Who's been on a royal Caribbean ship?

[cruisetipz]

We're going on independence of the seas in the summer, really looking forward to it ! First time cruiser so any tips would be great! We'll have two little ones with us, wondering how a double buggy works on a ship? I'm guessing we can still use it or will it be a nightmare ?
Thanks !

I've been on Independence, it's brilliant, very accessible so you should be fine with a double buggy - can get a little busy on the promenade a times, you'll have a brilliant time, kids club is great too 😊

I've been on several including that one but my DCs were much older. However the ships are very accessible for wheelchair users so I imagine you will be fine. The cabins can be quite small though, so hopefully it's a lightweight folding buggy?

Oh thanks for this ! Is kids club payable ? What times for they have them from - too?
Just wondering where on earth we'd keep the double in our cabin 😆😐

Have you got a balcony? You could put it out there.

There are usually FB groups for each ship and each sailing, these can be a mine of useful information

I didn’t know this until I’d been on lots of cruise but cases for under most of the beds if this helps with space.

We went with them on our honeymoon. Omg. The food and drinks! I think we put on a stone each!🍸 😋 Loved being able to top up fizzy drinks whenever we wanted. I preferred the food in the cafes etc rather than the sit downs. So much going on entertainment wisw. It really is an experience but once you've gone with the best (RC) I don't think you could go to any other cruise!

No balcony sadly! We got a stateroom with a window? The buggy is definitely not lightweight its mountain buggy duet so abit of a monster folded up still. Ive got two separate buggies that are lightweight so wondering if its worth taking those instead

Oh gosh I need to lose weight before this cruise, looks like I'll be putting it all back on !
In regards to dining, I know you have the main buffet but what else is included in the fare? What is the main dining room all about is that like sit down meal when you order off a menu?

Walkways are quite wide so a double buggy wouldn't be a problem. They are used to guests using various kinds of prams and mobility scooters depending on their needs so pretty much everywhere on the ship is accessible. The lifts get really busy on embarking and leaving the ship - be prepared to queue.

The Windjammer buffet restaurant is very popular and can get incredibly busy. Breakfast and lunch can be eaten in the main dining room - the choice isn't as wide as the buffet but it's less crowded and you are virtually guaranteed a table straightaway.

Download the app. A few days before departure it will update with the menus for your sailing and suggested (not at all compulsory) dress codes for theme nights. Personally I like the formal night(s) but there is a real mixture of outfits - some in tux/long dresses and some more casual. We liked looking at the menu to decide what we wanted to eat but also to see if we wanted to eat at a different restaurant if there was nothing that took our fancy in the main dining room.

You may want to take some dollars for tips. We tip the waiters in the dining room (you have assigned seating in the evening) and the same pair of waiters look after you for the entire voyage. We also leave a tip for the room steward. You don't have to tip separately as your cruise fare has gratuities added anyway.

If you aren't having a drinks package there are plenty of free drinks around the ship. Tea, coffee and fruit juices are available at breakfast (extra charge for freshly squeezed juice and premium coffees). Water dispensers are everywhere although you will be charged for bottled. Iced tea and still lemonade are free at lunch and dinner.

I've never used the kids club but they looked fantastic when we looked around them.

There's a website called "What's in Port" that gives loads of info about cruise ports that can be invaluable if you aren't doing any organised tours. For example you can see how far the cruise terminal is from the town and there's information about buses/taxis and "must see" places.

All food is included. Kids club is included as is all the entertainment.

Alcohol is chargeable as are premium coffees and sodas.

I’d suggest the two lighter buggies as the corridors leading to the cabins are not always wide enough for two way traffic if you have the large double buggy. The open areas are absolutely fine and capacious.

Also, if you go out exploring on land tours, the pavements / alleys might be easier to navigate with one small buggy each. Or even one buggy with a buggy board.

Have a lovely time!

There are a few restaurants which are buffet. There was also a pizza stall and a place where you could get chinese/Indian dishes. And the cocktails are like no other 😍 we were never charged for any food. It's like an all you can eat! You will have the best time!

If the two lightweights take up significantly less room when folded I'd go for them. That way things like lifts and stuff are easier - if it's busy one can take one buggy and another can take the other.

Or if the kids are walking age, can take one out with you they can swap out as they get tired. Or if you and dh want to try two different activities with a child each.

Yes it makes sense for two buggies actually have you've stated when we're off the ship and also being able to take the children separately if needed.
Did anyone try the speciality restaurants like the steakhouse/italian ? There are chargeable aren't they?

The specialty restaurants are chargeable, yes, we've never used them. We've always stuck to the main dining room for evening meals, the buffet is there as an alternative, but if you have breakfast there and lunch on sea days I find I want a change by the evening and the service is exemplary. Breakfast in the main dining room is a nice change but more formal and takes longer. I think a lot of the weight I invariably put on comes from cocktails TBH, they aren't very strong so it is easy to consume a huge amount of calories, but very nice. If you are thinking about doing the drinks packages the prices fluctuate wildly in the weeks and months leading up to departure, don't book them months ahead, watch out for promotional emails.

We've already got our refreshment packages as there was a sale on !

How does luggage etc work? Do we have so many kg like on an aeroplane ?

If you aren't travelling on a plane for any of your holiday then you can take as much luggage as you like, there's no weight limit.

Have you booked parking at the port? When you arrive you'll be met and your luggage will be taken off you. Keep your travel documents including passports with you and anything that you need for the day - handbag, nappy bag, toys whatever. Your luggage will be taken on board by the cruise line and delivered to your stateroom later. There is storage space for cases under the bed and sometimes in the wardrobe and plenty of cubbyholes for little bags around your room. Depending on your boarding time you might have a bit of a wait before you can access your room but there's plenty to keep you occupied anyway.

This is great thank you !! How does boarding work? How do they check your bags etc like they do at the airport?

We are boarding Symphony on Sunday , this is our 6th I think.

You'll absolutely love it 😀

I don't know what they do with your suitcases but they must be scanned/checked in some way as I'm aware from various cruise blogs etc that anything that isn't allowed on board is confiscated.

When you check in at the terminal your carry on luggage goes through a scanner - presumably to check for contraband. The same thing happens when you return to the ship from a port visit - any booze you buy on shore will be registered to your stateroom, taken off you temporarily and returned to you on your final night. It's been a few years since I've been to Gibraltar but the duty free was an absolute bargain.

You are allowed to take on a bottle of wine per person.

Don’t take too much stuff in your carry on, it’s nice exploring the ship without loads to carry.

Yes, we made the mistake first time of doing big cases checked in and smaller airline cabin style bags for the first day, then found we didn't really need any of the stuff and they made it hard to use the buffet etc. Just take whatever you'd take on a day trip out plus maybe swimsuits (they provide towels on the pool deck).

Oh this is a point beach towels, do I need to take our own ?

Pool towels are provided and you can take them off the shop if for example you go to a water park etc.