Chops Grille Never Disappoints
June 4, 2024
Cozumel, Mexico
Another great day onboard the Independence of the Seas.
Morning
We booked this cruise fairly last minute in February due to probable scheduling concerns for my job. By that late in the booking game, Galveston cruises had skyrocketed and prices were MUCH higher than we wanted to pay. So we looked at Miami prices and found several options but this cruise on Independence of the Seas was the best option calendar wise PLUS it went to Perfect Day at Coco Cay which we had been eye-balling for the past 2-3 years. HOWEVER, it also went to where else but Cozumel, Mexico... Our home away from home. No kidding... We have been to Cozumel 20 times on a cruise ship. They say some things "never get old" but I beg to differ. We are pretty much DONE with Cozumel. With that in mind- We chose to stay on the ship on this port day!
TIP- This may not always be the case but we ended up saving $274 total by taking this cruise out of Miami. The Galveston 5 day option (Mariner of the Seas) inside cabin was so much higher that we were able to pay for the flights to Miami AND the hotel and still come out CHEAPER than sailing 80 miles from home. It is really sad that the cruise industry has figured out that Texans will PAY to cruise. I enjoyed the old days of cheap cruises out of Galveston! I miss those days!
We woke up shortly after 8AM and got ready for a very relaxed port day onboard the Independence of the Seas. We ate breakfast in the Windjammer and enjoyed another made-to-order omelet plus our favorite, freshly squeezed orange juice from the Plaza Bar.
We then spent the next 6 hours, literally, in the Solarium. We were able to enjoy the Solarium pool all to ourselves for a brief time and the hot tubs too. The sun was out but the "swim up bar" area of the Solarium pool was still in the shade until nearly 11:30AM so we stayed there for a while. We also enjoyed the gorgeous cantilever hot tubs with very few other people.
Great way to spend the day!
Afternoon
We took a break from the Solarium, sun and cocktails to grabbed lunch at Fish and Ships on the Lido Deck. Once again, this was not a fantastic lunch option but it was better than the Windjammer. TIP- Chris and I both agree that the actual fish and chips is the best option of this menu. Once done with lunch, we went back to the Solarium for a few more hours.
I love that Royal Caribbean serves the ice cream for everyone.
TIP- This means there is usually a line, but it's worth it!
Around 3PM we decided to get out of the pool and shower/ get ready for my favorite part of any Royal Caribbean cruise... dinner at Chops Grille. We got ready and then went to the Star Lounge for The Office trivia. This is a trivia we had won on a Carnival cruise so we were ready to maintain our trophy... But that was not the case. We missed one too many questions and were stuck with 2nd place.
We then stumbled upon a True or False trivia in Schooner Bar and we teamed up with another couple but once again, we did not win. Chris went back to the stateroom to take a nap while I got ready for dinner. We then went to listen to live music by the orchestra in Boleros. TIP- This is another win for Royal Caribbean. They do live music and jazz bands INCREDIBLY well.
I am ready for dinner... Let's do this!
It made me miss my gigue days!
Evening
We made our way to Deck 4 to watch for pier runners around departure time. We arrived right at all aboard time and were able to see the Mariner of the Seas set sail for Galveston. This was SO MUCH fun as we knew this ship was LOADED with Texans so we flashed the "horns down" sign and made a few people mad. It was GREAT!
The Carnival Valor sailing back to New Orleans.
(Been there done that... TWICE)
Hello Mariner of the Seas... one of our "Home Ships" right now in Galveston.
We do not have any cruises booked on her... for now!
This was SO MUCH fun. Once we knew people were seeing us and then yelling at us from the ship... We started having way too much fun!
saxeT still SUCKS!
I have never seen this from any ship but this was cool!
We learned the Independence of the Seas was waiting for 2 people who were on their way to the ship via taxi. We were getting so excited to see them run down the pier in disgust when all of the sudden... The taxi actually drove onto the pier and delivered the couple straight to the gangway. C'mon... Where's the fun in that! The ship still booed the couple but it wasn't the same. The Independence set sail for Miami shortly after 6PM.
