Our S2S Adventure - Freedom / Spirit (with pics) - 1/7/23

[Jamman54]

I met Patti back at the cabin, and from there we went to the Diamond Party, which was held at Scott’s Piano Bar…..

 

 

 

 

We sat with our Cruise Critic friends Cindy and Jerry (2Shoes2Go)……

 

 

The drinks just kept coming and coming……

 

 

The snacks were delicious…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued……

[Jamman54]

Captain Mario Imbimbo and Cruise Director James Love posed for pictures with me…..

 

 

 

Many of the other officers stopped by to chat…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a partial group photo of the officers…..

 

 

A great time was had by all. Afterwards, I went up to the casino and Patti went to lay out on our balcony as it was a beautiful day…..

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Patti went to capture the Dr. Seuss Parade and Story Time…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Meanwhile, back at the casino, I had picked up my free $25 in Fun Chips and then played blackjack for a couple of hours, winning a couple of hundred. Not a bad start. I celebrated with a Guy’s Burger, and a couple of Thirsty Frog Wheat’s. Back to the cabin for a little nap.

 

Around 7pm we decided to head to the Deli for something to eat. I had a BLT and fries…..

 

 

Patti had a Southwest wrap, and got herself some spaghetti carbonara from the buffet line…..

 

 

We made our way down to the Alchemy Bar to hang out with Zora from Serbia for a while…..

 

 

Alchemy Bar menus for the uninitiated….

 

 

 

Tonight is Ladies Night!

 

 

Zora made Patti this Chocolate Coconut Crunch drink…..

 

 

I started with a Pain Relief and finished with a couple of Raspberry Martinis…..

 

 

 

The plan was to go watch Jersey’s 10:30 18+ comedy show, but they started lining up a little after 9pm, and by 9:30 the line had snaked past the Alchemy Bar. No way that we were waiting in that line. We hung out at the Alchemy Bar until 10:30, and then called it a night. Here is tonight’s towel animal…..

 

 

Coming up next: A pool cabana type of day at Amber Cove!

[Princess Cruiser27]

I'm in for a couple of Martini's. The food looks delicious. 

[pirate4me2]

Chocolate Coconut Crunch? Yes please! That’s right up my alley!!

[soccersharon]

A little late to the party!  Freedom was our first ship back, last March.  Great ship and crew!  Looking forward to the rest.

[Elsammo46]

21 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

Patti steps into Cherry on Top……

 

 

 

 

 

Patti checks out the Sun King Steakhouse…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued……  

Something about those older ships seems so much more elegant than the new ones 

[jedi bobs]

Loving the review as usaual.  Tell Patty that Ann and I said Hi.

BTW Hi to you too Jeff.

 

[Jamman54]

10 hours ago, soccersharon said:

A little late to the party!  Freedom was our first ship back, last March.  Great ship and crew!  Looking forward to the rest.

 

No worries, as we're just getting started. Glad to have you aboard! 

 

1 hour ago, jedi bobs said:

Loving the review as usaual.  Tell Patty that Ann and I said Hi.

BTW Hi to you too Jeff.

 

 

Great to have you along for the ride. Hope all is well with you and Ann! 

[Jamman54]

Hey Gang! I'm using today as a behind the scenes day. I promise to get you to Amber Cove tomorrow. Get the sunscreen ready! 

[TennesseeTater]

14 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

Hey Gang! I'm using today as a behind the scenes day. I promise to get you to Amber Cove tomorrow. Get the sunscreen ready! 

Hey Jeff, great job as always. Looking forward to the rest !  

[Jamman54]

7 hours ago, TennesseeTater said:

Hey Jeff, great job as always. Looking forward to the rest !  

Always great to have you along for the ride! What have you guys been up too? 

[Jamman54]

 

Day # 6  -  (January 9^th)  -  Amber Cove  (10:30  -  6:30).

 

We are up to a beautiful sunny and warm day. The seas were a little “bumpy” last night, perfect for sleeping! Here are the views from our balcony as the Freedom makes her way to the Dominican Republic, and Amber Cove…..

 

 

 

The moon is still visible high in the sky…….

 

 

 

Here are today’s “Fun Times”……

 

 

 

Today we will have our usual Pool Cabana at Amber Cove. We decided to not have breakfast this morning and have lunch later in the cabana. I spent some time working on pictures for the review, while Patti caught up on some reading. Soon the Freedom was approaching the Dominican Republic…..

