If you’ve followed my blog or socials for a while, you’ll know that we’re a big Disney family. For the last 5 or 6 years, our holidays have been almost exclusively Disney-themed. From a year as annual pass holders at Disneyland Paris, to what started as a “once in a lifetime” trip to Walt Disney World Florida becoming an annual tradition for three years straight, and four Disney cruises since 2021 — our vacations have been very Mickey Mouse heavy!
But we’ve just returned from our first non-Disney trip since 2019, and it was such a wonderful experience that I have to share it. We took a 1-week cruise onboard Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas to the Norwegian Fjords… and it. was. magical!
Let’s Talk About the Independence Of The Seas
Independence of the Seas, or “Indy” as her fans affectionately call her, holds a special place in my heart. She was the first cruise ship I ever sailed on and also the setting for my first holiday with Jon back in 2012.
Since then, I’ve returned for a girls’ mini-break with my sister and we also brought our toddlers aboard for two trips in 2016 and 2017. But this was our first time back in several years, and what a joy it was to return.
This time, we sailed with our three children, now aged 12, 10, and 9. We stayed in a spacious family suite at the very front of the ship on Deck 6, directly under the bridge and overlooking the bow and helipad. The room was much larger than we’re used to on cruises, and the location provided unbeatable views as we sailed into each port.
Onboard Activities and Entertainment
The ship is truly like a floating resort, packed with so much to see and do that we couldn’t fit everything into one week! Some of the highlights included:
– Ice Dancing Show – This mesmerized the kids so much that we had to watch it a second time.
– Ice Skating Sessions – Available when shows aren’t running. Free to attend but require reservations via the app.
– Laser Tag – Also free but must be reserved.
– Archery and Sports – Including basketball, mini golf and a climb up the impressive rock wall.
– Pool Areas – Three pools, several hot tubs, two water slides, and a splash zone with mini slides and a movie screen showing family films.
– FlowRider – A surf simulator where you can boogie board or surf. Our kids loved it!
– Video Arcade – Always a hit with little gamers.
– Kids Clubs – Activities like arts and crafts, silly science, and games.
– Daily Entertainment – Quizzes, bingo, karaoke, silent discos, and promenade parties with the Cruise Director.
– Escape Room – This has a small fee, but my partner and son rated it highly.
Evenings were packed with live show -. We enjoyed a full production of Grease, a comedy juggler, and a sensational 50’s band called The Boulevards – as well quizzes, silent discos and tons more!
Dining Onboard
There are countless dining options onboard. Some of our favourite’s included:
– Playmakers Sports Bar – With free pool tables, family board games, and tasty bar snacks for a small fee.
– Johnny Rockets – An American diner (small extra charge).
There are also three specialty dining venues:
– Chops Grille (Steakhouse)
– Giovanni’s Table (Italian)
– Izumi Hibachi (Japanese teppanyaki) – We ate here for lunch and loved the interactive experience. We pre-booked during a Royal Caribbean sale and scored a great deal.
That said, the included dining options were so good that you don’t need to pay extra:
– Windjammer Buffet – Offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner with wide variety.
– Main Dining Rooms – Stunning décor and attentive service. Our waiters, Amir and Johannes, made such a lasting impression on our kids that there were tears when we left!
– Sorrento’s Pizza – Open until 3 a.m.
– Café Promenade – Free snacks and coffee 24/7 (Starbucks available at extra cost).
– Room Service – Continental breakfast is free; other orders incur a one-time $8 charge. We loved waking up to pastries and fresh coffee!
The Itinerary
We were scheduled to visit Ålesund, Molde, Olden, and Haugesund on this Norwegian Fjords itinerary.
Sadly, Ålesund was cancelled with just two days’ notice, but Royal Caribbean refunded the port fees and gave us onboard credit. We also claimed under our travel insurance, so it wasn’t a major blow.
Olden was the standout port for me. Sailing through the fjords is simply breathtaking—like something from a fairytale. I’ve written separate guides for Visiting Haugesund and Visiting Olden Cruise Port for those planning a similar cruise so be sure to check those out!
Was There Anything We Didn’t Like?
Honestly, we loved nearly every minute. The only let down was the kids club for older children. While our kids adored it on Disney ships, they found this one “boring” and only went once. It’s a shame, but it didn’t spoil the overall experience.
Tips For Cruising On The Independence Of The Seas
*Be sure to check the Royal Caribbean website for their frequent flash sales before you cruise. This is the best time to book any drinks packages or speciality dining. We got a great deal on our soft drinks package and lunch at Izumi!
*If you take out the soft drinks package, you need to collect your refillable Coca Cola Freestyle cup from any of the bars on board. The Freestyle machines are located in The Windjammer and The Promenade. You can also get glasses of soft drinks from any of the bars and restaurants by showing your SeaPass card if you have the soft drinks package. We’re not heavy drinkers so we don’t bother with the alcohol package, instead I usually get a Cocktail Of The Day after dinner for $12 or buy an Aperol Spritz during happy hour for $10.
*On Boarding Day, don’t head straight to the Windjammer buffet as this is where everyone goes and it gets crowded! Instead wear your swimming costumes under your boarding clothes and head to the pool while its quiet. Your cabin won’t be ready until around 3pm so coming prepared with swimwear is key!
*Don’t make the mistake of only eating at the buffet restaurant. The main dining room is beautiful and the service is always fantastic!
*Scan the QR code in your room to view the Cruise Compass for each day which has information on what’s happening on board, you can also request paper copies from your stateroom attendant.
*Bring magnetic hooks for in your stateroom. The walls and ceilings are metal and the hooks provide extra storage for bags and jackets etc.
*Don’t forget to bring some rubber ducks to hide around the ship and see if you can find any hidden cruise ducks too! This tradition has been going for a few years now among cruise guests and it’s so much fun! My kids found 7 hidden ducks throughout the cruise.
We had such a wonderful time onboard the Independence Of The Seas and it’s really re-ignited my love of cruising, so much so that we’re thinking of scrapping our planned Disneyland California trip next year and doing a cruise on Indy’s sister ship Liberty Of The Seas instead.
Have you ever cruised with Royal Caribbean?