Help with Freedon of the Seas info

[wailea4me]

I have been reading some threads on Cruise Critic and I'm pretty confused. Where can I get specific information on Freedom of the Seas? 1) I've read conflicting things like when we can actually board. RCL says boarding begins at 1:30 pm but some people wrote we can board at 11:30 am (maybe they weren't talking about RCL?)

2) Also, conflicting reports if you can bring bottled water aboard. Some people said put luggage tags on the case and it will be brought aboard. RCL says so water of course.

3) How does tendering work on Grand Cayman? Do you need to pick up a ticket the day before or just show up that morning? We have an early tour booked independently.

4) Conflicting reports of where/when to pick up ice show tickets.

5) Some people said make sure to go to the Services desk and get our Sea Pass punched. What is this for?

6) What is Roll Call and Meet & Mingle?

7) Last, where do I find the Port of Call boards?

Thanks anyone for some guidance.

[DarthGrady]

1) I've read conflicting things like when we can actually board. RCL says boarding begins at 1:30 pm but some people wrote we can board at 11:30 am (maybe they weren't talking about RCL?) We started boarding at around 1130 last week.

2) Also, conflicting reports if you can bring bottled water aboard. Some people said put luggage tags on the case and it will be brought aboard. RCL says so water of course.RCI says no but I saw people carrying water and sodas on, nothing was said to them.

3) How does tendering work on Grand Cayman? Do you need to pick up a ticket the day before or just show up that morning? We have an early tour booked independently. They didn't say anything about needing tickets, we went down there around 11 AM and got right on. In fact they had been making announcements that morning about there being no line, and to come on down to "beat the rush".

4) Conflicting reports of where/when to pick up ice show tickets. They were available on morning of the second day, about 8 AM as I recall.

5) Some people said make sure to go to the Services desk and get our Sea Pass punched. What is this for? Probably so you can hang it from a lanyard.

6) What is Roll Call and Meet & Mingle? RCI puts on a party for Cruise Critic Roll Call Members. Nothing fancy, just a reserved lounge and little gifts.

7) Last, where do I find the Port of Call boards? Click on the drop down list of threads at the bottom right of your screen, scroll down, you should see a list of the Ports of Call boards.

Thanks anyone for some guidance.

[wailea4me]

Thanks so much. Is there any place here that deals with ship specific information so I can just read posts about FOS?

[cb at sea]

All of RCI's info says to board late.....but the ships will allow boarding as soon as all departing passengers are off....generally, that's around 11:30 am. You should get there about then, as boarding day IS day 1 of the cruise you've paid for....you want to get on that ship and start using it!

 

We've never bothered bringing our own drinks...the water on the ship is fine, and we don't drink sodas often enough to worry with.

 

We've never needed a "tender ticket"...but then, we aren't in a huge rush to be first off the ship anyway! Just go and get in line when you're ready!

 

If you need Ice show tickets (sometimes, they do use them, sometimes, they don't) they will announce (and it will be in your Compass) when and where to get them.

 

Never had our seapass "punched"....we don't hang our key around our neck...looks silly!

 

Along with the Port of call boards, get a guidebook on your ports....there's sooooo much info in a guidebook, that you may find you don't even NEED to pay for excursions...many things are easy and cheap to do on your own!

 

Have you used the "search" function for Freedom of the Seas? There are tons of posts that are specific to that ship! Good luck!

[FLACRUISER99]

6) What is Roll Call and Meet & Mingle? RCI puts on a party for Cruise Critic Roll Call Members. Nothing fancy, just a reserved lounge and little gifts.

7) Last, where do I find the Port of Call boards? Click on the drop down list of threads at the bottom right of your screen, scroll down, you should see a list of the Ports of Call boards.

Thanks anyone for some guidance.

6. Click on Meet & Mingle upper right of this screen.

7. Click This http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1203431

[BillOh]

1) I've read conflicting things like when we can actually board. RCL says boarding begins at 1:30 pm but some people wrote we can board at 11:30 am (maybe they weren't talking about RCL?) We started boarding at around 1130 last week.

