Live Review - Independence of the Seas. Spanish Med July 2014

[PAFC]

Thank you for this great review we will be sailing on her in three weeks time can you please tell me who the the pianist in the schooner bar and the entertainer in the Dog & Badger are on your cruise..

[Clarea]

Thank you for this great review we will be sailing on her in three weeks time can you please tell me who the the pianist in the schooner bar and the entertainer in the Dog & Badger are on your cruise..

You can also try requesting that info from [noparse]web_reservations@rccl.com[/noparse].

[PAFC]

You can also try requesting that info from [noparse]web_reservations@rccl.com[/noparse].

 

Thank you I will try that.

[Nix111]

Hi PAFC the pianist is Brian Johnson and Phil Bond is the pub entertainer, hope that helps

 

 

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[Nix111]

Live Review- Independence of the Seas, Spanish Med, Day 9 - Palma

 

We awoke around 8.00am as the Indy sailed in to Palma, pulling back the curtains to enjoy fabulous views of the cathedral as the ship docked.

 

Finn opened one eye and said he had two very excited doggies in bed - his soft toys Jasper and Casper. Both were previous gifts off my mum and stepdad which and he insisted they were coming on the cruise to visit his grandparents who have lived in Majorca for over twenty years. We were all really looking forward to spending the day together.

 

We had breakfast in the Windjammer - French toast and sausages for Finn and myself and something approaching a full English for Andy - and then went to the towel station on top deck to pick up some beach towels. You need to show your sea pass card when collecting them but I'm not 100% convinced there is any kind of proper signing in or out system as they are usually retrieved from our room before we get an opportunity to return them.

 

We received a text from Nana (aka Nag Nag) and Grandad to say they were here a bit earlier than expected and waiting for us in the terminal. We disembarked with Finn skipping across the passenger bridge and down the escalator into his grandparents arms for the biggest of cuddles. After much hugging (for Finn not us!) we made our way to their car which was parked right by the terminal - now that beats a HoHo bus :)

 

We drove to Santa Ponsa, a lovely beach resort, about twenty minutes from Palma where they used to live before moving a little further up the coast to Calas de Mallorca. We parked up and made our way to the Watering Hole, a pub with a large outdoor swimming pool and a well stocked freezer of ice lollies - heaven for a six year old and as the wine was only €7 a bottle, fairly enjoyable for us too :)

 

The pool was beautifully refreshing in the heat and we enjoyed some quality time catching up with the grandparents and enjoying a leisurely lunch, a little more wine and lots of dips in the pool. All too quickly it was time to make the short drive back to the port and after much hugging, kissing and waving we had to get back on the the ship. As regular cruisers I'm sure they wished they were boarding with us although they do seem to prefer the smaller ships that sail out of Palma such as Thomson's Island Escape.

 

On our way back to the room we posed for a photo in front of one of the many gorgeous artworks around the ship. RCI has an incredible art collection across its fleet and I particularly remember the lovely 'small wonders' miniatures in telescope style viewers when we sailed on Oasis of the Seas. On Independence they have an 'Inspired by' series of modern takes on work by famous artists on each floor along the stairwells. On our way to the MDR we pass a fabulous midnight blue homage to Jackson Pollock that's covered in the kind of squiggles you get when you wave sparklers around on Bonfire Night and a gorgeous blancmange pink panel inspired by Mark Rothko. On deck 4 there's an update of The Scream by Edvard Munch which Finn is terrified of and on deck 6 above the Royal Promenade there's a huge red sculpture of a dog which he adores - a little bit of culture at sea. Heaven.

 

Nag Nag and Grandad had very kindly bought Finn a Lego Chima set so we sat on bed while Mummy wrestled with the instructions and built something that looked vaguely like the picture on the box. Why are there always a few pieces left over? - Oh well...

