LIVE - Freedom of the Seas Transatlantic - Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale - Oct 22-Nov 5

[lifeishappening]

I have loved following along with your live review. Thank you for your effort + pics... although it frequently makes me hungry and envious - I am not on a cruise too. Enjoy the end of your cruise

 

Anyway hopefully we might meet on the symphony TA --Sam

 

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[goldgirl2]

I am on Deck 9 as well and have the exact same size of white space on the deck plan beside my room. It's some sort of closet which the room attendants use. It's not disturbing, although my room attendant tends to leave her cart right outside my room for easy closet access, so from about 9am onwards, and during evening turn-down, I can hear a little bit of clanging glasses, ice buckets, etc. But nothing awful! I think your kids will be just fine! :)

 

 

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Thank you for letting me know! I’m really going to miss reading your updates when the cruise is over.

 

 

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[bobert]

As another one of the lucky ones to be boarding tomorrow, I can't thank you enough for the care and effort you have put into this review. Having the opportunity to enjoy your cruise as I wait for mine, has been amazing. Thanks again and enjoy every minute you have.

[breezy_carol]

I see you making an unscheduled stop in Nassau. The decks are full of people watching.

[KelJ]

We are stopping in Nassau right now to drop someone off due to a medical emergency.

 

 

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[KelJ]

Pulling up to dock in Nassau next to Carnival Victory for medical emergency.

 

 

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[Palmetto Pilot]

Luckily you were close enough to Nassau!

[Newbcruiser1]

Hello from day 14 onboard the beautiful Freedom of the Seas!!! Today is our last day of the cruise, and our last sea day (although we did indeed make a 30 minute unscheduled stop).

 

 

 

 

 

I planned to sleep in today, but woke up earlier than planned. When I turned on the TV I noticed that our route had changed and we were heading further south.

 

 

Shortly after I took that picture, the captain made an announcement that we were heading at full speed for Nassau due to a medical emergency to drop off the "sickest patients". We were expected to arrive shortly after noon.

 

After taking a walk around the ship, I went to the Windjammer at the beginning of lunch to grab a small snack. They had some delicious bread (as usual) and all different butters including honey butter and truffle butter so I enjoyed that.

 

They also had this gigantic cake!

 

 

 

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[Newbcruiser1]

I then headed outside to watch our approach into Nassau.

 

The helipad was packed!

 

 

You can see Nassau and Paradise Island off in the distance:

 

 

 

The pilot boat approached:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Newbcruiser1]

More photos from our approach to Nassau:

 

 

 

 

I met a CC friend for lunch just as the MDR was closing.

 

I had the tutti salad bar:

 

 

And the burger. It was fabulous the first time I had it over a week ago. Unfortunately it wasn't very good this time. It was also missing the mushrooms which it was supposed to come with. On the upside, the fries were delicious!

 

 

I ordered the cherry custard crepes off the menu for dessert:

 

 

 

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[sgregel]

I have thoroughly enjoyed your review! I hope to do a transatlantic someday. This itinerary and time of year would be my choice. I was just on the President's Cruise on Freedom the week of Sept. 14th. I'm going to be on Freedom again 1/14/2018. Can't wait for the next cruise.

 

Thanks for sharing your cruise with us!

Sandy

[Canadian Tyler]

I'm now sitting in this strange "box" in the forward part of the solarium on a comfy couch (is this a new addition? I don't recall seeing this area on the sister ships!), watching the beginning of the sunset! Perfection!

 

 

 

 

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This is our favourite place to relax and hear the ocean sounds. Nice and relaxing, especially early in the cruise before many people find this spot.

[Newbcruiser1]

They had these little mousse cups on the dessert table at lunch. The green one didn't taste like mint, or anything else for that matter! The pink one was super sour and reminded me of one of the desserts they used to have on the old dinner menus that was like a frozen strawberry mousse - pretty good but a bit too sour.

 

 

We sailed out of Nassau just as we were closing down lunch in the MDR (literally - last ones in there). I got outside in time to see the pilot boat picking up the pilot!

 

 

Bye bye, Nassau! See ya next time (hopefully on a scheduled visit rather than an emergency stop!)

 

 

It was a beautiful, non-crowded afternoon at the pool! I had my choice of front row seats. I spent some time in the warmer main pool, as well as in the hot tub.

 

 

I had my last frappuccino freebie with a double shot of Baileys. Unfortunately for some reason they put it in a paper coffee cup so no pictures! I then headed off to pack and shower.

