Sunday, March 31, 2024

Independence of the Seas cruise ship review: What to expect on board a Freedom-class megaship

royal caribbean cruise independence of the seas

Adventure Science makes learning fun with hands-on science experiments. To participate in Aquanauts, children must be potty-trained. Other recreational options include a full basketball court (also pressed into use for soccer games and dodge ball), a running track (four laps equals a mile), mini-golf, a golf simulator and the ice rink.

Independence of the Seas Size and Passengers

Cabins are spread over multiple decks, but bars, restaurants, pools and entertainment venues are almost all on decks 5 and 11 to 15. This keeps most public areas within a quick elevator ride or a couple flights of stairs away --  a good thing as  there are only two elevator banks on the ship. Explore thousands of square feet of games, from penny slots to poker tables to roulette.

More about Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas

royal caribbean cruise independence of the seas

The 160-square-foot balconies can be accessed from the bedroom and living room and have two loungers, two side tables and a dining table for four. By day, Studio B offers both open ice skating sessions and glow-in-the-dark laser tag (both require advance signups). Sign up for the Escape Room, which has a scientific observatory theme. It's pricy at $35 per person (minimum age 12), and there weren't as many puzzles to solve as in commercial escape rooms on land.

SCORE AN INCREDIBLE TIME

With so much to do on board, you won't feel like you're on an old ship. You'll feel like you're on an action-packed ship — one that might be the perfect size for active friends and family looking to have outsized fun on a quick getaway. Often cruise lines offer special rates that cannot be displayed to the general public. By registering with Cruise.com you will be able to view these special rates and offers. Whether you prefer onboard thrills or beachside chill, raise a glass of bubbly at our Champagne Bar and toast to a day well-spent. From bold bruts to crisp cremants, discover your perfect pairing for adventure at sea.

Plan ahead but embrace the unexpected: what first-time cruisers need to know - Royal Caribbean Blog

Plan ahead but embrace the unexpected: what first-time cruisers need to know.

Posted: Sat, 05 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Continental breakfast (juice, coffee, tea, pastries and bread, cereal, fruit and yogurt) is complimentary from 6 to 11 a.m. Hot American breakfast (pancakes, eggs, potatoes and bacon/sausage) incurs the fee. If you're going to splurge on dinner, I'd recommend the ship's Italian eatery Giovanni's Table instead. It's a tad cheaper at $47.99 per person for dinner ($14.99 for kids) or $22.99 for lunch, and I thought my meal there was nicer than the one at Chops. Your protein comes naked on the plate, so dress it up with sauces and sides, not to mention appetizers, soups, salads and dessert. The pretzel mini-baguettes and mushroom soup are not to be missed.

Night 14 Nt Spain & Portugal TransatlanticDetails

The performances are great fun -- more than making up in creativity, spectacle and energy what they lack in technical difficulty. During the day this space is transformed into the laser tag arena, which inflates and deflates between ice shows. Independence of the Seas is a Freedom-class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International. The 15-deck ship was built in the Aker Finnyards Turku Shipyard, Finland. At 154,407 GT,[4] she joined Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas as the largest cruise ships and passenger vessels when built. She is 1,112 feet (339 m) long, and typically cruises at 21.6 knots (40.0 km/h; 24.9 mph).

RCI-Royal Caribbean opens bookings for 2025 European cruises

In the evening, the ship does have a suggested dress code. On my cruise, the themes were resort casual, dress-to-impress and tropical. Specialty restaurants state their dress codes are smart casual (Giovanni's and Izumi) or formal (Chops), but on a three-night cruise, the only dress code is nearly anything goes. If you want to toast your good fortune in your cabin, you're good, but if you want to bring your preferred vintage to a restaurant or lounge, you'll need to pay a $15 corkage fee. If serenity is what you seek, the spa is located on Deck 12 forward, directly above the fitness center. Get your hair and nails done in the salon or melt away your work-life stress with a massage or facial.

Other Royal Caribbean cruise ships

But I didn't see any sloppy drunk guests stumbling through the public decks or getting sick in cabin hallways. Mostly, I encountered groups of people ready to have the best time at every event around the ship, whose energy was infectious and made all the activities a bit more high-octane and fun. Forward of the main pools, the solarium features two minipools, bar, shaded lounge space and two oversized hot tubs cantilevered over the sides of the ship — all reserved for adults ages 16+.

royal caribbean cruise independence of the seas

Ocean View Panoramic Suite

I did find a more interesting drink menu at the Schooner Bar (desert pear margarita, anyone?), but that was the only time I saw a different cocktail list. For a ship that loves to party, I was disappointed that Royal Caribbean hasn't hopped on the creative cocktail trend like some of its competitor cruise lines. I've since learned the Schooner Bar menu is new, so if it's successful, perhaps Royal Caribbean will add new cocktail menus to other bars on board.

(Unless you keep your curtains closed, people can look straight into your cabin from below.) And if you're planning on early nights -- forget it -- there are almost nightly parades on the Promenade outside your cabin. Beds, covered with duvets, can be configured as twins (narrower than American-style single beds) or as a queen, with a small chest of drawers either side (or in the middle). There is a double closet with plenty of hanging space and drawers, where you will also find the safe. The majority of the ship's five-night Western Caribbean cruises visit CocoCay and Cozumel, Mexico, while a handful go to Nassau, Grand Cayman Island or Falmouth, Jamaica instead. The four-night Eastern Caribbean sailings call on Royal Caribbean's private beach in Labadee, Haiti, with two days at sea. One deck up on the Promenade, Ale & Anchor is the ship's British-style pub.

Come at the right point and catch the waiters singing and dancing. Sorrento's is the late-night pizza parlor, open until 2 or 3 a.m. Eat all the pizza you want; it's included in your cruise fare. Cheese and pepperoni are always available, with a third flavor that changes daily.

Some are included in the cost of the cruise, while others have an additional charge. Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for KidsGet your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books. These are the Royal Caribbean editions with places like Studio B and Sorrento's featured. A deck below you'll find another feature -- a suspended climbing frame, which is more aimed at kids.

Follows the complete list of Independence of the Seas lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults. Additional amenities include Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Supervised Youth program, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry. Mini-fridges, stocked with for-fee items, are tucked into one side of each vanity. Tea- and coffee-making facilities are tucked away in a closet. I ate at Chops Grille on dress-to-impress night, and I can say that Royal Caribbean cruisers have varied notions of how to impress with their fashion. In Chops, I saw men wearing both shorts and jeans though most were wearing collared polo or button-down tropical-style shirts.

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