To start, this is only my second cruise. The first was on the QE2 in an upper tier cabin 25 years ago. So keep in mind I'm coming from that kind of experience.

The Independence of the Seas was hilariously enormous to me with never ending passageways (excellent for staying fit). It was very affordable (unlike the QE2!) so my expectations were not high. Given that I believe it delivered on its promises-to entertain and get you on the seas.

I was a little alarmed the first day when we went to lunch in the buffet dining room and ate soggy pasta at a messy table. Oh boy. But things seemed to improve after that. Dinner in the dining room "anytime dining" was nice, service was excellent. I was unsure as to why they requested reservations for this type of dining. We never made them. We were seated with others the first night but the staff worked hard to give us our own table with the same waiters for the remainder-that was nice. Food was ok, given that number of people they need to feed each night I think it worked. And other trips to the buffet were better. Again the food wasn't fantastic but it was plentiful and varied. The first day we sat next to someone that had their toddler sitting on top of the table. I had to put that image, as well as the knowledge that thousands of hands and perhaps bottoms had been where I was now, out of my mind. Read more