分类: Independence Of The Seas

Entertainment & Activities on Independence of the Seas

9/1/2025

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Wondering what kind of entertainment and activities will be available to you on Independence of the Seas?

Free Things To Do on Independence of the Seas

There are loads of free things to do onboard Independence of the Seas.

Independence of the Seas ❤︎ Royal Caribbean Cruise

For The Sporty One...

Okay so due to weather the Flowrider surf simulator is unavailable, bummer. The mini golf would be a bit wet. Now you're looking for an indoor activity on a cruise when it's raining - how about ice skating!?

Ice Skating, you say? On a cruise?!

Which Cruise Line Has an Ice Rink OnBoard?

Of course it's Royal Caribbean! ;)

Did you know that Studio B is not only for shows, but also offers free ice skating sessions?!

Free Ice Skating in Studio B ❤︎ Independence of the Seas

How much does ice skating cost on Independence of the Seas?

Nothing. It's free!

You will need to reserve a space for a freestyle ice skating session on the Royal Caribbean App.

They will provide you with helmets and ice skates for free.

Do note that there is no instruction and skaters are at all levels, so be careful and have fun!

Pro Tip: We did notice that the team added additional skate sessions during our cruise, so if they are booked up on the app, definitely check back for openings!

For The Book Worm...

Is there a Library on Independence of the Seas?

Yes! There is a quiet library space for the bookworms on board. You can borrow books, complete puzzles, or use one of a couple computers in here.

Library on Independence of the Seas

For The Art BuFF...

Cruises are known for having a lot of art, and I don't mean the art auctions. I mean all over the ship from framed pieces in the stairwells to sculptures in the public spaces and on the pool decks to incredible mosaics like this one:

Stunning Art Tigers in the Jungle Henri Rousseau Mosaic on Independence of the Seas Cruise Ship

1897, Italy

Tigers in the Jungle
Glass mosaic tesserae

The plaque reads:

Barsanti Marble Bronze Mosaic

This mosaic is inspired by Henri Rosseau's paintings of jungle scenes. His inspiration came from jungle books and the botanical gardens in paris, as he never went abroad. Barsanti has transformed these paintings to images created in glass mosaic.

See if you can find it on your next Independence of the Seas cruise!

For the Theater Buff...

In the Royal Theater, you'll enjoy shows every night including an adaptation of the Broadway classic Grease!

The Welcome Aboard Show in the Royal Theater ❤︎ Independence of the Seas

Cruises really do give you a bit of everything - your accomodation, meals, activities and entertainment all wrapped into a neat little package!

Ice Capades in Studio B

Since Independence of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean's ships with an ice rink, that means they also have ice shows ready for you!

Incredibly talented performers will glide effortless across the ice, doing all sorts of maneuvers ON ICE SKATES ON A MOVING SHIP! This never ceases to amaze me.

Please don't miss the ice shows.

The ice shows were an unexpected highlight for my 16 year old nephew which is saying a lot ;)

He was eager to see more ice shows on a Symphony of the Seas cruise.

Pro Tip: Bring a sweater or scarf. It's an ice rink after all - it's cold in there!

For the Sunset Lover...

Free every night of your Independence of the Seas cruise is a never repeated sunset - spectacular whether you're in the middle of the ocean or sailing away from port after a day of exploring.

Caribbean Sunsets from a Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship

I would happily share a sunrise from a cruise ship picture if I had one, but let's be real. I'm on vacation. Little-to-no chance I am up for sunrise. lol

For the Optimist...

To be honest, the weather on our cruise was not spectacular, BUT that gave us an opportunity to see not just a rainbow, but a double rainbow at sea!

Which is pretty special we think... :)

Double Rainbow at Sea Spotted From Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas ❤︎

We barely scratched the surface here, but you'll always have something to do (if you want) when you're on Independence of the Seas.

Though we didn't get to try it personally, my brother highly recommended the laser tag, which you can also reserve on the app!

Book and Independence of the Seas Cruise

A quick Recap:

You won't run out of fun (& free!) things do to on Independence of the Seas.

Pools & Hot Tubs
Flow Rider Surf Simulator
Mini Golf
Laser Tag
Theater Shows
Music and Comedy Shows
Ice Shows
Ice Skating

Just to name a few! :)

Weekend Cruise • 4 Night Cruise

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Fish & Ships Review: Was It Worth It?

