Live - Independence of the Seas - 15 June 2019 - 29 June 2019

[bogofman]

On 6/20/2019 at 6:05 PM, jaz33 said:

, and there was a distinct lack of bar servers.  This may be because there is the impression that the Brits will go to the bar if they want a drink, which I suppose is not wrong,

 

My theory is that since drink packages have been given (included) so a lot of people have them, the last thing that Royal would want to do is encourage  people to use them by asking if they want a drink, make it as difficult as possible to obtain a drink.

 

our next cruise on the 13th we don't have the included drinks, Booked after it was taken away, since the price was way too high before

 

we will pay as we go, and if there are no servers, will be drinking less.

 

 

 

 

[lynniemichelle]

Hi thank you for all your updates, will be joining as you disembark, this has been very helpful....especially the ticketing for the tender!  Do you know who the cruise director is since I believe Joff Eaton will not be on this summer?

[little britain]

2 hours ago, lynniemichelle said:

Hi thank you for all your updates, will be joining as you disembark, this has been very helpful....especially the ticketing for the tender!  Do you know who the cruise director is since I believe Joff Eaton will not be on this summer?

Joff has just joined Ovation in Alaska. I believe it is Cuddy on Indie for the summer now...

[Yorkshire-Pudding]

For anyone embarking Indy on Saturday 29 June 2019, I received this notification today -

 

Instructions for arrival

Dear Guest

Please read: Important advice on local motorway closure M27 J3 to J5 (east and west bound) from 22.00 Friday 28th June 2019 until 06.00  Monday 1st July 2018, which will have an impact on your travel arrangements.

 

Clear diversions will be in place - please allow more time for you journey to the Port of Southampton as there are likely to be delays

[loveheart]

8 minutes ago, Yorkshire-Pudding said:

For anyone embarking Indy on Saturday 29 June 2019, I received this notification today -

 

Instructions for arrival

Dear Guest

Please read: Important advice on local motorway closure M27 J3 to J5 (east and west bound) from 22.00 Friday 28th June 2019 until 06.00  Monday 1st July 2018, which will have an impact on your travel arrangements.

 

Clear diversions will be in place - please allow more time for you journey to the Port of Southampton as there are likely to be delays

Just got the same email . 😞

[jaz33]

On 6/26/2019 at 11:41 AM, h20skibum said:

Did you have to put in at Gibraltar, on your way to Cadiz?  The ship’s track appears you did.

Sorry to hear about the decline in the MDR food later in your cruise.  Maybe we will be ordering the Chops filet on some of the nights with entrees we don’t care for.

 

Also, what night was seafood night in the WJ?

 

 Not sure whether we actually docked in Gibraltar but there was another medical emergency during the night before Cadiz so maybe. 

 

The cruise has has been quite eventful with a number of medical emergencies, one passenger jumping overboard and being rescued before being put off in Gibraltar. Allegedly it was because he lost $17000 in the Casino but not sure how true that is.  You know how the grapevine works on cruises. Then there was a fight among a large group of people (17 I heard) and they were also put of in Cagliari I think.

 

I havent seen seen the seafood night mentioned to be honest. 

 

Where did you find the tracker?

Edited June 27, 2019 by jaz33

[jaz33]

23 hours ago, bogofman said:

 

My theory is that since drink packages have been given (included) so a lot of people have them, the last thing that Royal would want to do is encourage  people to use them by asking if they want a drink, make it as difficult as possible to obtain a drink.

 

our next cruise on the 13th we don't have the included drinks, Booked after it was taken away, since the price was way too high before

 

we will pay as we go, and if there are no servers, will be drinking less.

 

 

 

 

 

I have to agree with you.

[jaz33]

22 hours ago, lynniemichelle said:

Hi thank you for all your updates, will be joining as you disembark, this has been very helpful....especially the ticketing for the tender!  Do you know who the cruise director is since I believe Joff Eaton will not be on this summer?

 

No problem. The Cruise Director is Cuddy Cudworth.  He’s been very good and does seminars throughout the cruise on ‘Monkey Mind Relaxation’. Well worth a visit. 

