Incredible independence of the seas 4/26/14

thecruisequeen · #1 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2014, 04:59 PM

Another perfect cruise on a Royal Caribbean ship. This one on the Independence of the seas.

This cruise was a Birthday/Diamond Plus/Jovani Couture cruise.

1. Happy 23rd birthday to me....
2. This cruise promoted me to Diamond Plus.
3. Formal wear by my favorite designer...Jovani.

Flew to FFL the day prior on Jetblue. Nice flight no delays.

Stayed at Embassy Suites for the first time and loved it. It was a two room suite with a standing only balcony. The only thing it faced the busy street next time I will ask for the opposite side. Right next door is a shopping plaza with food places, clothing stores and a Publix supermarket which came in very handy as I bought some cruise items there rather then buying them at home and adding to the weight of the luggage. It helped to keep the luggage under the 50 pounds.

Ate dinner at Duffy's

Embassy Suites Happy Hour each night! My Cosmo!!!

The Atrium from floor 10

Oasis is in port today!!

Welcome to Indy!!

My Promenade Cabin

Pool

Pool for the Kiddos

The Extra Band.....(pool band)

Indy's neighbor is Oasis

Lunch time

Oasis leaves first

thecruisequeen · #2 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2014, 05:24 PM

First day at sea....

I gave Captain Henrik the week off....I'm in charge of Indy for the week!

Time for the Salsa dance class

Officers Versus Cruisers Volleyball

Formal Night mostly everyone was dressed nicely. Saw a Pair of shorts and tshirt though in the dining room...

I was happy with the formal pictures the ships photo team took so I bought most of them.

My Waiter Sandip and Asisstant Waiter Inna were the best! There was one evening I wanted to get out of the dining room in 20 minutes. I told Sandip that and he had my Appetizer, dinner and cappuccino in under 20 minutes.

Cabin steward was You(slkfoejaoenfeoijf) something like that all I know is it began with You so I told him day one I will call him You because I will never remember his full name. That was fine with him. He was great!!

Shows were good however two of the shows I already saw on other ships. The Jersey Boys show and headliner Robert Tillman.

Escargot

Cappuccino

Captain Henrik on the Bridge

One of the many wonderful people I met!

This guy was popular many of the women were taking picture with him. He's at the Promenade always dressed in a tux and faceless. they call him the faceless man.

Back in the cabin this cutie was waiting for me!!

thecruisequeen · #3 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2014, 05:38 PM

Time for St. Maarten!!

Two Big Booty girls....Indy and NCL Breakaway!!

This pirate is actually a female crew member

Orient Beach...

My home for the next few hours

A foot massage right in my chair on the beach!

Back on the ship it's lunch time...

That evening is the 70's Disco party...Everyone was singing, dancing, taking pictures and having a blast!!

thecruisequeen · #4 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2014, 06:06 PM

Time for St. Kitts and my Birthday!!

Checking out the daily compass over morning coffee in the promenade...

I'm not a fan of Cruise ship coffee so I bought hazelnut creamers at Publix...it helped the coffee was much better.

Went up to the Windjammer and the Windjammer greeters sang and danced Happy birthday to me!! I quickly joined in and danced with them.

Indy in St. Kitts...

My new BFF!!!

My home in St. Kitts for the next few hours....My friend Luz and Jane and her hubby from the ship showed up and we all had a great beach day...

Another beach foot massage!! why not it's my Birthday! My dancing feet could use a message anyway...

It's a smart casual night however it's my birthday so I'm going Formal! This dress has a corset back and needs to be tied. I can't do it myself so before the trip I was wondering who can I get to tie up the back of my dress. I had met on day two in the promenade Norma who is the Costume Design team on the ship. Had wonderful conversations with her and asked her if she can come to my cabin to tie the back of my dress. She said of course no problem and was at my cabin at 5pm right before dinner.

That evening was the Crown and Anchor event at the solarium for Diamond and above members. Music by The Extra band

Chatting with Captain Henrik

thecruisequeen · #5 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2014, 06:27 PM

Time for San Juan......

Cabin Selfie...

Thank You Norma for helping me with my birthday dress! xoxo

Indy in San Juan

Back on the ship it's the Jersey boys show

Then the lounge for some excellent Rock music by the band....Rock the Boat.

another selfie

After Rock it was time for the nightclub....Fun group of people..alot of laughs!

A selfie with DJ Rob

thecruisequeen · #6 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2014, 06:52 PM

Labadee and Formal night, Pool dance party and Twenty solarium party...

My Home in Labadee for the next few hours

Chillin.....

Wonderful gal from Scotland

Belly dance class poolside...

It's that time of the cruise...judging the Sexiest Man competition!! Where is my Judging chair??

It's a rough job but somebody's got to do it! Winner was 2nd from left

Huge cake in front of Windjammer!!

Formal night

Two on the plate : )

aerospace · #7 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2014, 06:55 PM

Looks like you had a blast

thecruisequeen · #8 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2014, 07:21 PM

Last day of cruise!!

My Waiter Sandip and Assistant Waiter Inna!!

Rock the Boat....the whole band!! These guys are awesome playing Eagles, Beatles, The Who, Zepplin, Rod Stewart etc etc etc

Jane and her hubby.....Awesome couple so happy to have met them!

Dancing Queens

DJ Rob spins good stuff!!

My bartender for the week from Turkey... I left it up to him on what drink to make me. He always made the best drinks!!

Cruise director staff on the left

Morning of debarkation..... : ((((( NO!!!! I don't want to leave!!!!!

