11.09.2014

INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEAS: START OF THE TOUR

As I prepare to write the blog post on the cruise ship we sailed on last May, Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas, I realize that I have so many photos of the ship that I'm going to have to break it down into several posts, by touring the ship the easiest way I could think, showing different areas, deck by deck.

We'll start on Deck 3 where you will find something not found on too many other cruise ships: Studio B, the ice skating rink!
Not only is there a professional ice show on the boat, but passengers can also enjoy free skating time on sea days. (Helmet-wearing is mandatory.)

Moving up to Deck 4, you really begin to see the spectacular beauty of the ship. At the stern end of the ship is the three-story dining room; we ate on the middle level Macbeth Dining Room which is on Deck 4. Our table was located along the rail, so we had a perfect view of the upper (Macbeth Dining Room) and lower dining levels (Romeo and Juliet Dining Room).
















Every night we ate dinner in the dining room, usually ordering more than one appetizer, entree and dessert as one is supposed to do when cruising...


Independence of the Seas is a beautifully decorated ship; you find areas all around the ship with wonderful artwork. One of my favorites was the display of these glass flowers...
 
located on a wall separating the two sides of the Bolero Lounge where Latin music and mojitos flowed throughout the cruise.
I love the pretty iron scroll work on the porthole windows...
Walk past the Bolero Lounge and through the photo gallery (where all those photos taken by the ship's photographers end up), you come to Casino Royale...
One of several lighted glass staircases that are all over the ship...





































Another of the colorful, lighted staircases leading up to the next deck...





































Exiting out the other side of the casino, you can enter the upper level of the two-story nightclub, The Labryrinth.
I like the stained glass window decorations...
























 




The upper level...the stairs lead down to the dance floor.
The bar: note how the backs of the stools are "gothic-architecture" shaped in keeping with the theme...
The other bar on Deck 4 is the nautically-themed Schooner Bar. Daily, during the mornings and afternoons, all sorts of games and activities are held here.
























 



We have completed the ship's tour up through Deck 4. To get up to Deck 5 and the Royal Promenade, we have to walk up the stairs. These two photos show the beautiful wood, chrome and brass decor of the stairs...just imagine how beautiful the remainder of the ship is.
On the left of the above photo, you can just see the entrance to the five-deck-high Alhambra Theatre, where great song and dance productions take place nearly every night.

In my next post, we'll tour Deck 5 and the Royal Promenade.

Thank you for visiting,

A Great Europe Trip Planner 

All photos were taken by my husband and me during my Caribbean cruise in May, 2014.

1 comment:

  1. Awesome content as always. My team and I actually read your blogs, hope u have a look on cruise to cochin

    ReplyDelete