Story Time – My First Cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas!

Going on a cruise has always been a dream of mine from a young age. I remember a picture of my dad on the deck of a ship sometime in the 80s which was such  a huge inspiration to me.  I promised myself to go on one when I was older.  Fast forward to April 2024, when I booked my first ever cruise with Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas for Spring Break.  I live in New Jersey, and winters can be long and brutally cold. I wanted to get away from the cold weather ,and go to warmer parts of the world. So , I picked a Caribbean cruise. I chose a  5 night cruise departing Miami with stop overs at Nassau, Bahamas and the Grand Caymans. ( Royal Caribbean has a private  port in Labadee , Haiti but due to the unrest there, the schedule was changed to stop at  the Grand Caymans). I have always been intrigued by the open seas, their mystery, God’s vast and endless creation. Add to that , the idea of floating on water on a skyscraper, visiting multiple port cities,  fine dining , a one of a kind perfect vacation ! It was an amazing experience, I got more than I expected , and I’m excited to share my cruise story with you.

Initially, my plan was to go on a 10 day cruise sailing from Manhattan, NY. You see, I love spending time at Liberty State Park, a waterfront recreation landmark that has gorgeous views of Manhattan, including departing cruise ships. It’s always fun to see them slowly fade into the horizon. So , you see my first time cruise vision board involved leaving from Manhattan.

However, I had a change of heart and decided, why not visit Miami ,and sail from there, after all, it is the cruise capital of the world, and with more cruise options that worked with my schedule .  So I compared itineraries, and reviews for the top cruise companies in the US . I then made my final decision ,and chose Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas.  I had never visited Miami before , and so I took this opportunity to spend one night in this popular city, before heading off to the cruise of a lifetime. I also didn’t want to leave my cruise to chance by flying on the same day as the embarkation date. I have seen many videos on the Internet of people being left by the cruise ship even if they were a few minutes late. I have a blog post on my first time in Miami, and you can find it here.

As you can imagine my excitement was through the roof. Not only was I getting ready to go on a cruise for the first time, but I was also going to visit Miami for the first time, and all I could hear  in my head days prior to leaving, was Will Smith’s Miami song.  I could barely contain myself especially when I got the confirmation email from Royal Caribbean about my trip. Oh my gosh, the euphoria that I felt was amazing. Like  I said , NJ in April is still cold ,and so the prospect of escaping , and going away for a few days to a foreign land was very exciting. I started doing research on what its like to be on a cruise ship. Most people were not for it , they were anxious about sea sickness, and reliving the Titanic story. It didn’t matter to me now, I had set my mind on going on this cruise, and wasn’t going to let anything stop me.

I have never been more excited to receive and open emails from a brand. I had assigned a star, a priority status for Royal Caribbean’s emails. From the beginning, the company reels you in ,and creates a one-on -one relationship with you. It feels like a long lost relative inviting you to come over for the weekend, and letting you know how excited they are to see you. Everyday was one more step to boarding the Independence of the Seas. I even looked up my room, and found out I was on the 3rd deck of the ship,  right next to the art gallery.  Let me tell you that one of my biggest issues was choosing the rooms. I knew the interior rooms were just not for me, I couldn’t handle the claustrophobia. I wanted a room that had ocean views , but I didn’t want to go to a balcony  room due to kid safety concerns. I wanted peace of mind while on this cruise ,and that involved among other things, seeing God’s creation and be unbothered. The ocean view is a couple of dollars more than the interior rooms.  I recently found out that there are people who do not want to see the ocean while on a cruise which baffled me, as in they want to feel cushioned in, so they opt for an interior room. Anyway, RCI doesn’t assign you a room number immediately upon booking. They do that at a later date or if you are interested, you can enter into a bidding war for most coveted rooms. I was happy with the room I got on deck 3.

