Brilliance of the Seas Itineraries 2026

Brilliance of the Seas covers serious ground in 2026. The year starts in the Southern Caribbean out of San Juan, crosses the Atlantic in late April, spends the entire summer roaming the Mediterranean between Barcelona, Ravenna, Rome, and Athens, then repositions back to Fort Lauderdale for short Bahamas runs through December. This is a different ship to the one I sailed to Alaska in 2023 - no glaciers this time. But the Mediterranean deployment is the strongest programme Brilliance has had in years, with Greek Isles, Adriatic, and Turkey itineraries that suit this smaller ship well. For a first look at this ship, it is a solid all-rounder for port-intensive sailing.

Homeports

Brilliance operates from six homeports in 2026, reflecting its repositioning schedule.

San Juan, Puerto Rico (January to April) is the winter base. Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) has direct flights from most major US cities and connections from the UK via Miami or New York. The cruise terminal is 15 minutes from the airport by taxi. San Juan is worth arriving a day early - the Old Town is excellent, and jet lag from Europe is real. If you need a pre-cruise hotel near the port, the Condado Beach area has good options within 20 minutes of the terminal.

Fort Lauderdale serves as the transit point for the April transatlantic and the base for winter Bahamas sailings from November. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is 10 minutes from Port Everglades.

The European homeports rotate between Barcelona, Ravenna (near Venice), Civitavecchia (Rome), and Athens (Piraeus). One sailing on 10 August departs from Trieste instead of Ravenna due to a construction delay at the Ravenna cruise terminal. If you are booked on that sailing, note that Trieste is 185 miles from Ravenna - different airport, different transfers.

Region-by-Region Overview

Southern Caribbean (January to April)

Brilliance runs 7-night and 9-night round-trip sailings from San Juan through the Southern Caribbean until mid-April. Ports rotate between St Thomas, Tortola, St Kitts, Antigua, Barbados, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Grenada, Dominica, and St Lucia. The 10-night sailing on 1 February is the longest, covering both the ABC islands and the Windward Islands.

This is a port-intensive programme with just one or two sea days per sailing. The variety is impressive - you can do three different Southern Caribbean itineraries back-to-back without repeating a port. Pricing is competitive, with inside cabins from around 550 pounds (700 USD) per person in the quieter months. The March 22 sailing through St Thomas, Tortola, St Kitts, Antigua, and Barbados at 640 pounds (820 USD) is particularly good value for six ports in seven nights.

Brilliance suits the Caribbean well. The ship is small enough for the tender ports and the older crowd matches the relaxed pace of the islands.

Transatlantic Repositioning (April)

On 26 April, Brilliance departs Fort Lauderdale for a 15-night westbound-to-eastbound crossing to Barcelona. The route calls at CocoCay (Bahamas), Kings Wharf (Bermuda), Ponta Delgada (Azores), Malaga, Alicante, and Valencia before arriving in Barcelona on 11 May.

This is a proper transatlantic with eight sea days. Repositioning sailings attract experienced cruisers and solo travellers. The pace is slower, the ship is quieter, and the per-night cost is often significantly cheaper than a standard 7-night sailing. Cruise Critic named this one of the best repositioning cruises of 2026.

Mediterranean (May to early November)

This is where Brilliance earns its keep in 2026. The ship spends nearly six months rotating between four Mediterranean sub-regions.

Italy and France (May and June): 7-night one-way sailings between Barcelona and Ravenna, calling at Toulon, Ajaccio (Corsica), Rome, Naples, and Catania or Messina in Sicily. These are good itineraries for first-time Mediterranean cruisers. The Barcelona-to-Ravenna routing on 11 May from around 970 pounds (1,240 USD) is the best value of the season.

Adriatic (May to October): 7-night sailings from Ravenna visiting Koper (Slovenia), Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor (Montenegro), and the Amalfi Coast. The Adriatic suits Brilliance perfectly. The ship is small enough for Kotor’s fjord-like bay, and the ports are walkable. The May 18 sailing is my pick from this group - fewer crowds, better weather than August, and a route that includes five countries in seven nights.

