Freedom 6/20 Review *Warning* Lots of pictures and very detailed!

[pickypeg]

wow this is so great. love it all. so the kiss on the lips was great. I will try it on my next cruise.

[Bonds73]

Thanks for coming back!!! I am loving your review! Could you please tell me exactly what is in "kiss on the lips" drink? I have to try that!!

 

Here is a recipe I had found for it, it is by far my favorite drink and it is always the first drink I get when I arrive on the lido deck.

 

Enoy......

 

THIS RECIPE IS FOR ONE DRINK BUT YOU CAN DOUBLE IT:

Ø 1 CUP OF ICE

Ø ½ CUP OF MANGO CONCENTRATE OR PUREE (I FOUND IT IN A HEALTH FOOD STORE)

Ø ¼ CUP OF WATER

Ø 2 SHOTS OF PEACH SCHAPPS

BLEND ALL INGREDIENTS AND POUR IN TO A GLASS, TOP WITH ONE SHOT OF GRENADINE!

MANGO PUREE (5 MINUTES TO PREPARE):

Ø 2 RIPE MANGOES (PEELED, PITTED AND CUT INTO PIECES)

Ø 2 TABLESPOONS OF SUGAR

Ø ½ CUP OF LEMON JUICE

PUREE MANGO, SUGAR AND LEMON JUICE IN FOOD PROCESSOR UNTIL SMOOTH. KEEP REFRIGERATED FOR UP TO 3 DAYS

[breezycruiser]

Here is a recipe I had found for it, it is by far my favorite drink and it is always the first drink I get when I arrive on the lido deck.

 

Enoy......

 

THIS RECIPE IS FOR ONE DRINK BUT YOU CAN DOUBLE IT:

Ø 1 CUP OF ICE

Ø ½ CUP OF MANGO CONCENTRATE OR PUREE (I FOUND IT IN A HEALTH FOOD STORE)

Ø ¼ CUP OF WATER

Ø 2 SHOTS OF PEACH SCHAPPS

BLEND ALL INGREDIENTS AND POUR IN TO A GLASS, TOP WITH ONE SHOT OF GRENADINE!

MANGO PUREE (5 MINUTES TO PREPARE):

Ø 2 RIPE MANGOES (PEELED, PITTED AND CUT INTO PIECES)

Ø 2 TABLESPOONS OF SUGAR

Ø ½ CUP OF LEMON JUICE

PUREE MANGO, SUGAR AND LEMON JUICE IN FOOD PROCESSOR UNTIL SMOOTH. KEEP REFRIGERATED FOR UP TO 3 DAYS

 

Thanks for the recipe! I will have to use it to help ease my case of Post Cruise Depression that I'm still suffering from and will be until I set foot on the Carnival Dream next June:D. I've now discovered there is a video on you tube of the first deck party as we were leaving San Juan and I found Spencer and Melvin in the video several times! It brought back some great memories!

[Handsome58]

for your great review!!!!!!! keep it coming because you are doing a great job!!!!!

[breezycruiser]

Hello my fellow cruise addicts! I have a busy weekend ahead of me. I'm in the middle of moving and still have to chase my 2 year old around but I'm going to try and get more of the review posted soon!

[nailz]

Hello my fellow cruise addicts! I have a busy weekend ahead of me. I'm in the middle of moving and still have to chase my 2 year old around but I'm going to try and get more of the review posted soon!

 

We'll be right waiting and here hanging on every word! We'll keep us imagining our up coming cruises or reflecting on the ones we were just on. I too plan to do the Dream for my next cruise. I haven't even gone on this one and I am already excited about that one!

[breezycruiser]

We'll be right waiting and here hanging on every word! We'll keep us imagining our up coming cruises or reflecting on the ones we were just on. I too plan to do the Dream for my next cruise. I haven't even gone on this one and I am already excited about that one!

You'll have a blast on the Freedom! If you're planning on sailing the Dream feel free to join our Cruise Critic group cruise. It's more than just single parents theres also married couples and singles going plus theres always that wonderful $100 OBC!;)

[breezycruiser]

Ok so I started typing the next part of my review when my laptop decided to shut down on me and I lost everything I typed so far :mad: but here I go again. I'm going to try and get this part completed before CC shuts down for it's nightly thing.

6/22-San Juan, Puerto Rico

This was or first port day.......or should I say night:confused:........but anyway once again we had a late night so we slept in and left the room at about 12. We went to the grill for lunch and after we ate, we looked for some chairs on the Lido and again the chair hogs were doing what they do best! We found some chairs outside the upper level of the Freedom restaurant.

