All things Independence of the Seas

[robbieandjimmy]

Erm..... compasses..... any chance of having a look?

 

Hi, we've just come off Independence too. I have kept all my Cruise Compasses, anything in particular you are looking for?

 

David

[NorbertsNiece]

Erm..... compasses..... any chance of having a look?

 

Hi, we've just come off Independence too. I have kept all my Cruise Compasses, anything in particular you are looking for?

 

David

 

Hi David.... what sports pool activities... other sports activities (yoga? pilates?)... Other than sports are any lessons offered? for example saw on the website there may be keyboard lessons.... Was there a midnight buffet? I can't think!!! Thanks!!

[mwne2nks]

Not to hijack a thread, but does anyone have a side shot of where my cabin is located. Its 9658/ We were on the 6th floor last time ans wifey needs to prepare a little for having a balcony view that high off the water. I am secretly prepping her for a TA in a suite. Shh don't tell her. Its for my 50th BD. I figure the higher and nicer I get early on, that the suite will be an easy step for her.

Anyway, looking for a side view of the IOS for room 9658.

[betsyl]

Is it correct that there is no smoking in the IOS casino?:)

[Pemcorgimum]

Yes no smoking - wonderful smoke free experience- only places to smoke were in the disco on one of the floors, deck 4 port side and balconies. On the last day back it was quite windy out and lots of people were going in and out of the disco just to smoke.It was just open for smoking.

[Pemcorgimum]

Sorry to disagree a little with you Nerys but we thought the food was great- not at all hit or miss- one time one of our party had something they didn't like and it was easy to substitute.

 

And Chops and Portofino were wonderful.

 

And we never had to wait longer than two minutes to find a table in the Windjammer even though it was jam packed- there was always somebody about to leave or leaving and the wait staff cleared the tables instantly.

[sarh]

To add to the food debate - I think it depends on the comparison you are making. For us, the main dining room was far superior to Celebrity Connie last year but inferior to Celebrity Galaxy the year before. We found starters, fish and meat dishes (particularly steaks) perfect, but veg and puddings (except for a fantastic bread and butter pudding) weren't so great. But at least it meant we didn't put on weight! There was some good Indian and Chinese in the windjammer - it was also handy that you could pop to the cafe for a sandwich or to the pizza place instead of a full lunch during the day.

[nerysj]

The food debate is always subjective. All I can do is compare it with Princess last year, which was like eating out at a four star restaurant every night!

 

The steak debate ..........one steak I had was mostly grizzle..........for which the server kindly apologised, when she presumed (having seen that I had left most of it) that it was definitely not up to standard.

 

The staff were very good at dinner - very friendly and accommodating. It is just that it was not on a par with Princess. Perhaps our next visit on Princess would not be as good? Perhaps it varies from ship to ship within the same company? I will have t find out!

 

The promenade cafe was wonderful.. ....24 hours of sandwiches and cakes!!:)

[robbieandjimmy]

Hi David.... what sports pool activities... other sports activities (yoga? pilates?)... Other than sports are any lessons offered? for example saw on the website there may be keyboard lessons.... Was there a midnight buffet? I can't think!!! Thanks!!

Hi

 

Yes there are pilates and yoga classes, however, you have to pay $10. There were cookery demos, napkin folding demos and bridge tips as well as dancing classes. I can't see any mention of keyboard lessons. There is plenty to do, more on sea days. There were a couple of times I had to make a decision on what to do as two things I would like to have done clashed. There were also light hearted lecutres on some of the ports of call.

 

The only buffet was on Day 8 when we left Livorno. It was a "Surf's up Buffet" which followed a pool party. There was no gala buffet nor a chocolate one. We sailed on Jewel to the Baltic last year and they had both those buffets. Someone told us it was a cost cutting exercise!

 

Best wishes

David

[Doc07]

Hi

 

The only buffet was on Day 8 when we left Livorno. It was a "Surf's up Buffet" which followed a pool party. There was no gala buffet nor a chocolate one. We sailed on Jewel to the Baltic last year and they had both those buffets. Someone told us it was a cost cutting exercise!

 

Best wishes

David

 

Sounds like good logic to me.There was a 'Midnight'Buffet on our May cruise to the Med and the amount of food on offer and subsequetly wasted was criminal.

I think people just like to impress the neighbours with their Midnight buffet stories.Anyway after not long finishing my second sitting meal I wasn't very hungry and eating large amounts of food that late screams indigestion!

 

Regards Doc07

[arkking]

First time for a promenade room. Usually like to see if it is light outside. Tiny Little bit claustrophobic--not bad though. Think it will feel okay?

[hylasgirl]

Do not be put off with all the story's off pickpockets and bathrooms stops :confused:

As a regular traveller to Europe and the US I find the States more frightening than Europe :eek:

 

Would you walk around New York or downtown Miami looking like a tourist ? where in downtown Chicago can you pee ?

 

Street people are everywhere just always have your wits about you even though you might seem rude just say no when aproached.

 

Look at your home city and think would I be a safe tourist here and I bet you have the same problems knife/drug/and gun crime.

