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Allure & Indy April 2014
  • Rulocal
Feb – May 2014

Allure & Indy April 2014

A 104-day adventure by Rulocal Read more
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  • Trip start
    February 2, 2014
    RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    Another Countdown

    February 2, 2014 in England ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    Counting down on our next cruise, which is a back to back firstly on the Allure ots around the Caribbean.
    Then we jump on the Independence ots for a transatlantic cruise back to Southampton.
    We will be travelling with friends, Maz & Sue, flying to Ft Lauderdale to pick up the Allure, then after the transatlantic on the Indy we've hired a car for the four of us to drive back to Wigan.
    I find that hiring a car is the cheapest and most convenient way of getting home, especially when the cost is shared between four people.
    Just as a point of interest the last few times I've hired cars for this kind of trip I've found that Alamo Car Hire have been the most reasonable.
    Joining us on the flight out, but not the drive home will be Eva & Jim, lovely couple from Northern Ireland.
    The six of us have cruised together a few times now, and every time we've had a great time, so I'm looking forward to another great trip.    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    A cheap upgrade

    April 9, 2014 in England ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Well this is a first.
    We got an upgrade on the first part of the back to back cruise, from an inside to a balcony, and it only cost £44 each.
    That was definitely an offer I couldn't refuse.
    I'm not normally bothered about balcony cabins but at that price it was a steal.
    Also the first cruise is around the Caribbean so we should get some use out of the balcony.    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    All's well that end's well

    April 10, 2014 in England ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    The other week we saw upgrades to balcony cabins on the Independence ots available for £44 each.
    So we asked Louise, our travel agent to get us the upgrades, which she did.
    After about 2 weeks there was still no confirmation.
    So she got back in touch with Guatemala to find out why.
    They told her that all the balcony upgrades had gone and that they had not confirmed anything with her when she originally contacted them.
    Well, Louise having had problems with them before, had recorded the original phone call where they had confirmed everything.
    So when she told the Guatemala office this, and they apologised, said it was an error on their part and offered is a free upgrade to a large ocean view cabin and $300 obc as compensation.
    OK it's not a balcony, but it's a large cabin in a brilliant position and the $300 makes it $450 obc with the $150 we already had.
    And also it's the transatlantic leg of the trip, so the balcony would not be used that much anyway. We only booked the upgrade because it was cheap.
    The main point of this post is to highlight the incompetence once again of the Guatemala office.
    Anyway as the title says, all's well that ends well.    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    Good flight but, soooo long!

    April 27, 2014 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Well the taxi came on time as usual.
    I can highly recommend Martin and his airport service.
    The airport check in was brill, it took all of 2 minutes to drop our bags and check in.
    The flight to Heathrow was uneventful as was the flight to Miami, the latter being good but long and tiring.
    Sheila and I have agreed that after the cruise next January, we'll probably not be doing anymore long haul flights.
    Anyway we arrive at the wonderful Miami airport, where the lovely immigration officer refuses to accept sheilas disabled card, saying it's not an official US document. I know you knob it's an official UK document.
    Anyway Shelia calms me down and we join the other queue.
    Maz and Sue are already at the front and convinced one of the staff that we were travelling together and she let us join them.
    We were very grateful as Sheila could not have stood for much longer she was knackered. Anyway we get through "homeland security"
    Then we have to queue again for customs where a completely disinterested customs guy takes a Perfunctory glance at our passports and waves us through.
    A completely pointless exercise as we had already had our passports checked properly at immigration.
    I'm certain they don't really want visitors in this bloody country.
    No wonder they are disliked all over the world.
    Anyway got to the hotel with the excellent transfer service, good, quick service.
    The hotel is nice and the room is excellent.
    So it's now 5.30am and I'm on the lobby having a coffee and writing this blog.
    I'm looking forward to watching the Liverpool v Chelsea game which is on the TV at 9.05am local time.
    Just a bit disappointed with the Everton result yesterday, think they've thrown away the 4th place in the league, as I can't see Arsenal slipping up now, as they've just started hitting some good form.
    But hey ho, it's only football, and for once Mr Shankly was wrong it's not more important than life and death, as Hillsborough proved.
    Speak later.    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    It's the little things