 

Adults Only Aft Pool

 

For My Fellow Unofficial Whale Tail Club Members!

Kira loves boys that recycle!

[breezycruiser]

My fake smile

It was a beautiful day so we sat around talking for a bit until I realized it was 1:30 and time for the Cruise Critic meet and greet! Kira decided to go with me Spencer was going to stay there and nap, Melvin was going to the pool and we were off to the Dynasty Room. We got a little lost on the way there because even after studying the floor plan online before the cruise I forgot that you couldn't get there from the Atrium on deck 4. So we went back up to deck 5 and followed the signs to the stairs next to the casino and finally found the conference room! Not many people showed up but the meet and greet hadn't been finalized and posted on the roll call until the day before the cruise. If i hadn't skimmed through the capers after dinner the night before I would have missed it too. It was nice to meet some of the people I had been chatting with for months. We sat in and chatted for a while about our plans for San Juan and our cruise so far. Since not many people showed up they were going to try and get a second one scheduled for the next sea day but it never happened.

We wanted to watch synchronized swimming on the Lido but it was scheduled for the same time as the meet and greet so we had already missed most of it. So instead Kira and I decided to wonder a bit without the guys. We went to formalities to sign up for on deck for the cure and the photo gallery to look at our portraits. After purchasing a few too many of our cheezy portraits that we actually liked, we made our way back up to the Lido only to find Spencer in the same place we had left him. Kira got a little excited because we were starting to see land in the distance.

By this time it was between 2:15-2:30 and they were having karaoke by the pool. Spencer still wanted to stay put so Kira and I went off to find a spot to stand and watch the entertainment. A woman named Tasha performed Proud Mary complete with dancing and had the whole crowd cheering.

[breezycruiser]

After someone butchered Summer Lovin from Grease we went back Spencer to see if he wanted to go with us to the 70's dance class scheduled for 3:00 but again he wanted to stay in his chair. Melvin was nowhere to be found and we hadn't seen him since lunch. We stopped by our cabins to drop off our T-shirts and pictures than went down to the lobby where they were already in the middle of teaching the dance. After a flashback to a time before I was born, we went back to try to find the guys and once again Spencer was where we left him and Melvin had finally come back. We chatted a little about the plan for San Juan and then Kira and I went to the front of the ship to find a spot to watch us sail into port. There were a few people already out there and more came as we got closer to land.

Me being silly

 

 

[breezycruiser]

 

We didn't wait until we docked to leave. We went back up to our rooms to meet up with the guys for dinner and our rooms had already been turned down by Felicia.

We were docked by 4:30 and they started letting people debark at about 5:00. We took our time so we could avoid the rush of people trying to get off the ship. We went to the buffet for dinner and it wasn't crowded at all. After dinner we went back to our rooms to grab our ID's but Kira couldn't find hers so I waited for her while and the guys said they would meet us downstairs. Well once Kira found it we went downstairs but we didn't see the boys so we got off the ship and waited for them outside. We waited for about 5 minutes before we called their cell phones but no answer.........so we texted them and still no answer. About 10 minutes later we finally got a hold of them and they were waiting for us just outside of the port........men.....if you say you're going to be downstairs don't get off the ship and exit the port......geez! While we were walking to meet them I had to stop to snap this picture. I couldn' pass up the opportunity!

We found the boys standing near a guy with birds.........

.....and they were talking to a tour guide that said he would take us on a tour through the city for $10. So we boarded the mini bus with Miguel Rodriguez of San Juan Happy Tours. He drove us around Old and New San Juan telling us the history of the city, pointing out landmarks and answering any questions we had.

Our first stop on the tour was San Juan Beach. Omar gave us 15 minutes to shop and take some pictures.

[breezycruiser]

 

 

 

Kira, Me and Spencer

 

Kira, Me and Melvin

 

[breezycruiser]

After everyone was back on the bus we were on our way to our next stop: The Capitol Building.

Passing the Normandie Hotel

 

It was completly made of marble and so beautiful. Omar took us inside and told us some facts about the building. I wasn't able to get a many pictures because my camera battery was low but melvin took plenty. He still hasn't emailed them to me yet but I'll remind him later today so I can post them. Heres what I did get

Statue of St. John

 

The Capitol

 

 

[breezycruiser]

After we exited the Capitol, Omar gave us 10 more minutes before we left. The next stop was El Morro. The sunlight was almost gone by the time we got there but I was to take a couple of pictures that aren't perfect but I think came out pretty cool. There were kids playing in the grass around the fort and people flying kites and sitting around on the grass. It was a nice night with a slight breeze and it was nice to see people enjoying the weather.

