i’ve watched about 5 longish videos like this walking around the ship explaining and this is by FAR the best one and showed me what i truly wanted to see instead of glossing over it quickly and walking away. for example - the library. thank you.

Thank you so muck for your video. Sailing in a few weeks and the video really helps on what to expect.

@TheWeekendCruiser

5 ай бұрын

My pleasure and glad you liked it! Indy is an awesome ship!

We were on here in September, we enjoyed it. Fun ship. Playmakers is super cool. Thanks Brandon.

Awesome!! So helpful!! Taking my kids on our first cruise on this ship next week so I’m grateful for this tour 😀

Looking forward to my first RC cruise on the Indy in exactly 21 days. Then we have Symphony booked in April.

Hi Brandon. We a family of 22 sailed on Independence for Thanksgiving 2023! It was a fantastic ship! Love her terrific cruise, ship, and crew!

I was just on her the middle of August and was a good ship I really enjoyed sailing on her.

I had a fantastic opportunity this time last year to sail the Indy 3 weeks in a row on the 4-night Mon - Fri sailings... prices were so different then. I was able to book the Panoramic Ocean view rooms for around $400 as a solo traveler. I highly recommend these hidden gems on the Deck 12 next to the spa center... they were added on a previous refurbishment and feature the newer decor you find on the latest ships. The floor to ceiling windows provide for a fantastic view and each had a sitting area similar to having a balcony. The Indy is definitely in my top 3... had a fantastic time each trip. lol I think the burgers in Johny Rockets are better than Playmakers... plus it is a great view. Fish N Ships is a big favorite... the food was tasty, not greasy, and the fish cooked better than I found in the MDR. I found the crew on the Indy to be fantastic!

Thank you for this video!!! I'll be in Independence 11/30 from Miami and am very excited 😊

@TheWeekendCruiser

8 ай бұрын

Have a blast!!! Love that ship!

@merkabbalah

8 ай бұрын

Hey, I’ll be on there with you!!

🎉🎉Thank you for doing this.

@TheWeekendCruiser

8 ай бұрын

My pleasure!

Your closed captions are just hilarious! Loved the tour and can't wait to sail now!

@TheWeekendCruiser

4 ай бұрын

Hahaha they have gotten better in time. It does not always translate the audio to closed captions very well LOL. I'm also a bit of a slacker with those and don't proofread them as well as I should. Glad they're at least humorous 😂

Thanks so much. Such a thorough tour!

@TheWeekendCruiser

2 ай бұрын

My pleasure Kelly!

Great video!!

@TheWeekendCruiser

4 ай бұрын

Thank you!

very nice ship - we will be sailing on it next month - i am really looking for playmakers i think it was called and trying the non-alcoholic wine "fre" - nice video

@TheWeekendCruiser

4 ай бұрын

That is the one! FRE is the brand! They only sell it by the bottle these days but it's not horrible

I love the Indy. Last cruise I did aboard her was a transatlantic in 2017 to Southampton. I haven't seen her since her refurbishment. Big changes! I remember the library was way up on deck 9 or so before the remodel. Great video!

@TheWeekendCruiser

2 ай бұрын

Thank you!!! Indy is an AMAZING ship! My 2nd favorite to Freedom but they are almost identical. Always enjoy sailing on her.

Sailing May 9th on Indy! I’m excited because we will be ported next to Icon of the Seas at CocoCay!

@TheWeekendCruiser

3 ай бұрын

Have a blast! Icon is a beautiful ship in person! Nothing like that new ship look!

We are big Johnny Rockets fans! We like the music and the diner vibe. We thought the food was pretty good, especially the apple pie and onion rings. On Liberty, the service was great.

Thank you for the video. So if I'm in a Grand Suite the coffee machine in the last area you showed is free?

@TheWeekendCruiser

4 ай бұрын

You got it !

We've just found out that we're getting Indy back in Southampton again, and I'm really tempted to get booked onto her, so really enjoyed this. Thank you, Sir!

@TheWeekendCruiser

8 ай бұрын

My pleasure Fraser! BTW, tuned into a TikTok live of yours the other day. Holy heck you had a like 500 people watching you! Well done!

@FraserAtSea

8 ай бұрын

@@TheWeekendCruiser ahh, hope you enjoyed - I just started dabbling in the world of TikTok lives - they’re good fun!

@TheWeekendCruiser

8 ай бұрын

@@FraserAtSea and you're making a name for yourself! I might have to test it out. I TikTok very rarely but it's easy if you don't over edit

I wanted to jump through my television screen and go shopping when you said Regalia got a new shipment! 💎

@TheWeekendCruiser

8 ай бұрын

hahaha - careful, you might have to go to the naughty line again!

@Jenshalom01

8 ай бұрын

@@TheWeekendCruiser Haha they took me on an excursion to smugglers cove!

Wish all the ships had a playmakers. It’s such a fun place

@TheWeekendCruiser

8 ай бұрын

Right?!?! The food is the best kept secret on Roayl!

Thanks Brandon! what has replaced Ben and Jerry or is a older vid?

@TheWeekendCruiser

3 ай бұрын

Ben and Jerry's has been taken off all ships a few months ago. It is still an ice cream shop but selling Royal Caribbean ice cream.

I wanna go on this ship so badly now 😂

@TheWeekendCruiser

8 ай бұрын

hahah, I am a horrible friend! Always getting people to go on cruises!

I will be on Independence next cruise...just got off Freedom

@TheWeekendCruiser

4 ай бұрын

But Independence is my second favorite ship and the Royal Caribbean fleet!

