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As I've written about before, I'm not a huge fan of the cruise ship buffet. But for a mass-market cruise ship, Independence of the Seas has a pretty great buffet. Royal Caribbean excels at passenger flow on its ships, which makes its megaships feel manageable. Independence of the Seas is easy to navigate, and I rarely had the "you can't get there from here" experience I've had on other cruise lines.
Playmaker's
“It is only pendejo dining today, sir.” “But I have a suite! ” I say, already starting to catch on to the ship’s class system. I am wearing a DADDY’S LITTLE MEATBALL T-shirt, I want to say to him. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Rates are in USD and valid for US and Canadian residents only. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S.
Inside Cabin
On the other side of the casino, the nautical-themed Schooner's is the place to go for piano singalongs and trivia (usually catering to an older crowd). The desert pear margarita is popular, though I preferred the lavender martini. Sushi seating can only be done on board in person at the restaurant. Pricing is a la carte, though you can pay a flat rate of $39.99 and receive half rolls with each order. Hibachi reservations should be made as far in advance as possible.
bars & lounges
The Royal Babies & Tots Nursery entertains the youngest cruisers for a fee, but kids ages 3 and up can enjoy supervised fun for free at Adventure Ocean. The different groups of kids — Aquanauts (ages 3-5), Explorers (6-8) and Voyagers (9-11) — have their own play space, but depending on the number of children on board, they might get play time in another age group's space. Tweens and teens ages 12 to 17 can play video games and hang out in The Living Room and show off their dance moves in the Fuel teen nightclub.
Independence had as much variety in the evening as at lunchtime, with gluten-free and interesting international (mostly Asian and Indian) stations, as well as a well-stocked salad bar and always-available burgers and hot dogs. Daily-rotating themed stations offered interesting options, such as Jamaican food on the night I stopped by. You can get a good preview of the cruise ahead of you by lingering at the pool deck buffet on embarkation day.
Celebrity and RCI-Royal Caribbean cancel additional cruises due to COVID
Independence of the Seas is also very similar to sister ship Freedom of the Seas. They’re both part of the Freedom class and virtually carbon copies of each other. The only main difference between them is that Independence has a Sky Pad, which the Freedom does not. Independence of the Seas is the third and final of Royal Caribbean's ground-breaking Freedom-class ships -- once the largest in the world before the launch of Oasis of the Seas and its sister ships. Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year.
Independence of the Seas Bars and Drinks
One of the most popular venues on the Promenade is the Cafe Promenade. 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. A meal costs $62.99 for dinner ($14.99 for kids ages 6-12) and $26.99 for lunch. The heart of Independence of the Seas' dining lineup is its three-deck-high main dining room, with a Shakespearean decor theme.
Independence of the Seas Suites Come with A Host of Perks, Including Free Canapes and Concierge Services
Sadly, the SS Independence made her last trip across the ocean in February 2008 when she was towed out to sea from San Francisco. In 2009, the classic ship the SS Independence was scrapped at the Alang, India ship scrapyard. For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. In addition, average cruise prices are updated nightly.
Join A Late-Night Singalong At Schooner Bar
Everything I ordered was delicious, from the bright green arugula salad starter to the gnocchi gorgonzola pasta (save your stomach and order a half portion!) and perfectly cooked branzino fish. You could probably skip dessert here, but a companion and I enjoyed the chocolate-hazelnut cake and panna cotta with strawberry and basil flavors. Independence of the Seas has three marquee, extra-fee specialty restaurants and a host of fee-free and a la carte casual options.
The Icon of the Seas is the Linda Loman of cruise ships, exclaiming that attention must be paid. The SS Independence was originally launched during the heyday of ocean travel of the 1950's but was treated to more than $78 million in refurbishments from 1994 to 2001 by her various owners. The ship is one of the few major cruise ships built in the United States, having been constructed at the Bethlehem Steel Company in Quincy, Massachusetts for American Export Lines of New York.
'Like a scene from the movie Twister': Video shows wicked Florida weather causes chaos on cruise ship at port - FOX 35 Orlando
'Like a scene from the movie Twister': Video shows wicked Florida weather causes chaos on cruise ship at port.
Posted: Wed, 21 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Among best "fun hits" on the ship are the surfing simulator, and all the "ice skating" and "rock-climbing" activities. For adults, there is plenty of space for sports activities (modern fitness center, and even a boxing ring), many bars and lounges, the adult-only Solarium area. The ship is divided into three sections, top to bottom. The upper decks (11 to 15) are where you'll find all the outdoor fun and activities, as well as the buffet and spa. The middle decks (6 to 10) contain exclusively cabins and suites, so you can ignore all of these except the deck where your room is located.
(Only Suites are granted these robes to begin with.) Today, I will try many of the activities these ships have on offer to provide their clientele with a sense of never-ceasing motion. Storm Chasers consists of falling from the “mast” down a long, twisting neon tube filled with water, like being the camera inside your own colonoscopy, as you hold on to the handles of a mat, hoping not to die. The tube then flops you down headfirst into a trough of water, a Royal Caribbean baptism. There is a middle-aged African American couple who always seem to be asleep in each other’s arms, probably exhausted from the late capitalism they regularly encounter on land.
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. Royal Caribbean guests of legal drinking age can bring one bottle of wine or Champagne onto Independence of the Seas at boarding, plus up to a dozen standard cans, bottles or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks such as sodas. Certain suite guests and upper-tier loyalty program members receive complimentary Wi-Fi, so know your included perks before you sign up for a package. Often you can get the best discounts on onboard Wi-Fi by purchasing your plans online in advance of your cruise. Members of Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society cruise loyalty program may also be eligible for discounts on Wi-Fi packages.
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