Freedom B2B Trip Review 4/28/13 - 5/12/13 (picture heavy)!!!

[seaakr]

Thank you for your excellent review and pictures. We are on FOS for the first time next week. Your review is extremely helpful.

[RoyalCruiserLady]

Mi familia is cruising out on B2B Freedom June 16 and June 23! I am waiting anxiously to hear all about the back to back portion of this review! i am interested to know about turn around day and actual amount of,time spent off the ship before being allowed back into room and other areas of ship. Your review has bee n amazing so far! We will be turning diamond during our second week of our B2B...I don't suppose they would let us use the diamond lounge early? Fat chance right! Keep it coming and the more details @turn around procedures, the better!!

[LBeeE]

Yes, we are getting ready to do the FOS eastern trip in 2 weeks, I am looking forward to your pictures and reviews for that portion of your trip!

[Keywestman]

We became diamond plus in the middle of a 12 day cruise and our status was recognized on the day it became effective; so give it a try.

[pinklady621]

I am going on my first cruise with RCCL Western on Freedom August 18th (will be my second cruise ever) I have read other reviews and they have all been great but this review is outstanding! The info you've given is really going to help me with my planning. I didn't even consider the champagne lounge, but I will definitely be spending some time there! Thanks so much!

[geoblond]

Great, entertaining review. Looking forward to more :)

[gadawg1979]

So glad they moved Twenty back outside last cruise in may it was inside and that was just not right.

[Keith1010]

I've enjoyed your comments and photos.

 

Keith

[AZAficionado]

Mi familia is cruising out on B2B Freedom June 16 and June 23! I am waiting anxiously to hear all about the back to back portion of this review! i am interested to know about turn around day and actual amount of,time spent off the ship before being allowed back into room and other areas of ship. Your review has bee n amazing so far! We will be turning diamond during our second week of our B2B...I don't suppose they would let us use the diamond lounge early? Fat chance right! Keep it coming and the more details @turn around procedures, the better!!

Well, since you bring it up, I'll spill some "secrets". RCCL considers a B2B to be two cruises (because really, it is). Credit for each cruise gets applied at the end of the cruise (at the very latest). So, you should be issued a Diamond Sea Pass card at the start of your second cruise (and get access to the Diamond Lounge). You may want to say something to the folks who run the Consecutive Cruiser's meeting just to make sure they get your card right.

 

To everyone else who posted: Thank you so so much and I'm thrilled that everyone is finding my ramblings enjoyable and useful.

[AZAficionado]

Day 6 - Cozumel, Mexico

 

 

Something to read, while you wait.

 

 

My Cozumel research led me to a few things. First was snorkeling. You can find some of the best snorkeling and diving in Cozumel, but I wanted something easy. Turns out that Sunset Beach is a few hundred yards away from the docks and has a dive shop that rents snorkeling gear, lockers and anything else you might need. Authentic local food was next and La Mission (in town) is supposed to be the best in Cozumel. Finally, some light shopping and an obligatory trip to Senor Frogs (the 1/2 Frogs at the end of the pier will do). You know you love to Frog. Everyone loves to Frog.

 

So we Frogged. Woke up on Day 7 with a phone full of confusing pictures. Can't remember a thing. That would make a great movie (or a trilogy, apparently)...

 

Just kidding. That didn't happen. Seriously, it was a beautiful day in Cozumel.

 

[AZAficionado]

 

As always, our shadow. To be honest, I'm not sure if they were the same ships or what.

 

We put on our swim wear, grabbed towels and headed to shore to snorkel.

 

 

The port area. Very nice. Plenty of "Mexican junk for your American dollars". That isn't my line. A vendor in a flee market in Puerto Vallarta used that on me several years ago. I bought something from him.

 

As promised, a few hundred yards away was Sunset Beach, where the surf was rough. Dangerously rough.

 

 

Houston, we have a problem. One of the locals told us that everything involving the water was cancelled due to rough seas.

[AZAficionado]

Alrighty then. Back to the ship. Change into normal clothes. Dump all the water related stuff. And head back out to see the sights.

 

Caught a cab at the port into town ($7 ride). We arrive in town, I hand the cabbie a $20 bill (the smallest I had) and got "Sorry, sir. I can't take this." Oh yea. Everything got cancelled, so we were probably his first ride of the day and he doesn't have change. Needless to say, everyone became a little irritable. A nice young man on the street quickly offered to get change. So, I handed him the $20 and he runs off... "That was dumb" my brain informs me after the fact. Thanks. Way to be on the ball. A minute goes by. Then two. This is going to be a very expensive cab ride. As I turn to talk to the cabbie about leaving one of us with him while the other goes for change, the young man returns, out of breath and sprinting with a handful of $5 bills. My faith in the good people of Mexico is restored. I'm sure people have had bad experiences, it happens. However, I've found that far more often than not, the people of Mexico are great, down to earth, honest folks.

 

So, we wandered though Cozumel and saw the sights. The center of Cozumel is really beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AZAficionado]

We chose to walk, but this was another option.

 

After a few hours, it was time for lunch. And I knew just the spot - La Mission. This place is one block south of the center of town.

 

 

Simple decor as this place is all about the food.

 

There was live entertainment, of course.

 

Complimentary Chips and Salsa Fresca to start.

