Nervous

Hiya

I am sailing on Independence of the Sea this week with just me and my 10 year old daughter. I suddenly feel very nervous that it's a whole new environment and I really want her to have an amazing time. I really really appreciate ANY advice from what to do when I first get on board - where do I go?? to things to do on board!!! Any advice or tips will be so gratefully received. Thanks :D:D

It's really no different than being at a resort hotel....albeit, with smaller rooms! There are no "must-do's"....it's up to what you both enjoy!

Get a guidebook on your ports, so you'll know what there is and how to do it while ashore! Or, google your ports. The more you know, the better time you'll have.

Independence doesn't require advance reservations for shows...the show you go to is based on your dining time. Makes life easier that way!

Wear your bathing suits (under clothes) onboard, and head to the pool! Cabins won't be ready until about 1pm, and if you have your suits on, you won't need to find someplace to change!

Keep any and all valuable with you...never check anything of value! Lock your checked bags.

You will have cell service until you lose sight of land, so you can make phone calls and brag to your friends while on the ship!

Welcome to Cruise Critic Lily! Remember what being 10 was like and you’ll know exactly how much fun she’s gonna have. A cruise ship, with all the new sights and sounds, not to mention the food, is a great environment for a wide-eyed kid. She’s gonna have a blast and so are you.

You will have cell service until you lose sight of land, so you can make phone calls and brag to your friends while on the ship!

Not necessarily. For example, you can sit on certain shores of San Francisco Bay and, depending on your carrier, have zero cell service.

Same is true all over the world. And, when you do see cellular "bars" on your phone display, make sure they're associated with your carrier (or a recognized "partner" for any purchased roaming package, e.g., Vodaphone for AT&T).

Of course, wifi calling is a whole other discussion.

It's really no different than being at a resort hotel....albeit, with smaller rooms! There are no "must-do's"....it's up to what you both enjoy!

 

Get a guidebook on your ports, so you'll know what there is and how to do it while ashore! Or, google your ports. The more you know, the better time you'll have.

 

Independence doesn't require advance reservations for shows...the show you go to is based on your dining time. Makes life easier that way!

 

Wear your bathing suits (under clothes) onboard, and head to the pool! Cabins won't be ready until about 1pm, and if you have your suits on, you won't need to find someplace to change!

 

Keep any and all valuable with you...never check anything of value! Lock your checked bags.

 

You will have cell service until you lose sight of land, so you can make phone calls and brag to your friends while on the ship!

More misinformation. It never ends....

Roz

Hiya

 

 

 

I am sailing on Independence of the Sea this week with just me and my 10 year old daughter. I suddenly feel very nervous that it's a whole new environment and I really want her to have an amazing time. I really really appreciate ANY advice from what to do when I first get on board - where do I go?? to things to do on board!!! Any advice or tips will be so gratefully received. Thanks :D:D

Make the first day right. Be at the pier at 11 am - drop your luggage at the pier and do the check in. Once you can board the ship go straight to the Windjammer Cafe on deck 11. Do not bring too much hand luggage.

At 1 pm you cabin will be ready. The familiarize yourself with the cabin as well as the ship.

You’ll get you luggage during the after noon. Before departure there is the mandatory muster drill.

Then decide what to do for the. Evening.

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Thank you for the helpful advice, is much appreciated.

Hiya

 

I am sailing on Independence of the Sea this week with just me and my 10 year old daughter. I suddenly feel very nervous that it's a whole new environment and I really want her to have an amazing time. I really really appreciate ANY advice from what to do when I first get on board - where do I go?? to things to do on board!!! Any advice or tips will be so gratefully received. Thanks :D:D

Welcome to Cruise Critic Lily1000.

Don't be nervous, you and your daughter are about to embark on a wonderful cruise adventure.

Royal Caribbean is a terrific cruise line that caters to families.

Independence is the first RCCL ship to undergo the refurbishment as part of the Royal Amplified program. Some of the brand new additions are Laser tag, Flowrider (surf simulator), Fish & Ships ( batter fried seafood favorites), Sky Pad trampoline,

Boarding Passes

Log on to the My Voyages section of the Royal Caribbean Website and print of boarding passes for both you and your daughter. You will need these to enter the cruise terminal check-in area.

Kids Club

Shortly after you board the ship make a point of stopping by Adventure Ocean deck 17 aft. Here you can sign your daughter up for the kids club where she can can me dozens of kids her own age and take part in the planned events throughout the cruise.

Check-In

Much like most hotels, each member of your family will receive a cruise card. This card will enable you to enter your cabin and to pay for things on board. Ships are completely cashless except for the Casino.

Boarding

begins at noon, as soon as you board the ship you're on vacation.

