Independence of the Seas Couples Cruise SMOKING ALLOWED EVERYWHERE ON POOL DECK!!!!

[shellunderwater]

I'd be really interested if you'd write a review of this cruise. I've put it out as a trial balloon to the wife. Not into the lifestyle but not bothered by it either. Like the idea of a kid free cruise on a bigger ship w features plus using our diamond benefits. Price is a consideradtion. I generally think you are an observant guy, your review and opinions would be insightful

 

There were reviews from the past two yesrs posted here in the RCL boards. It was well written, vanilla, mature. Probably find it with a search on adult only or such. Same OP did both years.

 

Sent from my GT-N5110 using Forums mobile app

[starnsky]

No, people were not smoking on the port side. We spent most of every afternoon there, and strolled around AND used the hot tubs most evenings after dinner. Saw ONE woman light up on the port side, and she was told to put it out by ship staff within less than a minute.

 

If you're THAT sensitive to smoke and it ruined YOUR CRUISE, than I agree it's probably best that you never cruise RCI again - or any other cruise line for that matter, not to mention land-based resorts too.

 

By the way, if all you ever ate at the Windjammer was hard rolls & bad burgers & hotdogs, than you missed/ignored about 90% of the food there. It's not "gourmet" at the Windjammer, but your claim of only burgers, hotdogs & hard rolls is ridiculous.

 

Windjammers daily, had the asian, had lamb, had sushi, had american, had salad. I did get the salad and my salad was ok, the fruit was ok, but the american food was this. Runny instant mash potatoes, of course the hamburger/hotdog buffet, it had hand carved ham or beef, which the beef was chewy and few other things. The desert was fair, only have cheesecake one day, the rest was just ok in my opinion.

 

As far as me never going on vacation again as you stated is crazy. Do you tell someone with peanut allergy to never take vacation? I can't help that I am sensitive to the point of hospitalization twice from Cig smoke, but I am. I think you are right in one point, RCI, especially Independence of the seas is not for me due to where they allow smokers. In my opinion they should not allow that in areas close to non smokers, you would not throw peanuts around if someone had allergies. The serenade of the seas cruise was 1000% better, I never ever smelled smoke and the food was amazing.

 

For some of you its easy to go on cruise, but from where I live I have to drive 3 hours just to get to airport and I already covered the price of the plane ticket, so YES I HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS of enjoying my vacation.

 

The people on the boat were wonderful and friendly, the staff was good, and the couples cruise staff were also amazing and professional, but I stand by what I wrote about the food and smoke.

 

You have a very narrow mind to try to make me think the problem is me after I spent $6000.00 for this cruise, I was disappointed that lounge chairs reserved for suites were on the starboard side, WHICH WAS THE SMOKING SIDE, and RIGHT BESIDE IT. it was miserable and the smoke was everywhere on that side. Each and every day the port side had ZERO loungers even though booking suites, I had them complimentary over by the smoke. I could have sat up on the top deck I guess, but why should I have to?

 

I would never tell someone where they should and should not go, but I guess you can, so obvious you are narrow minded.

 

The good things about Couples Cruise is you can be very erotic with your spouse, and for us we were celebrating my BDAY which was end of Nov and our Anniversary which is Dec 1st. A couple can be erotic and feel the passion just from being nude on their own balcony. I did walk down to the playroom one night, but its hours were 10 p.m to 3 a.m and for us, we wanted time to ourselves in our cabin, my hubby works away from home and I go months without seeing him. Again this was suppose to be dream trip for us, and in alot of ways it was great but in other ways horrible.

 

I hate to keep harping about the food, but where we live there are no restaurants except one gas station that serves pizza. I have to drive 3 hours to eat, and before this cruise had not been out to eat in 9 months, so the FOOD WAS THE MAIN REASON I WENT ON CRUISE.

[starnsky]

Did you try the Solarium area? We went to the hot tub in the Solarium area almost every day and I was never bothered by cigarette smoke. (It would have been nice if they'd cleaned the sand out, but that's another topic, I suppose...)