Let’s talk about packing.  Where do I start! I spent a lot of time on my phone looking for the perfect vacation dresses, and checking out temperatures for Miami, the  Bahamas and Grand Caymans. All the destinations  were showing warm weather in the forecast.  I am one of the people they meme about on the Internet. I made sure I had 5 outfits for each day ,and backups in case I changed my mind about the first ones lol.  Unlike airlines which have strict weight requirements, cruise ships are a bit more lenient. Royal Caribbean has a “Luggage Key” which states that the maximum weight allowed per guest is 200 pounds or 90kg. That is quite liberal but I am wondering, what are people carrying for 5 day cruises lol. Anyway, as much as the Independence of the Seas was less strict about weight requirements, I had to fly to Miami from Newark , NJ on Spirit Airlines.  They have fees for checked bags with pricing tiers. So , I didn’t carry as many shoes as I would have wanted due to weight issues.  I have a blog about airport outfits  for women that you may find interesting if you want to know what to wear when on your next flight.

So you guys, I am on cloud 1 million as I prepare to go to  for the first time to Miami, and then on cruise ship. I didn’t want to overwhelm myself with the itinerary’s on my schedule , so I decided to just focus on going to Miami. You know, enjoy the moment by itself.  My flight to Miami was awesome and easy. What a lovely place to arrive to, especially after coming from cold New Jersey. By the way guys, I didn’t go to Miami International Airport which is close to the hotel, and the cruise ports. Instead, I chose Fort Lauderdale which is about 40 minutes from Miami . Why? Because the departure times for my return leg were to close to disembarkation time on the final day. As the cruise ship nears the final port, it has to get clearance from customs ,so you should expect  delays.  I didn’t want to stress myself about rushing to get an Uber, to get to the airport for my flight to cold New Jersey. I am glad I picked flights from Fort Lauderdale, as it worked out well in the end. Check out my blog about visiting Miami for under 24 hours.

On the  8th of April, I woke up ready for my first cruise. CitizenM, the hotel of choice in Brickell, Miami,  had a great spread for breakfast ,and I enjoyed it very much. They have a beautiful lounge area where you can just chill ,and not have to be out in the hot FL sun while you wait to go on your next destination. It really is a fun place to hang out. Brickell is truly an expensive place, and a ride share driver told me that its very difficult to make ends meet as more wealthy people move into the area, and prices go up for everything. He also said he left NY for FL due to the cold weather. So I wasn’t the only one who detests cold weather.

It’s no surprise that I wore a maxi dress for my first time cruise. I just find them so comfortable, light on skin and flattering for my body.  Also, it was hot, and I just thought why not wear this dress from Venus, that I had in my closet. There is something about familiarity that made me choose this pink maxi dress. I was going on a new adventure , to a new experience and this dress in a strange way made me feel safe.

The cruise ship sends you 3 boarding time options,  and you get to choose which time works best for you . I guess this is  done to avoid everyone arriving at once, which would be insane.  So, I always like to leave room for life’s surprises. Even though the hotel was 8 minutes away from the cruise port, I didn’t want to go in last minute, look clumsy while lugging my bags around, and wondering where to go. The aerial view map of the cruise ship docking area is quite overwhelming , and I feared getting lost between platforms. Anyway, I ordered a ride share much earlier than needed, to get my bearings around the port, and also to be honest, I was too excited about my cruise vacation.

The ride share driver was friendly as most people are in Miami, but then we got lost in translation. The ticket said that the ship was leaving from terminal A ,but he thought I said  “E”. OMG, he passed terminal A, and I started freaking out lol. I was like ,” we need to go to terminal A” and he is like, “yes, yes, we are going to E”. I checked the time ,and now he was headed to terminal E. At E was “Freedom of the Seas”, and I asked a worker who was laughing at the whole situation at my expense. Finally, the driver got it,  and left me at Terminal G which was where Independence of the Seas was departing from. I couldn’t believe how massive  the cruise ship was.  It looked like a wide building ,not a vessel that was eventually going to sail away. It was such an amazing scene with other travelers arriving. So much excitement was in the air.