 

Tonight's dinner dress code was casual so no major changes were required and we made our way to deck 5. We were greeted by our waiting team and strawberries, wine and diet coke arrived soon after as we perused the menu. I ordered buffalo mozzarella with rocket to start and beef tenderloin with garlic roasted potatoes for my main. Andy enjoyed a seafood risotto, white bean soup and Coq au Vin as Finn got stuck into breadcrumbed chicken strips and chips. The service as always was excellent although we were beaten by our mains and declined dessert yet again.

Finn wanted to go to kids club so we dropped him off on Deck 12 for an hour or so as we took advantage of the views and our drinks package in the open air Sky Bar. We watched the sun slip into the ocean listening to a DJ play some very apt Cafe del Mar style house tunes as we sailed towards Ibiza. Best laid plans to catch the live band at 9.45pm were abandoned as the sunshine, food and wine had got the better of us so we picked up Finn and returned to our room before they even made it on stage. The live music does seem to start a little late for my liking, particularly when you have a port day you want to make the most of the next day.

 

I replenished our coke cups on the Royal Promenade and popped into the cupcake cupboard for a cheeky mini vanilla - well I had skipped dessert :) before returning to the boys for a much needed sleep ahead of a day in Ibiza town tomorrow.

 

 

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[CruisinBarb63]

I wandered across your posts this weekend as I was looking for information regarding my recently booked cruise on Indy (Caribbean - October 2015).

 

I feel as though I am traveling with you and I am thoroughly enjoying the holiday! Thank you so much for sharing with all of us. You have an amazing way of writing that brings the reader along with you.

 

Enjoy the rest of your holiday. I look forward to continuing the journey with you.:)

[PAFC]

Hi PAFC the pianist is Brian Johnson and Phil Bond is the pub entertainer, hope that helps

 

 

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Thanks are they any good?

[Nix111]

Hi yes entertainment has been excellent all week

 

 

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[Nix111]

Live Review, Independence of the Seas, Spanish Med - Day 10 - Ibiza

 

Day 10 began with a beautiful sunrise as the ship sailed into Ibiza town with its towering medieval walls and harbour full of expensive yachts. A speedboat zipped by with tunes blaring (evidence of the partying the island is famous for) and a procession of jets roared low overhead preparing to land at the nearby airport and marking the arrival of yet more clubbers for a week or two of fun and excess. Docking on the Indy seemed a far more leisurely way to arrive at the White Isle for a couple whose clubbing days are as long gone as The Hacienda and the other Manchester nightspots we frequented in our youth.

 

Normally on a cruise we enjoy the a la carte breakfast option but as this finishes at 9.30am and Finn has finally learnt the art of a lie in we've only made it once so we took breakfast at the Windjammer. Suitably replenished we collected our things and made our way to deck 1 to disembark.

 

Getting off we could see the crew bar situated a few decks below our room. It looks like a great place to hang out with huge open windows, tv's, seating areas and a bar with significantly cheaper prices than we pay I suspect! I'm absolutely fascinated by what goes on behind the scenes on a cruise ship and think the logistics of these floating cities is amazing. I'd really like to do the behind the scenes tour they offer on some ships but they charge around $150 usually and I've always thought this a little expensive. I've not actually seen it advertised yet this cruise so we'll see, I may treat myself.

 

We made our way along the dockside getting a real sense of the size and scale of this amazing vessel. It really is enormous and until the arrival of Oasis and Allure was one of the largest cruise ships at sea. The sun was beating down and the temperature was already in the 30s so we took advantage of the shade of the dock wall as we headed to the port gates. RCI do offer their own shuttle bus into town but we wanted to see what other transport options there were. We literally just missed a public port bus which you can pick up just outside the terminal at a very reasonable €2.5 one way and €4.5 return per adult. There was already a queue for the next bus and a sign said they were every 30 minutes. Our other option was a taxi but the queues at the rank which is adjacent to the bus stop were huge so we decided to walk as we'd seen the old town from the top deck and it didn't look too far around the bay. It was however incredibly hot and the walk took around 30 minutes so we were thankful for the shady, arboured pathways and gardens alongside the harbour that kept the sun off us. We passed upscale apartment blocks, bars and clubs and finally arrived at the area of the harbour where the port bus drops you off and there's another taxi rank. We found a cafe close by for a much needed ice lolly for Finn and a diet coke for us as we sat watching cars and people pour off the Balearics ferries which head back and to between the islands.

