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

[maxs mom]

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!

 

I'm not sure of the exact size of those suitcases but they are the Delsey suitcases and that's their medium sized one. I have a larger one, but once you fill it up it weighs too much to fly! I have enjoyed that luggage.

[LuckiStac13*Majesty*]

I'm not sure of the exact size of those suitcases but they are the Delsey suitcases and that's their medium sized one. I have a larger one' date=' but once you fill it up it weighs too much to fly! I have enjoyed that luggage.[/size']

 

Thanks, I'll look at that.

[CRUISEMAMI]

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

 

Us too!!! (Hopefully...) we all can get the best cabana!! Karen and Dan, it would be so cool to see all of you, again!!! Is like a reunion of the 2007 cruise!!

Lets keep those fingers and toes crossed!!! Hehehe

Enjoying this very much, Jane! Thanks for doing it!!!!

Franca

[maxs mom]

Before gong to the CL tonight, we went down to the Loyalty Ambassador's office and picked up a couple of Next Cruise Certficates. From now on we are going to watch the prices and when we see a good price drop on a particular cruise, we'll jump on that last minute and go. We can drive to most ports without too much trouble since I won't be working and have to get back quickly.

We go to the CL at 7 for one last visit with Raj and our CL friends. We had such a nice time and said our good-byes. We always meet the nicest people in the CL.

Ed and Wanda:

Al and Phyllis:

Brian and Al:

John and Karen:

The whole group!

Me with Al and Brian:

Edited April 14, 2013 by max'smom

[maxs mom]

We said a quick good bye to Raj......we'll see him again in December! Yay!

Dinner was at our usual table by the window with Allen. Good food. I had another great salad tonight that had some baked feta cheese in it. We both got the turkey and dressing and it was good.

For dessert tonight I tried the Chocolate Sensation. I believe this is a dessert that they have every night and I heard others say it was good. They were right. Not as good as Mud Pie, but good nonetheless.

Well the chocolate ice cream string was broken tonight. They only had vanilla! Oh well.....it was good while it lasted.

We said our goodbyes to Allen after dinner. Such a great waiter!

And after dinner......of course......one last bridge shot!!

[maxs mom]

We went to the casino next and made our Spin to Win pulls on the slot machine. For the first time ever.....we didn't win a thing! Oh well......how many plastic key chains can you have!?

After that it was back to the cabin and to a sight that you hate to see:

Well.....I guess this is a good sight if you are at the end of the first week of a back to back! I am envious of the folks who are staying on board to do the crossing. There were quite a few of them!

[maxs mom]

Us too!!! (Hopefully...) we all can get the best cabana!! Karen and Dan, it would be so cool to see all of you, again!!! Is like a reunion of the 2007 cruise!!

Lets keep those fingers and toes crossed!!! Hehehe

Enjoying this very much, Jane! Thanks for doing it!!!!

Franca

 

Got all our fingers and toes crossed, Franca! Bill is going to get better and better and you can cruise with us again!!

[CRUISEMAMI]

Got all our fingers and toes crossed' date=' Franca! Bill is going to get better and better and you can cruise with us again!![/size']

 

Jane, can you believe, it will be 4 couples from the BR, cruising again, together???

My friends from California, will cruise the first week, and maybe my TA will join us!!! Can't wait!!!

Thanks for the wonderful review: I just close my eyes, and I'm there with you and John!!!

See you soon...

Franca

How's your arm???

[maxs mom]

Jane, can you believe, it will be 4 couples from the BR, cruising again, together???

My friends from California, will cruise the first week, and maybe my TA will join us!!! Can't wait!!!

Thanks for the wonderful review: I just close my eyes, and I'm there with you and John!!!

See you soon...

Franca

How's your arm???

 

Yes! Isn't that great!?

My arm is slowly improving. I thought it was broken at first, but I think it is just a deep bruise.

I still have a little more to finish up. I'll get to it shortly.

[maxs mom]

Well......let's see if I can wrap this thing up now.

Sunday ~ April 7th ~ Fort Lauderdale

Had a wake up call at 5:30 this morning. When we woke up we were already in port. There's the Allure:

We went to breakfast in the MDR at around 6:30 and it wasn't too crowded. The wait staff said they weren't too eager to do the crossing.....too many sea days......lots of work for them. As we were getting off today we noticed a long line of new crew members getting on.

While eating breakfast we saw the first of the walk offs leaving the ship.

We finished packing up after breakfast and noticed all the Harley's were off loading right below us.

We said good-bye to our wonderful cabin and went to wait for our departure in the Pyramid Lounge on Deck 5. We waited there for about 30 minutes before they called our luggage tags.

The lines to get off at this time were LONG! We haven't had lines like this in quite a while. They went on forever! One good thing, though.....as soon as we walked into the luggage area, both of our suitcases were sitting right there. We almost tripped over them. We didn't even have to look for them. The line to get to the customs agents snaked around all over the place.

