RCCL Independence of the Seas October 25, 2015

[gmhohio]

AF sent out an email last evening. They said there will be an unhosted gathering but didn't named a place. They said they would announce the place a couple weeks prior to the cruise.

[MattInFLL]

It would make sense for Scandals to move closer to the action. But haven't heard anything.

 

Gregg that email also said starting at 7. That's pretty early. I won't be able to get there before 9 or so. I have dinner plans with my straight group.

[gmhohio]

Gregg that email also said starting at 7. That's pretty early. I won't be able to get there before 9 or so. I have dinner plans with my straight group.

 

You are right Matt, 7PM is rather early for a bar gathering. Perhaps the A Team is thinking everyone may be running out for a Florida specialty, Early Bird Seating Specials! ;)

 

Last year Miss Conception did a mini-show at the pre-cruise gathering in Houston. Maybe she is doing another mini-show in FLL?

[Darrell6t]

I just registered for the RCCL CC Meet & Mingle. I hope that doesn't conflict with any Aquafest activity. We also book a couple of shore excursions and printed our luggage tags. So most of the really important things are done. October 25 will be here before you know it.

[CrusingJoe]

I just registered for the RCCL CC Meet & Mingle. I hope that doesn't conflict with any Aquafest activity. We also book a couple of shore excursions and printed our luggage tags. So most of the really important things are done. October 25 will be here before you know it.

 

I'd like to register for the Meet & Mingle, where can I find it and how do I do it? Thanks.

 

Joe

[Darrell6t]

I'd like to register for the Meet & Mingle, where can I find it and how do I do it? Thanks.

 

Joe

 

You go to the Roll Calls forum here on CC, the one for Royal Caribbean. When you click that, right near the top there are links to several things including "register for...". You will need your booking number along with name and such. It is really easy once you find the link. It is there before you click on a particular ship for the roll call.

[CrusingJoe]

You go to the Roll Calls forum here on CC, the one for Royal Caribbean. When you click that, right near the top there are links to several things including "register for...". You will need your booking number along with name and such. It is really easy once you find the link. It is there before you click on a particular ship for the roll call.

 

Thank you for you help. We are all registered. It showed 91 cruiser have registered so far.

[MattInFLL]

Really? I thought it was up past 150. Are you sure you picked the right one? :)

[CrusingJoe]

Really? I thought it was up past 150. Are you sure you picked the right one? :)

 

Yes that what it showed when I signed up. We are on her the week before and there are only 42 that signed up. We will see.;)

[Pandora1958]

Thought you all might be interested in review just read. Maho Beach with no sand by runway?

 

We have just returned from the 9-13 sailing of Independence and wanted to give my review of the ship and the sailing.

 

I am 35 and traveled with my DW (38). We are your average midwestern couple, who left the kids at home for a week abroad. This is our 7th cruise, all having been on Royal Caribbean. We are loyal to Royal I suppose, and booked two more cruises while on board.

 

Want to lead off by saying and making clear we had a FANTASTIC week. Want to make sure that is clear because while we had a fantastic week, we didn't feel this cruise had the same wow and perfection that we have come to expect from RCI in the past.

 

We arrived in Ft. Lauderdale Saturday night and stayed at the Cambria Suites near the airport. We got it for $64 for Hotwire. Was listed as a 3.5 star. Had free shuttle from the airport and also had a shuttle to the port available for $10. Hotel is all suites and we found it to be spacious and very accomodating. We ended up taking a taxi instead of the shuttle and it worked out fine.

 

We arrived at the port around 10:15. Checked in on the platinum line and were in the waiting area by 10.30 and on the ship just after 11. Seemed that boarding was slightly delayed from what we have experienced in the past, but was smooth and efficient. Lunch in the Windjammer and fun around the ship for the day. We were booked into balcony cabin 6628 just in front of hump. It is a connecting room, and we did notice significantly more noise than in a non-connecting room. It was either noisier or our neighbors were deaf and yelled at each other the entire trip. Could be either one. For those that care, 6628 is bed near the balcony room. Bed on right as you enter.

 

For dinner we had table 283 which was 3rd floor near window. Great table and location. Our server was a young man named Karan from India and he was fantastic. Fun and energetic. Gave really good service. It was his first contract on Indy and he goes home next week i believe.