 

As far as food, I'm not a huge fan of the Windjammer either, except for the fact that they always have a lot of fresh fruit available. We ate in the MDR as often as possible- they were open for lunch on sea days, plus dinner every night. We mostly at the Windjammer for breakfast and late-night snacks, plus lunch the day we were in Roatan, since the MDR wasn't open. I had some nice lunches in the MDR- the Greek salad wasn't stingy with the feta! :) I never ordered the steak in the MDR at dinner, but everything I had was fine....not *amazing* but decent. The appetizers and cold fruit soups are my favorite part of the meal.

 

Anyway, it sounds like other than the food and smoking, you enjoyed the cruise. As I'm sure you know from all the brochures and ads on-board, there are going to be a lot of options for adults-only cruises on lines other than Royal Caribbean. I just booked the April 2016 cruise on the Divina, and I'm really looking looking to trying MSC! I hope you'll give this kind of cruise another chance.

 

Thank You Cat, I will read about the smoking policy before booking any cruise in the future, or at least find out where the smoking area is. I don't know if the celebrity one will have better food or not? I have never heard anything about the Divina to make a decision about it but I HOPE YOU HAVE GREAT TIME. There are so many fun people on couples cruise, even if you are not swinger, they are friendly and just a fun crowd. You will have a great time.

[Cindy]

As far as me never going on vacation again as you stated is crazy. Do you tell someone with peanut allergy to never take vacation? I can't help that I am sensitive to the point of hospitalization twice from Cig smoke, but I am. I think you are right in one point, RCI, especially Independence of the seas is not for me due to where they allow smokers. In my opinion they should not allow that in areas close to non smokers, you would not throw peanuts around if someone had allergies. The serenade of the seas cruise was 1000% better, I never ever smelled smoke and the food was amazing.

 

I think it's more luck of the draw/fellow passengers than where smoking is allowed, because the locations are very similar on all ships. Sometimes there are a lot of smokers, and sometimes there aren't. If you're so sensitive to smoke that it can land you in the hospital, then you have to realize you're taking a risk going to any public location where smoking is permitted. You could board the Serenade tomorrow and be just as bothered as you were on the Independence if the right (wrong for you) passengers were aboard.

 

 

You have a very narrow mind to try to make me think the problem is me after I spent $6000.00 for this cruise, I was disappointed that lounge chairs reserved for suites were on the starboard side, WHICH WAS THE SMOKING SIDE, and RIGHT BESIDE IT. it was miserable and the smoke was everywhere on that side. Each and every day the port side had ZERO loungers even though booking suites, I had them complimentary over by the smoke. I could have sat up on the top deck I guess, but why should I have to?

 

I would never tell someone where they should and should not go, but I guess you can, so obvious you are narrow minded.

 

I have always experienced the reserved suite seating to be the tiered loungers on both sides of the ship. Has that changed recently? Why didn't you try the Solarium where there's never any smoking permitted?

 

I tend to agree with those who have said if you have such an extreme reaction to smoke you shouldn't take the risk of going to places where it's allowed at all. I am not narrow minded, and you need to expect that if you post something on a public message board there are going to be many who disagree with you. Some will express themselves politely and some won't. Accusing them of being narrow minded doesn't add to the discussion YOU started.

[starnsky]

I think it's more luck of the draw/fellow passengers than where smoking is allowed, because the locations are very similar on all ships. Sometimes there are a lot of smokers, and sometimes there aren't. If you're so sensitive to smoke that it can land you in the hospital, then you have to realize you're taking a risk going to any public location where smoking is permitted. You could board the Serenade tomorrow and be just as bothered as you were on the Independence if the right (wrong for you) passengers were aboard.

 

 

 

 

I have always experienced the reserved suite seating to be the tiered loungers on both sides of the ship. Has that changed recently? Why didn't you try the Solarium where there's never any smoking permitted?

 

I tend to agree with those who have said if you have such an extreme reaction to smoke you shouldn't take the risk of going to places where it's allowed at all. I am not narrow minded, and you need to expect that if you post something on a public message board there are going to be many who disagree with you. Some will express themselves politely and some won't. Accusing them of being narrow minded doesn't add to the discussion YOU started.

