Independence of the Seas Cruise Reviews - Reviews

Accommodations were excellent.  Food was out of sight. Entertainment was absolutely great.  Especially the ice show. Highlight of the trip. Wheelchair assistance was extremely accessible and helpful.

The cruise was good.  I feel like they nickel and dime you for everything.  I was very upset with Vacation Outlet.  I was suppose to get an onboard credit of $100.00 from Royal Carribean, and they said Royal Carribean would not give it to me.  I spoke with Royal Carribean personnel while on cruise at guest services and they said that was vacation outlet who should give it to me.  Very disturbing.  The women who cleaned our room - Wonderful - Our waiters at dinner - Wonderful

They need to work on the food, not quality, but serve different kind of food, not the same thing day after day. Too many spring breakers, the bartenders did not follow the law and I personally saw kids (looking like 17/18) drunk and with water battle filled up with hard liquor. 

This cruise ship was lovely from the time we entered the ship.  The service, however, lacked some.  I have been on about 15 cruises in my life and this was the worst for service.  The bar servers just didn't care if they helped you or not.  The bar service in the casino was even worse as there really wasn't any at all.  I actually would have to leave my game, go to the bar, wait in an absurd long line for a drink, and then wait some more.  Dining room service was equally frustrating.  I was shocked because this is the first cruise where I was not satisfied with service.  The ship was gorgeous and very clean.  Cabin was surprisingly nice and comfortable.  Just can't get past the poor service! 

This was everything a cruise should be. We've been on 5 cruises but this was exceptional. We were traveling with someone who had dietary issues and a novice couple all felt like it was a great vacation. The only downer was several excursions were canceled at the last minute...The food and waiters were tremendous especially with our food requirements 

Third cruise with Royal Caribbean for my wife and I. First cruise for my parents and 4 children (5-23 years old). Ship was clean. Plenty of activities on board. Service was great. Labadee was great. The beaches are a bit rocky under the waves. Took a tram tour of Falmouth. Tour was worthwhile. Did not appear to be a place I would want to explore with my family on foot. 

Had a excellent trip with My Mom who had never taken a cruise before.  I have been an several (about 8) cruises.  Royal Caribbean was the right choice for my Mom who is 70.  Dining and amount of activities just right.  

Ship experience was great, our servers in the main dining room were outstanding along with all the staff at all the venues, bars, wind jammer...ect.  Olive and Twist e and the band was great.  We also really enjoyed the Motown show in the theatre!

This was the same itinerary that we went on two years ago, but the last time we were on the Liberty.  I have also been on the Freedom.  All three of these ships are essentially the same so I expected similar experiences.  I was a bit disappointed in the fact that there seemed to be some difference between the ships.  Many things were very similar, however getting on and off the ship in Ft. Lauderdale was not what was expected.  We were delayed getting on and it took forever to get off.   I was a bit bothered by the fact that the ship seemed more of a mess than it's sister ships...on the Freedom and Liberty glasses/bottles were picked up quickly but I noticed many were left around on the Independence.  I believe people should throw them in the trash cans, but you know that never happens and the crew on the Independence seemed to have a hard time keeping up with it.  The bartenders at the Schooner bar were fabulous and the bartenders at the other bars were pretty good as well.  The shows were great...I had seen the comedian before, but have never gone to the Quest game show or the Battle of the Sexes.  Both were hilariously entertaining...for the right audience...don't go if crude humor bothers you and leave the kids at the kids club if you go.  Overall it was a fun time. 

Table service with Robert and Martin table # 515 the best

Cabin attended Frederic excellent cabin clean and service great

Windjammer servers were outstanding

Everyone pleasant and helpful

The Independence had so much talent from the ice skating show to the welcome show and farewell show. Singing and dancing was amazing. 70's dance party was so much fun. The cruise director Leigh was one of the best and really made this cruise amazing. Same for the activities Manager Frankie. 

Food is always great. Ate at Giovanni's Table for the first time and the food was very enjoyable. It's a good size ship with a lot to do.

