mattpro

2 minutes ago, tface023 said:

 

I put off changing my flight until tomorrow. I’m hoping JetBlue will extend their free change period if there are more delays 

The only problem with delaying is that there may not be a seat left on the plane for the sailing. 

Only 2 seats were left when I booked.

Of course overbooking has never been a problem for Jet Blue.

Jet Blue booked a Wednesday 9/4 flight for me this a.m. to Orlando (MCO)

It was originally for 9/1 sailing on Harmony and RCL sent an e-mail that they are sailing at 3 p.m. on 9/4.

If this does not happen due to weather - either for the flight or sailing - things can get mighty interesting rather quickly .

My last few calls to Casino Royale have been to Jamaica (and they have been friendly), but I agree with you both that Oregon is the preferred call center.

I'm Signature and Pinnacle so status hasn't come into play.

I've heard from a Signature member on ship that  their is supposed to be a concierge number for Signature members, but when I queried those at the call center they knew of no such person.

The pier is the take off point for medi vac back to Miami for the low, low price of 50K 😂

Personally, the Freedom is my favorite ship.

I prefer the itineraries and have found the crew to be the best of the Voyager, Freedom and Oasis classes.

Last cruised on it starting Nov. 11, 2018 through April 28, 2019.

Will go back on the Freedom starting Sep. 15, 2019 through Dec. 23, 2019.

Will go back on the Freedom for 4 weeks (or longer - depending on drydock results) after their drydock starting Mar. 8, 2020.

Starting in the Caribbean and going SOUTH from there is preferable to me over the east/west itineraries out of Florida.

An FYI: If you have a hand written prescription from your doctor you can save a lot of money by going to a pharmacy in Aruba (Dutch - European Union country) and pick up your medications. The money I saved from doing this has paid for four of my past cruises for a years worth of meds.

Allure 

Best snorkeling by far is at Cozumel

Best show is Momma Mia

There is so much more to do - entetrainment, boardwalk, many different bars ( rising bar ), aqua show, comedy club, 2 flow riders and much more.

Freedom

Excellent snorkeling in Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba

FYI: Until the end of this year the Freedom is the last ship in the fleet to have the Connoisseur Club (cigar bar) 

RCL passengers rate the crew as the most friendly in the fleet

Sailing out of Puerto Rico means you are starting your cruise in the Caribbean and are going SOUTH from there

Aruba port day ends late in the evening so you can enjoy daytime activities and have a dining experience at one of Aruba's fine restaurants - Blossoms at Palm Beach for Japanese, Chinese and hibachi

Simply Fish at the Marriott (Palm Beach) for surf & turf on the beach enjoying the sunset

or Madame Janette's for Caribbean fare with a touch of Dutch in a local neighborhood between the low rise (Eagle Beach) and high rise (Palm Beach).

These are just a few of many excellent restaurants on the One Happy Island , also referred to as heaven on earth.

Either  ship is good - enjoy your cruise

Does any one know if Ryno Strapp is still with RCL ?

TIA

Yes, the ship's medical staff , from the doctors to the nurses are very capable and professional.

If need be,  transportation to a medical facility will be arranged, whether an emergency flight or at the next port of call.

FYI: The ship will sail without the captain, but it will NOT sail without the doctor - even though there are 2 doctors on the ship.

Most cruisers do sail in a day early - though probably not necessary for you for 2 reasons.

That time of the year the weather should be fin - and - the ship does not sail until 8 p.m.

However, if you do fly in early the closest and nicest hotel is Hyatt Place, which is 1.4 miles away. The rooms and prices are very good, as well as their pool area. In walking distance for dinner are 2 restaurants almost across the street from your hotel.

The Freedom is an excellent ship and with a crew on board that has been recognized by RCL as being the most friendly in the fleet.

By starting in the Caribbean and going south you will find the waters and weather better than sailing out of any Florida port.

If you like beaches, snorkeling or scuba every island is wonderful.

When at St. Thomas (excellent for jewelry shopping) you can take a ferry to St. John's, which has 130 beaches.

St. Kitts (lots of monkeys) is the only island in the Caribbean you can see the Atlantic ocean and the Caribbean sea - with a spit of land in between the two.

Antigua has 365 beaches, one for every day of the year - Valley Church is favored by many cruisers.

St. Lucia is the only place in the world with a drive thru volcano. If using the mud baths and showering off under the waterfalls, make sure you take an old bathing suit. There are also zip lines thru the jungle topsand great swimming up at Rodney Bay by Pigeon Point.

Barbados has a great beach at the Boatyard and if you walk along the shoreline down to the Hilton you can swim out and swim with the turtles without paying an excursion fee. Of course if you want true pampering there is always the spa at Sandy Lane - worldwide renowned.

Enjoy your trip - you picked a winner 😊

Regarding no smoking in the casino.