 

I did yry the solarium area, there was not any smoking there bit it seem to have smokey smell. Not all ships and resorts allow smoking on pool deck, especially since most of us want to play by pool on vacation. I think celebrity has smoking on deck 5 port side. I have nothing against smokers at all, its their choice and right to smoke, I just expect resonable efforts to accomodate all guest and I personally think smoker should never be allowed on pool deck unless they have create pool deck to accomondate each smokers only.

 

I will in future make sure and double check where smoking is allowed before booking any vacation, and if I can't live with it then I will simply not go. i always book the expensive balconies aft to avoid wind blowing smoke my way and been on several cruise and this was first time I ever had a problem.

 

Did not intend to call other member narrow minded but he can't seem to understand that just because he did not smell smoke does not mean I did'nt, or just because he thought food was good does not mean I did or others did. Everyone has difference experieces which is what makes world go around.

 

I also had lots of positive things to say about the cruise, if adults wants a unique experience they should try couples cruise at least once.

[Cindy]

I did yry the solarium area, there was not any smoking there bit it seem to have smokey smell. Not all ships and resorts allow smoking on pool deck, especially since most of us want to play by pool on vacation. I think celebrity has smoking on deck 5 port side. I have nothing against smokers at all, its their choice and right to smoke, I just expect resonable efforts to accomodate all guest and I personally think smoker should never be allowed on pool deck unless they have create pool deck to accomondate each smokers only.

 

I will in future make sure and double check where smoking is allowed before booking any vacation, and if I can't live with it then I will simply not go. i always book the expensive balconies aft to avoid wind blowing smoke my way and been on several cruise and this was first time I ever had a problem.

 

Did not intend to call other member narrow minded but he can't seem to understand that just because he did not smell smoke does not mean I did'nt, or just because he thought food was good does not mean I did or others did. Everyone has difference experieces which is what makes world go around.

 

I also had lots of positive things to say about the cruise, if adults wants a unique experience they should try couples cruise at least once.

 

Celebrity also has a smoking area on one side of the pool deck, and as on RCI the odor can drift into the enclosed Solarium/Thalassotherapy pool area. The only real difference between Celebrity's and Royal Caribbean's current smoking policies is that Celebrity's casino is smoke free, and RCI allows smoking in the casino. There is no inside smoking anywhere on Celebrity.

[DavyJoneses]

My husband and I wanted an adult only vacation, we signed up for a couples cruise on Independence of the Seas Nov 15th - 22nd 2014. It was classified as a lifestyle cruise, which is mostly swingers, even though we are non swingers we decided to go.

 

I want everyone to know and understand that my last cruise was on Serenade of the Seas and was very very nice, from the food to the service, which was not so on the independence of the seas.

 

Our food on this boat was almost not edible. It mostly consisted of hotdogs, hamburgers and other nasty stuff. I say nasty because nothing was prepared by chefs, it all seemed like boxed stuff you buy at frozen food dept.

 

Second thing that was awful was the SMOKING. People were allowed to smoked All Day and All NIGHT on the Deck 11 pool area, and I do mean EVERYWHERE. I never even sat out by the pool or hot tub because I am allergic to smoke. Nobody advised us that this was a smoking cruise when we booked.

 

The people that went on the cruise after us will without a doubt smell smoke when they board. I feel very sorry for them!

 

Royal has really gone down hill, and the food alone was NASTY, but add the SMOKING and this cruise was filthy. I will NEVER CRUISE ROYAL AGAIN!

 

Heads up, the next couples only cruise is on Celebrity Silouette in Dec 2015.:mad:

 

Sorry about your experience. I know how second hand smoke can be annoying - as well as detrimental to health.

[starnsky]

Celebrity also has a smoking area on one side of the pool deck, and as on RCI the odor can drift into the enclosed Solarium/Thalassotherapy pool area. The only real difference between Celebrity's and Royal Caribbean's current smoking policies is that Celebrity's casino is smoke free, and RCI allows smoking in the casino. There is no inside smoking anywhere on Celebrity.

