jules815

This is also the first time my husband and I have sailed without our kids or friends, so I was asked while booking whether we'd like a table for two. We enjoy sitting with other people at breakfast and lunch, but thought it might be nice to try a table for two at dinner. That will be for the first week of our back-to-back.

 

The second week, both dining times were full, so we're doing My Time dining.

It is still longer than usual.

 

That's a good thing!

 

Now if I can just spend the next 6 months looking forward to our cruise, instead of worrying that either of my inlaws is going to fall and break a hip, or something else equally as bad or worse, before or during our trip, I'll be okay.

 

We did take out the insurance, and plan on insuring our flights as well.

 

My husband and I have never cruised alone before.

Are you getting a full day in San Juan or a short stay like with most RCI cruises that visit there as a port of call?

 

I just had to pull up my reservation to check! It's only from 10:00am - 6:00pm. Still pretty excited about this. We've been to St. Thomas several times. And not that that's a bad thing, but it's nice to have something different to look forward to.

We booked a cruise on FOS this morning, and the eastern itinerary is going to San Juan instead of St. Thomas. Does this happen often?

BOOKED!!!

 

Oh my gosh I'm so excited! We're going on a back-to-back!

 

We didn't go with the E2 guarantee because all the humps were booked; that much she could tell me. That meant we would be in a forward E2, which would have been fine, but we prefer aft of the hump, and no guarantee we would be able to remain in same cabin, but she could have put in a request.

 

Because of an April savings event, we were able to get a D2, 7664, for only $20 more than the E2, and we'll get to stay in the same cabin.

 

We were originally looking at 9/14 and 9/21, but when I was checking prices this morning, noticed that the eastern sailing on 9/7 is going to San Juan instead of St. Thomas. We've never been to San Juan, so we changed our dates to sail a week earlier. I know itineraries can change, but if we get to see San Juan, it's a bonus for us.

 

And now I get to make a new countdown ticker!

Good to know! Thank you.

 

I'm getting ready to call RC in a few minutes.

 

I'm excited and nervous at the same time about booking this. We've never done a 2 week vacation before, but it's always been our dream to do a back-to-back.

My husband and I are getting ready to book our first back-to-back for September on Freedom. I've been watching the prices for months now, and there still appear to be plenty of cabins left. I had been watching E2's, particularly on the hump. When I book, I find my room online, then call RC and do the booking over the phone, with the deck layout page in front of me.

 

The E2's have been listed as guarantees for a few weeks now, so not able to select a room number. Being a back to back, was hoping to stay in the same room for both weeks. It wouldn't be the end of the world if we weren't though.

 

Do you think the E2's will remain as a guarantee until they're all sold out, or does this change?

My husband and I will hopefully be sailing on Freedom in September. Haven't booked as of yet; we're trying to nail down the dates as this will be a back-to-back for us.

 

We've always taken out the insurance through RC when we've cruised in the past, but does that insurance cover flights as well? Just wondering if we'd be better off with trip insurance through a different company.

We were also in a cove and once the seas got rough there was the loudest banging coming from our balcony that went on for 24/7 and never stopped. We went to Guest Services several times and begged them to send someone to check it because it sounded like something wasn't bolted down properly.

 

They finally sent the supervisor of maintenance to our room who informed us it was the way the coves were constructed and there was nothing they could do! So we literally did not sleep from time they closed off the balcony until we got back to PC. And that part was brutal!!

 

I swore I wasn't going to cruise again for a long time, but by January I was right back on another ship......LOL

 

Oh yes, the constant banging. We had that too. And when it wasn't banging, we had the "Titanic" creaking. We didn't sleep much those last couple of days either.

Hey Jules.....we were on the infamous Dream cruise with you. Now that was some ride wasn't it?

 

We must both be getting brave because we too have booked a cruise leaving on Aug 31st.....and we have NEVER cruised during this time of year either.

 

Oh well.....I figured if we could ride out Hurricane Sandy, surely we could handle most anything else......LOL

 

Have a great cruise!!!

 

That's too funny! Yes, it was quite a ride! What deck were you on? We were in a cove balcony on deck 2, and I think it was on Thursday morning, just before they started making "announcements" that they came by and bolted our doors shut. Did you happen to see the other ships bobbing around out there with us?

 

We feel the same way about sailing that time of year now, too. Plus, we've done most of the eastern and western ports anyway, so a change in itinerary wouldn't be a problem, just more of an adventure. :)

I'm on the FOS September 21st. My first cruise to the Caribbean was in October way back in 1988. :eek: I never even gave it a second thought. I have insurance for both air and the cruise. No worries here!

 

That's the second leg of our back-to-back! :)

Anyone that has cruised the Caribbean during the period of June to November has cruised during hurricane season.

 

True! I guess I meant the season after kids are back in school; late August through October, when fares are low.

 

Our Hurricane Sandy cruise was during mid-October.

