thriftymoma

Thanks for the information! We are cruising Freedom on June 2nd, and this will be my first time to cruise out of this port. I haven't sailed on Royal Caribbean in 20 years, but I too feel that RC is charging for every little thing possible. I hope the other lines don't follow suit. Our last 3 cruises were on Carnival Valor, Conquest, and Dream and honestly I was impressed. It is more of a party ship, but it didn't bother me. Some believe that Royal Caribbean is better than Carnival, I'm ready to find out.

Thanks OCruisers! Any specific place or snorkel tour in Barbados? Since you've been on 80+ cruises, which cruise line is your favorite, and why? What is your absolute favorite cruise destination?

We're cruising in less than a week on RC Freedom of the Seas. Our port stops are St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Antiqua,St.Lucia, and Barbados. Which is the BEST place to snorkel for plenty of time in the water and to see plenty of fish? I have not reserved anything yet because I can't decide whether to book through the cruise ship or a private business. We are not interested in rum punch or any type of booze cruise. I'm looking at a something on Barbados that goes to Pirates Cove on Carlisle Bay to see ship wrecks and sea turtles. Have any of you done that? Any advice is MUCH appreciated!!!

Yes, she must have misunderstood my question..... I even repeated it which is why I posted here.... Maybe she takes customer service calls from multiple sources and got confused

I have NO idea what that person could possibly have been talking about.

 

Royal Caribbean has never had passenger laundry facilities on board. Irons have always been banned.

Yes, I called RC direct at the number on their website. She even pulled up my reservation.....

Are you sure you called Royal Caribbean?

 

What #?

 

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Thanks so much everybody!!! I am learning this is the better source to find out information!

Yes, I actually called Royal Caribbean direct for a few questions and that was their response.

Wow! Hard to believe customer service would give that response. Noticed OP didn't indicate she called RC - wonder if she called a travel agent's customer service - just a thought.

 

 

Anyway, OP, there are no irons or laundry facilities on any RC ship. Irons and steamers are not allowed. You can send items out to be laundered, dry cleaned or just pressed. Many people also recommend Downy wrinkle release or hanging items in the bathroom.

Is there a self service laundry on Freedom of the Seas? I normally like to do some touch up ironing on cruises, and I haven't sailed with RCI in a long time. I called customer service and they told me that irons were in the cabins...... Isn't that a fire hazard on a ship??? I'm thinking surely she misunderstood the question. Are travel steamers allowed or are irons in all cabins? Thanks in advance for your help!

The type of snorkeling you describe here is exactly what I am looking for! Did you go to Galleon Beach? Was it what you expected? I'm not interested in a booze cruise or a huge crowd; I just want some good quality snorkeling. Would prefer a guide and smaller group. Suggestions for Antigua or surrounding islands much appreciated!

Thanks for your reply, Skylork. I really appreciate your input. I did notice that you were associated with Scooter Snorkeling, as your name is the same as the URL for the company. :) We will be in Antigua on Feb 2, which is a Friday.

 

We are avid snorkelers, do have our own gear. We do like to snorkel on our own, if the snorkeling is good, as there is no time limit and we can dawdle and really look at what is below the surface. But shore side coral is so frequently beaten up by nature, over-loving tourists,or careless ones who pay no attention to what they're standing on or smashing with their fins, that there is frequently not much to see. We do love going out with tour guides, who can first of all take us to out of the way places that are not available to the average beach goer, and are not quite as beaten up as shoreside, or areas frequented by larger species. We also appreciate having things pointed out to us. There's so much there, and it's so easy to miss if you're a novice. We've snorkeled probably 100 times or more, but still don't know what we're seeing in a majority of cases. But the tours designed for tourists are so - touristy. We don't necessarily need the booze, the sightseeing to the places we've been before, lunch or any of the other things that extend the day. All we want is the water, good snorkeling and lots of it.

Your tours look like fun, too. I was tired the other night while on this board, and was unable to find all the info on your site (musta been REALLY tired). This time I was able to find out much more. How many people do you take on your tour? I haven't showed hubby your website yet. There's a good chance that he will be interested.

 

How and when do you decide which beach you start from? Do you find that in the afternoon the water starts getting cloudier from all the people on the beach in the morning?

We've really hijacked this thread. We should prolly start a different one.