Freedom of the Seas 6/14-6/21-Best Family Vacation on Earth!

[10th Anniversary]

Got the compasses!!!! Thank you so much. I appreciate your kindness and willingness to share with everyone. :D

[sunandseagirl617]

Thank you so much for this wonderful review with pics!!!! I'm not sailing on Freedom until Feb but come check back here once in a while and now I am so excited. Thanks for the JS pics too as that's where we'll be!

You're welcome! I really like photo reviews! It helps pass the time! This is a goofy review;):D

 

Sure! If you'd like to e-mail, then send it to my username (QTMichele) at yahoo dot com - but only if you have time and don't mind; otherwise, I'll have her look here. Thanks!

The mail deamon keeps coming back to me. Is there spaces between QT?

 

Got the compasses!!!! Thank you so much. I appreciate your kindness and willingness to share with everyone.

You're welcome! You have to let us know how your b2b went! :)

[medfordgirl]

thanks so much for the compasses. Now I can start planning and dreaming. by the way, were there any things in particular that your son participated in that he really enjoyed? There seems to be alot that the kids can do and I know he can't do it all..

[over the edge]

Hey FloridaGirl,

 

Great thread you have here!! :)

 

I had to "jump ship" on the Navigator cruise as well. We have switched to a 7 night on the Liberty. Can't wait to try the big ship!

[QTMichele]

Sorry about the trouble with the e-mail... I goofed. It's qtmichele2001 at yahoo.com (I forgot the the 2001 - duh! Oh, and it's Michele with one L, just in case. :)

 

Thanks again!

[sunandseagirl617]

thanks so much for the compasses. Now I can start planning and dreaming. by the way, were there any things in particular that your son participated in that he really enjoyed? There seems to be alot that the kids can do and I know he can't do it all..

He liked the first night which was just a meet and greet. He ended up meeting 3 other people to hang around with the rest of the cruise.

 

The only things he participated in was the Teen Ice Skating and the Teen Flow Rider.

 

He said the Living Room was crowded so he did not go in there!

 

I'm happy he went the first night and met friends. ;)

[sunandseagirl617]

Hey FloridaGirl,

 

Great thread you have here!!

 

I had to "jump ship" on the Navigator cruise as well. We have switched to a 7 night on the Liberty. Can't wait to try the big ship!

Hi Over the Edge!!!!!:D Hope you're having a great summer!;)

 

So are you going on Liberty for New Year's? I felt bad for cancelling, especially the roll-call! However, as you can see from the pictures, we're completely hooked on the Freedom class ships!!:eek:

 

We still have Radiance booked! Keep my email so we can stay in touch! floridagirl68 at yahoo dot com!

[Texas Teen]

I'm going to give you some slack because you're young!

 

My poor, poor kid, got to go on a fantastic, fabulous vacation and his mom made him take a cheesy picture so we can laugh about it for years and years to come:rolleyes:! I can torture him with it for life! :D Poor, poor kid!

 

In return, my kid's can laugh at ME, the crazy mom for years and years to come because her perfectly centered chair made them laugh for hours!:eek:

 

Oh no! :p LOLOL! I'm not sure what's funnier, the pictures (Which are now gone :(), or your post!

[BPWJR]

On same cruise and had to go on work trip immediately afterward, so just getting caught-up here. One item I will note, the staff takes the Flowrider measurement 'stick' shown in one of the pics seriously. My 9 year old daughter just did not quite make it and the staff director was really nice explaining they want it to "hit them in the head." Yes, they really will measure.

 

Luckily, she also loves climbing the wall and her 6 year old sister got to go up this trip too. A real shout out here to Benjamin of the Sports Deck staff who showed both patience and support with the 6 year old as she made it all the way up the first time. The climbers waiting gave her a nice round of applause when she came down and the smile she had made this the best family vacation she had.

 

Agreed the shows were good, liked the Abba tribute group the best and the story book musical the girls also really liked.

 

Freedom had a C&A breakfast for the platinum and above passengers. The ship HR officer sat with us. He explained each ship in the fleet had to allocate so many staff to Oasis and likely many who have been with Freedom when she launched and have been back were the ones to get selected as they have the experience now of getting a new ship into the fleet. Some will be getting a break in the next few months before time to report to Oasis and he will be having to bring on some new staffers in preparation. Additionally, can say from the first night, easy to see why RCCL is taking Richard Spacey to the Oasis.

 

As for my daughter's only real complaint - family time dining had not yet started and stuck with us a few nights in early dining while waiting for the Advt Ocean to open for night activities. :)

[F5Loar]

Wow! What a great review. 1000 little ones sounds high to me. Last summer cruise I was on had 400 and I thought that was a lot. Did it seem overrun with kids everywhere? Will they let you surf on the flowrider without lessons for free (even if I don't know how!)?

