Live, Freedom 3-15-2015

[Beachcampin]

Good morning. We'll be pulling into Falmouth soon. Sea is like glass and it was a great night to be on the open decks as the wind was astern so there was very little apparent wind.

 

Saw the magic show last night and spent the rest if the evening in the Schooner Bar with Paul fir a great night.

 

Couple of tips. Use the exterior on deck four to cross the ship rather than going through the smokey casino or navigating the crowds and sales tables on the RP. Especially after a show in the main theater. Sitting in the Schooner bar i see so many people just trudging in a crowded mass through the casino when they could be walking along with very few people, listening to and viewing the waves along side the ship.

 

One more pro tip: one of the best things about the drinking packages, is that if you are going to spend all than money on one, then drink better alcohol. So many times I see people with a package order a rum and coke or vodka cranberry. You will get the well swill. Instead order barcardi and coke, Grey Goose and cranberry, Makers Mark and soda, etc. Also, try at least one drink each day you've never had before. Better to do it on board with a package; if you don't like it, no big deal. On land, you just wasted your money.

[we_wander]

Great tips! Thanks for the review!

[Beachcampin]

Navigator got in just before us. In some respects, because of the dry dock changes, Freedom and Navigator seem more similar to each other than to their sisters.

 

 

 

 

Breakfast of champions, well, cruisers anyway.

 

Edited March 18, 2015 by Beachcampin

[Woodmnky]

Good morning. We'll be pulling into Falmouth soon. Sea is like glass and it was a great night to be on the open decks as the wind was astern so there was very little apparent wind.

 

Saw the magic show last night and spent the rest if the evening in the Schooner Bar with Paul fir a great night.

 

Couple of tips. Use the exterior on deck four to cross the ship rather than going through the smokey casino or navigating the crowds and sales tables on the RP. Especially after a show in the main theater. Sitting in the Schooner bar i see so many people just trudging in a crowded mass through the casino when they could be walking along with very few people, listening to and viewing the waves along side the ship.

 

One more pro tip: one of the best things about the drinking packages, is that if you are going to spend all than money on one, then drink better alcohol. So many times I see people with a package order a rum and coke or vodka cranberry. You will get the well swill. Instead order barcardi and coke, Grey Goose and cranberry, Makers Mark and soda, etc. Also, try at least one drink each day you've never had before. Better to do it on board with a package; if you don't like it, no big deal. On land, you just wasted your money.

Thank you for the tips on how to avoid the casino. DS & I both have asthma and allergies and I have been wondering how best to avoid the smoke filled casino, but figured that we would just have to learn while onboard. I will take the smell of salt air over cigarettes any day.

[Beachcampin]

Thank you for the tips on how to avoid the casino. DS & I both have asthma and allergies and I have been wondering how best to avoid the smoke filled casino, but figured that we would just have to learn while onboard. I will take the smell of salt air over cigarettes any day.

 

 

Glad to help. My wife has asthma as well so we've learned how to cope. Also, stay on the starboard side of the pool deck, except for the kids area, that's all nonsmoking. First day though is a bit of a free for all on the pool deck as some smokers haven't figured out yet where to smoke, so they smoke everywhere.

 

In the casino, it's sad. It's not been too bad, but if you're sensitive, you would notice it. Most of the smokers in the casino, on this trip anyway, have not been gambling. Counter to the argument that casinos need to allow smoking to attract gamblers. On this cruise anyway, from what I have seen, the gamblers were not smoking as much.

[ACruiserinFL]

I'll be on the Freedom on Sunday, your review is getting me really excited!

[DebbieN167]

Following.

 

Thank you for taking the time to post the Daily Compasses.

I didn't see day1 though, did I miss it somewhere?

 

We will be on the April 26th sailing.

Edited March 18, 2015 by DebbieN167

[Susie51]

I'm enjoying your review. Thank you for continuing to post. It was nice seeing pics of NOS. I'll be sailing away on her in 4 days.

[suizas]

Enjoying your review! Will be on this route mid August. So appreciate your time posting.. pictures are beautiful!!

[dee1321]

thanks so much, my husband and I both have iphones and imessage so we will download the apps you just listed so we have those to be able to text each other while on board. Have fun!! Edited March 18, 2015 by dee1321

[Beachcampin]

thanks so much, my husband and I both have iphones and imessage so we will download the apps you just listed so we have those to be able to text each other while on board. Have fun!!

 

 

One more app recommendation is Night Sky then go to the helipad at night. That area is great for star gazing because there is very little light so the bridge crew can see; and the app will tell you what you are looking at. After your eyes get acclimated, the night sky is amazing.

[link99]

Does Facebook Messenger work on the ship?

[Beachcampin]

If I can make one plea to everyone it would be to please, please, please get out and explore the town of Falmouth. RCI built a very nice port, but it is like the Disney version of Jamaica. If you are not comfortable exploring on your own, I get that, then buy a pass on the trolly tour for sale at the front gate for $22 and they will take you around. Then next time you come to Falmouth you will feel more comfortable walking around on your own. It is not dangerous. Vendors will ask you to come look, or maybe even ask many times, say no thank you, ignore them, move on, and grow up.

 

We've done the trolley tour through the port and the walking tour through RCI, so we were very comfortable venturing out on our own.

 

In those other tours, while great, they don't allow to to stop at any if the small restaurants that you see along the way. Our mission today, patties and jerk chicken. Plus stopping in at the Anglican church and by the Babtist church as well, depending on how we were feeling.

