luckyprincess

Great! Im making notes for requests. I'll keep bumping as it gets cloer

Hi! Ok so I plan on doing a good comprehensive picture review of my 5 day 4 night on Indy in January. If you want something specific, let me know here. Whether it be pics of the compass', bar menus, specialty menus, spa menus...anything. Do you have specific questions you'd like me to ask? Want a pic of a specific area? I would like to hit a cabin crawl so I can get pics of different categories. let me know here :)

Just off Indy last week. Haven't had a chance to write my review yet but hoping to do so this week. I also echo all the praises for Lorenzo. He's at the Schooner Bar :)

 

 

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can't wait!!

We did a 5 day cruise on Indy last February. Had an ocean view balcony room on deck 7 or 8 on the hump. Room was very nice and close to the elevators which was very convenient. We got on Indy early we walked directly into the promenade which was so beautiful I asked my wife if we can afford it!! This was only our second cruise and our first on a large ship and we certainly experienced the WOW factor with that first walk through. After we settled in we explored the pool deck, solarium and the cantilevered hot tubs. These areas were all very inviting. We spent out first afternoon relaxing on the pool deck. We did MyTime dining and it worked out very well for us. I recall that we showed up each night around 6:30 and we were always seated upon arrival. We always had the same table, waiter and wine guy. We also usually had the same neighbors whom we got to know. Over all the MDR was great. On lobster tail night I ordered an app and a tail. When my LT came our server brought me order of prime rib as well which I had not even asked for! He said that the lobster is not enough of a meal and he remembered that I had ordered the prime rib before. It's like he knew what I was thinking as I had considered ordering two meals at the start but was hesitant to do so. There were lots of examples of RC staff doing the extra little things that made the cruise so enjoyable for us. Without going on much more I noticed someone else mentioned Lorenzo from the Schooner bar. He quickly became our favorite bar server. He is funny as heck and is one of the best bar servers I have ever had. We ended up making a before dinner drink stop at the Schooner a regular event. Lots more I could add but I'll stop now or else this will become a lengthy post. Let me know if you have any questions. Have a good cruise - Indy is a great ship with excellent service.

Thank you for your review!! It's short but sweet and gets me totally excited to cruise on Indy! Thank you so much!

DH and I were on Indy 5 times last winter season and we love her. Our favorite was Liberty until they moved her and Indy has taken her place quite well. We are heading out on her in 3 weeks on 12/8. She has one of the best bar tenders, Lorenzo, in the Schooner bar.

Awesome! Thanks! I will look up Lorenzo as others have said he is great!

I didn't do a review on our trip, but we did a 5 night on Independence last April. We had a fantastic time, and loved the ship! Let me know if you have other questions!

 

 

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So good to hear thank you so much!!

Thanks everyone!! My last cruise was a family cruise where we all went solo. I did a cash account for $500 and it was great until they let me go over. You may shake your finger at me lol but on a cruise I'm not doing the best accounting! I had assumed they would just deny anything over and let me know when I exceeded. Instead they let me go over by a small amount and then demanded it before they would let me get off the ship. It was really irritating and left a bad taste in my mouth so I wont' do that again probably. So looks like I then am looking at a 5% fee? That's ok as its totally my choice. Good to know they have the games I like and I can use my obc in the casino!

Hi!! So my fiancé is trying cruising for the first time in January because I would really really like our wedding to be on a cruise ship. Has anyone done this? I'm hoping they offer a lot of options instead of just the chapel. Can we do it on CocoCay or Labadee? Do they do a good job? We are thinking we would have probably 8 or so staterooms besides ours of guests. Do we get any kind of benefit for that like a land resort? Thanks for any info anyone may have!

I haven't heard of this yet! What is a genie? Is it just another word for a butler? Do you have to be in a suite for it?

Hi! Can you use your OBC in the casino? Also what are the minimums typically like? If it matters I'll be on a 4 night cruise on Indy in January. One more question! Do they teach you how to do table games? I like craps and blackjack but can't remember how to really play lol! Do they even have those games on board?

I'm booking the bogo on Indy after some thought. He is a new cruiser so I'd like him to see the specialty restaurants. We also plan on doing the MDR for the other nights and I think he will love how fancy it is. I asked him if he minded missing the mdr for formal night if we have to uphold the booking of a specialty on the 2nd day and he said that's fine. He already bought his suit and I bought my dress so we will be dressing for formal night and getting pics done but eating in the specialty restaurant if we can't change it. He likes lobster tail but being in NJ we can get really great Maine lobster pretty often so he'd be ok missing that. The bogo deal is pretty good imo. I have never eaten at Giovanni's though so I'm hoping I'll enjoy it as much as chops.

Awesome ideas thank you so much!!! We are both buying alcohol packages so smuggling is moot lol!!

So far I am doing Chops one night (please, give me your opinions, I welcome them!!!) but if Giovannis is better for steaks we can do that instead! I'm insisting upon quest and newlywed show. He is a huge animal lover so we are doing dolphin swim and manatee meet at Cozumel. He's also a big basketball guy so was super excited to hear there are pick up games and a tournament game. We get monthly massages via our massage package at our local place so I feel like the hardsell RCI massage would annoy him! We are dressing for formal night so he will get that ambiance too. Thank you so much! He is curious about what the balcony club is and I told him I had no idea..... :rolleyes:

To the OP. You say you like education so I thought I would impart some wisdom on x-ray machines - not the body scanners but the luggage ones. States have rules regarding the testing of the machines. In Oregon, I have to have it tested yearly to ensure that no x-rays are leaking from the cabinet. I also have to pay the state for a "license" to have one. They can show up anytime and test the machine and check for safety plans and emergency procedures. Each operator must be trained and tested. The only exposure you are likely to have is if your hand goes past the curtains in the tunnel. The x-rays aren't constant when the belt is running. Once the machine detects something in the tunnel, the x-ray will come on, as evidenced by the lights on the corners of the unit. Well, for Smith Heimann units anyway. You won't have any exposure as long as you place your bags on the belt and collect them at the other end on the exit rollers. If something is too light to pass through the curtains, let them nudge it through so you won't chance exposure.

