AndyPandy

I have had two RCCL cruises out of Southampton recently, both on the Anthem, a great ship. But whilst they deploy the Independence there, I am sailing another cruise line.

It was open about 10am when we went in September

Things to change. 1- Have a sail away deck party, and CD there in person not a screen. 2- Introduce each main show, be there start and end, now if this wasn’t possible, then have an assistant deputise. 3- Mingle, be circulating on the ship. My experience, bar one time, we didn’t see the CD in person, they were recorded on screen. Main shows started without introduction and some like “ The gift” we’re confusing without an introduction and even with reading the APP. The CD felt rather “ distant”.

Unfortunately not for me, so will not consider summer 2025.

Never had any issues and a light sleeper.

With Norwegian itineraries you need an inside pool, and also sailing to/from Southampton the weather is unpredictable, even in summer. We sailed IOTS to the Mediterranean from Southampton one August itinerary, and the first and last two days were rough near the bay of biscay. Having been on both I would definitely say AOTS is bigger than IOTS, better specialty restaurants and better shops. IOTS is considerably older, than AOTS

Independence is a downgrade in ship from the Anthem in Europe- Southampton. Seems the U.K. market isn’t valued enough.

Not yet, you probably will know this Wednesday

I agree it’s own perception, but, I have sailed both. AOTS has an inside pool and solarium, we sailed to Norway this year the weather was fantastic, but, I would say 95% of people on the top decks were in the inside pool area or solarium. Only outside tubs in use. IOTS we sailed Southampton to the Mediterranean and back, the first two and last days were bad over the Bay of Biscay and we arrived late in Gibraltar by hours. It was cold on deck those days. So sailing from Southampton is a lottery until you go further south. AOTS had We will rock you as entertainment, but the shows imho was poor on IOTS with a poor cruise director. The speciality restaurants were far better on AOTS. Our ship was nearly all British and full to 4K plus passengers, sailing Norway, so I do think getting a 15yo ship instead of say 6yo ship is a massive downgrade and clearly shows RCCL do not value the U.K. market? My views, from sailing both. Plus I think just one 12 night itinerary and most 7-9 which again is a reduction on choice in 2023/2024. When RCCL have new ships to hand, yes the newest will always sail in US as it’s most. Competitive there, but do not downgrade the U.K. market when they can give something equal or better. Orher lines, say Disney, upgraded European sailings with a bigger and newer ship from this year, with rumours of another swap in 2025.

So it’s rumoured that the Independence is back to U.K. from summer 2025 and the U.K. looses the Anthem. Why is RCCL downgrading the U.K. cruise market when other lines are sending improved ships?

I was on AOS last month, only Spectra’s required pre booking, nothing else.

The lady at reception always let us in.

We asked for a few things. Request- decaf tea bags and decaf coffee in the room. - Done. Request paper cruise compass in the room- Done. CK dinner booking. Priority disembarking in one port, not tendering, given a number to call if we encounter issues, only cruise director got in the way!