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

[maxs mom]

When we got to the theater, the show had already started and it was standing room only. I finally found a seat and John found a place to lean! The show was fabulous. We had seen them before on the Allure last year and we really enjoyed them.

 

 

 

 

Up next......The Quest! It was a busy night!

[Ocean Boy]

I really like Abbacadabra. We saw them on Adventure I believe. They are scheduled for our upcoming Allure cruise.

[maxs mom]

So the Quest was up next. Joff Eaton, the cruise director, was excellent. He ran the Quest differently from any other Quest we've been to in 29 years. I thought it was very entertaining, but they way he did it......using a lot of video playback.....made it VERY long. He had people doing things that I've never seen before. Very funny. We met up with Franca there and she sat with us.

 

 

There was a big crowd and everyone was having fun:

 

 

The girl in the family that we met at muster was one of the captains of our team. We told her that she needed to do that and she did!!

 

 

Lots of fun......lots of laughs!

 

 

 

 

It was really late when this was over, so we were off to bed after that.

[Borgcruiser]

We went to the Concierge Lounge around 7 and met up with Al and Phyllis for drinks. Bryce' date=' from Scotland also joined us....as he did for most nights. The CL was busy and crowded and this would be the norm for the whole two weeks. We've never quite seen it like this before. But most nights, we eventually got seats, so all was good.

 

 

The Concierge is Raj Bhugwath. We have cruised with Raj several times now and are good buddies! He really takes care of us. It was great seeing him again.....we had a brief hug, but he was so busy.....we didn't have time to visit with him at all tonight. We would have nice visits in the mornings, though, and at other times.

 

This is Raj......a very talented Concierge!!

 

 

Even though things were a little hectic tonight, we still had a good time visiting with friends.

 

We had reservations at Chops tonight with Al and Phyllis where we use our BOGO's already loaded onto our Sea Pass cards. Love this feature. The place was packed. We had a great dinner! I had Chops salad, petit filet, and (surprise, surprise) my all time favorite.......Mud Pie!!!!

 

 

 

 

I was good and did not over eat. We split the pie, by the way!

 

After dinner we visited the casino to make donations, John had no luck at all, but I found a machine I liked and came out just a little ahead.

 

It was a long day, so we went back to the cabin and turned in for the evening.

 

Great photos . It's hard to believe it was only 3 weeks ago

 

Bryce

[CVU]

Thanks again for the review and photos, helps us get into cruise mode........ :D

Will say hello to Raj for you.

 

Was there a D+,P etc. separate dining room for breakfast? I don't remember one in Jan/13 when we were on for B2Bs but we were with family and so wouldn't be using it then.

 

Thanks!

[maxs mom]

Thanks again for the review and photos, helps us get into cruise mode........ :D

Will say hello to Raj for you.

 

Was there a D+,P etc. separate dining room for breakfast? I don't remember one in Jan/13 when we were on for B2Bs but we were with family and so wouldn't be using it then.

 

Thanks!

 

Yes....there was. You go through the MDR to get to it. Just tell the person at the door that that's where you want to go. If there is a long line......just go and quickly tell the guy at the door. They were pretty disorganized there, but it was still nice.

[CVU]

Yes....there was. You go through the MDR to get to it. Just tell the person at the door that that's where you want to go. If there is a long line......just go and quickly tell the guy at the door. They were pretty disorganized there' date=' but it was still nice.[/size']

 

Thanks so much! I bet we totally missed it in Jan. We didn't realize there was one and being busy on the first cruise with our adult kid's 1st Cruise, forgot to ask when they had left. We are used to it being in that side room by the staircase. Now we know for our B2B cruises coming up in 13 days!!!:D

Happy Holidays!

[jo24]

I am absolutely loving your review so far. My mum has sailed on Indy and will be there again in May. Then in November we are doing the TA - my first cruise on Indy - so seeing everything you are putting is getting me really excited, I cannot wait to read the rest!

 

Thanks again :)

[maxs mom]

I am absolutely loving your review so far. My mum has sailed on Indy and will be there again in May. Then in November we are doing the TA - my first cruise on Indy - so seeing everything you are putting is getting me really excited, I cannot wait to read the rest!

 

Thanks again :)

 

Thanks so much. Hang in here with me. It's a long process.

[LABCHICK]

Thanks Jane for your review. We are reliving our 2 weeks thru you. So nice meeting you. Hope to be able to cruise with you again.

[bdcat117]

Loving your review Jane, we'll be on Indy in February! Our first time on this class of ship and very excited!

 

 

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Edited December 22, 2013 by bdcat117

[maxs mom]

Wednesday ~ Dec. 4th ~ Jamaica

 

Coffee in the CL.....Breakfast in the MDR.....sat with Bill and Franca again.

 

We decided to stay on the ship today. It was very hot here. We docked around 8 o'clock and the Allure came in a little later and docked right beside us.

 

Here she comes.

 

 

After breakfast I joined Al and Phyllis in the solarium for some quiet time. There were not many people there at first, but it got busier as the day went on. I started a new book and enjoyed reading all morning.

 

 

 

 

 

Met John at the cabin around 1:00 and we went to the WJ for lunch. I spent some more quiet reading and relaxing time out on our balcony this afternoon I was really into this book and didn't want to put it down.

 

[maxs mom]

Thanks Jane for your review. We are reliving our 2 weeks thru you. So nice meeting you. Hope to be able to cruise with you again.

 

Great to meet you, too Judi! I hope you found your luggage when we were debarking!!

[maxs mom]

Raj invited us to a cocktail reception with the Captain and officers of the ship at 5:15 in Vintages. This is mostly for Suite Guests. I joined Sue and her mom, Helen, there as well as our new Swedish friends, Lars and Eva. We enjoyed chatting with the Captain and other officers. The Captain was very personable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I was leaving this party I ran into the CD, Joff, as he was recording part of his TV Show.

