Newbcruiser1

We checked the Compass each day. The hours were posted but......

I hear ya... I admit I haven't staked out outside to cross reference the listed hours with the actual hours so I'm sorry I can't be of more help there! [emoji6]

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I am currently sitting in the Captain's Corner Q&A session.

Fun fact: the southern route that we have taken on this crossing is generally the most calm with the best weather because the ship follows the trade winds.

More interesting facts:

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As requested, a photo of the mini-golf course. Unfortunately this one doesn't have any fun characters or anything.

The morning dance aerobics class was busy!

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Good morning from day 12 onboard the Freedom of the Seas! Today is... you guessed it - another sea day!

Our location this morning:

I had breakfast in the MDR's buffet on deck 3. Unfortunately I was seated at the most awkward shared table! I said hello when I sat down and everyone just looked at me. Then to try to break the ice I asked if everyone was enjoying their cruise - one lady said yes and nobody else answered. Eeek! I quickly ate my first small plate of food, and then went up to the Windjammer for the remainder of my breakfast!

I then went for a nice walk around the ship:

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After dinner was the Quest. It was probably the emptiest Quest I've ever seen, but people had a good time! There were some challenges I hadn't seen before as well!

I returned to my room to find this guy taking up my whole bed and eating my remote control! My room attendant has been very creative since I told her I've been posting the pictures of her creations online! :)

The ship is still rocking quite a bit (it was very noticeable outside when looking at the horizon in relation to the windows or railings). I expect to be rocked to sleep tonight - no complaints there!

Coming up tomorrow - day 12, and the 5th of 7 sea days! It's supposed to be another beautiful day, although I am hoping for a lot less wind than today! [emoji38]My whole dinner table of CC members will also be dining together in Chops!

Stay tuned for more!

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I had the garlic shrimp as my main course. They tasted good; however, there were only 3 on my plate. Our waiter did bring some extra to the table though!

We also shared the eggplant Parmesan:

And the chicken Marsala (unfortunately the best part was the roasted garlic on the plate):

I had the tiramisu and the sticky toffee pudding for dessert:

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It was a beautiful sunset! Unfortunately I was unable to watch the whole thing because I had to go inside and get ready for dinner.

The dinner menu tonight in the MDR is one of my favorites - Italian night!

I started with the caprese salad:

And the arancini:

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Johnny Rocket's - WHAT THE HECK ARE THEIR HOURS?!? We were on FOS last September and went there almost every day trying to eat lunch. Not only were they never open but a couple of times there were employees visible but no one reacted to our presence and there were never any hours posted. I so wanted a good shake.

Sorry to hear you had problems trying to get in. On sea days the hours have consistently been 11:30am-midnight. They open later on port days depending on the port times. For exact hours, see page 3 of the cruise compasses that I have posted for each day.

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I spent the afternoon lounging, reading, and hot-tubbing in the solarium. I was going to take a dip in the main pool but it's way too windy out so I stayed where it's a bit more sheltered!

I just got a delicious margarita; however, due to a combination of my placing it in a bad spot, and the wind, I spilled most of it! ☹️

I'm now sitting in this strange "box" in the forward part of the solarium on a comfy couch (is this a new addition? I don't recall seeing this area on the sister ships!), watching the beginning of the sunset! Perfection!

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I've kept busy this afternoon! I went to check out the belly dancing class in the Star Lounge:

And then the Sexiest Man competition:

I went to Johnny Rockets as planned for lunch. I started out sitting outside. The wind was somewhat bothersome but I tried to tough it out. Then we hit some passing rain so I relocated inside! The food was good, and I found a trick to getting a free float. Note - pop is included in the cover charge, and ice cream is included for dessert. I asked for my pop with some ice cream on the side before my meal came! Success!

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I got myself an iced chai latte and chatted with some fellow CC friends for a bit before heading off to see round 3 of Master Sea Chef! Today they had to make a cake. Another 2 were eliminated, and next they'll be onto the finals where they'll actually be cooking with heat!

I will likely wander the ship to watch some of the activities, then have lunch at Johnny Rockets! I have to fulfill my cruise tradition of eating there once! It's a beautiful day, although quite windy, so hopefully eating outside without blowing away will be feasible! Actually I'm more worried about the delicious onion rings blowing away than about me! [emoji38]

Given the gorgeous weather, I'll probably spend some time at the pool after lunch!

More later!

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It looks like we are just ahead of this storm with the storm following closely behind us. The seas are a bit rocky as a result - no whitecaps but there are medium sized swells and some wind! Fortunately it's still partly cloudy and is nice and warm!

I started my day with the dance aerobics class on deck 13 high above the pool deck!

And then enjoyed breakfast in the Windjammer:

I went for a walk around the Promenade deck.

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Gooooood morning from day 11 onboard the beautiful Freedom of the Seas! Today is Sea day 4 of 7 and there are plenty of activities going on throughout the ship once again!

We have passed the halfway point across the Atlantic!

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I'm loving your review. It almost feels like I'm there. Do you plan on going to any

 

of the Enrichment lectures? They sound interesting.

Thanks for following along! [emoji3] The enrichment lectures haven't been at the best times to fit into my day, so I've been watching them on TV! The forensic expert is a little bit dry but the content is interesting!

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I hung out with some friends for a bit on the Royal Promenade, and then we went up to the Viking Crown Lounge where the party was supposed to move at midnight. Oddly, it was quite empty when we arrived. I wonder if they continued in Studio B instead.

I finally got back to my room around 1am to find this Halloween appropriate towel friend:

We have another time change tonight and I am looking forward to the extra hour of sleep! The ship is still rolling quite a bit and is still somewhat jerky. I expect this to continue for at least the next day given the weather map that I posted earlier. Fortunately it hasn't affected any passengers or activities.

