Independence of the Seas Review
Rating by category
Additional details
Embarkation: Our group of 6 arrived at the cruise terminal in 2 Ubers from the airport. We ended up getting to the port shortly after they opened for boarding, and there was virtually no line at all. We sat in the waiting room for about an hour until we boarded, probably around 11:30. From there we started exploring the ship top to bottom. The ship was decorated for Christmas, and everything was breathtaking.
In preparing for the cruise, we were only able to get the 8:30 dining room time. It turns out there was a large group aboard who had all booked the earlier time. Immediately after boarding I spoke to the maître d, who was able to move us to the earlier dining room time without an issue.
Overall, the ship was rarely crowded, although this may be due in part to the time of year we were sailing - that golden month between Thanksgiving and Christmas when families rarely take vacation. And while there were a handful of children on board, they weren't overwhelming. The largest crowds were always in the buffet.
Cabin Review
Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony
8330 is one of the balcony rooms on the "hump" of the ship. This is great, because it give you extra room to accommodate for the curvature of the ship. Also, you can get a vantage point looking forward or aft depending on where you are on the hump instead of most balconies that just look straight out of the ship.
The room itself was spacious and had lots of storage nooks for all sorts of things. The bed and linens were comfortable. The bathroom was okay. I did notice some mold behind the area where the shower door slides.