We chose this cruise last September, 2017, to fit in with our kids school holidays and to celebrate our 55th Wedding Anniversary we took all l7 of our family for a memorable trip instead of a party. We had nothing but agravation from beginning to end. Firstly we used Cruise Kings, who were the worst company to deal with, incompetence, useless, and difficult from the very beginning, they did not listen to our requests re cabins etc., and the more we spoke to them about bed configurations the more confused they got. We asked for cabins on one day, keeping in mind we booked a year ago, and they gave us cabins from deck 2 to deck, so we were all over the place, we argument of argument, but got nowhere. That was our first gripe.

Now on to the Indepence of the Seas, we chose this ship because our grandchildren range in age from 7 to 28, and this ship seemed to have something for everybody, we have been on 30 cruises, and know the ropes by now. The cabins were minute in some cases, one daughter had to climb over a sofa bed to get out of the cabin this was a hazard had there have been an emergency. Our cabin steward on deck 8 was worse than useless, there were 4 people in our cabin, and every day we had to ask for 4 towels, 4 face flannels etc., very poor show.

Now to the restaurant arrangements and food. We asked at the time of booking for two large tables next to one another, on the first night having arrived at the restaurant for dinner we were told that we had been split into 3 tables, in all different parts of the dining room, of course they was argument, and after half an hour they managed to find two table immediately next to one another. We sat down, ordered our food, and when it arrived some 40 minutes later, the food was inedable, and the goats cheese was off, the rest of the food was dried up and tasteless and very poorly presented. We complained and were assured that the next night it would be better. The second night was a formal night so we were all dressed up and had intended have some photos taken, but our dismay we ordered our food, the first course was stale, and had to be sent back. One of the grandchildren asked for a piece of salmon, and was told by the waitress that there was non available. Eventually after my grandson ending up in tears because he was hungry, the salmon arrived, my daughter cut it up for him and to her horror it was raw inside I hate to think what might have happened had he have eaten it. My eldest grandaughter was served with a meal with a bar code label stuck on it, everything was cold, the service was apalling, and two of us had to wait for an hour for our meal to be served which when it arrived was inedable, we entered the dining room at 8.30 and did not leave until 10.30, my grandsons piece of salmon arrived some 45 minutes after ordering it. The Chef came out and the hotel manager, and maitre D, and when we questioned the Chef about the health risks, he did have an answer, and so it went on. The last night was an improvement as they pulled out all stops to try to make things better, but it was too little too late. My Husband and I were terribly distressed over the whole matter and instead of being a great celebration it was a great aggravation. Never will we cruise with Royal Caribbean again, avoid them at all costs, it was like Butlins on Sea. Very disgruntled passengers, oh and by the way they offered us 5% off another cruise what an insult having ruined what should have been a lovely and enjoyable celebration.