Greek Isles and Turkey (June to October): The flagship programme for 2026. Multiple variants run from Athens or Rome, with ports including Santorini, Mykonos, Kusadasi (Ephesus), Rhodes, and Istanbul. The Greek Isles and Turkey sailing on 1 June includes two days in Istanbul, which is rare on a 7-night itinerary. The July 13 Greek Isles and Cyprus sailing adds Rhodes, Limassol, and Bodrum for a less conventional route.

Summer pricing peaks in July and August, with inside cabins from 1,100 to 1,600 pounds (1,400 to 2,000 USD). September and October sailings drop significantly - the October 5 Greek Isles and Cyprus from Athens starts at just 920 pounds (1,170 USD).

Bahamas Short Cruises (November to December)

After the November transatlantic repositioning from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale (14 nights, from around 790 pounds or 1,008 USD), Brilliance switches to 3 and 4-night Bahamas getaways from Fort Lauderdale. These call at Nassau, Bimini, and Grand Bahama.

Pricing starts from around 250 pounds (320 USD) per person. These are the cheapest Brilliance sailings of the year. They are fun, short, and low-commitment. Good for a long weekend if you live near South Florida or want a quick test of what Brilliance is like before committing to a 7-night sailing. But do not expect the same atmosphere as the Mediterranean season. The crowd and vibe shift completely on short Caribbean runs. The older, travel-focused passengers are replaced by weekend party groups.

Repositioning Cruises

Brilliance has two repositioning sailings in 2026, and both are worth considering.

The eastbound transatlantic on 26 April (Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona, 15 nights) is the standout. Eight sea days, a stop in the Azores, and three Spanish ports before Barcelona. Repositioning cruises often attract solo travellers and seasoned cruisers. The extended sea time gives you a chance to use the ship properly - the walking track, the Solarium, the Schooner Bar. Pricing tends to be lower per night than standard sailings.

The westbound return on 2 November (Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, 14 nights) brings the ship back to North America. This is the cheaper of the two repositioning sailings, starting from around 790 pounds (1,008 USD) per person.

Both sailings qualify for Royal Caribbean’s reduced single supplement promotions, making them particularly good value for solo travellers.

What to Book and What to Skip

The best itinerary: The 7-night Greek Isles and Turkey from Athens on 1 June. Two days in Istanbul on a 7-night sailing is exceptional. The rest of the route - Mykonos, Kusadasi, Santorini - is classic Greek Islands done right. Early June has warm weather without the August crush. Book by April for the best cabin selection.

The one to skip: The July and August Greek Isles sailings from the same ports at nearly double the price. The heat in late July is oppressive in Athens and Santorini, the ports are overwhelmed with cruise ships, and the pricing does not justify the discomfort. Go in June or September instead.

Best value sailing: The October 26 Italy and France from Ravenna to Barcelona at 720 pounds (920 USD). Late October in the western Mediterranean is still warm, the summer crowds have gone, and the pricing reflects end-of-season positioning.

Book early: The 15-night April transatlantic sells out faster than the standard 7-night sailings. Repositioning cruises have a dedicated following, and Brilliance’s smaller capacity means fewer cabins to go around.

Shore Excursions Note

Royal Caribbean’s shore excursions in the Mediterranean are functional but overpriced for what you get. A group bus tour of Dubrovnik or Santorini through the ship costs roughly 80 to 120 pounds (100 to 150 USD) per person. Independent alternatives through Viator or GetYourGuide typically run 30 to 50% less for the same experience.

In Mediterranean ports, the ship’s shuttle to town is often free but runs on a fixed schedule. Check the daily Compass for the last shuttle time - missing it means an expensive taxi. For ports like Juneau where I sailed Brilliance to Alaska, independent exploration was easy and cheap. The same principle applies to walkable European ports like Dubrovnik, Split, and Old Town Athens. In Santorini, skip the ship’s tour entirely and take the cable car up to Fira on your own. It costs a fraction of the excursion price.