Is anyone back from E. Carib Freedom of the Seas??

[luckyprincess]

I'm dying of suspense to see how it was!! I was hoping for some compasses and also to see if you could tell me what nights were formal and what not. Also, how was the at sea days? Too many people? Crowded? Boring?:confused:

Please, please review for all of us going on FOS to the Eastern Carib. route?:D:D:D:D

[ItsANewDay]

I'm dying of suspense to see how it was!! I was hoping for some compasses and also to see if you could tell me what nights were formal and what not. Also, how was the at sea days? Too many people? Crowded? Boring?:confused:

Please, please review for all of us going on FOS to the Eastern Carib. route?:D:D:D:D

 

I am right there with you on the supense! :D I want to know!

 

My cruise is 473 days away and I need something to get me through the wait!

[susibell2]

I'm also waiting to hear...We're going Sept 20th. We sailed on the Freedom in 2007 out of Miami. We are so looking forward to this cruise. I want to plasn a Chops night but don't want to do it on the nights of the ice show or the main production show. We missed the production show because we booked Chops last time. It is supposed ot be a really good show.

[dmndlil]

We sailed Eastern on Freedom this past February. The formal nights were

Monday (Sea day) and Thursday (St. Maarten). The sea days were a little crowded, but the pool patrol kept the chair hogs at bay, especially in the solarium.

 

The ice show was on Monday (Sea Day) at 5:00pm, Tuesday at 8:30pm (San Juan-no production show, but the orchestra put on a concert at 9:30 in the theatre) and Friday(Sea Day) 3:00pm and 5:00 pm.

[candhmama]

We just got off on Sunday. The formal nights were the 2nd night (Cococay) and 5th night (St. Maarten). The Once Upon a Time show was the 6th night. As far as seas days go the first one was really stormy, 70mph winds, so no one was outside. The next sea day was rainy in the morning, but then got better. The last sea day was pretty nice though. I noticed lots of empty chairs when I was out there. The ice show was on Day 4 (st thomas) at 7 and 9, Day 5 at 7:30 and Day 6 at 5. I don't have a scanner but I would be happy to answer anymore questions you have.

[golf43]

What about boarding at Port Canaveral. Do JS suites and higher get vip boarding? What time did you board? Thanks

[candhmama]

What about boarding at Port Canaveral. Do JS suites and higher get vip boarding? What time did you board? Thanks

I don't know about the vip boarding, maybe someone else will. We got there probably around noon. We were lined up outside the building but the lines seemed to move pretty fast, I don't remember how long it took, I wasn't looking at my watch. Since we kept moving I didn't feel like we were waiting forever.

[alexmay]

Thanks for the information - what time were you off the ship on Sunday and did you use the luggage valet?

[alexmay]

Was the bingo the new electronic devices or old fashioned punch cards?

[sunandseagirl617]

Was the bingo the new electronic devices or old fashioned punch cards?

I am playing BINGO with you!:D:D NEW or OLD......I'm all in!;)

[JanineM]

What about boarding at Port Canaveral. Do JS suites and higher get vip boarding? What time did you board? Thanks

 

Port Canaveral does have priority boarding for suites, platinum & diamond C&A members. I don't know if JS's are included in that. However, PC runs beautifully ... when boarding Mariner we noticed that the "Priority" boarding line was often longer than the regular boarding line! Of course, Freedom is a bit bigger, but given how well they have managed in the past, I suspect it isn't going to be a problem.

 

We have found that it is best to arrive at the port either very early and stand in line outside, or after around 1:30 pm. The biggest crush is usually between about 11:30 and 1 pm.

[candhmama]

Thanks for the information - what time were you off the ship on Sunday and did you use the luggage valet?

Our flight was not until 4 so we had the last color tags to be called. Our color got called about 9am and it didn't take long to get off, we found our luggage quickly and got on a bus back to the airport without waiting.

Was the bingo the new electronic devices or old fashioned punch cards?

