Independence of the Seas-Oceanview GTY Stateroom-Rolling the dice?

[CruzOnBye]

Here is the scoop. We'll be sailing on Independence in March and this will be our 7yo son's first cruise! (Shh! It's a surprise!) We booked this in mid-January which was super last minute for us planners, and they were sold out of interiors already that hold more than 2 guests, so our next option was OV GTY, which we snagged (P.s., the OV rooms also now show all sold out now on this sailing-Holy smokes Batman! Are we about to be at full capacity?!)

My hubby and I have only ever roomed interior- we are the couple that are never in our room unless to power nap/shower the sand outta our toes, so it never bothers us and we never choose our room, we go with the least expensive option that our TA finds-gotta save for that Drank Package. I've been excited over the thought of having an OV, especially for our kiddo's first trip (slightly jealous of my own kid since I never got such royal treatment my 1st cruise...on MAJESTY no less!), but I just read that OV is on decks 2&3. Apparently I was just born.

So, I know everyone has their own preference and some loathe low decks entirely and some don't mind- all personal preference. Even though we've never really chosen our rooms, we've always been pretty high on all our ships (like no lower than deck so I'm wondering what its like in a low deck like that, if any different. What are your thoughts on being on such a low deck? Anything that I should keep in mind? I've read some folks hear and feel the engine, some get seasick from watching the waves rise and crash (close your blinds?) and you have to keep your blinds closed when at ports so not to distract the workers...but 

They have not issued our room# yet, it sails early March, so I imagine any day now, or in true RCCL fashion- the day of lol. I'm excited either way, a room is a room on the best vacay ever! But just wanted to hear some general feedback from anyone who has sailed on Independence, or really any ship, on a low OV deck. Learn me somethin'!

Thanks!

[KJones]

We haven't minded being on a lower deck, we'll pretty much take any room that's not under the pool deck. You're still high enough above the water line that you can't really see the waves crashing against the boat from the window, IIRC. A lower deck makes you that much closer to the gangways, and depending on which end of the ship, also closer to the MDR so you can just walk up a flight or two of stairs, which is great for port intensive itineraries. Of course that means farther away from the pool deck & WJ.

[FionaMG]

We've had OVs on decks 2, 3 and 4 on Splendour, Explorer and Serenade. Never been a problem. You only need to keep the curtains closed in port if your room is next to the pier and you're doing something you'd feel uncomfortable with others potentially seeing.

[BennyandBo]

I only do inside because I too see it only as a place to shower and sleep. I've had gty assigned upper and lower decks, as well as surprise upgrades to ocean view (always lower decks). I've never noticed anything like engine noise etc being a problem. I also find the waves enjoyable to watch. But no two people have the same experience. You however with inside cabins and gty's sound easy going and easy to please, so I wouldn't worry too much. It's just a place to shower and sleep right. Lol.

[Jamesszy94]

Most cruises (not that many) that I've been on have been interior rooms (with the exception of Alaska, because you definitely need a balcony to see Alaska imo), but I don't mind interior rooms, because I'm mostly out and about exploring the ship anyway, the "room" is mostly for taking a nap, getting changed or just relaxing for a bit after a shore excursion or something. On the smaller ships (at least the ones I've been on, that other cruise line that starts with a C and ends with an L) we could sometimes hear the engine, but it wasn't too bad, it was only really during port days when the ship was backing into the port  I never get seasick, but I know the person I travelled with did get seasick on some days especially when the waves were pretty bad...

And then there was another P&O Australia cruise that I went on, the ship was about 55,000 GT and about 219m so we could definitely feel the waves and it was pretty bad at times, especially in the main dining room - we had to hold on for dear life at one point cause it got so bad, but alas, smaller ships don't have as great stabilizers I guess...

[teddy]

I just asked my wife what she thought and we both agreed that we would have no problems with a cabin on a lower deck.  I quote, “A cruise in a lower deck cabin is still a cruise”

We’re currently on Anthem in an Interior that’s way way at the back on deck 9.  I would rather be in a centrally located Oceanview on 2 or 3 if I had the choice. My phone shows 3.6 miles walked on the sea day yesterday….and I didn’t have it with me after 7 pm. 

