Brilliance of the Seas
 | This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. (May 2013) |
.JPG) Brilliance of the Seas passing Logan International Airport while departing from Flynn Cruiseport Boston in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. on 26 October 2014
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Bahamas | |
| Name | Brilliance of the Seas |
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry | Nassau,  Bahamas[1] |
| Ordered | 9 April 1998 |
| Builder | Meyer Werft, (Papenburg, Germany)[1] |
| Cost | US $350 million[1] |
| Yard number | 656 |
| Laid down | 25 June 1998[2] |
| Launched | 1 December 2001[2] |
| Christened | 13 July 2002 by Marilyn Ofer in Harwich, England |
| Acquired | 5 July 2002[2] |
| Maiden voyage | 19 July 2002[4] |
| In service | 2002–present |
| Identification |
|
| Status | Cruising |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Class and type | Radiance-class cruise ship |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 292 m (958 ft 0 in) |
| Beam | 39.8 m (130 ft 7 in)[2] |
| Draft | 8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)[2] |
| Depth | 11.5 m (37 ft 9 in) |
| Decks | 12 decks[1] |
| Installed power | Two General Electric LM2500+ gas turbines (20.5 MW each)[1][5] |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)[1] |
| Capacity | 2,543 passengers |
| Crew | 848 |
GTS Brilliance of the Seas is a cruise ship belonging to the Royal Caribbean's Radiance class. Brilliance of the Seas is operated by RCL UK Ltd., a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Brilliance of the Seas has a maximum capacity of 2,543 passengers and carries 848 crew.[6]
Areas of operation
Brilliance of the Seas undertakes Western Caribbean cruises out of Tampa, Florida during the winter season and cruises in European waters during the summer and fall season. Now it also offers cruises to the Bahamas and to the Caribbean.[7]
Incidents
Heeling incident
On December 11, 2010, Brilliance of the Seas left Rhodes, Greece on a 6-port cruise to Alexandria, Egypt, and other stops around the eastern Mediterranean and experienced very high seas and 80 mph (130 km/h) wind gusts. At around 2:15 AM, it was reported that in a cluster of ships rushing to enter the port of Alexandria, a freighter turned in front of the Brilliance of the Seas, forcing the ship's captain, Erik Tengelsen, to slow below the 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) necessary to maintain her stabilisers' function. Brilliance of the Seas started to heel port and starboard violently. Passengers reported that they were thrown out of beds; furniture and unsecured objects tossed and slid about their staterooms. Two grand pianos broke free and were demolished during the incident. Windows and mirrors were smashed, and the spa basins were damaged. A reported 138 passengers needed medical treatment for their injuries, the most serious of which were two guests that sustained broken bones. The heeling incident lasted several minutes, after which the captain acknowledged that it had been a "horrifying experience." Captain Tengelsen reported to news outlets that he was taken by surprise at the force of the storm when, he said, weather reports leaving Rhodes only forecast winds at 45 knots (83 km/h; 52 mph) with gusts of 50–60 knots (93–111 km/h; 58–69 mph). It is for that reason that many passengers felt the Captain and Royal Caribbean were partly responsible for the horrifying heeling incident that passengers were subjected to, since they knew well in advance what the potential for trouble was. The next morning, Royal Caribbean International announced through its crew that a $200 per-stateroom refund would be given. Following a brief, but vocal outrage by passengers, Royal announced that on top of the $200, passengers could also expect a full refund of each passenger's stateroom fare.[8][9] A lawsuit brought by the husband of Barbara Davey, a Scottish woman who fell into a coma three days afterwards and later died, claimed that her death had been caused by head injuries sustained during the incident.[10]
Disappearance of George Allen Smith
George Allen Smith disappeared on July 5, 2005 when the Brilliance of the Seas was between Greece and Turkey. He was a passenger on his honeymoon. Blood was found inside and outside his room. His family accuses Royal Caribbean of failing to adequately handle the case. The case led to an FBI investigation and a congressional inquiry in the United States.[citation needed]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Ward, Douglas (2005). Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. ISBN 978-981-246-510-8.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Brilliance of the Seas (21563)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
- ^ Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD. "Form 8-K 2014-12-12". EDGAR. United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ Brilliance Of The Seas Facts
- ^ a b "Brilliance of the Seas Fast Facts sheet" (PDF). Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
- ^ "How big are Royal Caribbean cruise ships?". Royal Caribbean. Archived from the original on 2020-10-21. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ "Brilliance of the Seas | Cruise Ships | Royal Caribbean Cruises". Brilliance of the Seas. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ "Cruise injury count rockets". fairplay.co.uk. 2010-12-18. Archived from the original on 2012-07-30. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
- ^ "Passengers on nightmare cruise get full refund". msnbc.com.
- ^ Scott, Marion (30 January 2011). "Taxi driver sues Royal Caribbean cruise line over his wife's death". dailyrecord.
External links
- Official website
- Transcript of Larry King Live interview with family of George Smith
- Brilliance of the Seas Cutaway