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Live from Freedom 2.0!

Sarah@Sea

By Sarah@Sea,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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jkasm

jkasm

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Thank you for all the information!!! And keep it coming! :)

A couple of questions: What are the dancing venues? What type of music do they play and what are the names of the bands?

Thanks again for keeping us informed!

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luv2kroooz Holiday Sharing Rare

luv2kroooz

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In response to the questions about the bands, they basically rotate throughout the ship.

 

As of May 10 sailing,

DJ's - TLake and DJ Chronos

Acoustic Guitarists in Redfrog Pub and on Lido - David Lazarus and James

Acoustic Duo - Soul Food Cafe

5 piece cover band - Extended Stay

Latin Band - Latin Flavor

Piano Bar - Seth

 

Yes, luggage express is available.

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mcjigs

mcjigs

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Subscribed! We sail on June 9th!

 

I'm on the June 9th too! Getting very excited, looking at this review isn't helping, only making it worse. I want to be on her with you now! the days are going by so slllooooooowwwwww.

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morganboys

morganboys

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I'm on the June 9th too! Getting very excited, looking at this review isn't helping, only making it worse. I want to be on her with you now! the days are going by so slllooooooowwwwww.

 

my wife and our two sons will be sailing on the 9th as well.

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Sarah@Sea

Sarah@Sea

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Sorry for no post from Key West I was enjoying the day so much! I am in Miami until Wednesday so I won't have the Fun Times scanned until I get back home. I have pictures, but what is the best way to post them in a thread? I've never done a full review here, so please be patient. I had a wonderful cruise, really felt like I missed out on some activities because there was so much to do, like I didn't get to Tea Time on the 2nd day at sea because I enjoying the pool so much or having to decide which entertainment to watch in the evening. The live musicians were GREAT.

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Sarah@Sea

Sarah@Sea

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Let's start at the very beginning...a very good place to start. :D

 

I am 36, no kids, and this was my second solo cruise, 10th cruise overall, 5th cruise on Carnival. I have been on a bit of a cruise spree since last September. I have a chronic medical condition, and have had some major medical scares in the past 10 years so my attitude is live life to the fullest. My medical condition, lipedema and lymphedema, causes excess adipose tissue (aka FAT) and fluid to accumulate in my legs and arms. I solo cruise because I found the great Carnival no single supplement page and my work and school schedule is more flexible than my boyfriends. I booked the cruise in April, the day it SNOWED...in APRIL. :mad:

 

My previous Carnival cruises have been on Destiny and Victory, so Freedom was my first larger ship, with steakhouse and now 2.0 upgrades. I booked for the price, balcony special, itinerary, departure port. Didn't realize the 2.0 upgrades until I had decided on the cruise.

 

Overall thoughts-

 

Food

Dined in the Steakhouse on the first night. The food was delicious, the service a bit slow/awkward I got the sense one of the waitresses was new and being trained? Also when I asked which dessert she recommended she replied "I really don't like any of the desserts". Um ok.

 

I ate Guy's Burgers 4x while on board, usually an afternoon snack which I took back to my cabin. I thought they were delicious, I prefer just cheese and then add my own toppings...ketchup, mustard, pickle, and onion.

 

My fav of the trip was the breakfast burritos at Blue Iguana, had them each morning except the Sea Days when I went to brunch. Had reg burrito one day for lunch. Highly recommend. I never saw or missed the special juice in the mornings.

 

Both Guy's and Blue Iguana had great service, and very QUICK...rarely a line and if there was it was only 3-4 people and moved quickly.

 

Cannot say the same for Mongolian Wok. I'll say more in the review. But IMO not worth the wait in line.

 

Other than those 3 I never ate at the buffet. I would stop by and fill my tumbler with ice.

 

Never made it up to Fish n' Chips, did not go to the Taste Bar.

 

MDR - I had Your Time Dining and enjoyed it. Food was regular menu, not American Table. I enjoyed my favorites. SeaDay Brunch I tried new items and liked them. I also made it to Tea Time and the salmon was delicious.

 

Room Service - only disappointment, but nothing major. Ordered a Reuben late one night and it was pretty skimpy. Ordered bagel and pastries for breakfast the 2nd day at sea, and they forgot the cream cheese and butter...I called and someone brought them right up, but the bagel was very hard. Just blah, not worth waking up early to have, but wanted something light since planned on brunch a bit later.

 

Entertainment

Typically my boyfriend and I would relax in the whirlpools after dinner so never watched many shows. This cruise I attended a couple shows in the theater, Love and Marriage, and frequented the Piano Bar and Red Frog Pub. I also participated in a couple trivia, competitions, cooking demo. Best entertainment I've ever enjoyed on a cruise, to the casinos detriment. :D I did not watch the comedians, just was either already enjoying the piano bar or headed to bed at 11:45.

 

Ports

Loved all three Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel. I booked excursions through Carnival for Grand Cayman and Cozumel. I booked one of the trolley tours on my own for KW, wondering now if I should have compared the price to Carnival and did the guarantee, ah well.

