Booking a cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas is a great choice if you love that classic ship with tons of glass and ocean views. But even on a beautiful ship, not every room is a winner. If you pick the wrong cabin, you might end up spending your vacation listening to high heels clicking above your head, smelling the exhaust from the engines, or looking at a giant metal lifeboat instead of the sunset.
Choosing a cabin is about more than just the price. It’s about where that room sits on the ship. A few floors can be the difference between a silent night of sleep and a vibrating bed that keeps you up until 3:00 AM. In this guide, I’m going to break down exactly which rooms you should skip so you can book a cruise with confidence.
Why Cabin Selection Matters on Brilliance of the Seas
Brilliance of the Seas is a Radiance-class ship. These ships are famous for having more glass than almost any other fleet in the world. They feel open and airy. But because the ship is a bit smaller and older than the massive Icon or Oasis-class ships, the layout puts certain cabins right next to noisy public areas.
You don't want to find out your room is directly under the gym at 6:00 AM when the treadmills start humming. You also don’t want to be right above the Starquest Disco if you like to turn in early. Paying attention to what is above, below, and beside your room is the secret to a great trip.
The "Noise Sandwich" Rule
The best way to ensure peace is to follow the noise sandwich rule. This means you want a deck that has cabins above you and cabins below you. If you have carpeted rooms on both sides, you have a natural buffer against noise.
On Brilliance of the Seas, Deck 3, Deck 4, Deck 7, Deck 8, and Deck 9 are generally the safest bets for this. When you start looking at Deck 10 or Deck 2, you run into "white space" on the deck plans. White space usually means kitchens, engines, or loud machinery.
Rooms to Avoid on Deck 2
Deck 2 is the lowest passenger deck on the ship. While these rooms are often the cheapest, they come with some trade-offs.
Engine Noise and Vibration
The rooms at the very back (aft) of Deck 2 are sitting right on top of the engines and the propulsion system. When the ship is docking or speeding up, these rooms will vibrate. It’s not just a little shake; it can be enough to rattle the hangers in your closet. If you are a light sleeper, avoid the rooms at the back of Deck 2.
Anchor Clanking
If you pick a room at the very front (forward) of Deck 2, you’ll deal with the anchor. On port days, the crew drops the anchor early in the morning. The sound of that massive chain hitting the water sounds like a car crashing right outside your door. It’s a guaranteed wake-up call you probably didn't ask for.
Rooms to Avoid on Deck 3
Deck 3 is home to the lower level of the Minstrel Dining Room and the Centrum.
The Centrum Noise
The Centrum is the heart of the ship. It’s a massive open area that goes up to several floors. They often have live bands, parties, and activities here. If your room is close to the Centrum on Deck 3, the music will bleed through your door. If you want to nap in the afternoon or go to bed before the party ends at midnight, stay away from rooms 3030 through 3060.
Medical Center and Gangways
Some rooms on Deck 3 are near the medical center or the areas where people get off the ship. This means heavy foot traffic in the hallways. You’ll hear people talking and luggage rolling by at all hours.
Rooms to Avoid on Deck 4
Deck 4 is a busy place. It has a casino, a theater entrance, and an upper level of the main dining room.
Under the Casino and Schooner Bar
If you pick a room on Deck 4, check what is directly above you on Deck 5. If you are under the Casino Royale, you might hear the dinging of slot machines and the muffled sounds of the crowds. Even worse, if you are under the Schooner Bar, you might hear piano music late into the night. Rooms mid-ship on Deck 4 are the ones to watch out for.
The Obstructed View Trap on Deck 7 and 8
This is the biggest mistake people make when booking Brilliance of the Seas. Many balcony rooms are labeled as "obstructed view."
Lifeboats and Infrastructure
On Deck 7, many of the ocean-view and balcony cabins have lifeboats right in front of them. When you look out your window, you won’t see the blue ocean; you’ll see a big yellow boat. Royal Caribbean usually marks these on the deck plan, but sometimes it’s only a "partial" obstruction. A partial obstruction can still mean 50% of your view is blocked. If you are paying for a balcony, you want to see the water, not a safety vessel.
The Privacy Issue
Because the lifeboats are right there, maintenance crews often walk along the platforms outside these rooms. It’s a bit jarring to be standing in your pajamas and see a crew member walking past your balcony. For total privacy, avoid the mid-ship rooms on Deck 7 that sit directly behind the lifeboats.
Rooms to Avoid on Deck 9
Deck 9 is mostly cabins, which makes it a good deck. But you still have to be careful about "hump."
The Hump Cabins
The ship has a section that bulges out in the middle. These are called hump cabins. While these are actually very popular because they have great views, the rooms just "off" the hump can have a limited view. If you are right next to the bulge, you can’t see the front or back of the ship. You can only see straight out. If you like to watch the ship pull into port, try to get a room on the curve or away from it.
The Danger Zone: Deck 10
Deck 10 is often sold as a premium deck because it’s high up and close to the pools. However, it is arguably the loudest deck on the entire ship for one specific reason: the Windjammer and the Pool Deck.
The "Chair Dragging" Phenomenon
The Windjammer Cafe and the outdoor pool area sit directly above the rooms on Deck 10. Every morning at sunrise, the crew starts moving the heavy blue lounge chairs to clean the deck. This sounds like thunder inside the rooms below. If you stay in a room on Deck 10, you will hear scraping and thumping starting at 5:30 AM or 6:00 AM.
Under the Gym and Jogging Track
The forward section of Deck 10 sits under the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center. If you are under the gym, you will hear the weights hitting the floor. If you are under the jogging track, you will hear the steady "thump-thump" of runners all day long. For a quiet vacation, Deck 10 is usually one to skip unless you are a very heavy sleeper.
