"Live" (its my plan) from Independence of the Seas February 9th 2014

[clochette]

Thanks for the great review we are going on the same itinerary later on this year and I also would love to see the compass if you have them.

[cruiseluvingirl]

Thank you so much for taking time to do this, we have booked this for December and have never been on Indy but loved the Freedom.

[jzad]

Great review! Can't wait till our turn on the Indy next January...

 

 

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[APDMOM]

Thank you for all the great info!

[niksmom630]

Thanks everyone! Yes, I'm almost done here and will definitely get the compasses up shortly!

 

 

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[Dan-P]

Hey, Dan! It was great meeting you guys! Safe travels home! Our flight is not until 1:20. Our timeline this morning was as follows:

 

- walked out on deck 4 at 9:15

- collected bags and thru customs by 9:45

- from entry into taxi line until arrival at FLL, another 30 minutes.

 

Waited outside for about a half hour, went thru security, now sitting at the gate.

 

Not looking forward to returning the the great white north!

 

 

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It was really great meeting you and your family/friends.

 

Kind of funny we ended up as neighbors on Labadee. Maybe it was because we were in the water so much, but I found our cabana attendant to be very inattentive. He did bring us our floating mats, snorkel gear, and towels when we first got there, and let us know when lunch was ready, but I was just expecting to be able to utilize our premium drink package a bit more than we did. :eek: :D

 

Great job on the review. You pretty much covered everything, but I am toying with doing a short review as well. I think I/we may be able to offer a slightly different perspective as novice cruisers - this only being our second. I did purchase two open booking certificates while onboard, so it certainly isn't going to be our last!

 

Dan.

 

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[notladjr]

I also want to thank you for the timely review of your cruise on IOS. We are set to sail on her May 4th to the Caribbean and then across the pond to Southampton. I feel like I hit the trifecta because I have never been to the Caribbean and have always wanted to go, I love T/A crossings, and London is my favorite city in the world.

 

Reading about your time on Indy has gotten me pumped up about my upcoming cruise on her.

[Folk Singer]

The menu order on this cruise was as follows:

 

Day#1-Mojo

Day#2-Saffron

Day#3-Pimiento

Day#4-Basil

Day#5-Jasmine

Day#6-Pomodoro

 

Formal nights were Day#2 and Day #5.

 

The link to the menus here:

 

http://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/download-press-kit/7/

 

 

good menu.:):)

[niksmom630]

It was really great meeting you and your family/friends.

 

Kind of funny we ended up as neighbors on Labadee. Maybe it was because we were in the water so much, but I found our cabana attendant to be very inattentive. He did bring us our floating mats, snorkel gear, and towels when we first got there, and let us know when lunch was ready, but I was just expecting to be able to utilize our premium drink package a bit more than we did. :eek: :D

 

Great job on the review. You pretty much covered everything, but I am toying with doing a short review as well. I think I/we may be able to offer a slightly different perspective as novice cruisers - this only being our second. I did purchase two open booking certificates while onboard, so it certainly isn't going to be our last!

 

Dan.

 

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I would love to see a review from you Dan, and I'm sure others would as well. With so many activities onboard, as well as excursions offered, I'm sure you could offer a different perspective, and cover things I did not--particularly if they occurred after 10:30, because I was probably asleep by then! :o

 

And, I have to agree with you on the cabana attendant service on Labadee. I'm pretty certain it had nothing to do with you guys being in the water more often (because, remember, I was not--because of the whole "fish" thing :eek:)

 

He did not stop by as often as I would have liked, which is in fact why we started fetching drinks on our own. The guys placed an order for 6 beers when we first arrived, and stuck them in the cooler!

 

Sounds like you've caught the cruising "bug", like many of us have--glad to hear you took advantage of the open booking. Let the planning begin!

[CRUISEFAN0001]

What's clear is that niksmom and others had a great time. Thank you again for all you shared - it has helped those of us with our upcoming similar cruises on INDY.

 

Looking forward to seeing the Compasses - using those to fine tune some plans.

 

Happy cruising!

[niksmom630]

Dining Comments.....

 

MDR

 

--Early seating. Best service we've experienced in years. Never felt rushed, just efficient. In general, we were done with dinner around 7:15. Water glasses always filled promptly, beverages on the table when we arrived. Rolls are now served to the tune "Hot, Hot, Hot" by the assistant waiters parading into the MDR.

 

--Escargot was available every night :D

 

--The dress code for men (no tank tops) was being enforced at breakfast. we made a last minute decision to go to the MDR for breakfast instead of the Windjammer, and DH was wearing a sleeveless t-shirt (not a tank top), but was sent back to the cabin to change. Women however, we allowed in with swimsuits and cover-ups.

 

--On the second formal night (Fisherman's Platter), the waiters brought extra lobsters and shrimp on a platter, and served them to guests who wanted more.

 

Windjammer

 

--Always crowded, no matter what time of day. I wish they would seat people like they do on Allure. It seemed that half of the confusion and crowding was people holding plates and looking for seats.

 

--"Honey Stung Chicken" was not available on boarding day, however there was another chicken dish that looked and tasted just like it.

