***LIVE*** From the Carnival Freedom

[lsp]

Margaret:

 

Aug. 30 on the Splendor is the date we are going for also. It would be a blast if we were all there together. I guess Steve is back in Germany.

 

Linda

[Europebound]

Steve and I are also good for the 30th of August next year. He is working on getting more information and will be emailing our group. Hope Les and Joyce check their emails from abroad as we hope they'll be able to join us too. Marilyn

[suzy671]

Linda - are they thinking of putting a group together for the 30th?

[raynvic]

Hey Margaret, Steve, Marilyn, Steve, Meg, Linda, Tara and anyone else I missed. We are in for the Aug. 30th trip. Can't wait as we have never met a better group of Cruise critics.

 

I apologize for not finishing my Live posts about Livorno, but I will tell you we did a private tour with some of the above. We were in Pisa before 8 and practically had the place to ourselves. Our driver then took us to the Academia and took us right up front to get our reserved tickets. After 30 minutes he took us over to the Ufizzi area where the rest of what we wanted to do was. It was awesome, although the Ufizzi has some real problems to work out with their reservations. We ended up skipping that but found lots to shop (our only real shopping chance as the tours were intensive) and we actually sat at a little place and enjoyed a couple of glasses of Chiani.

 

To answer some of the questions, DCMom explains best how to get off the ship on your own. Go to Deck 1 and as soon as the ship is cleared you can get off on deck 0 and out before the tours.

 

Debarkation - One of our group arranged for a private driver at 6 a.m. We have never done self assist and so we were really nervous, but we took our luggage onto the empty elevator and down the gangplank with no problem. The driver showed up, the 6 of us climbed in and made it to the airport in about 45 minutes. We had to wait for the AA counters to open up at 8 and then they wouldn't take our luggage until 9 but no problem, we beat the Carnival busses and it cost us about half the amount.

 

We always travel with a power strip and a small fan. It came in very handy with the laptop, fan and curling iron. You can manage like Janet says, but it was easier to just take the strip.

 

There are ATM's almost everywhere. I used the one in Rhodes and paid $1.34 for Euros. We used an ATM in Sorrento, Rhodes and Athens. If I remember correctly there is one right after you get off the plane in the airport or very close to baggage claim, can't quite remember.

 

Linda, I agree, I am not sure Carnival is ready for the Mikey and Raymon show part 2, but I fear there is nothing you and I can do about it, they seem to be cut from the same cloth!

 

Those of you who are Platinum, this was our first Platinum and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The best part was the laundry. I packed 4 sets of clothes for days, 2 formals, 2 dress pants and 4 dress tops. DH packed everything in his closet which is bigger than mine. I sent laundry 4 times. We did have to repack 3 times to make sure our bags were under limit to come home. Wish I could say DH learned something, but I doubt it!

 

I hope all of you have as much fun as we had on this trip. It is an awesome itenerary. Ciao Vicky

[summerdays]

Hi, Margaret, Ray & Vic

 

Thanks a million for your detailed sharing!

 

Margaret, thanks for answering specifically on getting off the ship

for private excursions and on the last day! You've mentioned that

you don't foresee any problem even if we are to let Carnival handle our luggage and get off the ship at 8.45a.m.

 

Does it mean Carnival would just continue to hold our luggage on trust in one of the tents till we pick them up at a later time? Bcos we don't want a situation that our luggage get transferred to some Lost n Found section. : )

 

We are really excited and looking forward to the trip!

[dbh62ark]

Just got home from that long plane ride and am semi-dead. I will start with the only bad spot on our cruise. We had booked the San Giamano & Sienna tour with Limos of Rome. Originally for 6 and changed to 8 around December. I had my e-mail confirmation and guess what, they had a van for 6 and we were told to decide which two weren't going or find a taxi. Their words, not ours. Apparently a mix-up on their part. After haggling we went to find a taxi for 8, found one & then the Limo' guy shows back up making a show arranging the taxi driver to help him out by driving us. We went our seperate way and had a great time. When we paid for the tour we made it clear that we were paying him, not Limos in Rome. Diego, the taxi driver, said Limo told him to bring a percentage because he sent our business to him. Of course this was in Italain between the two so we didn't hear it but had idea that something was transpiring. My DH and others were livid. We made it clear that we solicited him on our on after being dumped by Limo's & the money was definetly his. Sienna & San Giamano was absolutely fantastic. You could spend a week there just exploring.

