FOS Apr 8-15 Review

[dchppage]

Hi All,

 

We are just off the Apr. 8th sailing of Freedom. We were a party of 7. 4 Adults (40's) and 3 teenage boys (14, 15 &17). We all had a great time! Just a few points on this particular sailing.

 

I have read on here over and over again about the food in the MDR and Windjammer. Well, our experience with both was FABULOUS! I don't know what people are expecting out of the Windjammer... After all, it's a massive buffet! Everything we had was hot, fresh and pretty good tasting. We were there for most breakfasts and several lunches.

 

We ate in the MDR for breakfast twice (Crab Cake Benedict was AWESOME) and once for lunch. Dinners were absolutely wonderful every night. The ONLY thing I didn't love was on our last night, the tempura Mahi and Shrimp. It was just ok to me, but the kids loved it. The Prime Rib is a must, the Lobster wasn't overcooked and pretty good sized, and the sourdough bread we just couldn't get enough of!

 

The MDR dinners were our kids favorite part of the cruise I think. Our waiter (Joe) and assistant (Artawan) were awesome, and the "drink" guy was always there after night 1 with our cocktails!

 

Cococay was a fun day. We went to Sapphire Beach in St. Thomas and we weren't really impressed with the water. I have heard it isn't clear sometimes and it wasn't. But, the weather was great and we enjoyed the beach. We shopped in the Downtown area, not the Havensight area and it was great. We had lunch at a little place called Bumpas that overlooks the water with a view of the ships while downtown and we all thought it was the best hamburger we've ever had ANYWHERE! And, they made a great Margarita on the rocks!!!

 

For St. Martin, we did a private tour with Bernards and it was everything we hoped for and more! It was a perfect and GREAT day, our favorite by far!!! Our teenage boys were lucky enough to have their photo with a mostly naked model doing pictures on Maho beach the day we were there, and they were very proud boys! (She only had on pasties and a teeny weeny thong)

 

It was extremely windy every day except our last sea day, but we still enjoyed the pool deck. Yes, the chair hogs were out in full force...we "hogged" back one morning, but we were still on our chairs using them loooonnnnngggg before half of the ship was out there using theirs. I don't know what else to do about it, I think we were in and at the Casino before some people even showed up out there...oh well...

 

Feel free to ask any questions...I loved using this sight for all kinds of info, and it was very helpful in planning our cruise. Oh, and our rooms were: Parents: 7546 and 7540 Kids: 7542

 

Bon Voyage!

[kimala]

Thanks for the review. We are going back on the Freedom this October. We've been once before back in ...maybe 2008??? anyways, it was before the dry dock and all the stuff that's been added. We were on the Oasis last year. I agree with you about the food. I am blessed that I am not a picky eater but really even if you are how could you not find SOMETHING to eat even if it's a salad at the salad bar. YUM!!!

 

Thanks again for the review...the only Cure for the after cruise blues is to set your sights on another cruise and start planning. LOL

 

Oh PS, we will be on the 7th floor too. An inside cabin 7317 I think it is. Were you able to watch the parade from there?

[will773]

Glad you enjoyed your trip. I would love to sail on the Freedom some day!

[ridgecrest]

Glad to hear that you had a great time. Did you participate in the Meet and Mingle? If so, how many showed up and what went on. I'm scheduled to be on her August 5. There is no Roll Call for my cruise yet. I hope that we get one started soon. Thanks for the review and good luck with PCD - Post Cruise Depression :)

[cathep]

I enjoyed your review! It looks like your rooms were across from the elevators. Did the noise from the elevators bother you?

[sjb317]

We were on this cruise also and had a great time! I agree with you about the food in the Windjammer, everything we had there was really good. I love Indian food and there were some different stews that were excellent.

 

I have to disagree slightly with you on the food in the MDR, it wasn't bad but just not as good as other cruises. The appetizers were all excellent, especially the seafood salad and the desserts were some of the best ever, we loved the key lime pie on the last night. My favorite entree was the shrimp tempura (goes to show, everyone has different tastes!:D) but the chicken marsala and the pork medallions were disappointing. My husband said the prime rib was pretty good and he did like the lobster.

 

Portofino was a little disappointing also, the food was just ok, not the usual spectacular meal and we hardly saw our waiter. It wasn't a bad experience, just not the what we've come to expect from Portofino.

 

We are tentatively planning another cruise on Freedom in September.