They had the new electronic devices and the punch cards. The punch cards were $32 and you got 6 cards per game, the machines were $55 and you get 18 cards per game plus they gave you 1 punch card so you essentially got 19 cards per game.

[luckyprincess]

Thanks for sharing everyone! Anyone have any compasses to share? Also, I was wondering if any were planning on writing a review? :D Sorry, I can't wait and I need to satiate the cruise bug!

[jules815]

I wasn't on this cruise but my neighbors were. It was their first time on a Freedom class ship; they've only done Radiance, and they cruise a lot on Celebrity. They weren't sure if they were going to like it, but they LOVED IT. They're in their 30's, no kids, and they had a ball. She also said the food was very good, and she is used to food on Celebrity, so they were very pleasantly surprised. They were in a Promenade Room, and liked that a lot as well. No noise, etc. She said they would definitely sail Freedom again.

[candhmama]

Thanks for sharing everyone! Anyone have any compasses to share? Also, I was wondering if any were planning on writing a review? :D Sorry, I can't wait and I need to satiate the cruise bug!

I would share the compasses but I don't have a scanner. I was thinking about writing a review, will be a few days before I get a chance though.

[SherriZ366]

Port Canaveral does have priority boarding for suites, platinum & diamond C&A members. I don't know if JS's are included in that. However, PC runs beautifully ... when boarding Mariner we noticed that the "Priority" boarding line was often longer than the regular boarding line! Of course, Freedom is a bit bigger, but given how well they have managed in the past, I suspect it isn't going to be a problem.

 

We have found that it is best to arrive at the port either very early and stand in line outside, or after around 1:30 pm. The biggest crush is usually between about 11:30 and 1 pm.

thanks

[sailingawaysoon]

I am right there with you on the supense! :D I want to know!

 

My cruise is 473 days away and I need something to get me through the wait!

I comfort myself w/watching her sailaway every Sunday via the webcam...I can't wait to go back

[SQUIRREL EYES]

We also just got off on Sunday. Formals were day 2 and 5. Our 1st sea day was very rough - but handles very well by crew and passengers. Can't help mother nature. The last day was the day where you saw just how many people were on there - pool was very crowded for the pool games - but still enjoyable. Diamond members had their own priorit lounge up in Olive or Twist (deck 14) but disappointed in it. Everyone was 60 or older , beer wasn't cold and appetizers were not very good - so although free drinks from 5-8 - really didn't spend much time there. Did get ticket for any ice show, instead of waiting in line for them which was nice. Got on board around 11:45 and yes there was a line but within 15 minutes we were on ship. Got off with first color and walked right off and was on the way home within 10 minutes. Shows were awesome and our cruise director was the best - but it wa his last sailing with Freedom - so hope his replacement can handle it. Food pretty good, service with a smile - Hyde best waitress we have seen. Don't miss the Flowrider - it was a blast! Even though weather could have been better - a bad day on a cruise beats a bad day at work. So you will enjoy no matter what !:o

[phinn]

Also got off ship this past Sunday. We pulled in the parking lot at 11:00am and we were sitting in the Windjammer by 11:30. Leaving the ship We were on the Promenade at 8:20am and sitting in my car at 8:50. We got a porter at the baggage claim and she took our luggage out to the car and put it in the trunk and back seat. Best tip I ever gave! You will love it, love it, love it!

[teajak]

We also just got off on Sunday. Formals were day 2 and 5. Our 1st sea day was very rough - but handles very well by crew and passengers. Can't help mother nature. The last day was the day where you saw just how many people were on there - pool was very crowded for the pool games - but still enjoyable. Diamond members had their own priorit lounge up in Olive or Twist (deck 14) but disappointed in it. Everyone was 60 or older , beer wasn't cold and appetizers were not very good - so although free drinks from 5-8 - really didn't spend much time there. Did get ticket for any ice show, instead of waiting in line for them which was nice. Got on board around 11:45 and yes there was a line but within 15 minutes we were on ship. Got off with first color and walked right off and was on the way home within 10 minutes. Shows were awesome and our cruise director was the best - but it wa his last sailing with Freedom - so hope his replacement can handle it. Food pretty good, service with a smile - Hyde best waitress we have seen. Don't miss the Flowrider - it was a blast! Even though weather could have been better - a bad day on a cruise beats a bad day at work. So you will enjoy no matter what !:o

Sure sorry about that Diamond Lounge crowd, they should really do something about that 60 and older bunch. Since I fall into the older part I will continue to enjoy it.

