Solo Cruising on Brilliance of the Seas

Brilliance of the Seas is not a purpose-built solo ship. It has just three studio cabins, no solo lounge, and no structured solo programme. But it has something that larger Royal Caribbean ships lack: a small enough passenger list that the dining room staff learn your name, the bartenders remember your drink, and you keep bumping into the same faces at the pool. I sailed Brilliance solo to Alaska in May 2023. The ship is old and tired, but the service carried it. For solo travellers who value personal attention over flashy facilities, this ship delivers more than you might expect from Royal Caribbean.

The Single Supplement Question

Royal Caribbean’s standard single supplement is 200% of the double occupancy fare. In practice, that means you pay the full cabin price as if two people were sharing. On a 7-night Mediterranean sailing on Brilliance, expect to pay around 1,200 to 1,800 pounds (1,500 to 2,250 USD) for an inside cabin at the supplement rate, compared to 600 to 900 pounds (750 to 1,125 USD) per person in double occupancy.

There are ways to reduce this. If you hold 340 or more Crown and Anchor loyalty points, the supplement drops to 150%. Royal Caribbean has also been running reduced supplement promotions on repositioning sailings and off-peak itineraries through November 2026, covering 16 ships including Brilliance.

The three studio cabins on board carry no supplement at all. If you can grab one, this is the cheapest way to sail Brilliance solo. But three cabins across a ship with over 1,000 staterooms means they vanish fast.

The honest assessment: the supplement is steep unless you catch a deal. I booked my Alaska sailing close to departure and found a reduced rate on an ocean view cabin. Patience and flexibility pay off here. If you insist on booking six months ahead at peak season, the supplement will sting. Solo travellers also earn double Crown and Anchor loyalty points when paying the supplement, which softens the blow if you plan to cruise Royal Caribbean again. At 2 points per night in a standard cabin, a 7-night solo cruise gets you 14 points towards Diamond status.

Solo Cabins and Accommodation

Brilliance has three inside studio staterooms on Deck 4. Each is roughly 101 to 110 square feet with a full-size bed, a small desk, flat-screen television, and private bathroom. There are no windows. The location is convenient - just around the corner from the Centrum and the Minstrel dining room.

Reviews from solo guests consistently praise the quietness of the corridor. Only about eight cabins share that hallway, and it is not a through-route, so foot traffic is minimal. The trade-off is size. These studios are tight. If you spread out, you will feel the walls.

For solo travellers who miss out on a studio, the next best option is a standard inside cabin on a midships deck. Avoid cabins close to the gangway exits. My ocean view cabin was near the off-ramp and every time we docked in Alaska, the ramp deployment started at dawn with loud mechanical clanking, walkie-talkie chatter, and beeping. Midships on Decks 7 or 8 is the sweet spot for quiet.

If you want a balcony for an Alaska sailing, book the starboard side going northbound. You will see the Inside Passage coastline and glaciers on that side. On the return south, the port side gives you the views. For choosing the right cabin category, balcony cabins on Brilliance are comfortable but showing their age.

Social Life and Meeting People

Brilliance runs a nightly solo get-together at Vintages wine bar on Deck 6. I need to be honest about this: it is not a hosted event with icebreakers and name tags. It is a sign at a bar and whoever turns up. Some evenings you might find eight or ten people. Other evenings, three. But the regulars who attend are there because they want to talk, and that makes it work.

Beyond the official meet-up, the ship’s size works in your favour. With just over 2,000 passengers at capacity, you will see the same people repeatedly. The Schooner Bar’s piano singalongs on Deck 6 are a natural gathering point. The King and Country pub has darts, live acoustic music, and a relaxed atmosphere that lends itself to conversation. I found the aft section of the Windjammer buffet to be a quiet social space - fewer people, better views, and regulars who came back to the same tables daily.

When I sailed, there was also an LGBT group that met daily and a solo travellers group that gathered each evening. The cruise director coordinates group seating in the Minstrel dining room when multiple solo passengers request it. I chose to eat alone, and they respected that without any awkwardness. If you want company at dinner, just ask.

The demographics help. On my Alaska sailing, the crowd skewed 65-plus. Very few families. These were active, outdoorsy people who wanted to talk about what they had seen in Juneau or Skagway. Starting a conversation was easy.

Daily Life as a Solo Traveller

Mornings are simple. Park Cafe in the Solarium opens early with coffee, pastries, and sandwiches. It is warm, quiet, and has good views. This was my go-to breakfast spot. The Windjammer buffet works too, but solo travellers should know the buffet staff are quick to clear your table if you leave to get a second plate. Save your seat with your phone or a book.

The walking track on Deck 12 is a highlight. It wraps around the entire deck and I used it every day to get my steps in. When we entered Tracy Arm Fjord, I was able to get outside quickly and watch the glaciers from the open deck with a coffee from the Windjammer’s outdoor seating area. That access to the outside is one of Brilliance’s genuine strengths.

Shore excursions work well solo. Royal Caribbean groups are large enough that you blend in. For ports like Haines and Sitka, independent exploration is straightforward and more rewarding. I walked from the port to the Raptor Centre in Sitka on my own. No tour needed, no waiting for a group. That freedom is one of the genuine advantages of solo cruising.

Lunch is best at the Windjammer or Park Cafe. The Minstrel dining room opens for lunch on sea days and it is more relaxed than dinner. If you are on a port-intensive itinerary, you will likely eat ashore at least a few times. Budget for that.

Evenings revolve around the shows and the bars. The Pacifica Theatre seats solo guests without fuss. Grab a spot in the Centrum for the acrobatic shows if you prefer a more casual setting - you can watch from the upper decks without committing to a seat. The Viking Crown Lounge on Deck 13 has live music and dancing most nights until 2am.

My practical tip: download the Royal Caribbean app before you board. The daily Compass schedule is on there, and it lists every solo event, trivia session, and show time. Trivia is an easy way to join a team and meet people without forcing conversation.

The Solo Verdict

Solo on Brilliance: a decent mid-range choice if you value service and intimacy over facilities and programming. Not the best solo ship in the fleet, but far from the worst.

Book this ship solo if you prefer a smaller, quieter ship where staff know your name. If you are comfortable making your own fun rather than relying on structured solo events. If you can snag one of the three studio cabins or catch a reduced supplement deal.

Skip this ship solo if you want a dedicated solo community with a lounge and hosted events - Norwegian’s studio programme is far better for that. If you are under 50 and want to meet people your own age. If cabin condition matters to you, because the interiors are dated and worn.

Compared to Norwegian’s studio ships, Brilliance is less polished for solo travellers. Norwegian offers a dedicated lounge, more solo cabins, and a built-in community. But Brilliance offers something Norwegian’s mega-ships do not: a ship small enough that you stop feeling solo by day two. For my Alaska cruise, the trade-off was worth it. The service made up for what the facilities lacked. If you are deciding which cruise line to choose, factor in what matters more - solo infrastructure or personal connection.