    April 29, 2014 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    It's the little things that make it special.
    Such as being a little able to have lunch freshly prepared for you in the concierge lounge, and having the added bonus of free beer or wine.
    This is the kind of thing that is missing from the loyalty program on all the other Royal ships.
    I've said for a while now, that the loyalty program has been slipping, and that by being "loyal to royal " you weren't being made feel special or valued.
    But on here even though the size of the ship makes things a little impersonal, things like this do make you feel valued.
    Anyway, enough of all that...
    This morning we had breakfast in Johnny Rockets which is just one of the many places on board where you can get breakfast.
    Then last night we went to the Aqua Theatre and the show was amazing, with some spectacular high divers and brilliant acrobatics.
    I would definitely recommend it as a not to be missed show.    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    Nassau, Bahamas

    May 1, 2014 on the Bahamas ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    First impression of the ship is WOW!
    It's the most impressive ship I've ever seen, but weather it's too big, which is the usual report you seem to get, remains to be seen.
    Sheila, Sue and I went to see the show last night, which was a full length version of Chicago, which, though not as good as the Broadway versions I've seen, was still a fabulous show, and not just a cut down version which is what I was expecting.
    The theatre, was packed, emptied out quite quickly.
    Before the theatre we had all gone to the Windjammer for a bite to eat.
    The food was good as was the selection.
    The only down side was the size of the place.
    It is smaller than the Windjammer on other ships even though this monster is far bigger than most other ships.
    The big saving grace is that there are far more alternative eateries on here than on other ships.
    The concierge lounge on here is fabulous, with a wonderful view of the Boardwalk, the Aqua Theatre and the sea beyond, definitely a big step up from the pokey hole on the Independence.
    Although the Diamond lounge on the Indy is better than the Diamond lounge on here.
    We're in the Bahamas today but I won't be getting off as I've been a few times before and there's nothing I want to see, so I'll have a good look around the ship.
    I have been considering having a go on the zipwire that they have on board, it looks exciting, but maybe a bit too exciting for me?
    I'll have a think about it and I'll let you know, lol.    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    Phillipsburg, St Maarten

    May 2, 2014 in Sint Maarten ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    We've done a lot of the shows and things on board as we've not seen them before, and we've not been disappointed they've been excellent.
    Last night was no different, Tony Tillman was his name and an excellent showman was he.
    He sang everything from, Rat Pack, through Rock and Roll, Soul, Motown and even Country, although the country was a send up and very funny.
    There was one particular punch line that I found very good.
    He asked all the teenagers in the audience if they knew why he was not singing their kind of music and only singing their parents kind of music.
    Well kids it's because the parents paid for the cruise.
    Maybe not the funniest line ever but it's so true and it was brilliantly delivered.
    Another thing about the shows on here is that they are between an hour to an hour and a half long not the usual 45 minutes as on other ships.
    Changing the subject the one thing that is the same as on other ships is the meeting nice people, there's Carl and Gaynor from Birmingham UK, who have lived all over the USA for the last twenty odd years and still sound like they live in deepest dark Brummie land.
    Then there's five people from North Carolina one of them, Lilyan went to the same university as Maz, so they yatterd on and did their Uni hand signs etc.
    The names of the others are, Marvin Lee, Toni, Brenda, and the last guy has a Swahili name that I can't pronounce, probably not because it's Swahili, but because of his broad Carolina accent lol.
    I'll ask him again today and get him to spell it.
    One thing I do know about him is that he has the catering franchise for the Dallas Cowboys no less!!
    Today we're in St Maarten, but as you may have noticed if you have ever read any of my ramblings before, it's the travelling and meeting people that's more important to me than the actual destination.
    Although I do like St Maarten and will be getting off for a stroll.
    We all also want to go to Maho beach to see the planes land as they come very low right over the beach.
    But we'll do that next week when we're on the Indy as we're back here just before the Atlantic crossing, so today we'll just suss out the transport to the beach.    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    Egbert & Chris

