Radiance of the Seas came along in 2001 and pushed Royal Caribbean's glass-and-light approach further than ever: more than 1,000 square metres of glass panel the sides of the ship, including the line's first exterior glass-walled elevators. The Radiance class is widely regarded as the best-handling class in the fleet, and her smaller size opens up itineraries in Alaska, the Trans-Panama Canal, and the South Pacific that the bigger ships simply can't reach. Returning guests regularly name Radiance as the best mix of intimacy, scenery, and service in the entire Royal Caribbean lineup.