Lido Lunch

As soon as you board the ship head for the Windjammer Buffet on Deck 11 aft. The earlier you board the ship the better because the WJ will be get very busy.

Explore

After lunch take a stroll around the ship and get your bearings. You might head up one deck to the Kids Clubs or work your way down and visit the pool, theater, lounges, restaurants and the Royal Promenade on deck 5, the social hub of the ship.

Cabin

Will be ready about 1 pm. Your luggage will be delivered some time in the afternoon, certainly before the ship leaves at 5 pm.

Muster Drill

About an hour before the Indy leaves Southampton, there will be a mandatory safety drill (Muster) for passengers. You find information on where your station is on your cabin door, it should also be listed on your voyage sea pass card.

Daily Compass

Is the Daily Program of the all of the planned events that take place on board Independence. Each evening your room steward will place a new Program on your bed.

Here's a link to an Independence Daily Program for a few years ago to give you an idea:

http://www.cruisewithgambee.com/independence-of-the-seas-cruise-compass/

Excursions:

It looks like your doing the 6-day cruise with stops in Paris, Bibao and Gijon. Have you booked any excursions yet.

Have a plan

Don't try to wing it. Look at Tripadvisor.com for ideas of interesting places to visit at your port stops. Bilbao and Gijon can both be toured on foot without the necessity of booking an excursion.

Don't miss the opportunity to visit Paris. Through the cruise line you can book a shuttle bus transfer into Paris. The journey is about 2 hours each way but, well worth it for the opportunity to spend 6 hours in this fabled and beautiful city.

Make sure you book it soon, as excursion booking will close three days prior to your departure.

Study the deck plans, read some tour guides that discuss your port stops, look at the cruise excursions on line to get an idea of the interesting things to see ashore.

Have a great cruise.

Jonathan

You've probably been given a time to board...if you're early, you can drop your luggage at City Terminal when the gates open at 10.30am. If you're too early for your time slot, you can walk to the next door hotel, the Holiday Inn, for a coffee. The Mayflower Park is opposite, and you can see Indy from there.

Don't stress, because everyone- passengers and staff- will be helpful

Once you've found your cabin, and had something to eat, then explore, and see all the amazing things this ship can offer you- she's a child's delight!

Enjoy every minute. :)

Since you will be bringing a 10yo dear daughter, one of the things that she needs to check into is the kids club on board ship.

Secondly... swimming pool.

Also, if your daughter has a mobile phone, remind her that using it on board ship is really really expensive and it should be left in airplane mode while on board ship. However, she can also use the mobile phone as a camera.

Most importantly.... R-E-L-A-X.

Get familiar with the ship prior to boarding. Check out the deck plans so you have an idea of what interests you.

Nothing like your first cruise. The sail away is something never forgotten. Be sure to watch them untie the lines, and cast off. The cruise has begun.

The party has started.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

There is nothing to be nervous about.

Just make certain that you have made a copy of your cruise documents and take your passport or raised seal birth certificates with you.

Once on the ship you may want to have lunch first. Then read your daily program to see what you want to do.

Hopefully you'll be beginning to feel the excitement now...just one or two points:

No, you won't need your birth certificate from Southampton.

It might not be warm enough to use the pool when you first arrive, nor crossing the Channel, but I have seen children playing in Indy's water area in cooler weather- perhaps this hot summer will follow you this weekend :D...I wouldn't think about travelling there with a swimming costume on under your clothes.

There's usually a shuttle bus provided at Le Havre, which goes to the beach, and one for Bilbao.

You're going to be so happy once you're on board- just ask around, and fellow passengers will help.

Enjoy! x :)

Another thing we do the first day (boarding day) is make a hair appointment for my wife, usually for the afternoon of the 2nd formal night (7 day cruise). You might want one for yourself and daughter.

Have a great cruise! Your daughter is a good age for her first cruise. Mine loved the kids’/teen clubs until she aged out.

our very first cruise was on Independence. We had a blast (no kid then)! Our forth cruise was on Independence as well - with our 3 yo (first one for him)! We had a blast!

Don't forget flip flops for both of you. I don't know what happened, but I forgot them and had to wear dress shoes to the pool. :( They got wet and disintegrated...

Relax. No need to be stressed out about anything on the cruise. It's a great vacation. Watch the shows, eat the yummy food, watch people fall down on the Flowrider, climb the rock climbing wall, walk the promenade - we loved going to all the stores window shopping, watch a movie, have tea and cookies at the Promenade cafe (that was my favorite thing about RCI), read a book and watch the ocean, have the drink of the day, walk around the ship! It's all about relaxing and having fun.

P.S. Airplane mode for the phone!