 

 

 

In the distance you could see the Carnival Horizon already docked at Amber Cove…..

 

 

 

To be continued….

[Jamman54]

Patti took these long-range shots as we approached Amber Cove and the Carnival Horizon…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some coastline views…..

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Here are some views as Captain Imbimbo spins the Freedom around in order to back into our berth…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Freedom begins to back into her berth…..

 

 

They will begin clearing the pier for our arrival…..

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

The Carnival Freedom slowly backs into her berth…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The pedi-cabs are waiting for passengers. It’s a long pier, so we always use them for the cost of a tip…..

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[ShakyBeef]

37 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

The pedi-cabs are waiting for passengers. It’s a long pier, so we always use them for the cost of a tip…..

 

 

Ah, thanks for the memories.  We put our two teenage DDs in a pedicab, so they could have the luxury/fun of the experience, and DH and I walked behind them.  I'm waiting to see if you got the same Poolside Cabana as we did.🙂

[Jamman54]

We are just about in position……

 

 

 

We slowly glide by the Havana area on the Horizon. I love that area……

 

 

 

They are getting the ship tied up…..

 

 

 

We are docked at 10:15. While we wait for clearance, Patti gets these pictures of the Ocean and Hilltop Cabanas. We have zero interest in renting those…..

 

 

 

 

We are off the ship at 10:45. We choose #11 to pedal us to the end of the pier. Well worth the $10 tip!

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

After being dropped off at the end of the pier, you go through the duty free store and into the Plaza, where you check in for your cabana……

 

 

 The VIP Area Supervisor Carlos recognizes us and takes us over to our Pool Cabana. We’ve been here about a half dozen times, and every time we get the Pool Cabanas. We’ve been in #’s 1 & 2 before, but this time we are given # 4……

 

 

 

Here are Carlos and me…..

 

 

Here are a couple of cabana views…..

 

 

 

 

These are the included snacks and drinks…..

 

 

 

 

Our server today is Nataly. We’ve had her several times in the past…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Nataly runs and gets me a bucket of Presidente beer…..

 

 

A couple of deck views including the included pool floats and noodles…..

 

 

 

This is the view from our deck…..

 

 

 

Patti is ready to start her picture tour, so she heads down the steps. Warning! Those black anti slip strips get red hot in the sun. Don’t forget the flip flops!

 

 

Here in the VIP area, if you don’t want to go for a cabana, you can rent cushioned loungers, umbrella, pool noodles, & floats for about a $100, and get great food and bar service to boot…..

 

 

I'm going to hang out up here for a couple of beers and then head to the pool.....

 

 

 

Patti starts with the water slide…..

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued……

[Jamman54]

Great view from the top of the water slide…..

 

 

Here are a couple of views of the Hilltop Cabanas…..

 

 

 

Patti has made it up to the Sky Bar where the views are fantastic…..

 

 

Here she is looking towards the ships……

 

 

 

 

 

Looking where the shore excursions depart from…..

 

 

Looking down at the Ocean Cabanas and the Pier Bar…..

 

 

 

 

To be continued……

[mlshum]

So excited to have found your review!  I love a Jamman review!!  I haven’t been on the boards for a couple of days and really needed a Jamman review to get me through until we get to head out on Sunshine on Saturday,

[LaRue1975]

I am thoroughly enjoying your review as usual, thank you! Super excited to see the Amber Cove Cabanas, you sold me on them in a previous review. I recently booked a back to back on the Celebration for May 2024 and the first thing I did was check for the cabanas and they were already available. I couldn’t get one it my cart fast enough, lol!. Oh, and I also have my Mahogany Bay Beach Cabana coming up in April thanks to you, can’t wait! 

[Megan_Strick]

12 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

Great view from the top of the water slide…..

 

 

Here are a couple of views of the Hilltop Cabanas…..

 

 

 

Patti has made it up to the Sky Bar where the views are fantastic…..

 

 

Here she is looking towards the ships……

 

 

 

 

 

Looking where the shore excursions depart from…..

 

 

Looking down at the Ocean Cabanas and the Pier Bar…..

 

 

 

 

To be continued……

Not sure what the appeal of those cabanas are? Not sure I would get in that water. It looks yucky like the water at the beach where I live.