OKAY Caribbean Cruise
Independence of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western
5 Night Western Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)
Sail date: November 10, 2023
Ship: Independence of the Seas
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: 8516
Traveled as: Large Group
Reviewed: 7 months ago
Review summary
I was on this cruise to celebrate my birthday with my children and family. My room was very dated, visibly dirty so apparently it hadn’t been disinfected or cleaned. I had to wipe fingerprints and unknown elements off the door, light switches, doorknobs, handles, common touched areas etc. I spoke with group services prior to our sail date to coordinate all 12 people that were coming to celebrate my birthday with me. I spent a lot of time which I can’t get back trying to resolve one issue after the next! Everyone was seated at tables that were not together. They were finally able to accommodate us the next day but not right away. The food was not good therefore some people chose to eat at the buffet to get a variety of food options. The sleeper sofa/couch had extremely noticeable wear and tear (holes, rips, stains) all through it. On or around the second night of the cruise there was “maintenance” performed on the balcony which included painting/staining of some sort and gave us less than twenty-four hours’ notice the night before. We could NOT utilize it due to the fumes and tackiness of the substance on the banister. I actually paid for a balcony suite, which is unacceptable! My stateroom attendant did not leave bag tags the night before, so I was in the GUEST service line for over an hour therefore missing “my birthday” dinner with my family on the last night. I spent most of my “vacation time” troubleshooting unresolved issues to ensure I enjoyed my vacation. Unfortunately, our cruise was marred by an unexpected and unfortunate occurrence during our stop in Jamaica, causing us to lose valuable time. We had booked an excursion, and regrettably, over an hour of the prepaid experience was lost. Moreover, our time in Nassau took a tragic turn as the boat we were on during the excursion sank, resulting in trauma, injuries, and tragically, the loss of one life. This unforeseen and distressing event made our cruise an incredibly harrowing and unforgettable experience. I was very disappointed. Due to my most recent cruise, I would most defiantly not recommend Royal Caribbean! My first cruise was in 1996 (Majesty of the Seas/7 Night Western Caribbean) and I was beyond delighted, the cruise exceeded every expectation! I cruised in 2006 (Adventure of the Seas/ 7 Night Southern Caribbean ) and was very disappointed with the food selection and quality. I will more than likely NEVER consider going with Royal Caribbean or recommending you all to friends or family in the future.Embarkation
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