    May 2, 2014 in Sint Maarten ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Well we had a lovely surprise yesterday, when we docked at St Maarten.
    The Serenade of the Seas was next to us and Maz remembered that Egbert and Chris were supposed to be on it for its transatlantic crossing.
    So we decided to ask their security to check if they were on board, the girl was lovely and not only checked they where on board but even phoned their cabin for us.
    As luck would have it they were in.
    So Sue spoke to Chris who said they were just on the way down to the pool, but if we gave them five minutes they would join us.
    It was great to see them as it was almost exactly 12 months since we'd last seen them, which was on the Suez Canal cruise on the Mariner of the Seas.
    We took the water taxi across to the town and had a few beers and a good catch up.
    Egbert filled is in on the details of his appearance on TV on the Antiques Roadshow and how he's now on first name terms with Fiona Bruce, lol.
    It was really great to see them both and there was some sad goodbyes when we went back to the ship.    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    Dexter Diamond Concierge

    May 2, 2014 in Sint Maarten ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    With us doing the back to back on the Independence, we need some transport between ships. Normally the cruise line put on a shuttle bus, so Maz and I asked the Suites Consierge if he could sort something out as the are quite a few of us doing the back to back.
    He gave us some waffle about the company not supplying shuttle busses and that we'd have to find our own way to the other ship.
    So Maz had the idea to go and see Dexter the Diamond Consierge as he'd had dealings with him before.
    What a difference in attitude, he was so helpful and got right on the case, the guy in the concierge lounge only seems interested in suite guests.
    Obviously looking for the big tippers.
    To be honest he's not even walked around the lounge to introduce himself to anyone, which is what a good concierge would do.
    As for Dexter he asked if everything was Ok and chatted with us for a while, as I've said before it's the little things that make it.    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    Comedy Club

    May 4, 2014, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Well we passed 350 cruise points this week and we got our glass block delivered to our cabin along with an invitation to lunch with an officer.
    This is one of the extra little perks you get for passing 350 points, it's nothing special really as you share the table with a lot of other people, but it's nice all the same and the food was good.
    Last night we all went to the comedy club which was brilliant.
    We had two totally different comedians, the first was a young guy called Steven Scott who along with telling jokes did some impressions and impressive microphone sound effects.
    The second guy was Phil Palisoul who was more of an old school, quick fire comedian, he was actually brilliant and had me crying laughing for his whole act.
    It was a great show and well worth seeing.    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    Now that is an upgrade!!

    May 4, 2014, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Sitting in the Concierge lounge and Maz gets talking to this guy called Fred.
    He was asking about cruising he got lots of info off Maz.
    He was so interested he went and brought his wife down to meet us all, and it turns out he'd paid to upgrade to the Royal Suite.
    So Sheila and Sue being the nosy buggers they are asked if we could have a look.
    They said no problem and took us all up to have a look.... Well it's an amazing suite with two bedrooms and two bathrooms one of which is a wet room with a rain shower and a Jacuzzi bath.
    The second bedroom is bigger than our flipping cabin.
    The balcony is massive and has a huge hot tub Jacuzzi.
    I would have said I'd love to book the suite myself sometime, until I found out how much it costs, wait for this and maybe sit down before you read any further, the thing costs $2500 per day EACH!!!!!
    I've told Sheila if we won the lottery we'd still not be booking it, unless maybe if it was the Euro lottery and it was a double roll over.
    Even then I'd want my diamond plus balcony discount lol.
    It is an amazing suite though and Fred and his wife although obviously quite wealthy are very down to earth and extremely nice people.
    As I've already said on the blog this week we've once again met some lovely people.    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    All aboard the Indy

