Just back from a four-night taster cruise to Cork on the Independence of the Seas. Not sure what to expect, having read various reviews, and it was clearly marketed as a family cruise ship. We did not like the Ventura a couple of years ago.
Embarkation was smooth (on a day when there were record 5 ships in port) - disembarkation the least hassle we have experienced.
We (late fifties) both enjoyed the ship very much. There was a wider variation in the ages and the social background of our fellow passengers, compared to the P&O, Princess, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean cruises we've been on - and in our opinion, all the better for that. Nobody did or said anything that offended our sensibilities. We found the children no problem at all and from what we heard they were having a great time.
As big a cabin as we've found on a large ship. Decent (but not great) size shower room.Never heard a sound from cabins next door or corridor. For a mid-level balcony (we usually go for the top deck), we found it fine, as not at all overlooked