Live · sailing at 16 kn · MX CMM
Guests
2,122 – 2,546
Crew
858
Cabins
1,061
Length
293 m
Space ratio
35
Homeport pattern
Vancouver
Where she is right now
En route · MX CMM· 8/2/2026, 12:37:33 PM· Course 212°
Position
24.37°N, 84.63°W
Heading
212° · COG 205°
Speed
16 kn
Destination
MX CMM
Our take · opinion
Glass-first Radiance for scenery weeks
We experience Radiance of the Seas as Royal Caribbean’s original glass-heavy mid-fleet ship: light-filled atriums, balcony volume, and Alaska or warm-water weeks without Icon-scale crowds. She’s for couples and quieter families who still want Royal dining and shows.
We feel Radiance as the scenic Royal Caribbean, not the thrill-park one. Panoramic glass, the multi-deck Centrum, and the adults-only Solarium shape the day more than slides or surf sims. Evenings land in the Aurora Theatre, the Schooner Bar, and a Viking Crown complex that still reads as classic Royal nightlife without Oasis density.
Cabins follow early-2000s Radiance math: most verandahs are the volume play, studio interiors are tight, and the Royal Suite is the headline splurge when the trip is a celebration. We steer light sleepers away from pool-overhead banks and toward quieter midship oceanview or balcony pockets. Ask us before you lock a category if elevator proximity, connecting rooms, or a nursery-adjacent location matter for your group.
Dining punches above her age with Cascades in the main room, Chops Grille and Giovanni’s Table for specialty nights, plus Izumi, Samba Grill, and Rita’s Cantina when you want variety without a megaship map. Adventure Ocean covers kids who need a club hour while adults claim the Solarium. Versus newer Quantum or Icon ships she lacks neighborhood wow, but she wins on windows and a calmer passenger load, so confirm sailings on this page with us when Alaska from Vancouver or a winter Caribbean homeport is the real plan.
She's for
- Couples booking Alaska or scenic warm-water weeks
- Royal fans who want glass and balconies over thrills
- Quieter families who still like Adventure Ocean
- Guests who prefer mid-fleet scale to megaships
She's not for
- Thrill-seekers chasing Perfect Storm slides and surf sims
- Shoppers who want brand-new cabin tech and infinite balconies
- Anyone who needs Oasis or Icon neighborhood energy
Honest caveat
She’s a 2001 lead ship: later drydocks refreshed venues, but cabin footprints and bathrooms still read early Radiance. If modern stateroom design is your priority, confirm category tradeoffs with us first.
The record · ship backgroundRadiance of the Seas, on paper
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The record · ship background
Radiance of the Seas, on paper
Show ship backgroundHide ship backgroundRadiance of the Seas is the first Radiance-class Royal Caribbean ship, built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg and named in April 2001 before a Fort Lauderdale inaugural that crossed the Caribbean toward the Pacific Northwest. Sisters are Brilliance, Jewel, and Serenade. She was among the first RCI ships with gas-turbine electric propulsion (GTV markings aft) and ABB Azipods tuned for higher-speed, lower-emission running in mixed climates.
A major 2011–2012 refresh added Oasis-inspired dining and family features: Park Cafe, Izumi, Samba Grill, Rita’s Cantina, Giovanni’s Table, a nursery, poolside LED screen, and shipwide Wi-Fi. Later drydocks in Portland (2016), Cadiz, and Freeport covered cabin soft goods, spa updates, and routine technical work into 2024–2026.
Deployment historically pairs summer Alaska from Vancouver with Australia or transpacific seasons; recent winters have also used Gulf and Caribbean homeports such as New Orleans and Galveston. Confirm this sailing’s homeport and itinerary on the page before you plan flights or hotel nights.
Build record
- Keel to delivery
- 1999 – 2001
- Inaugural
- Apr 2001, Fort Lauderdale
- Fuel
- Gas turbine (GTV)
- Sisters
- Brilliance OTS, Jewel OTS, Serenade OTS
Commerce
Upcoming sailings
24 itineraries · 119 sail dates on Radiance of the Seas. Fares are live and change daily.
| Sailing | Date | Depart | Nights | $/n | Inside | Balcony | Suite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Night Western Caribbean CruiseTampa, Florida | Cozumel, Mexico | Tampa, Florida · 20 dates | Aug 6, 2026 | Tampa | 4 | $249 | $994 | — | — |
| 5 Night Western Caribbean CruiseTampa, Florida | Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico | Cozumel, Mexico | Tampa, Florida · 54 dates | Aug 15, 2026 | Tampa | 5 | $171 | $857 | — | — |
| 5 Night Western Caribbean CruiseTampa, Florida | Cozumel, Mexico | Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico | Tampa, Florida | Oct 24, 2026 | Tampa | 5 | $137 | $684 | $738 | $1,287 |
| 7 Night Western Caribbean CruiseTampa, Florida | Cozumel, Mexico | Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico | George Town, Grand Cayman | Tampa, Florida · 2 dates | Nov 7, 2026 | Tampa | 7 | $110 | $769 | $1,064 | $4,061 |
| 7 Night Western Caribbean CruiseTampa, Florida | Cozumel, Mexico | Roatan, Honduras | Belize City, Belize | Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico | Tampa, Florida · 2 dates | Nov 14, 2026 | Tampa | 7 | $125 | $877 | $1,390 | $3,459 |
| 7 Night Western Caribbean CruiseTampa, Florida | Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico | Belize City, Belize | Cozumel, Mexico | Tampa, Florida | Nov 21, 2026 | Tampa | 7 | $128 | $894 | $1,112 | $2,117 |
Showing 6 of 24 itinerary groups
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Related links
Sister ship
Brilliance OTS
RCI RADIANCE
Sister ship
Jewel OTS
RCI RADIANCE
Homeport
Vancouver
Sailings from this ship's usual hub
Deals
On Deal Desk
Merchandised fares for Radiance of the Seas
Inventory
All sailings
Full calendar for Radiance of the Seas