jules815

Just thought of something. We'll be in 7708 on Freedom of the Seas. Does that aft balcony room have a sofa, or only a chair? I was just watching some youtube videos of aft balconies on Freedom. It wasn't a corner aft, but the room only had a chair. (I think it may have been on deck 9)

Thank you for sharing #7408 aft, will be in this cabin in September. Can't wait

Please be sure to report back here about your aft experience. :) I'll be in the other deck 7 corner aft next May. I love to hear about these cabins.

Enjoy your cruise!

We'll be sailing on Freedom of the Seas for the first time next May. It will be our 3rd time doing the eastern Caribbean route, but for us it's more about the ship this time, so no problem repeating again.

We have the 3 day sampler cruise-to-nowhere booked on Quantum for November 2014, but we'll probably take another cruise before then

Oh wow...that sounds like it would be fun (and interesting!).

Bumping this for all the Freedom lovers out there, or people new to FOS, like me! I can't get enough of reading anything related to this ship. :)

We are at odds a bit. I am from NY and prefer that style over Chicago and we have high standards also. For one that NY style is better than Chicago's. LOL

I'm also from Chicago, but I love NY pizza too. They're totally different, so I don't even think it's fair to compare them. I've yet to get good Chicago or NY style pizza on any cruise ship, but it's never been horrible, and certainly better than "a poke in the eye!" :)

I love deck 4. You are close to the water, awesome views, no crowds or chair hogs, and you can be in the shade. Unlike some people I have no interest in tanning.;)

My husband and I have often wondered why more people don't hang out on deck 4. On almost all of our walks around that deck on Mariner of the Seas, it felt like an empty ship. It's such a pleasant area.

Its all about different strokes for different folks!

 

I did NOT think I would be a "shopping mall at sea" fan but I am. :)

 

Dont get me wrong. Radiance was beautiful. Very elegant, maybe even moreso than Freedom in some areas but there was not near the "WOW" at least to me on Radiance as there was on Freedom.

 

I literally rolled around with my jaw dropped for a couple hours once boarding her. It will be tough for me to consider a smaller ship now but Im not saying that I wont. A cruise is a cruise!

I can understand why people call it a "shopping mall," but it is a good, useable space, especially in inclement weather. We've spent several nights sitting on the Promenade outside of the pub or wine bar, because the weather was too windy and rainy. I could do without all the merchandise tables that appear around the second day. But I understand, they're out to make a buck, and don't see that ever changing.

Isnt the Quantam Smallee then the Oasis class ships? .. By a considerble amount. Still a massive ship,with too much pakced into it. But less passengers.

 

 

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No idea. I just assumed it had to be larger with all that stuff! :)

And when I say "smaller," I mean nothing larger than say Voyager. I haven't sailed on one of the larger ships, but it seems a lot of people here seem to prefer the smaller ones, like Radiance class.

Do you think they'd ever build a new, smaller class ship? Something without all the gimmicks, but maybe perfect some of the areas. For instance, maybe put an area out near the pool that offered light dining; sandwiches, salads, etc.

I was watching the Quantum video online this morning, and it just seems like too much stuff.

What would be your dream, smaller size ship? Do you think this is a market that RC isn't interested in any longer? Obviously, they don't seem to have any trouble filling them, but is bigger always better?

Do not lose or misplace your cup if you intend to use the Freestyle machines. My husband and I were on the Freedom of the Seas in May. We were in the casino on the afternoon of the first sea day and DH accidently left his drink cup behind at a slot machine. He went back within minutes of realizing and the cup had been picked up by another guest, and he had an idea who actually did pick it up. He looked and looked again to make sure and then went to guest services to see about getting another cup. They advised that there is nothing they can do and he would have to purchase another soda package if he wanted another cup even though he had his original receipt as proof of purchase.

That just seems wrong!

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I don't know if I like the idea of having to carry around a cup. Is there a fountain soda option still available where you show your sea pass at any bar on ship. (The old fashioned way, not using the free style machines?)