 

We settled in for a great week.

 

Instead of day by day- let me hit you with some high points and low points and then will love to answer any questions or comments you might have.

 

Cruise Director- a cruise director shall not a cruise make or break...but we really don't care for Ricky Matthews. This is our second time to have him. Had him on Oasis couple of years back. And while I think he has toned it down some, I just don't find screaming a main source of entertainment. When he did tell jokes and the audience didn't laugh, he would make condescending comments to audience. Now, some would disagree with me but when we had Graham Seymour on Freedom, I walked away saying that is exactly what i want in a cruise director. Host great events, have good jokes, be spontaneous, and book great headliners.

 

Chops- we booked Chops twice on this cruise and felt it was really really good both times. Got incredible service both nights and food was really good. Our only regret was that we couldn't eat there every night.

 

We didn't try Giovanni's because unlike Oasis and Allure, it isn't open for lunch.

 

We bought more than our share of pictures and felt photographers on this ship were really really good. And really friendly in service. Even offered to reprint and touch up a photo that we loved but wanted different lighting.

 

 

In seven cruises we had never done trivia and decided to give it a go a few times this cruise. Was a lot of fun, though we never won. Staff did a great job making it fun and keeping it light. Loved the theme trivias too.

 

Ports:

San Juan- really don't understand this port for this trip. Docking at 4pm we arrive when the city essentially shuts down. So many people on the ship wanted to do the fort and you just couldn't. We have done it once before and it was fantastic. Doesn't make a lot of sense to get here at 4 unless RCI does it simply so you HAVE to purchase an excursion through them. We got off the ship,went to starbucks, walked around for a couple of hours..back on the ship.

Really wished we could have done Labadee or something. I am certainly no expert in ship schedules and which ships are where, but we heard much grumbling around the ship regarding this stop.

 

St. Marteen- has historically been our favorite place to stop. We love going to Maho Beach watching the planes and hanging out at Sunset Beach Bar. When we arrived at Maho we noticed most if not all the sand directly in front of runway was gone. Just the big rocks. Taxi driver said storms and surf had taken it all out to sea now but it would return it in a couple of months. We have cruised in the fall every time and never seen this before but apparently that side of the island had been hit pretty hard.

 

We watched a few planes come in then grabbed another taxi and had him take us up to another beach not far away. We started at Cupecoy and hiked the canyons and rocks. Beautiful beach but be ready for full nudity. It is more of a local beach we found out. Beautiful but be prepared. We then hiked along the cliffs and trails to Mullet Bay Beach and that was nice. Real long beach with great sand. One end has loungers and umbrellas you can rent. We then hiked from there back to Maho watched couple of more planes and grabbed a taxi back to the ship. Still love St Marteen

 

St. Kitts- we truly believe this is going to be one the new stars of the Caribbean. We had a wonderful time. Booked excursion through the ship because we think that when RCI comes to town all the private operators seem to shut down for the day. We booked KT98 which is catamaran and snorkel. Was a great trip. Snorkeling was great. Saw 6-8 ft. across Eagle Ray, saw two sea turtles, thousands of fish, beautiful and massive sea shells, squid, jellyfish. One of best excursions we have ever done. Water was a beautiful emerald green. Can't wait to make it back to St. Kitts and explore more. Happy to see next year Oasis and Allure are going to start making a few calls there.

 

 

Entertainment:

Headliners were mediocre at best. El Guacho we didn't really enjoy at all. Other guy something Tillman was ok. Comedian was actually really funny. Marcus Monroe. I totally get he wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but we really enjoyed him. Ice show was good, didn't feel storyline was as good as other ships, but the skating was great. Love and Marriage was fine, Quest was the quest. Always one of our favorite parts.

 

Food: Chops was great. Dining room was adequate, but we honestly felt the menu is getting a little tired. We seemed to remember the food being closer to what Chops is now when we started cruising (2004). Wish it were a little better quality, but can totally appreciate the challenge of preparing meals 2,000 at a time. Johnny Rockets was its normal self. Although we probably won't return as cover is up to $6.95 a person.

