Hello friends, family, fellow travelers, and cruise-goers,
As you know, my husband and I are avid travelers. We travel for both work and pleasure, but surprisingly… we haven’t been on many cruises. We’ve only been on one cruise two years ago with Royal Caribbean, and we had a great experience on the Navigator of the Seas.
One of my best friends, Abby, is an avid cruiser. She’s done several cruises with Norwegian and Virgin but hadn’t yet tried Royal Caribbean. Since her birthday was in March, we decided to celebrate with a weekend cruise following our Disney Challenge.
Abby decided she wanted to try Royal, so we looked for a weekend cruise departing from either Miami or Port Canaveral. We ended up booking the 3-Night Bahamas and Perfect Day Cruise aboard the Independence of the Seas.
Independence of the Seas Overview
Independence of the Seas first launched in 2008. At the time, it was the largest cruise ship until Oasis of the Seas launched in December 2009. Since then, Royal Caribbean has built even larger ships, making Independence now considered mid-sized.
“Indy,” as many cruise fans affectionately call it, is one of Royal’s most beloved ships. It homeports in Miami for much of the year, offering Caribbean itineraries during the winter months. In 2025, Independence will return to Southampton, UK for the summer season, fulfilling a long-time dream for many UK cruisers!
In May 2018, the ship underwent a major refurbishment as part of Royal Caribbean’s $900 million “Royal Amplified” program. Post-refurbishment, the ship now holds 1,918 staterooms and features new dining and bar areas, a laser tag arena, two water slides, and a kids’ aqua park. This really increased the number of activities onboard.
While the refurbishment added a lot, the decor and design still felt somewhat outdated—something I also noticed on the Navigator of the Seas.
The ship has an open floor plan and is easy to navigate. Comparing the pre- and post-refurbishment deck plans, the changes are significant, but everything—bars, restaurants, and entertainment—blends seamlessly. Honestly, it feels like they’ve always been there!
Despite a maximum capacity of 4,515 guests, I never felt like the ship was overcrowded. Most bars, restaurants, pools, and entertainment areas are on decks 4, 5, 11, and 15. Having everything clustered made it easy to use the stairs when we didn’t want to wait for the elevators. The only time it did feel crowded was during high-traffic moments like embarkation, mealtimes, and disembarkation. The elevators, located centrally, were slow during these peak periods—so we definitely got our steps in!
🍽️ Independence of the Seas Dining
Let’s be honest—everyone cares about food, so let’s dive into that first. There’s nothing worse than spending a weekend somewhere and not enjoying the meals!
Included Dining
Main Dining Room
Located on Deck 5 toward the back of the ship. Guests can choose between 5:30 PM and 8:30 PM dining times. If you select “My Time Dining,” reservations are required. Our group chose 8:30 PM and contacted Royal Caribbean to ensure the six of us could dine together. If you’re not in a group, they typically seat you with others (as they did on our Navigator cruise). Thankfully, this time we had a private table for just our group.
You also get the same waiter and assistant waiter all weekend. I’ll talk more about service later on. Manish and Imade were wonderful! Menus changed nightly and included starters, entrees, and desserts. Menu favorites of the weekend were: key lime pie, southern fried chicken, crab cakes, and the prime rib.
Café Promenade
This spot offers coffee, desserts, and other small bites. Espresso drinks in the morning were included with your fare!
Sorrento’s
Great late-night pizza stop after drinks and wandering the ship. Honestly, the pizza was pretty good—or maybe it was just the espresso martinis talking!
Windjammer Café
The ship’s buffet. Offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast included eggs, pancakes, yogurt, waffles, and more. A convenient, quick option.
Fish & Ships
Located by the pool and offers fried seafood. Sadly, we didn’t get a chance to try it.
Sprinkles
Soft-serve ice cream—because who doesn’t love that? Still unsure how we missed this one!
Specialty Dining (Upgraded Dining Plans)
We opted not to upgrade, as we felt the included options were already plentiful and satisfying. However, Royal offers various specialty dining packages, including an unlimited option and a 3-restaurant option. You can book upgrades via the Royal Caribbean app or website.
👉 See the app for current pricing!
