LIVE from the Freedom of the Seas * Feb 15, 2015 * Western Caribbean!

[spammie]

Robyn - thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. I LOVE live reports with pictures. :)

 

Freedom is our favorite RCCL ship and we will be on her in May.

 

Happy Anniversary! Can't wait to share your cruise with you. Please let us know your thoughts since the "dry dock" changes.

 

Wanda (10 degrees in Philly :()

[henchgt]

We have been to Red Stripe Beach several times, never on an excursion though. It's very small but it's perfect if you just want to lie on a lounge chair and enjoy the sunshine. There's a small bar with $1 Red Stripe bottles. I don't recall there being pine needles, but it definitely is surrounded by lots of trees. If you're looking for excitement, don't go. If you'd like some laid back time to simply enjoy the sun and water, then it's perfect.

We are seasoned cruisers (20+ with Royal) but have never been on the Freedom. Happy to say that that will change in May! Looking forward to your posts to see what we are in store for! Enjoy your time in the sun!

Lori

 

Last week i was at red stripe beach. It was actually pretty crappy. $5 dollar for one beer and sea weed all over.

[jules815]

We have been to Jamaica twice and did the river tubing excursion both times. Our family loved it!

 

This is good to hear! We'll be on Liberty next month and I booked my daughter and her friend on a river tubing excursion in Ocho Rios through RC.

[10th Anniversary]

Oh.. I can't wait to "live through" your review next week. Happy Anniversary!!! We are sailing Freedom in August for our first back to back. WOO HOO!!! 2 whole weeks of just relaxing, chilling, and not having to be in a rush. Can't wait!!! I must admit I'm a little nervous though, as I've been hearing some terrible things about the food, ice show, customer service, and of course the propulsion system. Can't wait to hear about your experience. Sail Safely!!

[Susie51]

Thank you for posting live with pictures. I'm looking forward to reading and seeing more of your cruise.

 

Happy Anniversary!

[jules815]

Oh.. I can't wait to "live through" your review next week. Happy Anniversary!!! We are sailing Freedom in August for our first back to back. WOO HOO!!! 2 whole weeks of just relaxing, chilling, and not having to be in a rush. Can't wait!!! I must admit I'm a little nervous though, as I've been hearing some terrible things about the food, ice show, customer service, and of course the propulsion system. Can't wait to hear about your experience. Sail Safely!!

 

You will LOVE doing a B2B on Freedom! My husband and I did our first B2B September 2014 on FOS, and loved it so much we're doing it again this year. You really will relax, and it's so cool not having to put your suitcases out in the hallway at the end of the first week.

[mellibee]

We did the River tubing when I was on Freedom and she went to Ocho Rios. I think it was the Martha Brae river or something like that? I don't know if that is the same place if its a reasonable drive from Fallmouth. We have yet to make any plans for Fallmouth yet.

 

In 2009, we docked in Ocho Rios and did the Martha Brae tubing. In 2011, Falmouth was open and they offered a White River tubing through RCI. Both were great. :)

[iukbsn]

We are so excited to be with this awesome family for not only a great cruise but also a Disney adventure!!!

 

 

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[BillOh]

Bill, we celebrated our 20th Anniversary! In fact, our very first cruise in Feb 2005 was to celebrate our 10th! Time flies when you're having fun! Congrats on 34, wow!

 

 

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We were supposed to cruise on our 20th anniversary, but I totaled a car and didn't do our first cruise till our 25th. I will look forward to your embarkation report. I've never cruised from PC and of course not been in terminal 1. I will be watching sailaway I'm sure.

[BillOh]

In 2009, we docked in Ocho Rios and did the Martha Brae tubing. In 2011, Falmouth was open and they offered a White River tubing through RCI. Both were great. :)

 

 

Thank you for that input, I haven't selected what we will do there yet.

[Buccaneergirl]

Happy anniversary and looking forward to reading all about your cruise. Freedom is one of my favorite ships.

Paul and I will be up at the port Sunday when you get on Freedom because Quantum is sailing in and is suppose to dock at 1pm, so we are going to be at Jetty park by noon to watch her go by. I am surprised that Freedom will be at terminal 1 because I thought for sure Quantum would be there.

 

Have fun!

[ckrobyn]

Happy anniversary and looking forward to reading all about your cruise. Freedom is one of my favorite ships.

 

Paul and I will be up at the port Sunday when you get on Freedom because Quantum is sailing in and is suppose to dock at 1pm, so we are going to be at Jetty park by noon to watch her go by. I am surprised that Freedom will be at terminal 1 because I thought for sure Quantum would be there.

 

 

 

Have fun!

 

 

Wow! I didn't realize Quantum is going to be at the port?! According to RCI we are definitely at terminal 1 [emoji572]️ nice to hear from you, say hi to Paul for me!!

 

 

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[John&LaLa]

Happy anniversary and looking forward to reading all about your cruise. Freedom is one of my favorite ships.

Paul and I will be up at the port Sunday when you get on Freedom because Quantum is sailing in and is suppose to dock at 1pm, so we are going to be at Jetty park by noon to watch her go by. I am surprised that Freedom will be at terminal 1 because I thought for sure Quantum would be there.

 

Have fun!

 

I would imagine that homeported ships have priority over visiting ships.

