Travel

Making Waves on the Med

Empty Nesters Brian and Denise Claridge enjoy a holiday afloat.

The Independence of the Seas is a majestic sight in the docks at Southampton as she prepares for the start of a two-week Mediterranean cruise. The 15-deck Royal Caribbean ship is 1112ft long and 185ft wide, and accommodates 4375 passengers.

There’s enough leisure facilities onboard to satisfy all ages, including three pools (six whirlpools), fitness centre and spa, sports court, rock climbing wall, a wave machine for surfing, ice skating rink, nine-hole miniature golf course, outdoor movie screen, casino, nightclub, video arcade and art gallery.

It’s no wonder Independence of the Seas was voted ‘Best Cruise Line for Families’ in the Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards in 2015.

There’s even a shopping mall that occupies an entire deck called The Royal Promenade, where you can shop for watches, handbags, jewellery, perfume, clothes and ship souvenirs. Afterwards, drop into the Dog & Badger (an English pub) for a drink, pick up a freshly baked pizza from the pizzeria, or enjoy an ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s.

We loved our daily visits to the Café Promenade for a speciality coffee, with freshly made cookies and other delicious snacks. At night, the Royal Promenade comes alive with music and it’s a lively atmosphere, especially on carnival night.

Our balcony stateroom was more than adequate and included a comfortable Royal King bed, telephone, shower sofa, TV, safe and private balcony. It’s worth paying extra to have a balcony so you can relax in your own space and enjoy the sun and sea air, look for dolphins, and gaze at beautiful sunsets over a pre-dinner aperitif.

The interactive TV allows you to check your onboard account on a daily basis to make sure you don’t spend your money too quickly.

It’s hard to single out any particular restaurant that was our favourite, as they are all so different and the food is good wherever you dine. Apart from the five complimentary restaurants included in the price of your cruise, there are a number of speciality restaurants where you pay a cover charge. They include Chops Grille, an upmarket steakhouse, Giovanni’s Table, serving traditional Italian food, and Johnny Rockets, for American-style burgers.

To continue reading more about Brian's crusie adventures, click here

Hvae you taken a cruise recently? What did you think to it?

Let us know what you think and share your experiences with us and others. Just follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram and YouTube

Other stories in Travel

Canterbury's tale
Discovering Wales - Places of Worship
Ayers Rock
Discover Ireland
The Dos and Don’ts of Travelling With Leukaemia
Sicily revisited
The road to the Highlands
Amazing Arizona Part 1
Over the Bridge to Skye
Buxton: Gateway to the Peaks
Walking Series: Folkestone
Hills and thrills in the Italian Lakes
Travel News: October
Corsica: Coast and culture
A capital time in London
Happy to be on the Florida Keys
Cruise Special: Around Britain by Boat
The good life in North Wales
Have a capital time in London
Polynesian Paradise
Gardens in the sun
A taste of paradise in Puglia
Music in the mountains
Cruising by coach
A Lakes gem for all seasons
Canada: by seaplane and skytram
Cruising on the crest of a wave
Riding the Rocky Mountaineer
48 hours in Bethlehem
Goa, the go-to destination...
Roaming the Rhone
Doing The Strand
Sheffield: Forging a bright new future
Setting sail for the fjords
Taking it easy on the shores of Lake Garda
Be the best Brit abroad
What's on your British bucket list?
Passage to India
Isle of Wight: Singing the praises of quirky cottages
Zell am See: Alpine Wonderland
Turning back time in Guernsey
Glam under the stars in surprising Staffordshire
Red Square Revisited
Fine dining and a walk on the wild side
Detroit: Dancing in the streets again
Terror and Tourism- are you covered?
Islands in the Sun
Cornwall by Coach
Tramway Treasury
Sunrise on the Summit
Homage to Catalonia
Pembrokeshire Panorama
The Magic of Amsterdam
Born to be wild on Route 66
Somerset's Seasonal Delights
A topping time in Tirol
England Rooftop Route Part 1
Besieged Bosnia: Back in Business
Cruising The Danube
Quest for a Lost Queen
Wiltshire's Winning Ways
We'd rather be in Colorado
Taking it easy in Norfolk
Luscious Lucerne
Arizona: Get Your Kicks on Route 66
Discoveries: Epic Adventure
Northern Ireland: Transformed from the Troubles
Kingston: Town of kings
Extraordinary Israel
Avalon's Avian Haven
Station Vacation