 

[maxs mom]

Here are a couple of pictures of the Allure parked next to us today:

 

 

 

Here are some clings I put on our sliding glass door to make things a little festive!

 

 

The ship had most of its Christmas decorations up. More would come next week. I love the big Christmas tree.

 

 

 

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

We were on the Dec 7 leg of your trip. I was so surprised to see your photo of Nelma. She was the one who brought wine and beer to our table in the MDR each night. We used to live in the Philippines so we especially enjoyed talking with her. She is from Davao in the Southern Philippines, fortunately not an area heavily damaged by the recent typhoon.

 

It was fun to see the picture of Raj also. I don't know how he ever got his work done in the CL. People never let him alone for a minute. He never lost his cool though.

 

I didn't go to the CL at night because I can't drink and didn't want to take a seat from someone who finds the nightly cocktails enjoyable. Hubby went every night though and said it was very crowded. He wouldn't stay very long.

 

We did eat breakfast there every morning. It was nice and quiet there early in the day.

 

We hadn't been on Independence since her maiden US voyage. I thought the ship looked beautiful, well-maintained and immaculate from stem to stern.

Edited December 22, 2013 by Gangway Style

[maxs mom]

We enjoyed the CL before dinner tonight:

 

 

We had reservations at Giovanni's Table tonight. Al and Phyllis went with us. We got lots of appetizers, salads, and pastas family style to start. Then we each had our own entrees. Everything was very good. I had the beef tonight and it was just as good as Chops.

 

 

 

 

I was not impressed with any of the desserts, though. They bring a cart around and you can try all of them. None of them stood out to me.

 

After dinner....Al and Phyllis headed to the casino and we went to the Love and Marriage Show. It was already in progress. Again, Joff put his own spin to this game and it was great. He had four couples and all of the questions were different from the usual. He had everyone in stitches laughing so hard.

 

 

 

After the show......it was time for bed!

[maxs mom]

We were on the Dec 7 leg of your trip. I was so surprised to see your photo of Nelma. She was the one who brought wine and beer to our table in the MDR each night. We used to live in the Philippines so we especially enjoyed talking with her. She is from Davao in the Southern Philippines, fortunately not an area heavily damaged by the recent typhoon.

 

It was fun to see the picture of Raj also. I don't know how he ever got his work done in the CL. People never let him alone for a minute. He never lost his cool though.

 

I didn't go to the CL at night because I can't drink and didn't want to take a seat from someone who finds the nightly cocktails enjoyable. Hubby went every night though and said it was very crowded. He wouldn't stay very long.

 

We did eat breakfast there every morning. It was nice and quiet there early in the day.

 

We hadn't been on Independence since her maiden US voyage. I thought the ship looked beautiful, well-maintained and immaculate from stem to stern.

 

You must have been sitting close to us in the dining room because Nelma was in our section that week. I was also in the CL every morning early. I've never seen so many folks eating breakfast in there before as on that leg.

 

You are right......Raj is very good at his job. Nothing rattles him. He is one talented concierge!

[smeck]

Nice to see another review from one of my favorite reviewers. I noticed you don't Have any future cruises booked better get on the ball!

[CRUISEMAMI]

Jane, I always love your reviews, but I love this one, even better, because I'm one of the stars :) :)

I'll get Bill to read it, but right now he's watching the Patriots win the game :)

Franca

 

 

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[Tobyhilda]

Your photos bring a tear to my eyes,,,however,,,I am loving every minute of them...

 

We have had the pleasure of cruising with Helen and her daughter Sue,in Sept,,,on the Freedom of Seas,,,perhaps, out last cruise,,,forever....Mr Mel is recovering VERY SLOWLY...

 

I PERSONALLY WANT TO WISH ALL MY CRUISING BUDDIES

 

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

Love Tobyhilda and MrMel

[maxs mom]

Nice to see another review from one of my favorite reviewers. I noticed you don't Have any future cruises booked better get on the ball!

 

LOL!! Nice to see you again! No....we have absolutely nothing on our calendar!! Isn't that awful!? Just sent our passports in for renewal, so I imagine we'll wait until we get those back to go anywhere. We are checking for last minute deals and will book something soon, I'm sure. We are also coming up on 125K points on our RC VISA, so we'll get a "free" cruise soon. I'll be getting on that ball.....don't you worry!

[maxs mom]

Jane, I always love your reviews, but I love this one, even better, because I'm one of the stars :) :)

I'll get Bill to read it, but right now he's watching the Patriots win the game :)

Franca

 

 

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Ha Ha Franca!! You are definitely one of the stars!!! So much fun cruising with you guys again!!

[maxs mom]

Your photos bring a tear to my eyes,,,however,,,I am loving every minute of them...

 

We have had the pleasure of cruising with Helen and her daughter Sue,in Sept,,,on the Freedom of Seas,,,perhaps, out last cruise,,,forever....Mr Mel is recovering VERY SLOWLY...

 

I PERSONALLY WANT TO WISH ALL MY CRUISING BUDDIES

 

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

Love Tobyhilda and MrMel

 

Tobyhilda!! So very good to hear from you! So sorry you had to cancel this cruise. I was so looking forward to meeting you. Y'all hang in there. Hopefully Mr. Mel will improve enough so that you can get on a cruise ship again. Think positively. We're all pulling for you.

[Canadian Tyler]

Hi Jane. Glad to see another's review! I've been keeping an eye on the message board in anticipation of it. Brings back great memories of my Indy cruise with my daughter. She loved the light up bridge too :)

Happy holidays!

 

 

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