Wilmsta

Hi all Me and the better half will be coming over from the UK to Miami right at the start of April next year. If I move things about a bit we may be able to do the 4 night Bahamas cruise, stopping at Cococay and Nassau on Mariner if the Seas. Now a couple of questions if you guys could give me opinions and advice: Timing - Leaving on 1st April for 4 nights, Good time to go? Weather OK,? Not spring break or hurricane season etc Mariner - I know it’s going through an upgrade of sorts but I’ve read reviews that it looks tired - especially the cabins. Are these the sort of things that are resolved during the dry dock? I’m not overly fussy so as long as it’s clean is fine by me. Cococay - read that it’s going through a major upgrade over the next year or so - and the cruise would appear to be bang in the middle of all of that - so is it likely to ruin the experience somewhat? Price - currently its around £1400 ($1050 approx) for a Ocean View Balcony. This seems to be the base price with no promotion whatsoever - Seems to be plenty of availability so would it best to wait to see if a better deal comes along. (We can’t cancel and rebook over here in the UK as far as i’m aware) Appols for all the questions but having never cruised yet (first one in August) I like to get as much insider info as possible. Thanks in advance for any responses

Stumbled across this on the RC site - couple of nice little time lapses of Indy being positioned in dock for the refurb. https://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/our-ships/independence-of-the-seas/live-camera/

And when i say cruise bug - i don't mean Norovirus

Thanks everyone, so helpful and informative. I think i'm going to enjoy this cruising business - as i'm already lining up what my second cruise is likely to be. I also get the feeling the once you've got the cruise bug it stays with you!

Thanks Chris, very helpful.

Hi all Quick newbie question - when docked in a port is everything still open on board the ship as normal (pools, bars restaurants etc). Having never cruised before was just curious as to whether it is common place to stay on board and enjoy the ship at possibly its least busiest? On the flip side - roughly how long on average does it take to get off and back on the ship whist in port - is this a fairly smooth process or can it be a little hit n miss? Thanks in advance for any answers/pointers

Hi Jardry My understanding is that with a soda package - you get just that - soda. Any mocktails, fresh juices, speciality coffees or alcoholic drinks etc need to be purchased separately at the full price. However saying that i’m a newbie to all this so hopefully someone will correct me if i’ve misunderstood!

Thanks Twangster, very helpful and i’ll def have another read of your blog. So much information to take in being new to cruising - so I’m so glad I found this site.

Thanks Twangster - Independence

Hi all Another noobie question i’m afraid: There are numerous bars and lounges on the ships and I was just wondering if they are all accessible to everyone on board or are there some only available for guests in certain classes of stateroom or maybe dependent upon C&A status etc etc. I’ll be travelling in Indy in August if they are different for each ship etc Many thanks in advance for any replies. Adam

Quite possibly a silly question *noobie alert* but if i was to book Voom packages now on cruise planner - do i have to pay straight away? And if so - if the price subsequently gets reduced can i then just cancel, they refund, and then rebook?

199 days - Indy (first ever cruise)

Is it actually possible to "run" around the tracks or are there too many obstacles/people about? Assume the later in the day you leave it the busier the deck would be etc? My thinking is if i do a good few laps before breakfast it would make me feel slightly less guilty about the huge breakfast i'm about to have

Fingers crossed it’ll be the same then. It’s the only game I can beat the kids at..!

Especially at midnight ?!

Yes of course, that's understandable. Loved the Indy blog btw Twangster, wonderful pictures. On the dry dock refurb will the mini golf also be going do you know?

It does appear a shame that its going but for me i suppose what I've never had i wont miss.

Excellent - will have a proper read through when I get a few minutes. I see the nightclub is going from Indy - wasn't it that popular?

Thank you twangster, that’s very helpful. Seems a little harsh not to give them the refreshment package but if that’s as per t&c’s then I can’t complain really I suppose. Yes we can’t wait, think we’re more excited than the kids to be honest! I just had a look a little look at the cruise compass for the Indy Caribbean Christmas cruises - looks like there’s so much going on! Actually you may well have provided it by looks of it - so thanks again!!

Hi all. Booked our first ever cruise on Independence for this August. The deal included the full deluxe drinking package for each person. Obviously the children won’t be allowed alcohol but the invoice states that they will have a soda package rather than the next one down ie- the refreshment one. Seeing as there is no overall price difference for adults/children I find it strange that they have only been given the soda package. So I queried this with our travel agent and she says that RC have told her that refreshment packages aren’t available on my or any European cruise? Checking on my cruise planner it does give me the option to buy refreshment packages, which seems odd. Does anyone have any experience of this? Is the comment re no refreshment packages on European cruises correct? Any help/advice will be much appreciated Thanks Adam