Linda

I'm glad to hear that you had a great trip. One of the board members from the Europe boards directed me to this warning. We're confused about the name of the tour company. Is it Rome in Limo that is listed on these boards? (I can't find any information for Limos of Rome.) I know you wrote the message when you were tired so would love some clarification.

 

Thanks,

Donna

[JanfrWA]

We are sailing on June 6th with two other couples and we have three aft balcony cabins. Can anyone tell us what the dividers look like between the balconies? Are they solid or clear? Are they removable?

 

Any pros or cons that we should be aware of?

 

Thank you in advance !

 

Janet

[terri910]

I'm glad to hear that you had a great trip. One of the board members from the Europe boards directed me to this warning. We're confused about the name of the tour company. Is it Rome in Limo that is listed on these boards? (I can't find any information for Limos of Rome.) I know you wrote the message when you were tired so would love some clarification.

 

Thanks,

Donna

When I googled limoinrome I got this:

http://www.limoinrome.com/

 

I don't know if that's the company they were talking about or not, though. It can be confusing!

[Europebound]

We are sailing on June 6th with two other couples and we have three aft balcony cabins. Can anyone tell us what the dividers look like between the balconies? Are they solid or clear? Are they removable?

 

Any pros or cons that we should be aware of?

 

Thank you in advance !

 

Janet

 

Janet:

We were on the April 19th sailing of the Freedom in an aft cabin on the Veranda deck. The dividers between the balconies are solid, but we were told when we were on the Liberty in 2005 that they could be removed if requested. So, I assume they could also be removed on the Freedom if guests want. I do not know if you have to request this in advance or can wait until you are onboard. Maybe somebody else can answer that. There is enough room to converse without removing the dividers, but if you wanted to walk between the cabins on the balconies, you'd need to remove them. Being right under the lido deck, we could hear chairs being moved above, but it wasn't enough to bother us. Also, we could feel ship vibrations in the aft, but again, this did not bother us. We love the aft cabins and will continue to book them if we can. Have a wonderful trip. You are in for a real treat, Marilyn

[JanfrWA]

Thanks Marilyn for the quick response. I truly appreciate the information.

 

I will check into the divider issue further to see if they are removable.

 

Thanks again, we are very excited to sail!

 

Janet

[7toEleven]

Janet;

 

We are the Murphy's from Yelm, Washington (use to live up at Lake Tapps until we moved here 3 and 1/2 years ago). We are on the May 25th sailing of the Freedom.

 

This big world at times is made much smaller isn't it? Hope you and your family have a great trip!

 

Margi

[JanfrWA]

Yes it is!

 

We ran into friends on St. Thomas - turned out we were both on the same cruise - but hadn't told each other we were even going when we had talked just a month before! I also ran into a classmate in Alaska who was on another ship!

 

I was in Yelm about a week ago showing houses! I think the buyers are going to focus on Roy or Graham tho.

 

Get that ship all warmed up for us ~ ok;) ?? We'll wave as you disembark and we stand in line to get on !

 

Maybe we can get together afterwards and share photos!

 

jmillersargent@aol.com

 

Janet

[7toEleven]

Janet;

Funny, a poster on the thread for the May 13th cruise said the same thing to the previous group (they would be waving to those getting off, while they were waiting to get on). And I thought, wow, when the 13th cruise gets off we will be waiting to get on, that sounded so much nicer. And now, here it is someone from my home town will be waving as we get off. I'm sure we will be sad it is over, but this is a big trip, lots of ports, lots to see and we will be gone for 2 and 1/2 weeks. I'm sure we will be exhausted with LOTS of wonderful memories. Our family and friends will be sick of hearing about it!

Good luck on your buyer for the Roy area. As you know the properties out hear (as well as other areas) are really growing. The growth is certainly coming this way. As I'm sure you saw, a Wal-Mart is being built in tiny litte Yelm (some are happy, others are not!).

Sharing pictures and stores would be a great idea!

Patmargi@aol.com

Have fun with your pre-cruise planning, that is sooo much part of the adventure! We (my sister and her husband, with my husband) booked this cruise almost 1 year ago. And now, here it is just around the corner!

