Independence of the Seas

[workstocruise]

Does anyone know if there’s a date for this ship to be refurbished?  I heard the last time was in 2018. We are booked on her in July 2025 on a 9 day Spain and Portugal cruise and I was hoping she’d get some updating before our cruise.  Thanks.

 

[shof515]

The last drydock was actually in 2023:

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/02/royal-caribbeans-independence-resumes-service-after-drydock/

 

The next drydock for the ship will be in about 5 years so around 2028

Edited September 4 by shof515

[Biker19]

13 minutes ago, workstocruise said:

We are booked on her in July 2025 on a 9 day Spain and Portugal cruise and I was hoping she’d get some updating before our cruise.

Don't look for any substantive changes/updates once a ship gets to that age.

[workstocruise]

Thanks for the info on the Indy. Yes I know she is an older ship and we mostly cruise on newer ones.  However this is a family cruise sailing from Southampton to Portugal and Spain.  We are trying to give our adult children and teenage grandkids a taste of Europe while we the Grandparents can still travel.  We’ve taken them on Harmony and Quantum and I don’t want them to be disappointed on the Independence.

[Hoopster95]

1 hour ago, workstocruise said:

We’ve taken them on Harmony and Quantum and I don’t want them to be disappointed on the Independence.

 

You won't be... you may like it better 👍

Edited September 4 by Hoopster95

[DCGuy64]

We'll be on this ship in December, 2nd time on Royal, first time on this ship. Can't wait!

[little britain]

1 hour ago, Hoopster95 said:

 

You won't be... you may like it better 👍

Opinions will vary on that one!! 
But at least the itinerary is good. 
lol

LBx

[The Fun Researcher]

We’re just on the Indy last month and loved it.  She’s in good shape and a wonderful ship

[PhillyFan33579]

10 hours ago, workstocruise said:

Thanks for the info on the Indy. Yes I know she is an older ship and we mostly cruise on newer ones.  However this is a family cruise sailing from Southampton to Portugal and Spain.  We are trying to give our adult children and teenage grandkids a taste of Europe while we the Grandparents can still travel.  We’ve taken them on Harmony and Quantum and I don’t want them to be disappointed on the Independence.

If they just compare Independence to Harmony or Quantum they are likely to be disappointed. But if they focus on seeing parts of Europe they should be happy. 

[FamilyCruiserUK]

13 hours ago, workstocruise said:

Thanks for the info on the Indy. Yes I know she is an older ship and we mostly cruise on newer ones.  However this is a family cruise sailing from Southampton to Portugal and Spain.  We are trying to give our adult children and teenage grandkids a taste of Europe while we the Grandparents can still travel.  We’ve taken them on Harmony and Quantum and I don’t want them to be disappointed on the Independence.

I believe we will be on the same cruise 9nt spanish flare end of july. 👍Havent been on Indy since before she was amp,d. Really enjoy the Oasis class so looking forward to seeing what they have done with Indy now. 

[The Fun Researcher]

Really, the only thing that felt mildly dated were the staterooms.  The refrigerators/coolers really didn't work at all.  (We put our ice buckets, uncovered, in there to help cool drinks)  The newer ships at least have some cooling ability.  The cabinetry still is the same old light golden wood finish, and may show mild wear in some heavily used spots.  It's not objectionable to us, just not the latest style decor.  Everything was still clean.

[leaveitallbehind]

21 hours ago, workstocruise said:

Does anyone know if there’s a date for this ship to be refurbished?  I heard the last time was in 2018. We are booked on her in July 2025 on a 9 day Spain and Portugal cruise and I was hoping she’d get some updating before our cruise.  Thanks.

 

The 2018 date to which you refer was when Independence was "Amplified", which was a major RCI ship upgrade program. There likely will not be any further refurbishments as the amplification program occurred just 6 years ago.  The 2023 drydock as indicated was a routine 5-year maintenance dry dock subsequent to that with minor cosmetic and other similar things that would have been addressed.

 

IMO, the ship should be in as good a condition with the most current venues it will have, likely for the long term.  She should be in very good shape with little more to be updated as a result of the 2018 amplification and most recent 2023 drydock.

 

Here is a link to information from the RCI press center describing the ship and the 2018 amplification.:

https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/ship/7/independence-of-the-seas/2/images/#1

Edited September 5 by leaveitallbehind

[keishashadow]

One of our favorite ships, any line.  Could be as it was our 1st sailing on RCCL, soon had DCL & CCL in the tail lights.  

[Norwich Cruiser]

7 hours ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

I believe we will be on the same cruise 9nt spanish flare end of july. 👍Havent been on Indy since before she was amp,d. Really enjoy the Oasis class so looking forward to seeing what they have done with Indy now. 

Is that 25th July?
 

We did the same itinerary on Anthem last year a few new ports for us which were great and enjoyed the route so much have rebooked.

[workstocruise]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I feel much better and as someone said, it’s more about the itinerary than the ship.  I was just overthinking it.  The cabin pics on YouTube show dated bathrooms and after the new ones on Quantum, I was second guessing myself but the kids won’t give that a second thought with all the fun things on board.  Happy Sailings to you all!

[Mick B]

I have 12 nights booked on the Indy next May from Southampton.

managed to get a promenade interior on 6th floor for good price - booked it day 1.

