Great Times on Indy! ~ A Big Review With Lots of Pics!

[DarthGrady]

excellent job. helping me cope with waiting two more months.

i agree with room type. we love balcony rooms but only if the price is right.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Mario. What a great guy to talk with.

we are currently booked inside promenade deck six.

ready for more of your review.

 

Thanks! I'll be posting up more this evening.

[Ocean Boy]

Thanks for taking the time to post this! We are deciding between an Indy 8-night or Allure 7-night in December. Been on both and have some concerns due to some of the recent reviews about the Indy "vibe". I really do love the Indy itinerary and the extra night is such a bonus:)

 

Even with the "vibe" thing and the shows not being so great Indy was still a great cruise for us and I really like the itinerary. If we don't go back to the southern Caribbean after Allure it will probably be Indy for us again.

[Tkriger]

My one complaint with last week on Indy was the shops...they had almost 0 in the way of souvenirs.

 

I know, not a huge deal, but I've been collecting a ship's magnet from each of cruises we take, and they didn't even have that. I just tried looking on ebay with no luck.

[DarthGrady]

My one complaint with last week on Indy was the shops...they had almost 0 in the way of souvenirs.

 

I know, not a huge deal, but I've been collecting a ship's magnet from each of cruises we take, and they didn't even have that. I just tried looking on ebay with no luck.

 

I thought the exact same thing! There will be a blurb about that later on, but I was very disappointed that they didn't have the usual RCI souvenir stuff. Apparently Indy's shops are run by a different vendor.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[lcgvol]

It doesn't matter where you are on the ship - as long as you're ON the ship! ;)

I have only been on 5 cruises, all in balconies, but will have an interior and a balcony on our March Indy cruise. I can't wait to see what it's like, I may book only interiors from now on for the savings.

For this one, with a price drop(and MIL's senior discount), we were able to move from a 4 person balcony room to an interior and balcony and saved $360!!

[CruizinPMP]

Nice pictures Grady! It sounds like you fit into the gang without any problems. I wished I could have joined you all.

 

I have to agree about the lower level cabins. I hate to say it but I usually spend a little more to get higher so I can go up and down the stairs to get to the pool/sun decks. I have heard about people getting "the look" about it. I like insides though. You sleep and change clothes in it and it allows more money for maybe... bar bill!

 

Looking forward to seeing more pictures and review of the Indy!

[DarthGrady]

Nice pictures Grady! It sounds like you fit into the gang without any problems. I wished I could have joined you all.

 

I have to agree about the lower level cabins. I hate to say it but I usually spend a little more to get higher so I can go up and down the stairs to get to the pool/sun decks. I have heard about people getting "the look" about it. I like insides though. You sleep and change clothes in it and it allows more money for maybe... bar bill!

 

Looking forward to seeing more pictures and review of the Indy!

 

Thanks, and yes, we all had an excellent time!

[wolfcathorse]

love your review and pictures so far! And congrats on your first sailing as D+!!

[DarthGrady]

love your review and pictures so far! And congrats on your first sailing as D+!!

 

Glad you like it, and thanks!

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[dacsmom]

Cannot wait to read the rest of your review. This will be my 2015 cruise.

[DarthGrady]

Day 2, At Sea:

Our first day at sea was a decidedly lazy one. We didn't even wake up in time for breakfast. The first stop was the official Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle. The turnout was one of the best I've ever seen. They gave out lots of little prizes, and even a few nice ones (bottles of wine and champagne). It was another great opportunity to meet the fellow cruisers I'd been chatting with online for so long.

 

The Activities Manager handing out prizes at the Meet and Mingle. I actually liked him better than the CD, but we'll get into that more later.

 

 

We met our friends in the main dining room for lunch. The salad bar was excellent as usual. The place was very busy; it seems that more and more folks are learning the secret of skipping the Windjammer and seeking meals elsewhere.

Our dinner table

[DarthGrady]

More main dining room, the middle floor

 

 

The top floor

 

After lunch we had some cookies and tea at the Promenade Cafe, then did some shopping. Unfortunately Indy's shops are a bit different than on other ships. They have a lot of European merchandise, which is likely due to the ship cruising from England in the summer. They didn't have any of the usual logo merchandise, which was a big let down since I usually buy a shot glass with the name of each new ship I go on. They only had the generic RCI glasses without the ship's name. One of the shop employees explained that Indy’s shops are run by a different company than on the other ships in the fleet.

 

We all managed to drag ourselves up to the gym for our daily workout. The gym on the Freedom Class ships is one of the nicest at sea. They have tons of equipment to use, and big forward facing windows provide great views. I tried to get some time in the sauna, but it was broken.

 

The gym

 

 

 

Indy's shipyard gift is located in the gym. Most ship's have one, I enjoy finding them

 

 

 

Edited January 29, 2014 by DarthGrady

[riclop]

As usual great pictures.