[jaz33]

Cadiz yesterday. We like Cadiz, it is such an easy town to walk around with a decent beach and shopping/market area.

 

At sea today, calm seas and 20C.  Towels were on the sun beds nice and early again 😂. It always amazes me the lengths people go to to get a sun bed.  

 

Now that we are coming to the end of the cruise i’ll try to sum up with some tips, some of which I have already covered.

 

If you can, complete your sea pass info on the Royal App.  It makes boarding a lot easier.

 

The Windjammer can be like a cattle market at times.  If you like to eat of there, whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner, try to work out the quieter times for your own sanity.

 

Better still, use the dining room for breakfast every morning and lunch on sea days.  Buffet breakfast on deck 3 and a la carte on deck 4. 

 

Tender ports, see my earlier post regarding this.

 

Make time to see the sunsets.  They are different every evening and never fail to impress. 

 

The shows are mainly 7pm for late seating and 9pm for early with a few exceptions.  There have been a couple of adult comedy late shows at 10.45pm as well.

 

Formal on this cruise was day 3, 10, 13. 

 

If if you enjoy your spa treatments then wait for the discounts in the 2nd week.  The full body massage went from $169 to $99. Also, if you are Diamond and above you will get a $50 discount after day 3. 

 

The best tip of all, relax, enjoy and let go.  It’s your cruise and even a mediocre cruise is better than a good day at work. 

 

i may not have time to get on tomorrow so if I don’t thank you for following and reading.  If you have any further questions I will do my best to answer them.

 

bye for now

 

Ian 

 

[jmnathan]

We're on Indy at the end of July (27th) so following this with interest. 

 

We have expedited boarding and I am wondering how good it will be. We're planning to arrive around midday (driving down from the Watford area) so not sure what queues will be like at that time anyway. I ready that you get expedited boarding so long as you check in via the app. Wouldn't most people do this if offered?

 

Really excited for our first time on Indy 

[loveheart]

Thanks for your great reviews. I'm disappointed that the shows are on at 7.00pm for late diners. We used to enjoy the Diamond Club at 7.00pm before dinner then go to the late shows at 10.30pm.  How long do the shows last?

[kernow]

3 minutes ago, loveheart said:

Thanks for your great reviews. I'm disappointed that the shows are on at 7.00pm for late diners. We used to enjoy the Diamond Club at 7.00pm before dinner then go to the late shows at 10.30pm.  How long do the shows last?

When we were on a few weeks ago we would go to the show at 7, have a drink in the theatre and then go up to the lounge when the show ended (usually about 7.45) until dinner time. There were always seats in the lounge at that time. The only show that was longer was Grease but that is on at different times.

 

 

Jaz33, thank you for the great review, I've enjoyed following along.

[jaz33]

4 minutes ago, jmnathan said:

We're on Indy at the end of July (27th) so following this with interest. 

 

We have expedited boarding and I am wondering how good it will be. We're planning to arrive around midday (driving down from the Watford area) so not sure what queues will be like at that time anyway. I ready that you get expedited boarding so long as you check in via the app. Wouldn't most people do this if offered?

 

Really excited for our first time on Indy 

 

When we arrived there was a sign for Pinnacle, Suite and Expedited boarding.  Go to this area and you will be asked a few questions and sent to security. Your sea pass cards will be outside your room. 

 

Not or sure how busy it,will be when you arrive.  

[loveheart]

2 minutes ago, kernow said:

When we were on a few weeks ago we would go to the show at 7, have a drink in the theatre and then go up to the lounge when the show ended (usually about 7.45) until dinner time. There were always seats in the lounge at that time. The only show that was longer was Grease but that is on at different times.

 

 

Jaz33, thank you for the great review, I've enjoyed following along.

Ah right so still time to get our drinks after the show. 🙂 Still would much prefer a later show as I like to stay out on deck as long as possible.

[jaz33]

9 minutes ago, loveheart said:

Thanks for your great reviews. I'm disappointed that the shows are on at 7.00pm for late diners. We used to enjoy the Diamond Club at 7.00pm before dinner then go to the late shows at 10.30pm.  How long do the shows last?

