Radiance Class / 2700 Passengers / Maiden Voyage: 2004 / Revitalized in 2021 / Ports:  Ft. Lauderdale, Nassau, Coco Cay

August 22 - September 7, 2024

• In Process 4/17/26

Cabin Plusses and Minuses - location, location, location

• #1512 - Oceanview Balcony, 10th deck (unusual numbering on the right side; left side was #1000-1098, with some 1100s and 1600s thrown in)
• The Solarium and Windjammer were just one deck up; very convenient for grabbing coffee in the morning, and some meals.
• Note that on our June 2025 Jewel cruises, we obtained cabins on the 11th deck, which has only a dozen cabins, in the front right.

Crowded?  Kid-friendly?

• As is common on transatlantic voyages, the number of children was limited.
• This cruise through Iceland and Greenland was quite chilly, so the outdoor venues were seldom busy.  Depending upon the time of day, the Promenade, Casino and bars were doing a brisk business.

Entertainment

• Every ship has something for everyone.  As an older and smaller Radiance Class ship, fewer entertainment options were “must-see.”
• Miscellaneous - game shows, Silent parties, Name that Tune, Belly Flop competitions, Karaoke, dance classes, onboard movies (a small cinema, and poolside), and more.
• We attended fewer performances than usual, due to the many port stops.  Also, there were few unique entertainment options for us, coming toward the end of a lengthy vacation (and a total of 31 cruise nights).
  • But, Royal’s bands are always high quality, and we enjoyed the comic duo of Wilde & James.  The last photo reminds us that “entertainment” included beautiful vistas almost daily.
• A number of other shows (not pictured below) included Frankie and the Dreamers; a ventriloquist, concert pianist and some magic.

Ports

• This was a 16 night cruise from Amsterdam to Boston, with port stops in Iceland, Greenland and Canada.
• Following a 15 night cruise from Southampton to Copenhagen, we had spent 5 nights in Copenhagen and 7 nights in Amsterdam, prior to this Jewel voyage.
• See RC’s Serenade of the Seas to a ship review and 13 port highlights.
• The following details the daily schedule:

Port Highlights

Partial Map Overview - Amsterdam, Iceland, Greenland

• Photos of Cabin TV screen

Akureyri, Iceland - On the first of three cold Icelandic days, we took an excursion to a popular waterfall.  Temperatures in late August are usually over 50 degrees F.  However, we experienced low 40s with strong winds at the Beautiful/breathtaking waterfalls.  A tour of some local gardens was also included; still chilly but with less wind.

Reykjavik, Iceland - Founded in 1786, (and the northernmost capital in the hemisphere) this city has quite a modern history; e.g., 1986 host for Reagan-Gorbachev summit and an annual marathon run (26.2 miles) for over 40 years.  The greater Reykjavik area’s population of 240,000 makes up over 60% of the countries total.  There are a number of geothermal spas in the area, including the famous “Blue Lagoon” within an hour of the ship’s port.  We took a bus tour of the area and stopped at a touristy museum.  We managed to get stuck in some rush hour traffic.

Prins Christian Sund, Greenland (Cruising) - a highlight of the cruise was enjoyed in the south of Greenland.  Steep mountains reached about 7,000 feet and a small village on the coast houses about 100 people.  The ice flows and blue waters were mesmerizing. 

Qaqortoq, Greenland - Another “first” time country; Greenland is the world’s largest island and is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, using the Danish Kroner (DKK) as its currency.  We have collected a few kroner, from both Iceland and Greenland - totally different exchange rates!

Our (Royal Caribbean organized) tour in Qaqortoq involved a walk with a young local and a lengthy visit at the home of the guide’s grandmother.  While this woman could speak English, she preferred to share her life’s story and experiences using her native language, allowing her grandson to interpret for us.  Our group of about a dozen was met warmly with cookies and tea, gathering in the small living room for an intimate conversation.  (The photo at bottom left documents that former Secy of State Colin Powell visited.)

Nuuk, Greenland - It was an unsurprisingly chilly day in Nuuk!  Low-price shuttle buses were available on a 20 minute basis, with transport to “town” in 25-30 minutes.  Traffic was light, but shops were limited because it was Sunday.  We walked around the interesting little town with its unique street sculptures

Northern Lights September 1, 2024

• Catching the night sky requires a late bedtime, bundling up, and help of a cruise captain who sounded an alarm when the sky show began.  It was worth the effort!  (Semi-professional photographers capture much better photos, but….here’s what we saw:

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada - advertises a Victorian -era vibe with farmland and villages.  We took a somewhat lengthy bus ride to visit the (Anne of) Green Gables visitor center and grounds, followed by a full lobster meal.

Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada - Nearing the end of our voyage, we enjoyed a sunny day (70s), opting to take a walk through the 18th century buildings, and gazing at a very large musical instrument.