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Not sure you will see a big enough demand out of Puerto Rico to make it suitable for an Oasis Class out of that port.

 

With all the talk that has been going on with the push for expansion out of Port Canaveral, one could very well end up there but I don't see anything on that ship other than an Eastern or Western Caribbean itinerary.

 

And with a 3rd ship coming to Port Canaveral in 2014/2015 you are more likely to see a southern Option from Port Canaveral. Part of me says this because a) it's what I want :p and b) because it would make sense with the expansion going on here in the Orlando area with all of the theme parks adding in more resorts. And with that you expect people to extend their vacations with options for cruises.

 

Some say Anthem may end up in Florida. I don't see that happening unless Oasis or Allure was relocated.

I would LOVE a southern Caribbean itinerary out of PC!

Things are certainly changing in the Cruising World! Someone said Carnival's food was better than Royal's...you don't hear that very often!

.

The food on our first 2 Carnival cruises was very good...and one of those cruises was on Destiny! :eek: :D

Our last one though, on Dream, the MDR service was very poor; after waiting and waiting, meals were cold, wrong orders, etc. I hope they can get it together.

after the obligatory we're-in-Florida-OMG-a-palm-tree picture

 

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Stephanie and I spent all of our pre-elementary school winters with Mom and grandma in Boca and it holds some great memories for us. Mom and I's first stop? Breakfast at the Boca Raton social hub: Einstein Bagel.

 

 

We spotted an Old Navy nearby and I wanted to get a pair of leggings so we headed in...and a half hour later we walked out with...winter coats for next year. They were on clearance for $8.97! Why they had winter coats in south Florida at all is beyond me but we're set for next winter.

 

Enjoying your review! We're also from Chicago, and always take the "OMG it's a palm tree!" picture too. Something about seeing that first palm tree of the trip! Also, spent 6 weeks of every summer of my childhood shipped to my grandparent's house in Boynton Beach, Florida! We always shopped in Boca!

Good find on the winter coats, and that TJ Maxx sounds fab!

Ok....so I guess I am staying with FOS.

It will be wonderful, I am sure.

Been on many Royal Ships in the past,

Monarch a couple of times, Mariner, never cared for Princess or NCL.

Really liked The Dream Carnival had. Went twice on her.

 

So far one posting on the carnival website told me to stick with fos.

 

ps........Tapi's a goood doggie.....such a good doggie........:)

 

Dog Lover.

Dream has changed. I have been on Carnival Dream twice, and also sailed on Destiny. First time on Dream when she was fairly new, had a really nice time. Food and service were great. Sure there were differences; Carnival just not as polished as RC, and I really, really prefer the layout of the WJ versus the buffet on both Carnival ships we've been on, but the rates were good, and my husband likes those deck 2, cove balconies a lot.

This past fall we went on Dream again. Great deal; I think we paid something like $650pp for a balcony room, 7-day eastern Caribbean. It was like a totally different ship from 2010. Service in the MDR was horrible -- EVERY night. (I had read about bad MDR service here on CC prior to our cruise, and then witnessed it first hand. So everything I'd read and kinda shrugged off was true.) Many areas of the ship also seemed dirty to me, and it hadn't been out of dry dock too long.

We are done with Carnival.

Over 300, which is going to be torture!

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Honestly, I don't think that you have enough time.

I agree with DonnaK, you wouldn't have time.

Serafinas is no quick ride- but it is worth the trip! Took us about 25 minutes to get there in November. Hit some trafffic and took 35 or so minutes to get back.

 

When you are finished with your beach tour, you will be dropped off right where you can grab a cab-just hop in and enjoy!!! You can also wander thru the market a bit.

 

I was very impressed with the tasty treats at Serafina's.

We found Serafina's on Trip Advisor before our last cruise, and made it a mission to go. Lovely, open-air but covered, casual, self service with lots of tasty treats and specialty coffees. A quick walk from the taxi stand, which is right there, you can't miss it.

