While Independence of the Seas has been sailing since 2008, it's a thoroughly modern ship, perfect for passengers looking for a lot, but not a megaship. It features plenty of Royal Caribbean updates, including a renovated pool deck and the Playmakers sports bar.
It also features all of Royal Caribbean's classic venues, including the Schooner Bar and an English Pub, in this case, the Ale and Anchor. Indy, as it is affectionately known to its fans, is a sort of bridge between Royal Caribbean's more modern ships and its smaller, classic vessels.
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It's large enough to offer most of the amenities of the Oasis-class ships, but also small enough to give you a more intimate experience. You have a better chance of getting to know your fellow passengers and crew because, while the ship has a wide variety of accommodations, it's not that big by modern standards.
However, it has many bars and some excellent bartenders. One of them, Rolando from the Philippines, helped Come Cruise With Me travel agent partner Dennis Post of Postcard Travel plan the preparation of a pineapple margarita at the Ale and Anchor bar.
Meet the Pineapple Margarita
Margaritas remain a very popular drink both on land and on cruise ships. Royal Caribbean offers countless versions of the classic, with many new variations of the tequila-based classic built around spicy flavors.
This version, however, leans sweet by adding pineapple to the classic, beloved bar.
Recipe: Pineapple Margarita
- 2 ounces of Patron Silver
- 0.5 ounces triple sec
- 1.5 ounces pineapple juice
- Cover with sour mixture
Rolando made the drink over ice in a pint glass and then shook it well by adding a metal shaker over the glass. He then poured the drink, ice and all, into a new, slightly smaller glass, which had already been rimmed with salt.
This isn't actually on the pub menu on Independence of the Seas, but it's a drink that could probably be made at any bar on the ship, although tequil