Connecting Doors: A Hidden Noise Risk
When you look at the deck plan, you will see some rooms with a small double-arrow symbol. This means it is a connecting room. These rooms have a door between them so families can book two rooms and stay together.
The problem is that these doors are not soundproof. Even if the door is locked, you can hear your neighbors talking, their TV, or even their snoring much more clearly than you would through a solid wall. Unless you need the connecting room for your family, always choose a room that does not have a connecting door.
Rooms Near Elevators and Stairs
Being near the elevator is convenient. You don't have to walk down a long hallway every time you want to go to dinner. But the area near the elevators on Brilliance of the Seas is also a "hangout" spot.
People congregate there while waiting for their friends. Kids tend to run around the elevator lobby. The "ding" of the elevator arriving can also get annoying after a while. If you want peace, try to find a room that is about five or six cabins away from the elevator bank. You get the convenience of a short walk without the noise of the crowds.
The Aft-Facing Cabins: Pros and Cons
A lot of cruisers love the cabins at the very back of the ship (the aft). These rooms have huge balconies and a view of the wake behind the ship. While these are "prized" rooms, they have a few downsides on Brilliance of the Seas.
Soot from the Funnels
Because the engines are right there, sometimes soot from the ship’s funnels can land on your balcony furniture. If you leave a white swimsuit out to dry, it might end up with black specks on it.
Long Walks
If you have mobility issues, the aft cabins are a long way from everything. You’ll be walking the entire length of the ship every time you want to go to the theater or the gym. Make sure you are okay with the extra steps before booking one of these.
Tiny Interior Rooms
If you are on a budget, the interior room is fine. But on Brilliance of the Seas, some of the interior rooms on the lower decks are exceptionally small. They can feel a bit claustrophobic. If you are two people, it’s manageable. If you try to put three or four people in a lower-deck interior room, you will be tripping over each other the entire time. Check the square footage before you commit to a "great deal."
The Smell Factor
While rare, some rooms near the mid-ship area on lower decks have been reported to have occasional plumbing smells. This usually happens because the vacuum waste system works on older ships. If you see reviews mentioning a "sewage smell" for a specific cabin number on a site like Cruise Critic, believe them and pick a different room.
Summary of Cabins to Think Twice About
To make it easy, here is a quick list of what to watch out for:
- Deck 2 (Aft): Vibration and engine noise.
- Deck 2 (Forward): Anchor noise.
- Deck 3 & 4 (Mid-ship): Noise from the Centrum and bars.
- Deck 7 (Mid-ship): Lifeboat obstructions and lack of privacy.
- Deck 10 (Everywhere): Noise from the pool deck, Windjammer, and gym above.
- Connecting Rooms: Thinner walls and less privacy.
How to Check Your Room Like a Pro
Before you put down your deposit, do these three things:
1. Look at the Deck Plan Vertically
Don't just look at your deck. Look at the deck above and the deck below. If you see a blank space, a kitchen, a bar, or a theater, keep looking. You want to see the other bedrooms.
2. Google Your Room Number
Type "Brilliance of the Seas Cabin [Your Number] Review" into a search engine. Most of the time, someone has stayed in that exact room and posted a video or a comment about it. They will tell you if the bed was lumpy or if the room was noisy.
3. Check for "Pillars"
On the deck plans, look for small black squares inside the room. These are structural pillars. While rare, some rooms have a pillar right in the middle of the floor space, which makes moving around the bed a total pain.
Is Brilliance of the Seas Still a Good Ship?
Absolutely! Just because there are rooms to avoid doesn't mean the ship isn't fantastic. It has a high-end feel and offers some of the best itineraries in the world. The key is just being smart about where you sleep.
If you pick a room on Deck 8 mid-ship, sandwiched between other cabins, you are likely going to have a quiet, wonderful time. If you grab the "last available" room on Deck 10 under the buffet, you might come home feeling like you need another vacation.
Final Tips for a Better Room Experience
Once you’ve avoided the bad rooms, you can make your good room even better with a few tricks.
Magnetic Hooks
The walls on Brilliance of the Seas are metal. Buy some strong magnetic hooks to hang your hats, bags, and daily planners. This keeps the small room from feeling cluttered.
Bring a Fan or White Noise Machine
Even in a "quiet" room, ships make noise. There are creaks and groans as the ship moves through the waves. A small travel fan or a white noise app on your phone can drown out the neighbor who decides to talk loudly in the hallway at 2:00 AM.
Keep the Curtains Closed in Port
If you have a balcony or ocean view, remember that when the ship is docked, other ships might be parked right next to you. If you don't close your curtains, the people on the ship next door can look right into your room.
The Best Rooms on Brilliance of the Seas
If you want to know what to book instead of what to avoid, look for the "aft balconies" on Deck 7, 8, or 9. While mentioned the soot and the walk, the views are unparalleled. Also, the cabins on the "hump" of Deck 8 are excellent because they offer a clear view and are very central to everything.
Staying on Brilliance of the Seas is a classic cruise experience. It’s a ship that lets you see the ocean from almost everywhere. By doing a little bit of homework and avoiding the noisy or obstructed rooms, you’ll set yourself up for the best possible trip.
Don't let the cruise line just "assign" you a room with a Guarantee Cabin rate unless you really don't care about noise. Paying a few dollars more to pick your specific location is almost always worth the money. It’s the best insurance policy you can buy for a good night's sleep.
Final Words
Choosing a room shouldn't be stressful, but it should be intentional. Avoid the loud spots on Deck 10 and Deck 2, stay away from the lifeboats on Deck 7, and try to find a "noise sandwich" on the middle decks. If you do that, you’re going to have a fantastic time on Brilliance of the Seas. Grab your bags, pick the best room, and get ready to enjoy the ocean views.