[DarthGrady]

After getting cleaned up we stopped by the Viking Crown Lounge for a few pre-dinner cocktails. We then went to the main dining room for the formal dinner, which was excellent.

After dinner we enjoyed the Connoisseurs Club again before heading to the night club. There was another unofficial Cruise Critic gathering in the night club which extended long into the night. I was a little worse for the wear, having downed several glasses of port throughout the night. At around 2 in the morning we did what any other semi-rational partier would do. We sought late night pizza.

Unfortunately we were denied our greasy prize due to a technicality with the clock. You see Sorrento's pizza closes at 3 am, unlike Carnival who (wisely) keeps their pizza counter open 24/7. Since the clocks rolled forward an hour at 2 am, they were closing as we arrived. Unforgivable!

They almost seemed to delight in telling us that we couldn't have pizza, and that we should head down to Cafe Promenade for some sandwiches. Boo! Cafe Promenade should close at 2 am! Not the pizza! Royal Caribbean could really take a lesson from Carnival on this. Drunken revelers want pizza late at night, not sandwiches! After that disappointment it was time for bed.

 

The Labyrinth dance club

 

Awesome shattered glass staircase

 

 

 

 

[DarthGrady]

More Labyrinth

 

Sorrentos Pizzeria

 

 

 

[sandyk]

Late in the evening we spent some time in the Connoisseurs Club enjoying a few cigars. It's was nice to be back on a ship with a cigar lounge. All of the Radiance and Vision class ships have been stripped of theirs which is a real shame. I also had a nice conversion with "Super Mario", the #1 cruiser in Crown and Anchor. We shot the breeze for awhile about some of the upcoming ships; he's an absolute wealth of knowledge about cruising.

The cigar lounge. Such a nice place to sit and relax with a good cigar and a drink. It's a real shame that RCI feels the need to get rid of them.

 

 

Had a GREAT time in the Connoisseurs lounge with my husband John. Super Mario was a riot and had many interesting evening conversations with him and many others in that lounge. I am sure we crossed paths in there during the week.

Sorry I was unable to make it to the meet and mingle, sounds like it was fun.

[nednrom]

Glad found this review---18 days and counting before we get on the Indy :):)

[nednrom]

D+ members *do* get a BOGO coupon, but last month on the Independence, they had a first night special for all. ($15 instead of $20

 

I wonder if they extend the special to those who have already purchased ahead of time?

[DandDM]

I'm enjoying this review even though I have ten months until my Indy cruise! Look forward to the rest.

[Merion_Mom]

Day 2, At Sea:

 

 

The Activities Manager handing out prizes at the Meet and Mingle. I actually liked him better than the CD, but we'll get into that more later.

 

 

Tim!!!!

 

(me, too. ;))

[Totalelf]

Great review so far! Can't wait to go on her in April!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

[ginger2000]

My one complaint with last week on Indy was the shops...they had almost 0 in the way of souvenirs.

 

I know, not a huge deal, but I've been collecting a ship's magnet from each of cruises we take, and they didn't even have that. I just tried looking on ebay with no luck.

 

 

We too were disappointed in the lack of IOS stuff. We collect shot glasses, coffee mugs and Jason has tee shirts from all the ships we have been on. However we were able to get gigantic erasers in different colours with matching pens and a notebook as big as your thumb!!!!

Great meeting you last week!

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[Ocean Boy]

My one complaint with last week on Indy was the shops...they had almost 0 in the way of souvenirs.

 

I know, not a huge deal, but I've been collecting a ship's magnet from each of cruises we take, and they didn't even have that. I just tried looking on ebay with no luck.

 

I thought the exact same thing! There will be a blurb about that later on, but I was very disappointed that they didn't have the usual RCI souvenir stuff. Apparently Indy's shops are run by a different vendor.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

And as much as it gets talked about RCI doesn't seem to get the message. Indy is in the U.S. 6 months of the year. It should be geared toward Caribbean sailing when it is here.

[racnwdow]

I think it was very appropriate that you have the pictures of the pizza place with no pizza. I noticed that the pizza closed at 2:20 on the last night too.

[DarthGrady]

We too were disappointed in the lack of IOS stuff. We collect shot glasses, coffee mugs and Jason has tee shirts from all the ships we have been on. However we were able to get gigantic erasers in different colours with matching pens and a notebook as big as your thumb!!!!

Great meeting you last week!

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Great meeting you all as well!

 

I think it was very appropriate that you have the pictures of the pizza place with no pizza. I noticed that the pizza closed at 2:20 on the last night too.

 

I know! It really wasn't intentional, maybe that was more a subconscious thing. :D

 

And as much as it gets talked about RCI doesn't seem to get the message. Indy is in the U.S. 6 months of the year. It should be geared toward Caribbean sailing when it is here.

 

I agree, and that also gets back to what racnwdow and I are joking about. You've got to know your audience, apparently the Americans want shot glasses and late-night post-party pizza! :D

Edited January 29, 2014 by DarthGrady