9/1/2025

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Fish & Ships Review | Independence of the Seas

Fish & Ships on Royal Caribbean is a complimentary dining option offering, well.. you guessed it fish and chips!

Fish & Ships on Embarkation Day ❤︎ Independence of the Seas Review

Is Fish & Ships open on Embarkation Day?

Yes. Fish & Ships was open on embarkation day during our 4-night cruise and I recommend grabbing a bite here on day one if you want to avoid a busy windjammer buffet.

Fish & Ships Menu | Independence of the Seas

In the past, Fish & Ships was a paid casual dining option, but for the last few years it has been free, aside from an up-charge for a Fried Lobster Tail basket & chips (fries) at $12.

I'd like to try the fried lobster tail basket next time and let you know if it's worth the splurge ;)

Fish and Ships menu on Independence of the Seas

What's on the menu at Fish & Ships?

For free, you can enjoy:

Fish & Chips with tartar sauce
Chicken Fingers & Chips with honey mustard
Fried Shrimp & Chips with cocktail sauce
Crispy Fish Sandwich - lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce

Fish & Ships Independence of the Seas Food Pics

We started with one order of fish & chips and chicken fingers without fries (gotta pace yourself on a cruise lol).

Fish and Chips + Chicken Fingers on Independence of the Seas ❤︎ Fish & Ships Review

Chicken Fingers (no chips)

We requested no chips with the chicken fingers. There is a classic, thick batter on these chicken fingers.

Chicken Fingers ❤︎ Royal Caribbean Food Pics

Fish & Chips

The British style fish and chips comes with thick cut chips (french fries) and battered white fish.

Fish and Chips ❤︎ Cruise Food Pics

The batter was light and delightfully crunchy after being freshly deep fried - this could be dangerous!

Please note: I saw a review online indicating that the fish is battered in chicken finger batter, which is clearly not British style fish, and I think that must have been an anomaly as we did not experience that at all during our cruise.

Please try Fish & Ships for yourself, the batter is delicious! :)

Poolside dining on Independence of the Seas at Fish & Ships

Royal Caribbean Fish & Ships Review Independence of the Seas - Is it Worth It?

Absolutely, it's worth it! It's free - how could it not be worth it?! ;p

No, but seriously, Fish & Ships is one of my favorite complimentary dining locations on Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

Of the chicken fingers, fish, and fried shrimp the fried fish is easily our favorite and the best thing on the Fish & Ships menu, in our opinion.

Fried shrimp take second place, followed by chicken fingers, but I bet all the kiddies love those unlimited chicken fingers and while they do, the parents can enjoy something a bit more "grown up" with the fish and shrimp!

Which Royal Caribbean Ships have Fish & Ships?

Fish & Ships is included in your cruise fare and is located on the pool deck of Independence of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas.

I wish more ships had this casual dining option!

No need to stop the poolside fun when you're hungry, just send a delegate over to Fish & Ships and have a taste of the UK on your cruise! ;)

Book a Cruise with Fish & Ships

For Fish And Chips Lovers:

Royal Caribbean Blog:

Weekend Cruise • 4 Night Cruise

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Connecting Balcony Cabin Tour & Review | Independence of the Seas Review

8/31/2025

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Are you considering a connecting ocean view balcony on Royal Caribbean and wondering if it's worth it?

This stateroom photo review will help you decide. :)

When Are Rooms Ready On a Cruise?

On Royal Caribbean, staterooms are usually ready by 1 pm on embarkation day, but the exact time can vary. Very often your room is ready even earlier!

Independence of the Seas Balcony Cabin

What is a Balcony Guarantee (GTY) Room?

On this 4-night Independence of the Seas cruise, we booked a balcony guarantee room.

That means the cruise line would choose our room and it could be located anywhere on the ship, but would definitely have a balcony.

In our case, we were assigned a connecting balcony with no obstructions. .

Connecting Balcony Cabin Tour and Photo Review

This is a view of an oceanview balcony room on Independence of the Seas as seen from the bathroom door.

Notice the door reflected in the mirror.

Plenty of space to do work (I hope you don't have to!) or do your make-up before dinner :)

Here you can see the connecting balcony room from in front of the balcony doors looking toward the entrance.