 

 

 

I will just add to Darth's comment in this one section. Usually, frequently, almost always ;) You can boarding earlier than what RCI will tell you. However, things can change and sometimes board is started later. There is a minimal time that the crew and shore personnel need to turn around the ship from one cruise to the next. If the ship comes in late, or if there are customs issues, things can be delayed. I say, get there early so you can start your vacation as soon as possible, but come prepared for a wait and don't get uptight.

 

In the case of our Freedom cruise, boarding was delayed until noon because they couldn't confirm two passengers had gotten off the ship. Turns out they were part of a group staying off in a B2B cruise, but they hadn't showed up that way on some list. Once that was cleared, boarding started with Platinum and Suite guest first, then us riff-raff ;) about 30 minutes later. I was in the WJ by 12:30 and had a great cruise.

 

As for the water? If you won't be upset if they deny your $6 case of water, try it as far as I know they won't penalize you. Since I frequently fly in the day of the cruise, I don't want to bother with trying to stop and pick something up, I'll buy the water package, its a small part of the total cruise expense.

[max69or96]

I have been reading some threads on Cruise Critic and I'm pretty confused. Where can I get specific information on Freedom of the Seas? 1) I've read conflicting things like when we can actually board. RCL says boarding begins at 1:30 pm but some people wrote we can board at 11:30 am (maybe they weren't talking about RCL?) Boarding time depends on when the ship has been cleared by customs and has been emptied. 1:30 is the worse case scenario. Of all my cruises I have been able to board by noon. WJ does not open for lunch until 11:30am.

2) Also, conflicting reports if you can bring bottled water aboard. Some people said put luggage tags on the case and it will be brought aboard. RCL says so water of course. This topic has been brought up a lot lately. I have heard where one week they allow and the next week they do not. I have also heard where crusiers have put luggage tags on the water and they never receive or bottles are missing. IMO - not worth the hassle.

3) How does tendering work on Grand Cayman? Do you need to pick up a ticket the day before or just show up that morning? We have an early tour booked independently. Typically they allow those w/ excursions purchased thru RCCL off first followed by everyone else. Announcments will be made all morning about where/when to go. No ticket needed.

4) Conflicting reports of where/when to pick up ice show tickets. Your cruise Compass will let you know the night before - typically it is 2nd day of cruise.

5) Some people said make sure to go to the Services desk and get our Sea Pass punched. What is this for? If you wear a lanyard and want to pop a hole in your Sea Pass.

6) What is Roll Call and Meet & Mingle?

7) Last, where do I find the Port of Call boards?

Thanks anyone for some guidance.

[BillOh]

We've never needed a "tender ticket"...but then, we aren't in a huge rush to be first off the ship anyway! Just go and get in line when you're ready!

 

The Tenders in Grand Caymen were fast and I didn't need any ticket there either. I did heard since my cruise if you have an early excursion booked they will give you a ticket for one of the first tenders. When I was on Freedom we were in line for the tender at Labadee and we had an 8:30 waverunner ride, one of the crew escorted us to the front of the line. I think we would have made it anyway, but this way we made it with ease.

[wailea4me]

I appreciate all the good advice. Is there any place on board where we can get deck plans for the ship. I seem to remember once getting a fold-out deck by deck "map" but I don't know if that was RCI or another line.

[malackym]

Just to add my 2 cents:

We were at the pier on Sept 5, 2010 at 10:30 and eating in the WJ at 11:30. When we were leaving, we were walking off the ship at 9:00 and were the last number, 24 to get off. As we were leaving there were people waiting in line to get on the ship. So I guess it comes down to where do you want to wait, in line at the pier or at your hotel or home.

 

As far as deck plans, I just printed them off from the web site www.rccl.com

 

Have a great time!

 

Mark.