Brilliance of the Seas: Sanitation Record & Health Report
ShipTea Verdict
Look, a 95 on the CDC inspection is not the kind of score that earns you a parade — it's a solid B+, the kind of grade that keeps your parents from grounding you but doesn't exactly make it to the fridge door. That said, hitting exactly fleet average while also pulling a perfect 100 on food safety tells you something: Brilliance of the Seas is quietly doing the work. The galley earned a "Spotless" designation in its November 2025 inspection, which, if you've ever watched a ship's kitchen in action, is a minor miracle on the level of parallel parking a cruise ship. Respect where it's due.
The Brilliance is one of Royal Caribbean's Radiance-class ships — smaller, older, and honestly more charming than the floating mall-cities the line keeps churning out. She's not trying to compete with Icon of the Seas for Instagram bragging rights, and that's fine. What she is doing is keeping her score in the green and her kitchens cleaner than most of us keep our own. No outbreak drama, no headline-grabbing failures — just a ship quietly going about its business, which in the cruise world practically qualifies as an identity.
Who it's for: Anyone who wants a Royal Caribbean experience without sensory overload — fewer crowds, fewer waterslides, and apparently, very clean plates. If you like your vacation with a side of actual deck space and your food served from a kitchen that doesn't terrify health inspectors, Brilliance is your ship. Who should skip it: If you need the newest, biggest, most amenity-stacked vessel in the fleet to feel like you got your money's worth, you're going to be underwhelmed. This ship's charms are subtle, and "clean and reliable" doesn't photograph as well as a twelve-deck waterslide.
Score History
Outbreak Timeline
No outbreaks on record for the Brilliance of the Seas.
Total outbreaks on record: 0
Environmental Rating: B
Making Effort
Score Breakdown
Friends of the Earth Report Card
USCG Environmental Compliance
✓ Clean environmental compliance record — no MARPOL deficiencies on file.
Spotless Galley
Food Safety Sub-Score based on 3 inspections with item-level data.
Food Inspection Breakdown
Item-level deductions from the most recent inspection with detailed data.
| Item | Category | Type | Deducted | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #11 | Employee Health & Illness Management | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #12 | Employee Cleanliness & Handwashing | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #13 | Food Safety Management & Knowledge | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #14 | Employee Appearance | Non-Critical | 0 | 2 |
| #15 | Food Sources & Receiving | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #16 | Food Temperature & Time Control | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #17 | Food Protection & Prep Practices | Non-Critical | 0 | 2 |
| #18 | Cross-Contamination Prevention | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #19 | Food Storage & Handling | Non-Critical | 0 | 2 |
| #20 | Food Display & Service | Non-Critical | 0 | 2 |
| #24 | Food-Contact Surface Cleaning | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| #25 | Wiping Cloths Cleanliness | Non-Critical | 0 | 2 |
| #26 | Equipment Sanitization | Critical | 0 | 5 |
| Total Food Deductions | -0 | 50 | ||
How Is This Calculated?
The Food Safety Sub-Score extracts deductions from 13 food-specific CDC VSP inspection items (items 11-20 and 24-26) covering employee hygiene, temperature control, cross-contamination, food storage, and equipment sanitation. The maximum possible food deduction is 50 points. Score = 100 × (1 - food deductions / 50).
Crew Treatment: Crew's Choice
This score reflects how Royal Caribbean treats its crew — based on employee reviews, flag state quality, safety compliance, and editorial assessment. All ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet share this line-level rating.
Glassdoor Employee Rating
★★★★☆ 4.0Based on 3,339 employee reviews
Score Breakdown
Flag State Quality
Brilliance of the Seas is registered under a Paris MOU White List flag state — the highest safety and compliance tier. Flag State Score: 100/100
Upcoming Sailings
| Voyage | Departs | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days, one-way from Barcelona to Ravenna | May 11 | 7N |
| 7 days, one-way from Ravenna to Civitavecchia-Rome | May 18 | 7N |
| 7 days, one-way from Civitavecchia-Rome to Piraeus-Athens | May 25 | 7N |
| 7 days, round-trip Greek Isles Turkey Cruise | Jun 1 | 7N |
| 7 days, one-way from Piraeus-Athens to Civitavecchia-Rome | Jun 8 | 7N |
Sailing on Brilliance of the Seas?
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Should You Book?
Good For You If...
- You want a ship with an excellent latest score (96/100)
- A clean outbreak record matters to you
Proceed With Caution If...
- No CDC inspection data is available yet
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Frequently Asked Questions
The latest CDC sanitation score for the Brilliance of the Seas is 96/100 as of November 23, 2025.
No, the Brilliance of the Seas has never failed a CDC inspection. All recorded scores have been 86 or above.
No, the Brilliance of the Seas has no recorded gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on file with the CDC.
The Brilliance of the Seas has a latest CDC sanitation score of 96/100. See the full inspection history and our ShipTea verdict for a complete assessment.
Based on CDC VSP inspection item-level data, the Brilliance of the Seas has a food safety score of 100/100 ("Spotless Galley"). This sub-score focuses on 13 food-specific inspection items covering temperature control, cross-contamination, and sanitation.
The Brilliance of the Seas was last inspected by the CDC on November 23, 2025.