California kitty

We boarded her on February 18th for four days to cozamel. Boarding was not pleasant...very late. I thought the ship was great. We enjoyed the ice show and the Elton John headliner. We ate at chops once and it was perfect...strip steak and filet. My husband loved the crab and shrimp cakes as an appetizer and actually got a second order. We had my time dining and the service was awesome but the food was fair. The strip steak is odd...not to my liking at all. The beef tenderloin was great and nothing struck my appetite on the last night and I had the turkey dinner. My husband had the grilled salmon each night. I love the cold soups and he loves the shrimp cocktail! We had a great aft balcony on the 8th deck and spent sun time there rather than the pool. We loved strolling the shops and people watching. Overall it was a very good long weekend! Made even longer by the nightmare disembarking!

Park cafe on Allure...roast beef sandwiches and awesome made to order salads! Love chops and can't wait to go again. And I did enjoy the cold fruit soups and the prime rib in the mdr.

Not much of a buffet person but when they have the bread pudding out it is worth a stroll!

The compasses were posted. Let me find the link

Does any know the order of the mdr menus for the independence 4 day cruise to cozomel. We are trying to decide which nights will be specialty nights...thanks!

Great review great pictures...we sail in 32 days...which night was "formal" night? You said the prime rib was great...was that formal night? I had it on allure and it was awesome. We will do some specialty dining but don't want to book that for the wrong night!

My favorite thing about freedom-class ships is that you can go on the helipad. We spend sailaway there, and last liberty cruise watched a meteor shower from there one night. (i'm on the same cruise as you in feb, so i'll see you at sailaway if you decide to head there :D ).

 

i agree the cupcake decorating class is really fun. the ice show on indy is also supposed to be very good.

Can't wait...can anyone get up to the helipad? We will head there for sail away. Look forward to meeting you

We really enjoyed Cafe Promenade on the Royal Promenade. We often enjoyed lunch here especially on embarkation day, when we boarded a bit later than normal figured Windjammer would be jammed. Great sandwiches and snacks at the Cafe Promenade.

 

Are you a baker, my wife adored her cupcake decorating class. You'll need to purchase that in advance.

 

The Pyramid Lounge is a really lovely spot to relax, it's popular for trivia and other events at night, but, often quiet in the day time.

 

Have a great cruise on the Indy.

 

Jonathan

Thanks for the tips. We wanted to do the cupcake class on allure but it was so port extensive there wasn't time! Will pre book it!

So we are not experienced cruisers but loved cruising on the allure in September in the meditarranean. We are trying again with a 4 day cruise on the Indy in February. Our favorite allure spots were...lunch in the park cafe...I loved the roast beef sandwiches and my dh the create your salad station. We loved breakfast here also..grits rocked when we didn't do room service. I know there is not park cafe on the Indy...what's your suggestion for us?

We enjoyed the mdr..I loved the cold fruit soups and my dh loved the shrimp cocktails...available on Indy. We loved vintages for an after dinner glass of wine.

Help me plan the perfect cruise on this smaller ship!

Just off of the 4 night. Lobster was not part of the standard menu on formal night. They did have the option for an up charge(I think on the order of $17).

Thanks...as long as it's formal night I am good with the up charge! Probably eating in specialty restaurants other nights with our obc

We are on the Indy for a 4 day cruise February 18th. I know the second night is formal night. Do they serve lobster in the mdr that evening? We were on the allure in the meditarranean in the fall and they did not have lobster due to the location!

We are in the Indy February 18th. I know formal night us the 2nd night...do they serve lobster in the mdr? We were on the allure in the meditarranean and they didn't do lobster!

Thanks

Counted down my first meditarranean cruise on allure earlier this year...now counting down my independent cruise in 66 days!:)

I can't seem to find anywhere which show is playing at this time...Chicago?

Janrey1234 we were on the ship with you and at the lake and winery with you and you are right, it was delightful!

Just off allure and Gemma is still in vintages and is awesome!

American icon is my time, the other two are traditional with either early oblate seating...depends how your reservation is done...my time or traditional...I suggest my time since the ports are so extensive and the timing is different every day!

Thanks for sharing! Sounds like you had a great time. I hope to be able to afford an European cruise. I am confused, so the American Icon is on the Allure? RCCL website show the main dining room on the deck plan. Are there any other specialty restaurants on the new and improved Allure?

It was truly an amazing cruise!mThere are three main dining rooms on allure. We had my time dining...I made reservations before we left for each night. The other two are traditional dining...silk and not sure if the name of the other. They are on decks three, four and five and are open to each other in the center! There are Many specialty restaurants and a few others which are included....park cafe, solarium and the windjammer. Upgraded restaurants are chops, Izumi, vintages, Giovanni's, samba, Johnny Rockets and sabor ( may have missed one). Lots of free snacks all over!

We are not cruisers, but this vacation was amazing! After two days in Barcelona at the cotton house hotel..line of the finest hotels I have stayed at, we boarded the allure on September 13th. We were in a jr suite which was incredible on the hump deck 12...Augus took care of our every need. We had my time dining in american icon and ate the five of the seven nights. The food was great...prime rib was huge and GOOD. we had either room service or the park cafe for breakfast and loved them both! Park cafe for lunch was great also...roast beef sandwich and create your own salad. Our last night was at Chops and we were not disappointed! Strip steak, short ribs, shrimp cocktail, crab and shrimp cake and more! We had wine, cheese and fruit from room service on the balcony almost every night.

Ports and excursions were great but HOT and tiring! DIY on Mallorca and Marseilles and thoroughly enjoyed roaming the towns! Did a ship excursion to Pisa and Lucca and they were great...our guide irene was perfect. For civitavecchia we did an afternoon ship excursion to lake bracciano, a visit to a nearby town and a winery which was very nice...lots of wine! On the final port day we had a private driver for a trip to ravello, amalfi and a drive along the coast with lunch! What a perfect way to end the trip.

We had a ton a photos taken on the ship as we enjoyed the two dress up nights and had a hard time narrowing down our purchase! The quality was great.

We only made it to the comedy show ( hilarious) and the blue man? Show high was great...the water number was jaw dropping! Wanted to see more but with so many ports it was difficult.

Enjoyed roaming the ship, rising tides bar, vintages, Central Park.

This cruise gets a big thumbs up!

It's a beautiful day to sail! Had the famous roast beef sandwich in the park cafe!

I have 12632 in a week!

We packed a separate bag for our two pre cruise and first cruise day. Don't need to touch the others till we are on board!

Bought the wrinkle spray...will pack carefully and absolutely care how we look on the plane, the boat and while in Europe...we have always dressed better when traveling to Europe...

Waiting for your next post...this is awesome!

We board September 13th and your pictures have me so excited! We too are in a jr suite but on the 12th deck starboard hump!

Pre order bottles via gifts and gear!