@kimkirksey562

4 ай бұрын

@TheWeekendCruiser I like the quick food outside the pool area on Freedom...than what you are describing with the fish and chips and some items you have to pay for...the pool is all the action...children hungry all day...I do not want to be 2.00 to the point I am at 100. everytime the family goes to the pool...that is something on your review I noticed

@TheWeekendCruiser

4 ай бұрын

@@kimkirksey562 totally get that! I have to keep the kiddos fed!

Ovation of the Seas has Fish & Ships... I believe... They definitely have a stand alone fish & chips on the lido deck, but maybe with a different name.

@biknjak

2 ай бұрын

It's Fish & Ships. Just sailed on Ovation.

Windjammer : took two cruises last year and they do not open full. One side is close and ship at max capacity. It was pure chaos. Even in your video you can see one area close . One of the reason I stop traveling with RCL. Did MSC and buffet fully open both sides .

@TheWeekendCruiser

7 ай бұрын

Hey Miranda! That is odd they would have one side closed and people everywhere. I am used to it for lunch on a port day or in the evenings when it is not well attended. MSC did have all of it's sides open, with what I thought was more selection to :-)

Hubby and I will be on this ship in February 2024!! Can't wait😂

@TheWeekendCruiser

8 ай бұрын

Have a blast!!! She is a great ship!

@1824511

7 ай бұрын

When in February? My wife and I will be boarding 2/17-22

@sharnicebolling5237

7 ай бұрын

@@1824511 Feb 26th thru Mar 2nd

@TheWeekendCruiser

7 ай бұрын

I am there Feb 29! Just missing you!@@1824511

I’m curious why you like freedom and independence given that they’re older ships. What about the Oasis class and the latest Icon class ?

@TheWeekendCruiser

3 ай бұрын

Great question! They are older ships but before COVID they were "Amped" and have a lot more features and modern elements. They are also a good size for me - I call them the "Goldlicks size" because they are not too big and not to small. I have never been a big ship guy and have no desire to go on Icon as it isn't geared towards me.

Quick question, do you know if the trainers they have in the gym is at an additional cost? I'm assuming so?

@TheWeekendCruiser

4 ай бұрын

They are at an additional cost. They normally offer various sessions and coaching

Fish and Ships is also on Ovation of the Seas

@TheWeekendCruiser

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing! I was thinking it was but couldn't place it!

Im going on board with 8 people (2 kids) how do I make sure we get sat together in the dinning room? Do I speak to guest services or dinning room staff?

@TheWeekendCruiser

5 ай бұрын

It's a pain! You have to manually call in and Link everybody's reservation. You will need their confirmation number to do this. If you used a travel agent, they may be able to help.

Hi. Trying to decide between independence, and freedom of the sea. Why is this ship your second choice next to freedom of the sea?

@TheWeekendCruiser

5 ай бұрын

I like Freedom first and Indy second. Though, most people would never notice the difference between the two. They are my 2 favorite ships out of Royal's entire fleet. No wrong decisions as you will love both!

I'm going on Independence of the Seas the week of Memorial day

@TheWeekendCruiser

5 ай бұрын

Have a blast! Love a solid 3-day weekend for a vacation!

Harmony has fish and chips

Almost identical to Freedom of the Seas.

@TheWeekendCruiser

8 ай бұрын

haha she sure is! I wanted to do a comparison video but I couldn't find enough things different!

@alexlytle089

8 ай бұрын

@@TheWeekendCruiser that fish and chip place is different!

@TheWeekendCruiser

8 ай бұрын

@@alexlytle089 that's really about the only thing! Haha

@alexlytle089

8 ай бұрын

@@TheWeekendCruiser lol 🤣🤣 that's so funny! Thank you for all your videos!! Me and my wife really enjoy all your content

@TheWeekendCruiser

8 ай бұрын

@@alexlytle089 my pleasure! Thank you for watching!

I like Freedom of the Seas food by the pool better ...

@TheWeekendCruiser

4 ай бұрын

I agree with this! El loco fresh for the win.

Can you explain why you recommend not doing My Time Dining? You said that you recommend not doing it, but provide no explanation of why this is your sentiment. Thank you.

@kylabobo2065

2 ай бұрын

It’s hard to get a table on short cruises because they are usually the cheaper ones so everyone goes to the formal dinner. Also, if you come at a different time every night, you will not get the same staff. I love apple juice and they always had a cup waiting for me when we had dinner reservations (not my time dining).

@TheWeekendCruiser

2 ай бұрын

Hey there! Apologies for not going into detail there but this might be a good topic for a dedicated video! The main issue for a short cruise, is that everyone wants to come to the dinning room late. The first few hours are not utilized well and it creates a significant line and wait. If you know how to make a reservation via the app before boarding, this will help (it is in the main dinning room tab by the menu).

The problem with RCL is that all their ship, look alike, same carpet, same, furniture, same railing, same everything, we are Pinacle, we don't see the difference between one chip and the next one Even the menus are the same, everything is the same

@TheWeekendCruiser

3 ай бұрын

I mean... they really do! The menu is the one that gets me the most.

Why is it that everyone will do a "ship" tour but no one talks about the "Casitas" that is offered! All these people want to talk about stuff around a cruise but don't include ALL the amenities that are available. That's not good marketing! We have booked a cruise on the Independence of the Seas but absolutely NO ONE has spoken or included in their video about the "Casitas" for rental.

@TheWeekendCruiser

7 ай бұрын

Hey there! You know, I honestly don't know much about the Casitas and have not done any research. On weekend sailings (which I was on) with two port days, they aren't as big of a thing. Though, this is a great stand-alone video idea that I have added to my list! Not back on Royal until Feb 23, hope that isn't too late!