Day one Independence of the Seas (IOTS) 2025 (Southampton) @RoyalCaribbean
Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.
Creator's Key Takeaways
We normally do email them prior to boarding just so that we'll pan the ass together and then people don't get confused with the seat numbers on your seat board and pass
If you haven't bought a drinks package prior to the cruise, there's still options to get one when you're on board, but the prices are really, really steep
The food usually reflects similar to what's going to be on in the main dining room and has some sort of theme nights
We didn't try this to our last day and we're absolutely gutted that we waited till that long because the fish was absolutely to die for
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Port Highlights
Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.
About our Bacon Score methodologyYouTube Video Description↓
🛳️ Embarkation & Afternoon • Boarding & Exploring the Ship – Once you’ve checked in and boarded, you’ll usually head to the Windjammer buffet or Main Dining Room for lunch. • Stateroom Access – Rooms are typically ready mid-afternoon, so you can drop off your bags. • Ship Tour & Open Houses – Many venues (Spa, Fitness Center, Kids/Teens Clubs, Specialty Restaurants) host “open house” sessions where you can look around. • Pool Deck Vibes – Live music, bars open, and lots of energy around the pools. 📣 Mandatory • Muster Drill (Safety Briefing) – Required before sailing. It’s usually a quick digital or in-person check-in. 🚢 Sailaway • Sailaway Party – Held on the pool deck with music, dancing, drinks, and entertainment as the ship departs. 🌙 Evening • Welcome Show – Usually in the Royal Theater with comedy, music, or a preview of the week’s entertainment. • Ice Show Reservations – Some guests book or attend the first ice-skating show. • Dining – First dinner in the Main Dining Room or at a specialty restaurant. • Casino, Bars & Lounges – Casino Royale opens night one, and venues like Boleros and Schooner Bar often have live music. • Nightlife – Trivia, karaoke, game shows, and the nightclub for late-night dancing. ⚓ So, Day One is all about getting settled, exploring, and enjoying the sailaway celebrations, with plenty of food, entertainment, and music to kick things off. #IndependenceOfTheSeas #RoyalCaribbean #RoyalCaribbeanCruise #CruiseVlog #CruiseLife #EmbarkationDay #CruiseDayOne #SailawayParty #CruiseVacation #CruiseShipVibes @RoyalCaribbean @IndependenceOfTheSeas