We grabbed a cab and headed over to the Embassy Suites. We didn't get a flight home until Monday. It was much cheaper. We checked our luggage at the ES and hung out in the lobby using their wifi until our room was ready. It didn't take too long. We spent the afternoon reading and relaxing.

Our flight home was very early on Monday morning so we were able to get home in time to pick up our doggie girl, Holly. She was happy to see us!

So ends another fabulous cruise. What a fun week.....or rather...eight days... we had!..I kinda liked having that extra day in there. As always, we came away from the cruise with new friends and hopefully we will keep in touch with many of them. And hopefully we will cruise with many of them again.

I now have a respect for the Freedom Class ships and will definitely look for future cruises on them. Can't wait to get back on the Independence in December. We will be doing the December 1st and 7th sailings with dear friends that we met.......where else.....on a Royal Caribbean cruise!

So here's a toast to all our cruise buddies.....past and present.....and also to our Cruise Critic family. I really do feel like we are a family! And until we cruise again.....Salud!!!!

It's been a long week-end with this computer in my lap and a crippling injury to boot!! I know there are some odd pictures of this and that that I missed, so I'll check back in tomorrow and post a few of those. Thank you all for reading and hanging in there with me this week-end!

[The Big Booper]

Here I am, almost at the end of tax season, and two of my favorite trip reporters are posting.

 

Guess I'll read the 2 threads after the 15th.

 

I did skim the pics, terrific shot of the guy on the zip line. Of course for every good one of that high speed adventure there are a few.......not so good ones, especially considering that they are far away and moving real fast.

 

Now, back to extensions and a few stragglers.

Edited April 15, 2013 by The Big Booper

[LA Law]

Yay Jane! Fabulous review!! Living vicariously till the 'Versary Cruise'. I hope all is okay with your arm. Two of you with arm injuries now... Oy! Feel better...

[cjdixon4]

I haven't sailed the Independence yet, but your fabulous review has peaked my interest in this ship. Thanks for the great photos also!

[Canadian Tyler]

Hi Jane, we emailed about a month ago. Just wanted to post to thank you for another great review, brought back great memories of my Independence cruise with my daughter (especially her love of the colourful light-up bridge and the big red dog.)

 

Another diary coming in December I hope?

[PattyG12]

Love this Review!!! December can't come quickly enough!!

[Debitoo]

Thanks for your wonderful report! I'll be sailing her next February and am very excited!

[maxs mom]

Here I am, almost at the end of tax season, and two of my favorite trip reporters are posting.

 

Guess I'll read the 2 threads after the 15th.

 

I did skim the pics, terrific shot of the guy on the zip line. Of course for every good one of that high speed adventure there are a few.......not so good ones, especially considering that they are far away and moving real fast.

 

Now, back to extensions and a few stragglers.

 

Hey Dave! Happy Tax Day! I know you'll be glad to have some down time soon. Thanks for stopping by!

[maxs mom]

I haven't sailed the Independence yet, but your fabulous review has peaked my interest in this ship. Thanks for the great photos also!

 

This was my first Freedom Class experience and I liked it! By all means.....give it a try.

[maxs mom]

Hi Jane, we emailed about a month ago. Just wanted to post to thank you for another great review, brought back great memories of my Independence cruise with my daughter (especially her love of the colourful light-up bridge and the big red dog.)

 

Another diary coming in December I hope?

 

Hey Tyler! Glad you found the review. I hope there will be more cruises before December. Whenever there's a cruise.....there's a review! Glad to hear from you.

[maxs mom]

Love this Review!!! December can't come quickly enough!!

 

Thanks Patty! Looking forward to meeting you and having a great cruise in December!

[maxs mom]

Thanks for your wonderful report! I'll be sailing her next February and am very excited!

 

I would think February would be a great time to cruise. Looking forward to trying that myself!

[cruisegirl1]

I enjoyed your review. Thanks for taking the time to put it together.

M

[Rogueperson]

Those are some awesome pictures. I'm living vicariously through them right now. What kind of camera do you have, those pictures were very well taken and came out great.

 

I will continue to look at these pictures until we meet in December.

Edited April 16, 2013 by Rogueperson
spelling

[maxs mom]

Hi Guys!

Just back with a few more odds and ends of pictures.

Update on my arm.....it's much better. Still hurts, though. Actually my whole body feels like I have been run over by a truck! It could have been much worse, so I am glad it is getting better.

This is the Independence as we drove up in the parking lot.

This is the chapel:

The Sports Deck:

[maxs mom]

Those are some awesome pictures. I'm living vicariously through them right now. What kind of camera do you have, those pictures were very well taken and came out great.

 

I will continue to look at these pictures until we meet in December.

 

Hey!

Most of the pictures were taken with a Nikon D-60. They don't make them any more. It's an SLR and rarely makes a bad picture! The bad pictures were made with my point and shoot Nikon. It gave me nothing but trouble on this trip, so it is being retired.

See you in December!!