*LIVE* from Independence of the Seas-30th April 2011

[mcnaughtna]

DAY 1 12:40 - Overcast but 18C

 

Well folks - will try and provide a mini live report for the next 4 days :) if there is any convention I should follow as this is the first one I've done then let me know !

 

Just boarded and our daughters are trying to take it all in - made a bee-line for the cake station in the Windjammer of course. Got their red bands and looking forward to the YEP drill tonight. Desperate for the h2o zone as well :D

 

About to head for AO to sign them up and check it out as this is the 1st cruise we've done with our 6 and 4 YO daughters.

 

Will be doing random Tweets on twitter so follow #Nelsdir for my ramblings. Anything anyone would like me to ask or find out from the crew for their forthcoming cruises I will gladly try and find out.

 

Just been called to Guest Services :o

 

More later :)

[Elizanessie]

Hi Neil

 

Great to hear from you "Live" :D

 

Is the ship sailing full do you know?

 

Are there many children onboard?

 

Heck have you been naughty already and thats why Guest Services are calling you :eek::D

 

Are you planning to try out the Flowrider ?

[mcnaughtna]

OMG - a seperate thread will be started entitled "1st Time UK cruisers on RCCL with children" :P

 

WJ fine - usual fayre of fried chicken, hot dogs etc. For those that eat-and-run.

 

The call from GS was re. luggage. My favourite "utility pen-knife" not welcome aboard so a trip to baggage and quick offload sorted that.

 

Kids headed for h2o until 15:40 when muster drill was sounded. No LJs reqd. for a change.....

 

Unpacked then off to MacBeth for dinner. DW ordered a not-so-nice roast beef and quickly changed to chick same as me. Kids chick-dips fine.

 

"Welcome aboard" in Alhambra good then deposited kids in AO - had a ball.

 

"Ocean-something" parade great to finish off the night. Me and DW managed a few cocktails in the VK in between of course :D

 

Kids sleeping so signing off - day 2 beckons :) along with FloRider with DD :)

[ronpes]

Hi there,

 

My DW and I were booked to do the B2B in IOS with this being the second leg. Sadly we had to cancel but I look forward to hearing how your trip goes.

We havent been on a Freedom class ship for a while so we were looking forward to it. As Liz has already stated, I am curious to know if the ship is full.

 

Regards

Ron.

[mcnaughtna]

Day 2 - weather miserable - wet and windy 44kmh - speed 14kts

 

Cold, blustry but still having fun :)

 

Pools deserated so v. busy in the Promenade and WJ. Didnt win the Bingo but some lucky passenger scooped $1000 :D

 

1st top-tip is get down to Sorrento's at 08:30 sharp for ice show tickets. All gone by 08:55

 

Due in Cobh at 5pm. Kids off to AO shortly so peace for me and DW.

 

Everyone think nice weather thoughts please!

[mcnaughtna]

23:22 Signing off

 

Dinner great - DW enjoyed the Minestrone and the Scallop risotto was excellent also. Both of us took Black Angus Sirloin - nice!

 

Managed to do badly in Casino Royale (as usual :))

 

"Once Upon a Time" production show in theatre great - production and orchestra excellent. Won't post details so as not to spoil the surprise.

 

Sandwiches and cookies from Sorrentos finished off a great night. More tomorrow.....

[mcnaughtna]

Day 3 - 12:00 - berthed in Cobh - raining, windy, cold and still having fun :D

 

Another day at AO for kids. Thankfully they love it as the pools do not look too inviting. Miserable weather. Got off ship for 5 mins to pick up some Irish Tat :)

 

Back on board after 11 mins - now in Dog and Badger enjoying first drink of the day.

 

Formal night so DW will head to stateroom shortly to start getting ready ;) kidding of course.

 

Irish dance show in Alhambra this afternoon so take kids to that.

 

Still having great time with lots to do.....

