96 hours "live", Freedom of the Seas - June 21, 2015

[A&L_Ont]

Welcome home. Thanks again for bringing us with you.

[jules815]

Back in the condo. Got here at 7:40. Pick up process very smooth. Customs guy did look at my watch thinking I wasn't declaring, checked clasp for wear.

 

Envious that you can get off the ship and you're back home before 8am.

 

Thanks again for the updates.

[Clarea]

Back in the condo. Got here at 7:40. Pick up process very smooth. Customs guy did look at my watch thinking I wasn't declaring, checked clasp for wear.

Interesting, never had a customs person look at anything. I must not have a very flashy watch.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Grand suites have the new blue cushions. Had to hang off side by hot tub to verify. Also confirmed by table mate that is in a GS

 

Good to know! Just booked the last one available for the 8/9 sailing. This will be our first time on the Freedom - which is amazing, since we live minutes from the port !

 

Two final observations before I time our. Guitar player Voytek is out of this world and aft staircase goes straight into Windjammer.

 

And always look at the quarter machine in Casino. I found $2.50 there a couple days ago.

Ciao for now

 

On a few ships I've played BJ right near the quarter machine - there were some rocky days were I'd keep my ears tuned for the *clink* of dropping coins. I'd then excuse myself from the table and come back with a couple/few quarters. That happened several times - rather fun !! :D

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Interesting, never had a customs person look at anything. I must not have a very flashy watch.

 

We bought matching Tag's on a cruise (claimed them) but it wasn't until a few cruises later that - while going through Customs - the agent looked at my watch and asked if I just bought it.

 

Another time we happened to purchase a couple of trinkets which came out to almost the exact amount allowable by customs (w/out duty). They asked for receipts - which were in our luggage somewhere. Got directed to the naughty room and had to dig through there and find them. Since that point I keep all receipts in my pants pocket during debarkation - and no doubt they'll never ask for them again !

 

Tom

Edited June 28, 2015 by Tom-n-Cheryl

[John&LaLa]

Back on the PC so I can post real pictures via Shutterfly. I meant to do that on ship, but just never had the time. Anyway, I almost missed the launch because our dogsitter is a Delta flight attendant and she needed to be on teh 11:30 from Melbourne. We pulled back into our garage at 10:21 and I ran for beach. Didn't make it so I took photos from our parking lot. It started out so promising.

 

This is around 10:22:20 Beautiful day for a launch

 

 

Still looking good at 10:22:29

 

 

Getting ready for first stage separation at 10:23:19

 

 

This looks different 10:23:39 Not sure what happened to the last 20 seconds, I was playing with settings on camera

 

 

:eek: 10:23:44 Houston we have a problem

 

[John&LaLa]

Here is the last picture, I really wasn't sure she blew until we went in and Laura spoke with Cathi in Melbourne. She is the one that told us it blew up :(

 

10:23:47 Put a fork in her. Hopefully Russia has better luck next week

 

[Clarea]

Here is the last picture, I really wasn't sure she blew until we went in and Laura spoke with Cathi in Melbourne. She is the one that told us it blew up :(

 

10:23:47 Put a fork in her. Hopefully Russia has better luck next week

 

Really sad to see this, but thanks for the photos John.

[Coralc]

Oh No! :eek: The space station people waiting on supplies might be getting a little concerned. That is the second attempted shipment they have lost.

 

Thanks for posting the photos.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

John - thanks for all the onboard updates !

 

Can you confirm that there are no roast beef sandwiches to be found on this ship (sandwiches which I made a part of almost every lunch on the Allure and Oasis) ??

 

Tom

[John&LaLa]

John - thanks for all the onboard updates !

 

Can you confirm that there are no roast beef sandwiches to be found on this ship (sandwiches which I made a part of almost every lunch on the Allure and Oasis) ??

 

Tom

 

They do not make the Kumlwreck, that seems to only be on ships with a Park Cafe. Cafe Promenade does have a cold roast beef called King Arthur available most every day.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

They do not make the Kumlwreck, that seems to only be on ships with a Park Cafe. Cafe Promenade does have a cold roast beef called King Arthur available most every day.

 

Thanks for verifying that. I'm sure that - somehow - we'll still manage to have a splendid trip !

 

Tom

[John&LaLa]

Interesting, never had a customs person look at anything. I must not have a very flashy watch.