 

After a bit of rest and refreshment we made our way through streets lined with shops and cafés that lead you up to the impressive city walls. It reminded me of Chester back in the UK as we crossed the drawbridge and through the arch into the old town beyond. We walked up narrow, cobbled passageways between white washed houses dripping with bougainvillea in full bloom, it really was incredibly pretty. The town is a little M C Esher like, a labyrinth of steps and pathways heading in all directions but we soon stumbled across a shady, tree lined and flower filled square with a choice of three small bars. The square was called Plaza del Sol but I couldn't possibly tell you how to get there or even if we could ever find it again. We chose the bar Bella Sombra, purely because they had cool water mist spraying from their parasols which created a beautifully chilled atmosphere, a welcome respite from the blistering sunshine. We ordered the obligatory bottle of red for ourselves and a water for Finn and sat back and enjoyed the ambience. This really has been one of those magical holidays where we've seemed to take a serendipitous turn at the right time to find the perfect spot, each day. I was feeling a little tipsy on the red wine and very thankful and blessed.

 

We considered ordering the bar's tapas but were still fairly full from our breakfasts so we chose instead to return slowly to the ship descending back through the old town to the harbour where we jumped a cab back to the port at a very reasonable €9 for the three of us. We got back onboard and went to Jade, the oriental section of the Windjammer as we fancied sampling one of the many curries they do so well on a ship with so many nationalities in the crew. We enjoyed a delicious chicken chattinad, chicken breast cooked in coconut milk with jasmine rice. It was so good Andy had to have seconds and I even managed a little dessert, a beautiful Oreo mousse that was fabulous. Finn had a hotdog which he quickly wolfed down and to his delight we had sat in the section of the restaurant that Vicky (our evening waiter from the main dining room) was looking after. The staff really do work incredibly long and hard but always with a smile on their faces.

 

We returned to our room and sat on the balcony enjoying the sunshine and a little more red wine. I was starting to feel a little hot so I took Finn up to the H2O zone where we splashed, sprayed and swam for a while and cooled off with yet more soft serve ice creams from Sprinkles.

 

The dress code for tonight's dinner was casual but I always prefer to make a little effort and wear a dress and Andy always wears long trousers and a shirt or polo top. We made our way to our usual table to be greeted with strawberries, diet coke and wine. I chose the Thai style chicken starter with glass noodles which was amazing. For main I fancied the steak however it was being served with Diane sauce and I don't like mushrooms. I explained this to Edwin who delighted me by offering me an alternative of pepper sauce which he seemed to magic out of thin air, perfect service once again and the steak was absolutely delicious. Andy, still full from lunch, managed only one starter, an Andalucian broth, followed by the Steak Diane as it came but without the mashed potatoes. Finn got stuck into a pizza from the children's menu although we've seen many other kids eating off the main menu which is equally fine should they wish.

 

After dinner we visited Boleros for a drink and then headed to the Labyrinth nightclub where there was supposed to be a family disco but it was pretty empty. Instead we took front row seats in the Pyramid Lounge to watch the first set by the live band Undercover who were advertised as classic rock but threw in some Chic, Dido and Pharrel Williams covers too. We left around 10.15pm stopping on the Royal Promenade to collect a cupcake, wine and diet coke before going back to the cabin where a towel monkey awaited Finn and the chance of a lazy sea day lie in sounded like bliss for us all.

 

 

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[Alohaaloha]

Love your review- you write so well. Just to let you know that the 'Tiger' stores are here in the UK. We have one at the mall near us ( Merry Hill Centre) super stores aren't they?