The door seen in the previous picture is behind that curtain on the left.

Connecting Balcony Room on Independence of the Seas | Cabin Review

Lots of Mirrors for 'Fit CHecks

The room feels spacious with a huge floor-to-ceiling mirror on the left, and a very large mirror at the desk/vanity area.

Plenty of storage and full length mirror on Independence of the Seas | Royal Caribbean Cruise Review

The glass coffee table, while somewhat a brave choice, does make the room appear more spacious since it's almost invisible, you know?

Couch in Independence of the Seas Connecting Balcony Room

are there couches in the rooms on independence of the seas?

Yes. We had a couch in our connecting ocean view balcony stateroom on Independence of the Seas. This couch did not turn into a bed.

At first peek into the bathroom, you'll likely be happy to see a shower stall and no shower curtain. Not too many ships still have shower curtains these days, but there are some.

Inside the shower is an adjustable shower head, a complimentary combination body wash/shampoo, and a clothes line.

Pro Tip: Bring your own shampoo/conditioner as this soap can be a bit rough on hair imo.

Can you hear the people next door in a connecting balcony?

It depends. In nearly any room, on a ship or in a hotel, there is a chance you will hear your neighbors.

On this cruise we did hear our neighbors a bit from time to time, but more because it was a group of ladies excited to be on their long weekend cruise and less specifically because we had a connecting room.

Kicking back on the balcony for sail away | Independence of the Seas Review

It definitely didn't stop us from enjoying 4 night cruise out of Miami!

Is a connecting balcony worth it?

A connecting balcony is a wonderful option for families traveling together. The door between the rooms can be unlocked by the room steward and left open if you so choose, allowing your family to go back and forth between the two rooms as needed.

This can be a more affordable option than a suite for a family in many cases!

If you're not traveling with the stateroom you're connected to, don't worry, the door will remain locked the entire time.

Balconies are made for moments like these :)

For us, it was worth it to be able to enjoy moments like this!

As we booked a balcony guarantee, we had a discounted rate for giving up choosing the room location.

Obviously, you'd rather not have a connecting room if you don't need it. But at the same time, it doesn't really matter. We were happy to have a balcony without an obstruction! That was a big win! :)

Should you book a balcony guarantee cabin?

If you're looking to save some money, this can be a good option, but you need to consider a few things:

if you will be greatly disappointed by an obstructed view or connecting room, don't do it.
if you have accessibility needs, you may want to choose a room closest to elevators or places you intend to frequent
if you are very concerned about having a cabin "midship" for movement concerns, pay extra to choose your room.

Ocean View Room Pictures | Symphony of the Seas

If the above apply to you, a guarantee cabin may not be the best option for you.

On the other hand, if you are willing to take the chance, you should go into it expecting to get the lowest possible option (obstructed in a less desirable location) and then be excited if you get randomly assigned anything above that.

If your expectations are set properly, you will be happy with a balcony gty. :)

When Was Independence of the Seas Built?

Independence of the Seas was built in 2008 and was "amped" (refurbished) in 2018 under the Royal Amplified program.

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Weekend Cruise • 4 Night Cruise

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Last Minute Royal Caribbean Cruise Deals February 2025

1/20/2025

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Last Minute Cruise Deals Royal Caribbean

So you're pretty much sick of winter by now, right?

Check out these last minute Royal Caribbean Cruise Deals so you can get away and replenish. your stores of Vitamin D in February. ;)

Sun, Sand, and a Drink in my Hand Custom Cruise Tumbler

Last Minute Royal Caribbean Cruise Deals From Baltimore

8 night Bahamas cruise on Vision of the Seas departing February 21, 2025
Ports of call Charleston, Port Canaveral, Grand Bahama, and Nassau
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Book Here!

Last minute ROYAL CARIBBEAN cruise deals from florida

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4 night Bahamas cruise on Liberty of the Seas departing February 24, 2025
Ports of call: Nassau + Perfect Day at CocoCay
Inside from $444
Oceanview from $781
Balcony from $727
Yes, balcony is cheaper than oceanview! ;)
6 night Western Caribbean cruise on Freedom of the Seas departing February 23, 2025
Ports of call: Nassau, Falmouth Jamaica, Labadee Haiti
Inside from $952
9 night Southern Caribbean cruise on Grandeur of the Seas departing February 21, 2025
Ports of call: St. Maarten, Dominica, St. Kitts, San Juan Puerto Rico, Puerto Plata Dominican Republic
Inside from $1076

Book Here!

