BIBPhotography

So first of all, THANK YOU ALL for the info and suggestions I've received here at Cruise Critic.

With that said, now that we are down to 8 days before our cruise, I'm starting to freak out a little, OK a lot! My wife and I are trying to figure out how to stay in touch with each other without racking up a enormous cell phone bill while on the ship. I've searched the boards, but there is so much info that I cant sift through it all and find what I'm looking for.

We have purchased VOOM for both of us and below are some of our specifics:

• I'm assuming we should place our phones on airplane mode
  
• She has Verizon and I have TMobile
  
• We both have IPhones
  
• What next?
  

Any ideas or suggestions will be met with open arms and loving smiles! And if you are on Freedom of the Seas for the June 2 cruise and this works, I might just buy ya a drink as a THANK YOU!

Just trying to figure out what I need to know about staying in touch with my wife as she explores the shops and I down a few tasty frozen tropical beverages of choice!

Thanks in advance! :cool:

Thanks! On the 6th day it shows going to St. Thomas and not Barbados. I assume that is a typo. Can you tell me where she is posting the cruise compass?

Good catch! I noticed today there are actually 2 itineraries coming out of San Juan fro Freedom:

May 19:

Nice! I'll be following along since we are on Freedom on June 2! Keep this ship in good condition for me LOL! Here's to a great time on Freedom :-)

It looks like we are on the same cruise! We leave on the 2nd of June on Freedom celebrating our 40th Wedding Anniversary. This will be our 14 cruise and 12 with Royal Caribbean. We will be Diamond Members after this cruise. I have shown below how you can find the Cruise Compass for the Jewel of the Seas (this is the list of all the activities on the ship everyday), which was doing the Southern Caribbean cruise out of San Juan, before The Freedom started up in May. Their itinerary was the same except the first stop. I keep waiting for someone to post a new one for Freedom, so we get a more precise view, though entertainment may change. They wouldn't let me show a competitive link to get a copy of the cruise compass, and it was too large to attach, so I suggest that you type the following in google and do your own search. "Jewel of the seas Feb 25th, 2018 Cruise Compass" The link should be the first that comes up.

 

First thing you should do when you get on the cruise is to go to the dining room and check on your dining arrangement, so their are no mistakes, especially if you had requested for a special table arrangement.

 

I wish you a great first experience - Royal is the best!

Congrats on 40 years, my wife and I are only at 22 this year, which we celebrate the week we come home! Anyway, I wanted to share this with ya, on another group, one of the posters put up day 1 of the new itinerary from San Juan. She will post the others sometime this week. Hope it helps the whet the appetite! LOL

DAY 1.pdf

Good morning CC Peeps! I cannot express my THANKS for all the comments I've read! I wish I could have replied to all of them individually, but alas there's not enough time for that!

I'm truly looking forward to doing everything you've mentioned and having a blast. I am going to give my try at doing a "live" review with tons of photos and such. But then again, it just might be a daily review of my "drink of the moment" LOL! I'll leave you today with the following statement:

Only 24 more days till FREEDOM!

Should I register for Casino Royale before my cruise on June 2, or should I wait to do it on board? Or the better question should be do I do it at all?

Thanks in advance!

This is the info I received from my TA about what I should print:

• Cruise Summary - Page 2
  
• Travel Summary - Page 3
  
• NextCruise Open Booking Form - Page 7
  
• Port Directions - Page 8
  
• Luggage Tags - Page 18 (print multiple times, one for each suitcase)
  

Since this is out first cruise, I did exactly what Gail and Cheri told me!

Cool photos..

Unfortunately not mine, but I will be adding to them in about 36 more days!

It was a lo-o-o-n-n-n-g-g time ago. I have learned my lesson.

 

To the OP, if your itinerary includes St. Maarten, be forewarned that afternoon traffic (anytime after 3pm) is brutal, and it will take twice as long as you think it should to get back to the ship.

Thank you CalypsoGirl for that info! And I appreciate your comment on my excitement, I truly cannot wait! Only 36 more days!

Freedom is still one of our favorite ships ever! The size is perfect and the entertainment has been amazing the times we sailed! With it being your first cruise, I’d personally rather not steer you in any specific direction, but definitely explore her!

 

And if you stop in the photo gallery, check the walls, there may be 1 or 2 pics of people you recognize.

