Independence of the Seas Review

4.5 / 5.0
1,701 reviews

MISSING THE WOW FACTOR......

Review for the Eastern Caribbean Cruise on Independence of the Seas
User Avatar
pkrchkr
First Time Cruiser • Age 50s

Rating by category

Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service
Cabin

Additional details

Sail Date: Mar 2010
Cabin: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony

We left for our cruise on the night of March the 3 and drove 2 hours to Winnipeg to over night and catch an early flight to FtLauderdale.We arrived at the Airport and went right thru security with no delays and into the Pallisers room that was a haven for the Military families traveling to and from Winnipeg ( it is a nice quiet place to relax without the rush and noise of the crowds. We boarded the aircraft to begin the trip we had been waiting for,for so long. We arrived in FtLauderdale at around 8:00 local time and called for the shuttle to take us to the Best Western Airport South.The Driver picked us up just outside the main doors and took us to the hotel, while on the way he told us not to forget to get on the list for the cruise shuttle ASAP for the 10,11,12,1,2,or 3 o'clock ones as the fill up quickly.Upon arrival to the hotel I noticed it was very clean in the lobby and I was greeted warmly by the girl at the counter, when I asked her to put us on the 10 o clock shuttle for Saturday she told me that they didn't have a list and that I would have to get signed up on the Saturday Morning and I didn't think anything more of it.Next day Friday we went down for breakfast which was a nice continental style breakfast with a nice variety of things to eat.We then went shopping in the mall about a mile away and returned for a relaxing day in the hotel until we met our CC friends at the hotel. It was wonderful to meet such great people that we had been talking with on CC for a few months. That evening we had arranged to order Pizza a the hotel with was over the top expensive but it was tasty none the less. after dinner my husband noticed something crawling around on the dresser with the remote on it...ANTS!!!RED ANTS!!! on the 5TH Floor!!!! We called the front desk and had them change their rooms only to watch a girl come up with a can of Raid and not 2 minutes later a couple showed up to stay in that room, we told them not to, to go and get another room.

Cruise day..Saturday we got up early and went down to get signed up for the cruise shuttle that is offered as free...remember I was told 2 days prior that I was to sign up on the Saturday...OK that said.. After break fast at about 8 AM I went to the desk as asked to get put on the 10:00 shuttle I was told . IT WAS FULL..WTF...I was told 2 days prior that I was suppose to sign up to day and they now have it full...I told her to sign me up for the 11:00 one then she told me that they didn't have one... I told well she better make one since there is many cruisers in this hotel that are here because of the "free shuttle"We got put 1st on the list( keep this in mind)11:00 rolls around we are all checked out of the hotel and told to go down the hall to the door and wait out there until the shuttle bus shows up.Well around 11:10 the bus shows up and all the people get on the bus..EXCEPT US and our 6 new CC friends..they over filled the bus so we got told by the driver to wait for the next one with no guarantee we would get on that one either.I went back inside to the desk and told the girl what had happened and asked her for the next shuttle and was told it was full. I then went outside and there was a private shuttle out there that was going to charge us 8 pp to go with him, when I told him what had happened he asked the girls if they would cover the coast and they replied NO.. We haggled with the guy but ended off giving him the 8 pp and washed our hands of the hotels for 8 days and off we went..

We arrived at the port at exactly the same time as the shuttle bus we were suppose to be on (and they thought they would beat us there..:P) We went thru the line up remarkably fast compared to some of the cruises we have been on this was really quick less the 1/2 hour and we were onboard( warning the gangway up to the ship is like the " biggest loser" incline, wicked steep).

Cabin Review

Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony

Cabin E2

E2 Balcony...front port side was a quiet location with a nice size balcony but the shower was way too small...Lots of noise from the upstairs rooms and especially noisy during the shows in the promenade, even tough we were not right on the promenade..

previous reviewnext review

Find an Independence of the Seas Cruise from $236

Any Month

Get special cruise deals, expert advice, insider tips and more.By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

© 1995—2024, The Independent Traveler, Inc.