Spring Break on the Independence: Max's Mom's Diary

[English Rose]

Cheryl!!! Of course I remember you! I was just thinking of you the other day and wondering how you were doing. You know....I was hesitant about cruising on the Freedom Class ships, but I really like them. Will not hesitate to book on another one.....especially the Independence! I will be anxious to hear how things are after the dry dock. Let me know!

 

Oh glad you remember me! I'll certainly let you know. Loving your review. Great job Jane!

[Leadfoot56]

Hi Jane, Greetings from Raleigh. Great review. We are doing the same cruise on Independence next spring break. A few more years of school calendar cruises for me. :rolleyes: I have a question about St. Kitts. Are you able to get the day pass to the Marriott in advance or do you wait until you get there to purchase it? If so, what do you do if they are not selling day passes that day?

[maxs mom]

Once back on the ship, we got some ice cream, showered, and made some more pictures before we sailed away.

And here we go.....back to Fort Lauderdale! :(

[Poorplaya]

Really great pictures, I am very happy i struck through to check out this review, with my wife and I sailing this exact cruise next april on the Independence of the Seas and having access to the CL with our room, you've been able to show us what we get to look forward too next year. Thank you so much!!!! can't wait to see the rest!

[maxs mom]

Hi Jane, Greetings from Raleigh. Great review. We are doing the same cruise on Independence next spring break. A few more years of school calendar cruises for me. :rolleyes: I have a question about St. Kitts. Are you able to get the day pass to the Marriott in advance or do you wait until you get there to purchase it? If so, what do you do if they are not selling day passes that day?

 

No.....there is no need to get those day passes in advance. Just go up to the main desk in the lobby and they will do that for you. Having said that.....the beach is public. You don't have to pay to use the beach. The people that were with us did not get a day pass. No one really checks if you have a pass or not. You can certainly go out to the beach and use the beach for free.

Out front they have a big picture of a cruise ship. If the ship is green, then they are accepting cruise ship passengers that day. If it is red, then they are not. We have never been there when they were turning people away and we were there during Thanksgiving and this past Easter week. My plan B was to go to Carambola Beach Club. Never been there but I think that it is OK.

Good luck with the remainder of your teaching career. The way things are going now.....I think I am getting out at the right time!

[maxs mom]

Really great pictures, I am very happy i struck through to check out this review, with my wife and I sailing this exact cruise next april on the Independence of the Seas and having access to the CL with our room, you've been able to show us what we get to look forward too next year. Thank you so much!!!! can't wait to see the rest!

 

Great! You will love the Independence. I hope Raj is the Concierge when you are there. He really has a knack for making everyone feel special.

[Cshgrand]

Loved your last Caribbean review and hanging on for every post here too. We are doing two consecutive cruises out of SJ this winter, first the Jewel then the Adventure so visiting some familiar and some new islands - thanks for all the help with the research as a good beach is all I need!

[maxs mom]

Loved your last Caribbean review and hanging on for every post here too. We are doing two consecutive cruises out of SJ this winter, first the Jewel then the Adventure so visiting some familiar and some new islands - thanks for all the help with the research as a good beach is all I need!

 

Great! Sailing out of San Juan is the best. A good beach is very important to me, too. I enjoy doing that kind of research.

[cruisinfreedom09]

Awesome review!! We are not cruising this year so I loved enjoying your trip! I'm a teacher from NC also....28 years...not sure I'll make it to 40. I'm impressed... that is quite a feat!

[maxs mom]

Awesome review!! We are not cruising this year so I loved enjoying your trip! I'm a teacher from NC also....28 years...not sure I'll make it to 40. I'm impressed... that is quite a feat!

 

LOL!!! Take my advice......get out as soon as you can!!! I had to stay in that long because we moved from one state to another and the retirement systems don't "talk" to each other. I needed to make it 25 years in NC to get full benefits. Since apparently, I might be falling down a lot......I need those benefits! Arm is a little better today, but I can't raise it up very far. I will get it checked out with my doctor tomorrow.

[micmacmissy]

Sorry- posted this in the wrong spot!

 

I was going to say, my dream itinerary would be two or even three days in a row at Labadee! Love it there!

Edited April 14, 2013 by micmacmissy

[bigeck]

Just caught up with your story.

When we were in St Martin and Kakao was quite busy and we walked along a bit and it was empty. We were near the Waikiki water sports and it was great. Even hired a jet ski. (Had to check photo's)

Although we haven't met, I have read your reviews in the past and enjoyed the advice. Glad Indy is getting a good one, as we are booked next year.

[sailorgrammy]

Ahhh Jane, we will be there with you next time.....so looking forward to it! As usual, we are enjoying this cruise vicariously.

[Sinppu]

 

Oh this might be the coolest thing EVER! :cool:

[maxs mom]

Sorry- posted this in the wrong spot!

 

I was going to say, my dream itinerary would be two or even three days in a row at Labadee! Love it there!

 

 

I agree! I would like to stay at least two days!!

[maxs mom]

Ahhh Jane, we will be there with you next time.....so looking forward to it! As usual, we are enjoying this cruise vicariously.