Can you email me the Compass sheets? Send to

isenhour (then do the at thing) vnet.net

[OV8]

Now this was a GREAT family vaca. Awesome OP!

[sunandseagirl617]

Oh no! LOLOL! I'm not sure what's funnier, the pictures (Which are now gone ), or your post!

 

:DI decided to remove those pictures! The chair was more of an inside joke and the funny one was for my "torturing use" only. :p:eek:

[sunandseagirl617]

One item I will note, the staff takes the Flowrider measurement 'stick' shown in one of the pics seriously. My 9 year old daughter just did not quite make it and the staff director was really nice explaining they want it to "hit them in the head." Yes, they really will measure.

 

Luckily, she also loves climbing the wall and her 6 year old sister got to go up this trip too. A real shout out here to Benjamin of the Sports Deck staff who showed both patience and support with the 6 year old as she made it all the way up the first time. The climbers waiting gave her a nice round of applause when she came down and the smile she had made this the best family vacation she had.

 

Agreed the shows were good, liked the Abba tribute group the best and the story book musical the girls also really liked.

 

Freedom had a C&A breakfast for the platinum and above passengers. The ship HR officer sat with us. He explained each ship in the fleet had to allocate so many staff to Oasis and likely many who have been with Freedom when she launched and have been back were the ones to get selected as they have the experience now of getting a new ship into the fleet. Some will be getting a break in the next few months before time to report to Oasis and he will be having to bring on some new staffers in preparation. Additionally, can say from the first night, easy to see why RCCL is taking Richard Spacey to the Oasis.

 

As for my daughter's only real complaint - family time dining had not yet started and stuck with us a few nights in early dining while waiting for the Advt Ocean to open for night activities. :)

Hey BP! Yes, they staff really does measure for Flow Rider! I agree the sport's desk staff was outstanding! They were extremely patient with my daughter on FLOW. When we took the lessons, I didn't know she could have taken 'boogie boarding' lessons! Otherwise I would have signed her up!

 

There were two events we missed and I'm so happy that you mentioned one of them! The first one was the Plat/Dia/Dia plus breakfast with the crew! The second one we missed was the welcome back party! There was just too much to do!;)

[sunandseagirl617]

Wow! What a great review. 1000 little ones sounds high to me. Last summer cruise I was on had 400 and I thought that was a lot. Did it seem overrun with kids everywhere? Will they let you surf on the flowrider without lessons for free (even if I don't know how!)?

Can you email me the Compass sheets? Send to

isenhour (then do the at thing) vnet.net

Thanks and yes there was 1,000 kid's onboard! The majority were teenagers. It felt a little out of control when I would walk through the arcade to drop off or pick up my daughter.

 

Also, there were several teens in the elevator's. My son (who is 15) said the Living Room (teen hangout) was out of control!:eek:

 

There were several security patrols who would kick them off the elevator's or would not let them 'hang' outside of the teen club. Curfew was enforced as well as 'hot tub' useage!:D I thought RCI did a great job checking ages and keeping things calm!

 

The layout of the ship is excellent and it never felt crowded at the pools or the H20 zone! The only place I thought was really crowded was the Windjammer!;)

 

You can definitely do flowrider without lessons! They have several different times for boogie boarding and stand up surfing! You'll see when I send you the compasses!!

[sunandseagirl617]

Now this was a GREAT family vaca. Awesome OP!

Thanks! Love that picture of the ship you have!:D

[over the edge]

Hi Over the Edge!!!!!:D Hope you're having a great summer!;)

 

So are you going on Liberty for New Year's? I felt bad for cancelling, especially the roll-call! However, as you can see from the pictures, we're completely hooked on the Freedom class ships!!:eek:

 

We still have Radiance booked! Keep my email so we can stay in touch! floridagirl68 at yahoo dot com!

Hi Again!! I felt bad cancelling too! It was a great group of people.

 

No, we cannot go during that time due to DH's work. We are going a week before Xmas. I think the ship might be decorated by then, so it will be nice. DH and I have never been on a Freedom Class ship, so we are quite excited. It also only cost $400 more for the 5 of us to have two extra cruising days, which was AWESOME!! This cruise was almost the same price and we received a bigger discount for 7 days, so it worked out really great. (now checking the airfare is scary :eek: but it will all work out)

 

When have you reserved for your next Freedom cruise?

 

I'm disappointed I missed your pics before you deleted them. You could email them??

[sunandseagirl617]

DH and I have never been on a Freedom Class ship, so we are quite excited. It also only cost $400 more for the 5 of us to have two extra cruising days, which was AWESOME!! This cruise was almost the same price and we received a bigger discount for 7 days, so it worked out really great. (now checking the airfare is scary but it will all work out)

 

When have you reserved for your next Freedom cruise?