 

Chops

 

--We were easily able to make a reservation after we boarded. Arrived at 6 p.m., and the place was virtually empty.

 

--Food was excellent. Had the shrimp cocktail and onion soup as appetizers. Petit Filet for dinner.

 

--Service was just "ok"--which was surprising, since the restaurant was almost empty. Think we were spoiled by our MDR experience

 

--Red Velvet cake was still a dessert offering, but it is not the same Red Velvet cake that was served last year. It was ok, but probably the "low-light" of the meal.

 

Also grabbed the occasional piece of pizza from Sorrentos--nothing special, but it filled the void.

[niksmom630]

Embarkation/Debarkation...

 

--Arrived at the pier a little before 11. Even with priority boarding (Diamond/Suite), we were not on the ship until almost 12:30. Apparently they were trying to track down some missing guests who wanted a back to back, even though they did not book one ;)

 

--Debarkation was very efficient and fast, as I previously reported.

 

--Fort Lauderdale airport is a zoo, and they simply can't handle the number of cruise passengers flowing through. Lots of construction there though, so hopefully the expansion will alleviate some of the over crowding.

 

Random Thoughts....

 

Cruising with "Elvis"

 

--I was a bit concerned when we originally booked this cruise, because I had read that sometimes these "special interest" cruisers take over many of the public venues, and limits options to the other cruise passengers. Not so, in this particular case. There was a nightly event in the Pyramid Lounge as I recall from 4:30-5:30 for the Elvis fans, and that was about it. Only a few Elvis sightings after boarding....

 

Handwashing

 

--Likely due to the recent Noro outbreaks, there was an increased focus on proper hand washing techniques, and they had some new signs hanging in the bathrooms.

 

Not sure what you are supposed to do, if the person next to you is not washing with soap?????

 

 

There was also a video playing in the stateroom on boarding day outlining the actions one should take to ensure a "healthy" vacation. On day 5, I passed a room on Deck 10, with some "quarantined" passengers. :eek:

[niksmom630]

Well, that about wraps this up.

 

Another enjoyable cruise on RCI! Finally, here are the compasses...starting with Day 1 and Day 2....

 

Thanks to all of you have followed along, and hope that I've been able to share something that helps with your cruise planning. At minimum, hopefully the photos of sunshine and clear blue waters heightened your anticipation of those upcoming cruises!!!

 

 

 

 

[niksmom630]

Day 3

 

 

 

 

[niksmom630]

Day 4

 

 

 

 

[chukli]

Well, that about wraps this up.

 

Another enjoyable cruise on RCI! Finally, here are the compasses...starting with Day 1 and Day 2....

 

Thanks to all of you have followed along, and hope that I've been able to share something that helps with your cruise planning. At minimum, hopefully the photos of sunshine and clear blue waters heightened your anticipation of those upcoming cruises!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Notice only 1 show on Day 1, was the theatre completey jam packed? Was the Welcome on board show any good?

 

Thanks for a fantastic review with wonderful pic's. Appreciate it.

[niksmom630]

Sorry, Day 5 and 6 compasses are a bit dog eared...

 

Here is Day 5

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 17, 2014 by niksmom630
wrong link

[niksmom630]

Day 6

 

 

 

 

[niksmom630]

Luggage Valet

 

 

Departure Information

 

 

[niksmom630]

Notice only 1 show on Day 1, was the theatre completey jam packed? Was the Welcome on board show any good?

 

Thanks for a fantastic review with wonderful pic's. Appreciate it.

 

Woops, just realized Day 2 compass did not post. I'll get that up here now.

 

Sorry, did not go to the Welcome Aboard show. Brother and sister in law did though, and they got there a bit late--standing room only. They did say they enjoyed the show despite not having a seat :)

[niksmom630]

Oops, was missing Day 2, so here it is:

 

 

 

 

[wolfganghowell]

Thank you so much for everything.

 

Is there smoking by the Sky Bar? Or only the Deck 11 area?

 

Where is the gold card deck seating? It was hard to tell from your picture!

 

Many thanks for great info and great pics.

[niksmom630]

Thank you so much for everything.

 

Is there smoking by the Sky Bar? Or only the Deck 11 area?

 

Where is the gold card deck seating? It was hard to tell from your picture!

 

Many thanks for great info and great pics.

 

You are welcome!

 

No smoking by Sky Bar, or anywhere else on Deck 12. Only Deck 11, port side, basically the distance from the entrance to the Solarium to the end of the main pool area. Smoking area ended right before H20 zone.

 

On debarkation day, no smoking on Deck 4 at all, and Deck 11 got closed for a period of time as well while the cleaned the area in the morning. There were a few people in the Casino in the morning of debarkation, but I also just noticed that the departure instructions note that smokers should go to the Connoisseurs Club, or Deck 11on departure morning....

 

Gold Card seating area was off the staircases on either side of the pool bar, going up towards the Sky Bar.

[chrcruiser]

Thanks so very much for all the great info and especially for the CC. So good to have some up to date for that sailing. Truly appreciate your time sacrificed that will make our trip better when we leave Sunday.

[smelly]

Wow great review

 

Could you tell me how much drinks package was and also is it possible for only one to purchase. I see you said dh didn't get it? Thanks in advance