karena1

We have been on all of them, Freedom a lot since it came to Miami. Freedom is updated with a great colorful pool area, El Loco Fresh and the Lime and Coconut Bar. Also love Playmakers on her. But we are doing Liberty in Dec/Jan/Feb/Mar because it is out of FLL vs Miami and that saves us travel time and great offsite parking rather than Miami where we park at the port, since offsite parking in Miami is horrible. Liberty has Saturday Night Fever, which we love. Freedom does not have a major production show. We like them all, so really just go with what works for you.

Yeah, but then because of Covid, we lost all but 3. I had that price for 10 cruises and only got to use it for 3 before Covid hit. It was great while it lasted!

Depends on the ship/port but we normally get the earliest check in which is 10:30. As a rule, I check in online about 7 am and never have an issue getting the earliest slot.

We cruise over Christmas every year and love it! The decorations, the caroling, etc is just so amazing. We do a short cruise, but still love being on the ship for Christmas!

If you purchased the DBP it will show on your boarding pass. There will be a DX on the boarding pass

There is is chart on how it it divided, but I really don't care. I know back of the house people get some. I just prepay it and then tip extra to those we want to.

They don't hold anything cold! I only use them to get my soda in the morning anyway, but use the nice cups at home all the time for water. So love the regular cups. If we get the cheap ones, we don't even take them as we would leave them behind.

Yeah, I am all about the points, so just not worth it to me if not getting the extra points. We always book Balconies and are totally happy with that, not paying extra to upgrade to a suite and not get the double points.

I agree with you. I always make sure no public areas are above us.

We did a B2B on Explorer in April, and the only show I made reservations for was the Ice show.

They are trying to use them or the Deluxe pkg also. They are cheap 7-11 cups. When we were on Freedom last month, our bar guy went and found us 2 of the good cups instead.

I get those offers all the time. Never do them. If I am not going to get the points to upgrade, it is totally not worth it to me.

Good, we were on Freedom, August 19th and got the new ones, but our bartender went and found me the old ones

depends on the ship. On Freedom a month ago it was the cheap ones, but our bar guy went and found us some of the good ones

Just be aware, you have lots of venues above you that stay open late - you will have the Jazz Club and the Comedy Club right on top of you. We once had an Oceanview on a ship on Deck three and got zero sleep as they were cleaning venues above us all night.

Not been out of PE in a while, but there is no cluster at MIA when boarding Freedom. Very organized. You go in, they direct you where to sit based on when you got there, and they board by row. Will see if anything changes when we go on Oasis in Dec out of MIA.

In Miami, they never check your time. You get there, walk in, get checked in, and go to the waiting lounge. They seat you as you come in. Once boarding starts they go row by row and you board. Goes super fast and easy

Been on 10 cruises since last August and always been 2 lines. Sometimes a bit longer, but never have to wait that long. Again, we don't care if we have the same waitstaff, so makes it much easier for us.

I totally get that.

I am a gym rat and no way am I cruising or land vacation without hitting the gym. At home, about 2 hours a day. On the ship, I settle for an hour. Am at the gym by 5:30 am to get my hour in and feel good for the rest of the day. Unlike a lot of people, I see no reason to gain weight just b/c I am on a cruise. I eat no different than at home. Because I work out, rarely do I come back from vacation gaining more than a pound.

not sure how California is, but will tell you 100%, Freedom out of Miami could care less. They never check your boarding time and we get those same emails. You are seated in the waiting lounge as you coming after you check in. Once boarding starts, you board by row and no one cares a bit what you actual boarding time was.

All self serve, been that way for quite a while already.

I always have a copy of my husbands DD214 with me. In 137 cruises, they have never asked for it!!

Do western, they go lower than Eastern. Although if you are from the north, you will probably think the water is warm enough regardless of what itinerary you do. I live in SWFL so won't go in the water those months since too cold for me, but have been in Cozumel in Dec and was able to get in the water as it was warm enough for me.

Cannot tell you how many times when we lived in Orlando we went to watch only to come home because it never happened. So not surprised at all it did not happen today.