We've done a lot of cruises with Royal Caribbean to the point where we turned Diamond Plus at the end of this cruise. I posted a review mid way through the cruise so pleased was I with the trip. This is the official verdict now we're back home in the real world.
We had a cruise on Explorer of the Seas sailing out of New York at Christmas / the New Year and it wasn't that good. A combination of terrible port handling, diminished Crown and Anchor benefits, kids running round unchecked and so on. We almost didn't book with Royal Caribbean again but a large family group booking with 6 youngsters 9-21 meant we ended up booking Independence of the Seas.
Southampton port handling was fantastic. Luggage taken away free of charge with no hustling handlers, security was swift with plenty of equipment and staff to handle numbers, check in was prompt with the Diamond cheque in queue just 1 family before us. Less than 30 minutes after stepping out of the taxi we were aboard and that put us in a good mood, so much so that we even posed for the welcome aboard photo !!