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Review-freedom's just another word for a really decent cruise

JohnGaltny

By JohnGaltny,
in Royal Caribbean International

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JohnGaltny

JohnGaltny

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I also just got a message asking about the pools on Freedom.

 

We spent most (okay 98%) of our time in the Solarium pool and it didn't feel that crowded most of the time. The H2O zone (kiddie area) always looked like a bee hive but the kids didn't seem to mind and it came in handy on the last two sea days. The major pool was often unapproachable on the sea days but balanced out the Solarium quite nicely.

 

I did note that early on the Solarium pool was nice and cool when I jumped in. Not cardiac arrest cold, but refreshingly cool. On the last two sea days it was bathwater warm which gave me two possibilities: (a) the tropical sun had heated the water to the point where I had to get out to cool off or (b) some group had staged a massive pee in of proportions too gruesome to contemplate.:eek:

 

During the last two sea days, I admit that walking down 11 deck often included a diverted path through the kids area where the constant sprinklers kept the water refreshing.

 

Of course, I blame RCI for the fact that the sun is hot in the Caribbean in August. You'd think they would have warned us but they never offered any compensation at all.

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Ander026

Ander026

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Fantastic review. Great writing, the writing allowed me to imagine your time at beach by the airport. I would have love to read what happened if a 747 took off.

 

The Freedom class is one of my favorite RCCL ships next to the Monarch.

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CathyCanada

CathyCanada

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Great review!! I have no idea what transpired in earlier reports but I absolutely love your humour! It's funny that you called the Solarium Bar your office because we have always said that Vintages is ours.

 

Did you get to the Schooner Bar at all? I know James Barr who was playing there and he is excellent.

 

Thanks for the great review. Sailed the Freedom last Sept and then again in April and had one of the best time in the 45 cruises that I have taken. on her.

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pam_1024

pam_1024

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Awesome review! Love the Freedom! We were there in May for the Western itenerary and are booked for next Nov for the Eastern. And now, thanks to your thread title, I shall be humming a great old Janis Joplin tune the rest of the day. :)

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JohnGaltny

JohnGaltny

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WOW thank you everyone. I'm really glad the people with a sense of humor are here. Maybe the early warning to the members of SOPO worked. :D

 

Cathy, we did get to the Schooner Bar a couple of times but after the piano player left. There was a classical guitarist named Lazlo who was also terrific.

 

Anyway, I should mention that I actually gained some weight on this cruise which I don't usually do. However it appears most of it was water weight since I've lost it already. I said that to my wife and her response was:

"all those melted ice cubes no doubt". LOL Funny lady.

 

Thanks again.

Edited by JohnGaltny
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bigque

bigque

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Great Funny Review! :cool: I will have to find myself an "Office" ;) for the week as I will be on there in 38 days! When I was in St Maarten in 2010 and went to Maho Beach I loved standing there while the planes casme so close overhead but I was nowhere near as bold as you to stand by the fence while they were taking off!

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reallyitsmema

reallyitsmema

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Great Funny Review! :cool: I will have to find myself an "Office" ;) for the week as I will be on there in 38 days! When I was in St Maarten in 2010 and went to Maho Beach I loved standing there while the planes casme so close overhead but I was nowhere near as bold as you to stand by the fence while they were taking off!

Don't stand on the beach directly opposite the end of the runway either when the planes with the tail mounted engines takeoff. We were also at Maho the same day as the OP and saw more than one poor honeymoon couple wanted people to see. They had set up directly opposite the end of the runway and when the large plane with the tail mounted engines took off, everything they brought with them was blown into the surf. The woman chased after it and dove in to get her beach bag but in the process, lost her bikini top:eek: They were able to grab everything, readjust her swimsuit and came up to the Sunset Beach Bar to try to collect themselves and dry off. I let them use our towel from the ship since theirs ended up in the ocean. Unfortunately, two of their cameras and his watch did not survive the swim. We got their email address and are sending them some of our pictures. They were going to see if their memory cards survived once they get home but they might have lost a lot of their pictures from their honeymoon.:( Luckily, they had left a DSLR camera in their cabin on the ship so they were going to replicate some of the pictures they had already taken.

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evelyn51

evelyn51

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This has to be one of the best reviews I've ever read! You had me crying at the hells hair dryer part. Thanks

 

Sent from my SCH-S720C using Forums mobile app

 

 

 

Same here, you absolutely made my day! ;) What ship(s) will leave Bayonne for Bermuda in the Summer '14?

Edited by evelyn51
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niksmom630 "Live from...." Rare

niksmom630

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Mike, I no longer think of it as bold so much as a special kind of stupid.:)

 

Then again, my wife was right next to me and she's the brains of the outfit so I don't feel too bad about it.:D

 

Great review--thanks for sharing! It's so nice to read a thread that makes you smile and laugh out loud (I've got to stop visiting that RCI new smoking policy thread)

 

And thanks for the info on Maho...we're heading there in November--I think I now know what "not to do" thanks to you and "reallyitsmema"!

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JohnGaltny

JohnGaltny

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Thanks again. Glad I could make some people smile instead of get all huffy.

 

Niks Mom, that smoking policy change really tees me off. I don't smoke and don't care but I hate seeing any group bullied and all the sanctimony over there makes me want to take a fork to people. I thought Royal's current policy of half of two decks plus the balcony was a quite fair accommodation.

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niksmom630 "Live from...." Rare

niksmom630

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Thanks again. Glad I could make some people smile instead of get all huffy.

 

Niks Mom, that smoking policy change really tees me off. I don't smoke and don't care but I hate seeing any group bullied and all the sanctimony over there makes me want to take a fork to people. I thought Royal's current policy of half of two decks plus the balcony was a quite fair accommodation.

 

John--Have to agree with you there--I'd completely advocate and support no more indoor smoking--casino's bars, you name it--and actually I am a smoker (shhh) trapped in a non smoker wannabe body. In any event, my biggest beef is I have yet to see any direct communication from RCI on it--with two cruises booked, one pre and post policy change. In any event, it is what it is :mad:

 

Well, better get off this topic before your very great "review" thread starts to attract some people from that other thread gone dark and angry :D

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