How is Radiance of the Seas Holding Up? Conditions & Experience of Sailing on an Older Cruise Ship!

[@nanschmidt2507]

Icon has ruined other ships for us. You’re correct , the smaller ships just feel more crowded to us. Weird but true.

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

YES!!! It's so true! Icon really does spoil you! 😆 Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@kokenif]

Yes weird.

[@amyvermeersch1111]

This was very informative! Thank you! I've been tempted to sail this class of ship because they seem to be cheaper prices and closer to home ports. The cigarette smoke is definitely a negative for us so I appreciate you mentioning that. As a family with young kids, there seem to be a lot less family activity options. Do you notice the movement in the ocean on the ship more with a ship this size vs Oasis or Icon classes?

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Hi Amy! Thank you so much! Yes we do notice more movement on smaller older ships. The bigger ships can take the rough waves better but also the bigger ships are newer and have more stabilization technology onboard than the older ships. Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@julieb7882]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Sailed her in Alaska in 2006. Afternoon coctails in the solarium while playing spite and malice.

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Haha! That's awesome! Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@arosenweig]

I sailed on Radiance of the Seas in 2002 when she was just over a year old and she was in excellent condition at the time.

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Wow that's great! We hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@tracyfontecchio6718]

We cruised on Radiance in October 23. We had several maintenance issues throughout our cruise. AC not working, lights not working etc. in a Grand Suite. Other than that it was pretty nice ! Our next cruise is on Utopia so we are excited !

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Hi Tracy! Oh wow! We didn't have those issues ourself but definitely something that happens with older ships. Utopia will be amazing! You'll have a great time! Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@lerouxly67]

My very 1st cruise was on sister ship Jewel in 2015. She was good enough to get me hooked.

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Hi! Yay! First cruises are always so special and hold a special place! Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@JGG81200]

I have found the opposite regarding the pool deck - even though there is more to do on a new large ship, I have always found it easier to find a deck chair somewhere on the upper decks on a smaller ship. Maybe this is due to more areas away from the pool with sun loungers on a smaller ship, but at least you can get a lounger.

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Hi! Thank for sharing your experience and thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@CashMopar]

Awesome awesomely awesome video! This was so informative for our upcoming Brilliance cruise! We are going to love it. Thanks friends! ❤

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Hi CashMopar! ❤️ YAY!!! So glad it was helpful! We hope you have a great time! Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@rasferrastfarian739]

I totally agree with the smaller ship = MORE CROWDS. We didn't like Edge because we felt smothered by people especially at night. We Love Quantum of the Seas because its bigger and as you mentioned people have more places to go and the spaces are larger.

[@firstsgt279]

Need to do longer Sailings, never crowded. Done 50+ Cruises on Radiance Class of 10+ nites. At most usually 1700-2050 passengers, this even though Ships can hold 2400. Larger Royal Ships are now averaging 120% Capacity, I'll stick with the smaller Ships with only 70-80% beds filled.

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Hi! Yes that has definitely always been our experience. Even if the larger ships hold more people, the crowds are more dispersed. Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@ColdSid]

This is why I always argue when people say “bigger ships are more crowded” .. on bigger ships there’s more space and things to do so it won’t be as crowded in certain areas

[@benjaminsmith2287]

That's not due to the size. That's due to the design of the Edge. most luxury cruises are much smaller than this ship. The space ratio and how the ship is designed to fit people into the spaces more determines how crowded a ship feels vs. the overall size of it. 91,000 tons is a big ship. I know people used to much larger ships but this is not a small ship. It's smaller than a gigantic ship, but not small. Most luxury cruise ships, like Oceania or Silverseas and such are much smaller ships than this one is and don't have a crowded feel at all.

[@jonc3903]

Great warning about the smoke! I hate cigarette smoke.

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Hi! So glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@ksessa1010]

Radiance of the Seas was our last shut down cruise cancellation. Thanks for sharing.