 

And as a side note to folks that think rum runners can't be seen, they glow bright orange! :eek:

Thanks! I don't know much about luggage scanners so I appreciate the info.

Great ideas everyone thank you!! Handing over that highlighter and compass is going to be tough...:eek:.... lol!

I too suffer from major anxiety and OCD. My triggers are not the same as yours but I definitely understand the "pain" of anxiety. I have done like you, I choose to educate and rely on myself to make the anxiety better, do not like to overmedicate.

 

My two main triggers are being a passenger in a car and germs. If I am the passenger I am extremely tense and make all sorts of noises and tell the driver repeatedly how to drive lol. A big anxiety set off for me is being in the middle lane, I cannot have cars on both sides of me. With germs, they seem to only bother me on people's hands (I do not touch hands unless it is completely unavailable) and restroom surfaces (YIKES!!).

 

I have learned to carry Clorox wipes in my carryon bag so that as soon as I can get in my room on the ship, I sterilize the every surface of the bathroom and repeat daily during the cruise. It is a bit much, I know, but it keeps my anxiety lower and is worth it to me.

Thank you! :) I'm glad I'm not the only one jumping those hurdles! It's so worth it though! I can't imagine letting ocd keep me from traveling or doing things I love

Hii! So as I've stated my fiancé has always said no to cruising and now is going to give it a try. I'd like to make sure it's a great trip (would LOVE my wedding on a cruise lol) so I am trying to fit a lot in to just 5 days. I think I may be jamming in too much. Tell me what you think is the most important thing to show him that will highlight the fun of a cruise. I already have a hump balcony cabin so I hope that will sell him lol.

Thank you so much for so many really kind and respectful responses! I know I SHOULD be able to realize that I'll be fine and I want to lol! Unfortunately this disorder gives you intrusive, compulsive (ie: sooo irritating and will not stop creeping into your mind) thoughts that are totally unreasonable but give you major anxiety anyway. I mean, I'm sure logically someone knows that they will not die if they step on a crack but to someone with ocd the anxiety they feel if they step on a crack is debilitating regardless. It's not only frustrating because of the time it takes to deal with this disorder (like having to ask my friendly CCers and expose myself to a racist/sexist response last night) but also because in lucid moments you KNOW that the source of anxiety is ridiculous but it doesn't seem to connect to your anxiety.

Anyway, anxiety won't kill me and travel will enrich me so I do it anyway. I'm very lucky to not be affected in major ways by this. What I have is very 'doable' in the sense of just working through it without professional help. I really appreciate all the responses and thanks for helping to soothe my anxiety!! :D:D

Yes, it's full of wrinkles now

Lol

I have a hunka metal Citizen watch that never fails to set off the airport metal detectors. Forgot to pull it off last time before getting on the ship.... no problem.

Good to know thanks! A friend of mine has metal in her hand and always has to stop to explain lol

There is nothing out of the ordinary with security at ports....it's actually LESS than the airports!

You may need counseling...and therapy....not judging...just saying! This it our world nowadays... deal with it..or don't travel!...It is what it is.

Counseling and therapy aren't too helpful when it comes to this kind of OCD. The only thing that really helps is having lots of info and education on the situations which can cause anxiety. I travel all over including more than cruising so I'm all good! I just have to find out what I'm in for anxiety wise before I go, hence my questions. I don't let things limit me but thank you for the info!

Cruise ports do not use body scanners. All you have to do is walk through a metal dectector. The worst that will happen is that they will use a wand to search you which is pretty much just waved over you. Luggage goes through x-rays and won't be opened unless you have something they want to see. In Baltimore a couple of weeks ago, we had to open our bag and show them our bottles of wine. They won't open or touch anything of yours or touch you.

 

You've cruised before and you think they pat you down? They don't. They will ask you to show them anything that sets off an alarm. Belt buckles, or other small items (change, etc) will set off the alarm sometimes but then they just wand you and ask you to show them when they get an alarm.

Thank you. I think I confused the wand with a pat down. It's a stumbling block to go through life with this but info is my friend! Thank you!

Great thanks everyone! Just bought the 2 device surf and stream package for $21 a day!

So I have OCD (yes, actual ocd!) and it manifests in hypochondria and also fears of my personal safety. I've been able to get past it and thrive by making sure I'm super educated and not being taken by surprise. I dont' like to take medications so I'm happy to have kept this at bay by myself.

Whenever I fly I get completely unreasonably freaked out by the xray machines like the backscatter. I panic and it's very difficult to shut out the fears that I will get cancer from being exposed to xrays. I always let the airport know that I cannot go through those machines and I end up with a very invasive search but it helps my anxiety to avoid it. When I've cruised in the past we just had to put our bags through an xray machine and then be patted down. I'm going through Ft. Lauderdale. Can anyone walk me through what they do and what to expect? Having a lot of information makes it easier for me to cope. Thank you so much!!

Hi! We are going an excursion from RCCL to Chakanaab but still want to go to the pharmacy. Any diea of how long it would take or if doing both is a problem?

Hi! So I'll have my cell (use for fb a lot during cruise, email and texting) and my notebook. My guy has his cell (use for all the same) and his chromebook (probably use to stream football) on this cruise. So can we share a surf and stream package for two devices as long as we only have two things signed in at the same time?

Thank you!! Would you know by chance if they have special menus in the specialty restaurants for formal night? Do they typically have lobster?