Independence of the Seas Review

Great Cruise, Minus the Room Service and Ice Skating

Review for the Western Caribbean Cruise on Independence of the Seas
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cruisingnurse90
2-5 Cruises • Age 30s

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Sail Date: Aug 2015
Cabin: Interior Stateroom

I really enjoyed my experience on the Independence of the Seas. The staff and crew including the cruise director was visable and interacted with the guests whenever possible including gameshows, dance parties, and even pool volleyball, WOW!! I chose this ship due to its many activities, which include the flowrider, rock wall, and the ice skating rink. All of the activities have very limited hours. The most limiting was the ice skating, which was only available for a couple of hours on a day we were in port (based on muster station). I didn't want to spend my day in Mexico watching the clock in order to make it to ice skating so I just didn't skate. I think they need to improve this so more people are able to skate, which I think wouldn't be too difficult a task. The pool never had any lounges available even though they stated you could only hold them for half an hour.

Labadee Haiti is nice because Royal Carribean owns the island, a little rocky in the ocean also they bring lunch to a picnic area. If you want to do anything in Jamaica it needs to be an excursion, otherwise they have a Margaritaville with a pool and swim up bar, which is where we stayed. Other than walking around to the local shops, the other section is gated. Do not ask for directions while in Jamaica, and beware they may offer you weed. In Grand Cayman we did the Dolphin Push, Pull was a great experience and Grand Cayman was a great port. In Cozumel we did the Fury Catamaran Snorkel and Beach Break. The beach portion wasn't the most fun. Some of the activities were for kids only which they didn't specify and there was a rocking inflatable that people got hurt on.

Dining in the Windjammer is the best option for breakfast, breakfast in Romeo and Juliet is alright they just don't replinish the buffet as fast as Windjammer. Dining in King Lear was always awesome. We found some great waitstaff Blyton and Werner that we requested to get every night after we had them the third evening. The first evening we wanted room service, nobody seemed to know how to do this including the front desk. Finally, we discovered the menu on the tv 2 hours later and ordered. We then got a call stating there would be a late night charge which we did not agree with and never got room service. Carnival has 24/7 free room service. The gym closes at 10 pm, which was disappointing. Overall great trip, just a couple of complaints, which would be easy fixes.

Cabin Review

Interior Stateroom

Cabin K

Great for getting ready and sleeping, which was our use.

Port Reviews

Falmouth

No fun other than Margaritaville without excursion.

Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)

Great getting on and off the ship.

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