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Royal Caribbean IOS 6 day - Compared to my Carnival cruises.

seannyice81
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seannyice81

seannyice81

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Just back from my 6 day Independence of the Seas cruise which sadly came to an end yesterday. I had a great time on the ship, in Grand Cayman, Falmouth, and Labadee. This was my first Royal Caribbean cruise following 2 cruises with Carnival. I obviously couldn't help comparing the two lines. While some may think theres no comparison, I found it just about a draw. I'll give you a run down on how it went.

 

Embarkation- We (4 of us) arrived at FLL around 12:30 in the afternoon. We gathered our things and met up with the transfer staff near the baggage claim. We waited about 5 mins and we were taken to the bus where we waited another 5 mins and then took off for Port Everglades. Once at Port Everglades, we were dropped off at Terminal 29. Imagine a plain wharehouse with security and RCI check-in desks. I noticed a few signs that said "pardon our dust, were working on..." Thing is though, is that it didn't seem like any work was being done. It just seemed like they'd move the temporary walls when needed. No biggie. We were through the check-in process VERY FAST and on the boat in no time! I loved that. Carnival's terminals at Miami are much, much nicer, but waiting for "Zones" to be called seemed to take an eternity. I can't really discriminate here because this is more about the terminals than the lines. Honestly though, I'll take being hearded in a wharehouse and getting right on the boat, over having to wait for zones anyday.

 

The Ship - The Independence of the Seas was BIG and gorgeous. Everything was very clean, if not spotless, and kept that way. The ship is about 1/3 bigger than Carnival's Conquest Class ships and its obvious from the interior promenade to the 3 main pool areas. It was huge. I found I could navigate it fairly easily, though the others I was with said the Carnival Liberty had a much easier lay-out. I agreed, but realize its mostly due to the size. One thing I appreciated was how the interior promenade was above the Casino. This meant I wouldn't have to smell cigarettes walking along the ship. Speaking of promenades, I've very torn in which I like better. Carnival's had nice seating along the very large windows looking outside. RCI's was like a European market street, complete with a Morgan (car). The Schooner Bar is much nicer than Carnival's piano bars. The thing I liked most was being able to stand on the bow of the ship and the overhangs outside the dining room windows. The Flowrider, rock wall, tons of things to do. My biggest pet peeve? The HATEFUL revolving doors for deck 11 near the Windjammer entrance. Overall, this one goes to RCI. What a ship!

 

Cabins - We had a 4 guest interior cabin, in the middle of deck 7, forward. It was fairly spacious, mostly comfortable, and well kept by housekeeping. In comparison to the balcony cabins on the Carnival Liberty and Glory though, I prefer the Carnival cabins. Even mentally visualizing them as inside cabins. Why? The closet storage was better, the beds (especially the bunks) and linens were more comfy. Additionally, Carnival provides "gift baskets" with toiletries/extras, shelves in the bathroom offered more storage than IOS's cabinet which needed new hinges, the bath towels felt like sandpaper (lack of softener?), The "interactive" TV's operation was awkward (if it worked). I preferred RCI's shower doors to Carnival's curtain, but Carnivals shower head would stay put if you cranked up the shower.

 

Service/Crew - The staff on IOS was very professional with exception of 1 instance (I'll get there later). They did everything I asked them to mostly with smiles, no issue. Not much to really complain about. The cabin steward introduced himself and happily obliged my needs/request for our cabin. Bartenders were good, but very, very busy. It was better/faster to flag-down a waiter on the outside decks. Dining room staff were good, not great. They would occasionally step on one another's toes while taking orders, doing more than one person's job. The reception desk/excrusion staff was nice except for one lady. I was given attitude when I asked for additional Customs forms. None of us in the cabin were related and it was lost on her as to why we requested more than one. To the opposite, the spa staff (particularly Jessica of South Africa) were best that I interacted with over the course of the whole trip. Our CD, Joff, was rarely seen outside of Quest/Alhambra. In contrast, the Carnival CDs were everywhere. Especially Karl of the Liberty. The staff on my Carnival Liberty sailing trumped the IOS staff. They were just as professional, faster, more outgoing and (what I liked best) easier to interact with. They had a better sense of friendliness. The same for the staff on the Carnival Glory, even considering a couple hiccups with housekeeping. I prefer the Carnival staff.

 

Entertainment - NO CONTEST... ROYAL CARIBBEAN! What a difference! First off... LIVE REGGAE/CARIBBEAN BAND! Secondly, they had an orchestra! The stage shows were better! Quest was very fun! The DJ was good! The piano man was good! the Singer at the Dog and Badger Pub was good! The Synergy band that played in the Pyramid Lounge was even good and they were the ones I liked the least. Many of the events were typical cruise type things, but all of them fun. Carnival... are you reading this? Carnival's DJs on the Liberty were good, All entertainment on the Glory was ho-hum. Hasbro the Game Show is over-rated.