[mellibee]

I have thought about whether or not I would actually start a LIVE thread, and here I am :o. Here is what I know.... I have my laptop with me and we plan to secure unlimited internet for our DD, so I can hop in here a few times a day and hopefully answer some questions. I am great at taking picture, just bad at posting them. If anyone has suggestions on where to upload photos and then post here, please let me know.

Okay, so here are some details. I have been on CC for a long time, so many of you know me by now. I have sailed exclusively with Royal, and if I am not mistaken, this will be my 26th cruise. We have sailed on the Freedom 5 times, and we are excited to be sailing again and have an opportunity to see a ship immediately following a dry dock.

We will be enjoying Owners Suite 1334, I believe it is called the "Degas" Suite. We have stayed in OS's before, but not on Freedom class, so we are looking forward to a much larger balcony. I have received my email from the Concierge (Rahul) and have successfully reserved an Over the Water Cabana on Labadee.

 

Okay, so now that we have those details out of the way, I can tell you that we flew from Toronto to Orlando last night. We left -20 degree weather and are now enjoying a sunny and warm Florida day. I have been checking Accuweather regularly, so I know the temps are cooling off here, and we will likely see about 62 at Port Canaveral for sailaway, but it will be sunny :)

We are staying at the Omni Resort at Champions Gate. A lovely place about 20minutes from Disney. We have stayed here before, and we are in a 2 bedroom villa once again. Tomorrow we are changing hotels for the next 2 nights and will be staying at the Hyatt Regency Orlando ( I have a business trip here in May, and wanted to check it out beforehand) When I mentioned to the hotel that we are celebrating our 20th Anniversary, I received an email from the General Manager letting us know that we had been upgraded to the Metropolitan Suite - what a lovely gesture. We can't wait to see the suite tomorrow.

 

We plan to drive down to Port Canaveral on Saturday afternoon to watch the ships sail out, and maybe have a light dinner at Grills. Our intent is to leave Orlando at about 8AM Sunday morning and pick up another couple we are sailing with ( we met on the Adventure last February!) Hi Jackie and Todd! :D and head to the port. Royal Caribbean has left me 2 voice mails and 2 emails instructing us to make our way to Terminal 1. I am interested to see this terminal as I understand it is new.

 

I will be posting on some of our activities here in Orlando over the next few days, as well as to write down some of the questions I am sure some of you have and will want to know about the ship for your own cruise :) We are planning on visiting the happiest place on earth tomorrow.....you know, the place with the mouse....:p

 

More later....

 

Hope you are having a great time at WDW! We love going there...my 28th visit.

We LOVE Grills too and never miss eating there when we are in town.

Can't wait to see your posts on Freedom! :D

[Buccaneergirl]

Wow! I didn't realize Quantum is going to be at the port?! According to RCI we are definitely at terminal 1 [emoji572]️ nice to hear from you, say hi to Paul for me!!

 

 

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Paul says hi back:D...(he is working from home today).

Actually, now we can just go to Grill's or Fishlips and sit to watch Quantum go by because the only reason we were going to Jetty Park was because I thought it would be a terminal 1.

 

Have a drink in the CL for me!

[BillOh]

I would imagine that homeported ships have priority over visiting ships.

 

That would make sense, people that parked at 1, probably want to come back to 1.

[chawkjewel]

Paul says hi back:D...(he is working from home today).

 

Actually, now we can just go to Grill's or Fishlips and sit to watch Quantum go by because the only reason we were going to Jetty Park was because I thought it would be a terminal 1.

 

 

 

Have a drink in the CL for me!

 

 

Grills is the perfect spot to watch any ship coming into terminal 1. You would get an up close view of it making the turn around.

[Luv2Kruize]

Paul and I will be up at the port Sunday when you get on Freedom because Quantum is sailing in and is suppose to dock at 1pm, so we are going to be at Jetty park by noon to watch her go by. I am surprised that Freedom will be at terminal 1 because I thought for sure Quantum would be there.

 

Actually, Quantum is not scheduled to be back in Port Canaveral until Monday March 16. :(

[ckrobyn]

Disney World is crowded today! I think because it's a long weekend? The skies are a perfect blue and the sun is out in full force [emoji295]️here are some pics of the parade.....

 

 

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[Go Pens]

Last week i was at red stripe beach. It was actually pretty crappy. $5 dollar for one beer and sea weed all over.

 

 

Wow, that's a shame. Thanks for the update. A lot must have changed since our last visit in October of 2013. We won't be doing that again!

[tahqa]

Actually, Quantum is not scheduled to be back in Port Canaveral until Monday March 16. :(

 

Multiple sites that show cruise ship port schedules are saying that Quantum will be in Port Canaveral on the 15th (this Sunday). :confused:

[Luv2Kruize]

Port Canaveral FaceBook is now saying the following ships will be in port on Sunday: Grandeur of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Disney Magic, Carnival Liberty, and Carnival Sunshine! Hope that is true! It will be a site to see!!!:eek:

Edited February 13, 2015 by Luv2Kruize

[johnx7]

Looking forward to your review. Have a great cruise! :)

[Buccaneergirl]

Port Canaveral FaceBook is now saying the following ships will be in port on Sunday: Grandeur of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Disney Magic, Carnival Liberty, and Carnival Sunshine! Hope that is true! It will be a site to see!!!:eek:

 

That is what I saw....6 ships! It will be quite a sight!

[ckrobyn]

I think PC will be a busy place on Sunday!! [emoji15]

 

 

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