The Peaceful Suite Life on Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas

Close your eyes, take a deep breath and think about taking a cruise. Did you imagine a bustling city on the sea with endless food buffets, sensational shows and activities and parties by the pool? If you did, you’re not wrong. Modern-day cruises can be the perfect getaway for someone seeking excitement, stimulation and plenty of human contact. But what about those of us who prefer a much quieter, peaceful way to travel? Can a cruise ship serve the quiet introverted traveler just as much as it satisfies the busy extrovert?

Close your eyes again, take another deep breath and this time, imagine gliding through the ocean. You will be watching the most beautiful sunset you’ve ever seen in your life, with nothing but the sound of the wind and nowhere else to be but right where you are. The way you feel right now? That’s cruising, too. If you’re an introvert, anxious traveler, have unique sensory needs, need a break from the overstimulation of everyday life, or you simply just enjoy a quieter way of being, I get you and I’ve got you. I make it my mission in life to find all the tips and tricks to do “peaceful travel”. I am convinced that almost any kind of travel and any destination can be explored in a way that isn’t overwhelming. I tested this out on my recent journey aboard Independence of the Seas for a long holiday weekend getaway to Labadee, Haiti.

The ship

Independence of the Seas is a Royal Caribbean Freedom-class ship built in 2008 and refurbished in 2018. It was the largest ship in the fleet until 2009 but is now considered one of the midsize ships in Royal’s fleet. Indy, as passengers affectionally call her, is not one of the newer, flashier Royal ships, but she is well-cared for with a wonderful crew and satisfying variety of public venues and stateroom options. I was able to take a look into an inside stateroom, balcony stateroom, junior suite and even the beautiful Royal Suite with a grand piano. I’m confident no matter which category you choose, you'll be satisfied with your stateroom. Not just because any stateroom on a cruise ship is better than a room on dry land!

For this voyage, I decided to stay in a Grand Suite. I wanted to be sure I’d be one of the first passengers to get in a lifeboat when we hit an iceberg. Ok fine, there are plenty of lifeboats for everyone and no icebergs in the Caribbean, but Grand Suites do come with many special privileges. Priority embarking and departure, priority seating at shows, assistance with specialty dining reservations, upgraded bathroom amenities and bathrobes, are just a few of the perks of being in a Grand Suite or higher on a Royal Caribbean ship. Our suite had an extra-large bathroom with a bathtub/shower combination and double sink. We also had multiple closets, a large sitting area, a king bed with a curtain to separate it from the rest of the room and of course, a substantial balcony with a table and chairs and two cushioned lounge chairs. Sailing in a suite is a truly luxurious experience with peace and ease that’s hard to beat. Plus, the bathrobes make you look really bougie.

Grand Suite bedroom area

• Pro tip: If you’ve always wanted to experience the suite life but you think it’s out of your price range, consider a shorter-duration cruise on a slightly older ship. Look for deals during “wave season” at the beginning of the year. You or your amazing, helpful, knowledgeable, trusted travel advisor may be able to make it happen! Beware, once you enjoy a suite, you may be spoiled and never want to sail any other way!

Perhaps one of the most enjoyable and helpful amenities for suite guests is access to a concierge. They will contact you approximately a week prior to sailing to assist you in arranging for any of your needs on board and answer any questions you may have. They’re incredibly responsive and experienced, and they don’t yell at you for asking too many questions. Believe me, I tested that. Repeatedly. The concierge will be available to you throughout your voyage and can be found in the suite lounge for several hours each day. For anxious or sensitive travelers, or for anyone who prefers to just let go and have someone else do the planning and arranging, the suite, concierges are an indispensable asset. At the end of our voyage, our concierge also escorted us, along with other suite guests, off the ship in advance of other passengers. This made disembarking on our cruise a much less overwhelming experience.

