"LIVE" from Freedom of the Seas / Nov 4, 2012

[Radio]

Hello everyone. . . Cruise day is approaching quickly. . .We sail tomorrow ! The forecast for today is sunny with warm temps at 80F. It looks like we may have another beautiful day.

 

The local papers and news have all discussed the big news about Shuttle Atlantis moving to the Kennedy Space Center yesterday. It has really been a tremendous undertaking to get Atlantis moved. It is only about 10 miles from the Vehicle assembly Building to the Visitors Center, but to get her just 10 miles there was a lot of preparation. Over 120 light poles were removed. . .23 Traffic signals, and 56 traffic signs were removed. She is currently now in the new Shuttle attraction (under construction), but she had to be placed before the building can be completed. The New facility will open to the public next summer.

 

 

I will be heading over to KSC today, and hope to get a glimpse of her while I am there. I will be checking out of my hotel today, and moving over to Cocoa Beach. I also am planning to watch the Sail away this afternoon over in Port Canaveral.

 

 

 

Here are a few pics from the big move yesterday. . .All images are courtesy of Florida Today, and NASA.

 

 

Thanks for tuning in. . . More pics later.

 

 

 

Radio

 

 

 

 

 

Space Shuttle Atlantis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Shuttle sits atop the 76 wheel transport vehicle as she begins her 9.8

mile ride to the Visitors Center Complex

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Atlantis will end her almost 30 year career as she settles in to retirement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Atlantis approaches the Kennedy Space Center slowly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the route from the VAB to the Visitor Complex

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is how the Shuttle exhibit building will look when finished next summer

 

 

 

 

 

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[Buffett fan]

Morning Radio! Having a cup of coffee with you this morning :). The pictures of Atlantis are amazing - hope you enjoy your day exploring and that the anticipation for sail day is building. We'll be following along!

 

Thanks for all you do,

Ginger

[Just The 3 Of Us]

Good morning, Radio.... Amazing pictures of the space shuttle. Never considered taking a train before - but seeing and reading about your experience sure makes me want to.... Certainly looks better than flying, for sure!!!

 

;)

Barb

[weary traveler]

Hey Mark... I recently stayed at the Hampton in Titusville and enjoyed it immensely.. very reasonable.

Have a great pre-cruise day today.. gonna be a beauty down here...if i'm not mistaken you'll see the Carnival Dream and the Disney Fantasy sailing this evening.

looking forward to your pics over at Cocoa Beach today

 

have a great one

 

your ole pal

[PudgiPoo]

What great timing. I get to cruise with Trainman, then Radio, and then I get to go myself. Nice!

[AF-1]

Hello Radio. I just joined this thread. I hope you have a wonderful cruise. I will follow your post as long as my Internet keeps up. I am on business trip in Africa, where the Internet comes and goes. I guess it's like the Internet onboard, you have some days with fast speeds and some are slow. Anyway. Great job.

[Mama24]

Following along with you, Radio. Looking forward to it since this is the itinerary for our Freedom cruise next April. Bon voyage!

[ebk2795]

Radio,

Those pictures of the Space Shuttle Atlantis were awesome! Thanks for sharing!

Eileen

[BugsyCruiser]

Great photos of Atlantis!! Thank you so much Radio! :)

[The Bubster]

Great pics Mark! Thanks for sharing!

[beej]

Loving our first day in Florida. My DH saw Titusville and said rock shrimp grilled at Dixie Crossroads is the way to go for dinner if you have the time. He thinks they are heaven on earth. Not being a seafood lover, what do I know

[NorbertsNiece]

Hi... taking my seat for the ride.... loving it so far and excited about the next week :) Have a fab time!

[K1200S]

Loving our first day in Florida. My DH saw Titusville and said rock shrimp grilled at Dixie Crossroads is the way to go for dinner if you have the time. He thinks they are heaven on earth. Not being a seafood lover, what do I know

I will second Dixie Crossroads and the rock shrimp as a great dinner choice.

[goouchjac]

:)Our last two cruises were on the Freedom,,she is a great ship and we love the crew (well most of them)..There is one waiter in particular that we really do like, his name is Eliseo,,he is from the Phillipines..He was our waiter on the first cruise and last year we found him in charge of the WJ.. Very personable and friendly...If you see him, say hi for us from Ann&John and Tim&Debbie.:cool::cool:

 

Have a great cruise,,will be following along...And by the way,,no Freedom this year, we are going on the Big Lady Oasis:)..

[Radio]

Hello everyone. . .

 

I started the day off by driving over to Cocoa Beach to the Hampton Inn and Suites. The hotel is a very nice property. The franchise is owned by the same company who owns the Marriott Courtyard next door. I have a great view of the pool; however, the ocean view is blocked by a huge palm tree.

 

I met up with MedicKen (Cruise Critic member) up at Kennedy Space Center and I was very happy I went there today. The Atlantis move has been completed and she has been placed comfortably inside the new Visitors’ Center exhibit. The exhibit will not be completed until July of 2013; however, we were allowed to go into the area and be very close to the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

 

On the way back from KSC we stopped at Port Canaveral Locks and were able to see several manatee. The manatee love the warm water and so do the pelicans.

