Back today off Independence of the Seas - any questions?

[Brunswick]

Weather was O.K. up to Lanzarote then it started to feel like UK weather again. Just think we were unlucky with that and probably will be a lot better as the weeks progress. Only did one excusion with the ship( Lanzarote) we usually do our own thing but there was nowhere to go at this port in walking distance. Did the tobbagon run in Madeira, got a taxi (10 euros) and it costs 25 euros for the toboggan for two people. The run is for 2 km and a word of advice, even though you can see the ship when you get off it is still about another 2 miles walk down steep hill. I really suffered for a few days as I used muscles that hadn't been used for a while. If you want to buy duty free I would recommend you buy on the ship as the Euro is not good value at the moment. Everything is in dollars on the ship and if there are any smokers out there they were selling 400 cigs for $50 with the dollar still good, works out really cheap.

[Brunswick]

This is my first cruise with RCI so don't know if the menu is the same fleetwide I'm afraid. No mention of anytime dining which we would have liked. Not a great fan of sharing a table with strangers but our table for only had three couples on it including us. We all got on really well. You can request a table for 2 at breakfast and lunch. We were getting up really late so missed the breakfast a few times so had to brave the windjammer which does get busy around 10 a.m.

[sparkymarky]

I agee with brunswick that the beds are some of the most comfortable have ever slept on and would love one at home.

[Cazz]

I was on the 2 May four night cruise to Ireland:

 

My experience of the sofa bed was not good, the bed was wider than the sheets and fleecy blanket available, and no nice duvet for me.

 

The champagne and dipped strawberries pre-ordered as a birthday surprise were not in the room. So, trip to reception to check, no stawberries available until later sometime. Had them next day rather than have them sit in the room all evening on their own.

 

Tried room service for toast and coffee the first morning, but as they got the order wrong, and the toast is really MDF, we didnt bother again.

 

Wine list in restaurant does not describe the wines correctly, their idea of a $45 classico chianti was something that was a 'regionale tipico' - no mention of chianti and no black cock on the neck label. Wine waiter just shrugged and refunded my card.

 

The windjammer - well, even trying to avoid peak times it's not easy to find a clean table, and the staff were a mixed bunch, some helpful, some just there to chat to each other.

 

The ship was shiny and new, but why did our shower have the hair in it? urghhh

 

Our embarkation photos didnt appear until the last day after a search request. Our formal night photos never did appear, very sad about this. I think this was the final disappointment of the cruise I had booked a year before, for my Mum's 80th. Nope, there was one more disappointment - Mum's second roll of film got fogged and no pictures developed.

 

I wish all who sail on her a lovely time, we do have some lovely memories, and I'm sure that we will remember those rather than the things above.

[funfamilyfun]

This might be a silly question but it's IMPORTANT to me!:D On the Mariner, I brought my own coffee maker. So my question is, is the coffee maker a regular coffee maker or a coffee press, or something else? I'm hoping they provide coffee packs or I can use my own? Please let me know, I would be so thrilled to not have to pack the coffee pot! Just so you don't think I'm crazy, we bring an old coffee pot or buy a really cheap one and then leave it there.

[Brunswick]

This might be a silly question but it's IMPORTANT to me!:D On the Mariner, I brought my own coffee maker. So my question is, is the coffee maker a regular coffee maker or a coffee press, or something else? I'm hoping they provide coffee packs or I can use my own? Please let me know, I would be so thrilled to not have to pack the coffee pot! Just so you don't think I'm crazy, we bring an old coffee pot or buy a really cheap one and then leave it there.

 

No coffee maker just a kettle with coffee and tea achets.

[funfamilyfun]

Thanks for the answer! I guess I'll have to pack my $7 coffee maker I bought at Target! It's worth it to me to bring the coffee maker and leave a pair of shoes at home! I can't wait for the cruise...we sail in March. Thanks for the great information!

[Vic Mackey]

How were the childrens facilities ?

 

 

I have 9 and 7 year old boys.

 

 

Did you have a balcony cabin ?

 

 

 

Any news on anytime dining being introduced on board ?

 

 

Thanks

[Brunswick]

How were the childrens facilities ?

 

 

I have 9 and 7 year old boys.

 

 

Did you have a balcony cabin ?

 

 

 

Any news on anytime dining being introduced on board ?

 

 

Thanks

 

Sorry, can't give you any info on the childrens facilities as mine are now grown up. We did walk past the clubs a few times and they seemed to be having a really good time. One evening all the children were dressed up as pirates and brought into the dining room where jokes were made at the Captains expense by the staff, thought that was really funny and the children were having a great time.

 

Yes, we had a balcony cabin and didn't hear anything about anytime dining at all.

[barbarah33]

I am very jealous of all of you who have already sailed; I have to wait until November. And thank you for offering to answer our questions!!

 

I read in another post that they were not allowing smoking other than outdoors on the Indy - was this the case for your cruise?

 

Thank you!

[debb58]

We Are On This Ship On The 28th June For Our First Ever Cruise

We Are On Deck 6 In Cabin 6396 At The Rear , Does It Seem Ok. Am A Bit Confused With The Tipping System , What Do You Recomend

Thanks Debb

[mgdsld]

I was wondering if you knew whether the casino takes English pounds in exchange for tokens for the slot machines or do we have to take dollars with us. Also can you feed the slots with English notes or just Dollars. Many thanks

[nerysj]

Haven't sailed IOTS yet, but I know that GPB are not accepted. All you need to do is present your sea pass at the casino, and they will charge however many dollars you require onto your sea pass (and no conversion charge) so you will be better off!