 

Moral here is keep your valuables in the safe if you cant afford to lose it dont take it with you.

 

Hate to differ, but we are SOOOO lucky in the U.S.A. You can PEE almost anywhere! It is nothing like going to London, or anywhere else in Europe. I can pee so many places in Chicago... Or New York... The USA is very restroom friendly... I can't think of anyplace I ever had to pay (although I don't mind doing it) and they are soooo much nicer on a whole than anywhere I have used the bathroom in all of Europe! Although, I have to say... after this last trip to the Baltics, their restrooms, are better than Italy or France or the UK. Bathrooms are the worst part of traveling to Europe, in my opinion. That and the dang exchange rate! But it is my favorite place to travel.

 

Safety is an issue anywhere... although I can't imagine why anyone would be more frightened here in the US than towns in Europe. It all depends on what town you are talking about. Our dollar sure isn't scary:D I guess it is all about where you feel familiar.

[Pemcorgimum]

Hate to differ, but we are SOOOO lucky in the U.S.A. You can PEE almost anywhere! It is nothing like going to London, or anywhere else in Europe. I can pee so many places in Chicago... Or New York... The USA is very restroom friendly... I can't think of anyplace I ever had to pay (although I don't mind doing it) and they are soooo much nicer on a whole than anywhere I have used the bathroom in all of Europe! Although, I have to say... after this last trip to the Baltics, their restrooms, are better than Italy or France or the UK. Bathrooms are the worst part of traveling to Europe, in my opinion. That and the dang exchange rate! But it is my favorite place to travel.

 

Safety is an issue anywhere... although I can't imagine why anyone would be more frightened here in the US than towns in Europe. It all depends on what town you are talking about. Our dollar sure isn't scary:D I guess it is all about where you feel familiar.

 

Having travelled very frequently to the USA from 1975 onwards-my brother emigrated to the USA in the late 70s- I can say I have never felt the USA scarey at all. Travelled alone to many places as well as visiting family.

Now bathrooms-we always rate bathrooms as one person comes out- gives the next person an idea what to expect LOL and one was a 9 and the lowest was a 4-think that was EZE in a cafe- the bathrooms in Nice market were highly recommended LOL- compared to bathrooms I went to in Europe in the 60s and 70s they have improved tremendously.

[NorbertsNiece]

Hi

 

Yes there are pilates and yoga classes, however, you have to pay $10. There were cookery demos, napkin folding demos and bridge tips as well as dancing classes. I can't see any mention of keyboard lessons. There is plenty to do, more on sea days. There were a couple of times I had to make a decision on what to do as two things I would like to have done clashed. There were also light hearted lecutres on some of the ports of call.

 

The only buffet was on Day 8 when we left Livorno. It was a "Surf's up Buffet" which followed a pool party. There was no gala buffet nor a chocolate one. We sailed on Jewel to the Baltic last year and they had both those buffets. Someone told us it was a cost cutting exercise!

 

Best wishes

David

 

Awesome thanks. Does the sports pool area have lockers / changing rooms / showers? Or do we have to go back to the cabin for that?

Also, power supply in the cabin.... I have travel adapters so no problem there but I've read about people needing a 'strip' or multi-point extension thingy. Comments please and thanks so much for addressing my questions.

[NorbertsNiece]

Hi

 

Yes there are pilates and yoga classes, however, you have to pay $10. There were cookery demos, napkin folding demos and bridge tips as well as dancing classes. I can't see any mention of keyboard lessons. There is plenty to do, more on sea days. There were a couple of times I had to make a decision on what to do as two things I would like to have done clashed. There were also light hearted lecutres on some of the ports of call.

 

The only buffet was on Day 8 when we left Livorno. It was a "Surf's up Buffet" which followed a pool party. There was no gala buffet nor a chocolate one. We sailed on Jewel to the Baltic last year and they had both those buffets. Someone told us it was a cost cutting exercise!

 

Best wishes

David

 

Awesome thanks. Does the sports pool area have lockers / changing rooms / showers? Or do we have to go back to the cabin for that?

Also, power supply in the cabin.... I have travel adapters so no problem there but I've read about people needing a 'strip' or multi-point extension thingy. Comments please and thanks so much for addressing my questions.

[nerysj]

We took an extension strip (multi point) and it was really handy. One tip, if you are not taking one, many of our plugs would not fit into the ones in situ, both 220/110v as they were too low against the vanity mirror and would not accommodate the plug. My straighteners would have been useless without the multi point. A word of warning to all the ladies out there!!!:p

[pauleycruiser]

Only 90 people did My time our cruise but they have over 400 next cruise- worked well for most of the week but then some people started coming in later which meant for the last three nights our tables- we had used three different tables-were not ready for 8 o'clock when we arrived and we had to wait. 8 was a good time as we got things quickly before late seating started. They only had two waiters for all the tables but they were tiptop at their job.They are adding 7 more for this week. Our assistant waiter was awesome too.He was supposed to go on holiday today but they asked him to stay for another cruise to help the my time moving

Have just registered for my time dining - looking forward to the freedom - hopefully!!