When you arrive at the terminal, there are cruise workers left and right willing to help you. They ask for the deck and room number assigned to you, and tag your bags. They will handle getting your bags to your room from here on,  so you just leave , and head for the security area. ( One of the best feelings in the world is when you give your luggage away  when travelling and expect it at your destination, such a liberating feeling). The security process was much friendlier than the airport ones lol . There is a relaxed and lulling feeling from here on out. The staff was very friendly , and willing to help make this moment unforgettable!

There are a couple of boarding gates on the cruise ship obviously, and even though passengers on this cruise were said to be about 5,000 including the crew, it didn’t feel as crowded.  I was so excited to see our room on deck 3. The interior of the ship had a warm, inviting and cozy feeling with the decor in shades of mustard, brown and yellow. The art gallery was also on deck 3 and you know art lovers are relatively quiet lol. The cabin is small, dont expect hotel size rooms ,but just being on this vessel , that was going to float for days was just mind boggling to me. I didnt care about the cabin room, as I saw it as my “home base” , and I wanted to enjoy the activities on and off the ship, then head to slumber at the end of the day!

It was around 1 pm, and an announcement on the intercom stated  that lunch was available  at the popular restaurant  ” The Windjammer”   But first, I wanted to check out the top deck , and where to go when we started sailing. It is recommended to see the cruise ship leave the port, so the eyes and brain  adjust accordingly. If you do this, you can avert dizziness and sea sickness.   Also, my party was scheduled  for the Muster drill at around 1:30pm. This  is a safety drill that lets you know the procedures to take in case things go awry on the cruise ship. This is similar to the flight crew demonstration before an airplane takes off. The cruise ship takes this very seriously, and will call you out on the intercom if you haven’t gone to the station assigned to you. They tell you about the beep alarms to look out for, something you hope never ever to hear. It is a quick thing, and once you are signed off , you can now enjoy being on the  cruise ship.

I went to the “Windjammer”restaurant  on deck 11, and saw the biggest buffet spread ever, with I would say maybe 3000 people(not kidding) out and about. There is no seating assigned to you at this eatery.  I got soup, and some crackers as I was still full from the breakfast buffet from the hotel. I had a “specialty dining” booking  at a fancy Italian restaurant called Giovanni’s table later in the evening.  I looked forward to the 3 course meal , and didn’t want to stuff myself and ruin the experience. Specialty dining as they call it, can fill up quickly so this was a reservation made days prior. By the way, if you are into ocean views and want an elevated experience while you eat,  then head over to the windjammer. I still get chills when I remember those ocean views.

After the light meal at the Windjammer, I went back to the room and found the luggage was placed in the room, how nice! I was worried about not having an outfit for my dinner at Giovanni’s. It was around 3:45 when I went up to the 11th deck to prepare for departure. I had plastered motion sickness patches on my neck as they were recommended for cruising. So many people were on this deck ,and the excitement was palpable. Miami is a beautiful city and the sights were stunning. Finally,  at 4:15pm, the ship blew the horn, and we were on our way. I didn’t feel motion sickness at all as we left the port. It’s easy to forget you are on water, unless when looking out the window or when in the room and the hangers shift slightly.

After leaving the port and seeing Miami fade away, it was time for me to go back to the room and get ready for dinner. Giovanni’s Table is situated next to the “Windjammer Restaurant” on Independence of the Seas. It is a lovely Italian restaurant  with great ambiance, low tones and offers a pleasant fine dining experience. Our table was by a window, so we had gorgeous views of the calm ocean while the sun was setting. Divine!

It is generally up to you if you want to go for specialty dining. There are so many complimentary places to eat from on the cruise ship, so specialty dining isnt necessary. I enjoy fine dining though, and every experience matters to me. This is a great idea if you are celebrating a milestone or just want to have an experience on top of another experience.  We had great wait staff who offered us just the best, celebrated with us and pampered us the whole time. I highly recommend you dine here while on your cruise.