We are sailing on Allure 8/31/14-9/7/14...I am hoping for decent weather but we purchased trip insurance just in case. We've never cruised/beach vacationed this late in the season really so a little nervous.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

 

Definitely. I don't think we've ever not taken out insurance when we've sailed.

My husband and I sailed on Carnival Dream during hurricane Sandy. Our 7-day turned into an 8-day; the last day sailing in a big circle off the coast of Miami in rough seas because PC had been closed. Our days in port though (eastern Caribbean) were absolutely beautiful. It was a bit of a hassle changing our return flight from sea, but I do give credit to Carnival for doing their best to accommodate everyone. Even though we were rocking and rolling, and blocked from going out onto our balcony, we never got sea sick, and I never felt like we were in danger.

 

Now we're planning our first back-to-back on FOS for September. Our friends who sailed with us think we're nuts.

 

Anyone else out there who enjoys the adventure (and low fares) of cruising during hurricane season?

What are the benefits to booking your next cruise on board?

 

After reading the "favorite class of ship" thread, I'm itching to try Radiance class. Texting with my 25 year old daughter about a 4 nighter sometime this winter out of Tampa. My husband enjoys one cruise a year, but now I have a travel buddy in our daughter, who has a good full time job and PTO days, so these shorter cruises are do-able. :)

From our two weeks on Independence, I like the outside promenade deck as well. There is one particular place that is unique to the Freedom class. The promenade deck bows out around the windows of the MR creating an area that is out in the wind and occasionally the spray. If you want to "connect with the sea" this is the place. It is a great place for seagazing any time and on a clear night, the stars and moon should be magnificent.

 

Here is a picture of the area I am talking about [taken from the covered area]:

 

 

When we sailed on Mariner of the Seas, deck 4 was always a favorite place for us to walk around the ship. Surprised there was hardly ever anyone out there with us. So happy we'll be able to do the same when we sail on FOS.

Deck 4 on Freedom class too. Freedom is just a stretched Voyager class.

 

Great, thank you!

 

My husband and I would always take a walk around the ship after breakfast when we would sail on Mariner. It's a cruise ritual for us! Missed that so much on Carnival Dream. Even though you can walk around most of the outside of that ship, it wasn't the same!

Also, is there a deck similar to deck 4 on Voyager class, where you can walk around the entire ship on the outside? I was looking at deck plans, and it looks like on Freedom class, that would be deck 5? Am I right?

How did you like Freedom? How was the service in the MDR?

 

What was your favorite part of the ship?

Good to hear.

I'm so glad I even checked the prices on FOS. I was so certain Allure was the ship for us this time, but since we've made up our minds about finally doing a back-to-back, I can't justify spending that much more for Allure. And those aren't suite prices; those are ocean view balcony prices.

And we also enjoy the MDR. We typically do one night in Chops, so on a back-to-back we can do Chops one week and Portofino, and not feel overwhelmed that we're missing out on something, or missing out on our time in the MDR. That was something that was bothering me a little.

[quote name='kitt82078']You know 3k could give you a third week![/QUOTE]

Oh now that's funny! We're already both freaking out about taking two consecutive weeks of vacation. :eek:

[quote name='JimAOk1945'][COLOR="Black"]It's hard to make a choice when there are good options available.

What are you most interested in . . a ship or an itinerary?[/COLOR][/QUOTE]

Ship. We enjoy our time on the ship a lot, but don't need tons of things to do or even shows to keep us entertained. I like to lay by the pool with my kindle and my husband likes to sit on the balcony or with me in the solarium with his kindle. We usually do trivia, but we've always had our kids with us for a family team.

We must sound a little boring, but we always have a great time.

We have been to all of these ports; the eastern more. And FOS would still be a new ship for us.

We're not big excursion people, especially since our daughters won't be traveling with us. We do like to get off the ship and walk around a little in St. Thomas, take a taxi to Marigot in St. Marten, but we're usually back on board in time for lunch. Cozumel we would book Nachi Cocom because that's a nice beach day.

[quote name='At Sea 4Ever']3k is a big difference! Both ships are great! I would do freedom if it meant saving that much!


Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app[/QUOTE]

I know. If it were just a couple hundred bucks, I would understand, but that's significant to me.

We were supposed to sail on FOS in May. Due to illness with our elderly parents on both sides, which sadly resulted in my dad passing away, we canceled our vacation.

We had two reservations on Freedom; my husband and I in one stateroom, and our daughters would have been together in an interior. My husband and I had corner aft 7708 - this would have been our first time in an aft, and we were very excited, as we'd heard great things about this room.

Fast forward to now. We're trying to book something for my husband and I. Our daughters will no longer be joining us, and since we had the $$ set aside for two reservations, we thought we'd take our first back-to-back sometime in September, 2014.

And we were looking at Allure...but I made the mistake of doing a price comparison for a back to back on FOS.

Now I know there is no comparison when it comes to the ships, BUT a back to back on FOS is over 3k less. :eek: And we've never sailed on FOS before.

No kids here, just my husband and I kicking back for two weeks.

Really enjoying your review and pictures!