Wolfhunt

There was a live review from the Nov 12 sailing that had the Compass posted.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2421725&highlight=freedom

You'll have to page through to find the daily Compasses.

Going to be on Freedom for the first time in two weeks. I enjoyed following Robyn's live report and looking forward to this one. Thanks for taking the time to do this, have a great cruise.

Yes, we had an excursion cancelled in St. Maarten as well last week. We were supposed to do an Island tour by boat with several stops arranged by Marriott (it was part of our Marriott Owners Cruise package) through the RCI Shore Excursions. We got a vague explanation about why it was cancelled after being kept waiting at the meeting point at the Attic for almost an hour while they stalled to try to make other arrangements. By the time we were told it was cancelled it was just about too late to get on any other tours. Fortunately our daughter and Son in law were just getting ready to leave on a different tour and we were able to get on that. It was the Maho Beach airport/ snorkel trip. It was fun and well run but we saw more planes than fish.

We never did find out what the real issue was but we suspect that the fact that there were 7 cruise ships in port that day, the St Maarten touring resources were overwhelmed. Imagine at least 20,000 passengers coming in in 1 day, many wanting various excursions.

Wasn't handled well but we did get a credit for the value of the tour we missed.

 

Brian

 

 

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I'm wondering if that is the case for us as well. There are six ships in port that day and we are the fourth to arrive with Harmony arriving first. Going to be crazy that day with that many ships in.

I'm thinking that since we are fourth ship in, our excursion and others got bumped due to too many reservations from the first four ships to arrive. Too bad since we did this excursion, in part, to avoid the crowds (and I always thought the tall ships look fun).

Did something happen in St Maarten? Got an email from RCI that our excursion was cancelled (tall ship experience). Figured it was an isolated thing but when I went to look at excursions it appears that at six or more excursions were cancelled.

Don't know if this is just on our cruise (Dec 10 Freedom) or if it is more widespread.

Bummed about ours, it was the first time we were trying something like this but stuff happens.

I'll agree with what others have said, we did the tour on the Allure and loved it. I'm one of those people that love the behind the scenes stuff and found the tour quite interesting. The Allure was the first non-Disney ship we were on and Disney didn't offer a tour like that at the time. I can upload some pics of our tour when I am on a better wi-fi connection.

Thanks for taking the time to do this, it was fun and informative. Appreciate you posting the menus and compasses, those helped me pass the time for our Dec 10 cruise on the Freedom and plan a few things.

Have one quick question, on some of the compasses I noticed a $3 table game time slot. Do you know if that is all table games? I like to play a little craps but usually have a small bankroll.

 

The one good thing about boarding later is we basically went straight to our cabins - mine is 9342 which is a center hump and the location is perfect

We will be in the stateroom next to you next month, 9340. Is there any noise issues? Our last cruise we ended up with the gym above us, thought they were going to come though the ceiling eveytime they dropped the weights.

 

We are heading to the port by taxi around 9:45AM. We will have a wait at the terminal, but I'm so excited I am totally good with that! It's crazy....this is my 30th Royal Caribbean cruise, and the intense excitement on boarding day just never gets old [emoji4]

I love that embarkation day feeling! Getting to port early, seeing the ship, even unpacking once in the stateroom. The first boat drink (along with the mandatory photo of it posted to social media :p ). It all has such a satisfying and relaxing feeling for us.

I came in for the Freedom report since we will be sailing on her for the first time in a month and found Disney reports - BONUS!

We are also DVC (home resort is also SSR). Have three trips planned next year using our points. A long weekend to Disneyworld in February, a long trip in December covering both Disneyworld and Universal, and a week in May at Disneyland. The May trip will only be our second trip to Disney west. Along with using DVC for the room I turned in a ton of Disney Movie Reward points and we have a private tour of Disney Studios in Burbank.

Now just need to figure out how to squeeze in a cruise some time next year (any cruise line, we are not too picky)

Looking forward to the rest of your report

Looking forward to your review. We are on the same itinerary Dec 10.

 

thewebbys & Wolfhunt,

I believe Nov 12 will be the first 8-night Eastern Caribbean cruise for Freedom out of Fort Lauderdale. So I doubt a Compass exists for this particular cruise. I'll try to remember to scan/post one after we return.

 

Thanks, it would be much appreciated if you get the chance.

For those that will be on the Nov 12 Freedom cruise, can someone post the daily cruise schedules (Compass?) when you get back?

We will be on the same itinerary and ship on Dec 10 and would love to do a little preplanning of some of the ships activities.

Going on the Freedom in December and considering trying a spa service. We have never done any spa services on our cruises.

If we wait until we board to book something, what are the chances of getting a better price then what is listed in the cruise planner? I know on past cruises we always seem to get flyers for the spa or see spa personnel at a table selling treatments. We would probably try for a massage or stone therapy towards the end of the cruise.

Also, are there more treatments available onboard than what are listed in the cruise planner?

Thanks, just rebooked Chefs Table for $68/person. Originally booked at $85.

My credit card has to getting dizzy. I have cancelled/rebooked the beverage package about three or four times times now (had Ultimate then it went on sale then it changed to Deluxe and then the deluxe went on sale twice at deeper discounts). It had dropped a total of over $200 from when I first booked it.