 

ROLL TIDE CINDY!!

 

I see your Aggies fan. Anyways yeah I forgot about us wanting to play poker but could not stand to be in casino long enough to even spend $10.00 in slots. The smoke was horrible there to. I know smokers have rights, and I am all for their rights. I just wished they would make special smoking areas away from the pool deck. As some mentioned they never had a problem, but for me and my hubby we are both sensitive if not allergic to it and my hubby coughed all week with runny eyes. I don't know what the future holds for us in cruising, but as I said, we will research next time.

[LetsGetWet!]

Windjammers daily, had the asian, had lamb, had sushi, had american, had salad. I did get the salad and my salad was ok, the fruit was ok, but the american food was this. Runny instant mash potatoes, of course the hamburger/hotdog buffet, it had hand carved ham or beef, which the beef was chewy and few other things. The desert was fair, only have cheesecake one day, the rest was just ok in my opinion.

Well, nice to see you at least stepping back from your prior claim that not only was all the food "nasty" but that there was NOTHING except burgers and hotdogs.

As far as me never going on vacation again as you stated is crazy. Do you tell someone with peanut allergy to never take vacation? I can't help that I am sensitive to the point of hospitalization twice from Cig smoke, but I am. I think you are right in one point, RCI, especially Independence of the seas is not for me due to where they allow smokers. In my opinion they should not allow that in areas close to non smokers, you would not throw peanuts around if someone had allergies. The serenade of the seas cruise was 1000% better, I never ever smelled smoke and the food was amazing.

 

For some of you its easy to go on cruise, but from where I live I have to drive 3 hours just to get to airport and I already covered the price of the plane ticket, so YES I HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS of enjoying my vacation.

 

The people on the boat were wonderful and friendly, the staff was good, and the couples cruise staff were also amazing and professional, but I stand by what I wrote about the food and smoke.

 

You have a very narrow mind to try to make me think the problem is me after I spent $6000.00 for this cruise, I was disappointed that lounge chairs reserved for suites were on the starboard side, WHICH WAS THE SMOKING SIDE, and RIGHT BESIDE IT. it was miserable and the smoke was everywhere on that side. Each and every day the port side had ZERO loungers even though booking suites, I had them complimentary over by the smoke. I could have sat up on the top deck I guess, but why should I have to?

 

I would never tell someone where they should and should not go, but I guess you can, so obvious you are narrow minded.

 

The good things about Couples Cruise is you can be very erotic with your spouse, and for us we were celebrating my BDAY which was end of Nov and our Anniversary which is Dec 1st. A couple can be erotic and feel the passion just from being nude on their own balcony. I did walk down to the playroom one night, but its hours were 10 p.m to 3 a.m and for us, we wanted time to ourselves in our cabin, my hubby works away from home and I go months without seeing him. Again this was suppose to be dream trip for us, and in alot of ways it was great but in other ways horrible.

 

I hate to keep harping about the food, but where we live there are no restaurants except one gas station that serves pizza. I have to drive 3 hours to eat, and before this cruise had not been out to eat in 9 months, so the FOOD WAS THE MAIN REASON I WENT ON CRUISE.

Call me narrow-minded if it makes you feel better, but I was entirely serious with my suggestion. If you are THAT sensitive to cigarette smoke (and I'm certainly not trying to dispute whether or not you are) then I think you're likely to be disappointed with all cruises and most vacations at land resorts too. Lets review your claims and why I've strongly rebutted you:

 

1. Your thread title screams "SMOKING ALLOWED EVERYWHERE ON POOL DECK!!!!" and that's simply false - and misleading to anyone reading this thread.
   
2. Your initial claim, which you've now stepped back from, was that the food "mostly consisted of hotdogs, hamburgers and other nasty stuff." That is ALSO simply false - and misleading to anyone reading this thread.
   

As an old saying goes, "you're most certainly entitled to your own opinions, but you're not entitled to your own facts." If you're so extremely sensitive to smoke that you smelled it "EVERYWHERE ON POOL DECK!!!!" then I'm truly sorry for you, I'm sure that can't be fun. If you thought the food was all "nasty", then that's certainly your honest opinion and I'm also sorry for you for enduring food you thought was "nasty." Just don't try start threads here claiming things as facts which are completely untrue - without expecting to be challenged and called on the falsehoods.

