Independence of the Seas

Ahoy there cruises, welcome onboard Royal Caribbeans recently refurbished independence of the seas.Let's start the full ship tour with all the outdoor areas, starting with independence dunes, the mini golf course!There's some new funky showers as well as plenty of places to bathe in the sun!The solarium is an adults-only zone and is lovely and quiet, the perfect place to relaxWith two huge cantilevered whirlpools each side!There's a running and walking track to get that exercise in!The main pool area offers a huge screen, two pools and three whirlpools as well as a couple of barsMoving towards the back we have Splashaway Bay, the new kids' pool area complete with awesome water cannons and smaller slides!The free soft serve ice cream is always very welcomeYou'll also find the new fish and chips bar offering a traditional British seaside experience!Moving further back we have Johnny Rockets, the 1950s styled burger bar, meals cost up to around $10ppAt the very aft of the ship, we have the brand new perfect storm, a new duo of waterslidesWe also have the new Skypad, it's a brand new virtual reality trampoline experience with 3d headsets and bungees!There's also the new sky climber and some comfortable swinging chairs!You'll also find the sports court and a huge climbing wall at the back.And of course, it wouldn't be Royal Caribbean without the amazing FlowRider!On deck four you will find a lovely walkaround deck.There's also access to the very front of the ship, which was a great spot to enjoy the sea air!So let's head inside, at the top of the ship we have the Olive or Twist panoramic barWe also have the gym and spa area if your feeling fit!Windjammer's marketplace, the ship's buffet can be found on deck 11There's a massive choice of savoury and sweet food, for breakfast, lunch and dinner!We loved that there were special vegan and gluten-free stationsWithin the buffet, we have two speciality dining restaurants.First up we have Giovanni's table offering delicious Italian cuisine for an extra chargeNext, we have Chopps Grille the American steakhouse, you can also eat here for an extra chargeInteractive touch screens can be found around the ship offering directions and things to do!Going down to deck five we have the star lounge, it's the ships secondary show venueAnd at the very heart of the ship, we have the vibrant royal promenadeHere you will find Sorrento's, the inclusive pizzarea, offering delicious handmade pizzas!Moving along the promenade we have the ale and anchor the British style pubAnd opposite we have vintages, the more relaxing wine bar.You'll find a selection of shops too.Cafe promenade offers a selection complimentary of snacks, sweets and drinks, you can also buy premium coffee here.Or grab an ice cream at the extra cost ben and jerries bar.There's also the new sugar beach shop, offering tasty treats!You'll also find the next cruise desk if you fancy booking againGuest services and shore excursions can be found just along from the royal promenadeAnd just opposite you have the champagne bar and some more friendly crew!On a night the promenade comes to life offering themed parties, discos, dancing and entertainmentAt the aft of the ship, we have the stunning three-level main dining room.Moving down one level to deck four we have Boleros, the Latin-styled barAnd right next door we have the brand new playmakers sports barOffering plenty of tv screens to enjoy a sport, pool tables as well as a pay extra food menuMoving further down we have the casino royal!Next, to the casino, we have schooners bar, a Royal Caribbean favourite.Opposite to schooners we have the new Izumi speciality restaurant offering sushi, sashimi and hibachi cookingAt the front of the ship we have the two-story theatre, showing nightly entertainment including grease the musicalFinally to deck three we have the art gallery as well as the new digital photo galleryJust next to this we have studio b, the ice arenaOffering spectacular ice skating shows as well as the chance to skate yourself!During the day it turns into an incredible laser tag arena!We had a fantastic time onboard independence of the seasThe recent refurbishment has really brought this lovely ship up to dateIt truly is a fun ship with something for every member of the family!We highly recommend!