 

Staff: This is where i think we were most disappointed. It seemed the ship was understaffed. We also for first time in cruising had challenges in speaking with the crew multiple times. Our waiter would work in dining room at night but was in Sorrento's and Cafe Promenade during the day. We don't remember this happening on other ships. We know they worked a day or so in Windjammer but he said they are having them cover those as well now. I may be wrong on my recollection. Also, just seemed the crew was doing there job, but wasn't the joy and laughter we remember. Now, Captain Pero didn't seem to be a box of laughs, and perhaps his stern demeanor is the tone he wants on the ship, but it was just different in our mind.

 

Maintenance: This was another thing we noticed. We noticed lots of rust, bannisters needing attention. Dirty and fogged up windows. Other cruises it always seemed like as soon as we were in port, you would see window crews, and crews painting exterior of the ship. Saw none of that this time.

 

 

Again, we had a FANTASTIC time because we will always have a fantastic time. We didn't feel like RCI added a lot of extra stuff to our cruise and that's ok, just not what we have expected. We wonder if more resources and best employees are being diverted to the Oasis and Quantum class ships. That makes sense, but if that is found to be true will certainly affect which ships we book in the future.

[Darrell6t]

As someone pointed out on the main Roll Call, it is only 4 weeks until we set sail. I am looking forward to a fun week.

[MattInFLL]

Ok. So Rock Bar for pre cruise? Odd choice. As straight as they come and in the heart of straight Fort Lauderdale beach. I'm sure the sudden closing of Bills (and whatever the new name was) threw a wrench in the works, but ....

 

At least it's much closer to where I'm having dinner with my straight cruise group.

[Darrell6t]

My experience with those pre-cruise parties has not been very good. Over-crowded, over-priced, and you see the same people the next day in a more relaxed and quieter setting. I doubt I will bother with this one.

[gmhohio]

Sorry we will miss you Darrell. I've got nothing better to do on Saturday night and don't want to stay out too late, so why not? Besides, once the early bird specials are over, what else is there to do? :rolleyes:

 

At last year's pre-cruise party, Miss Conception did a mini show which was hysterical. Hopefully she will again have a little mini show at the pre-cruise party! It looks like the drink prices are pretty similar to what we will see on board so what the heck!

[MattInFLL]

Gregg - my dinner starts around 6:30 and will likely go to 9 or so, so not sure I will make pre-cruise, since the AF thing is slated to end early.

 

I will likely just head to Wilton Manors and Hunters or something...

[gmhohio]

Matt, Is Wilton Manors far from Rock Bar and the host hotel? Is it Uber-able?

[MattInFLL]

Gregg. It is not exactly close. 3-4 miles. But very uber-able. And YAY, The Broward city commission finally voted today to let Uber back in starting this Thursday.

 

I see that Tom sent us a bit of a mea culpa on the selection of Rock Bar. As I suspected the closure of clubs in Wilton manors caused a problem. It's just still a very odd choice IMHO, but I'm sure he's got a lot on his plate.

Edited October 14, 2015 by MattInFLL

[MattInFLL]

Holy crap. Suddenly we are down to a week away.

 

Rockbar is definitely looking doubtful. But hope to see you all either at the sail away thing in the night club or the welcome aboard happy hour in the lounge.

[gmhohio]

You are so right. One week from right now I'll be in the air, which is great as the current temp is 31 degrees in Columbus. (I think my word of the day is "Brrrrrrrr".) The suitcases are out and the shorts and Tshirts are laundered and out.

 

Enjoy your dinner next Saturday night, we'll all get to see each other Sunday evening or perhaps earlier at the AF check-in.

[Darrell6t]

This party cruise is happening very soon.

See you on the ship in a couple of days.

Ft. Lauderdale, here we come.

[MattInFLL]

Looking forward to seeing and meeting everyone. Safe travels to the ship!

[Darrell6t]

It was a great week. Lots of fun and frolic. We loved the ship, and our Junior Suite on deck 10. Aquafest put together so many great events. Their staff, volunteers, and performers made everything better than an "ordinary" cruise.

[MattInFLL]

Glad to have met you, Gregg and Cody. It was a good week.

[gmhohio]

It was so good to meet you as well Matt! Hope everything went well on your first day back to work. We will definitely keep in contact. Cody doesn't do CC, but I will pass on your message.