From there we took another cab to Marigot Bay because my husband wanted to check out the famous beachside lollos and restaurants. It was late morning when we were there, and hardly anything was open. The restaurants all don't open until 5:00pm. We had lunch in one of the few beachside bbq restaurants that was open. We asked the waitress if there were cabs in the area, and she offered to call one for us. So we were thinking "great, enjoy our lunch with this beautiful view, what a great time!" Then we noticed we hadn't seen any cabs. When she finally brought our check, she told us she wasn't able to get a cab for us! We were in a bit of a panic, when all of a sudden a van doing a tour came driving slowly down the road we were on, and our friends we were traveling with were in it! They had hired a driver back at the pier to take them around the island, and they squeezed us in with them! That's how we got back to the pier. Traffic was pretty bad, too, but it was early enough that we weren't in any danger of missing the ship. I wouldn't venture out too late though, because traffic really does get backed up. One of our cruise adventures for sure!

Another great FOS review! I'm slacking today, and reading old FOS reviews and looking at pictures. :) I can't believe I have to wait 11 months.

I was bored on our 2/28-3/2 cruise on the Dream. We had cruised Carnival plenty and were happy until last year's Conquest but tried Dream this year, and 2 mediocre ones have me Carnivalled out. (Despite Gold VIP.) I wouldn't tell anyone to cruise on the CCL Dream. I couldn't wait to get home. We could never get to comedy on time because desert hadn't even been served (And you know those meltings cakes!) so sometimes we even took our desert to go (not a nice way to finish the dinner with a cup of coffee etc.) and we couldn't communicate with them, but we tried. We got apps we didn't ask for and didn't ones we did ask for. It would take 20 min to get tea or water filled. I was shushed by our main waiter. Couldn't even tell you his name, they didn't give us their names. Normally we get quite attached to our servers! All the entertainment was black lights and popping and locking, so watch America's Got Talent and you will be good. The Entertainment CMs were very funny though, enjoyed the Legends try outs, super hilarious. But I'm stick of the smokey casinos, the constant drinks sales being pushed on us, the bingo in the main theater that we had to sit through before the show started. Last year on the Conquest, we could play volleyball with our crew. This year, they made us wait until it showed up on the schedule which was ridiculous. It was like hurricane force winds and we had to BEG them to give us a net and a ball and even though all of us were over 25, we had to play with a CM. (I say beg because I literally had to call down to there to get them to come up and let us play volleyball.) It was NOT a fun ship! The shrimp apps were so tiny, most of the apps were a bite or two. The food was either butter or tomato sauce although I love the thai soups. I waited in line for everything from a hot dog to checking out of the gift shop. The ports as always were nice. But I have never experienced the "are we getting off the ship yet?" feeling (from cruising from age 11), and I was just pleased as I could be to disembark. The only good thing about that cruise was that our friends picked PC and my honey knew I couldn't bear to drive by Orlando, so the only good thing about our Carnival cruise (besides the ports) was the Disney!

 

I told my friend "I'm cruised out. I don't care if I get on a boat again." And then 4 weeks later, we were on the DCL Dream to surprise crash our parents' 45th anniversary! See, the CCL Dream had gotten stuck 1.5 weeks after we got off of it and my Mom is a worrier, so Dad knew she would never take a CCL so he booked a 3 day DCL for them. Even though we had been off for work, we knew we could swing a 3 day and so I coordinated all the kids and we went with them! (Would have been awful for them to see all those nice families and just wish the kids were there for their 45th anniversary cruise!)

 

I am so in love with DCL after that, it was my first DC after growing up on RCCL and cruising CCL for the last 10 yrs. I know that sometimes Disney gets old, but one 3 day cruise is JUST getting me started with them. I am over the moon for the service and food we had. We had the best day at Castaway. Saw hundreds and hundreds of fish. Maybe the most I have seen. Loved the food and picnics and water slides and ship detective games and hiliarous and fun family entertainment, no smokey casino, Aquaduck, and incredible live shows with very high level (like Lion King broadway segments) acting and singing. I was blown away.

