Follow the drink packages on Freedom of the Seas - 4/14 to 4/22

Today we are in labadee. So you know what that means. Lots of Labadoozies.

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Enjoying a bloody mary while we dock.

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Around 3 I went up for a nap and shower as it was formal night. Everyone seemed excited for the lobster. Brian ended up having 6 of them. Lol. I had no plans for the night after dinner and planned on just walking around. I went to the schooner bar where I had 2 Moscow mules. I do not have a picture even though I swear I took one. This has happened a few times. So maybe the drinks were getting to me. Lol.

 

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Do you have early or late dinner?? We were limited to 3 lobsters apiece in November but I'm thinking it was so they didn't run out for the late dinner (we were early).

And if you like mudslides, ask for a BBC - they're delicious!

... I do not have a picture even though I swear I took one. This has happened a few times. So maybe the drinks were getting to me. Lol.

Check someone else's camera ;p

Do you have early or late dinner?? We were limited to 3 lobsters apiece in November but I'm thinking it was so they didn't run out for the late dinner (we were early).

 

And if you like mudslides, ask for a BBC - they're delicious!

I like mudslides! What’s a BBC?

Harmony 06/02/18

I like mudslides! What’s a BBC?

 

 

Harmony 06/02/18

Bailey's Banana Colada

Bailey's Banana Colada

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Harmony 06/02/18

Enjoying your cruise postings!

Suggest trying French 75 with champagne float.

We will be cruising early July on LOS.

Steven

A frozen strawberry mojito sounds really good

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BBC!

Oh damn. Look that acronym up on Urban Dictionary.

I don't think I would be so willing to ask for that.

Do you have early or late dinner?? We were limited to 3 lobsters apiece in November but I'm thinking it was so they didn't run out for the late dinner (we were early).

 

And if you like mudslides, ask for a BBC - they're delicious!

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Labadee was amazing yesterday. It was hot but the water was cool. The ferry to Columbus Beach was not running. I've been told for years to go there and never made it. My mother in law is having mobility issues and had to rent a scooter. So she drives it downstairs and parks it and they store it somewhere out of the way. There are tons of guys with wheelchairs waiting to take you to the end of the pier for tips. So that was excellent. Next stop is to find the tram. But she wasn't moving quick to get there. A man pulled up in one of the golf carts for pinnacle and suits guests and my husband was able to talk him into taking her. Thank goodness. That was a lifesaver. Off the cart and a few steps down to someone waiting to give us a chair.

I had 4 or 5 labadoozies but the heat of the day burned off any buzz you could get quick. We floated in the water and drank. I got out around 2 and fell asleep in a chair. Then off to wait for a tram back around 3. We were among the first people waiting there sitting at the station. By the time the tram got there, there were lots more. And it was obvious no one cared to let a woman in her 70s who can't walk well on. I saw another woman with a cane who also got about trampled on by people who just had to get a seat. It really makes me sad. Especially since it is mostly people in their 30s and 40s who should know better and I am sure have older parents. That's been the only bad thing I've witnessed all week. But half of us squeezed on and as we were leaving another was pulling up and the rest got on that one. Labadee is always one of my favorite islands cause it's a no think day. And Columbus cove was not crowded at all.

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After getting back on the ship my mother in law and I stopped at cafe promenade for coffee and tea. She is a big tea with lemon drinker. She said she hadn't realized she could get tea there. But then I realized no lemon. We asked behind the counter and a nice man brought her out a plate. She was tickled pink. I had a caramel frappachino as I needed caffeine and a cool beverage. Then off to shower and get ready for dinner.

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Dinner tonight was so good. The risotto was cooked perfectly. Earlier in the week I got the mushroom risotto and it was undercooked. So I wasnt sure so I ordered a salad too. I also got the ravioli and tiramisu. I had 2 glasses of wine with dinner. After dinner we were going to just wander around but everyone wanted to gamble in the casino. Which is really not my thing. I had 2 captain Morgan and Cokes and was falling asleep at a machine. Meanwhile my mother in law was up to $1,200. So about 10 I called it a night and went to bed.

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Today is the last sea day. I am going to go see all the areas I haven't yet and drink along the way. Lol.