 

Im with you, I much prefer the later theatre time after late seating. The show lasts about 45 - 50 minutes. We managed a drink in the Diamond lounge before 8.30pm meal. 

[jmnathan]

4 minutes ago, jaz33 said:

 

When we arrived there was a sign for Pinnacle, Suite and Expedited boarding.  Go to this area and you will be asked a few questions and sent to security. Your sea pass cards will be outside your room. 

 

Not or sure how busy it,will be when you arrive.  

Ah ok, sounds good. Did you add photos for your whole party via the app? I added mine but as the others weren't with me at the time I couldn't add theirs and there's no nowhere to add them via the app (seems I can add them via the website checkin though). Just wondering if lack of photo for all of us will slow things down.

[Yorkshire-Pudding]

18 minutes ago, jmnathan said:

We're on Indy at the end of July (27th) so following this with interest. 

 

We have expedited boarding and I am wondering how good it will be. We're planning to arrive around midday (driving down from the Watford area) so not sure what queues will be like at that time anyway. I ready that you get expedited boarding so long as you check in via the app. Wouldn't most people do this if offered?

 

Really excited for our first time on Indy 

 

 I live near you near in Watford. As you are travelling the first Saturday after the schools break up, I would think the M25 especially towards Heathrow and those travelling to Gatwick would be quite busy.

Edited June 27, 2019 by Yorkshire-Pudding
semantics error

[jaz33]

3 minutes ago, jmnathan said:

Ah ok, sounds good. Did you add photos for your whole party via the app? I added mine but as the others weren't with me at the time I couldn't add theirs and there's no nowhere to add them via the app (seems I can add them via the website checkin though). Just wondering if lack of photo for all of us will slow things down.

 

I think you will need photos and set sail passes completed for everyone.  If you go to your set sail pass and then swipe left you should be able to get to the others if they are on the same booking. Alternatively complete on the website.  

 

Enjoy your cruise. 

Edited June 27, 2019 by jaz33

[Yorkshire-Pudding]

Sorry jmnathan, just realised you are talking about boarding not travelling down to Southampton. Still expect it to be busy with family groups all eager to get on board. We sail on Saturday 29 June and my son's Scottish friends are now on Summer holidays so expecting a very busy ship.

[Milwaukee Eight]

On 6/26/2019 at 6:48 AM, bogofman said:

 

My theory is that since drink packages have been given (included) so a lot of people have them, the last thing that Royal would want to do is encourage  people to use them by asking if they want a drink, make it as difficult as possible to obtain a drink.

 

our next cruise on the 13th we don't have the included drinks, Booked after it was taken away, since the price was way too high before

 

we will pay as we go, and if there are no servers, will be drinking less.

 

 

 

 

Does anyone think the server issue might very well be a cause and effect of no tipping?

[Clarea]

21 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Does anyone think the server issue might very well be a cause and effect of no tipping?

 

I think the server issue is due to tips received for the drink packages not being directly related to the number of drinks served.

[dude_hdt]

We used to love going to MDR as it was one of the bigger events of the day.  However, with the multitude of evening entertainments nowadays and us wanting to attend as much as possible, shortening the dinner is the only way to make more time so MDR is mainly for formal night for us.  That and as others have mentioned, WJ quality and selection has improved quite a bit.

[kernow]

17 hours ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Does anyone think the server issue might very well be a cause and effect of no tipping?

I don't think it had anything to do with tipping on our cruise, there were just a lack of staff to serve the number of people. We were tipping a dollar a drink and still had to go up to the bar to be served.

[jaz33]

Last day before home.  Plenty going on on the ship. 20C outside, sunny but blustery on the outside decks. Formal last night was ok but lacked atmosphere due to the MDR being less the half full. There was a parade and an individual birthday cake for each couple for RCCL 50th birthday.

 

Time to pack and get ready for the final evening.

 

Thanks for reading and contributing everyone.

 

All the best

 

ian  

[livylotte]

On 6/24/2019 at 10:31 AM, little britain said:

The only RCI ship I have ever seen this on is Symphony.  

 

We were on Oasis in May and they did the balloon drop.