Review - Freedom OTS - June 24

[Cuizer2]

My review of the Freedom of the Seas, June 24 to July 1, western Caribbean itinerary, has been published. You can read it if you are interested by clicking on the link below. The review is fairly long, about 13 type written pages ...

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=30442

[Sandytoes]

Yes, Cuizer your review is quit long. It was objectively and fairly written.

 

I also enjoyed the Dunn’s River Falls.

 

As for your comment

Basically after paying $12,000 for the cabin for a week I expected to be treated like I was special. Quite frankly I did not feel I was treated any better than someone who paid less then half of what I paid. So, why should I pay extra for nothing?

.

. I know I expected a little something extra and I suspect that so did my sister. It is disappointing when expectations are not met.

Exactly what special treatment were you anticipating?

 

It goes to show ya, sometimes you don't always get what you think you paid for.

[Cuizer2]

I expected that any problems would be taken care off after only one request. I expected to have easy access to the Concierge. I expected the Concierge to return my calls. I expected priority disembarkation. I did not expect a balcony full of soot.

 

It is these little things that in the end are no big deal, but are disappointing when for $5,500 less, I had none of these problems on the Carnival Pride in May 2004 (when we were in two cat 11 suites).

[It'sRC4ME]

"Quite frankly I did not feel I was treated any better than someone who paid less then half of what I paid. "

 

I totally understand your frustration - I think everyone should be able to expect swift resolution of problems and returned phone calls - but honestly, I love the fact that once I leave my inside cabin on deck 2 no-one treats me like I'm from the cheap seats.

[ilovecruises1972]

Hi Cuzier thank you for the balcony photos great review i enjoyed reading it. It sounds like you had a blast i hope we have some laughs like that. what cracked us up was the kid pulling out his own name.I have a question or 2 sorry. Is the Limo expensive? And can you walk from the hotel to to the bayside market? Im still excited and on the edge waiting for you to post the Suite and Pics. The ones you showed were so nice and clear and you seem to have a good eye.:) Happy Cruising

[Cuizer2]

Hi Cuzier thank you for the balcony photos great review i enjoyed reading it. It sounds like you had a blast i hope we have some laughs like that. what cracked us up was the kid pulling out his own name.I have a question or 2 sorry. Is the Limo expensive? And can you walk from the hotel to to the bayside market? Im still excited and on the edge waiting for you to post the Suite and Pics. The ones you showed were so nice and clear and you seem to have a good eye.:) Happy Cruising

 

I am almost ready to post the inside photos of the cabin.

 

The limo, which had enough luggage room for all the luggage the six of us had was around $150. If you have only two to four people you could get away with a smaller (and less expensive) limo. I didn't get any outside photos of the limo, but my brother-in-law did. We will exchange photos soon.

 

From the Intercontinental to the Bayside is about 3 - 4 blocks. Less than 1/2 mile. I walked it in Aug 2004 and we (all except my brother-in-law - I don't remember what he was doing) walked there any back prior to boarding the ship. I have pictures of the area I can post also.

[crusinmama06]

Great review. And after seeing your pics of the balcony I have to say that the GS and OS on Freedom was MUCH better than the RFS. Yes we didn't have the room, but we paid $6,000 less. We had a soot free large balcony with a beautiful unobstructed view. And we WERE treated royally...no doubt. :D

[Cuizer2]

Is the Limo expensive?

 

Look what I found ...

 

The reservation is confirmed , you don't have to do anything the driver

will

meet you at the airport

Thank you

 

-----Original Message-----

From: me

Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 12:38 PM

To: INFO@alpine-limo.com

Subject: RE: Reservation Confirmation Res # xxxxxx

 

Just want to confirm that you will have a car at the Miami Airport when

Delta flight # 912 arrives on Saturday, June 23. Is there anything I

need

to do before that time?

 

 

>From: INFO@alpine-limo.com

>To: me

>Subject: Reservation Confirmation Res # xxxxxx

>Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 15:51:28 -0500 (CDT)

>

>

>

>Please review your reservation

>

>

>--------------------------------------

>

> Confirmation Code: ALPLIMO-xxxxxx

>

>

> Client Name: me

>

>

> Passenger Name: me

>

> Pass Phone: my work #

>

> Home: my home #

>

> Mobile: my cell phone #

>

> Ordered by: my work #

>

>

>

> Special Requests: 4 adults + 2 children plus luggage for a cruise.

>Quoted $144.20 (including tolls & tips) by Luke on May 17, 2007.

>

> Vehicle Type: 10 pass

>

>

> Pickup Address: MIA - Miami International

>

> Airline: DAL Delta Airlines

>

> Flight #: 912

>

> Pickup City:

>

> Pickup State:

>

> Pickup Zip:

>

> City Arriving From: Atlanta

>

>Stops:

>

> Dropoff Address: Intercontinental Hotel

>

>

> Dropoff City: Miami

>

> Dropoff State: FL

>

> Dropoff Zip: 33131

>

>

> Pickup Date: Saturday, June 23, 2007

>

> Pickup time: 04:30 PM / [16:30]

>

>

> Duration: 1

>

>

>

> Charges Summary:

>

> 1 Hours $95.00

>

> Gratuity @ 20% $21.00

>

>

>

> Service Charge $11.34

>Airport/Seaport Fee $10.00

>Fuel charge $6.87

>

>

> Total Amount $144.21

>

>

>

>--------------------------------------

>

>Thank you,

>

>Alpine Limousine Inc.