    May 5, 2014 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    The disembarkation from the Allure went without a hitch, except for a little bit of a wait to be escorted off.
    The embarkation on the Indy was flawless and as soon as we were on it felt like coming home.
    We saw so many faces that we knew it was amazing.
    We spent the evening up in the Olive & Twist bar with Maz, Sue, Paul and Lynn then along came Fred & Nigel, which was a big surprise as they had not let on that they were doing the cruise.
    Then Big George joined us for a while as did Holly Doyne, who we also didn't know was on, then Roy & Jill came over it was brilliant and as I said it was like coming home.
    Later on six of us went to Chops Grill for our 2 for 1 meal specials, I had to go in the clothes I'd worn all day, as security had found the iron in my suitcase and it was still down on deck 1, so I decided to leave it there till after the meal, which was good by the way.
    We've booked for next Sunday, also, so that's something to look forward to.
    Tonight in the theatre it's a Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons tribute band.
    So we're going to see that as Sheila loves that stuff.
    I'll let you know tomorrow what it was like.
    Btw Cruise Director Joff Eaton is not on this trip, so no progressive quiz to look forward to which is a shame as Joff's progressive quiz is such a laugh.    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    What time is it!??

    May 6, 2014, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    My watch battery failed yesterday so at the moment I'm having to use the clock on my phone. Which was ok until this morning when I got up at what I thought was 6.30am according to my phone, but I'd forgotten that my phone is still on UK time!
    So I was, in the Diamond lounge at 2.30am having a coffee until I realised the correct time, which was far too early even for me to be up.
    So of I go back to the cabin for at least another couple of hours sleep, lol.
    I'm waiting for the first time in my life for the $10 watch sale on board.
    Anyway before all that happened last night we went to the Headliner show, to see the Unexpected Boys, which are a Frankie Valli & the 4 Seasons tribute act.
    Now I couldn't figure out why they were called the Unexpected Boys.
    That is until the end of their act.
    When having done some brilliant 4 Seasons stuff, they finished their act off with an absolutely wonderful Les Miserables show song, so that really was "Unexpected"    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    Computer repair dept.

    May 6, 2014, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Last November on the reverse transatlantic to this, I met a lovely lass named Annette who was travelling with her partner Gary.
    She had just bought herself an Android tablet computer and she didn't know how to use it or set it up.
    So I duly obliged and set it up for her, then gave her a couple of lessons on how to use it.
    Well last night we're in the bar when she spots me and comes over to say hello, and we get talking about the last trip and me sorting her computer.
    It only turns out she'd had a problem with it, in that she'd somehow managed to change the language on it to Japanese!
    She knew I was going to be on board, so she brought it with her to see if I could sort it. Lol.
    Changing the language was not a problem but every third or fourth reboot it reverted to Japanese, so there's obviously a fault on it, so she's going to get it changed at Jessops where she bought it as it's still less than 12 months old and still under guarantee.    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas

    May 8, 2014 on the U.S. Virgin Islands ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Today in St Thomas the was another alpha alpha call and another passenger was taken to hospital.
    That's the third this trip, I'm just glad they all happened before the transatlantic leg of the cruise, as that would have meant a helicopter transfer to shore.
    That's one of the problems with transatlantic crossings, because of the older age range you get on these trips the percentage of people falling ill is higher than on normal cruises.
    Anyway, Sheila stayed on the ship again today, sunbathing in the solarium.
    While Maz, Sue and I, nipped off the ship to a little cafe called "love & Joy", I know, I know, it sounds more like a sex shop than a cafe, but it does internet for $4 and you can stay on line for as long as you like.    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    San Juan, Puerto Rico

    May 9, 2014 in Puerto Rico ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

    The captain has informed us that we'd be about an hour late getting into San Juan, Puerto Rico, as one of our propellers has developed a fault so we are limping along on 2 out of the three engines.
    He said that the company were flying out someone to repair it.
    Must be a sort of RAC for ships lol.
    We got off in Puerto Rico and went to our little ice-cream parlour for an ice-cream and some free internet.
    Sheila and I found it a couple of years back, and it's brill, the internet is quick and the place is always nice and quiet.
    Everyone else off the ship heads for, Starbucks, Burger King, etc for the internet.
    So those places are packed and the connection is generally maxed out.
    The little ice-cream parlour is perfect and it's only two minutes further on. ( but shush, keep that to ourselves, lol)
    No show in the theatre last night, so nothing to report on the entertainment front.
    After the surprising Crystal Palace vs Liverpool result we are all waiting for tonight's Man City result.
    We'll Maz and I are waiting for it, because to be honest Sheila is feeling ill and a bit suicidal over Liverpool slipping up in the title race.
    But this had definitely been the best run in for years, it's all going right down to the wire.
    If I'm honest Liverpool do deserve to win the title this season, not because of all the sentimentality over Hilsborough, but because of the football they've played all season.
    Although I would normally not want the "red shite" to win the title, this season and because of the anniversary of Hilsborough.
    I wouldn't be too sad if they did. ( there I've said it, but please don't ask me to repeat it. Lol )    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    Sea day

