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Ship - Independence of the Seas (IOTS / Indy)

Deck - 10

Stateroom # - 1706

Quiet Stateroom? (With comments on problems) – Very quiet despite having the Windjammer directly above. No noise problems at all, unless you don't like the sound of the sea :D

Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – Stunning views, some obstruction from the superstructure but not bad. Restricted views upward due to the overhang of the Windjammer, but for our fjords sailing it meant we could still sit on the balcony even if it was raining (unlike a lot of other aft balconies)

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - Oversized balcony, wide and deep. 2 loungers, 2 chairs and 2 tables, and there was still masses of room.

Was wind a problem? - Nope.

Any specific problems with this cabin? - None.

Any other comments? -

Ship - Navigator of the Seas

Deck - 9

Stateroom # - 9690

Stateroom Category – Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom (D3)

Starboard or Port Side - Port

Quiet Stateroom? (With comments on problems) – Yes

Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - No

Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – Aft balcony so the view was brilliant. No superstructure in the way.

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - Seemed bigger but may be because it was a slightly different shape to a standard balcony.

Was wind a problem? - No significant wind issues.

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? - Noticed a bit of soot a couple of times, but not a problem.

Any specific problems with this cabin? - Not really problems, just be aware that part of the balcony is overlooked by the balcony on deck 10 above and also by the Windjammer (just - you have to be up against the window and looking down to see).

Any other comments? - Balcony had 2 reclining chairs (with footstools) and a round table. The balcony door is a lockable standard-type door rather than a sliding door. The circular window is great (big enough for kids to sit in). There are railings rather than the toughened glass on most other balconies, which is great for clamping a GoPro to. One of the drawers on the dresser needs wedging shut at is can slide out on its own. Fridge isn't a fridge but a 'cooler' - meds have to be stored elsewhere. 1 x EU socket and 2 x US sockets. 1 x safe. Would definitely book this cabin again.

These are fantastic! It's difficult to get a new perspective on cruise ship photos, but you've done it!

Aw thanks, that's a really nice comment. I see you are on Navigator the cruise before ours. I might come to Southampton to wave you off on the 22nd :D

Was reading where there was a container ship in Savannah, GA, USA that had 5,500 containers to be unloaded. Not sure where it ranks in size, but even that # is a lot of containers.

I had a quick search online and I found this article on the BBC news website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-39882244). It says that it can hold the equivalent of 20,170 containers :eek:

In the background of the last photo, you can see the MOL Triumph (the 2nd largest container ship in the world) on its 1st visit to Southampton.

 

Simon

Wow, that's great info, Simon. I missed that! :cool:

And thank you all for your kind comments :D

Navigator of the Seas returned to the UK today. I popped to Southampton in the middle of the night to watch her arrive. Here are my favourite pictures :)

I hope you like them :cool:

An update.

Chops Grill were so accommodating that we switched our Giovanni's Table booking and ate at Chops twice. The food and service were both superb. :D:cool:

Ship - Independence of the Seas

Deck - 8

Stateroom # - 8583

Stateroom Category – PR Promenade Stateroom

Starboard or Port Side - Port

Quiet Stateroom? (With comments on problems) – Yes, especially considering it was nearly above the Dog & Badger pub

Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - No

Any specific problems with this cabin? - None really, although the bathroom smelt a bit damp/musty at times.

Any other comments? - As you enter from the corridor, the bathroom is on the left, the wardrobe in on the right. The bed(s) is/are on the left and the desk is on the right. There is a sofa between the bed(s) and the window, and a sofa in the window. As this is the deck 8 promenade view, the window is angled so that you can see the promenade better. The window is almost opposite Vintages, almost directly opposite the stairs to the casino and is above the Duty Free shop.

Ship - Independence of the Seas

Deck - 8

Stateroom # - 8582

Stateroom Category – E3 Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom (with balcony)

Starboard or Port Side - Port

Quiet Stateroom? (With comments on problems) – Reasonably quiet with staterooms either side, above, below, and opposite. Not too much footfall outside as it is almost halfway between the elevators. I'm not sure how well the balcony door sealed (in terms of sound) as we could hear next door's balcony conversations fairly easily :eek:

Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - No

Any specific problems with this cabin? - The wardrobe doors could do with adjusting so that they close properly. On the balcony, there is a repair in the floor covering next to the barrier which is starting to lift - mind you don't get sealant on your feet/sandals!

Any other comments? - As you enter from the corridor, the wardrobe is on the left, bathroom on the right. Bed is on the right, near to the balcony, there is a sofa between the bed and the bathroom on the right. The desk is on the left.

Despite the 'specific problems' above, this is a typical balcony stateroom with no major issues that would spoil a holiday / vacation :)

Have you joined our roll call on here Rob for the 30th?

