B2B On the Freedom ~ August 18th & 25th: My Diary

[maxs mom]

Jane -- where is Palm Beach in relation to Kon Tiki? Looking from the water to the beach (that's the way the Panorama map shows it -- http://edsandra.com/photos2005/SmallOrientPanorama.htm

)

 

Thanks -- Sherri

 

Sherri....Palm Beach is all the way down at the end next to Boo Boo Jam. It's way away from the action.....but I like that!! It was perfect for me!

Contessa......The taxi cost was $8pp. When you get there, the beach boy will start a tab for you. The prices were in euros.....sodas and beer are the same price.....3.50 euros. Our hamburgers were 10 euros. That was the cheapest thing on the menu. Most entrees were between 15 and 25 euros, but let me tell you.....the food is fantastic. Our bill for the hamburgers and 3 beers was $39.00. Then we added a tip to that. But you don't have to pay until you leave if you are running a tab.

Wendy.....so glad that you enjoyed the review. John is the picky eater and he always feels safe ordering a hamburger. I love all kinds of things and that grouper sounds great. We were eating at Portofino that night and I didn't want to eat too much. I usually stick to salads for lunch.....but we don't eat beef unless we are on a cruise...and then we go crazy. It just tastes so good after not having any for so long!!

[maxs mom]

Friday ~ August 30th ~ At Sea

 

Nice relaxing day at sea today!!

 

Coffee and quiet time in the CL.

 

We had breakfast with the Officers this morning at 9:00. Deck 5 MDR. A pretty large group today. We ran into Al and Phyllis at the entrance.

 

 

We all sat at a table with another couple from Scotland.......then we really lucked out when Gustavo, the Staff Captain, sat with us. (The Staff Captain is the second in command after the Captain.)

 

 

What a great personality. We thoroughly enjoyed talking to him and listening to his stories. He reminded me of a young Argentinian Dustin Hoffman! He has just recently been promoted to Captain and is awaiting orders for his first ship to command. He was excited. I think he knew what ship it was going to be, but he couldn't tell us. He said to let him know if we were on his ship and he would have dinner with us. I'm going to hold him to that!!

 

 

The breakfast food today was just OK. It had all been prepared ahead of time and was not real hot or fresh. I thoroughly enjoyed my mimosas, though!

 

Later on we ran into Gustavo again and we chatted some more and made a picture.

 

 

After breakfast, our cabin had not been cleaned yet, so I went up to the Solarium to read and John went to the Diamond Lounge to read. There was not a seat to be had in the Solarium, but I finally found a little chair and a place to prop up my feet. This was the view from my chair:

 

 

 

I met a nice couple here from SC and they were telling me about a problem they were having with a drunk, out of control woman in the next cabin. They were on Deck 2 and for several nights the lady would bang on her door and no one would let her in. She kept screaming and screaming. They called security.....but it kept happening. A man with the woman even threatened them. Finally security moved the nice couple to a promenade cabin on deck 6 in the middle of the night. They would have put the lady off the ship, but there were no more port to go to. I think they did cut off her alcohol.....but she could get others to buy for her. Too bad.......this was that couple's first cruise. I think I talked them into cruising again, though and talked them into buying a Next Cruise Certificate. They found out that several people were put off the ship this cruise and the previous cruise.

 

Went back to the cabin, then had a late lunch in the WJ. Not too bad, but Chops was not available for us today. Boo!!

Edited September 10, 2013 by max'smom

[maxs mom]

The afternoon was spent reading on the balcony. It was very, very pleasant out there today. Not hot or windy. So much more pleasant than the pool or even the Solarium. Love my peace and quiet and the sea going by.

It was formal night tonight. We met Al & Phyllis in the CL and Gerry and Sandy were back after a two day absence. Gerry hadn't been feeling well....so it was good to see them again.

Willie sang for us tonight with his guitar. Nice!!

Always a good time in the CL with good friends!!

[maxs mom]

We were seated in yet another area of the dining room tonight. Our waiter didn't have much personality, but we were served quickly. had the mushroom pastry.....always a favorite.

Then I got another beef fix with the Prime Rib....pretty good. And then I tried the Baked Alaska.....not so good. Won't order that again. Not like the old days when they would bring it flaming to the table and it was the real deal. This was just faux BA.

Went to the Casino afterwards and actually won more money on the Wheel of Fortune machines. Amazing!

Our bridge picture tonight was taken by a professional photographer.

[PattyG12]

Thanks so much for your wonderful review Jane. I'm really enjoying it!

[cruising grandma]

The afternoon was spent reading on the balcony. It was very' date=' very pleasant out there today. Not hot or windy. So much more pleasant than the pool or even the Solarium. Love my peace and quiet and the sea going by.[/size']

 

 

It was formal night tonight. We met Al & Phyllis in the CL and Gerry and Sandy were back after a two day absence. Gerry hadn't been feeling well....so it was good to see them again.

 

 

Willie sang for us tonight with his guitar. Nice!!

 

 

Always a good time in the CL with good friends!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had early dining with the chief engineer and his lovely wife and the human relations manager at the captains's table that night. We came in the lounge after dinner, so we missed Michael Rasmussen's appearance and Willie's entertainment. Ken and Paulette were a lot of fun! We so hope we find a fun group on our upcoming b2bs and wish you all were coming back with us!! What a great cruise!!

[LuckiStac13*Majesty*]

Allure in March unless something changes. I was going to do Indy but that would have made three years in a row doing the same 8 nighter. And since Adventure is going into dry dock shortly after our cruise I decided to put going back to the southern Caribbean off until the refurb is completed.