[Beachcampin]

So, to avoid many of the vendors, turn right as soon as you exit the port and walk towards the courthouse, the big yellow building from my earlier post. Then turn left at the courthouse and you will be in water square.

 

 

 

 

Taking this route, we mostly only ran into taxi vendors. After we said no thank you, we're just getting patties, or we're just going to the church, they knew we knew where we were going and left us alone.

 

Off Water Square we went to a bakery called Spice Nice. These pictures didn't come out so well, which made me a bit bitter, but I was enjoying the patties so much I forgot to double check them. Patties were so good!!! Also got come kind of coconut tart that the kids just inhaled. The place was full of locals getting lunch and loaves of bread to take home. We felt welcome and ate our patties at the tables inside.

 

 

 

[Anastasia6236]

If I can make one plea to everyone it would be to please, please, please get out and explore the town of Falmouth. RCI built a very nice port, but it is like the Disney version of Jamaica. If you are not comfortable exploring on your own, I get that, then buy a pass on the trolly tour for sale at the front gate for $22 and they will take you around. Then next time you come to Falmouth you will feel more comfortable walking around on your own. It is not dangerous. Vendors will ask you to come look, or maybe even ask many times, say no thank you, ignore them, move on, and grow up.

 

We've done the trolley tour through the port and the walking tour through RCI, so we were very comfortable venturing out on our own.

 

In those other tours, while great, they don't allow to to stop at any if the small restaurants that you see along the way. Our mission today, patties and jerk chicken. Plus stopping in at the Anglican church and by the Babtist church as well, depending on how we were feeling.

 

GREAT advice! My family has been going to Jamaica for over 20 years and absolutely love the people. Beef/chicken patties and jerk chicken are a MUST! THANKS! Lee

[Beachcampin]

So, to avoid many of the vendors, turn right as soon as you exit the port and walk towards the courthouse, the big yellow building from my earlier post. Then turn left at the courthouse and you will be in water square.

 

Taking this route, we mostly only ran into taxi vendors. After we said no thank you, we're just getting patties, or we're just going to the church, they knew we knew where we were going and left us alone.

 

 

 

 

Off Water Square we went to a bakery called Spice Nice. These pictures didn't come out so well, which made me a bit bitter, but I was enjoying the patties so much I forgot to double check them. Patties were so good!!! Also got come kind of coconut tart that the kids just inhaled. The place was full of locals getting lunch and loaves of bread to take home. We felt welcome and ate our patties at the tables inside.

[Beachcampin]

Sorry about double posts. Tapa talk and CC seem to be fighting and it's making my mood ring dark.

[dotcomgirl]

For your Grand Cayman day, can you please make note of the port time compared to ship time... is it the same?

 

Royal shows times for Grand Cayman as 8am-4pm and I am trying to figure out if that is ship's time staying on Florida time or if 8am-4pm is local port time. Grand Cayman is an hour behind Florida right now.

 

I currently have an outside excursion booked for 10:30am because I was scared of screwing up the times and being late (so I didn't want to risk the early time).

[Beachcampin]

So, after leaving Spicy Nice, we headed down to the Anglican Church. If you didn't research the roads before your trip, they have a map of town at the information booths. This church is one of the oldest public buildings in Falmouth and it's beautiful. They are working to preserve it and we always make a donation when we go. Chatting with the sweet local ladies about their church today inside was so nice as well. When we first started coming, the exterior was rough looking coquino ( sp? maybe, I can't fix that; rock made if compressed shells.). Looked like this:

 

 

Now the exterior has been restored and is just beautiful. I thought I must have been looking at the wrong church when I saw it from the ship.

 

 

Some shots from inside.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 19, 2015 by Beachcampin

[Beachcampin]

Exterior shots around the church.

 

 

 

We took that path around to the back and ran into the landscaping crew taking a siesta.

 

[Restless24]

Great photos and perspective of Jamaica. When we don't have an excursions planned in port we love to get out and take in the culture, especially the local food options. Thanks for sharing.

[Beachcampin]

On to the babtist church. Also being restored. Can't go inside, but we walked the grounds.

 

 

 

Some shots from the road while we were walking around.

 

 

 

Another bakery, we didn't go in here because we were looking for jerk chicken at this point.

 

[Beachcampin]

So the last stop was pepper's jerk center for some jerk chicken and festival. The owner, who is in the picture, said that we would be dreaming about his jerk sauce once we were back aboard. Amazing, a bit spicy that built up as you had more. Perfect with some red stripe.

 

 

I know this has been a bit disappointing for those who like pictures of food, as I don't really do that, but I did get some great pictures of local flora while out in town. I wanted to see some mango, akee, and breadfruit trees but was disappointed. Or maybe we did see them but didn't recognize it at the time.

 

 

 

Makes a great hedge, but this was just one plant.

 

[Beachcampin]

Thanks again for the comments and well wishes. We really are having a great time. I've been bouncing from bar to bar tonight listening to the great performers again and posting in between singing along. I'm sorry I've not gotten to every asked. Didn't see anything relevant in the Next cruise office re the question asked about that. Also, I tried going in the cigar lounge to check out the menu, but it was just too smokey for me, much worse than the casino. I also owe an R- Bar menu and day one compass if I can remember.

[Beachcampin]

Day 5 compass. Posted whole thing to answer questions re ship's time. Everything, arrival, excursions, etc, should stay on ship's time.