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A Wheelchair on Independence Of The Seas |
| Reviewed By: Goodwin, Preston on 19th Jun 2008 |
| Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean Cruises |
Times cruised before: 1-2 |
| Cruise Ship: Independence of the Seas |
Sailed:
May,
2008 |
| Destination: Canaries |
Age: 56-65 |
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This was our third cruise and our first away from P&O. We started cruising because my wife is disabled and cannot fly, so cruising is the only practical way we can go abroad. Our only previous experience was on Arcadia. But having discovered cruising, we love it.
Independence of the Seas was on, I think, her fourth cruise since entering service and her longest to that date. She is an absolutely fabulous ship and the "wow" factor is genuinely massive. Others have commented that the quality of the food is not good in the main restaurants but we found it perfectly acceptable, although we did make more use of the Windjammer buffet restaurant as is our preference. The quality and range of the food there is more than adequate although it does get overcrowded at times. Also the practice of closing half the buffet to begin clearing up nearly an hour before breakfast was due to end was irritating to say the least
In terms of the extra space provided, our Disabled Access cabin was the best we have yet enjoyed. Absolutely first class, as was wheelchair access throughout the ship.
The ship is obviously optimised for families and the young and active and for that she must be hard to beat. The Waverider looked really good fun and I only wish I was young and fit enought to try it
Entertainment: good but not as good as P&O
Other good points: free room service; free ice cream machine; good quality library.
HOWEVER !! RCL is an American line so naturally the style and tone on board was also American ie frenetic, noisy and brash. We really got tired of being interrupted 4 or 5 times during every meal to ask if everything alright etc etc etc. And if Ken Rush the Cruise Director asked me just one more time to "put my hands together" for everyone from the Captain to the ship's cat, I would have been more likely to put them round his neck!
Sorry, NCL, don't like your style. It's back to P&O for some good old British finesse for us in the future
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| Quality of Food |  |
| Windjammer | | Entertainment | |
| There were two British comedians. One was very good, the other not so. Ships own entertainers good enough but not up to the standard we have found elsewhere | | Shore Excursions |  |
| Not enough provision was made for wheelchair users to go on shore excursions. We were unable to use any of them | | Staff |  |
| Cabin steward - very helpful | | Children's Facilities | n/a |
| | Onboard Activities | |
| yes, but best for the younger and more active | | Cabins |  |
| disabled access cabins by making two disabled out of three standard size cabins. Excellent, best we have yet experienced | | Overall Rating | |
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