 

Bars/Lounges

I am not a drinker, I do drink, just rarely like on vacation. This cruise I had at least a drink a day, often a couple. In the Piano Bar, Victoriana (theater), Red Frog, or just the lobby before dinner. Bar service was always quick, drinks tasty. Oh yes tried Alchemy one night, liked the drink, just never got back there for more or for a martini tasting...wish I had. Red Frog didn't appear to have food items other than the plantains and peas, didn't see food menu on tables, meant to ask if they would be getting food items eventually but forgot.

 

Overall Service

Excellent, known by name, friendly. LOL despite my previous post about waiting in line I GS I found myself doing so 2x...both times the line moved quickly. First was to ask about cabin change, 2nd was to increase food service tips since I didn't have same servers each night to tip additional at the end of the cruise.

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Sarah@Sea

Sarah@Sea

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Hope you have a wonderful cruise! I'm curious what hotel you stayed at that had A/C issues. I'm excited to have someone finally provide some details about Freedom's 2.0! Thank you for doing that, Sarah. Looking forward to your photos.

 

I stayed at the Fairfield Inn in Dania Beach, they gave me 50% the rate due to the AC issue. It was a compressor problem where the AC would not kick back on after it had cooled. Around 7 pm the maintenance guy said he'd ask them to discount the room for me and that I could call down to the desk and ask them to 'reset' the AC which would turn it on...something they had done from somewhere not inside the room. Well at 11:30 PM when I called down to get the room cooled off before bed I was told the guy who could do it was gone already. So I had a warm night, about 74-75, thankfully it was unseasonably cool in S FL that night but still hot enough to be stuffy warm room. But then I called down in the morning before is started to get ready and they wanted to send someone up to the room, I explained the reset didn't need anyone to come to my room, but still no reset...and when I inquired as to why...as I checked out it was because I had said don't send anyone *sigh*...then the morning manager said "I'd have switched your room last night?" Well that was never given to me as an option???? Figured they were booked up and I had a handicap room, I could have survived in non...but still not offered as a solution. I was bothered that the maintenance man seemed to have been aware of the problem..as part had been ordered but wasn't due to be delivered until Monday or Tuesday (this was Saturday), so why was the room even online for occupancy?

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g8rfan17

g8rfan17

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We have a large group from Southern Indiana sailing on the 9th also. REALLY getting pumped. Please keep the updates coming.

 

I'm also sailing on the 9th. You all should join the roll call if you haven't already. It could use a bit more action. Join Here!!!

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AmberTeka

AmberTeka

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Just finished a Guy's Burger for lunch and going to head down to my cabin. Had AC issues at hotel last night, but I survived. Left hotel at 11:45ish on shuttle and was in line at Port Everglades at 12:05, lines went quickly was in zone 13 and on board at 1:00. Went to GS to ask about cabin closer to elevator and was told none avail at this time and possibly not later, I won't ask again..I'll be ok. Btw to whomever asked about the ramp to get on board...there was a very steep ramp from port building up to ship, never experience such a ramp on any other cruise on any other line, having to pull my carry-on wore me out and I had to stop half-way and rest. I plan in taking a lot of pictures but not sure anything will be uploaded before I get home. Key West tomorrow so I can update about first night!

 

Sarah@Sea, this sounds like an odd request, but if you have time, or if you are ever in the casino, would you look at the slot machines in the back area around the Vault money machine..and see............Do they still have a machine called Shlotscky (sp)? it is an older machine, Russian Cossacks, lots of singing and dancing, very campy and I love it. We have sailed the freedom three times..the last time in 2012..and I have never found that slot machine on any other ship. If you see it, could you post it?

 

I am going to be booking a cruise for the Fall and if the Freedom still has that slot.....We are heading for Fort Lauderdale come the first of November.

Have a great cruise.

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SMSACE6

SMSACE6

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Sarah@Sea, thanks for the update.

 

Sounds like a great cruise! I cant wait for mine in Nov, but dont want to wish away my summer, especially after the long cold winter we had here LOL.

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Sarah@Sea

Sarah@Sea

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Sarah@Sea, this sounds like an odd request, but if you have time, or if you are ever in the casino, would you look at the slot machines in the back area around the Vault money machine..and see............Do they still have a machine called Shlotscky (sp)? it is an older machine, Russian Cossacks, lots of singing and dancing, very campy and I love it. We have sailed the freedom three times..the last time in 2012..and I have never found that slot machine on any other ship. If you see it, could you post it?

 

I am going to be booking a cruise for the Fall and if the Freedom still has that slot.....We are heading for Fort Lauderdale come the first of November.

Have a great cruise.

 

Sorry, cruise ended on Saturday and I actually spent little time in the Casino, $20 went way to quickly and that was it, no more even trying I have no luck at gambling and not fun when can't even win just a little to make $20 last a bit to play.

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winddawn

winddawn

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Sorry, cruise ended on Saturday and I actually spent little time in the Casino, $20 went way to quickly and that was it, no more even trying I have no luck at gambling and not fun when can't even win just a little to make $20 last a bit to play.

Enjoying your review, Sarah. I'm glad you had a good time! Can't wait to see your pictures. You asked about posting your photos. Maybe this thread will be helpful??

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1823842

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