Now the internet package is within our budget (8 day cruise Vroom + stream for $70). Might go ahead and pick that up.

Just received email from RCL- offering 30% off for beverage packages for next 72 hours -do you think it will go lower -or should I grab it

 

 

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We got the same email but when we look in the cruise planner it isn't discounted. I already got the deluxe at the 20% off but if it is 30% I would cancel/rebuy it.

Just off the Conquest this morning. Tried lots of different drinks (thanks Cheers) and these were my favorites:

Daytime - Mocha Chocolate Getaway

Once Alchemy opened - Cucumber Sunrise followed by most anything on their menu. Tried almost everything Alchemy had including several "suprise me" custom drinks at Alchemy. One of those was something I dubbed the Rum Sunset. I asked the Alchemist to start with rum and go from there. It had a nice sunset color and was very tasty.

I love the people at Alchemy. My wife won't book any Carnival ship if it doesn't have Alchemy on it.

I also found Zaya rum at Alchemy (was also available throughout the ship). A 12 year rum, when I asked about it the Alchemist got the bottle then looked at me and made sure I didn't want it mixed. Nope, that rum was very good on it's own and would have been a shame to mix it.

We will be on the Freedom in December and I am starting to look through the excursions on RCI site to see what looks interesting. I found something called Pivate Journeys which RCI makes it sound like custom excursions that they set up for the ports you are at.

Has anyone done anything through these and, if so, what was your experience with them? I would like to get opinions of anyone who has done them before calling for more info.

Been reading this thread because I am debating getting Cheers on our nex cruise. Good arguments on both sides. If Carnival did like RCI did the last time we were on them (not everyone in the cabin had to purchase the plan) it would be a no brainer. I love the freedom to try new drinks. My wife doesn't drink much and would never come close to breaking even.

We both like Alchemy and with drinks there around the $10 mark it makes Cheers more tempting. If Alchemy was open longer (it opened around 5 or 6 pm on are last trip) we could easily justify the price.

I considered taking the amount Cheers would cost and putting it on the room account but at that point I would be thinking about the cost of each drink instead of wanting to try new things.

Decisions, decisions. Since this is only a four day cruise and we are not spending much time off the ship in ports and I have a bunch of overtime coming up I may just do it and enjoy the freedom to try new stuff. Plus my wife might try some new things too.

Glad it worked out good for the OP.

Thanks, we were on the Victory about a year ago but I don't remember what the prices were like. That website helps.

Going to be on Conquest in August and I am trying to get an idea of what I might need for a drink budget. I tried searching but no luck.

Can someone point me to recent bar menus and prices? I know we will frequent Alchemy (loved that place on Victory) and probably the rum bar. Any drink prices would be helpful, including bottled water, shakes, etc.

Thanks

11am is probably the time you'll pass into the waters of Glacier Bay National Park, and 7:30 is when you'll return into whatever waters sit just outside GBNP (not sure if it's technically the Pacific Ocean or some more specific body of water). During your time inside GBNP, the ship will ideally go to two different glaciers, though it could be just one, and the ship will turn one side to face the glaciers for about 30 minutes, then use its thrusters to pirouette to put the other side facing the glaciers for 20-30 minutes.

 

The relatively narrow mouth of the waters entering GBNP do create an ideal place to see whales, so if that's your thing, I'd make sure to attend any of the naturalist's lectures to get specific times from them (they may know certain unique aspects of your particular voyage which may skew the ideal times one way or another), and where they'll be. For whale viewing, you probably want to be on the forward promenade deck (technically deck 8, though accessible from deck 7 and exterior stairs usually) near the bow (for best ability to see both sides). Go early if you can and stake out a good spot, wearing clothes that'll protect you from the guaranteed winds.

Thank you. Pretty sure my camera is going to get a good workout that day.

Going to be on Crown Princess next week and was wondering about the time in Glacier Bay.

We are currently scheduled to be there from 11am -7:30pm. Is that the time to enter, go to the glacier viewing areas, then come back out or just the time to get to and view Glaciers?

Thanks, I figured I would be so ready and excited for this cruise I would hear the Muster Drill announcement but I would not "hear" any details except the time.

Wait......we can't try out the whistles? :)

We are sailing Princess for the first time on Friday. For the muster drill do you need to bring the life jackets with you, are they supplied at the drill location, or do you not need to bring them.

The other lines we sailed on you just show up for the drill and don't bring the life jackets, I thought I heard somewhere that Princess requires you to bring them with you to the drill.

Just wanted to check, if they do require you to bring them I don't want to be the one that doesn't just because I am not used to doing that.

I just read this on the Celebrity page:

"The (immigration) kiosks were not operational. It probably would have saved time. I think there were 11 CBP processing 8000 passengers."

 

There are reports of people getting there at 12pm and not boarding until after 4pm and ships not leaving until 8pm. Looks like it's the first time this season that they had 3 ships in port all boarding at once.

 

You should be fine on the 13th - Crown is the only ship in port.

Ah, I feel sorry for everyone who's schedule has been upended but that does make me feel better for ours.

I have heard that Canada Place can be a mess when multiple ships are in, I looked at the port schedule awhile back and was really glad that we are the only ship in when we embark.