 

I bolted outside again just in time to see the sunset. It was beautiful!

 

 

 

 

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[Newbcruiser1]

I also enjoyed another Miami Vice.

 

 

 

 

After running back to the room to finish packing and get my suitcase outside, I went to the Farewell show. Unfortunately the guest performer wasn't very good (comedy/juggler). I went mostly to see all of the crew from different departments go up on stage. Unfortunately they just had video recordings of each team waving, and only had the singers, dancers, skaters, etc on stage.

 

 

After 1 last glass of wine in the diamond lounge, it was off to dinner in the MDR!

 

 

We started with our usual cheese plates on the table:

 

 

 

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[maryjaden]

Thank you so much for taking us along on your cruise. It it wonderfully done. A TA is on my bucket list.

[Newbcruiser1]

So over a week ago when trying to sell us our Chops dinner, our head waiter said that since we would be missing the night with rack of lamb, he would have it for us on the last night. Lamb shank was on the menu tonight but I actually don't like lamb shank. Not surprisingly, there was no rack of lamb or lamb chops to be seen! And our head waiter was a bit sparse! [emoji849]

 

I had a dinner of appetizers tonight! They were all incredible!

 

Eggplant and kalamata olive tartare (no olives but it was delicious!):

 

 

The scallops were NOT tiny bay scallops as listed on the menu! And better yet, our waiter combined several portions for each of us:

 

 

The onion soup was missing something but was okay:

 

 

Shrimp cocktail was good as usual:

 

 

Baked feta salad was great:

 

 

 

 

 

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[Newbcruiser1]

The suggested dessert tonight was key lime pie. I opted for apple pie a la mode instead, off the every night menu. It was good as usual:

 

 

The waiters did their usual final night song:

 

 

I am now in the silent disco for a bit - it's not very busy. I assume everyone is packing and making it an early night! The Allure of the Seas just passed us and we're within clear sight of land. I imagine we will get in quite early. Our scheduled arrival is at 4:00am, and all of the crew will need to clear immigration since it's a Transatlantic cruise before any passengers are allowed off. We will be docking at terminal 29 which is known to be one of the disorganized ones. Wish us luck! ;)

 

Coming up tomorrow - my last breakfast (I'm going to miss having these huge breakfasts!!!), disembarkation, and flying home!

 

Stay tuned for more!

 

 

 

 

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[kwazi07]

Let me know how T29 goes! When we sail away, Harmony will also be in port so we are definitely going to be using that terminal...

[Palmetto Pilot]

Let me know how T29 goes! When we sail away, Harmony will also be in port so we are definitely going to be using that terminal...

I’m getting on Freedom today. A quick google search shows nothing positive about Terminal 29.

[kwazi07]

I’m getting on Freedom today. A quick google search shows nothing positive about Terminal 29.

 

 

 

Oh, I know nothing official, but since the Oasis class ships have priority at T18 (the big one built for Oasis sized ships), whenever there is another RCI ship in addition to Oasis, they usually dock at T29.

 

 

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[rodenboy]

Thank you so much for taking us with you! I've really appreciated all the posts and loved all the pictures! I had to show my mum the water spout - she was very jealous you saw that.

 

Wishing you safe travels home and thank you again :)

 

 

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[Palmetto Pilot]

Oh, I know nothing official, but since the Oasis class ships have priority at T18 (the big one built for Oasis sized ships), whenever there is another RCI ship in addition to Oasis, they usually dock at T29.

 

 

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Oh no, Freedom is definitely at terminal 29. I meant after a quick web search no one had anything good to say about using terminal 29.

[kwazi07]

I’m getting on Freedom today. A quick google search shows nothing positive about Terminal 29.

 

 

 

Ahh, gotcha—sorry for the confusion!

 

I’m just hoping it’s better than our experience in Miami getting in Navigator in March. It was one of the slowest moving lines I have ever experienced. It also didn’t help we got there around 12:30 when everyone else was getting there.

 

I’m hoping to get to the port around 10:45 or 11. I’d rather wait because the ship isn’t ready than wait in line!

 

 

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[Ginlyn]

Thank you for taking us along on your transatlantic!!! Hoping to do one myself within the next couple of years. I enjoyed all your posts containing great information, as well as all your pictures. Well done!!!

[Realtor at Sea]

Enjoyed your voyage tremendously! Thanks for spending your valuable time to take us along!!!