Bye Indy!! : ((((( I'll be back!!! : )))))

Allure in port

Had a excursion to Sawgrass mall since I had a later flight. It worked at well. Great mall however two hours was not enough could have spend more time there...

Another awesome cruise!!!

SHOUT OUTS.....

Sandip and Inna - Waiter and assistant waiter

You - Cabin Steward

Rock the Boat band - You guys rock! Awesome! the Best!

DJ Rob - Spinning all my requests!!

Norma - onboard Costume Design team for helping me with my dress

All the dining room waiters for the Happy Birthday song

All the crew for the birthday wishes

Alberto - Bartender in the Diamond Lounge

My Bartender at the nightclub

The wonderful crew of Indy

All the wonderful cruisers I got to meet

B2BK nice to meet you

Mother Nature!! The weather was perfect sunny skies each day...no rain!

Embassy Suites

Jetblue

I had an amazing Birthday week thank you Royal Caribbean, Independence of the Seas and My fellow Crusiers xoxo

Manuel · #9 (**permalink**) May 7th, 2014, 09:22 PM

Great pictures!

I love them all.

They came at the perfect time. I am staying with cousins in Connecticut that are " cruise virgins ".
I am hoping that these pics will convince them to try a cruise.

TM

TimmyK · #10 (**permalink**) May 8th, 2014, 10:37 AM

You always have such a great review. Your reviews are made for people like me. Day by Day account of what goes on plus all the pics help me visualize the wonderful cruise experience. Thanks

thecruisequeen · #11 (**permalink**) May 8th, 2014, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aerospace

Looks like you had a blast

Yes I sure did! And since a Solo has to pay double the price it's only fair that a Solo has double the fun!!

thecruisequeen · #12 (**permalink**) May 8th, 2014, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manuel

Great pictures!

I love them all.

They came at the perfect time. I am staying with cousins in Connecticut that are " cruise virgins ".
I am hoping that these pics will convince them to try a cruise.

TM

TM Your cousins should really give the wonderful world of cruising a try!

thecruisequeen · #13 (**permalink**) May 8th, 2014, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimmyK

You always have such a great review. Your reviews are made for people like me. Day by Day account of what goes on plus all the pics help me visualize the wonderful cruise experience. Thanks

Thank you! I also love reading reviews with pictures. Too bad there are not too many picture reviews here on this site. I do go over to the other cruise site sometimes to read picture reviews.

ship2shore · #14 (**permalink**) May 9th, 2014, 01:44 AM

CQ: The room (and atrium) at Embassy Suites looks EXACTLY like the room we had at Embassy Suites Miami Airport in January on our Epic cruise. But your hotel was in FLL, right?

aerospace · #15 (**permalink**) May 9th, 2014, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecruisequeen

Yes I sure did! And since a Solo has to pay double the price it's only fair that a Solo has double the fun!!

Yep! I always laugh a little inside when someone is like "awe... you came by yourself?"

they just have no idea

TimmyK · #16 (**permalink**) May 9th, 2014, 06:53 AM

Ship2shore, CQ was in FLL. I have stayed in both hotels. The one in FLL has good views and is close to shopping.

thecruisequeen · #17 (**permalink**) May 9th, 2014, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ship2shore

CQ: The room (and atrium) at Embassy Suites looks EXACTLY like the room we had at Embassy Suites Miami Airport in January on our Epic cruise. But your hotel was in FLL, right?

Yes this one was in FLL. I have noticed that some of the chain hotels look exactly alike or similar no matter what city they are in. Never stayed in the MIA Embassy Suites but would in the future.

thecruisequeen · #18 (**permalink**) May 9th, 2014, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aerospace

Yep! I always laugh a little inside when someone is like "awe... you came by yourself?"

they just have no idea

HA! yes when I'm Solo I get that too! Poor CQ all by herself!! Don't feel sorry for me I'm having a blast and perhaps more fun then others that are not Solo!

They should do better on the Solo rates though! Hotels don't charge Solo rates. And I'm thinking my Sea pass Balance I bet was higher then many cruisers that had 2 or more cruisers with them.

thecruisequeen · #19 (**permalink**) May 9th, 2014, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimmyK

Ship2shore, CQ was in FLL. I have stayed in both hotels. The one in FLL has good views and is close to shopping.

And that is one of the things I look for in a Precruise hotel one that is walkable to shopping since I won't rent a car. Walking to the shopping areas around the Embassy suites also felt safe and a good area.

ship2shore · #20 (**permalink**) May 9th, 2014, 11:23 PM

They have a few Embassy Suites in the MIA area. I stayed at the airport location. The others look different, and cost different too.
I chose this one because it had a complimentary open bar for a couple of hours in the evening, and free buffet breakfast in the morning. We DID get stuck in one of the glass elevators at the 10th floor.... but they reset it quickly enough.

Manuel · #21 (**permalink**) May 15th, 2014, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecruisequeen

HA! yes when I'm Solo I get that too! Poor CQ all by herself!! Don't feel sorry for me I'm having a blast and perhaps more fun then others that are not Solo! .

I totally understand what you are saying.

The people who I feel sorry for are those that should travel solo instead of with lousy companions.
We have a friend who is friendly, sweet, generous and fun to be with. Unfortunately she always travels with her husband, who is rude, selfish and a total jerk.

This lady really would enjoy traveling solo. She did a cruise without her husband once and she had a ball.

TM

thecruisequeen · #22 (**permalink**) May 16th, 2014, 10:14 PM

Cruising with Family, Friends or Solo.....It's all Good! Cruises are a ton of fun!!