Lounge,
Singapore Sling's, and Calcutta Card Club. Most guests are unable
to distinguish their unique identities, however, with such small
placards indicating them. |
Calcutta Card Club
Singing Captain Kent Ringborn
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Many
guests are treated to the décor herein with the multitude of activities
and events occurring. Events such as Bingo, the Quest, and dance
classes all take place here. One of the most popular events on any
voyage, perhaps, is the Captain's Welcome Aboard Reception. The
elegance of the Colony Club certainly complimented the formal aura and
the entertainment by Midnight Oasis. Captain Kent Ringborn, always
having been known as "The Singing Captain", lived up to his
reputation by performing "Welcome to Our World". It was
a wonderful rendition and received resoundingly positive feedback from
the audience.
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Radiance's Krooz
Komics
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Another entertainment
entity on board this voyage was the duo "Krooz Komics". I
had previously heard about their appearance on the Voyager-class ships of
the fleet. While I have heard varying reviews of their product on
other ships, this particular couple had us laughing constantly. At
this particular event they played clumsy, intoxicated attendees constantly
tripping, sipping, and pole-dancing. While select guests did not
find them amusing, I was thoroughly entertained.
In traditional style,
Capt. Ringborn introduced his compliment of officers. This voyage
was intriguing to me as I was able to reunite with many staff whom I had
previously worked with when I was at sea. Naming only a few :
General Manager Laila Hassan Britos, Cruise Director Ken Rush, Assistant
Cruise Director Jill Tasker, Art Auctioneer Robert Begin. Although
this three-day voyage kept the staff busy, it was nice to catch up with
some of them and share past experiences.
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Jill Tasker and I
The Yacht Club
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All
in all, the Colony Club is a delight to explore and enjoy any time of
the day.
As one proceeds to dinner from the cocktail reception, he or she can
enjoy the music and overall aura of the nautical Schooner Bar and enjoy
a long-time cruising tradition : people-watching. Overall, traffic
flow throughout the ship is manageable. As with other ships in the
fleet, crowding around the Centrum around dinner times proves quite
tedious as guests queue to enter Cascades Dining Room.
Reflecting the
design of the Vision class ships, one finds many alcoves that branch off
of the Centrum such as the library, yacht club, and concierge
club. My family and I particularly enjoyed the concierge club as
being a refreshing new concept for Royal Caribbean's fleet.
Serving those guests with ten-plus voyages completed, the concierge club
supplies complimentary beverages, cocktails, hors d'oeurves, and
enjoyable sea views.
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Deck
eleven is a dynamic liaison of all that is enjoyable both indoors and
outdoors. As one proceeds aft from the forward-most point of the
deck, he or she will discover the expansive ShipShape Spa which houses
extensive salon facilities and a state-of-the-art gymnasium.
Fitness classes also take place here such as aerobics and spinning.
Opposite of the location on Vision class ships, the Solarium is located
just aft of the ShipShape spa. Sporting an African theme, the
Solarium is an artistic marvel with foliage and life-sized animal
statues. An audio background (i.e. crickets) compliments the
surroundings to really make one feel as if he/she were really in a far,
far away land.
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In
order to reach one of the most popular places for guests, invariably,
one will pass outdoors through the pool area. The art and
structures around the pool facilities create a mood that many of the
Celebrity ships do by means of stark primary colors and vivid
design. The popular place to which guests are fleeing is certainly
the Windjammer Café. While I typically focus little on
dining areas in my ship critiques, the Windjammer aboard the Radiance of
the Seas deserves some attention.
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One
of the most noticeable improvements on this class of ship for Royal
Caribbean is the functional use of stations. The stations are
organized with excellent flow in mind as they are separated enough to
disperse guests during peak usage while making all courses within
easy reach. One of my favorites is the omelet station and the chef
was quick and efficient in serving those who happen to share my
view. The predominant theme , of course, is very nautical with
blues and woods throughout. Finding a table proved to be
effortless save peak traffic times. |
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A
well hidden alcove to alleviate the challenge of finding a table is the
outdoor seating area of the Windjammer completely aft on deck
eleven. If the Windjammer doesn't completely satisfy one's desire
for choice, the Seaview Café directly above might fit the bill.
The Seaview Café serves up made-to-order delights complimentary.
Beverages and milk shakes are an additional cost. |
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Rounding
around the aft end of deck twelve, one will approach the Country
Club. This is a charming venue providing services for the
miniature golf course "Fairways of Radiance" outdoors and the golf simulator. The Country
Club elicits a feeling of adventure and very appropriately prepares the
guest for the sport activities to come proceeding forward. |