[AZAficionado]

Margaritas (excellent and dangerously potent).

 

Nachos (very good, rustic, simple, delicious) and Fish Ceviche (incredible, simple, tender fish, nice citrus flavors, super fresh).

 

Complimentary Tortilla Soup (incredible, tender chicken, simple authentic flavors) and Garlic Bread. Yikes. Who is going to eat all this food??

[AZAficionado]

Mexican Shrimp (excellent, shrimp in a simple tomato sauce, tender and fresh) and Mexican Combo Platter (incredible, chicken tamale, chicken & pipian enchilada, chile relleno, stewed beef, cheese quesadilla, all very authentic and fantastic)

 

What? No dessert?? Warning: The food is all delicious, but there is tons of it. If this place opened up in southern AZ, it would put every other Mexican restaurants out of business.

 

This is over the door on the way out.

 

We did some more wandering and shopping. Were momentarily tempted by a pair of wild and crazy bars.

 

Same place. Different name. Both part of the same building. What happens in there, stays in there. Unless the conga line drifts out onto the sidewalk...

 

By late afternoon, it was time to head to the port area. Conveniently located in the port is:

Half the Frog, double the fun.

[AZAficionado]

The inside.

 

The bar.

 

Stumbling distance to the ship.

 

Margarita yards. Just about everything is served up as a yard.

 

Beware of the shot lady with the whistle. Body shots ensued. The good thing is that the shots are shots of a mixed drink (not potent at all). However, they are a little pricey.

 

Whew. Four ports in four days and we made it back on board to take this shot as we left.

[AZAficionado]

My wife tried the Ruby Red Martini (excellent, very refreshing) before dinner.

 

Crab Cake (very good, big chunks of crab, tangy remoulade), Caesar Salad (just as good as the last time one of us had it).

 

One option on the menu every night, is the Filet Mignon from Chops. There is an additional charge. It was well worth it.

 

Chops Filet Mignon (excellent, tender, cooked perfectly, a great portion size, nothing was lost in the translation) and Chicken Cordon Bleu (S) (excellent, crispy outside, tender and juicy chicken, melting interior of comfort food)

 

Michel Picard Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 2005 (outstanding, dark fruit with a full body taste yet light enough to not overpower more delicate foods).

[AZAficionado]

Jaffa Cake (very good, orange cream over a chocolate cream base, nice blend of flavors) and Vanilla Ice Cream (very good, came with chocolate chip cookie).

 

We finished off the evening in the Cigar Lounge and took out tired selves to bed. I was in dire need of a sea day.

 

Beware of bats.

[aalden13]

Most of my favorite memories are at senor frogs/ carlos & charlies! Thanks for the review, cant wait to see more!

[BillOh]

Yay - yet another Freedom review! I love the Freedom - can't wait to read more and to see pictures! I have never done a B2B, but it's my dream...one of these days....sigh.

 

 

This may be the first B2B review I have read about Freedom since she moved to Port Canaveral. I think it will be the first review I have seen that included both coco cay and Labadee.

[BillOh]

Great pictures. Considering sailing Freedom. Have questions about the Solarium. Does it have a retractable glass ceiling or is it open to the sky?

Enjoyed the Solarium on the Jewel with the covered ceiling.

 

It is mostly open, but there is what I would say considerable covered areas. The solarium on Freedom is my favorite over the Voyager and Oasis class.

[Zhane's mum]

I am really enjoying my daily fix of review and then I see the towel animal and sadly it's all over :(

[39august]

Great pics! Could you please explain how to get to Sunset Beach? Is it part of a hotel complex? I am aware that El Cid allows cruisers to pay to use facilities at their beach. But I'm pretty sure from your picture, that Sunset is a different beach altogether. Your picture looks like you can walk right into the water. At El Cid, there are steps down the wall to the water, as their beach is man-made. I had fogotten how pretty San Miguel is. Maybe next time, we'll look around and eat at La Mission!

[arewethereyet]

What a great review and wonderful pictures. I'm thinking of cancelling our upcoming cruise on FOS because I feel like I just got back and I'm kinda full.

 

Buuuuurp!

[AZAficionado]

Most of my favorite memories are at senor frogs/ carlos & charlies! Thanks for the review, cant wait to see more!

If you have memories of Senor Frogs, you did something wrong. Just kidding. Some of my best vacation memories are from Senor Frog's as well.

 

I am really enjoying my daily fix of review and then I see the towel animal and sadly it's all over :(

You still have another week of it to enjoy...

 

Great pics! Could you please explain how to get to Sunset Beach? Is it part of a hotel complex? I am aware that El Cid allows cruisers to pay to use facilities at their beach. But I'm pretty sure from your picture' date=' that Sunset is a different beach altogether. Your picture looks like you can walk right into the water. At El Cid, there are steps down the wall to the water, as their beach is man-made. I had fogotten how pretty San Miguel is. Maybe next time, we'll look around and eat at La Mission![/quote']

To get to Sunset Beach: Exit the port area and walk past the taxis. When you reach the road, turn left. Walk a few hundred yards and you'll see a dive shop/business with a sign that says "Sunset Beach" on your left. It is not part of a hotel or anything. I think it is past El Cid, but I could be wrong.

 

The name is a little misleading as there really isn't any beach to speak of - at least nothing I would define as a "beach".