 

Sherri:)

[dchppage]

Hi All,

 

We are just off the Apr. 8th sailing of Freedom. We were a party of 7. 4 Adults (40's) and 3 teenage boys (14, 15 &17). We all had a great time! Just a few points on this particular sailing.

 

I have read on here over and over again about the food in the MDR and Windjammer. Well, our experience with both was FABULOUS! I don't know what people are expecting out of the Windjammer... After all, it's a massive buffet! Everything we had was hot, fresh and pretty good tasting. We were there for most breakfasts and several lunches.

 

We ate in the MDR for breakfast twice (Crab Cake Benedict was AWESOME) and once for lunch. Dinners were absolutely wonderful every night. The ONLY thing I didn't love was on our last night, the tempura Mahi and Shrimp. It was just ok to me, but the kids loved it. The Prime Rib is a must, the Lobster wasn't overcooked and pretty good sized, and the sourdough bread we just couldn't get enough of!

 

The MDR dinners were our kids favorite part of the cruise I think. Our waiter (Joe) and assistant (Artawan) were awesome, and the "drink" guy was always there after night 1 with our cocktails!

 

Cococay was a fun day. We went to Sapphire Beach in St. Thomas and we weren't really impressed with the water. I have heard it isn't clear sometimes and it wasn't. But, the weather was great and we enjoyed the beach. We shopped in the Downtown area, not the Havensight area and it was great. We had lunch at a little place called Bumpas that overlooks the water with a view of the ships while downtown and we all thought it was the best hamburger we've ever had ANYWHERE! And, they made a great Margarita on the rocks!!!

 

For St. Martin, we did a private tour with Bernards and it was everything we hoped for and more! It was a perfect and GREAT day, our favorite by far!!! Our teenage boys were lucky enough to have their photo with a mostly naked model doing pictures on Maho beach the day we were there, and they were very proud boys! (She only had on pasties and a teeny weeny thong)

 

It was extremely windy every day except our last sea day, but we still enjoyed the pool deck. Yes, the chair hogs were out in full force...we "hogged" back one morning, but we were still on our chairs using them loooonnnnngggg before half of the ship was out there using theirs. I don't know what else to do about it, I think we were in and at the Casino before some people even showed up out there...oh well...

 

Feel free to ask any questions...I loved using this sight for all kinds of info, and it was very helpful in planning our cruise. Oh, and our rooms were: Parents: 7546 and 7540 Kids: 7542

 

Bon Voyage!

 

I enjoyed your review! It looks like your rooms were across from the elevators. Did the noise from the elevators bother you?

 

 

We never heard a thing...It was VERY convenient being by the stairs and elevators. We used the stairs more though, seems we were always only going up or down a couple decks. Deck 7 was very convenient!!!

[dchppage]

Glad to hear that you had a great time. Did you participate in the Meet and Mingle? If so, how many showed up and what went on. I'm scheduled to be on her August 5. There is no Roll Call for my cruise yet. I hope that we get one started soon. Thanks for the review and good luck with PCD - Post Cruise Depression :)

 

We didn't participate, so I can't give you any info.

 

My PCD is going okay, I just wish the dang land would stop rocking!!! I hate this part of coming home, I still feel like I'm at sea. I thought our sailing was a little "rocky"...not really rough, just more movement than I thought we would feel. I started to not feel well the last sea day, but took a pill and it was gone.

[ridgecrest]

We didn't participate, so I can't give you any info.

 

My PCD is going okay, I just wish the dang land would stop rocking!!! I hate this part of coming home, I still feel like I'm at sea. I thought our sailing was a little "rocky"...not really rough, just more movement than I thought we would feel. I started to not feel well the last sea day, but took a pill and it was gone.

 

 

My PCD usually revolves around getting up that first day back and having to make up my own bed. Then going into the kitchen and having to make my own breakfast. It then gets worse, I have to go to work - LOL. I love my job but I love cruising even more. As we all know, no worky, no cruisey :)

[Eng23]

Glad to hear that you had a great time. Did you participate in the Meet and Mingle? If so, how many showed up and what went on. I'm scheduled to be on her August 5. There is no Roll Call for my cruise yet. I hope that we get one started soon. Thanks for the review and good luck with PCD - Post Cruise Depression :)

Why don't you go ahead and be the one who starts the roll call?? As I understand it if you are the starter of the roll call then everyone who joins after you has to buy you a drink.....;)