Excellent experience
Independence of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Southern
8 Night Eastern Caribbean (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)
Sail date: January 19, 2013
Ship: Independence of the Seas
Cabin type: Inside
Traveled as: Large Group
Reviewed: 11 years ago
Review summary
Being our first cruise, we found this exceeded our expectations. From the stateroom to the dining room and everything between, the Royal Caribbean knows how to provide the best travelling experience. Now we know why people say they are hooked on cruising! Our stateroom attendant kept our room tidied each morning and evening, and left a towel creation that impressed us each day. The meals we had at the Windjammer were so varied we never had to eat the same thing twice, but because it was so good, we did! The meals in the dining room were exceptional - and made only more special by the people who waited on us, and made every evening a magical time. These crew members went above and beyond to provide a personalized and caring experience, sharing tidbits of their lives and making us all feel so special! The entertainment was enjoyable, but it was challenging to find seats unless you could arrive at least a half hour before showtime. The Royal Promenade was always fun to stroll, and there was delicious baked goods at Cafe Promenade and an awesome pizza/salad bar at Sorrento's. The activities available are endless and in 8 days we still didn't get around to doing all we wanted to. An ample library provides plenty of reading material while sunbathing. The days we docked were also exceptionally enlightening; tried to do a tour of each island stop when possible to get a feel for the local culture. We chose the "My time" dining and that worked out very well for never having to wait for our reservation. We would definitely consider a cruise again and would definitely travel Royal Caribbean again.Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Onboard Activities
Entertainment
Children's Programs
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
Board the ship early the first day. Even though the cruise didn't leave Ft. Lauderdale until 5:30 we were on in time to have lunch and get a chance to explore where everything is before the actual cruise began. Once our cabins were ready and luggage had arrived, we were able to start unpacking. Make every minute count! Get to the ice-show and Alhambra theatre early, the shows fill up quickly.
Ports of call
Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida
Philipsburg, St. Maarten Did not visit port
San Juan, Puerto Rico Did not visit port
Labadee (Cruise Line Private Island) Did not visit port