 

Excellent. Eastern or Western? You have to promise to listen to Mega 4 for me if they're onboard, even if it's for a minute or two. My favorite band :) Bossy, aren't I? ha!

[maxs mom]

Thanks so much for your wonderful review Jane. I'm really enjoying it!

 

Thanks, Patty! Looking forward to seeing you in December!

[maxs mom]

We had early dining with the chief engineer and his lovely wife and the human relations manager at the captains's table that night. We came in the lounge after dinner, so we missed Michael Rasmussen's appearance and Willie's entertainment. Ken and Paulette were a lot of fun! We so hope we find a fun group on our upcoming b2bs and wish you all were coming back with us!! What a great cruise!!

 

The Chief Engineer was so nice. We enjoyed talking to him earlier. I was really impressed by the Officers on this ship and how accessible they were. But did you notice on the comment card.....there was a rating for that.

I'm not worried about you two. Somehow I know you will find the fun wherever you go!!

[cruising grandma]

The Chief Engineer was so nice. We enjoyed talking to him earlier. I was really impressed by the Officers on this ship and how accessible they were. But did you notice on the comment card.....there was a rating for that.

 

I'm not worried about you two. Somehow I know you will find the fun wherever you go!!

 

 

Wendy filled in our comment card and added more nice comments all over every inch of the paper!!! We needed a composition book for our comments!!! Maybe we'll staple a few extra papers next time! Many of the staff is getting off or have already left, so I hope the next group is as much fun as this one was! We'll have a different captain, chief engineer, guest service manager, concierge, and cruise director for sure, and maybe others. We'll be sure to give them all a featherful welcome!!

[maxs mom]

Wendy filled in our comment card and added more nice comments all over every inch of the paper!!! We needed a composition book for our comments!!! Maybe we'll staple a few extra papers next time! Many of the staff is getting off or have already left, so I hope the next group is as much fun as this one was! We'll have a different captain, chief engineer, guest service manager, concierge, and cruise director for sure, and maybe others. We'll be sure to give them all a featherful welcome!!

 

I need a "like" button!!

[maxs mom]

So the Quest was tonight and off we go to Studio B. Luke, the new CD did a good job with this. He asked a lot of different questions and it was a lot of fun. A few pictures to recap.

 

 

 

 

 

[maxs mom]

A few more pictures of the Quest.

Glamour shot leaving the Quest: Ha!

It was after midnight and we found this little guy in our bed!

[maxs mom]

Saturday ~ August 31st ~ At Sea

Good Morning! Lovely day on the ocean.....our last one!

Slept in a little today. Coffee in the CL. Breakfast in the MDR. We ate with one other couple from Philadelphia. Our cabin was already cleaned when we returned.

We're on our way home:

I wandered a bit to see what I could see.

Here is the Loyalty Ambassador hard at work:

Another look at those stop lights:

Then Main Theater and Pharoah's:

I wandered the Promenade and ran into Bill and Charlene......a delightful couple that had been on board with us both weeks. I always enjoyed running into them.

[maxs mom]

They were getting ready for the Street Fest. I decided that I would look around a bit now and then leave before the crowds got here. This was interesting:

[maxs mom]

Lunch was in the Windjammer......loud and crowded even at 1:45.

Frozen yogurt afterwards.

Then started packing:

I read for a while on the balcony:

I wandered for a while. Here is the H2O Zone. Many people love that circle pool.

A volleyball game was underway.

And there's where we've been!

[maxs mom]

I finally made it up to the Sports Deck and made a few pictures.

[Ocean Boy]

Excellent. Eastern or Western? You have to promise to listen to Mega 4 for me if they're onboard, even if it's for a minute or two. My favorite band :) Bossy, aren't I? ha!

 

Eastern. I really have not had a lot of desire to go back to the western side. Maybe if I didn't love St. Maarten so much I would but I always look forward to our return there. And I will give Mega 4 a listen. I can take bossy.:p

Edited September 10, 2013 by Ocean Boy

[jakenashleysmom]

Just starting your diary Jane! We were also in Cocoa those two weeks as we own property there, funny we didn't run into anyone wearing mardi gras beads at Grills.......LOL! :p

 

Bonnie

[maxs mom]

Just starting your diary Jane! We were also in Cocoa those two weeks as we own property there, funny we didn't run into anyone wearing mardi gras beads at Grills.......LOL! :p

 

Bonnie

 

Bonnie! Always good to hear from you! Sorry we missed you at Cocoa!

[maxs mom]

Well.....final night in the CL with Al & Phyllis and Gerry & Sandy. Nice time. Pretty crowded in here this week, but we always managed to find a place to sit (Thanks, Al!!) Service was really slow in here this week. Arlene was nice but really slow.

Making plans to cruise together again!

Said good-bye to Willie! Great Concierge!

Dinner in the MDR.....still another location. Service was good and fast, though. Tried a new dessert tonight .......some pear and chocolate thing......very forgettable.

After dinner we got our suitcases out in the hall. Always a sad thing to do!!

Can't laugh this week!

[maxs mom]

After that I went up to the pool deck to watch a little of the Clemson/GA game on the big screen. I am a Clemson graduate. There were quite a few Tiger fans up there. Great place to watch the game.

Watched the rest of the game in the cabin.

This was on the bed tonight.

Set the wake up call for 5:30 and went to bed.

[cruising grandma]

Jane, I didn't know you were a Clemson grad! One of our cruise friends is a retired professor from Clemson!

[LuckiStac13*Majesty*]

The last night is the worst :(

Edited September 10, 2013 by LuckiStac13*Majesty*

[maxs mom]

Jane, I didn't know you were a Clemson grad! One of our cruise friends is a retired professor from Clemson!

 

Another "like" button!!