Feb Cruise on Independence of Seas

[cruisingiscool]

Hi! Have asked this question on RCI thread and has been most helpful but have never sailed from Southampton before (Usually do the Caribbean in Feb but unfortunately DH can no longer spend time in the sun or even shade in those temps ) but we would like some warmth on our bones so we are looking to book Southampton to Canaries. and wondered if it will be very rough seas and cold in Feb. Obviously not sunbathing weather so what is there to do on sea days for a couple of 60 year olds? ALSO will there be many children on Indy at that time of year? One more question - We usually book a balcony. Will the weather be good enough to at least spend some time on balcony?

[blackpool belle]

We went on the Indy this year 26th Jan - 13th Feb but around the Med not the Canaries. I was surprised we had pretty good weather, around 60o + and just 1 bad day (in Majorca). The outbound crossing was okay but we had to return home 5 hours early from our last port of call to get ahead of a storm which worked because we had smooth sailing all the way home. There were a few children on board but nothing like in the summer months. We had a balcony which we were able to make good use of. With regards to sea days there was the usual round of quizzes, talks, shows, demo's etc. However, you just cannot predict the weather so there is no saying that 2012 would be as good.

Hope this helps!

[BMT]

Done this many times - varying weather conditions. If you enjoy shipboard life, then its great!! Sometimes can use the balcony, other times not.

Unfortunately, no-one can give you an answer to this - try it and see!!

I will say this - its nothing like a Caribbean cruise. But we enjoy it.

[Lazysusan]

Hi, would someone mind answering a few questions about RCI with Independence of the Seas in mind.

Is it the same as P & O where you get allocated a table for your evening meal and you can have breakfast & lunch in the main dining room or the buffet if your prefer. Does the buffet do main meals or just snacks?

Do they run organised excusions? Do they run shuttle buses to the nearest town and if so do you have to pay for them or are they free as on P & O?

Is embarkcation and disembarkation easy and can you self disembark?

Do people normally pay their tips up front when booking, as they board or wait till the end and personally hand over tips? (I always tip so aren't trying to get out of tipping just thought giving the money over yourself is more personal)

[MTElkwhistle]

Lots of schools up here have a week off in February, you may want to avoid that week. When we go to Florida that week there are loads of British accents. (generally the 3rd week in Feb but it varies)

[yorkshirephil]

Originally Posted by Lazysusan

Hi, would someone mind answering a few questions about RCI with Independence of the Seas in mind.

Is it the same as P & O where you get allocated a table for your evening meal and you can have breakfast & lunch in the main dining room or the buffet if your prefer. Does the buffet do main meals or just snacks?

You can be allocated a table at first or second sitting or you can book anytime dining, or eat in the speciality restaurants, which have a cover charge. You can have breakfast & lunch in the main dining room. The buffet on this ship is excellent with a great choice of food, main meals and snacks.
Do they run organised excusions? Do they run shuttle buses to the nearest town and if so do you have to pay for them or are they free as on P & O?

They do run organised excursions, you can download a brochure with excursions from the web site. They do run shuttle busses, there is usually a charge. Some places put on a local free shuttle.
Is embarkcation and disembarkation easy and can you self disembark?


This is easy as there are several disembarkation points due to the size of the ship, you can self disembark.
Do people normally pay their tips up front when booking, as they board or wait till the end and personally hand over tips? (I always tip so aren't trying to get out of tipping just thought giving the money over yourself is more personal)

You tip at the end of the cruise, there is an option to prepay and receive vouchers so that you are still handing something over on a personal basis.

[Lazysusan]

Thanks Phil most helpful

As a matter of interest to all you UK cruisers who have travelled on P & O and RCI which do you prefer?

[yorkshirephil]

Originally Posted by Lazysusan

Thanks Phil most helpful

As a matter of interest to all you UK cruisers who have travelled on P & O and RCI which do you prefer?

It is very difficult to give a preference as there isn't a lot of difference in my opinion, my biggest gripe with RCI is the price of drinks, but if the actual cruise is less then it does balance out. P&O are more "British" than RCI, whether that is a good thing or not?

[WELSH WIZARDS]

We sailed on the Independence to the Canaries the beginning of Jan , 2010. We had rain almost every day, and on almost every Island. We were very unlucky as the Canaries in Jan is usually quite warm and at least rain free.
The truth is you can guarantee good weather at a certain time in very few places on Earth.

[Lazysusan]

Woohoo just booked a cruise for 24th Feb on Indy

I don't suppose anyone knows about parking, I just looked and can it will be ABP but is it's best to book early like for an airport as it goes up nearer the time or does it stay the same price.

Also if you tip yourself do you have to tip in dollars?

[yorkshirephil]

Originally Posted by Lazysusan

Woohoo just booked a cruise for 24th Feb on Indy

I don't suppose anyone knows about parking, I just looked and can it will be ABP but is it's best to book early like for an airport as it goes up nearer the time or does it stay the same price.

Also if you tip yourself do you have to tip in dollars?

We usually travel down the evening before and stay at the de Vere, last year it was £99 for B&B and 15 days parking, this wasnt much more than the cost of parking at the port. There is a free transfer to the port from the hotel, even though it is only a few minutes away. There will be other hotels local that have similar arrangements.

If we have had euro left over that is what we have tipped in, if not GBP. There is an option to sign a form that lets them add the recommended tip to your onboard account, you will then get vouchers to give out to the various staff.

Albeit it is a US cruise line you do not need dollars for anything. Your onboard account will be in dollars, it is better to let your credit card company do the currency conversion as RCI will charge you more for the priveledge.

[Lazysusan]

Hiya all, do you get toiletries in the cabin? Also can you get proper tea on board made with boiling water or is it like you get in The States - a cup of luke warm water and a teabag on the side?

Also what's this Crown & Anchor Society all about, it looks like you can't join it until after you have cruised?

Sorry for all the questions.

[yorkshirephil]

Originally Posted by Lazysusan

Hiya all, do you get toiletries in the cabin? Also can you get proper tea on board made with boiling water or is it like you get in The States - a cup of luke warm water and a teabag on the side?

Also what's this Crown & Anchor Society all about, it looks like you can't join it until after you have cruised?

Sorry for all the questions.

You do get toletries in the cabin. Yes you can get a proper cup of tea. There are several places where you can make your own tea. The Crown and anchor thing is just RCI loyalty scheme, it is along the lines of other cruise company schemes. We did use some of the vouchers we received for drinks on our second RCI cruise.

[robinp]

Originally Posted by yorkshirephil

You do get toletries in the cabin. Yes you can get a proper cup of tea. There are several places where you can make your own tea. The Crown and anchor thing is just RCI loyalty scheme, it is along the lines of other cruise company schemes. We did use some of the vouchers we received for drinks on our second RCI cruise.

You will get a bottle of bodywash/shampoo fixed to the inside of your shower on the wall and a small bar of bog standard bathroom soap. I believe you get Shampoo, Conditioner etc if you are in a suite.