Live From The Carnival Freedom: Crossing the Atlantic for a New Whale Tail

[jam19872016]

Tonight's menu is a new one. Unless you have sailed on Mardi Gras or Celebration then it may look familiar. 

 

[jam19872016]

Seared tuna at 615.

 

 

arancini got missed but it's on the way. 

[jam19872016]

Yum 😋 tuna was good.

 

Very fresh and some kind of spice made it a little spicy.

 

Arancini arrived at 620.

 

[jam19872016]

Arancini was also very good. Again a little heat to it which I appreciate. 

 

Meals are here 626.

 

Veal marsala and grilled fish. 

 

 

[Mommapadraig]

14 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

Yum 😋 tuna was good.

 

Very fresh and some kind of spice made it a little spicy.

 

Arancini arrived at 620.

 

Looks delicious! Arancini is one of my favorites. 

[jam19872016]

Veal was delicious. This is the only presentation of it I've found I like. I also get it at cucina.

 

The fish I would pass on. Pretty bland. 

 

Lemon frozen torte 637.

 

[jam19872016]

The torte was not as good as I remember but still good. My mom did not care for it so I inherited an extra.

[jam19872016]

Can't stop the feeling 🎶 

 

[jam19872016]

Onward towards Europe. 

 

[jam19872016]

2 hours ago, MLB1828 said:

Thank you sooooooooooooooooooo much for all the details! You are giving me great ideas for what to make sure I don’t forget (I love that you noted that your “mobile cocktail device” can double as a water bottle. Lolololol).

 

I’m saving all the menu pics and what’s going on pics to reference once my brain goes into “cruise mode” and I can’t get any real work done! I love seeing all the activities that are unique to longer journeys cruises, as this is my first longer trip, I was wondering what  they’d fill up the sea days with exactly. 
 

super random question, and maybe you’ve addressed it and I missed it, but any idea what the crew is doing while she’s in dry dock? Is it the same folks (mostly) on the return trip? 

Most of the crew I've spoken to said they will remain onboard helping with the dry dock work. I imagine there will be a little more downtime but they have said there is lots of work they will be involved with.

 

Thanks for following along, good luck keeping your brain out of cruise mode 🤪

[jam19872016]

1 hour ago, Mommapadraig said:

Looks delicious! Arancini is one of my favorites. 

Mine too! This was very good. I am pretty sure it is the same recipe they use at the upcharge Cucina just in a smaller portion size.

[MeganGC1983]

On 9/19/2023 at 3:05 PM, jam19872016 said:

I'll be on the lookout 👀.  Do you know what bar? 

 

I've heard from the crew that Thursday will be a huge turn over day for the crew.

I will ask. I’m guessing Red Frog or casino. 

[MeganGC1983]

On 9/23/2023 at 5:45 PM, grandmacani said:

Thanks for the commentary. We will be there for the trip back. We’ve been to all of the ports for the return so it will be a chill cruise. 
 

My brother in law will be on that cruise with you. Enjoy!

[jam19872016]

2 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

My brother in law will be on that cruise with you. Enjoy!

Still room to join us. You won't run into any of the people issues you had on Celebration.  Interline rates are super cheap for this one.

[MeganGC1983]

12 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

Still room to join us. You won't run into any of the people issues you had on Celebration.  Interline rates are super cheap for this one.

I wanted to especially once Aris got scheduled on her but I can’t leave my kids that long. Sigh 

[jam19872016]

Grabbed a cruiser from casino. Drink service there slowing down.

 

At the red frog listening to variety music with Tio Phil Rock.

 

 

Losing my religion 🎶 

[jam19872016]

Tried to trick the system and get two drinks but five minutes apart. There are plenty of servers walking by, just takes forever for them to come back.

 

Not working, still took forever to get my drinks.

 

I'll definitely be opening up the mobile bar tomorrow.

 

At the piano bar now. Probably done after these two drinks (1.5 now) and if I do want another I'll hit alchemy. 