The suite lounge is another wonderful amenity for cruisers seeking a less stimulating journey. On independence, this lounge is located on the 14th deck beside the Viking Crown Lounge, and you can access it using your seapass card any time of day. The suite lounge provides 24 hour access to fresh drinking water, tea and an upgraded coffee machine. The lounge also has a continental breakfast every morning and several hours of free cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the evenings. The floor-to-ceiling windows and private outdoor deck offer the perfect place to get out of your stateroom without being overwhelmed by people, lights and sounds. For anyone without a suite, the Viking Crown Lounge offers a bar, gorgeous panoramic views and plentiful seating. This area tends to be a more tranquil area of the ship whenever there are not activities taking place there.

Grand Suite closets with bathrobes

One of the highlights of Independence and the Freedom class ships is The Royal Promenade. It is located midship on deck five, where you can find shops, an ice cream parlor, a candy store, a variety of bars and a free pizza shop. The Promenade is the indoor hub of the ship, often buzzing with music, lights and live performers as well as shop auctions and sales. We found the Promenade to be a little too active during the evening hours for our liking. We chose to go late at night and early in the morning for a quieter stroll. Also on this deck is the Library, which is a lovely quiet room with seating, books, board games and computers with internet access. It is great for anyone seeking a more peaceful refuge while still being out and about.

Independence of the Seas has a very active pool deck with waterslides, Flowrider surfing and multiple pools and hot tubs that are alive and fun-filled from pretty early in the morning through to the evening. Although the deck was jam-packed, we enjoyed lounging during movies that were played on a big screen near the main pool. Not only because it’s so fun to watch a movie while swimming or hanging on the deck chairs, but also because these were times that no loud music was played. The vibe was calmer and less stimulating. There is an option to rent a casita on both sea days and port days for a reserved place to lounge. Keep in mind these casitas are still right in the middle of the action and do not offer real privacy. They may not be a suitable solution for individuals in search of peace and quiet. They are lovely for anyone who wants a guaranteed outdoor spot to lounge in for the day.

Grand Suite balcony with lounge chairs

We found the pool deck much less stimulating on port days when most cruisers were off the ship exploring. We opted to lounge on our spacious suite balcony when we wanted sun and fresh air during the sea days. We also enjoyed walks around the outside decks after dinner. At this time, most people were watching one of the shows, socializing in the bars or congregating on The Promenade, so we had much of the outside to ourselves. We stargazed on the bow of the ship and used the nighttime privacy to take part in our new favorite cruise pastime, hiding rubber duckies for kids to find. Hiding ducks around a cruise ship is a super fun way to spread joy and can be done away from the crowds. There are entire social media groups and pages dedicated to the activity. It also gives you an excuse to explore all around the ship, looking for fun places to hide a duck.

Another favorite relaxation zone is the Vitality Spa. I always opt for a massage during a sea day. I find this is a great way to be out of my stateroom, enjoying the ship, without having to be in the more active areas. With that said, if you’re looking for activities to liven up your day and night, the daily Seaplanner is packed with options from bingo to comedy shows. You will also find belly flop contests in the pool, and of course, the casino is open throughout the day and into the night while at sea.

Bed on pool deck

Dining

If there’s one thing Royal Caribbean is known for, it’s the dining options! Included in your fare is the Main Dining Room for traditional service, Windjammer café for a huge variety of buffet foods, Fish and Ships on the pool deck (except a few upgraded items) and Sorrento’s Pizza. We chose to purchase an unlimited specialty dining plan so we could be seated in smaller restaurants with upgraded food items. Specialty restaurants on Independence of the Seas include an Italian option known as Giovanni’s, a steak restaurant called Chop’s, a Japanese with hibachi option called Izumi, Johnny Rockets diner and Playmaker’s Sports Bar. Cruisers may eat at any of these restaurants for a fee, even without purchasing the dining package. Our concierge made our reservations based on our feedback, before we boarded. We appreciated the more secluded dining and the flexibility to decide where and when we ate each day for lunch and dinner. Even if you don’t elect to pay for upgraded dining, breakfast, lunch and dinner in the main dining room is usually a lovely experience that isn’t too overstimulating. If you sneak into the Windjammer at off hours, you can also enjoy a less overwhelming buffet experience.