 

I had lunch with several Cruise Critic members at the Four Points Sheraton hotel next to Ron Jon’s Surf Shop. It is a spectacular place with huge aquariums, a large Ron Jon’s shopping area, and my favorite place to go - Starbucks!! (Not “We proudly serve Starbucks” but an actual Starbucks.)

 

At 4 PM, I went up to the Cove in Port Canaveral. We went to Milliken’s Reef and watched the Carnival Dream and Disney Fantasy leave Port Canaveral. Tomorrow is the day I will step on board the beautiful Freedom of the Seas in Port Canaveral for a 5 o’clock sail away. The forecast for tomorrow’s sail away is sunny and 80 degrees.

 

Thanks for the nice comments, and thanks for tuning in.

 

 

 

 

Radio

 

 

 

 

 

My home for tonight in Cocoa Beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The view from my balcony is nice. . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The World famous Ron Jon’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love these little transport vehicles I saw at Four Points in Cocoa Beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love going to Canaveral Locks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We watched the sail away of Carnival Dream, and Disney Fantasy

 

 

 

 

 

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[Radio]

Here are a few more pics. . .

 

Tomorrow is Freedom of the Seas Day !

 

 

 

 

Radio

 

 

 

 

Kennedy Space Center might be one of my favorite attractions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Atlantis was just rolled inside yesterday. The exhibit will be completed next summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were allowed a close up view into the Atlantis exhibit area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A may need a new NASA Hat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rocket Garden has over a dozen actual rockets that flew into space

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now I must come back next summer to see the finished exhibit

 

 

 

 

 

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[workathome]

Hello everyone. . .

 

I made it on board AutoTrain, but my connection was not as good as it should have been. . .definitely not enough for posting any pics. The signal comes and goes as we rail through populated areas. . .

 

We left the Passenger Terminal at Lorton, VA right at 4PM, and it was a very smooth ride. I had a very nice Crab Cake dinner, with Cheesecake and Ice cream. They played a movie in the lounge car, and I was concerned about all of the coffee I consumed might keep me awake last night. . . The coffee did not have an effect. . .I slept like a baby, and the rails rocked me to sleep nicely.

 

We are currently in Palatka, Florida. . .about 80 mi north of our destination in Sanford, FL. We are scheduled to arrive by around 8AM.(1 hour early) The cars have to be unloaded and I should be on my way around 10AM fro my short drive to Titusville, FL. . .which is very close to the Kennedy Space Center.

 

I have many photos so far from AutoTrain, but I will just post a few here, and will try to get more later when I have a better connection. It is now 630AM, and the first call for breakfast was just announced. . .

 

Thanks for all of the very nice comments, and thanks for tuning in !

 

 

 

Radio

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of two mighty Locomotives that will haul these rail cars down to Florida.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the ramps that allow cars and trucks to be loaded

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will sleep like a baby tonight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day Configuration of AutoTrain Roomette

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sleeper at night

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love to stretch out in these roomettes

 

 

 

 

 

 

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thanks for the pics of the train, I work for a scenic RR and loved this pics!

[shonandsuzie]

We loved seeing the car train also. I never even knew they existed. Sweet!!

[crisndeefromde]

Radio, got the cuppa waiting to be filled as I turn the dial to tune in for yet another wonderful live cruise with you. I suspect it is going to be really hard to wait another 4 weeks till we hop on board.

 

To another Quacker....I can't wait to be reading Radio's reports as well. Did you go on the cruise last year?

[BugsyCruiser]

Great pictures of the space center! Can't wait to tune in tomorrow for the sailaway :)

[luv2cruiserccl]

Freedom of the seas is my favorite ship!! Maybe we can see you tomorrow of the port Canaveral web cam!!! My 3year old daughter still talks about the FOS her first cruise and made lots of great memory's. Franklyn our stateroom attendant made a great impression on her and the awesome towel animals.. If you see him say hi!!!!!

[elmirarocks]

We are sailing the western route on Freedom on January 6th! Can't wait to hear all about the ship!

 

Contemplating a trip to the space center the day prior to sailing as you did. Will we be able to see the shuttle then?

[Sunshine-lady]

Loving your review, and really liked your comment about Hampton Inn. That's where DH and and i are staying next February. We weren't sure if we picked a good hotel or not. How far is the ocean from the hotel?

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

We loved seeing the car train also. I never even knew they existed. Sweet!!

 

 

Sweet indeed!! I have heard of it, but never seen it until now. I Googled it and the one Radio took is the only one! They need to put this into full mode with some additional routes across the country!!!

 

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[StingrayBob]

Wishing you a great trip Radio. Can't wait to read your review and see the pictures. I'll be watching and waving from the camera's tomorrow as you sail away. I have a friend sailing on the Freedom next May, can't wait to tell her about your trip and share the pictures.