 

 

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Thanks Chase! I'll have to look for those folks!

I'll throw one out there - since the shows absolutely do not appeal to me, I'd rather spend my evening up top in the open air watching the movie that they usually play, with a drink in my hand. I'll take that over a show any day, and twice on sundays.

Anytime with a drink in hand is a start to a great idea! Thanks Zach1213, I'll be catching a few movies for sure, its what I do to relax!

It's been a few years since I was on Freedom, but the Schooner Bar was a favorite place to go for trivia and the piano man! Karaoke was always a great time as well. The 70's party and other shows that the CD puts on the promenade deck are a blast!

Hmmm....talking about all these wonderful things makes me want to sail on her again after Allure! LOL

Have a great time and we'll be watching for your review!

Thanks Crusingnay! Let's get this party started!

Us too, nice to relax after coming back from Port and then for sailaway.

Love this idea...that is if I ever leave the ship :-) Thanks Welshrich!

Board early if possible. Roam the ship to get to know your way around, and a good time to get inside photo's before it gets busy.

 

There will be someone at one of the specialty restaurants early that first day to make reservations if you want. If you have assigned time in the MDR for dinner it will be open so you can find your table. And of course request changes in location, table size, etc.

For sure we are getting on as early as we can! I want my vacation to start tomorrow, not sure if I can wait another 42 days! Thanks for the info bouhunter!

I just purchased the FeiyuTech G5 v2 and cant wait to give it a try! Would love to see some of the videos from your most recent purchase!

Great first choice, Enjoy Freedom. Watch out for that crew, they are pranksters.

 

Took ,me a moment, but I finally got it! I must need a refill on my coffee!

I love the cantilevered hot tubs in the Solarium.

Another great idea! Thanks Shamrock Girl, I might not even leave the ship! But I think my wife has other ideas which I will follow :D Happy Wife, Happy Life!

Flowrider, ice show, rock wall, chocolate breakfast in MDR, Sabor and Chops specialty dining, 70’s night and other theme parties, shows in the theatre in the evening....and lastly...but most important Do NOT miss Tbe Quest and Love and Marriage

Thanks Skiiergirl! I've watched The Quest videos and have that on the list. The other suggestions are spot on as well~

What I have not heard of is the "Chocolate Breakfast" in the MDR. Wahoo, 2 of my favorite things in one sitting!

The Ice Skating show is very popular.

Thanks Bob! You have been one of the most helpful and informative folks I've seen here on CC. :cool:

Anyone that is cruise addicted before they have even sailed is my type of guy! You will have a blast. Cannot wait to see your photos and hear about your first adventure!

Thanks Rick! I'm truly inspired by you guys (everyone here on CC and other places). I've started following several of the folks you introduced us to from Symphony. Pretty talented folks!

Do you know the email address where we can request distilled after and an extension cord?

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There's the Fascination...what an amazing vacation we had that time around on her! I was hoping that this would be no different.

 

 

 

 

 

Wonderful review Mistygirly! Love all the photos and your take on the ship. So this is where I get a little "photonerdish", if that's a word, and geek out! I'm going on our first cruise in less than 45 days and have a few questions about your photography.

1) Would you be willing to share your settings for your nighttime shots? So clear and vibrant with such little movement.

2} Is the PS action you use one you created, or is it one that you bought from someone?

3) I've been playin around with posting a photo here on CC, but have had no success, would you care to share your process?

OK, by now you've realized I'm a photographer as well, and I'm sure we've lost a few folks with this conversation, so please, feel free to PM my with your answers!

Keep up the great job and I cant wait to see what follows :-)

Yes, I met most of them. You probably noticed from the Periscopes that I partied with Royal’s social media team a few times this sailing and the “couples” influencers were out with us as well.

 

Jeven and Rachel Dovey are my favorite. I legit would hang out with them.

 

Just went to Jeven's YouTube channel and now I've got a whole new set of videos to watch before my cruise on FOS!

Once again Rick, I appreciate all you do by taking us along! My wife has finally started following and she has forbid me to reenact the robe and animal shot when we cruise! LOL

Being a photographer myself, I watch, learn and enjoy what you guys do! Hopefully my shots of Freedom can live up the bar you, Chase and Jenny have set!