Stay tuned for day 11 tomorrow! That will be Sea day 4/7!

Have a good night!

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I ordered the mustard crusted roast beef as my main course. It was decent, although I could not see or taste any mustard around the edges!

I had the pecan tart for dessert which was delicious:

We also shared the English trifle at our table but we all agreed it was a little weird. The custard was gelatinous, the fruit tasted canned or half-candied, and it was missing cake or lady fingers.

After dinner was the costume parade on the Royal Promenade. I would estimate that about 60% of guests dressed up. There were around 90 entries in the costume contest (many were group costumes), and they were all fantastic!!! I saw everything from trolls to Michael Jackson to giant babies to a naked couple! Unfortunately due to the number of people crammed into the Promenade, I witnessed several fights between passengers who were there staking out spots for 1+ hours, and those who showed up at the last minute and obstructed their view. Unfortunately one such passenger ended up blocking my view as well, so I was unable to get photos of the incredible costumes.

I did get a few along the way. My apologies for the crummy pictures. It was a combo of movement, lighting challenges, and obstructed views.

Everyone moved into Studio B after the parade for the contest winners reveal, the Thriller dance performance, and the start of the Halloween party.

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So as planned, I spent my afternoon in the solarium doing a combination of fighting with the internet, reading, and drinking a mudslide!

I decided to try out the "evening stretch" in the fitness centre at 5pm. It was a nice combination of stretching and yoga. It was hard on my knees but I just sat down when needed.

I swung by the diamond lounge for a drink and some snacks before returning to my room to get ready for the evening. I did not wear a whole costume but I did have a little something on my head!

I stumbled upon this on the Promenade! Haha!

I went to the show at 7pm - it was Daniel Zafrani. It's hard to even describe his show - it was a combination of miming with a comedic twist. It was fantastic! I spent the whole show with a big smile on my face, with a combination of saying "wow!!!" and laughing out loud. I ducked out a little bit early to go see the haunted house which had been set up in the pub. It was very well done considering the small space. Lots of people screaming and lots of laughs as well. The crew members were great!

Dinner tonight was in the MDR.

I started with the cheddar cheese sticks:

And the lentil soup:

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Thanks everyone!

I have met Debbie and David - they were on one of my tours and I met them through a fellow CC member! :)

I have not yet met Ginnie and Steve but will pay attention in case I meet them!

No pictures of Elvis and MJ, unfortunately! :(

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More from the Royal Promenade:

I wound up in the Schooner Bar playing Pictionary on a big dry erase board with a randomly assembled team. It was fun! My team won highlighters!

Next I got a frappuccino from the Promenade Cafe. I sat in the Viking Crown Lounge for a bit while watching the Thriller dance class and the people almost blowing away on deck 12!

I have since relocated to the solarium where it is not at all windy and I had my pick from about 40% of the chairs! I think I am going to hang out here and read for the next couple hours!

More later! [emoji3]

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They went all out decorating the Promenade for Halloween!

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After breakfast I went to Master Sea Chef, round 2! They once again were presented with very random ingredients and had to use all of them in their dishes. According to one of the passenger judges that I saw after, they all tasted nasty! Haha! But what do you expect when presented with roast beef, curry, pineapple, and cherries as some of the ingredients?!

I then joined some CC friends for lunch in the MDR. As I had just had breakfast a few hours earlier, I wasn't hungry but the MDR lunches beat the Windjammer any day, so we had to get in before they closed! They once again had a small hot buffet, the tutti salad bar, chocolate fountain, and this time, a crepe station. Some had asked me if the MDR menu changes at lunch time. It seems that there are a few different menus that they rotate between.

I had the avocado corn salad off the menu which was great:

And some crepes. Unfortunately they ran out of strawberry sauce, and when they brought out a new dish of it, it was frozen in a lump!

There was an alpha alpha alpha call while I was at lunch, in a stateroom. I hope the person is okay - the middle of the Atlantic can't be a good place for a medical emergency...

I took a walk down the Promenade deck after lunch and it was extremely windy and wet from ocean spray.

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Thanks for following along, everyone!

For those who are picky eaters, I am told that the chicken breast on the every night alternative menu is great, although I haven't tried it myself!

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Unfortunately we are stuck in this "non-tropical depression" today and tomorrow, so it is expected to rain for the next two days.

The ship is rocking quite a bit today - mostly a side-to-side jerking motion rather than actual swaying.

I am currently enjoying breakfast in the Windjammer. They had this fabulous Halloween display out:

The crew fire drill just ended with the captain dismissing the crew from their outdoor muster stations saying "it's raining outside! Please go inside! You're dismissed!".

Given the weather, I will likely be inside for most of the day, which means I might participate in more shipboard activities. It's too bad that the Freedom class ships do not have an enclosed solarium.

Coming up later - Master Sea Chef #2, and the Halloween costume parade and party tonight! Word on the street is that many passengers will be dressing up in elaborate costumes!

Stay tuned for more!

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Welcome to day 10 onboard the beautiful Freedom of the Seas! Today is the 3rd of 7 sea days, and is also Halloween!!!

Our current position:

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And the tomato Greek salad (also amazing!):

Then the lamb chops for my main course - also amazing:

And for dessert I had the baklava (a little soggy):

And some blueberries and blackberries which I put in a special request for! [emoji6]

After dinner I went to check out the "Hush!" Silent party in the Viking Crown Lounge. It was actually quite fun! It was hilarious to watch without headphones, and nice to be able to select the music that you wanted to dance to! I stayed for a little over an hour before turning in for the night!

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