 

Yay, Karen!! Can't wait. Y'all need to come on and do both weeks with us! I am having some empathy with you on the hurt arm thing!!

[maxs mom]

So tonight when we go to the CL.....not many of or usual crowd were there AND they ran out of COLD Amstel Light. Boo! This is a picture of Alonzo, the bar waiter in the CL, bringing John the last cold one that they had.

I finally found the picture of Francesca, the dining room hostess that greeted us every night and remembered our names....who was in charge of seating us, etc. We were back at our regular table with Allan tonight.

Allan is so cute and fast! He definitely works hard and always has a smile on his face. Tonight I had the crab cake appetizer, a WONDERFUL arugula and pear salad with bleu cheese (Excellent). And we both had the chicken cordon bleu per Allen's recommendation. John had this on our last cruise and really enjoyed it, so I thought I would try it this time. It was delicious. I had a new dessert tonight.....I think it was called Jaffe Cake....It was dark chocolate and orange. Oh my.....quite good!

And John is still getting his sugar free chocolate ice cream!!

While we were having coffee, we got a little surprise. Pramod had some time to come over and sit with us for a while. That was so nice of him. He is such a nice guy and told us to be sure and let him know when we would be in the Indy again.

[maxs mom]

After dinner and the nightly bridge shot......

we went to the casino and I had $20 worth of fun there! I actually walked out of there tonight with $47 and John...$107

From there we moseyed on over to Studio B for the Quest. We sat with Ed and Wanda from our CC roll call. It was entertaining tonight but just OK as far as Quests go. Same old questions. We totally enjoy this much more on the smaller ships. But this is always good for a laugh or two.

Another goofy elevator shot and it's time for bed!

[maxs mom]

Saturday ~ April 6th ~ At Sea

Same morning routine today. After breakfast we went to look at pictures and used our picture coupons.

I did some wandering around making pictures of this and that. I got a cup of coffee and hung out on the Promenade for a while. It was lousy weather outside today.

I had to get another wok shot!

This big red dog intrigued me!

This is Guest Services:

The neat revolving door going out to the pool area.

These girls were singing and welcoming folks into the Windjammer.

As I said.....it was lousy weather outside!

[Ocean Boy]

Did it seem crowded inside the ship on the bad weather day?

[maxs mom]

Lunch in the Windjammer was once again very crowded.....Grrrrr! So much bumping around into other people. But the chocolate bread pudding made up for that! Yum!

After lunch it was .....oh no.......time to get the suitcases out!!! Wahhhhhh! Sad times!

We worked on pictures for a little while this afternoon.....organizing them, so there wouldn't be so much of that when we got back home.

The weather improved tremendously in the afternoon and I really enjoyed the balcony for some reading and relaxation. It was just perfect.....great temperature.....no wind.....the crashing of the waves......so relaxing.

[2tall]

I always enjoy your reviews! We have preferred the smaller ships but now you're getting me interested in of the Freedom class ships.

 

I laughed out loud when I saw your picture of Royal Jewelers and read that you like it so much. I LOVE that place and have always gotten great deals there. My cruising friends tend to frequent the larger stores and typically don't even go in there with me (it doesn't exactly look "slick" or fancy like some of the others) but that just leaves more for me. They have recognized us from previous trips and have even remembered that my husband drinks Heineken...helps to get him boozy before I blow up the credit card. :D

[LuckiStac13*Majesty*]

Jane, do you know what size your suitcase is? I'm looking to buy a new one as mine is huge, 36" or s'thing like that. I'm an over-packer. Your suitcase looks perfect!

[maxs mom]

Did it seem crowded inside the ship on the bad weather day?

 

Yes....it did! Actually it seemed crowded on the ship almost all the time! Honestly I don't know how people stand to go out to the pool areas.....so crowded. That's just a place that I do not go....unless it's in the solarium on a Radiance Class ship......to me....that's the best.

Well.....I had some other crowded pool pictures but I can't find them right now. But every time we went to get ice cream.....it was just so darned crowded. It was like that on the Allure, too. (the pool area, I mean) Most other areas on the Allure never seemed crowded.

While I'm on the pool topic. I don't particularly care for the H2O zone pool area. Maybe it's because I don't have kids, but it just seemed to be a little tacky to me. But that's just me.

[maxs mom]

I always enjoy your reviews! We have preferred the smaller ships but now you're getting me interested in of the Freedom class ships.

 

I laughed out loud when I saw your picture of Royal Jewelers and read that you like it so much. I LOVE that place and have always gotten great deals there. My cruising friends tend to frequent the larger stores and typically don't even go in there with me (it doesn't exactly look "slick" or fancy like some of the others) but that just leaves more for me. They have recognized us from previous trips and have even remembered that my husband drinks Heineken...helps to get him boozy before I blow up the credit card. :D

 

Oh that's too funny! Yes....we have been shopping with them for years and years. They bring out the beer and then I leave and John negotiates! They are always happy to se us....ha ha!!

You know.....I think I like the Freedom class ships better than the Voyager class ships. Will not hesitate to book another one!