The next day was a port day and the city we anchored at the Cayman Islands. I was very excited to disembark , especially because the air was very warm and I was excited to be on land. I don’t remember feeling this kind of heat. It was like 95 degrees, but the feel was probably 100 and very humid. The disembarkation process is a little different compared to the previous experience in the Bahamas.  Due to the absence of a deep water pier, the ship cannot dock directly, so guests are tendered to shore on smaller boats. So , if you want to disembark, you have to line up and get numbers from the star lounge. From here, you are to check screens  or listen on the intercom for your number range to be called.

While you wait for your number to be called, feel free to grab a coffee, enjoy breakfast, or relax on deck. There’s no rush, and everything is well-coordinated to prevent crowding.

Once your number is called, it’s time to head down to the lower deck where the tender boats are waiting. These boats will take you from the ship to the mainland. The tender boats are spacious, so you’ll have a comfortable ride. As you board, the crew will assist to ensure everyone gets on safely and with ease. What an experience!

The ride from the ship to the Georgetown pier on Grand Cayman is usually short, about 10-15 minutes, depending on weather conditions. Along the way, you’ll be treated to beautiful views of the clear turquoise waters and a perfect view of Independence of the Seas anchored offshore.

I cannot tell you enough times, how hot and humid it was. Luckily, there were plenty of beverage stands and all I wanted was a lemonade. My goal at this point was to get to the seven mile beach, a popular destination of the Cayman Islands. So even though this was a tourist location, it was also giving a financial industry hub vibe that was far different from the Bahamas.

Getting to Seven Mile Beach is easy, and whether you choose a taxi, bus, or a scenic walk, the trip is worth it. Once you’re there, you’ll experience one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The people there are friendly and a kind local lady came up to me and said, ” are you going to seven mile beach?’ I said yes, and she was like she is headed that way and can show me where to take the bus. At first I was skeptical , but then I went with my gut instinct and she showed us the bus to take to the beach at a price of $2.50 per person. It was an interesting experience. On the way there, the driver just abruptly made a stop, got out and started eating his lunch. The tourists in the bus were puzzled just like I was. No explanation given whatsoever. The man had to eat and we just had to wait. It was like he was saying its my way or the highway! At least the AC was on as it was unbearably hot outside. After 10 minutes, we headed out to the beach and arrived safely.

Seven Mile Beach offers everything from relaxing spots to lounge on the sand to fun water activities like snorkeling, jet-skiing, and paddle boarding. You’ll find plenty of beachside bars and restaurants if you’re in the mood for some local food and drinks. Whether you spend your time swimming in the turquoise waters or enjoying the peaceful sunset, Seven Mile Beach is a highlight of any Grand Cayman visit.

What is it about people who live by the water! I noticed the same energy in Mombasa, Miami , the Bahamas and now the Cayman Islands . These people tend to have very laid-back attitudes. I guess the water takes away a lot of stress,and there is less rushing and more enjoying. They also tend to value and honor nature, family and the general well-being of the whole community.

The turquoise water is the perfect remedy for the heat—you’ll definitely want to take a dip to cool off. While the weather can be hot and humid, it’s all part of the tropical charm that makes Seven Mile Beach so unforgettable. With a cold drink in hand and the sound of the waves nearby, the heat is just another reminder that you’re in paradise. I was ready to leave after two hours,  and needed  a nap badly.

 

One of the best places to unwind onboard is definitely on deck 11. As soon as I got up there, I could feel the cool ocean breeze washing away the lingering heat from the beach. The views from Deck 11 were absolutely stunning—an endless stretch of the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea, with the sun beginning to dip towards the horizon. It’s the kind of view that instantly makes you relax. I found a spot with the perfect vantage point, kicked back, and let myself just enjoy the moment. Watching the shimmering water and the gentle waves was incredibly peaceful.

 

After lounging in the cabin , it was time for dinner.  I was still exhausted from the day’s activities and was grateful that the next day, we would just sail. I was now in a routine and I realized that the cruise was all about views, good food and entertainment! Everything you need for a relaxing vacation.