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sweetcurves

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    REVIEW: Carnival Freedom, October 14, 2012, Western Carribbean

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    We are booked on the Freedom (again) for the Exotic Southern Itinerary next April (2013) and will be flying from Halifax, through YYZ, Our flights are YHZ (Halifax) to YYZ, then YYZ to FLL... for our return we will be doing MIA to YYZ (using Carnival ground transport to MIA) and YYZ to YHZ, all for 1200.00 Canadian total for TWO of us. We will be flying on Air Canada both ways.

     

    There are actually lots of direct flights from YYZ to FLL, but none from YHZ to FLL, so we have to go through (Pearson) YYZ. Also, we decided to come home from MIA, cause the departure taxes from MIA are a LOT cheaper than from FLL, even with the Carnival ground transport, it cheaper to fly from MIA than from FLL.

     

    Our first cruise was on this exact itinerary in Nov 2008, we loved it, and we were hooked. Weve been on two other cruises since, and have another booked for next April...

     

    My father is from Truro, and my Grammie and most Aunts and Uncles still live there or nearby. It will freak me out entirely if you say you're from Truro.

    REVIEW: Carnival Freedom, October 14, 2012, Western Carribbean

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    Great Review......Thanks for the idea of bringing Crystal Light drink packets. My dad is also an nsulin dependent diabetic....he wears a pump so bringing Crystal Light will be perfect fo us :)

     

    It was awesome. I had one of those large clear cooler cups and I filled it with ice, plus maybe a small cup of water, mixed in a Crystal Light and I was good for a few hours. I never felt like I was missing out on drinking...especially when I was drinking the CL Margarita mix. So delicious!

    REVIEW: Carnival Freedom, October 14, 2012, Western Carribbean

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    Aww Hamilton! I went to Mac so I actually kinda miss the hammer lol. Thanks for the hat tip! I know of a Dots in Buffalo and were heading over to shop in a few weeks so i'll see if they are still selling beach hats! Yours looks fabulous!

     

    That was a great deal! We're flying from buffalo too but were flying during the holidays so cost is higher. Looked into southwest but one way was at least $350 -450! We ended up with round trip price of $600. Still way cheaper than flying from yyz.

     

     

    Oh well there ya go! I'm starting the Practical Nursing program at Mo-Mac in January and then will do my BScN at Mac afterwards!

     

    I'm a Southwest whore and am checking constantly for great sales. The week before we left for our cruise, SW had a 40% off all fares sale but it was for very limited dates and was only for two days.

     

    And I hate YYZ with a burning fiery passion. LOL

    REVIEW: Carnival Freedom, October 14, 2012, Western Carribbean

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    DAY 4, Grand Cayman

     

    We were very excited about Grand Cayman and were up at having breakfast by 8 am despite being up fairly late the night before. We ate on Lido and then went down to tender to shore.

     

    Tendering is...not really much fun. The water was pretty choppy that morning and climbing over that little metal ramp was a little daunting, but we survived.

     

    While at breakfast that morning, I had taken a corner to closely and jammed my middle toe on my right foot. I didn't realize how bad it was until I got in the elevator to head down to my cabin and looked down and saw the puddle of blood on the floor of the elevator. So I cleaned it up as best as possible and taped the toe to the one next to it. I am pretty sure I fractured it and I am for sure going to lose my nail. So, this motivated us to find a pharmacy in Georgetown so I could get some tape or some more bandaids as I had only brought 6 or so with me. I tell everyone I'm going through a growth spurt (at 33) because my clumsiness seems to be getting worse.

     

    Anyway, we bypassed the people at the port trying to sell us tours and asked the girl at the information desk about a pharmacy. She gave us directions and I hobbled two blocks away to a strip mall with a Burger King and the pharmacy (basically it's right behind Margaritaville). The pharmacy was closed so we walked back and caught a taxi to the Royal Palms.

     

    The taxi ride was a little scary (crazy driver) but fairly reasonable at $4/pp. We gave the guy $10 US. The whole dollar situation is confusing only in that no one says if the prices are in US dollars or Caymanian dollars. I assumed US and no one said anything.

     

    So we got to Royal Palms in about 15 minutes (so it was like 9:15 or so) and paid our $2 admission. The beach was beautiful but we are pool people so we took the last two lounge chairs by the pool and laid out for a bit. There are only a few lounge chairs (6) but there are sectional chairs with tables under cabanas and some not covered around the pool. The pool is shallow and has a swim up bar on the far side of it (pics ahead). It was perfectly cool and refreshing. There is bathrooms nearby and freshwater showers on the end of the bathroom building. The sun was REALLY intense and we found it a little overwhelming. I did walk down to the beach to feel the water and sand but the tide was strong, the waves pretty intense and once I got in the water, I realized there were lots of rocks and shells being pushed in and our with the waves and my toe was killing me so I got out rather quickly.

