B2B on Indy ~ Dec. 1 & 7 ~ My Diary

[Ocean Boy]

I was wondering if you let RCI know what your opinion was of Labadee with one vs. two ships there? I really wish they would re-think that.

[maxs mom]

Thanks so much for your review and pictures! I'm sailing Indy on 2/1, and this is helping me start my trip early. I have 1 question regarding taxis on St Maarten & St Kitts. Are they group taxis where they fill them up based on where you're going? Or are they more like individual taxis where it's just your party? As a solo woman, I'm not very comfortable taking a taxi solo in a foreign country. Thanks!

 

Yes....most of the taxis are as Dave described. In St. Kitts....you might want to ask around for anyone going to the same place you are. Check on your roll call. It's easy to get in with a group.

[maxs mom]

Great review - we will be on Indy in 18 days, first time ever in a Junior Suite. Don't have any excursions planned yet, so your beach reviews gave me some good ideas.

 

We've only been to Labadee once which was last year, and we scored an over the water Cabana. Not sure what do without one this year - might try the zipline and/or coaster. Anyone have suggestions for which of the beaches to go to for most of the day?

 

You will love that JS and will get spoiled in a hurry. They are particularly nice on the Freedom Class ships.

 

If we are on Labadee and can't get connected to Barefoot.....we would go to Nellie's.

[maxs mom]

I was wondering if you let RCI know what your opinion was of Labadee with one vs. two ships there? I really wish they would re-think that.

 

Yes....I did put that on my comment card. But most people don't seem to mind it. I don't get it. Of course that's more revenue for RCI, so I don't see it changing.

[maxs mom]

Nice time in the CL tonight, although extremely crowded. We got seats, though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[maxs mom]

From there, we walked up one flight to Giovanni's Table for dinner. We were seated at our table right away.

 

 

 

 

The food was not as good as it was last week. Most of it tasted like they dumped an entire box of salt into it! I had the same thing as I had the week before and it was not near as good. They forgot to bring some of the appetizers, so they brought them with the entrees. To me....the desserts are not impressive at all. We've eaten at GT's on the Allure and the Grandeur and they were both fabulous. This one was just so-so. IMO. Based on these two particular days. I'm sure they have exceptional nights as well.

 

 

 

[tracyedw]

Thank you both so much for your replies about the taxis, I really appreciate it.

[maxs mom]

This was my dessert:

 

 

 

After dinner we went down to deck 3 so that we could see the Quest. But we ran into the Lifestyle Photographer This guy was our favorite photographer for both weeks. Soooooo.......before we knew it.....we were rolling around on the floor and laughing hysterically! (Maybe we were a little over served.....but who cares!)

 

 

 

 

I love these pictures.....so much more than the fake background pictures. I refuse to have those made (except for the boarding pictures).

[The Big Booper]

 

...>>>SNIP<<<...

 

After dinner we went down to deck 3 so that we could see the Quest. But we ran into the Lifestyle Photographer This guy was our favorite photographer for both weeks. Soooooo.......before we knew it.....we were rolling around on the floor and laughing hysterically! (Maybe we were a little over served.....but who cares!)

 

 

 

 

 

I love these pictures.....so much more than the fake background pictures. I refuse to have those made (except for the boarding pictures).

 

I'm waiting for the explanation of how your group of fun loving seniors were able to get up from the floor with nothing to hold on to.:D:D

[maxs mom]

Next, we went to The Quest. It had already started and there was no chance of getting a seat. So we stood in the back or sat on a stairway. We didn't stay long, but got a few pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

This was my view. This girl rudely stood up in front of everybody. Arrrrgh!

 

 

We went on to bed after this.

[maxs mom]

I'm waiting for the explanation of how your group of fun loving seniors were able to get up from the floor with nothing to hold on to.:D:D

 

LOL!!! Very slowly and carefully!

[maxs mom]

Saturday ~ December 14th ~ At Sea

 

Well.....it's really and truly the last day now! Wah!!