🍹 Independence of the Seas Drinks
Drink Packages
Nick and I read several reviews before deciding to purchase the unlimited drink package. Royal Caribbean offers three different drink packages.
👉 For more info and prices, visit their website. (Photo Credit: Royal)
We chose the unlimited option, which includes soda, alcohol, bottled water, and Gatorade Zero. Note: You must use a special Royal Caribbean cup to access the drinks.
Favorite Bars Onboard
Schooner Bar
Espresso martinis were amazing! Consistent quality throughout the ship. The live piano music was a highlight.
Solarium Bar
Located near the adults-only pool. Great drinks (especially the blueberry mojito!), but slower service than on our previous Royal cruise.
Star Lounge
We attended several shows here. Service varied—great for cocktails, less so for bottled water (had to ask multiple times).
Have you cruised on Independence of the Seas? What was your favorite drink or bar?
⚓ Activities Onboard
Nick and I are active, even on vacation. On our first cruise, we worried we’d get bored just lounging by the pool—but that’s not a concern on Independence of the Seas. With so many onboard activities, we couldn’t get to them all!
I honestly wish we had stayed onboard one of the port days—there were that many things we didn’t get to try. Here are some of our group’s highlights:
Shows and Entertainment
- Grease Lightning
Broadway-style show with original rights secured by Royal. Amazing costumes and cast! - Crazy Quest
Interactive and hilarious. Small teams compete in games. We arrived late but it was still a blast. - Ice Spectacular: Freeze Time
A stunning ice-skating show with talented performers pulling off risky moves flawlessly. - Late Night Comedy: L.A. Hardy
Hysterically funny. We were in tears from laughing. A must-see. - Majority Rules Game Show
Fun for everyone—Greg even showed off some surprise dance moves!
Other Activities
- Casino
“I’m gambling again.” – Al Pacino. Located on Deck 4. Features blackjack and Texas Hold’em tournaments listed in the app. - Waterslides
Two exciting slides—sadly, we didn’t make it on! Note: weight limit of 400 lbs; enforced at the top. - FlowRider Surf Simulator
Fun to watch and even more fun to try (if you’re brave). - Pool Deck
Vibrant and fun. We mostly hung out in the adults-only area. There’s also a kid-friendly waterpark. - Mini Golf
Located on Deck 13. Great for all ages and included in your fare. - Escape Room
Still haven’t done it—next time for sure! Gets great reviews. - Laser Tag
Glow-in-the-dark and a blast! Tip: sign up early on the app. Closed-toe shoes required.
🛏️ Accommodations
Independence of the Seas has 1,930 staterooms across 15 decks, accommodating up to 3,858 passengers at double occupancy (max 4,560 guests). Plenty of options for all group sizes and budgets.
We chose an ocean-view stateroom—it wasn’t much more than an interior room and helped with seasickness.
💁 Service Onboard
From the moment you board, the service on Independence of the Seas stands out. Staff go out of their way to make you feel welcome—from personalized greetings in the dining room to towel animals in your stateroom.
Waitstaff remember your preferences, offer great suggestions, and cater to dietary needs. Bartenders, spa staff, and activity coordinators are enthusiastic and attentive.
There were a few hiccups (e.g., waiting on bottled water or slow poolside service), but they were minor and didn’t take away from the overall excellent experience.
🏝️ Excursions & Perfect Day at CocoCay
Coming soon: a separate blog post about our excursions and Perfect Day at CocoCay. There’s just too much to cover here!
🧳 What to Pack?
If you’re heading on your first cruise and unsure what to bring, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered.
👙 What to Wear
What do I wear? This is one of my favorite questions to answer. Check out some of my favorite cruise fits!
Final Thoughts
My experience aboard Independence of the Seas was truly unforgettable. From incredible service to endless entertainment, everything felt thoughtfully designed to ensure a relaxing and fun getaway.
Sure, there were a few minor bumps—but they didn’t diminish the overall experience. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or both, Independence of the Seas delivers.
I’d sail on this ship again in a heartbeat. If you’re celebrating a birthday or looking for a weekend escape, this cruise is a perfect choice.
Stay tuned for our next post on excursions and CocoCay, and don’t forget to follow along for more travel, nursing, and FlicksWithNick’s movie reviews!
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TravelingbeebryantRN & Flicks_withNick 
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