Independence of the Seas Review
These cutbacks are annoying us enough to book with other cruise lines
Rating by category
Additional details
Our Waiter, Assistant Waiter and Cabin steward all left an unfortunate first impression, but all three managed to turn it around and now we consider them one of the best team we’ve had.
Embarkation - Considering the size of Port Everglades Cruise Port, our embarkation went reasonably smooth.
Room - JS 9234 - Nice big room! Another cut back, no pen and paper.Royal Caribbean is definitely moving to a more paperless method, but we were still buried under spa, shop and drink ad leaflets. I requested a tempurpedic pillow via a travel agent and again on board, and was told it wasn’t available to Junior Suites. Liked the wider bed. I’m happy all information was on the interactive television. Another annoying cutback, only two glasses in the stateroom instead of four, when we’re used to getting one for drinking beverages and one for our metamucil. Unfortunately, no more Fox News station on television.
Cabin Review
Like the wider beds. Pretty long walk to the eating venues except for Sorentos. Nice large room, liked the arrangement.
Port Reviews
Falmouth
Bernards Tours - Excellent overview of island. Aisle between seats ended being a tight squeeze for overweight people. Just learned of a chikungunya virus outbreak started while we were there, as of 1/15/13 they have 200 cases. (Now they tell us!) But we applied bug spray daily. Stop trips to St. Maartens until island is safe. Last fall, we had a bug hitchhike on our balcony from Monterey all the way to Catalina Island. Could have been so much worse w/ bugs carrying chikungunya or maleria.
Labadee
Stayed on ship on advice of doctor due to CDC malaria (several months now) warning High Risk for US Citizens in Haiti especially Port Labadee. The life span for a mosquito is a week to several months, so your ships can transport them just about anywhere! Stop trips to Labadee until CDC stops saying a high malaria risk for Haiti Including Port Labadee!