In 24 cruises... This was a first! And just not as much fun!
My how the turn tables have... It used to be people would RUN from the terminal to the ship but not any more!
The wife literally got out of the car and ran on the ship. The husband had a little more trouble!
We made our way to inside the Windjammer to Chops Grille for our favorite night of the cruise. TIP- Chops Grille is offered on Voyager, Freedom, Quantum and Oasis class ships as a specialty restaurant offering American Steakhouse options. It is quite easily the best food I have ever had and the experience and ambiance is second to none. You can choose Chops Grille as a single dining option or the Chops +1 for an excellent price. It is also MUCH cheaper to book before you sail but since our onboard credit did not load until we were on board, we had to wait to book this dining option and it ended up costing about $40-50 more than if we would have booked ahead of time.
This is my FAVORITE!
The Chops Grille menu!
This meal was incredible and we enjoyed and savored every bite. The service was exceptional and we enjoyed a relaxed evening together. TIP- The pretzel bread is THE BEST! Also, the menu states ONE salad OR soup but we have always had success with ordering BOTH!
Tuna Tar-Tar- Chris 3.0
Crab cake- 4.5
This was the freshest crab meat I have had in a LONG time!
Cream of Mushroom Soup- 5.0+ (Chris 5.0)
We both agree this is the STAR of the entire meal.
Chris- "No need for a salad, just bring me more of this"
Goat Cheese Salad- 4.5 (Chris 4.0)
I will never understand how they FRY cheese and accomplish such a lite fare salad but this hits the spot every time!
Ribeye (Chris- 5.0)
"One word- Unbelievable"
Petite Filet- 5.0
This was cooked PERFECTLY!
Side Dishes (Family style)
Mac and Cheese- 4.0 (Chris 3.5)
Creamed Spinach- 2.5
Gruyere Tater Tots- 3.0 (Chris 3.5)
Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes- 3.5 (We both agree Carnival is better on this side dish)
The Chops Grille dessert menu.
Red Velvet Cake- 4.0
This is just too rich for me but WOW, so good!
Bavarian Coffee- 3.5
This was very pepperminty!
The Haute and Steamy- 5.0
Chris talked about this NON-STOP and LOVED it!
After dinner we walked Deck 4 and then went to Vintages for post-dinner drinks and then to the Royal Theater for the Love and Marriage show with Cruise Director Mario. TIP- This is a great show hosted by the CD on most cruise line ships. This show varies by sailing but is usually an adults only show as the topics are often sexual in nature. Chris and I jokingly talk about getting on this show but we never have. We didn't even try to get on the show this time- maybe we're getting too old! This was a funny show and we enjoyed it.
This time of day (7:30PM) on a cruise ship is my favorite!
This would be my biggest complaint on Independence of the Seas:
The luggage racks were stored at the aft on Deck 4 which blocked the gorgeous views of the Wake. It sincerely dampened the ambiance of the aft and wake views!
Day #4 is a wrap!
After this show we went back to Vintages to enjoy the live DJ on the Royal Promenade. For whatever reason the promenade was BUSY on this night (even more so than the 70s party the night before) and everyone was having fun. We enjoyed it all from Vintages before heading back to the Royal Theater for the adult comedy show. This comedian was not great but this show ended up better than expected.
We ended the night in where else but Vintages. Martiguea, the cork master, had received a large sample of a new dessert wine as we were in Cozumel and allowed Chris and I to try this wine before they placed it on the menu for the following sailing. It was a great German Riesling and they ended up giving us a bottle to take back to the room. Thank you Marti! We grabbed a few slices of pizza at Sorrento's and called it a night around 12:45AM.
It was a great day on board and we didn't even miss Cozumel.
Up Next... Our last day onboard the Independence of the Seas!
God is Good... ALL THE TIME!
Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas- March 2019
The Norwegian Breakaway- November 2018
Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas- 2018
Carnival Legend- ALASKA- 2016
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