Had a great time on our cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Cozumel.  There is something for everyone on the ship.  We traveled on the Independence of the Seas.  The food was good, the entertainment so good and varied, and the staff could not have been more helpful or nice. Kudos all around. 

Royal Caribbean did not meet expectations of other cruises we have been on.  We found dirty glasses in our cabin when we boarded the ship. On the last night of the cruise, our table for two had a dirty table cloth from previous diners. We were unable to enjoy the outdoor movie due to kids in the pool and running around on the ship. It would seem that the pool could be closed for two hours of a five day cruise so adults could enjoy a movie. Ship was over crowded. Will not cruise with Royal Caribbean again.  This was the ninth cruise we have been on and the least enjoyed. 

During our trip I was suffering thru kidney stones. the medical staff was very kind and our cabin steward was so attentive, compassionate and helpful. they really stepped up and gave fantastic care.

The ship was beautiful. The food was delicious.  The servers very accommodating.  However, there was a delay with disembarking the previous cruise and we were left standing in line in the terminal for hours.  When we finally were able to check in and go upstairs, we still were not permitted to board.  We were asked to take a seat. We finally boarded and proceeded to the Windjammer Marketplace on deck 11 to have a very late lunch.  As we attempted to get on line we were advised that the restaurant was closed as everyone had to attend muster.  We were also told that the Windjammer would reopen after muster. Many passengers went back to Windjammer after muster only to find that the doors were locked.  No one was available to explain what was happening.  We finally all went down to the Promenade deck where we had the choice of standing on a 20 minute long waiting line for a slice of pizza at Sorrento's or a mini sandwich at Cafe Promenade.  By this point we were exhausted, hungry and very unhappy.  Then an announcement was made saying that we wouldn't be sailing for hours.  If we weren't sailing on time, muster could have been delayed and we all could have had lunch,  At this point I just wanted to shower and change, so we went to our stateroom and there was no luggage.  So we went back down to the Promenade and waited till 8:00 PM {as per the cruise line's paperwork that is the latest luggage will be delivered} before going back to our stateroom to change for dinner.  We were greeted with one out of three pieces of our luggage.  We then went to guest services where we had to find our luggage in a group of others that were apparently just misplaced.  No one had a reason as to why our luggage was there. So we took our bags to our stateroom and had to leave for our 8:30 dinner seating.  No opportunity to shower or change clothes.  Not a good first day!

I'm aware the cruise line has no control over the weather, but it would be nice if they had any sort of rain contingency plan, There is not a lot to do on days that are supposed to be port days when the weather is bad.  At least Celebrity had the decency to supply umbrellas to their passengers.  Royal Caribbean gave out towels!  Not helpful in the pouring rain.

We had a wonderful time on the Independence of the Seas.  The highlights were the balcony room, the entertainment on board, and the overall activities available.  The weather was not accommodating for our shore excursions due to rain, but did not dampen our experience.  Departing the ship was also slow due to Customs, probably something that more experienced travelers are already aware.  We are looking forward to the next time that we have the opportunity for a cruise, most likely would not choose Haiti or Jamaica again.

The ship and staff were fantastic, food was awesome, and the entertainment was fabulous. Our cruise was late to start due to a prior death metal cruise that they had chartered the week before. The ship and boarding process was a wreck due to the damage control from the prior cruise. Our cruise was over 4 hours late to leave port due to unloading scaffolding from the heavy metal concert platforms; and the morale of the customers did not lighten until the 3rd day. It is sad that other customers have to suffer due to other charter cruises' mishaps.