 

I just can't imagine telling anyone to cruise the CCL Dream. And I remember getting suckered into one of those ridiculous 'everyone show up and shop for this bracelet, they are having a raffle!' promotions at the gift shop and several women behind me said that it was the most awful cruise they have ever been on too. Again, we got off of it in Mar so not that long ago.

 

I realize that repeat DCers are prob a lil ready to move on, and I do get that, but main, I had the BEST stateroom I've ever had (as OP describes the bathtub- i have never had a bathtub on a cruise or a separated commode and shower) I had the best service I'd had in years, the best dinner show at Animator's with amazing technology, the best shows we have ever seen on a cruise ship (even my attention def husband was there early and stayed through all of them!) and great family karaoke and dance parties not to mention fireworks, live action deck shows, and the nicest CMs I've met in years. I want to spend my next $$ on DCL as soon as I can (prob next spring again) and from what I read, with the incidentals that the other lines add (got borderline food poisoning on the Dream, oh yeah forgot to mention that, the Indian buffet on the 3rd day, maybe they kept the food for 3 days since I hit it every day and loved it but that was an AWFUL night for me!) and I ordered a coke to try and help my stomach and I got a can for just less than $2.50 and they added a tip to my can of coke... Basically I think I would rather cruise a day or two less (like a 5 day next) for a similar price of a 7 day and be able to bring whatever drinks I want with me and enjoy the incredible family atmosphere and pleasant people everywhere. Those 3 days were THE best cruise I've ever been on (and I've cruised Hawaii, which of course was great, but I couldn't tell you anything about the ship which was RCCL and my honey complained because the soups were broth with a few chives in it, that's like all I remember..)

 

Ok sorry for hijacking the thread. I wouldn't ever in good conscience tell someone who has cruised DCL to get on the CCL Dream. That's like a horrific joke...

 

Also I should add, NONE of us have Kids, so the clubs etc never factored. This is just comparing the cruise experience one Dream to another. We were all 31 or older.

I found this post while reading older posts about FOS. This is EXACTLY how we felt about our last cruise on Carnival Dream! Our service in the MDR was horrible...and not just one off night. The ship also seemed run down and a little dirty. Our first cruise on Dream in 2008 was great, but something is up with that ship, and it's not good.

We were just on FOS in 7708. We absolutely LOVED our balcony. The rest of my family certainly had aft envy :). I'll try to post a few pics...

 

 

 

 

 

I loved getting room service coffee in the morning and just sitting out there watching the sunrise. We had a nice little breeze but it was never too windy even though at times it was like a hurricane on deck LOL. I also liked that it was covered, we were able to be out on deck the very few times it rained. Didn't notice any soot at all. We were part of a group of thirteen and everyone was on our balcony for a sailaway party with plenty of room. We grabbed some champagne from the bar and some snacks from Sorrento's and the Cafe Promenade. Best room we ever had!!!

We have that exact room booked for next May. Can't wait! :D

We are a month before you in the same cabin, woohoo! I know we will spend a lot of time out there.

Woohoo! Yay! I'm so excited. Wish it wasn't so far off though. We've always been curious about trying an aft cabin, and so happy this particular one was available. Not too worried about the extra walking. My husband and I are big walkers and walk the ship several times a day. Good excuse to double up on dessert! :D

Have you thought about getting a hammock for the balcony?

Yes, Buckler is on the Pub menu:

Thanks so much! Of course, the one IPA isn't covered, but I'm sure there's something on that list my husband will enjoy. (He's really into home brewing and has turned into a bit of a beer snob!)

For no reason other than our daughter's interior will be located on the port side, I just switched our room from corner aft 7408 to corner aft 7708. (starboard to port) Now we're all on the port side, and I won't be changing my reservation anymore!