 

 

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[Adayatatime]

So fab this review. Sorry just seen your question relating to Ibiza and too late to answer!

 

Are you going to Seville or staying in Cadiz?

[Nix111]

Hi we are planning to stay in Cadiz. Travelling with a 6 year old means we usually go for the easy option, I've been told Cadiz is beautiful though so I'm looking forward to it.

 

 

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[Adayatatime]

Hi we are planning to stay in Cadiz. Travelling with a 6 year old means we usually go for the easy option, I've been told Cadiz is beautiful though so I'm looking forward to it.

 

 

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It is lovely. Narrow cobbled streets and reasonable beaches too. I prefer it to Seville.

[pafc1886]

Glad you think the behind the scenes tour is worth doing. We signed up for this for our cruise on Indy - took a gamble as we don't know anyone whose done it.

 

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[rwright261]

We've also signed up to the all access tour of Indy on our upcoming cruise. Hope you get chance to do it, it's meant to be an amazing experience :)

[hebbie67]

Hi

 

I did the All Access tour on Indy a few weeks back - definitely worth doing despite the hefty price tag. We met at 09:15 to fill out waivers and were given neck wallets (complete with RCI pen & keyring). There were 16 of us and there are only 2 tours per 2 week cruise. The tour lasted 4 hours and covered the following:

 

 

Deck 4 & 5 Galley, with pastries, canapes & soft drinks in the MDR at the end

 

 

Food storage areas

 

 

Engine control room

 

 

Backstage Theatre

 

 

Backstage Ice rink

 

 

Recycling/waste area

 

 

I-95 crew corridor (no other staff areas, sadly)

 

 

The Bridge where we got the chance to ask Capt Henrik questions.

 

You'll love it!

 

 

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[Nix111]

Live Review - Independence of the Seas, Spanish Med - Day 11 - Sea Day

 

Day 11 brought a much needed sea day after a port intensive four days. This really is a fantastic itinerary with a wonderful mixture of beautiful beach destinations, vibrant city breaks and just the right number of well timed lazy sea days - who ever designed this alternative to the more frequent and common Italian Med route needs a promotion! The itinerary combined with a stress free sail away from Southampton really has made this one of the most enjoyable and relaxing holidays we've ever taken. We will most definitely be sailing from the UK again where possible.

 

We were determined to sample the al a carte lunch today so we skipped the usual breakfast options and I popped down to the Royal Promenade to replenish our soda package coke cups and grab a few small pastries for myself and Finn. We had an incredibly lazy morning in the cabin, reading, relaxing and writing yesterday's blog post. We've spent so much more time in our room this voyage, mainly because of our beautiful corner aft balcony that seems to catch the sun all day long and from which we've had the pleasure of dolphin spotting most days .

 

Around 10am our phone rang and it was Amon, one of the hotel management team in response to the comments I'd written on the mid cruise survey about our disappointing experience at Chops Grille. He apologised profusely for our experience and by way of compensation offered us a complimentary meal for three in Giovanni's Table, the speciality Italian restaurant. We gladly accepted and I was really impressed to see that Royal Caribbean take customer service so seriously. Our meal at Chops Grille has been the only disappointment of the trip and I was delighted that they resolved this so efficiently. We reserved a table for 7pm this evening and looked forward to checking out the other paid for restaurant on the ship.

 

At 12 noon we made our way to deck 3 and the Romeo and Juliet section of the spectacularly impressive three tiered dining room. On sea days they serve an al a carte lunch called Brasserie 30 where they guarantee your main dish within 30 minutes. For starters there is a create your own salad bar from which Andy concocted a delicious looking chicken, rocket and asparagus salad. Our waiter arrived, served us two glasses of red and took our orders. I opted for the steak sandwich, Andy chose the Royal Burger with Cajun fries and Finn enjoyed the chicken fingers from a reduced children's menu. We really like an al a carte lunch while at sea, it's a lovely, leisurely treat but on only available on Indy's sea days. On Oasis and other ships we've had the pleasure to sail on such as MSC Divina it was an option each day and we'd often return early from a morning in port to indulge. The lunch was absolutely delicious and we'll definitely be returning during our final two sea days as we make our way back to Southampton.

 

After lunch we went back to our balcony which has a small table, two chairs and two sun loungers, the latter being like gold dust on top deck with everyone onboard. At 3pm Finn was insisting on a visit to the H2O zone so we slapped on the sunscreen and went up to deck 11. We grabbed some towels and amazingly found a few loungers in the sunshine where we left our things as we splashed in the lazy river and swam in the pool. Both were beautifully warm and it was a pleasant way to spend half an hour escaping temperatures that have rarely dropped below 30 degrees all cruise. Finn's doggy paddle is improving nicely and I'm hopeful we'll have fully cracked this swimming thing by the end of the holiday.

 

After his swim I dropped Finn off at kids club where it was Splish, Splash, Splosh - basically water games out on a closed part of the deck adjacent to Adventure Ocean. The kids daily planner (delivered each night along with the Cruise Compass guide) instructed attendees to arrive in swimwear with a towel which was handy as no changing was needed.

 

At 5pm I went to collect Finn who'd had a fun few hours drenching the youth staff and playing with new found friends. The quality of kids clubs on Royal Caribbean is far superior to those on any other cruise lines we've sailed with and RCI is just a perfect choice for family cruising in our opinion. There's so much for everyone of all ages to enjoy.

 

At 7pm made our way to deck Giovanni's Table on deck 11 adjacent to the Windjammer and directly opposite Chops Grille. We were warmly greeted on arrival and escorted to a lovely table for three by the window with fabulous ocean views. I was delighted to see our wine package worked fine in the restaurant and two glasses of delicious Italian red were set before us and refilled at regular intervals throughout the meal. Finn was given a special Giovanni's kids menu and our waiter Nelius delighted him with a napkin duck. The service from all staff was exceptional, very attentive and quite the opposite to the service we had endured at Chops. A big thank you has to go to Moses the restaurant manager for such an enjoyable experience.

 

The food was outstanding, I ordered the mozzarella and prosciutto bake which was in effect a very posh ham and cheese toastie, Andy had two huge scallops served in their shells and Finn had pizza bites which I helped him with as they were so tasty! For mains I had a steak in a Borolo red wine reduction with garlic fries which was too die for, Andy had a trio of lamb chops which were beautifully presented and Finn had a fresh tasting pasta with tomato sauce.

 

The big shock of the evening was when Andy succumbed to his first dessert of the holiday, an Italian custard with layers of cherry sauce which he loved. Finn opted for a rich, moist chocolate cake which he wolfed but I declined as I couldn't eat another thing. We went up to the Sky Bar for a little fresh air but the sea breeze was picking up on deck so we chose the Olive and Twist for a drink. Finn then wanted to go to kids club so we dropped him there for an hour as we began our usual hunt around the ship for some live music. Sadly there was none to be had anywhere as once again we were between set times so we strolled to the Pyramid Lounge but there was a top tier Crown and Anchor event on in there - sadly our names weren't on the list but we'll be eligible by next cruise! Eventually we settled in the Dog and Badger where guitarist Phil Bond was starting a Shadows inspired set. Andy picked up Finn at 10 and we wandered back to our room to drop Daddy off to read his book whilst Finn and myself went to watch the Mad Hatter parade on the Royal Promenade which started at 10.20pm. We found a space in front of Cafe Promenade and had a great view of the parade which featured spectacular costumes, stilt walkers and dancers together with performers on the bridges above the promenade. It was huge fun and Finn loved it, particularly the climax with inflatables and confetti canons. I'm pleased we made it as it's the first one we've seen all week and I think there are three or four of these shows across the fortnight's cruise. I also wanted to catch the infamous Quest game show but it was in Studio B, the ice rink on deck 3 which has probably around 300 seats and was already full to capacity. Oh well, they were filming it so I can always watch it on the TV tomorrow...

 

Finally it was time for bed, we made our way back to the cabin after another lovely day to rest our heads before Cadiz, our final port day of this cruise.

 

 

 

 

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[Nix111]

Thanks for the comments on the tour, I may well consider it

 

 

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[PAFC]

glad you think the behind the scenes tour is worth doing. We signed up for this for our cruise on indy - took a gamble as we don't know anyone whose done it.

 

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coyg!!

[pafc1886]

Hi hebbie67

 

Thanks very much for your post regarding the behind the scenes tour.

Really looking forward to doing it now - especially The Bridge :D

[pafc1886]

Hi PAFC,

 

I see you are on the Indy when we get off on 23rd.

We will have a couple of games under our belt by then :D

Here's to the new season !!

[Nix111]

Live Review - Independence of the Seas, Spanish Med - Day 12, Cadiz

 

Our twelfth day of the cruise marked the last port we'd visit but as we docked beneath the beautiful skyline of Cadiz with its cathedral and imposing medieval walls, I couldn't help think maybe we'd saved the best till last.

 

Cadiz is easily overlooked as a gateway port where many cruisers board coaches and head for Seville, one of Andalucia's most famous and spectacular historic cities. That said, several friends had told us Cadiz was a great destination in itself and when you have a six year old to entertain sometimes the simplest options are the best.

 

The beauty of Cadiz is that it is one of those delightfully easy ports as the ship docks literally a hop, skip and jump from the old walled city. No need for shuttle buses, just a short stroll through the terminal and you're there. Even the HoHo bus has just one route and only 12 stops here. It's a compact city that can easily be covered on foot so following a little breakfast we disembarked, grabbed a free map from the tourist information within the terminal building and set off walking.

 

Andy has a good sense of direction so I happily follow his lead and his plan was to navigate the city walls then head towards the Cathedral. The sun was out as we strolled through beautiful tree lined avenues and squares, shady cobbled streets and well tended parks full of fountains and secluded benches. The locals were fishing from the sea walls and we passed a woman practising her flamenco guitar beneath the trees, it really was idyllic. In yet another serendipitous moment we stumbled across a green oasis called Parque Genoves lined with sculpted trees and topiary, a real highlight of the city that we'd seen on line when doing a little research on Cadiz. At the top of the boulevard which runs through the park we took a seat at a small outdoor cafe and enjoyed a chilled glass of vino tinto. It was incredibly good value at just €2 a glass and such a gorgeous setting. If you want to do the same head right out of the port to the sea walls and follow them round to the left for 10 minutes or so and you'll see the gated entrance to the park with the cafe's umbrellas and tables ahead of you.

 

After our refreshments we continued on through a small kids play park where Finn tested the climbing frame and then just beyond that we stumbled upon a fortress and a beach on a boat filled bay. Every inch of the sand was busy with local families and the occasional cruise passengers enjoying the sun and the sea breeze. There were numerous beachfront cafés and bars but we resisted the temptation, had a quick paddle and felt the sand between our toes before making our way back into the heart of the city.

 

We wandered through a maze of narrow streets keeping an eye out for a toy shop but we only found Imaganarium, a Spanish style early learning centre whose toys are now a little too young for Finn. He still enjoyed entering the chain's trademark child size door but we escaped without spending any money this time and headed deeper into the city and to another square and yet another pavement cafe. Another very reasonable glass of Rioja later, Cadiz was declared one of our favourite ports on this trip and we set off back to the ship.

 

We knew we were heading in the right direction but did have to consult the map a few times until we took a final turn and glimpsed The Indy perfectly framed at the end of the street. We were soon back at the port and after a small queue through security, quickly back on board. We went straight to deck 11 and the Windjammer / Jade for a lunchtime glass of red and a delicious Moroccan lamb curry.

