mattpro

A private session can be arranged by the Suite Lounge concierge.

You will be charged the prevailing rate , plus whatever you tip the concierge.

RCL's trend is to convert Concierge Lounges into Suite Lounges, where access is granted to Grand Suite and above cruisers along with Pinnacles.

The Freedom still has a Concierge Lounge (Diamond +, suite cruisers and Pinnacles have access) until it goes into drydock in early 2020, when that lounge will be converted to a Suite Lounge.

One way to discern if a particular ship has a CL or a SL is to look at the deck plans on the ship/s that you would like to cruise on.

The Freedom still has a Connoisseur Club (cigar bar) that is scheduled to be deleted after their next drydock in 2020.

A relaxed dinner for 2 with appetizers, main course and dessert is approximately 1 1/2 hours.

Longer if Chops is packed.

A lite lunch was not available in 2018 on the Adventure for the months of Feb., Mar & Apr.

Change is always possible.

Original tags can be copied off the web site.

They'll last about seconds when you use them.

Don't worry about luggage tags.

When you get to the port and give your luggage to a ship porter they will put a luggage tag on your bags.

scorpluvsdolphins

You ask what I do and where to go in Aruba.

The ship docks in the capital,Oranjstad, around 8 a.m. and leaves about 10 p.m.

I'll rent a car (they drive on the right side) and head to Baby Beach in the morning to snorkel, then go the gold mines and sometimes even go sperlunking.

On the way back to the ship I'll stop for lunch at Zeerovers, where the fish are so fresh because they are literally being taken off the boats while you are ordering.

Then I'll head up to the California Lighthouse, the Alto Vista church, the "new" Natural Bridge and the Natural Pool.

Sometimes, I'll go triking and/or go 4 wheeling thru the Arikok National Park.

In the afternoon I'll go to Palm Beach, arguably one of the nicest beaches in the Caribbean. There is always a breeze (think tradewinds) so you don't broil on the beach and the water is picture perfect with gentle ripples.

This area is also called the High Rise section, since all the major hotels are located here.

If you're into kite boarding, this is where it got started.

In the late afternoon I'll return to the ship and get changed for dinner ( dressy casual).

My 2 favorite restaurants are

Blossoms - for Chinese/Japanese/hibachi ( in the high rise section , above the Hardrock Café & diagonally across the street from the Hyatt.

Madame Jennette's - for Dutch caribbean cuisine - located in a suburban division between the low rise and high rise areas.

Make reservations for both restaurants because the are highly popular with both locals and tourists.

There is plenty more there to do, but this is what I do now.

Been doing land vacations there since the 90's when the airport was 1/2 the size of your local Sam's Club and you had to pay $20 a head to get off the island.

Aruba - One Happy Island.

P.S. If you're an American who needs prescription medicine you can save a lot of money. For what I'm prescribed for in the States , which costs $746 for a 3 month supply, I buy in Aruba for $50.

Just bring a hand written prescription.

PPS - Use Trip Advisor for a list of things to do & go.

Prefer the southern Caribbean, especially on B2B cruises.

Currently, the Freedom goes there out of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

By doing a B2B it allows you to visit 10 different islands in 2 weeks.

Aruba is my favorite destination.

The Oasis is a ship where the ship is the destination.

The wow factor is there and worth the price whatever you pay.

The casino is the largest of all RCL ships - with 1/2 smoking and 1/2 non-smoking.

You will want to see the Casino Host your first time into the casino.

They will explain how their Casino Royale program works.

If you are a high roller you may get free drinks in the casino and perhaps a specialty dinner.

At the end of the week you will receive a certificate - either for a dollar discount on your next cruise or even a free cruise.

Once a year you will get a promo for a free cruise if you are a Prime player or higher.

When you book a future cruise use the Casino Royale phone # - 1-888-561-2234.

You may even want to call this number before you book your first cruise, especially if you gamble at any land casinos that participate in their MLife (?) program. All casinos have records of their best customers and readily share.

Regardless of how you book - have a nice cruise.

Of course if you want an audience - how about on stage before a show started.

You would have to have help from the Cruise Director - but this is the kind of thing they eat up.