[mcnaughtna]

Forgot to say I am proudly sporting an RCCL "Bronze medal" for coming 3rd in the Wordsearch Challenge in the Schooner this morning :D

 

Liz - forgot to answer you is the ship full question. Yes - sign at GS saying full complement and no upgrade requests should be made when we boarded on Sat

[Elizanessie]

Sounds like you are all having fun Neil..great to hear that. :D

 

Congrats on your Bronze medal :D

 

Have you decided to book another cruise while onboard ? If so dont forget you can sign up for Crown and Anchor membership while onboard...then if you book another cruise you will get onboard credit for next cruise :D

 

Sorry to hear about miserable weather...hope it improves real quick for you.

[mcnaughtna]

Waiting for Pub Quiz in the Schooner to start at 15:30. Hoping to improve on this mornings bronze medal:)

 

Liz - we will achieve Platinum status after this cruise and have an appt with Ronnie at the loyalty desk for 2pm tomorrow. If anyone sees my thread re. future bookings and TA assignments please let me know your thoughts!

 

Wish us luck for the quiz......

[avenger]

1st top-tip is get down to Sorrento's at 08:30 sharp for ice show tickets. All gone by 08:55

 

Hi. Is that 0830 am or pm. Thanks from Avenger.

[ronpes]

Neil, congrats on the medal and good luck with the quiz. Thanks for the updates.

I hope the weather is as nice with you as it is here.

 

Liz: Excuse me for being behind with the times but I didn’t realize we Brits were now able to get OBC when booking a cruise on a cruise? I tried as recently as Feb this year and was told I could but with only with certain conditions and that was on Equinox. Ie We tried to book the “future cruise” thing which our American friends can do which allowed them to pay a $100 per person deposit against ANY future cruise including those that had still to be determined and this gave them OBC. WE were told we would have to pay $150 per person and had to book a scheduled cruise, hence we declined as the itineraries we wanted (2012) were not out at that time.

 

Neil, let us know how you get on.

Regards

Ron.

[Elizanessie]

Liz: Excuse me for being behind with the times but I didn’t realize we Brits were now able to get OBC when booking a cruise on a cruise? I tried as recently as Feb this year and was told I could but with only with certain conditions and that was on Equinox. Ie We tried to book the “future cruise” thing which our American friends can do which allowed them to pay a $100 per person deposit against ANY future cruise including those that had still to be determined and this gave them OBC. WE were told we would have to pay $150 per person and had to book a scheduled cruise, hence we declined as the itineraries we wanted (2012) were not out at that time.

 

Neil, let us know how you get on.

Regards

Ron.

 

Hi Ron ..what we as UK Cruisers cannot do is make what the US call a Next Cruise Booking (where no actual cruise is selected) but we can book another cruise while on our current cruise and get the Onboard Booking Credit for the new cruise we book. I have done it every time I cruise.

 

From the RCCL UK website -

 

Any guest can take advantage of the Onboard Booking Bonus offer by enrolling in the Crown & Anchor® Society and/or presenting a valid Crown & Anchor Society number to our onboard Loyalty & Cruise Sales staff to place your future cruise reservation. Enrol in the Crown & Anchor Society programme by filling in an electronic form by going to the onboard iCafe, calling your Crown & Anchor Society Loyalty Desk on 0800 493 5010 (UK) or 1800 932 356 (ROI), going to www.RoyalCaribbean.co.uk/CrownandAnchor or picking up a form and dropping it off at the Guest Relations desk or your Loyalty & Cruise Sales consultant on board.

 

The Onboard Booking Bonus benefit is an onboard credit added to your new individual reservations made while sailing on a Royal Caribbean ship and is based on the length of the cruise purchased. You can use it in conjunction with the Crown & Anchor Society Savings Certificates for Gold members and with the Crown & Anchor Society Savings Certificates OR Special Balcony and Suite Stateroom discounts for Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members. This offer cannot be combined with another onboard credit on the same reservation. The Onboard Booking Bonus is in US dollars, with no cash value, non-transferable and will expire if not used by 10:00pm on the last evening of the cruise. Certain restrictions apply. The offer must be submitted with the applicable offer code in the reservation by the Loyalty & Cruise Sales Manager or Associate at time of the booking to be valid. The offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn without notice.