 

 

The smoking policy on Independence for this cruise was the same as the smoking policy for EVERY RCI cruise on EVERY one of their ships - including your previous RCI cruises. The policy was enforced well on this cruise also. Again, not disputing that you smelled smoke and it affected your physical well-being, but it wasn't because "SMOKING WAS ALLOWED EVERYWHERE ON POOL DECK!!!!" because it wasn't. Smoking was allowed on the PORT side of both pool decks, just as its allowed on all RCI ships - and all Celebrity ships and I believe on most other cruise lines too (although it may shift from port to starboard on some lines, not sure.) Its also allowed in the casino, and I agree that for me the casino was very distasteful to spend much time in because of that - and that's different on Celebrity, where the casino is non-smoking.

[12stopme]

Smoking in the casino is already banned in Australia on board Voyager of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Legend of the Seas

[Majestic-NJ]

Indy does a mix of shorter/longer cruises 6 day, and then 8 day. And this is what attracted the college kids on our cruise. It means during their spring break, which is only a week long, they can drive to Florida, cruise for 6 days, and drive home - cheap vacation. Throw in the unlimited drink packages - yup - it was a wilder/nosier than normal cruise.

 

We're booked on Indy again for March 2015, but this time on the 8 day leg.

 

My wife and I are booked for the 8 night on April 11th, 2015. Can you by any chance reach back out to me when you get back and let us know if you had any concerns? Not sure if you photo the menus or daily activities either but that would be great too! I'm a planning addict. :)

Edited January 29, 2015 by Majestic-NJ

[Paulette3028]

My wife and I are booked for the 8 night on April 11th, 2015. Can you by any chance reach back out to me when you get back and let us know if you had any concerns? Not sure if you photo the menus or daily activities either but that would be great too! I'm a planning addict. :)

 

Below is a link to the Cruise Compasses for the January 3, 2015, 8 day itinerary -- hope this helps you.

 

https://pdf.yt/d/wKVmksWag3nk1juj

[12stopme]

Stanley, you should come and try a cruise around Australia /New Zealand. There are VERY few smokers left here. Cigarettes are a $1.00 per cigarette... so very expensive and only the die hard left continuing this disgusting habit which is forced down innocent bystanders lungs in the form of second hand smoke.

You have a bigger right not to have to breathe in their disgusting habit than they have to exercise it.

In Australia that is recognised and it is just about banned everywhere.

[Paulette3028]

Stanley, you should come and try a cruise around Australia /New Zealand. There are VERY few smokers left here. Cigarettes are a $1.00 per cigarette... so very expensive and only the die hard left continuing this disgusting habit which is forced down innocent bystanders lungs in the form of second hand smoke.

You have a bigger right not to have to breathe in their disgusting habit than they have to exercise it.

In Australia that is recognised and it is just about banned everywhere.

 

A cruise around Australia/New Zealand is on our bucket list.

[MamaTene]

500 passengers of any group will tend to take over a ship!:eek:

Should always check for partial charters, just like anything else if it bothers you!

 

Indy is huge as all of us are aware. We too are booked on the Oct 25 sailing. But not as part of the LGBT group but rather as part of a group of 300+ folks cruising together thru our travel agent who is sponsoring the week and traveling with us. I certainly don't believe we will "take over" the ship any more than the other group will!

[BobmCarolr]

We were on that cruise. It's interesting that the OP didn't mention that the pool areas where clothing optional (with lots of 'eye candy' ) .... is that the reason that she (and her husband) spend all of their time on the pool deck? We found that every thing else was the same as on a normal cruise.

BTW. The Couples Cruise is a full ship charter booked a year+ in advance.

WE loved it

Bob

[Biker19]

[cb at sea]

As this was a full "charter", it's not a normal cruise.

[Merion_Mom]

As this was a full "charter", it's not a normal cruise.

And it was three years ago. :rolleyes: