This was just a sinple 3-day weekend cruise, so we knew there would be a higher chance at the "party" crowd. But WOW... it was way worse than any RCL cruise we have been on before. Overall this felt more like a Carnival cruise vs RCL... in food quality, service quality, and loud drunk passengers. The 2hrs of twerking in the Solarium infinity hottubs was a bit much. 🙄
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Embarkation was a breeze... took all of 5 mins!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
Over-all we were disappointed with the food on this cruise. It definitely wasn't up to the quality or variety of what we have come to expect from RCL. The Windjammer buffet was sub-par for sure. They often were 5-10 mins late opening, and even then the staff were not in place and ready to start serving guest when they walked in. Far too often you would have 1 staff for a two sided station trying to serve, which resulted in a bottleneck backup line of people. This was at most stations which resulted in it taking 10+ mins to get your food before going to sit down. Also there was zero service once seated. No one asked if you wanted a drink or refill on drinks... even when there were several staff aimlessly wandering around. This was a clear leadership problem we noticed in all of the food and beverage venues. Food quality was ehhh... variety was slim. Pretty much the best thing of the 3 day cruise was scratch made mongolian, which was great! But even that, they only had one night, vs typically every night.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
There was only the headliner comedy show, which was pretty good and the ice skating show, which was ehh. 3 pairs of skaters with limited tricks and fell several times, or bailed on a trick... aka single axle vs double /triple, or sinple jump vs split jump.. etc. Weve seen WAY better on previous RCL cruises and even on our Dec Independence cruise. Pools and hottubs were slammed all the time... and twerking going on in the solarium hottub.. 🙄
Entertainment
3 out of 5
DJs did pretty good, no major stage shows (aka grease wasnt played), and onboard singers and bands we just ok. Seemed much more like a Carnival cruise vs RCL
Service and Staff
2 out of 5
Our room steward was good, but the rest of the service onboard was lax to apathetic. Out on deck, we never saw anyone taking drink orders, except from one guy going to the same hottub full of girls twerking. Even on Cococay,not a single person checking for drink orders in the cove.... or in the cassino. This was a first in all of our RCL cruises... and we are Diamond level.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The Independence was clean, and windows were clear.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
We had a foreward facing ocean view cabin, 12-1852. The view was great, but bed was hard as a rock, and even two extra comforters couldnt help make it comfortable. Als the cabin shook, and rattled with the wind and seas.. which werent much... only 30mph winds and 5-12ft seas. Definitely would NOT recommend this cabin. Also the bathroom was the smallest of ANY ship or cruise line we have been on.
Disembarkation
3 out of 5
Disembarkation was a mess!! We were 90min late pulling into Port Canaveral, and zero announcements and few staff direction passengers... which resulted in a 200+ person line wrapping around deck 4 inside and outside the ship.. and we were group A!! It took us 30 min to disembark... which is a first in all of our RCL cruises! Every other RCL cruise has been a max of 5 min to disembark with zero line. Again.. this felt more like a Carnival cruise vs what we have come to expect from RCL.
Thanks for the review. When cruising during prime Spring Break season (Mar / Apr), choose an 10 day or longer to cut down most of the “party” crowds.
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4 Comments
javawoody 2 years ago
earlydawn 2 years ago
CruzeFan 2 years ago
Gwbigdog 2 years ago