Spencer, Kira and Melvin

 

 

 

 

We were there for about 20 minutes before we left for our last stop. While we were waiting for everyone to come back to the bus we were talking to some of the other people that were on the tour with us and the said that they were being bit by some little black bugs around they're ankles after they walked through the grass. I guess they were fleas..... I don't know for sure but I'm glad I didn't walk through the grass!

Our last stop was Plaza de Colon. We had the option of getting off there or being driven back to the ship. We decided to get off there. We paid Omar and went off on our own.

From there we walked to some store and got some souvenirs and Puerto Rican candy. We stopped at a liquor store so Melvin could get some liquor for his brother that’s not sold at home. Kira and I kept walking because the boys wanted to but we were starting to get a little annoyed. I'm a planner when it comes to vacations and I like having an idea of where we are headed when I am somewhere I've never been especially at night. Kira and I were both wearing flip flops and our feet were starting to hurt so we decided to turn around and go back the way we came. We told the guys to meet us at Senor Frog's and split. We walked in the direction of the ship looking for the Sheraton and of course we ran right into it. So we had found Senor Frog's!

[breezycruiser]

Kira and I went in, got a table and ordered some chicken nachos and a drink. I don't remember what Kira got but I got a Senor Frog's. I don't remember what was in it but it was good!

Kira

 

Me and my Senor Frog

 

The boys showed up about 15 minutes later just in time for the nachos.

The Boys

While we were eating the shot girl came to our table and we all said no thank you at least thats what I thought! Spencer paid for shots for all of us without us knowing! So it was then I was violated! It was funny watching my friends take their shots especially Kira. Lol she seemed tramatized. Spencer, Melvin and I got our yard glasses filled and we all had jello shots.

Once the drinks were gone it was time for some dancing! We had a great time! It was one of the best nights of the cruise. We stayed at Senor Frog's until about 10:45 then made our way (slightly tipsey) back to the ship.

This was the night of the Latin Deck Party.Once onboard we went to the Lido and danced some more! There was a Mexican buffet but we didn't eat anything. The band playing was Manati Salsa and they were great. After the deck party we went down to the 70's disco for a couple of drinks and more dancing. Spencer and I wanted something different so we told "G" to surprise us. He brought Spencer a Slow Screw Against the Wall Mexican Style and me a S*** on the grass . (Use your imagination) I have no Idea what was in either one! So he hands me this little glass of green stuff with some brown stuff floating on top of it........ it was kind of nasty to look at but it tasted pretty good. Kira was really tired so she left at about 2:00 am. A couple of tequila sunrises and grey goose w/cranberry juice later Melvin, Spencer and I were feeling a little tired. It was about 2:30 am when we left. Melvin went back to his room but Spencer and I went out to the front of the ship and watched some lightning in the distance for a few minutes. Once we got back to the room I plugged my camera up and we immediately went to bed. We couldn't sleep in the next morning because we had a tour scheduled for 10:00 am. I know that may seem late to some of you but keep in mind that most of the cruise we were just waking up at 10:00!

Well thats all for now! Next up: Beautiful St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.! Again I'll remind Melvin to email me his pictures so I can post them today. Until Later Happy Cruising everyone!

[mr jailerman]

Great Review Shenika :D!!! It's Nice to see you again !! Your group looked like they really enjoyed their cruise so that's Great :) !! Take Care.. Kurt

[bigred4770]

excellent review! great pictures! keep it coming!

[breezycruiser]

Great Review Shenika :D!!! It's Nice to see you again !! Your group looked like they really enjoyed their cruise so that's Great :) !! Take Care.. Kurt

 

Kurt! It's nice to hear from you! I wish you were still going on the Dream with us but since your cruise is before ours you'll be able to tell us what we have to look forward to!

[cathyoo]

What a great review and fantastic pictures. You look like you were having the time of your life. Thanks for sharing your experience no matter how delayed.

[mosweet]

Great Review! My kind of people to hang out late and then sleep in..that's the great part about vacation! :D

Mine is almost here and I will try for the first time to write a review when i return.

[amcjeep4life]

Shenika;

 

You are doing such an awesome job! Who cares how long it takes to post it, as long as it gets done! All those people who've never bothered to post a review should hang their heads in shame!

 

That picture of the adults-only aft pool is making me crazy! I can't wait to get there and experience it myself! AARRGGHH!! :rolleyes:

 

PS: How goes the move?

[breezycruiser]

Well I'm back! I'm finally done packing now I just gotta get everything moved to the other house! I'm still waiting on Melvin to email me the rest of the pictures from San Juan but on to St. Thomas!