    May 12, 2014, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Nice quiet day at sea, not one medical emergency.
    But the progressive quiz started, so the red mist will fall and the arguments will start over these next few sea days.
    This is Tim's quiz he's the assistant cruise director and he's English so we won't be inundated with US questions, which is usually the case with cruises out of the
    good old US of A.
    We scored 17 out of 24, so not a bad start.
    BTW, we have got the overflow lounge back for the evening drinks, so everyone, including yours truly is very happy.
    There where some rumours before the cruise, that the three drinks per night was going to be tried again, but thankfully that's all they were, rumours.    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    No more Chops Grill!!!

    May 13, 2014, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    The six of us went for our second Chops Grill meal last night and it was a disaster.
    The service was slow as the place was packed with people celebrating Mothers Day in the US, but the main problem was the cold and badly cooked food.
    Sheila ordered the porterhouse steak, well done and when it came out was swimming in blood, and I'm sure I heard it crying in pain!
    Mazens steak was the same, and my mixed grill was awful, also all the sides were cold.
    Paul and Lynn had ordered fries with their steaks, and they arrived at the table five minutes after they'd finished their meals, so none of us were happy bunnies.
    We've all decided that we'll not be dining in any of the speciality restaurants again, as most of the time we've not had good experiences.
    On a lighter note I'm really enjoying my early morning chats in the Diamond lounge we're up to a group size of six or seven, and the conversation is as diverse as ever.
    One guy called Mac, was sitting across the room from us, and he said the conversation sounded interesting and asked if he could join us, we were discussing the merits of black pudding and grits at the time, so you can see what I mean about diverse conversations.    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    Meal with Hotel director

    May 13, 2014, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 40 °C

    We've had an invite to dinner with Bernhardt the hotel director tonight.
    We met him on the Atlantic crossing last November when we had the problems with the diamond trial that almost caused a mutiny.
    A large group of us had him trapped in the consierge lounge complaining profusely about the problems with the trial.
    Give him his due he did relent and gave us back the overflow lounges.
    Anyway he obviously didn't take any offence, because he still invited us to dinner lol    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    Great night.

    May 14, 2014, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 37 °C

    As the title suggests we had a wonderful meal with great food and even better company.
    The hotel director, Bernie, (get me with the Bernie! Lol ) was a great host and he kept the whole evening friendly and relaxed.
    Because sometimes meals with an officer can be a bit strained and stuffy.
    But not with this guy, he has a very British sense of humour, even though he's originally from Austria.
    This definitely helped as most of the table were Brit's, with one American lady and one German guy, who was very nice but didn't speak great English, and was sat next to Sheila, who as you might know doesn't understand foreign accents very well.
    I couldn't help her much as I was chatting to a very attractive young lady called Sarah, and her husband Brian.    Read more

  • RulocalRulocalAllure & Indy April 2014

    Southampton port

    May 16, 2014 in England ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Well we're all safely docked at Southampton.
    The crossing was a good one with near perfect weather conditions.
    In fact some people where using the pools and sunbathing right up until yesterday!!
    The where a couple of altercations in the nightclub during the trip one of which ended up with the guy being put off the ship in the Caribbean.
    We also heard that one girl was threatening to throw herself overboard, so for the last couple of days she had to be placed in an inside cabin with a guard on her door.
    This is the Indy's last season in the UK so after we take her back to the US in November we'll probably not see her in Southampton again, which will be sad as she's a nice ship.
    Once again I've met some lovely and interesting people on the trip, and my email contacts list is as ever expanding.    Read more

    Trip end
    May 16, 2014
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