[pauleycruiser]

Sorry to disagree a little with you Nerys but we thought the food was great- not at all hit or miss- one time one of our party had something they didn't like and it was easy to substitute.

 

And Chops and Portofino were wonderful.

 

And we never had to wait longer than two minutes to find a table in the Windjammer even though it was jam packed- there was always somebody about to leave or leaving and the wait staff cleared the tables instantly.

hi laura - have booked for portofinos and chops grille - can feel the waistline expanding already!! Must mean an extra trip round the jogging track!!

[atlaturne]

Awesome thanks. Does the sports pool area have lockers / changing rooms / showers? Or do we have to go back to the cabin for that?

 

Also, power supply in the cabin.... I have travel adapters so no problem there but I've read about people needing a 'strip' or multi-point extension thingy. Comments please and thanks so much for addressing my questions.

a power strip is very convenient in that it allows a lot of electronic devices to be plugged in.Otherwise you might find a lack of recepticles for all of the things that you may require .

[Pemcorgimum]

hi laura - have booked for portofinos and chops grille - can feel the waistline expanding already!! Must mean an extra trip round the jogging track!!

 

Don't eat too much lunch those days. We in fact tried not eating any lunch before Portofinos. But we all had the munchies and needed a snack in the cafe when we got back on the ship after our tour in Lisbon when we got back to the ship- probably as we were all in shock as we almost missed the ship due to the fact that our private tour guide thought we were due back at 5 not 4.30- talk about a hair raising 100 mile an hour journey and handbrake turns into the terminal!!!

 

Funnily enough we have preferred Portofino on previous ships but this time we all liked Chops better.

[Mines]

Awesome thanks. Does the sports pool area have lockers / changing rooms / showers? Or do we have to go back to the cabin for that?

 

The changing rooms with sauna, showers and lockers are located at the entrance to the gymnasium, next to the boxing ring, on floor 11. You have to go up to the spa reception on floor 12 to get a locker key. This service is only available after 8:00 a.m. when the spa opens, although you can use the gym and changing rooms from 6:00 a.m.

[Pemcorgimum]

Just uploaded my photos from July 26th cruise

 

click on the photo

 

 

or here

 

http://family.webshots.com/album/565435932xSNNYk?vhost=family

[Lisa-UK]

Hi all

 

Sorry if this has been covered before, but could you help with a few questions please?

 

We will be taking credit cards, but would like to know what money/ currency you took with you? We are doing Gibraltar/Barcelona/Lisbon/Vigo.........

 

Is it best to take a few Euros? Can you withdraw cash from the Casino? Was it a fair ex rate on board?

 

We are also debating about the My Time Dining.......I have read some reports on this thread and they all seem to be positive - any further comments about that would be helpful too.........we will be a party of 7.

 

Thanks Nerys for the tip about the power strip - that will be going in the case :D

 

thanks all

Lisa

[nerysj]

Hi all

 

Sorry if this has been covered before, but could you help with a few questions please?

 

We will be taking credit cards, but would like to know what money/ currency you took with you? We are doing Gibraltar/Barcelona/Lisbon/Vigo.........

 

Is it best to take a few Euros? Can you withdraw cash from the Casino? Was it a fair ex rate on board?

 

We are also debating about the My Time Dining.......I have read some reports on this thread and they all seem to be positive - any further comments about that would be helpful too.........we will be a party of 7.

 

Thanks Nerys for the tip about the power strip - that will be going in the case :D

 

thanks all

Lisa

 

You will not need dollars - only if you are going to spend money in the casino (if so go to the cashier in the casino and you can withdraw money on your sea pass) NO CHARGE. Don't use the onboard ATMs as they are not a good exchange rate. If you don't have any Euros now, then I would get a few before going, but the best way/cheapest is to withdraw from an ATM at the first port of call. We had an Abbey Credit card - which does not charge ANY fees for withdrawing cash. If you have time - get one!Your bank card will charge about £3 per withdrawal, so take out as much cash as you are happy with and keep it in your safe, otherwise you will be charged for multiple withdrawals.

 

MTD ...........worked well for us - 2 adults & 2 teenagers. As you are a party of seven, I am not sure if the system will work quite as well. If you make reservations for the whole 2 weeks for a designated time, then it will probably work well. We turned up between 7.00 and 7.30pm nightly and were seated imediately, I am unsure if you would be so easily seated with seven....I might be wrong? Service was always good.

 

Hope this helps??

[Floella]

Hi

 

We were on this cruise too and had a wonderful time.

 

I was wondering if anyone knows of two American Sisters who were on the cruise. They were very small ladies and great fun. I suppose they were middle aged. They were on our raft when we went rafting in Vigo and were taking lots of pics (we couldn't take any.) Meant to swap email addresses so they could send us a pic or two but of course never got round to it!

 

They were with quite a big group I think, some of them were youngsters on another raft. Am trying to rack my brains for their names but can't come up with anything. Any ideas anyone?

 

Thanks

Claire