[Tallytammy's Mom]

We also got off the ship this past Sunday. What a great time we had. I went to the Meet and Mingle and it was nice to meet some of the people on this board. It was the day of the 70 mph wind, but I did not notice any movement on the ship. We found enough things to keep us busy that day inside, like the casino. We did the my time dining and were seated each night in the same area with the same waiters. It was nice as you didn't have to hurry to get ready if you were running late somewhere. The ship was beautiful and plenty of activities to keep everyone busy. We had room 9290 and were quite surprised at the large size of the room and the extended balcony. The king bed had the new bedding and it was so comfortable. The whole trip was perfect for me, but the only drawback was Chops. Sorry, but it did not compare to the Mariner or the Carnival ships supper club restaurants. I did like the meals in the dining room. Everyone went over and above on everything they did for us and did it with a smile. We met a lot of nice people and even met 3 couples that we went to high school. We had not seen them in years and years and to see them on this cruise was amazing. We hung out a bit together like high school buddies only older. We did get VIP embarkation as we are platinum. Enjoy your trip.

[alexmay]

Our flight was not until 4 so we had the last color tags to be called. Our color got called about 9am and it didn't take long to get off, we found our luggage quickly and got on a bus back to the airport without waiting.

 

They had the new electronic devices and the punch cards. The punch cards were $32 and you got 6 cards per game, the machines were $55 and you get 18 cards per game plus they gave you 1 punch card so you essentially got 19 cards per game.

 

Thank you very much!

FloridaGirl - see you at Bingo - I'll be the one with the 16 yr old son who takes this "game" very seriously. He was about 11 or 12 when we took our first cruise, and of course, I had no idea what I was doing so let them charge to their cards for ice cream etc. I got a very large bill at the end of the cruise, and looked at my kids and said "how many icy drinks could you possible get in one week!?" After closer review, he played bingo with me, with my dad, with my mom, and with anyone old enough to go with him. He kept the winnings while I bought the cards. Lesson learned, but we still love BINGO.

[martini4me]

I was on Freedom last week. I have most of the Compasses, but I'm not sure how to copy the scanned images into the thread. Can anyone help?

 

The quality and variety of live music on the ship was great. The leader of the orchestra, who's also in charge of all the music on the ship, said that Freedom has been voted as the ship with the best live music. There was a "Live Music Show" in the main theatre on Wednesday night, which was quite eye- (or should I say ear-) opening. Aside from the more visible entertainers (the pianist in the Schooner bar, the guitarist in the pub, the band that played on the pool deck), there was a Ukranian husband-and-wife piano-violin duo (she was an outstanding violinist), a Central American (Costa Rica?, Belize?) Latin trio, an Argentinian guitarist and their dance band, a group of 50-ish Asian men from Singapore. While it always felt incongruous to see them playing 60's-80's rock, they were good. And some of the members of the orchestra did a fantastic jazz set late on Saturday night.

 

I'd also have to say the production shows and singers were better than on previous cruises I'd been on. I unfortunately missed the jazz cabaret they did right before the final night's jazz set. There was also a 70's dance party (so they called it, but don't be misled--it was really a disco party) in the grand promenade which was fun, but largely because of the antics of cruise director Richard Spacey, who's no longer on the ship.

 

The ice show was also better than that on Mariner 2 1/2 years ago. Guest entertainers Olga and Dimitri (former Olympians) did a stunning routine in the midst of it, stunning more for the athleticism it showed than the skating.