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Any issues getting drinks at the bars? Low bar staff has been a complaint on CC recently. Any issues getting drinks at the MDR or specialty restaurants? Great review - love it. Cheers.

I’m on this sailing as well, and I must say that the bar staff had been absolutely AMAZING! Almost a blast from the past days of cruising. We’ve spent a lot of time in the solarium, and it’s rarely ever more than 10 minutes that go by without a server asking us for drinks. We are with a group of 6 and all have the DP and haven’t gone thirsty lol. We do tip well, so that may help.

Also, if anyone is wondering, we have late seating (8pm) but also eat specialties late. We head to the DL around 7 and it has been busy but always has at least 10-15 chairs available. No overflow used or needed for us.

Alex is great up there.

Junior Allen is the D concierge and is good.

Gisleni is the Regular concierge and she seems quite lack-luster in service and performance.

I’m on this sailing as well, and I must say that the bar staff had been absolutely AMAZING! Almost a blast from the past days of cruising. We’ve spent a lot of time in the solarium, and it’s rarely ever more than 10 minutes that go by without a server asking us for drinks. We are with a group of 6 and all have the DP and haven’t gone thirsty lol. We do tip well, so that may help.

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Following. I love reading a review from a drink perspective!! I'll be on Freedom in November. Can't wait!!

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Today I've been taking it easy. My feet are swollen and by the end of the night I can barely walk. I need to get exercising again. Lol. I had breakfast in the windjammer. The staff there is excellent also. Coming around with drinks or desserts and taking orders. After eating I had a lava flow with kraken rum again. Then I took a quick nap and started packing. Boooooo..... afterwards went to lunch and on the way to cash in some small winnings in the casino we ran into a couple we are sailing with who won a free 5 night cruise at some tournament in the casino. Wow! How amazing. Then we all met on 8 to print our boarding passes. I wandered down to 5 to pick up my son in law a shot glass and grabbed a Rise and Shine from the pub. It had whiskey, peach schnapps and a beer in it. It's actually not bad. Now to finish packing and shower and get ready for dinner.

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Forgot the picture.

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Off the ship now. So sad to leave. Someone stopped by my dinner table last night and said they heard I drank all the alcohol. That was great.

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Dinner tonight was so good. The risotto was cooked perfectly. Earlier in the week I got the mushroom risotto and it was undercooked. So I wasnt sure so I ordered a salad too. I also got the ravioli and tiramisu. I had 2 glasses of wine with dinner. After dinner we were going to just wander around but everyone wanted to gamble in the casino. Which is really not my thing. I had 2 captain Morgan and Cokes and was falling asleep at a machine. Meanwhile my mother in law was up to $1,200. So about 10 I called it a night and went to bed.

 

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Hopefully MIL walked away with some of that loot. And hopefully all the inconsiderate unmentionable from the trams lost their rears contributing to MIL's winnings.

And Welcome to South Florida's beautiful . . . thunderstorms.

So now I am home and back to work I wish I had enough vacation time to do longer cruises. I would live on a ship if I could but a back to back sounds so great right now. Disembarkment day was a hassle as usual. Especially with someone in a wheelchair. But we all made it. Well most of us.

We had an excursion through RCI to do an airboat ride through the everglades. But as mentioned above it was a rainy morning. When we got there, we were told they were still making a decision to see if they thought it would clear up. Shortly after there was lightening and the sky opened. Decision made. Tour cancelled. There were 2 other tour buses with us. They each had a guide who asked them what they wanted to do. They were told they could do this or that or go to the airport. Our bus was the last to pull back up and we all piled back in, assuming we were going straight to the airport. That was fine with us cause the bus was tight and I really wanted to stretch out with a few drinks at the bar.

