Independence Aft Balcony 7408 & My Time Dining Question

[Nix111]

Hi

 

we are booked on Independence of the Seas on 26 July from Southampton, UK

 

We booked a guaranteed balcony, I've just logged into my booking and notice we've been allocated room 7408 - I looked at deck plans and googled it and it looks amazing, aft balcony, huge space. Has anyone stayed in this room? I'm so excited but a little nervous incase they change it to a regular now, has anyone booked guaranteed and then had a change - I hope not!

 

Also I'm trying to reserve my my time dining and it keeps saying I can't as they can't add more than 32 items to my car, I'm trying to reserve for 3 of us for a 14 night sailing - am I doing something wrong?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice / help

 

Nicky

[cb at sea]

The odds of being moved are quite small! Enjoy that space!

 

You can reserve MTD onboard....or show up without reservations...

[Peewee14]

We stayed in an aft cabin on Deck 7, albeit a JS, probably next to the one your in, a while ago

 

We have also booked a Guarentee balcony for August this year, and have been allocated an aft! it seems no one else wants them,

 

We loved the extra room on the balcony and the view at the back.

 

The only real negatives if they bother you are.

 

You have a deck below you, a crew area I think so you are kind if set back from the water (didnt bother us, in fact we felt safer with the little one for some reason)

 

Sometimes you could see and hear the crew stood out there, again didnt bother us at all

 

The only real negative, is the how far away it is from places, so if you forget something in your room, its a trek back, especially if at the front of the ship. So just popping down for a drink etc is a bit tedious, but we just saw it as walking off the calories,

 

We did find room service very very slow, but this might not be due to the cabins position I was just guessing it could be why

 

The other great thing is, No passing traffic! so very quiet!

 

You also have to have your wits about you, its easy to lose sense of direction, on 3 occasions I trudged down long corridors, only to find myself right at the front of the ship! not the back!!

 

You also feel movement more, we had a roughish crossing of the bay of biscay, and I noticed you could feel it a lot more in our room, than in the casino for instance. However, we are still convinced thats why we slept so well, we have honestly never slept better than we did on that cruise!

 

And finally, the only other thing is, you are looking down onto the Royal suite, with the hot tub! so you might feel slightly envious! Although on the cruise we did it was empty for a couple of days at the start, and they had it as a prize at the bingo! sorry for going off on a tangent, but the funny thing i still remember is the chap that won it, shouted out at the start "I am winning that suite!" and he did!!

 

Anyway, back to the point, we loved the aft cabin, and was delighted when we got assigned our aft balcony for this August!

[Nix111]

Thanks so much for the replies! It's re-assuring that we are unlikely to get moved as I'm know in love with the idea of that huge aft balcony, I found a YouTube video and it looks amazing.

 

I have a 6 year old so being set back from the sea a blessing not an issue I think and not bothered by seeing crew etc. I may be a little jealous of a hot tub but I guess I'll just have to head up to top deck if I want a dip in one!

 

I think the extra walking will help me shift those inevitable extra cruise calories too!

 

Thanks so much both for responding, really appreciated

 

Nicky

 

 

 

 

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[firstplacechef]

We have that stateroom next May! Please post pics of room and the huge balcony when you get back. I would love to know if it still has the two loungers, as well as, the chairs and tables. Have a great trip!

[Nix111]

No problem will do :)

 

 

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[Toddcan]

DO NOT change cabins - you have the best balcony on the ship!!

 

We sailed on the Independence of the Seas in March 2013.

 

We stayed in 7708, which is the other corner. Identical cabins and balconies, just mirror images. I'll post some pics of 7708.

 

First, here is a rear shot of the Freedom of the Sea (same type of ship, so the balconies & cabins are identical.

 

 

 

 

Here are some of our 7708 pics

 

 

 

 

The view is slightly "obstructed" but the superstructure didn't bother us a bit.

 

Edited June 22, 2014 by Toddcan