My source was the Captain and Hotel Director 2 weeks ago on the FOS

Their caveat being that nothing is for sure with RCL until you actually see it.

The first cruise after the FOS drydock will be March 1, 2020.

Changes I've heard of :

Concierge Lounge being renamed Suite Lounge and will be moving to deck 14 port side. Suite guests and Pinnacles are welcome -  Diamond + no longer allowed in. Interior  rooms will be placed on deck 10 where the lounge is currently located.

Diamond Lounge being moved from deck 14 starboard side to deck 5 where the Connoisseur Club is currently located - the Star Lounge will be used for overflow. A new specialty restaurant will be put on deck 14 to make use of their floor to ceiling windows.

The C&A area on deck 6 will be moved to the library on deck 7. New interior rooms in vacated space on deck 6.

Smoking will be banned in the casino in 2020, though I don't know if it will occur after drydock or some time later in the year.

There should be new carpeting throughout the ship and rooms should get a renovation during this 6 week drydock.

Vintages on the Promenade may be replaced by there new family/playroom offering. Though  this was still iffy a few weeks ago

The source of this info came from the Captain and Hotel Director - with the caveat that nothing is for sure with RCL until you actually see it.

Well for all you RCL lovers who don't like smoke - hang in there.

The word is smoking will not be allowed in the casino in 2020.

In 2021 the only place you'll be able to smoke on Voyager & Freedom class ships will be on deck 12 on a small portion of the deck on the port side.

Those of us that smoke are literally a dying breed and RCL is heading for a totally non-smoking ship in the next few years.

FYI: For those Americans traveling to Aruba with a doctor's hand written prescription you are allowed to purchase your prescriptions there, with up to 5 refills, at a great cost savings since Aruba (Dutch) is part of the European Union.

For example, a 90 day supply which costs $476 in the  U.S.A can be bought in Aruba for $52.

Their pharmacy is located in Oranjstad at the end of their railway roundabout, approximately a mile away from the ship.

Why I like B2B's.

As a retired guy who lives where it gets cold in the winter I prefer to cruise in the Caribbean for the warm weather.

Normally I cruise for 10 weeks from Oct. - Dec., come home the first week of Jan. to pay the yearly bills, then head down to San Juan to cruise the southern Caribbean from Jan. thru May.

A side benefit of cruising the southern Caribbean is that you're in Aruba (a Dutch island) every other week, which means you can get your prescriptions filled at a vastly lower price. For example, a 3 month prescription that would cost me $470 in the States only costs $50 in Aruba. Saves $1680 annually.

My retirement plan initially was to buy a home in Florida and live there 6 months a year and in Virginia for the other 6.

However, you can only be in one place at a time and having 2 places means you need 2 of everything. So, from a cost perspective it is much cheaper cruising than being a double home owner.

But, the big difference is this. You are sailing every week with about 4,000 different folks who have paid good money to have a good time.

To me that is the best recipe for having a good time while you're away from home.

Plus, you don't have to grocery shop, cook or clean, especially the bathrooms.

For me it all adds up to a nice, simple, enjoyable lifestyle.

Another difference since you last sailed on the Navigator is that RCL has taken out the nightclub that used to be on deck 3 & 4 and replaced the space on deck 3 with interior rooms and put a restaurant on deck 4 across from the Schooner bar.

On Adventure the restaurant Is Chops Grille.

On Freedom the restaurant is Sabor's.

While on the Independence next month if you want to see a very creative piece of art (personally I'm not an art's guy) go the front of the ship on the pool deck (11) on the port side.

Walk through the glass doors to go to the elevators - look to your left at the landing leading to the 10th floor.

Look at the picture - then walk down to the landing and look again - unbelievable creativity by the artist - you'll see something that you will never forget.

oops!!

meant 90 feet longer in length.

Navigator & Adventure are both Voyager class with the same layout.

The Independence is the Freedom class. Basically it's the same layout as the Voyager class, but it's about 90 feet longer in width.

The Promenade is larger and the hot tubs on deck 11 in the solarium are moved from the pool area to an outside cantilever position.

At port everglades in FLL I was able to get the concierge to arrange for transportation on a shuttle between pier 29 and pier 18.

I had to take my luggage off the ship and put it in the shuttle bus.

Saved a taxi ride.

Have done this numerous times.

FYI: Make sure you take everything out of the bathroom.

There is a separate crew that cleans the BR, so if you leave something there - you will never see it again.

As others have stated it's St. Johns, Antigua.

The good news for you is that Antigua has 365 different beaches, one for every day of the year.

Trip advisor can give you an array of reviews.

Quite a few of these beaches are nicer than Meagan's Bay IMO.

Bob's dates are correct at this time.

I'm booked on Freedom's 2/23/2020 sailing.

Broberts

Anything smaller than a Voyager class ship is small to me.

Has to have a promenade for me to sail on. :)

Brobert

You're on another small ship I don't go on probably in New Olreans