Fort Lauderdale Travel Tips

Read all Ft. Lauderdale food + hotel reviews and cruise port blog posts

LAST MINUTE CRUISE DEALS FROM Port of Miami

3 night Bahamas cruise on Independence of the Seas departing February 21, 2025
Ports of call: Nassau + Perfect Day at CocoCay
Inside from $393
Oceanview from $533
Balcony from $635
7 night Eastern Caribbean cruise on Symphony of the Seas departing February 16, 2025
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10 night Southern Caribbean cruise on Explorer of the Seas departing February 6, 2025
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5 night Eastern Caribbean cruise on Voyager of the Seas departing February 22, 2025
Ports of call: Nassau, Labadee
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Balcony from $679
4 night Bahamas cruise on Utopia of the Seas *new ship* departing February 17, 2025
Ports of call: Nassau + Perfect Day at CocoCay
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Book Here!

Symphony of the Seas reviews:

Read all Symphony of the Seas Reviews, Food Pics, and Tips here!

LAST MINUTE CRUISE DEALS FROM Tampa

5 night Western Caribbean cruise on Enchantment of the Seas departing February 15, 2025
Ports of call: Costa Maya, Cozumel Mexico
Inside from $562
Oceanview from $662

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More Last Minute Cruise + Travel Deals:

See all last minute travel deals here :)

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Traveling through food

Entertainment & Activities on Independence of the Seas

Free Things To Do on Independence of the Seas

For The Sporty One...

Which Cruise Line Has an Ice Rink OnBoard?

How much does ice skating cost on Independence of the Seas?

For The Book Worm...

Is there a Library on Independence of the Seas?

For The Art BuFF...

1897, Italy

​Barsanti Marble Bronze Mosaic

For the Theater Buff...

Ice Capades in Studio B

For the Sunset Lover...

For the Optimist...

MORE FROM THIS 4 NIGHT CRUISE ON INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEAS:

A quick Recap:

Fish & Ships Review: Was It Worth It?

Fish & Ships Review | Independence of the Seas

Is Fish & Ships open on Embarkation Day?

Fish & Ships Menu | Independence of the Seas

What's on the menu at Fish & Ships?

Fish & Ships Independence of the Seas Food Pics

​Chicken Fingers (no chips)

Fish & Chips

Royal Caribbean Fish & Ships Review Independence of the Seas - Is it Worth It?

Which Royal Caribbean Ships have Fish & Ships?

MORE FROM THIS 4 NIGHT CRUISE ON INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEAS:

For Fish And Chips Lovers:

​Royal Caribbean Blog:

Connecting Balcony Cabin Tour & Review | Independence of the Seas Review

When Are Rooms Ready On a Cruise?

What is a Balcony Guarantee (GTY) Room?

Connecting Balcony Cabin Tour and Photo Review

Lots of Mirrors for 'Fit CHecks

are there couches in the rooms on independence of the seas?

See Also: How To Wash Clothes On A Cruise

Can you hear the people next door in a connecting balcony?

Is a connecting balcony worth it?

Should you book a balcony guarantee cabin?

Ocean View Room Pictures | Symphony of the Seas

When Was Independence of the Seas Built?

More from this 4 night cruise on Independence of the Seas

You'll Also like

Last Minute Royal Caribbean Cruise Deals February 2025

Last Minute Royal Caribbean Cruise Deals From Baltimore

​Last minute ROYAL CARIBBEAN cruise deals from florida

Last minute cruise deals from port everglades fort lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale Travel Tips

LAST MINUTE CRUISE DEALS FROM Port of Miami

LAST MINUTE CRUISE DEALS FROM PORT Canaveral Orlando

Symphony of the Seas reviews:

LAST MINUTE CRUISE DEALS FROM Tampa

More Last Minute Cruise + Travel Deals:

Oh, Hey!

​Check out this recent cruise post:

​Check out this recent Restaurant Review:

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Barsanti Marble Bronze Mosaic

Chicken Fingers (no chips)

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