 

I got up early and went down to the Promenade to snap a few pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

[maxs mom]

Down to breakfast early again and beat the crowd. Today was chocolate breakfast day. Many people really like this. I love, love, love me some chocolate......but not for breakfast. Here were the muffins:

 

 

We sat with a very nice couple. See.....they weren't all bad!

 

 

I was very bad today and had French toast:

 

 

Franca and Bill sat nearby:

 

 

We found some time this morning to do some packing! :(

[maxs mom]

We were invited to have lunch in the MDR today with some of the Officers. We ate today with Mac, Igor, and Paul. They were very nice and we had some wonderful conversation with them and our other tablemates.

 

 

We ordered off the regular menu, but we were served special water and wine. I ordered the tutti salad. It was good, but if I do say so myself.....I make a much better salad in the WJ.

 

 

For dessert I had the cherry crepes. They were good:

 

[maxs mom]

After lunch we all gathered in Michael and Andrea's suite for a farewell mimosa party. Can't believe our cruise is over.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 30, 2013 by max'smom

[maxs mom]

So glad that Franca and Bill could join us on this cruise. It's great that they are cruising again! As a matter of fact....they boarded the Liberty today for a New Year's Eve cruise. I'm so jealous!

 

 

 

[maxs mom]

A few parting balcony shots:

 

 

 

 

And of course......

 

[maxs mom]

Got a lot of rest this afternoon and I finished a book I was reading.

 

We all gathered in the CL this evening to say our goodbyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[maxs mom]

Then it was on to our last meal in the dining room. Everything was very good once again and we enjoyed our service in there.

 

 

 

 

I had the seabass and John had the turkey.

 

 

[target-panic]

Great Review!!!

 

Any chance you have the order in which the MDR menus were served on the 8 day?

 

Thanks!

[maxs mom]

For dessert we both had Key Lime Pie.....both regular and sugar free:

 

 

 

Someone was still having fun until the last minute!

 

 

This was our great assistant waiter:

 

 

We made one last bridge picture:

 

[maxs mom]

Great Review!!!

 

Any chance you have the order in which the MDR menus were served on the 8 day?

 

Thanks!

 

Thank you!

 

And I'm sorry......I don't really keep up with that kind of thing. I DO know that the fisherman's platter (lobster) and prime rib were NOT served on the second formal night like it usually is. That is a menu that we like, but it was served the night before, when we went to Giovanni's Table.

[maxs mom]

We got our luggage out in the hallway after that.

 

 

 

We went down to the casino one last time for one final spin or two. John won $40 and I won $93. yay!! We did our spin to wins and won nothing. But overall.....we came out ahead in the casino. That was a good thing!!

 

Off to bed after that!

[maxs mom]

Sunday ~ Dec. 15th ~ Fort Lauderdale

 

We were up around 5:30 this morning and we were already docked. Got some coffee, then got all our stuff together. We had number 4 luggage tags and were to be called off at 7:00. They had the whole breakfast thing set up in the CL, but we didn't eat breakfast on the ship. We were hoping to get off and on the road. We would get breakfast then. It looked like a beautiful day coming up.

 

 

 

We scurried around to get all our stuff together and make it down to the dining room on deck 4 in time to be called off.

 

 

 

We made it down to the dining room and they called our luggage tags at 7:15.....that was pretty good. Grabbing luggage and going through immigration was pretty organized and moved quickly. We had no problems

 

We walked over to the Park N Go van area where we had help with our ton of luggage. We were in our car and on the road by 8:00. Really great and Park N Go sent us off with a cold bottle of water. Next stop....Brunswick, GA for a night on the road before heading for NC the next day.

 

What a wonderful two weeks aboard the Independence of the Seas with super friends.....both old and new. Can't wait to do it again!!

 

As usual....we like to end with a toast to our cruise buddies!! Many of you have become life long friends and are very special to us. So here's to all of you.....and may we meet on another cruise in the near future!!

 

[Ocean Boy]

Thanks. Its been a good two weeks.