[Pattycruise]

I did my first OV room when quarantined on Oasis=Deck 3.  I loved it!
I did my second OV room=a casino comp-on Grandeur Deck 3.  I loved that too though it had serious internet issues which may be alleviated when they go to Starlink.
I've done interiors before, and price would definetly help decide my location.  All I hope for is no "white space" next to my cabin, that tends to be crew area.  If that were to happen on a GTY room I would contact your TA to see if they can make a change.  

[CruzOnBye]

15 hours ago, teddy said:

I just asked my wife what she thought and we both agreed that we would have no problems with a cabin on a lower deck.  I quote, “A cruise in a lower deck cabin is still a cruise”

We’re currently on Anthem in an Interior that’s way way at the back on deck 9.  I would rather be in a centrally located Oceanview on 2 or 3 if I had the choice. My phone shows 3.6 miles walked on the sea day yesterday….and I didn’t have it with me after 7 pm. 

That's definitely alot of walkin' on a vacation! oof! Thanks for the feedback.

[Pattycruise]

16 hours ago, teddy said:

I just asked my wife what she thought and we both agreed that we would have no problems with a cabin on a lower deck.  I quote, “A cruise in a lower deck cabin is still a cruise”

We’re currently on Anthem in an Interior that’s way way at the back on deck 9.  I would rather be in a centrally located Oceanview on 2 or 3 if I had the choice. My phone shows 3.6 miles walked on the sea day yesterday….and I didn’t have it with me after 7 pm. 

My very first sailing on Anthem I had a spacious ocean view all the way forward, it was a combo with my kids next door.  I'll NEVER do that again.  At least you are near the windjammer and the dining room elevators.  I had to walk all the way back there a few times a day PLUS the times I had to go back to the cabin for forgotten items. Forget about formal night in heels!!   NEVER AGAIN!  (well, unless it were a free cruise or I was absolutely desperate to get away! )

[FireFishII]

To find out what your assigned room is, try this trick that @Atlantix2000mentioned in another post:

 if your documents included a barcode somewhere, try reading the value with a scanner app.  People report that the last 4 digits are the room number even if it hasn't been officially assigned to you.  This doesn't always work and it can change until it is officially assigned but many people use this trick to find out their room early.  Search for the "barcode trick" on these forums and you can find better info.

I hope you get a great room. Enjoy. 

[CruzOnBye]

3 hours ago, FireFishII said:

To find out what your assigned room is, try this trick that @Atlantix2000mentioned in another post:

 if your documents included a barcode somewhere, try reading the value with a scanner app.  People report that the last 4 digits are the room number even if it hasn't been officially assigned to you.  This doesn't always work and it can change until it is officially assigned but many people use this trick to find out their room early.  Search for the "barcode trick" on these forums and you can find better info.

I hope you get a great room. Enjoy. 

That is amazing!! Thank you for the tip! I will def try that!

[CruzOnBye]

Just wanted to share an update in case anyone finds themselves pondering a deck 2 OV room. We didn’t hate it. We (my husband, 7yo and me) were not in the room much to enjoy the view. We had cabin night lights with us as well so the additional window light didn’t mean much for us, but I understand that the additional natural light is a huge plus for some. It was very cool to see my son’s excitement though looking out the window, especially for his first cruise. Would I go out of my way to book OV? No. We were room 2675 if I recall correctly, it was the 3rd room in from the AFT. Other than a bit more vibration in the room, I don’t think I noticed much we were so low on the ship. Never heard neighbors or people above us. It was pretty quiet except for port day.
I will say, it was by far the least kept up room we have ever stayed in. The phone didn’t work, which normally we don’t care, never use it, but we were sailing with another party and the Royal App chat feature was not working at all, so it was frustrating for 4 adults with no internet package to try to communicate. Luckily we had walkie talkies which helped alot all over the ship except when we were all in our own rooms. Anyway, we told the room attendant about it twice but unfortunately it wasn’t fixed. The cabin lights didn’t work, they flickered like a haunted mansion so we had to keep them off…my son found it humorous. I guess that was the benefit of having a window to let light in lol! And a few other odds and ends were just falling apart,  it was sad to see the condition of things. We didn’t make a fuss over any of it, but we were disappointed in the overall “care”.
Funny enough the room wasn’t set up for 3 people either, the Pullman didn’t get pulled down until extremely late the first night when my hubby had to hunt someone down to get it unlocked for us lol. It was just a weird experience but we laughed it off and had a great time as always!
But in terms of staying on deck 2 or 3, I would do it again if it was the best bang for my buck.