Not been on the Indy since 2019 as she has not been in our neck of the woods (the Anthem has been here instead).

She was the first ship I went on back in 2008 when she was the newest and biggest ship in the world.

I have been back on her in 2013 and 2016 too (both times from Southampton to the Canaries) and the only thing I noticed different in 2019 after her 2018 refit was a sportsbar, the renamed theatre and the golf course moving from one end of the ship to the other.

 

Sadly, it looks like she may only be in our neck of the woods for 2025 as looking on the internet at caribbean ports in 2026 she seems to be there a lot. Word as it the her older sister ship the Liberty may take over for 2026. I haven't been on her since 2014 so can't say what state she is in.

 

However, the Indy was my first ship, and in fact she is still the ship I have spent most days/nights on. Looking forward to watching Grease again and she also has a skating rink (something Quantum class ships sadly do not).

 

The only downside to the Indy can be the weather. She does not have much cover up top if the weather turns bad and just about all her 2025 itinerary goes with into the north sea or the bay of biscay which can be both rough and wet.

On the plus side, she does have a really nice royal promenade with plenty bars!

 

Hope you and your family enjoy your holiday and the ship - she is amazing!

 

Mick.

Edited September 6 by Mick B

[Mum2Mercury]

4 minutes ago, Mick B said:

managed to get a promenade interior on 6th floor

We had a Promenade Interior on the 6th floor -- loved it!  Reasons: 

- You're only one floor up from the Promenade -- easy to walk down for a drink or pizza. 

- We were only two rooms away from the Entertainment Bridge, so we could watch the dance parties without joining the crowd.  

- The room was only noisy during the dance parties, and they only lasted 30 minutes.  

- We didn't particularly like walking in and having the bed plopped down right in front of the door, but we loved the seating by the window.  

4 minutes ago, Mick B said:

after her 2018 refit was a sportsbar

My husband loves Playmakers.  Note, if you care, that the cheapest beer on the ship is a pitcher in Playmakers.  

Playmakers also has the only Fish & Ships.  

This size ship is our favorite -- big enough to have plenty of amenities, not gigantic /oversized.  

[DCGuy64]

4 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

Playmakers also has the only Fish & Ships.  

According to what I'm seeing online, Playmakers is on deck 4 and Fish and Ships is on deck 11. I checked the Playmakers menu online and they don't have fish and chips. But I *do* like knowing they serve the cheapest beer! 🍻😁

[The Fun Researcher]

I think they meant to say. ” Independence also has the only fish and ships”

[Hoopster95]

1 hour ago, The Fun Researcher said:

I think they meant to say. ” Independence also has the only fish and ships”

 

Ovation has Fish & Ships

[goldfish65]

😀 So many Brits like Independence and they can be finicky (as can others but let’s be honest) so I figure it must be good! Boarding tomorrow if you have any questions. 

Edited September 7 by goldfish65

[Roybthered]

Our first sailing with RCCl was on Indy in 2017 then a TA over to the states in 2019 and we loved her, she is a really good ship and the sports bars is great as it is next to the casino so great for the wife to drop me off on her way and she is not too far if she gets a big win so can call me ( I know but I can dream!). We are sailing on her 31st May next year from Southampton and are really looking forward to it. 

[boontj2003]

Just got off Indy a few weeks ago. Clean ship, great staff and food was fabulous! Everyone in our party enjoyed the food (which isn’t happening much on other ships)

[TeeRick]

23 hours ago, Mick B said:

I have 12 nights booked on the Indy next May from Southampton.

managed to get a promenade interior on 6th floor for good price - booked it day 1.

Not been on the Indy since 2019 as she has not been in our neck of the woods (the Anthem has been here instead).

She was the first ship I went on back in 2008 when she was the newest and biggest ship in the world.

I have been back on her in 2013 and 2016 too (both times from Southampton to the Canaries) and the only thing I noticed different in 2019 after her 2018 refit was a sportsbar, the renamed theatre and the golf course moving from one end of the ship to the other.

 

Sadly, it looks like she may only be in our neck of the woods for 2025 as looking on the internet at caribbean ports in 2026 she seems to be there a lot. Word as it the her older sister ship the Liberty may take over for 2026. I haven't been on her since 2014 so can't say what state she is in.

 

However, the Indy was my first ship, and in fact she is still the ship I have spent most days/nights on. Looking forward to watching Grease again and she also has a skating rink (something Quantum class ships sadly do not).

 

The only downside to the Indy can be the weather. She does not have much cover up top if the weather turns bad and just about all her 2025 itinerary goes with into the north sea or the bay of biscay which can be both rough and wet.

On the plus side, she does have a really nice royal promenade with plenty bars!

 

Hope you and your family enjoy your holiday and the ship - she is amazing!

 

Mick.

I think we will be on that 12 nighter with you next year.  Looking forward to it.

[FamilyCruiserUK]

On 9/5/2024 at 4:12 PM, Norwich Cruiser said:

Is that 25th July?
 

We did the same itinerary on Anthem last year a few new ports for us which were great and enjoyed the route so much have rebooked.

Yes it it. Taking the parents in law as well. Then we got Allure booked from Barcelona in October. We did almost the same ports with P&O arvia last summer 2023.