Sunshine-lady Posted January 29, 2014 #101 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Thanks so much for taking the time to let us share in your cruise. It is helping us get through the winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthGrady Posted January 29, 2014 Author #102 Share Posted January 29, 2014 I have found on previous cruise that you have to get the mudslide cookies first thing in the morning or they are gone. Enjoying your review. Even seen a picture of my Mother, which for a quick moment was strange. Sue Oh how I wish that were the case. But sadly they just didn't have them. We stopped by there at various times both early and late. No mudslides to be found. It was coconut ranger, oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip all week. Not only that, but what they did have was usually rock-hard. I like my cookies chewy. Oh well, there's always next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racnwdow Posted January 29, 2014 #103 Share Posted January 29, 2014 I never did find a single cookie in any venue that wasn't hard. I didn't do any pay per venues but I don't know if they had cookies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racnwdow Posted January 29, 2014 #104 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Sadly parents weren't respecting the diapers only in the littlest pool that was marked for diapers. One of our group even complained to the staff that was near there and nothing was done to remove the diapered little ones out of the bigger pools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBumb Posted January 29, 2014 #105 Share Posted January 29, 2014 amazing review thanks for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthGrady Posted January 29, 2014 Author #106 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Sadly parents weren't respecting the diapers only in the littlest pool that was marked for diapers. One of our group even complained to the staff that was near there and nothing was done to remove the diapered little ones out of the bigger pools. That's why I usually only swim in the Solarium, they usually do a halfway decent job at bouncing the kids out. amazing reviewthanks for posting Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfganghowell Posted January 29, 2014 #107 Share Posted January 29, 2014 GREATNESS! I have 30 days and your pic of the Pool Bar is going to be my new screensaver!!! Darth you are the best! Would love to hear about the entertainment in the Schooner Bar and Pub. Escargot? Is it alive and well every night? Well, ok not alive... Which formal night has lobster? We may only do one, haven't decided yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Folk Singer Posted January 29, 2014 #108 Share Posted January 29, 2014 (edited) Independence of the Seas: January 18, 2014 My wife and I booked this cruise to celebrate our five year anniversary. We were originally booked on the Oasis of the Seas for the 1/18/14 sailing. But we decided to switch when we saw a longer and cheaper cruise on Indy for the same week. The ports of call were also more attractive, so it was an easy decision. Two friends that cruise with us occasionally decided to come along. We drove down together to Boca Raton the night before our cruise and stayed at the Fairfield Inn right off I-95. The hotel was fairly new and in good shape. thank you we are on the Indy in may for the TA. Edited January 29, 2014 by Folk Singer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racnwdow Posted January 29, 2014 #109 Share Posted January 29, 2014 I had escargot every night. Occasionally two. Didn't seem to be a shortage. Lobster night was the second formal night (San Juan night on the 8 day). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthGrady Posted January 29, 2014 Author #110 Share Posted January 29, 2014 (edited) GREATNESS! I have 30 days and your pic of the Pool Bar is going to be my new screensaver!!! Darth you are the best! Would love to hear about the entertainment in the Schooner Bar and Pub. Escargot? Is it alive and well every night? Well, ok not alive... Which formal night has lobster? We may only do one, haven't decided yet. There was a piano player in the Schooner Bar some nights, although I never hung out in there. Royal's piano bar doesn't hold the same appeal to me the Carnival's does. He seemed to be doing a good job though, the place looked to be fairly busy. I only drank at the Dog and Badger once, and it wasn't when they had anything going on. Theu had escargots every night, and I had an order all 8 evenings. They were very good. The second formal night (#6) had the lobster and prime rib. Edited January 29, 2014 by DarthGrady Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UCONN Women Rule Posted January 29, 2014 #111 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Grady I will be on the Indy in March and I am really enjoying your pictures and review. I really looks wonderful. Wilda posted about the Indy "vibe", do you know what that is referring to? We habe an active thread for the March 9th Indy cruise - come join us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiserdudebobby8 Posted January 29, 2014 #112 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Indy is such a beautiful ship! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilyclub Posted January 30, 2014 #113 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Grady I will be on the Indy in March and I am really enjoying your pictures and review. I really looks wonderful. Wilda posted about the Indy "vibe", do you know what that is referring to? http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1976125&highlight=vibe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthGrady Posted January 30, 2014 Author #114 Share Posted January 30, 2014 (edited) Day 4, St. Maarten: Over eighteen thousand people. That was St. Maarten's port load for this day according to one of the major cruise ship calendar websites. That is a tremendous amount of humans all descending on one area in a matter of a few hours. After a nice breakfast in the Diamond area of the dining room we headed ashore. We did a bit of shopping then caught the public bus over to Maho Beach. The experience of riding the bus was very positive, only two dollars per person (one way) and no issues to speak of. Some of the other ships in port with us that day: The Celebrity Eclipse And coincidentally, Mein Schiff 2, formerly the Celebrity Mercury But of course our ship was the most impressive The shopping area at the pier, a horrid experience with that many ships in port The beach on Great Bay in Philipsburg Maho Beach, on the other hand, was a total nightmare. It was basically just one big mass of bodies. We hung out for awhile and got some pictures of the arriving planes, as well as a few beers. Due to the rampant overcrowding we went back into Philipsburg. At least we didn't pay much for the ride to and from. This is what Maho Beach looks like with 18,000+ cruise ship guests in port. Unless this is your idea of a good time, I'd advise avoiding at all costs. We were there back in May when we were the only ship in port and the experience was much nicer. Edited January 30, 2014 by DarthGrady Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kruzerci Posted January 30, 2014 #115 Share Posted January 30, 2014 There were 7 ships when we were there in December on Oasis. It was a nightmare getting a cab to and from Orient! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthGrady Posted January 30, 2014 Author #116 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Some plane pics from Maho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traceyleigh15 Posted January 30, 2014 #117 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I'm loving the review. Great pics. We sail in March Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthGrady Posted January 30, 2014 Author #118 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Here comes the big boy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthGrady Posted January 30, 2014 Author #119 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthGrady Posted January 30, 2014 Author #120 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Back in Phillipsburg I decided to purchase a Nikon Speedlight (a detachable flash) for my camera. The Nikon SB-400s were on sale for $120, which is about fifty bucks cheaper than what Amazon wanted. I'm normally leery about buying electronics in ports, but the store I went to was an actual Nikon dealer. For those in the market for an entry-level flash, Nikon just discontinued the SB-400. The remaining stock is being marked down, so now would be a good time to buy. The SB-300 that they're replacing it with is less powerful, takes longer to recycle and runs on AAAs (the 400 runs on AAs). More Philipsburg pics This is only about a quarter of the line for the water taxi, it stretched all the way down the dock. The walk from the pier into town is only about a mile, if you're able bodied it is the way to go. Beer of the day: Presidente We returned to the room to find more C&A gifts The MSC Divina and NCL Epic parked at the new pier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthGrady Posted January 30, 2014 Author #121 Share Posted January 30, 2014 (edited) Back on the ship we had lunch at Sorrentos. The Sorrentos on Indy doesn't seem to function as well as the ones I've been to on Freedom and Allure. In addition to the fiasco from the second night, they don't have the little salad bar found in the same venue on Freedom. This is a shame because I enjoyed getting the mozzarella and balsamic vinegar. They also didn't have parmesan cheese. What kind of pizzeria doesn't have mozzarella cheese? The pizza still tasted good, but the experience wasn't up to the standard I’ve enjoyed on Allure and Freedom. After getting back on board, I headed up to the heli-pad I also got a few pics of some lesser visited areas like the old Crown and Anchor Study, now "Business Services" Edited January 30, 2014 by DarthGrady Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthGrady Posted January 30, 2014 Author #122 Share Posted January 30, 2014 The Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish6 Posted January 30, 2014 #123 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Thankfully the ship's name plaque survived the addition of the big acreen, they just moved it back to the H20 Zone The Sprinkles ice cream kiosk. Don't get your hopes up, there are no sprinkles (or toppings of any kind) to be found. I have a silly question.....what flavours do they have on Indy? I like strawberry and I noticed that some ships only have the chocolate and vanilla. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthGrady Posted January 30, 2014 Author #124 Share Posted January 30, 2014 After an afternoon workout we all attended the "Strings" ice show. The skaters did a great job as usual. It really is amazing how much they can do in so little space. I didn’t really get the whole magic violin storyline, but the skating was excellent. Studio B, ready for the ice show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthGrady Posted January 30, 2014 Author #125 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I have a silly question.....what flavours do they have on Indy? I like strawberry and I noticed that some ships only have the chocolate and vanilla. Only chocolate, vanilla and a mixture of the two. Both sides were labeled "frozen yogurt", but it tasted like regular ice cream to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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