This will probably be the last time I sail with RCI after five consecutive cruises.  We always look forward to disembarking day:  we like to get on board around noon, get a lay of the ship and have a cocktail as we do our bon voyage and sail at sunset.  This was an especially important cruise to us as it was our engagement cruise.  It seems as though RCI decided to lease out this ship to the headbangers of death metal prior to our cruise.  We were 3 1/2 hours late sailing and had to wait in the terminal the entire time.  Three hours!  The cruise ship staff were still attempting get the headbanger passengers off the ship.  We literally ran into some of them in the terminal.  According to some of the ship staff, most of these people were still up drinking up to 5am the morning they came back to our boarding port in Fort Lauderdale.  Apparently, the bars never closed.  The event staff responsible for removing the large stage which occupied the entire pool deck were also late.  For crying out loud, we were not able to use the entire pool deck until late afternoon on DAY TWO!!!  The "official story" from Tyler, the front desk manager, was that it was the port's fault for not providing a crane on time.  However, most of the ship staff we talked to told us that most of the previous passengers (metal death cruise) did not get out of bed on time because the were wasted crazy drunk and did not go back to their rooms until 5am!  When we finally boarded at 3:45 pm, we went up to the pool deck, excited as we usually are, only to be nearly run over by a bunch of "roadies" moving large carts of stage equipment off the pool deck and into passenger elevators.  They damaged the hell out of this ship in the process.  I have the photos to prove it.  I left two messages in person at the front desk on day 1 and day 2.  I was told that Nyana, your assistant front desk manager would be giving me a call.  Never heard from her, EVER!  On day three, your front desk manager, Tyler called and offered 20% off OUR NEXT CRUISE based on what we paid for this cruise.  Presumptive of you to assume I would ever sail with you again based on this experience.  You took one day away from my cruise and all you can think of are ways to get me to spend MORE money with you?!  Insane!!  RCI categorically failed to take any responsibility for the terrible events on day1/day 2.  That's what really irritates me.  OWN IT!!!  The only glimmers of hope on your ship are:  Irena, cocktail waitress in the Schooner Bar, Mary and her staff in the dining room, level 3, and Lewis, our room attendant.  These people should train everyone on your ship regarding customer service, INCLUDING YOUR CAPTAIN!!!   The way the ship is run goes right to the top.  If the way this ship is run is any indication of the ways that RCI now runs the fleet, I will tell everyone on meet in person and on social media, to find a new cruise line.    I still cannot believe that RCI would lease one of the nicest ships in the fleet to this raunchy bunch of characters.  They trashed your ship.  It looks like RCI has chosen quick profit over return loyalty customers.  I'm done.

My husband, myself, and some of our friends decided on this cruise to celebrate our one year anniversary married! We traveled on the Brilliance of the Sea's ship in 2014 for our honeymoon and fell in love with cruising. This trip we wanted to explore a little more of the ports we got to visit. All the staff was so courtesy, attentive, fun, and kind to us. They truly have some of the best staff in the world. There was so many activities to keep us busy and tons of fun opportunities to meet people and enjoy our five week get away. Jamaica was fun to shop around and meet some of the locals who craft and sell their arts. We didn't travel outside of the port area too far. We did get to make it down to the Fire station and the firefighters talked with us and told us about their procedures and showed us around a little bit. Haiti was beautiful. Beaches everywhere. Places to relax and soak up the sun and swim. I thoroughly enjoyed this vacation and recommend it to anyone and everyone. We loved it so much we have already booked our cruise next year for the Oasis ship. I would absolutely go on this adventure again. I've been telling all my family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances (anyone that will listen) to take this trip-you will not be disappointed. You'll probably fall in love and become addicted to cruising! 

Still not sure why, but embarkation was a nightmare, stood for 2 hours in line (Diamond) member because there were immigration issues?? Ship is in good shape, room fine, food ok, not great. Ice show lots of fun, spa fine, Cozumel was great as always. Big disappointment as we couldn't dock at Costa Maya because of high winds and waves. Heard dock wasn't well built and this is a constant problem with this new port. So, 5 day cruise and 1 port...ugh!!! Disembarkation was fine. RCL should have communicated better about embarkation issues, started cruise off badly and there was no effort to assuage anger and then it would have helped if we could have had another port on Friday so we didn't spend another day at sea.