 

He seemed a little surly, and it was early. I hope his mood improved. BTW, I had an old picture of the watch on my phone that I could have shown him if push came to shove. It's really not that flashy

[John&LaLa]

And here she is headed out with new passengers. I hope they have as good a time as we did. Bon Voyage

 

[John&LaLa]

Just remembered something unusual. As we were headed back to cabin Friday evening, there was a security guy sitting outside of the last inside cabin across the hall from us. We asked if there was a problem and he said nope, not real big talkers. Anyway he was there the next morning and the door was ajar. Someone was there all day.

 

Finally on the way to dinner, they were switching shifts and we walked down the hall with him. I asked what was up, and he reluctantly said that the father had hurt someone and they were assigned to babysit a minor. At least that's what I think he said. I guess something either happened in Cozumel or on the ship and Daddy was incarcerated somewhere. Not sure about the mother, could have been traveling alone.

 

Anyway, it was very strange. I even offered to give him the cookies we were bringing back to room. He said no thanks :o

Edited June 28, 2015 by John&LaLa

[John&LaLa]

I have a few pictures from my Coolpix that i need to put on Shutterfly and then attach. I think I have some nice pics from Cabana. Never got many pics on my SLR, it was always fogging up in the morning. Does anyone want me to post any of the phone pics to shutterfly so you can see more detail than the thumbnails that i have been posting. Thanks again, and i will see you all around the boards :cool:

[basebare]

John, do you have menus for your week? Just trying to plan out my specialty dining nights. Thanks in advance for your help. We leave on the 12th and can't wait to finally have a vacation!

Patti

[John&LaLa]

John, do you have menus for your week? Just trying to plan out my specialty dining nights. Thanks in advance for your help. We leave on the 12th and can't wait to finally have a vacation!

Patti

 

Sorry, did not record that. They are fairly contstant though, that should be a pretty easy search

Edited June 29, 2015 by John&LaLa

[viperrtblck]

We bought matching Tag's on a cruise (claimed them) but it wasn't until a few cruises later that - while going through Customs - the agent looked at my watch and asked if I just bought it.

 

Another time we happened to purchase a couple of trinkets which came out to almost the exact amount allowable by customs (w/out duty). They asked for receipts - which were in our luggage somewhere. Got directed to the naughty room and had to dig through there and find them. Since that point I keep all receipts in my pants pocket during debarkation - and no doubt they'll never ask for them again !

 

Tom

 

what amount is allowable by customs when returning to the u.s., is it still 10,000? what happens and how does that work if that limit is exceeded?

[John&LaLa]

what amount is allowable by customs when returning to the u.s., is it still 10,000? what happens and how does that work if that limit is exceeded?

 

I thought it was $800. Ten thousand is the amount of cash you can travel with

[viperrtblck]

I thought it was $800. Ten thousand is the amount of cash you can travel with

 

what happens if 800 in purchases while abroad in that week is exceeded; one can easily do that with jewelry or a watch for example?

[John&LaLa]

what happens if 800 in purchases while abroad in that week is exceeded; one can easily do that with jewelry or a watch for example?

 

You will have to pay customs man unless the product was made in US. There may be higher limits for items bought in St Thomas and San Juan. I don't recall what the percentage is. Speak with shopping guide is my thought

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Yes - it's something like $800 pp. So that's $1,600 for a couple.

 

Any amount over that MAY result in having to cough up some cash (or credit card)! We had one where we claimed several thousand. We ended up paying something like $350 -- and they accepted credit cards... how convenient ! ;)

 

Having said that, there have been some customs agents who literally don't even look at the declarations form and just waive you on through. This occurred on our Alaska sailing on the Solstice a couple of weeks ago. Round trip from Seattle and we were to have a stop in Victoria, BC - but high winds scuttled those plans. Therefor we only visited US ports... made Customs a breeze!

 

Tom

[John&LaLa]

Looking forward to your review John. Please let us know how many folks are wearing shorts in the MDR at dinner, and most importantly, how many of those are dress shorts.;)

 

The sign abut dress code in MDR was very difficult to find :eek:

 

 

And slightly ambiguous :confused:

[John&LaLa]

Pics from our Cabana experience. You to can enjoy this for $175 and the proper credentials. Note my trusty beer bag