 

Hope this helps?:)

[james_19742000]

Smoking on IOTS is decks 4, 11 and 12, portside in th designated areas, basically all of the outside deck space on 4 and 12, but 11 there is a small covered over area for smoking, upper floor of the The Labytrinth NightClub and then deck 5 The Conniseur Club, also your own private balconies as well, thats it, but I am a smoker and it didnt really bother me to be honest, it was nice to have designated areas, as it meant you could visit, have a fag and then wonder round the rest of the ship.

 

Hope this helps, James.

[barbarah33]

James - thank you very much! We are a group of 6 and in that group 3 are smokers. (Only one ever smoked in her cabin so their banning that is fine with us - we do all have junior suites so verandahs are easy.) Since we are taking a TA the prospect of only being able to smoke outside wasn't too appealing as the weather could easily be cold or raining in November - let alone after dinner in formal wear. It's nice to know that there are one or two places indoors where they can smoke.

 

Again, I appreciate the information!! :p

[COCKYMARK]

Who was cruise director? and how many nights was your cruise with formal nights? thanks

[Legalneen]

Who was cruise director? and how many nights was your cruise with formal nights? thanks

 

Cruise Director - Ken Rush. One formal night on our 4 night cruise.

 

Nina :)

[Brunswick]

I am very jealous of all of you who have already sailed; I have to wait until November. And thank you for offering to answer our questions!!

 

I read in another post that they were not allowing smoking other than outdoors on the Indy - was this the case for your cruise?

 

Thank you!

 

Smoking was allowed on decks 4,11 & 12 I think starboard side but you will realise which side it is as there are wall mounted ashtrays as well as free standing. No smoking in the Casino but you can smoke in the Labyrinth Nightclub just beside the casino. It is over two floors and smokers can use it all day on the top level. There is a bar in there which was opened in the day after someone complained. Oh, and you can smoke if you have a balcony as well.

[Brunswick]

The machines all take dollars, no tokens which is good. I took dollars and pounds, changed some pounds for Euros on board but not a very good exchange rate.

[Brunswick]

We Are On This Ship On The 28th June For Our First Ever Cruise

We Are On Deck 6 In Cabin 6396 At The Rear , Does It Seem Ok. Am A Bit Confused With The Tipping System , What Do You Recomend

Thanks Debb

 

Sorry, can't answer your question about the cabin, we were on Deck 7 room 7274 which was about midship.

 

Tipping was I thought better than other cruises where they automatically take the money off you. We prepaid our tips. They then deliver vouchers to your room on the last night with envelopes for your stateroom attendant, head waiter, waiter and assistant waiter. Now I have experienced RCI I will probably go for the cash option next time which you can also opt for. At least the staff get the money immediately this way. The other reason is apart from the first night when the Head Waiter introduced himself to us "hello I am your Head Waiter" we didn't see a sign of him for the rest of the cruise. The stateroom guy was great, so was the waiter and assitant waiter and I would rather have given them more.

[Brunswick]

Who was cruise director? and how many nights was your cruise with formal nights? thanks

 

Ken Rush is the cruise director. Two formal nights.

[nerysj]

The machines all take dollars, no tokens which is good. I took dollars and pounds, changed some pounds for Euros on board but not a very good exchange rate.

 

You don't need to take dollars..........you just hand in your sea pass to the casino and ask for dollars 'for the casino' and there you have your free exchange rate dollars. It will of course be added to your sea pass account, but no charges will apply. You can exchange dollars on board for euros in the machines on board, but the exchange rate is terrible. UK residents should get an Abbey Zero credit card which has no exchange rate on foreign currency transactions AND no charge for withdrawals from ATMS abroad, needless to say, I have applied for one!! WIN,WIN, WIN.

Nerys:D:D

[debb58]

Thanks For The Reply I Think We Will Use The Cash Option, And One More Thing Did You Find The Bar Prices Resonable Or Do We Need A Bank Loan ,lol,

[chebcruisin']

Sorry, can't answer your question about the cabin, we were on Deck 7 room 7274 which was about midship.

 

Tipping was I thought better than other cruises where they automatically take the money off you. We prepaid our tips. They then deliver vouchers to your room on the last night with envelopes for your stateroom attendant, head waiter, waiter and assistant waiter. Now I have experienced RCI I will probably go for the cash option next time which you can also opt for. At least the staff get the money immediately this way. The other reason is apart from the first night when the Head Waiter introduced himself to us "hello I am your Head Waiter" we didn't see a sign of him for the rest of the cruise. The stateroom guy was great, so was the waiter and assitant waiter and I would rather have given them more.

:confused: I am sailing on the Mariner on Sunday and was under the impression that the auto tip was available. But you mentioned they also left envelopes for you to disperse $$. I have given my steward something extra on a previous line but are you saying that I will have to give addtional $$ even though I use auto tip??

[Imoutatym]

This might be a silly question but it's IMPORTANT to me!:D On the Mariner, I brought my own coffee maker. So my question is, is the coffee maker a regular coffee maker or a coffee press, or something else? I'm hoping they provide coffee packs or I can use my own? Please let me know, I would be so thrilled to not have to pack the coffee pot! Just so you don't think I'm crazy, we bring an old coffee pot or buy a really cheap one and then leave it there.

 

From the RCI website:

 

What Not To Pack

For the safely of our guests, the following items are not allowed onboard: Electrical Transformers, Coffee Makers, Candles, Irons, Illegal Drugs, Flammable Liquids and Explosives, such as fireworks. For security purposes, we also recommend not packing any valuables (such as jewelry) in your checked luggage.