This was my first solo, first time on Indy, first transatlantic crossing, and first my-time dining option. I've sailed on Royal 3 times before, and on many other lines in my 28 years of cruising. After this transatlantic cruise, I stayed on the Indy for another 8 days to Norway, making 3 weeks in all aboard. I was drawn by the price with no single-supplement for the transatlantic. And I got fully what I paid for -- a bargain cruise.

Embarkation was a mess at FLL, with parking guards sending us three times to the wrong spot and refusing 3 times to let me, a moderately disabled woman of 71, be dropped off at the spot marked for unloading of disabled passengers -- a spot clearly marked with the usual blue wheelchair logo sign. I cannot explain this, nor could anyone on the ship, although the Guest Services staff did respond with consideration once I was able to complain to them. I was furious, I admit it. Eventually, I got on board, and enjoyed sail away at the pool bar with the other cruise critics. This is hard to believe, but I had my first margarita there with Pedro the bartender and didn't go there again for two weeks until the cruise ended, but he actually remembered me, saying, "I served you with the first margarita on sail-away!" I was astonished at this incredible example of making a guest feel special.

The best place on the ship is Deck 4, with plentiful chairs and almost no crowds, unlike the pool deck which was overcrowded on every warm day. For the first time ever, I actually had to bribe a pool attendant with $10 to find me a pool lounge chair because the other passengers would crowd their possessions on the adjoining chairs and claim, "Oh, my friend is in this chair." The attendant had enough authority, I guess, to fix them with a glare and they'd grudgingly remove their bag or towel or whatever. In my view, this is what I deserved for cruising on the cheap -- a certain number of ill-mannered low-life fellow guests. I have never seen such grabbing, saving, cheating, and hustling of chairs. Be warned..... Read more