6/23-St. Thomas, USVI

Well we were scheduled to arrive in St. Thomas at 7:00am. I woke up at about 8:30 and started getting ready for the day. We had a 10:00am shopping and beach tour booked with Godfrey tours. Spencer and Melvin were ready at about 9:15 so the went to get a quick breakfast. I was ready about 10 minutes later so I went and knocked on Kira's door. When she opened the door she was changing her clothes and for some odd reason curling her hair :confused: Since it was hot and humid outside and we were going to the beach I couldn't figure out why she was curling her hair but whatever. I stayed in the room with her for about 5 minutes and since she was changing her clothes for the 5,000,000th time I told her I would be back for in 5 minutes after I checked the Lido for the boys. When I walked out the door I was overwhelmed by the beauty of St. Thomas.

 

I couldn't find the boys on the Lido so I went back to get Kira. It was now 9:40 and time for us to get off the ship. So I knocked and she still wasn't ready so I told her to meet me downstairs. I got downstairs and expected to see the boys but they were still nowhere to be found. I waited for Kira until about 9:50 and then went back upstairs to try and find her. I knocked on her door..... no answer. So I went to look for her on the Lido...... still no Kira so I went downstairs to get off the ship because it was 10:00. There were about 5 of the ships photographers trying to take pictures while I was getting off. There was this guy in front of me (He kind of reminded me of a sunburned Stone Cold Steve Austin) so anyway they stopped him on the gangway to take his picture and told us to squeeze in together. We just wanted to get off the ship so me, this lady in front of us and the wrestler dude squeezed together and slapped on our fake smiles for the picture. I thought they would be satisfied but no they stopped us again and wrestler dude and I took one more picture together and thats when I saw the boys standing next to the gate. A little fustration came over me as I asked them why didn't they tell me they we're getting off the ship. They apologized and I asked them if they had seen Kira and they said no. So here we are at 10:10 standing next to the ship waiting for Kira. While we were waiting I notice there were 2 other ships in port with us, the Carnval Liberty and Glory.

 

 

At about 10:30 Kira comes wondering off the ship. I asked her where she had been and the conversation went like this:

":mad:Kira where have you been?"

"Ya'll left me so I didn't know where to go."

"Didn't you hear me tell you to meet me downstairs on Deck 0"

"Yes"

"So why didn't you come down?"

"I don't know"

So now I was fustrated! It made absolutely no sence! So as you can see our morning didn't start off that great.

When we walked out the gate there were lots of taxi drivers trying to get us to come with them on they're tours. All I had to say is "We are waiting for Godfrey" and they backed off! This yonger driver walked over to us and tried to quietly get us to come with him. One of the other drivers came running over yelling "Leave them alone! Those are Godfrey's people!" The younger driver said "So Godfrey's not here." The other driver said "Man Godfrey goin mess you up if he find out you tryin to take his people. Godfrey is on the way back. I already called him and told him they were here." So the younger driver walked away. Since we had already missed an hour of shopping we decided to ask Godfrey if we could skip the last hour of shopping and go directly to the beach. With the exception of that 1 guy every other driver that asked us if we needed a ride left us alone after we told them who we were waiting for.

He arrived at the port at about 10:50. I informed him of our situation and he said it was no problem. He would have one of his other drivers take us to the beach. We paid him and hopped on the front row of his truck. He gave us a neon green sticker that said "excursion" and told us to put it on our shirts so we would be recognized by his drivers. He asked us what time did we want to be picked up from the beach and since we had to be back on the ship by 5:30 I told him 4:00.

[breezycruiser]

We stopped at a corner when Godfrey saw his other driver and got onto the other truck. It was a female driver and she never said her name. We were the only people on her truck so she asked what beach we wanted to go to and I told her Coki Beach and with that we were on our way. It was about a 15 minute ride from the port. The scenery was beautiful but the winding roads were terriying!

 

 

 

 

Once we arrived at Coki Beach there was a young man there that helped us get off the truck. He showed us where Coral World and the bathrooms were and the stand he worked at in case we wanted to rent anything.

We rented 4 chairs, a locker and an umbrella for about $16. The umbrella guy found us a spot near the exit of the beach. While our umbrella was being set up I headed to the bathroom to change. I didn't expect there to be plumbing in the bathrooms but this was insane! There was used and unused toilet paper all over the floor. I changed my clothes extremely fast because there were spiders and huge bugs everywhere! After I put my clothes down on my chair Melvin and I were running to the water!

[breezycruiser]

 

 

 

 

[breezycruiser]

 

 

The water was so warm and clear. I walked a little further into the water and thats when I saw one of the main reasons I chose Coki Beach............fish everywhere!