First cruise was in 1976 on the Doric, a Home Line ship, out of the East River in NYC between Xmas and NY's sailing to Nassau . The cost of this 7 day trip was $3,000, which at the time you could buy a new car for the same money.

The size of the ship was about 1/3 the size of the RCL's Empress, with no stabilizers. Which means when you went past Cape Hatteras you were like a cork in a bath tub while someone is roiling the water.

Needless to say I said I would never pay for another cruise.

However, 20 years later NCL offered gamblers free 7 day Caribbean cruises. So, I did quite a few of these but had no idea what they cost.

After I retired in 2011 I was persuaded to go on a cruise again. Did the Oasis in May 2012 and tried the Celebrity in Dec. 2012.

In 2013 I went on the Oasis again and did 3 cruises on the Independence.

Now I was hooked.

On the Indy is where I met Super Mario, though at the time I had no idea who he was. Just another smoker on the pool deck at 7 a.m. and someone to talk to. He had a wealth of info on cruising which he was kind enough to share with me while we're puffing away.

Bottom line - from 2014 thru April 2018 I went on additional 71 cruises for a total of 75 cruises.

From Oct. 2018 thru April 2020 I have another 42 cruises booked - and paid for.

Cruising is addictive !!!

42 dating to 2020

Starbucks coffee is available on the Adventure in front of Sorrento's pizza on the Promenade - deck 5.

Also, there is a Ben and Jerry's there as well.

Smoking is on the port side only outside.

Outside on 4th deck below the life boats. - the pool deck (11) where the ashtrays are and on the open 12th deck where the ashtrays are.

Smoking with a roof over your head is in the casino and the Connosseur Club ( cigar bar on deck 5 forward on the starboard side before entering the lounge.

The Diamond Lounge sits about 40 people inside. The veranda is closed since they put the counter for the rock climbing wall outside after the drydock.

A lot of folks do use the VC after getting their drinks and appetizers inside the lounge.

The Suites Lounge does allow Pinnacles and they have use of the outside veranda where new furniture has been placed including bar stools, a 4 top high table, plus loveseats and chairs.

When you exit immigration there is an independent tour stand on the left side that will take you and your luggage on a 2 1/2-3 hour tour of Condado and Old San Juan that will help you kill some time.

They drop you off in old San Juan for an hour or so to allow you time for lunch and/or sightseeing.

They then take you to the airport and drop you off for your flight.

The cost this past April was $30 a head, just a few dollars more than a taxi ride for a single.

The mini buses hold about 12 to 15 people.

The last remaining cigar bar in the Caribbean is on the Freedom.

That will also be gone when they go into drydock in early 2020.

Unless Captain Busto can talk corporate out of removing it - one in 20 chance in my opinion.

Free cruises (actually complementary) do not receive C&A points. Includes casino , Pinnacle or any other complementary sailings.

However, if you spend any amount of money for an upgrade you will receive C&A points.

This was explained to me over the phone by a C&A rep and a Casino Royale rep.

Good place to look

gotoportcanaveral.com

Saw sports betting in the casino on the Adventure this past April.

You have to lay $135 to win a $100 for the favorite - or - take the dog and lay $125 to win a $100.

Anyone making those bets has to be nuts.

Similarily, if you want to play in a cash game of Texas Hold'em against other passengers the house commission on each pot is 10%.

The rationale for the casino is that they're the only game on the ship , so if you want to bet or play RCL deserves a larger cut.

The Adventure used to have smoking on the starboard side, but after the first retrofit smoking was changed to the port side.

The only smoking on deck 5 is for the crew in the front of the ship, separated by a wall from the helipad.

cw

Thank you for the update.

Freedom drydock

I actually have reservations for FOS from Jan. 19,2020 thru April 2020.

When I booked on board the Jan. 12 -19 dates were in red. The mgr. of Next Cruises told me that generally means there will be a charter cruise.

The FOS drydock will take approximately about a month to complete according to ship's officers.

Timing for drydock in 2020

Since I have cruises booked on the FOS thru April 2020 it should be after that time frame.

Favorite ship - Freedom of the Seas

Reason: As a smoker this is one of the last ships to have a cigar bar until refurb in 2020.

Least favorite - Any ship that does not have a Promenade

Reason: If you want a cup of coffee before 7 a.m. or after 12 midnight you're calling room service.