If you haven't, then you should :) We're lovely :D

If you're on that sailing, you should have a quick look at my mini blog page, http://quotablederek.blogspot.co.uk/, too. :cool:

Just got off the Indy after a very enjoyable transatlantic. Only one of the 4 scrubbers has been fitted the work is ongoing but has no impact on the sailing, still a fair bit of soot on my aft cabin balcony daily. We heard on board that the cupcake shop is going to be changed into a pie shop for the UK market, could someone let me know if this is true.

There was quite a surprising of smoke out of the main stack when she was leaving Southampton. If my car did that, it'd fail the MOT emissions test :D

Yes, I think that the Cupcake Cupboard has made way for a pie shop. Others on my sailing this summer have heard that it's both sweet and savoury pies and they'll be $4.25 each. But I've not heard anything official. :)

Most everyone here has tons of cruises on their signature and makes a choice to cruise. If you were hard up for money, you would not be cruising. Everyone that goes on a cruise is affluent compared to the rest of the world. We "cruisers" are blessed.

Too true, and too easy to forget.

Unless the tip is waaay extravagant, tipping is not going to make much of a dent in the overall cruise budget we've already spent to be in that position. :)

You may as well get an EHIC, especially as they are free. If you search online and they ask you for a fee, then it's not the proper gov't site. Go via here: https://www.gov.uk/european-health-insurance-card :)

And there she was, gone.

11 weeks today for us. Can't wait! :D

She's back! :D

It's happened to me a few times. I usually leave it for a day or two and then it seems ok. Odd.:confused:

I'm not sure what causes it, but I always assume it's the website not me! :rolleyes::D

Hello all,

Just some info, in case anyone else with a milk allergy was wondering. I contacted RCI to find out whether B&J's will be serving some of their new vegan range on Independence in Europe in 2016. Turns out they won't be. I'm disappointed, but not surprised. I'll just keep 'ice cream' on the list of things to avoid. :(

That sounds like a gratuities/no gratuities difference.

 

So the OPs saving of 1.46% could be roughly the base price discounted by 20%, then 18% gratuities added back on to the discounted price. Your premium package may have been ex-gratuities, which they seem to offer sometimes.

Maybe, although the line code on my invoice reads 'YAC1-PREMBEVWGRAT", which I take to mean 'Premium beverage with gratuities'. Even so, £32.86 with 20% off and then 18% back on is £31.02. Still not £32.38. Now I'm just confused even more! :confused::rolleyes:

I'm on the same cruise as the OP. My Premium package is pre-paid but is showing as £460 on the invoice (before it is removed later with a line for -£460) and I booked back in March 2015, well before the 20% discount. On a 14 night sailing that is £32.86 per person per day, which means that the OP's £32.38 is a whopping saving of 1.46%. Not quite 20%. Someone tell me if I'm missing something? :confused:

For anyone who thinks there is a massive recent increase in terrorism in Western Europe, I would encourage you to read this article. It's quite short and the chart is quite enlightening.

https://www.statista.com/chart/4093/people-killed-by-terrorist-attacks-in-western-europe-since-1970/

It is natural to be concerned about terrorism, and the media have a part to play in stoking this concern because fear sells newspapers. It's a personal choice to cancel or not. The bottom line for me is that cruise companies exist to make money, and I don't think that they would risk their investments (ship, staff, customers) unnecessarily.

Have a look at this photo of Quantum (should be the same as Anthem?) and use the deck plans to count cabins. I just did (although fairly superficially) and I think 6600 and 6602 might be obstructed by one of the lifeboat supports? :( I'm not sure by how much, though. I hope I'm wrong. Personally, I think it should be much easier for customers to find out this type of information when we are booking. I mean, which 50% is blocked. Straight down? The centre 50% so you get a view around the periphery? It's not like these holidays are cheap! Good luck! :)

My DW has a dairy allergy and we ate at Chops twice and Giovanni's three times last week on the Allure and had fantastic service at all restaurants.

 

As well as contacting special needs make sure you also visit each restaurant the first day and talk to them. Preferably talk to the chef, while they can accommodate dairy free last minute in the restaurants it is easier with at least 24 hours notice especially for desserts. At Giovanni's the chef came and spoke with my DW each evening and had also prepared a dessert ahead of time for her.

 

Also, don't be afraid to offer suggestions. We were able to have them turn appetizers into main courses and take items from different dishes and combine them into one new dish.

 

Enjoy.:)

That's great, thanks! :D I will bite the bullet, and book both online.

What kind of thing were you able to get as alternatives?

I hope this picture works for you

Looks like B3 is Chops Grille.

I remember we asked in Wonderland on Anthem last year, and they said someone would be in touch. They never got back to us though. Still, there were plenty of other things to be getting on with 😊