Tips for 1st time RCl cruise (been on 3 DCL cruise).

[WVU Disney Fan]

Will sailing on Independence if Seas in a week. We have sailed Disney Wonder twice and Fantasy once. Just curious what to expect comparison wise and tips going in. We are curious to compare.

The amount if dining options looks a little overwhelming. On DCL we have always just stuck with main dining for dinner and cabanas for lunch and breakfast. ( Ice cream and Pinocchio pizza of course ). Seems like a ton restaurants on the ship but a lot of them cost extra.

 

[OKW Lover]

Biggest tip is not to compare your cruise to Disney. Instead, go in with an open mind and take it as it comes. Basically, the lines are not better or worse - they are just different.

 

[mrs. magoo]

We just sailed on Independence 3 weeks ago. We had an incredible time. The food that is included in your fare is the main dining room, windjammer, fish and chips (most options), sorrentos pizza and cafe promenade. The other dining options - playmakers, giovannis, johnny rockets and izumi are extra money. We were good to go without doing any of those options. The main dining room is open for breakfast each morning and for lunch on sea days.

Make sure you see Grease - it was incredible.

 

[tidefan]

We just sailed on Independence 3 weeks ago. We had an incredible time. The food that is included in your fare is the main dining room, windjammer, fish and chips (most options), sorrentos pizza and cafe promenade. The other dining options - playmakers, giovannis, johnny rockets and izumi are extra money. We were good to go without doing any of those options. The main dining room is open for breakfast each morning and for lunch on sea days.

Make sure you see Grease - it was incredible.

Is Fish and Chips included now? When we went in 2022 on Independence, it was $7.

 

[peacefrogdog]

It has been a while since I did DCL (Dream and Fantasy) in 2013; have been doing Royal since. Here are comparisons that I recall:

I found food in the main dining on DCL a bit better than that on RCL. However I felt the buffer on RC (Windjammer) to have more options than what I recall than Disney.
Disney had less spaces for adults to just lounge and chill that weren’t on the sundeck. RCL ships that have the promenade provide that.
Yes it was nice to get complimentary soda on DCl, but it’s not a big loss not to get that on RC by any means.
I had liked Castaway Cay more than Labadee, but CocoCay tops them all

 

[mrs. magoo]

Is Fish and Chips included now? When we went in 2022 on Independence, it was $7.

The Fish and Chips are includes along with a fish sandwich and shrimp. The only thing that cost money was the lobster roll.

 

[tidefan]

The Fish and Chips are includes along with a fish sandwich and shrimp. The only thing that cost money was the lobster roll.

That is a big plus over how it was when we sailed. In fact, at $7 a pop, I don't think I ever saw anyone use it.

 

[mrs. magoo]

That is a big plus over how it was when we sailed. In fact, at $7 a pop, I don't think I ever saw anyone use it.

Yeah we ate it multiple times for lunch and snacks. We loved Independence. Coco Cay is my kids favorite place to visit. My dds just want the boat to sail around the island and dock a second day, Again we do not pay for anything extra there either. Plenty of chairs - drink package included and free food options are great.

 

[tidefan]

Yeah we ate it multiple times for lunch and snacks. We loved Independence. Coco Cay is my kids favorite place to visit. My dds just want the boat to sail around the island and dock a second day, Again we do not pay for anything extra there either. Plenty of chairs - drink package included and free food options are great.

So glad to hear that things have changed! It made no sense to have that as an upcharge venue.

In all honesty, Independence was probably our least favorite cruise of the 40 to 50 cruises that we have done. Much of that was due to the very limited included food options (at least what we had in 2022). Our choices were WJ, MDR, Sorrento's (which was so/so, better than DCL, but nowhere near Carnival, Virgin, or especially Princess pizza), and whatever they had in Promenade Cafe, again, which was much worse than say International Cafe on Princess. Everything else was extra. I was really surprised that there wasn't a poolside food option that was included, as at our time, the Fish and Chips place was extra.

Our other disappointment was that the WJ seemed to rely heavily on Indian cuisine, which is great if you like Indian cuisine, but not so much if it isn't your thing.

For included food, I think that the new Carnival ships (Mardi Gras, etc.) are the best. I still wonder how Royal charges $16 for Johnny Rockets, but Carnival can do Guy's burgers (which are better, IMHO) included. We went on Mardi Gras this past Spring Break and included were MDR, Chibang, Cucina Del Capitano, Lido buffet, Guy's Burgers, Piazza Panini, Pizzeria del Capitano, Guy's Pig and Anchor BBQ, Street Eats, Java Blue Cafe, and the very good Shaq's Big Chicken.

If you go on Virgin Voyages, it's even better as everything is a specialty restaurant and it's all included.

I agree on Coco Cay. The food there was much better than what we had on the ship. It will be interesting to see how Carnival's new Celebration Cay will compare.