     

    Around 11 I couldn't take the heat anymore and went up to the bar to order two virgin strawberry daquiris. I nearly dropped when the bartender quoted $14 US. For VIRGIN daquiris. Needless to say it was the only drink we had there. We looked at the lunch menu but nothing jumped out at us but the prices. I knew GC was expensive but I was taken back by HOW expensive.

     

    So around noon we gave up as we were both SO hot and hungry. We took a taxi back into town (there were a few waiting in the parking lot of the club), and hobbled back over to the pharmacy where I paid $16 US for a bottle of tanning spray and some waterproof bandages. We looked at the Burger King menus but combos were upwards of $9 Caymanian dollars. So we decided to do some quick souvenir shopping and then get back on the ship and eat lunch for free.

     

    We went into a few little knick nacky stores and then found one that had handmade earrings for $1 a pair and some other cute souvenirs (it was just past Margaritaville on a little side street). My sister bought a ton of a earrings and I just got a little hand carved turtle magnet that I found cute.

     

    We then headed back to the pier as we were both so thirsty and hungry. There was a line to get on a tender and the sun was beating down on us. The line moved fast but we were one of the first on the tender and of course it waited until it was full to leave. The seas were choppy and I felt pretty awful (a combo of the sun, an empty tummy, and the bobbing around). We finally got back to the ship around 1-1:15 and grabbed some food and drinks.

     

    We spent the rest of the afternoon on a hammock on Serenity, sipping on Crystal Light, soaking up the gorgeous surroundings. I took a lot of pictures from the ship as the water was just amazing.

     

    We showered and had dinner in the Chic room again. That night I had the caesar salad and my sister had the thai chicken tenders as her starter. Both were very good. She ordered the lasagna for her entree, and I, the burger with swiss and bacon. I didn't try the lasagna but she said the pasta was very thick and heavy. Our server saw she wasn't enjoying it and offered to get her something else. So she ordered two more plates of the chicken tenders. My burger was very good but GIGANTIC and I only ate half of it after only eating half of my salad as well.

     

    For dessert, we both had the WCMC (our first time). She also ordered the diet pumpkin pie and hated it and I had a raspberry chocolate something or other....it was delicious.

     

    The dining room was cold that night (this coming from someone who is almost never cold), so for those of you who are (always cold), bring a sweater.

     

    We were both very tired that night and after dinner ended up falling asleep pretty early as we'd be in Jamaica at 7 am and had a tour book with Phil Lafayette.

    REVIEW: Carnival Freedom, October 14, 2012, Western Carribbean

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    I love love love your beach hat!! What store did you get that from, if you don't mind me asking? As well, I'd like to know your experience flying down to FLL from Ontario I'm assuming. Were flights reasonably priced for you two? What airline did you use and your thoughts about it? We'll also be on the freedom soon but a different itinerary and I was shocked that there were minimal direct flights! Looking forward to the rest of your review! :-)

     

    Hey girl,

     

    My hat is from Dots in Niagara Falls, NY. I have a BIG head and there was an endless search for a floppy sun hat that would fit this massive noggin of mine. My scalp and face burn easily so it was a must that I find an appropriate hat, regardless of cost.

     

    We flew from Buffalo actually, on Southwest. Being that we are in Hamilton, Buffalo airport is just as, if not more convenient than YYZ. Our flight there and home were direct (SW has at least one direct to FLL per day). And we paid $250 each. STEAL.

    REVIEW: Carnival Freedom, October 14, 2012, Western Carribbean

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    You can put in a search for Freedom Reviews. By the way loving your reveiw in two weeks I will be on the Freedom can not wait.....

     

    Thanks! I'm so jealous, you have no idea.

     

    I spent hours last night looking for a cruise we could afford and fit in to my very busy upcoming schedule. I think we are going to try to do a 4 days out of Miami in April. Key West for Kinos and Cozumel for some Mexican flavor!

    What do you do prior to a cruise?

    in Cruise Rituals

    Posted

    I spent about 4 hours last night on Carnival's site and on Expedia trying to figure out how we could do another cruise in the next 16 months as I start a full time program at school in January that runs consecutively with only a few one week breaks. I think we will be able to squeeze in a 4 day to Key West/Cozumel at the end of April. Yay!!!

    What do you do prior to a cruise?

    in Cruise Rituals

    Posted

    I have trouble staying off cruisecritic & tripadvisor planning and over planning :) And just reading about cruising!

     

    This is my everyday life. I live for travel planning. If travel agent wasn't a nearly obsolete career, I'd be doing it.

     

    So now I just do it for me, and brag about all the great deals I find by spending time doing research. It all works out in the end.

    REVIEW: Carnival Freedom, October 14, 2012, Western Carribbean

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    I think the awesome pics on this thread were taken of your sail away from shore.

    http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1722348

     

     

    YUP! What great pics! I can almost pick myself out from deck 10. I was on that side, waving at everyone! (I was a little excited). See how choppy the water was? It got twice as bad as we moved further out to sea. The waves were almost reaching our window on deck 1.

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