Independence Royal Suite Spring Break Review

Hello Cruise Critic family, it’s KCJARVIS – We are Diamond Plus cruise addicts from NYC. In 2012, we sailed on Independence and I quote, “Overall – In my opinion, it is not fair to judge Indy against Oasis and Allure, however if we compare Indy to its Freedom Class sisters, Indy loses by a mile!!!!!! Liberty and Freedom are managed to a higher standard with a greater attention to detail and their crews make things happen, don’t make up excuses and don’t lie to customers. That was not my experience on Indy.

Scoring – Liberty 100, Freedom 98, Indy 75

So after 2 years of avoiding Indy, we felt it was time to try her out again. We flew out of LGA on JetBlue

Good bye NYC

For a change my TV worked. On approach we flew over Oasis heading out to sea

We grabbed a taxi and headed over to the Hyatt 66. The normal $17 10 minute ride ended up being a $27 25 minute ride due to the bridge being open.

We finally checked in to our wonderful Port view Junior Suite. We couldn’t be in South Florida without heading down to Versailles on Calle Ocho for some Cuban food. Dinner was fantastic!!!!

Then back to the hotel to get ready for the 5 am parade of ship.

Up at 4:45 am, checking to make sure Indy was en route.

Then at 5:05 am, she's here!!!!!!

Indy backing down the channel to Terminal 29, followed by the Eurodam

Followed by the the Regal Princess

Then the Flagship Allure

Can't wait to read the rest of your review! We are boarding Indy for the first time in a few weeks! Hopefully this trip went better for you this time :)

Good Morning Port Everglades

Webcam view

We then took a $7 shuttle to Terminal 29, and this time, there was no 3 hour line. Actually there was No line!!!!!!!!

5 mins from door to ding including the welcome aboard picture.

Great photos of the ships arriving in the wee hours!

Looking forward to the rest of your review. I've not sailed on Liberty (yet), but Freedom and Indy are wonderful ships. I personally give the edge to Indy, which I can't explain; just seems like a very well run ship.

Thanks for doing a review - I am looking forward to hearing/seeing the rest of your review! :)

A couple of questions - was Ricky still the CD or had Jamie taken over yet? If it was Jamie, how was he as a CD? Were you on the 8 day cruise? What time did you get there in the morning, to not have a line getting on the ship?! :eek:

Thank you!!

Thanks for doing a review - I am looking forward to hearing/seeing the rest of your review! :)

A couple of questions - was Ricky still the CD or had Jamie taken over yet? If it was Jamie, how was he as a CD? Were you on the 8 day cruise? What time did you get there in the morning, to not have a line getting on the ship?! :eek:

 

Thank you!!

It was the 6 day, Ricky was the CD. We got there at 10:55 am

At 1pm the rooms were ready. We headed to the amazing Royal Suite cabin

1640

Bathroom #1

Beautiful pictures, what a suite! :)

Going on Indy for the first time next March. Excited

Here is the controller for the piano which has over 1000 songs.

We also received a chocolate piano from the Hotel director - Yummy!!!!

After exploring to Royal Suite we headed up to the Windjammer for lunch. They had a fantastic Easter display.

Although Indy doesn't have a Park Cafe, they were serving strip loin, which happens to be the same cut of meat used in the famous kummelweck sandwiches

After lunch we headed back to the room to unpack. Two of our three bags had arrived. The 3rd bag arrived 2 hours later. When we opened the bag, this is what we had discovered, they didn't seize our apple juice boxes

Loving it so far!! Can't wait for more. Mary

An easy muster (non electronic) drill and it's time for sail away. Note - Since it was Easter, there was an Easter Mass scheduled, unfortunately it was scheduled for the same time as sail away.

And we are underway

Following Allure out of the harbor

Watching sail away on the webcam

Good bye Florida

Checked in with Raj the Concierge and Mel the Diamond Concierge then off to the Welcome Aboard Show

Ricky Matthews - Cruise Director got the crowd going

Activities Manager Gordon from Scotland

The Headliner Marcus Monroe - comedian/juggler was very funny

Hello Cuba, can't wait to meet you

Spent time hanging out on the balcony then it was time for the Cabin Crawl

That evening, we attended the production show - Center Stage

Hot Tub time

At 1pm the rooms were ready. We headed to the amazing Royal Suite cabin

1640

 

 

 

Great review.

Is it just me or does that couch and love seat look not only a little dated but very worn and looking like it belongs in a basement rec room and not the Royal Suite?

The rest of the suite looks fantastic.

Great review.

 

Is it just me or does that couch and love seat look not only a little dated but very worn and looking like it belongs in a basement rec room and not the Royal Suite?

 

The rest of the suite looks fantastic.

HAHAH it looks awful in the picture, but didn't look that bad in person and was very comfortable to sleep on.

Wow what a beautiful suite!!!!

Great review.

 

Is it just me or does that couch and love seat look not only a little dated but very worn and looking like it belongs in a basement rec room and not the Royal Suite?

 

The rest of the suite looks fantastic.

It's not just you.

We had the RS on the Adventure and it was a lovely HUGE sectional sofa that sat 10 people comfortably :D Plus it seemed newer and nicer than these couches.....

Ken. We had a wonderful cruise with you. I have to agree with you the Indy was not my favorite ship. Raj in the concierge was wonderful and the ship is beautiful but it is missing something. I was thinking maybe it could possibly be the scheduling of entertainment. For example after the Quest Ricky told everyone to go to the Labyrinth to dance all night. My husband and I went to the casino for 30 minutes then went to the labyrinth and there was only 5 people there. Where was everyone. We found that happening on most nights. The scheduling of shows if you have a late dinner is almost impossible to make. We never went to one show in the theater we always missed them. Many nights my husband and I walked around looking for a crowd and only found the crowd the night of the basketball finals.

Scoring – Liberty 100, Freedom 98, Indy 75

I'm just starting the review, but this peaked my interest. I am assuming reading the review that the 75 will become apparent, but what makes the extra 2 for Liberty?

Is there somewhere I can find out what flavors of ice cream Ben & Jerry's has? My husband is addicted to Chocolate Fudge Brownie.

Is there somewhere I can find out what flavors of ice cream Ben & Jerry's has? My husband is addicted to Chocolate Fudge Brownie.

Someone may be able to post a photo of the flavors, but you won't really know until you get on your cruise.