Suite Lounge evening hors d'oeuvres

The food in every restaurant was delicious and well varied, but we did find Johnny Rockets a bit overstimulating. This is due to the fun but loud diner music, and Playmaker’s was also tasty but overwhelming due to the arcade noises, sports games and music. We also enjoyed ordering room service multiple times throughout our journey. In addition to the usual room service menu, suite guests can order from the main dining menu during dining hours. This service is free of charge, but we highly recommend tipping the delivery attendant each time. Non-suite guests are charged $7.95 plus 18% gratuity delivery charge, but continental breakfast is complimentary. Although we didn’t find the room service food to be the best we’ve ever had, we very much appreciated the convenience of enjoying our private ocean views while we ate.

Labadee

My travel partner and I intentionally selected this cruise to enjoy quiet days at sea on the balcony of our suite and to stop at one of our favorite peaceful destinations, the beautiful port of Labadee, Haiti. Labadee is a private section of Haiti leased by Royal Caribbean that provides guests with a beach destination with something for everyone. If you’re looking for thrills, Labadee has plenty to offer! Try the Dragon’s Tail Coaster, Waterslide or the Dragon’s Breath Zipline. There are kayaking and speedboat excursions, as well as an aqua park and cabanas for rent. Don’t get me wrong, all of those activities and options are so fun, and we’ve happily done them before. Our mission on this trip was to move as little as possible while soaking up every last ray of sunshine we could get. To accomplish this goal, we beelined it straight to the private beach for suite guests known as “Barefoot Beach”. Here there are loungers, umbrellas, a swimming cove, over-water cabanas for rent, a buffet full of delicious food and a bar attendant who deserves every bit of that cash tip you’ll give them because they never let you feel even a moment’s thirst. It’s the perfect place to sip frozen drinks and contemplate never going home. Non-suite guests also have access to a variety of beach areas with bars, a buffet of lunch foods and rentable amenities such as water rafts and cabanas.

Entrance to Barefoot Beach on Labadee

Labadee also has a market located a short walk from the beach areas where you can purchase Haitian souvenirs. The market area can be a little overwhelming as some of the vendors can be persistent. You can decline and walk away or you can skip the market completely should you choose to do so. We always get small, locally made art pieces to bring home. Labadee is absolutely gorgeous, and despite the unrest that sometimes occurs in other areas of Haiti, the port is far from any dangerous areas and is highly protected. We never once felt unsafe while spending the day there and very much enjoyed the locals we encountered.

View of Independence from Barefoot Beach

Peace rating

Whenever I finish a trip, I mentally rate how peaceful it was on a scale of 1 to 10. I think about how many lines I had to wait in, how many crowds I had to wade through, how hard or easy it was to access good food and drinks, how loud and overstimulating it was, how difficult it was to navigate around, get information, find fresh air and things I enjoyed and ultimately how balanced and present I felt at the end of the trip. If I take a deep breath and close my eyes right now, I can almost smell the salty air on the balcony of my Independence of the Seas Grand Suite. I can feel my muscles relax like I’m sinking into the lounge chair on Barefoot Beach, which makes it easier to remember what my “Peace Rating” was for this trip. My 4-day journey on Independence of the Seas gets a nine out of 10 on my very official, very reliable, “Peace Scale”. The point I knocked off isn’t really fair, but having sailed on many Royal Caribbean ships before, I found myself missing the lush trees and fresh air walking paths of the Central Park area that Oasis and Icon class ships have and Independence does not. Fortunately, I was able to find peace and balance throughout my journey in many other ways, so I am more convinced than ever that it is possible to travel in a stimulating environment like a cruise ship without getting overstimulated. I would absolutely sail on Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas again in a heartbeat.

Sunset from the Suite Lounge

The Miami cruise port is a very active port. There are signs directing you to the proper parking and unloading areas and there are many crew members available all around the port. You will also find embarkation and disembarkation areas, so you will never be without guidance! Also, don't forget to make use of the Royal Caribbean Cruise app and website before sailing. You can make shore excursion reservations, internet, beverage and dining purchases, and to begin choosing daily activities using the Daily Planner feature. During your voyage, you can also use the app to find your way around the ship using the deck map, read dining menus and communicate with travel mates using the messaging feature. You'll have everything you need every step of the way!

For more inspiration and travel recommendations, check out our Cruise page.