 

Tennessee Whiskey 🎶 

[HeyJut]

Do you or your mom play bingo at all? On my b2b on Freedom last month and I went to the first one on the first day. The fun squad member doing it was so annoying I never went back, and I usually go to quite a few of them. Unfortunately, that meant I spent more time in the casino. On the first day I won a thousand dollars. It went totally downhill from there. 😩

 

Btw I remember reading some of your earlier reviews when they first got those yummy cakes at the Buffet. This was my first time on a carnival cruise in five years so the first time to try those cakes. Thank goodness I didn’t have the scale with me. You were right they are so good.

[jam19872016]

2 minutes ago, HeyJut said:

Do you or your mom play bingo at all? On my b2b on Freedom last month and I went to the first one on the first day. The fun squad member doing it was so annoying I never went back, and I usually go to quite a few of them. Unfortunately, that meant I spent more time in the casino. On the first day I won a thousand dollars. It went totally downhill from there. 😩

 

Btw I remember reading some of your earlier reviews when they first got those yummy cakes at the Buffet. This was my first time on a carnival cruise in five years so the first time to try those cakes. Thank goodness I didn’t have the scale with me. You were right they are so good.

We do not. Bingo was super popular on the short cruises. The lineup for it was massive. I haven't noticed long lines for it with the journey crowd so far. Not to say it's not there, I just haven't happened to be walking past during sign ups.

 

I played Bingo on my first cruise back in 2012, and won. I don't think I've played since.

 

Casino has been brutal, I haven't bothered to play very much. It is jam packed this cruise. Between Elite and other casino offers, this cruise is mostly filled with casino peeps. I am hoping enough of them will burn through their bankroll soon and start clearing some room for me to play and get a drink quickly.

 

Those cakes are so good. I wish I could try them all but I always seem to gravitate to the same ones. So far the only ones I have not liked are the German chocolate cake they have every day, and the soya custard tarte.

[jam19872016]

Southwest chicken wrap from the deli. No line...won't find that on a regular cruise.

 

 

[jam19872016]

Back in the room now and calling it a night.

 

It's been an exhausting, but great day. Bermuda was gorgeous and I can't wait to share some pics with you - but they truly won't do it justice.

 

We lose another hour tonight so we will be two hours ahead of Eastern time tomorrow. Walk with Andy is at 11 so I would like to be up for that, but I won't be mad if I sleep through it - my walk around Bermuda has me ready for a good long night's sleep.

 

Good night everone.

[jam19872016]

Good morning everyone. 

 

Still didn't sleep great thanks to my sunburn. It's not terrible but just bad enough to be uncommon to lay on.

 

Today is the first of four sea days which was the point last year I questioned if I could handle that many sea days in a row.

 

I think this year will be better. The entertainment was less robust last year, the internet went down, and the TV went down.

 

 Now would be the point for the TV and internet to go down as we reach the middle of the Atlantic. I'll let you know if I notice any slow downs or outages. 

 

The ship is rocking a little bit this morning but nothing too bad at this point.

 

Guess I will get ready and have a little breakfast before the dining room closes.

[Mommapadraig]

12 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

Good morning everyone. 

 

Still didn't sleep great thanks to my sunburn. It's not terrible but just bad enough to be uncommon to lay on.

 

Today is the first of four sea days which was the point last year I questioned if I could handle that many sea days in a row.

 

I think this year will be better. The entertainment was less robust last year, the internet went down, and the TV went down.

 

 Now would be the point for the TV and internet to go down as we reach the middle of the Atlantic. I'll let you know if I notice any slow downs or outages. 

 

The ship is rocking a little bit this morning but nothing too bad at this point.

 

Guess I will get ready and have a little breakfast before the dining room closes.

Good morning! Hope you have something to put on that burn. We are card players so we love sea days. Our favorite cruises are transatlantic. 

[jam19872016]

1 minute ago, Mommapadraig said:

Good morning! Hope you have something to put on that burn. We are card players so we love sea days. Our favorite cruises are transatlantic. 

Totally unprepared. I'm not really an outside person so I didn't think to pack sunscreen or aloe.

 

I didn't need it in Europe in late August last year so hopefully I will be in the clear until I hit Bermuda again on the return.

[jam19872016]

Breakfast.