Then I notice we pass the airport and head downtown. We start circling streets so we thought maybe we are just taking a scenic drive. Then we stop and the first quarter of the bus pile out. I found out later that one of the guides from the other bus leaned in and said lets go we are getting on this river boat. The rest of us start looking at each other like 'what is going on'. The smokers got off to grab a smoke and I guess the guide realizes no one else is getting off. So she gets on and grabs the mic and says 'Hey let's go. We are doing this riverboat tour.' We all respond, no. No one wants to do this. 3/4 of the bus refuse to get off. We all say we want to go to the airport. She says we can't go. We are doing this. We all look over and it is obvious the riverboat is packed. There is not a free seat. Even on the top where there is no cover. And remember it is raining and lightening. So no, we will stay right here. Then we notice the boat is leaving. She runs out and yells at the captain that she is getting the people off the bus. He comes back. She gets back on to plead with us to get off. Well now we are made cause the other 2 buses were given options but no one said anything to us. But because the first 5 seats got off and are now on the boat, the bus can't leave. Meanwhile the captain of the river boat is yelling nasty things at the group standing on the curb smoking. They said there was no way they were getting on the boat with that guy.

Now none of us knew where we were exactly. There were a group of 5 who apparently got off and walked down a block and found a cheesecake factory and went to eat. I wish I had known better to plan. The guide gave up and got on the ship. I watched as my mother in law was on the bow pulling away looking back at her 3 sons and daughter in laws who didn't get on. I felt bad but she told us after there were no seats and it wasn't that great. They went around to point out the famous peoples houses. I've done that tour before. It was bad enough the first time in the sun. I didn't want to do it in the rain.

The bus can't park in this area so it pulls around the corner. So we just talked and waited the hour until we could go pick up the rest to go to the airport. Now the arrival time for this tour to the airport was 12:30. We had a 3:08 flight out so plenty of time. But at 12:30 the boat still wasn't back yet. It was 1 by the time we started dropping people off to the airport and we were at the last terminal so even later. We jumped off and in to get checked in. They told us G11 was our gate. Matched the boarding pass. We go through security and it is probably 2 by the time we get to G11. Brian and Wendy tell us they just made an announcement that the gate changed to G12. No problem. It is right next door and it is obvious that is our gate because everyone is already standing around waiting for the 2:24 boarding time listed on our tickets. There are 4 places to grab food around us so we all go across the hall and are mingling around and eating and waiting. We are group 3 so I know it will be 2:45 at the earliest before they start boarding our group.

We all board the plane and are scattered around. I know my mother in law is at the front because she paid for the bigger seat. The only other people I can see from where I am is one sister in law in front of us and her husband behind us. We flew Spirit and somehow their seats are smaller than last year. And I said last year I wasn't going to fly with them. I need to remember for next time. The flight is smooth and we land and go to grab our luggage when one of the group announce that Robert didn't make the flight. So now we are all looking at each other like how did this happen. He was with us on the bus. But since he was the only single guy the whole week he kept going off on his own. He never made any step to do things with us except to eat dinner. We had connecting balconeys and I never saw him on his and only saw him once around the ship the whole week. So after the 6th day we all just gave up trying to do things with him. Apparently he was sitting right next to Brian and Wendy at gate G11. They told him we were at G12 next to us but were sitting there cause there was no seating available at G12. Around 2:40 or so they got up to start heading over. Robert was reading his paper and asked where they were going. They told him over to the right gate because Wendy had bad knees and they didn't want to have to rush. They said he went back to reading his paper and never thought any more about it.

By the time I sat in my seat they were already asking for volunteers to give up their seats because they over booked. I saw one couple take them up on the $500 offer. Then right before closing the doors a lone woman got on the plane and a group in the back started clapping. They had her sit in the row across from us. Wendy remembered that was Roberts seat from when we all checked in but by this time it was too late. I guess he was so into reading his paper he wasn't paying any attention to the time. When he looked up, everyone was gone including the plane.

This was a wonderful cruise. The staff was all amazing and friendly and helpful. I know a lot have an aversion to the MDR but I thought it was great. Were a few dishes not as hot as they could have been? Yes, but if you told someone they would fix it no problem. They didn't want anyone to be dissatisfied. The ship was in great shape. The only problem anyone had was on Lobster night the toilets in our row stopped working. All I noticed was it wouldn't flush right away. But 2 of our cabins did have water overflow into the room. It was clean water and the crew came to get it fixed as quickly as they could and sanitized the whole room. I had no problems getting drinks anywhere. Of course during peak times there is a little wait, but I wouldn't say any more than 5 minutes at maximum. If anyone has any other questions or if I missed something, feel free to ask. Thank you for following along.