Help please for first time cruisers on RCI's Independence

[Justcat44]

Hello everyone, we are first time cruisers sailing on Independence of the Seas to the Med on 9th May:cool::cool:.

 

We have some very basic (i'm afraid) questions which I hope some of you will be able to answer for us:-

 

1. Tea and coffee making facilities are made available in the rooms but should we bring our own tea and coffee or is this also supplied?

2. Presumably there are trolleys for the luggage at Southampton or, as we have parking at the Port, do the porters collect from the car?

3. We are registered for the 'meet and mingle' event on 10th May - anyone else out there coming along?

4. Although RCI say that boarding commences at 2pm (for the 5pm sailing) what is the earliest time that the ship has allowed boarding to commence?

 

Carol and John

[cb at sea]

Like a hotel, there should be pre-packaged coffee/teabags in the room...

 

You should be able to board well before pm--I'd be there by noon or so.

[firefly333]

1. Tea and coffee making facilities are made available in the rooms but should we bring our own tea and coffee or is this also supplied? Lipton brand teas were supplied, Grey something and the breakfast one, about 8 choices. We sailed with a Irish family who had tea nightly after dinner. The waiter brought it in a wooden box for them to choose from.

 

2. Presumably there are trolleys for the luggage at Southampton or, as we have parking at the Port, do the porters collect from the car? I dont know about your port, but usually you have to get your bags to the luggage area of the port on your own. We usually do off site parking where the shuttle driver drops us off in front of the porters.

 

3. We are registered for the 'meet and mingle' event on 10th May - anyone else out there coming along? Check your roll call to talk to the others on your cruise. We kept a running talley on the roll call as folks signed up. The roll call is half the fun, finally getting to meet face to face.

 

4. Although RCI say that boarding commences at 2pm (for the 5pm sailing) what is the earliest time that the ship has allowed boarding to commence? Usually between 10:30 and 11 am. However, you cannot get to your cabins until after 1 pm, so you have to take your carry ons with you up to the buffet. We have one person who fills plates and the other watches the luggage until 1 pm

 

Carol and John

 

Any other questions just ask. Im assuming a trolley is like a porter's cart.

[Justcat44]

Thanks for the information, guys - much appreciated.

 

[yes, firefly333, a trolley is the same as a porter's cart]

[Clio1610]

Hi Justcat44 !

 

You must be getting very excited by now !!

 

We got back home last weekend from our 1st ever cruise - we chose RCI's Freedom of the Seas Western Caribbean - and sooooooooooo happy we did !!! I understand that IOTS is the same ship !!

 

The Service onboard was Fantastic, every single crew member we came across was completely wonderful, in fact the only complaint we have is...... there was just so much food everywhere !!! And the temptation to try everything was........ well we just did!!! However we loved it so much that we have booked for Oasis of the Seas for next year !!!

 

Enjoy it all - you will have a wonderful time !!!!