 

I'm disappointed I missed your pics before you deleted them. You could email them??

You're going to love the Freedom class ships!:D

 

We haven't made any plans for the future! I'm tossing around Bermuda or the Southern Caribbean. We have been to Aruba, Dominica, and Grenada! Would love to visit Barbados, St Lucia, and St Kitts!

 

Too many decisions to make and not enough funds:eek:!! LOL!

 

I cancelled New Year's for the same reason! For the same price I could go on a 7 day cruise in the non-season!

 

I gave you the wrong email address before, this is the correct one: floridagirl68 at bellsouth dot net...:o

[luckyprincess]

Thank you so much for the compasses Floridagirl!! I sat up last night reading every little thing and just got so excited! January is way too far away...:p

[QTMichele]

Thanks again for the compasses!!! :D

[BPWJR]

Thanks and yes there was 1,000 kid's onboard! The majority were teenagers. It felt a little out of control when I would walk through the arcade to drop off or pick up my daughter.

 

Also, there were several teens in the elevator's. My son (who is 15) said the Living Room (teen hangout) was out of control!:eek:

 

There were several security patrols who would kick them off the elevator's or would not let them 'hang' outside of the teen club. Curfew was enforced as well as 'hot tub' useage!:D I thought RCI did a great job checking ages and keeping things calm!

 

The layout of the ship is excellent and it never felt crowded at the pools or the H20 zone! The only place I thought was really crowded was the Windjammer!;)

 

You can definitely do flowrider without lessons! They have several different times for boogie boarding and stand up surfing! You'll see when I send you the compasses!!

 

Yes, a lot of kids and some days definitely crowded in the Arcade if you had to walk all the way through to get to the room used for the 8 - 10 year old group. Have the Guitar Hero game next to the Air Hockey tables and creates a bottle neck at that spot.

 

On the three sea days (this was the eastern itinerary) it will get crowded in Windjammer at lunch, but always did find a table.

 

Also, appeared the crew was out and about looking for chair hogs in the main pool deck area, but maybe not as attentive in the Solarium and / or H2O zones, just my impression.

 

As have cruised Spring Break and summer cruises, found the elevator situation no worse than usual. You know, step on and see all the buttons pushed some nights or teens sitting in elevator and did see curfew being enforced a few nights as I left casino and was heading to my cabin.

[slk09]

Thank you sooo much for this wonderful review!!! I really enjoyed reading

everything and the pics are great - it makes me wish our trip was sooner!

I didn't realize you could request the rollaway - thanks! I would appreciate

it if you could send me copies of the compasses and also the

teen compasses - email: kskissel@comcast.net

Thanks!! :)

[slk09]

Thank you so much for the compasses!

One other quick question, when you went to Paradise Point in St. Thomas

did you buy the tickets for the lifts through RC or did you just buy

them when you got there? Didn't know if they were cheaper one

way or the other. Pictures from there are gorgeous!! Thanks!

[sunandseagirl617]

Thank you so much for the compasses Floridagirl!!

 

Thanks again for the compasses!!!

 

You are so welcome!!:D

 

Thank you so much for the compasses!

One other quick question, when you went to Paradise Point in St. Thomas

did you buy the tickets for the lifts through RC or did you just buy

them when you got there? Didn't know if they were cheaper one

way or the other. Pictures from there are gorgeous!! Thanks!

We purchased tickets through RC. It's $1-$2 cheaper than at the gate! The ticket is good for all day, so you can return after the beach or another excursion.

 

The views alone are worth every penny. I think we were there for about an hour. They also serve lunch up there as well. LOVED the Bushwhacker's! :D

[golf43]

floridagirl68,

 

We just got back today from our Eastern Caribbean cruise onboard the Freedom of the Seas. That ship is fantastic. We had a blast. I must tell you though that our cabin Steward was "Handsome" We were in cabin 9298. He was really nice. He would lookout for our son even though he is 17. We would come back to the cabin and see Hansen in the hallway. Hansen would tell us where our son was going on the ship. We also loved the junior suite. So much room. When I get a chance I will write a review of our trip.

[triplefigs]

We just booked for June 2010. This will be our 2nd cruise (just got off the Disney Magic Western), but our FIRST on RCI. I already saved the posted copies of the 9-11 kids compass. Thanks!

 

Floridagirl, could you please email me the Eastern compass at triplefigs@bellsouth.net? Thanks so much, and I'm really enjoying your review. I am going to show my triplets the pics tomorrow, since they are still tentative about NOT sailing on Disney next summer.