My husband and I absolutely loved the Independence of the Seas. We had previously sailed on Explorer and Adventure and I was concerned that this ship would be too large with too many passengers. It was not. Other than the pool on the days at sea and the show on the first night (there was only one seating and we arrived late), I never felt as if the ship was crowded. It is such a well maintained, beautiful ship with an excellent crew. We are sorry to see that it will be leaving the US and going to England, as we would have loved to sail on her again.

We arrived in Fort Lauderdale the day before and stayed at the Fairfield Suites. It was a new hotel and very clean, nicely decorated and had a free shuttle from the airport.

Embarkation was very smooth and our cabin was ready as soon as we boarded the ship. We booked a Grand Suite and it was well worth the price. The cabin was beautifully appointed and very spacious. We previously booked balcony cabins but after experiencing the Suite, I don't think we can ever go back to a balcony cabin. We loved access to the Concierge Club and the amenities associated with the Suite. However, we were surprised by the lack of experience of the Concierge. Read more