 

Finn was eager to see his friends at kids club so we dropped him off and spent the afternoon on our aft balcony enjoying the sunshine and fabulous panoramic view of the city. At 5pm I collected Finn as our ship set sail out of Cadiz. He had $5 worth of fun in the arcade (surprisingly our first expenditure in there so far) and then we went back to the cabin to change for dinner. It was the final formal night of the cruise's three so suitably suited and booted and all dressed up we made our way to the main dining room. As it was formal night there were a few specials on the menu including surf and turf. I ordered the carpaccio of beef served with a rocket salad and then rack of lamb (actually three lamb chops) which was gorgeous. Andy went for the surf and turf, the steak was good but the lobster seemed undercooked so he avoided it. Our waiter Vicky did notice and offered to replace it for another but instead Andy had his second dessert of the cruise, a strawberry and kiwi pavlova which was divine.

 

It was another PJ Movie night at kids club so we popped back to the room so Finn could get his pyjamas on and dropped him off at Adventure Ocean. We went to a slightly chilly sky bar for a quick drink then to the Alhambra theatre to catch a bit of the show. It was a little musical theatre for us so we escaped to the Pyramid Lounge to watch Undercover, the rock / pop covers band who are excellent and far more our thing. Following the group's set there was a music quiz hosted by Alison the entertainment manager which was fun. Despite being ready for bed we had to stay up as Finn had insisted on attending Late Night Party Zone, the paid for late night kids club session which is charged at $7 an hour and runs between 10pm and 2am. We had one more red before collecting him around midnight and returning to the cabin for some much needed sleep ahead of two final sea days as we make our way back towards the UK.

 

 

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[Glad Trimble]

Really enjoying your review, LOVE that you have a cheeky glass of wine when presented with great opportunities! :D

[Nix111]

Live Review - Independence of the Seas, Spanish Med - Day 13

 

I awoke feeling a little fragile to say the least and as I pulled back the curtains the sky was grey and the sea was noticeably choppier. The ship was noticeably rocking for the first time all holiday, so much so I was feeling a little green. Andy quickly reminded me that it was probably more red wine related rather than anything to do with the sea conditions and I suspect he was right. As a result we had a lazy morning in the cabin with Finn cozied up in the covers watching a film.

 

By lunchtime I was feeling a little more human and we ventured to the Romeo and Juliet dining room for the a la carte lunch. Andy started with a huge chicken and rocket salad from the create your own salad bar followed by a Vietnamese rice and shrimp stir fry. Finn had chicken strips with lots of ketchup and after a burger and fries, a glass of red and lots of water I was finally feeling human and ready to face a day at sea.

 

On top deck, the sun was finally out although it was noticeably chillier than the previous day - we really can't complain as we've enjoyed amazing weather this cruise. These two final sea days are a great opportunity to tick off all the things we haven't yet done so we made our way to the Independence Dunes, a free and family friendly mini golf course on deck 13. I picked up a pencil and scorecard however as Andy rightly pointed out when playing with a six year old it was never going to be a competitive round so we negotiated the nine holes with a loose interpretation of the rules and about a thousand shots between us. Tiger Woods has nothing to fear but thankfully we didn't launch any balls overboard!

 

After golf we watched a bit of boogie boarding on the flow rider where a young boy nearly lost his shorts much to everyone's amusement. We then walked to Johnny Rockets as Finn wanted a milkshake. We timed it perfectly as the music increased in volume and the waiters began their impromptu dancing in the diner. They then made their way outside to perform Staying Alive with Finn, myself and several other customers joining in and having a wonderful time dancing on the deck. A real memorable highlight of the holiday.

 

We had a quick drink in the Sky Bar as the sun had briefly reappeared and then Finn wanted to go to kids club. We returned to our beautifully sheltered aft balcony to enjoy what was probably our last chance to feel the sunshine and read a few more pages of our books. Our final mission of the afternoon was to enjoy one of the cantilevered hot tubs in the adults only solarium section, a gorgeous pool on deck 11 / 12 at the front of the ship. It wasn't as hot as I'd hoped (in fact the kids hot tub was hotter) and was also occupied by a few teenagers so not quite the peaceful experience I was hoping for but an enjoyable way to spend half an hour.