>

>http://alpine-limo.com

>

>INFO@ALPINE-LIMO.COM

>

>Phone: 954-455-7300

>

>Fax: 954-208-0505

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> =======================================

>

> POLICIES:

>

>

>

>Any deposits (cash, checks or credit card authorization) are

non-refundable

 

>for any reason, if any cancellation occurs from renter's side. All

>Cancellations from Renter's are subject to be billed in full once

>reservation is made unless vehicle is re-rented at equivalent revenue.

>

>The open balance is due immediately at the beginning of the agreed job.

The

 

>renter authorizes the immediate 50% deposit & the final payment, states

>that she/he is the authorized purchaser for this rental contract, the

>authorized cardholder for the given credit card, responsible and liable

for

 

>payment of the total amount, per cash, credit card or money order. If

>paying with credit card at the time of pickup we need the credit card,

>state identification of the purchaser that authorizes the transaction

for

>the signed contract unless other arrangements are made. No personal or

>business checks will be accepted.

>

>

I paid by credit card when the car picked us up.

[ilovecruises1972]

Thank you Cuizer2 , wooohoo i cant wait:D i have a very long wait:( but it makes it exciting

[Cuizer2]

Okay, now some inside photos ...

 

The door ...

 

 

This is what you see when you are on the other side of the door ...

 

 

And this is what you see when you are at the end of the hall, looking at the door, wondering where the rest of the cabin is ...

 

 

I cannot believe I did not take any photos of the sitting room without the bed open and nobody in it. So this will have to do (note, we had to blind fold all the kids) ...

 

 

And someone asked about bathroom amenities. This is what I found ...

 

[Cuizer2]

Here is the sitting room with the bed open and nobody in the room (except me - I'm behind the camera) ...

 

 

 

The fruit basket is one of the gifts we received from the ship.

 

Inside bedroom ...

 

 

The kids were on the bed when the cabin steward opened it. Everyone was surprised, but they promised not to cause any trouble, so we let them stay. I think they come with the room.

 

Smaller bathroom ...

 

 

Small bathroom shower ...

 

[Cuizer2]

Desk area in second bedroom ...

 

 

Master bedroom desk ...

 

 

Master bedroom ...

 

 

Master shower/tub ...

 

 

Second (hidden) balcony with landing pad for special transportation to and from the islands at tender ports (for the PS and RFS only) ...

 

[ilovecruises1972]

Thank you soooo much Cuizer the pics were great, now i know what we are in for lol . Ok just a couple of questions :o .

Does the small room have a closet we have 3 adult guys that will be sleeping in that room?

My Dad will have the couch is it comfortable?

Does the Luggage fit under the bed like Carnivals?

Thanks again . Mia

[ilovecruises1972]

oh i forgot how do you get to that landing pad i would love just to sit there and enjoy the ocean. Thanks again

[Cuizer2]

Thank you soooo much Cuizer the pics were great, now i know what we are in for lol . Ok just a couple of questions :o .

Does the small room have a closet we have 3 adult guys that will be sleeping in that room?

My Dad will have the couch is it comfortable?

Does the Luggage fit under the bed like Carnivals?

Thanks again . Mia

 

As far as I could tell the luggage does fit under the beds. I didn't try it. I packed light because I was sharing with so many other people. When I ended up with a bedroom all to myself, I found it was easier to just leave the suitcase on the table. But I did not see any other luggage laying around, and since it looks like the kind of set up where the luggage can be stored under the bed, I just assume that is where everyone else put their luggage.

 

The small bedroom does have a closet, but it is in the hallway near the door. I kept banging the door into the closet door on the last day because my sister left the closest door open as she was packing. Otherwise it seemed to work out fine.

 

Per my brother-in-law's sister, the couch bed was comfortable.

[Cuizer2]

oh i forgot how do you get to that landing pad i would love just to sit there and enjoy the ocean. Thanks again

 

The easiest way is to go all the way forward on the outside of deck four. When you come to the stairs going up, climb them to deck five. Then proceed forward again.

 

There is another way by going through the forward lounge on deck five, but I would have to show you (it is too hard to explain).

[cruiseonly]

Thanks for the review.

 

Saw the inside pictures, but cannot find the balcony pictures.

 

Can someone direct me please.

[ilovecruises1972]

Thanks for the review.

 

Saw the inside pictures, but cannot find the balcony pictures.

 

Can someone direct me please.

yes either go under search and put my name in it will be under thread or look for thread saying (Any difference beyween deck 8&9 for fos RFS)

 

Thanks again for all the info Cuzier , you have been so helpful:) your great. Happy Cruising . Mia

[Cuizer2]

Thanks for the review.

 

Saw the inside pictures, but cannot find the balcony pictures.

 

Can someone direct me please.

 

Oops, I can fix that ...

 

The too much structure photo ...

 

 

The balcony looking toward the port side ...

 

 

The balcony looking toward the starboard side ...

 

 

 

The too much soot photo ...

 

[cruiseonly]

Thanks.

 

Great balcony pictures.

[Cuizer2]

A couple of photos from day one on the Freedom of the Seas ...

 

 

I like this next one because of the look am getting from one of the passengers. I was only interested in getting a good picture of the ship in the harbor that had just sprung a leak. I was not aware I had gained the full attention of one passengers until after I viewed the photo later that night.

 

 

[Rocknsoul]

Wow! Great review & pictures...I felt like I was there! And you sound like a very fun uncle to have.:)

[ilovecruises1972]

Hey Cuizer love the pics , i knew you had a good eye on taken pics, not for nothing you guys do sound like a fun group wish i had you on my cruise.:D

[Cuizer2]

I moved all the pictures. Here is a link to the new location of the pictures ...

 

http://s18.photobucket.com/user/ZefH/slideshow/RC%20Freedom%20OTS

 

And some more pictures ...

 

http://s18.photobucket.com/user/ZefH/slideshow/RC%20Freedom%20OTS%202