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Hey Ken! ❤️ Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@mercyrodriguez5780]

Always enjoy your videos, we were on the Serenade of the Seas just before it went on the World’s Cruise, I don’t know how well is going to come back from it, but when we went on it, it was in great shape, even though it was a 22 year old ship, and it hasn’t been refurbished since 2012, Radiance is 2 years older than Serenade. It might need another refurbishment, I can’t find the date when it was done. If ever done!

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Hi Mercy! ❤️ That's great to hear that you enjoyed Serenade and it was in decent shape! Most of the time they just need some TLC. Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@JayaLove]

Oh dang!! That really sucks about the smoke smell

[@dazoomcat]

Love the smaller ships, want to go to the wi jammer, take a few steps forward want to check out the solarium, take a few steps back. Nothing more annoying than waiting on an Uber to pick you up on the oasis class ships.

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Hi! So glad you enjoy it! Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@firstsgt279]

Agree, one thing Radiance Class I can not stand is the Smoke. Can be 3 Decks up and rolls up from Casino. Currently on Radiance doing Panama Canal, Ship is in great shape after her extended Dry Dock. Was on the Ship in Oct-Nov and can see the difference inc from your Video. Everything is now Brighter inc open Decks and they replaced Carpet on about 25% the Ship. Radiance Class was Designed using best of Vision Class, Open Glass, and Voyager Class with tons of extra activity areas. They put in a brand new Video Monitor over the Pool, right out of the Boxes. Railings, yes they remove, sand, stain and replace them. So one week its gone, next it's back. It's an Annual thing that takes about 6weeks to do whole Ship. Haven't seen a single spot of rust, on my 3rd week on the Ship. When they were Built the Sovereign Class, Worlds First Mega-Cruise Ships, each had 2 Movie Theaters. Was nice until they were replaced with dozens of new cabins.

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Hi! Awesome! Hope your having a great Panama cruise! Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@JayaLove]

Did you find the smoke small to be an issue like they mentioned here?

[@dawnrusso3278]

Luving the random Chelsy thoughts. Not too bad considering the age. Do you know if it's going into dry dock soon? Sometimes you need forced relaxation😊

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Hi Dawn! ❤️ Haha! Glad you like my random thoughts… I have a lot of them 🤣🤣🤣 We have no idea when it’s next dry dock is going to be. It’s definitely not in rough shape but could use a little tlc. Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@brittanyc7572]

Chelsy dying laughing at the toilet towel animal 😂 I’ve never seen that before either! Also, great info on the cigarette smoke! ❤

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Hi Brittany! ❤️ I was so surprised!!! I just went in to do my business and there was a pigeon on the toilet!!! 😂😂😂 It was a fun surprise! Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@virginiamcdaniel5482]

On Radiance class, is coffee available 24 hours in solarium or windjammer??

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Hi! The Windjammer and Solarium close up at specific times so you can't get coffee there 24 hours but I believe Cafe Promenade is open 24/7 and you can get coffee there. Also room service is available 24 hours a day. Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@virginiamcdaniel5482]

@@HoffmanHappyTravels thank you

Good info going April 2025 can’t wait

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Yay! We hope you have a great time! Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@sanderson8352]

Yeah ...dont like cigarette smoke smell...i have a deposit with Radiance but thknk ill stick with Holland Nieuw Amsterdam

[@dmp0x]

Fantastic Goodfellas reference!

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Haha! Thanks for getting the reference! We were hoping someone would! Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@billybob7088]

Time to sail away the older ships, time for some new smalls

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

AGREEED!!! I would love to see some new upgraded small ships! Thanks for watching! 🤗❤️🚢

[@HJ-vj3uv]

Royal has announced that new smaller ships are being planned called the DISCOVERY CLASS.

[@timeofsilence]

The first cruise we booked with y’all was on Grandeur, I think that is in the same class as Radiance. It wasn’t what I expected but it was still very memorable. We got an owners suite and it was so nice. It was perfect for simply relaxing.

[@HoffmanHappyTravels]

Yay! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching and being awesome clients! 🤗❤️🚢

[@HJ-vj3uv]

Grandeur is the Vision-Class, which is smaller than the Radiance-Class.

[@tanyakrueger4945]

They need to get rid of smoking in the casino. It’s awful!

[@DonBates-h6t]

Bull!!!