 

Food - This was a surprise. Carnival wins! I was really expecting better from RCI. The food I had on IOS was just... bland. Even Chops! Dining room service took forever, even in comparison to Carnival's reduced dining room staff! The food options and quality were just plain better on my Carnival cruises. It didn't taste as good, I never had the desire for "seconds." I would have KILLED for a Blue Iguana Cantina on the IOS! Johnny Rockets was decent, but I liked the very sloppy Guy's Burgers more (and there was no charge for that). Carnival's pizza can be hit or miss, but Sorrento's was plain weak on IOS. The pizza crust was like damp cardboard. The specialty coffee places were a draw, at good. Carnival's steak house food and service was better than IOS's Chops Grill, except for the ridiculous cheesecake dessert Carnival offers in theirs. Windjammer was a mess, though there were less people dining in bathing suits. The layout didn't do anything to help against crowding. I did like the views from the back of the ship though. I didn't have the opportunity to try the italian joint on board IOS.

 

Excursions/Ports - About the same, though RCI guests weren't as inclined to crowd prior to tendering or stepping off the ship. Excursions were on par with one another. The Dragon's Breath Zipline at Labadee is awesome, and everyone should try it!

 

Shopping/souvenirs - There are 3 things I like to bring back from cruises. 1 cool souvenir cup for parties, one ship shaped magnet for my tool box, and one beach towel. RCI just about failed to deliver on all these. There were no ship magnets, the only way I would get a towel is if I failed to return a beat-up towel to the exchange. On the last day, I lucked out and bought the "beer can" souvenir cup. Carnival has cups in the shape of funnels, disco balls, blowfish, etc... I also have the option to buy unused beach towels and ship magnets. RCI was pushing the dollar store chocolate tins with IOS stickers on them. No thanks. The sales seemed pretty good otherwise. Just like Carnival, they were pushing Invicta watches and jewelry by the inch or whatever. The girls came back with bags of stuff, so I guess they liked the sales.

 

Debarkation - VERY easy, back in terminal 29. A little too early, but it didn't take much time getting off the boat. Done, through customs, and on the taxi/shuttle much faster than the last cruises out of Miami.

 

Overall, its really hard to pick one over the other. I liked the IOS, but the food was meh'. I like Carnival's food and pricing, but the ship's aren't as nice and entertainment is lacking. I did sign-up for the Crown and Anchor Society though. I'm sure I'll cruise with BOTH Royal Caribbean and Carnival in the future. Next cruise..? Might have to try NCL.

 

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mandaleigh

mandaleigh

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Great comparison!

 

Every Royal ship I've been on have had ship shaped magnets. Usually a few styles as well. I have Oasis, Liberty, and Explorer.

 

Towels can be pre ordered to your room through gifts and gear. They are huge!

 

Just trying to help out.

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seannyice81

seannyice81

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Great comparison!

 

Every Royal ship I've been on have had ship shaped magnets. Usually a few styles as well. I have Oasis, Liberty, and Explorer.

 

Towels can be pre ordered to your room through gifts and gear. They are huge!

 

Just trying to help out.

 

I asked about the magnets... and the clerk looked at me like I had no idea what I was talking about. They had Magnets for all the stops, but none for the ship.

 

The towels... dang! All the planning for the cruise and I never looked at that page.

Edited by seannyice81
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devvt

devvt

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I'm sorry you did not enjoy the food in the main dining room. Would you happen to know whether the menus were the new ones that have been promised for a while or were the old offerings still in place?

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seannyice81

seannyice81

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I'm sorry you did not enjoy the food in the main dining room. Would you happen to know whether the menus were the new ones that have been promised for a while or were the old offerings still in place?

 

From what I've read here, I believe they were the old ones and that they're going to be new this current cruise or the next.

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cerving

cerving

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We were also on this cruise....Thanks for the review.

 

We loved everything about The Independance, so much that we booked it for next year.

 

Couldn't have asked for better weather....

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jebl

jebl

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I had a similar problem with the Logo shop on IOS. I collect the brass Christmas tree ornaments. They had none in the shop last Dec.

 

Sailed the sister ship Liberty and it is much better IMO. Pizza in Sorrento's is actually good, not the tasteless cardboard on IOS.

 

As for the food, quality on all lines has declined in recent years. The new menus leave a lot to be desired. They did have a great steak on the alternative menu on IOS. Miss the Vidalia Onion Tart on the first night though.

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seannyice81

seannyice81

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We were also on this cruise....Thanks for the review.

 

We loved everything about The Independance, so much that we booked it for next year.

 

Couldn't have asked for better weather....

 

The weather really was awesome! Could not have been better!

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  • 2 years later...
peteukmcr

peteukmcr

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Thanks for your comparisons. Having just sailed on Carnival for the first time on Valor I can agree on most of your points except I disliked the layout of Valor and find RCI ships so much easier to navigate. However, I also believe the food is far superior on Carnival and the Lido buffet is so much better than RCI Windjammer. Overall IMHO Carnival trumps RCI these days for value.

 

Celebrity is next up for our comparison, we're then back to RCI but off to P&O and then NCL.

Edited by peteukmcr
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  • 3 weeks later...

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