 

There are lots of teenagers and kids on board as is to be expected on a summer holiday cruise and on the whole they're really well behaved and appear to be having an amazing time. They're well catered for with their own spaces so apart from the odd bit of lift riding (which they appear to love) you don't tend to see that much of them. We did spot a table of teens having a sophisticated lunch in the al a carte restaurant which made us smile. I guess we were all young once and as parents we have the joys of a teenager and those potential cruise romances ahead of us.

 

We collected Finn and change ahead of the ice skating show with him wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs ice hockey top we picked up last year on a non cruise trip to the Canadian city. It was a very apt choice and much commented on throughout the day. We'd collected our free tickets for the two different ice shows early in the holiday and tonight's was entitled Freeze Frame, a hugely enjoyable 45 minutes of multiple costume changes and astounding ice dancing to music from the 50s, 60s and 70s. My heart was in my mouth on a few occasions and the troupe are so talented and professional especially performing such stunts on a moving ship.

 

After the show it was straight to dinner. I had pate with duck and a little brioche roll which was wonderful. Andy enjoyed a duck consommé and then we both sampled the prime rib of beef with jacket potato and Yorkshire pudding for our mains which was very tasty. Finn had a delicious pasta off the kids menu and ate the lot. Determined to make pudding as a much needed post cruise diet will be starting on Monday I ordered the Baked Alaska, three flavours of ice cream in meringue, it was a little disappointing if I'm honest so I didn't finish it. The service was once again excellent but our waiters were unnecessarily reminding us to complete the guest survey and clearly chasing tips as the cruise was drawing to a close. We had already opted to pre pay our tips so we could enjoy the my time dining however we always wonder how much of that actually gets through to the staff so do like to give a little bit extra when we've had great service.

 

After dinner we went to the Alhambra Theatre to watch a 7pm performance of a Motown / Soul show by Soul Satisfaction. They were exceptional and had the whole audience up on their feet dancing and clapping along, Finn however wasn't their biggest fan and declared kids club was more fun so I dropped him off and returned to enjoy the rest of the show.

 

From there we did a little duty free shopping to buy gifts for our team back at work and friends who have been cat sitting and then it was time for Undercover in the Pyramid Lounge where we enjoyed another exceptional set that featured a bit of Kings of Leon, Nirvana and The White Stripes. Just before the group took to the stage they delighted a young girl and her family by posing for photos and then performing a request especially for her. Fabulous customer service.

 

Finally it was time for bed with me feeling much less inebriated than the night before thankfully! We battled our way through the crowds on the Royal Promenade who were waiting for the Rock Britannia parade and grabbed a few slices of Sorrentos pizza and a nightcap as it was starting. it looked like amazing fun but probably not with a sleepy six year old so we got to bed ahead of our final day on the cruise.

 

I've loved writing these blogs and I'll write up our final day's instalment when I get home and post it over the weekend as we'll be up early to do the self assist departure at 6.30am prior to a four hour drive back to the Hills above Manchester where we live. I'm also planning to post the whole review in a proper blog with lots of Andy's camera photos as I hope it'll be useful for anyone planning a cruise on the Indy. I'll share a link here if that's acceptable with the group administrators of course. Thanks for all your lovely comments and to everyone who's followed our cruise!

 

 

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[Adayatatime]

I really don't like that last day, it does feel as though everything is ending when you reach the UK clouds! One thing I do remember though - we saw a lovely sunset on the last evening (so tonight for you) and spet a lot of time outside following exit from the bay of biscay (which wasn't choppy for us but I always find there's a strange air about it).

 

We have one of those teens, as a mum I find it really exciting when all the teens make friends and have such a good time. My DD is still I. Touch with everyone she met last year through Facebook.

 

Have a fab last day, really enjoyed reading your updates x

Edited August 8, 2014 by Adayatatime