Ciao'

Margi

[dcmom]

Hi Linda - it's great that you guys are going on the Aug 30 sailing also. We had a great time with this group and really enjoyed meeting you and Mike.It will be such fun to plan a new cruise and will keep us lonely ladies occupied :) Yes - Steve is back in Germany but will be home for good July 11. Steve and I were sorry when we realized you left a day early and we didn't get a chance to say goodby but now we don't have to!

[lizzy77]

We were on back to back cruises on the Spirit and they folded back all the dividers to clean the balconies at the end of the first cruise so I can't see why they couldn't open them up for you if you requested it

[terri910]

I'm sure this has been asked and answered previously, but I'm not good at the search function on this forum at all, so I'm going to ask it anyway.

 

On the Mediterranean & Greek Isles itinerary of the Freedom, which days at sea are the formal nights?

 

I seem to remember that the first day at sea (after Naples, before Rhodes) is the first formal night. I also seem to remember that it tends to be the "more formal" of the two formal nights.

 

But when is the 2nd formal night? Between Istanbul & Athens or between Katakolon & Livorno?

[jkeller527]

it was the second sea day. Keep in mind that the CD changes things all the time but that is when we had it. Course by the second sea day everyone was so pooped that no one really went formal that night. We were all glad that we werent wearing pajamas.

[Cruising Retired Army SGM]

I have been told the the two Formal nights on the Carnival Freedom were on the 1st Fun Day at Sea and the 3rd Fun Day at Sea. I hope someone will post on what are the correct dates. I plan on doing the Sun King Supper Club on our 2nd Fun Day at Sea.

[terri910]

I have been told the the two Formal nights on the Carnival Freedom were on the 1st Fun Day at Sea and the 3rd Fun Day at Sea. I hope someone will post on what are the correct dates. I plan on doing the Sun King Supper Club on our 2nd Fun Day at Sea.

Figuring out when we want to do the Sun King Supper Club is one of the reason we'd like to know which sea days are the formal ones, also!

[Maryutah]

I have been told the the two Formal nights on the Carnival Freedom were on the 1st Fun Day at Sea and the 3rd Fun Day at Sea. I hope someone will post on what are the correct dates. I plan on doing the Sun King Supper Club on our 2nd Fun Day at Sea.

 

You are correct, for us there were three sea days, Saturday, Wednesday and Saturday - the formal nights were on Saturday and Saturday.

We too planned on doing the SUpperclub on Wednesday, but loved our wait staff so much and the food, we decided to save the $ for Casino and ate ate in dinning room most nights (think we missed one, due to being so tired). There were 7 of us, so we had one table for us all - which was nice!

[SitkaGal]

Figuring out when we want to do the Sun King Supper Club is one of the reason we'd like to know which sea days are the formal ones, also!

 

The formal nights are the 1st and 3rd sea days. We booked the Sun King for the 2nd sea day (between Istanbul and Athens)...ask for a table on the starboard (right) side...the sunset can be quite spectacular!

 

Cheers!

[okteach_61]

I have a question that might seem dumb, but here goes... how is it determined which cruises are are Cruise Critic Member cruises? We are on the Oct. 28th from Rome to Miami and it's not listed as one.

[Cruising Retired Army SGM]

I have a question that might seem dumb, but here goes... how is it determined which cruises are are Cruise Critic Member cruises? We are on the Oct. 28th from Rome to Miami and it's not listed as one.

 

I tried to copy and paste it to the message board but the computer would not let me so I will try to explain how you fine it. Go to the top of this thread and at the top left you will see Home. Right below that you will see a link Cruise Critic Message Board. Just click on this and it will open a new page. Scroll down a little and you will see all the all the different cruise lines and all that have Cruise Ctitic Member Cruises.

[relayforlife]

I found an internet cafe in Dubrovnik so thought I'd say hello.

Cruise is going well.

Venice was amazing even though it poured the first day. Yesterday was very nice.

Today the weather is great. I just finished walking the wall of the old city.

Tour of Vatican Museums in Rome was so good. When I get home I will post the name of the company I used.

Yesterday we went to Burano...what a beautiful island.

At sea tomorrow and then to Messina.

Pompeii was fantastic!

All for now.

Marilynn

[summerdays]

Hi, Marilynn

 

Good to hear from you, and thank you for taking tme to post whilst

"on the road"!

 

Wow! I am so glad to hear that you're enjoying the trip. : )

 

Have fun!

 

Fiona