Freedom of the Seas

[lisatx04]

More first time cruiser questions cruising FOS:

 

Is there an extra charge for eating at the pizza place? Is it open all the time?

 

Can someone explain the sea card to me? I don't think I totally understand it.

 

Thanks!!

[snickersparents]

No charge for pizza. Not sure if it is open 24 hours, but is open very very late.

 

The seapass card is used for all the things that you purchase..adult beverages, meal at Johnny Rockets, purchases made at the shops..and it is also your room key.

 

Hope that helps

[Kimmie36]

The pizza place is called Sorrento’s and it is free they also have deserts and some sides and it is free or included in the price of the cruise they open pretty late and usually less busy at night. You will also love the Cafe Promenade it is also free and have great little sandwiches and the best cakes on the ship they have different types of tea and pretty good coffee. The specialty drinks you will have to pay for.

The sea card is your life! Lol the card is like a hotel key but with everything on it. The card will have all your information attached to it such as your credit card information, you will use your card for just about everything, if you want to order drinks, pay for excursions, buy duty free alcohol, pay for your tips, buy ice cream, get a massage you will use your card the ship is pretty much on the cashless system. You will need your card to get on and off the ship as well, so guard it with your life! If you have any more questions please feel free to ask!

[lisatx04]

Thanks for the replies. Just another question about the sea card since I am travelling with my kids, who will be 14 and 12 at the time of sailing. Can I put a certain amount of money on their cards or will they be able to use it to the extreme?

 

Windjammer -can you tell me what time it serves breakfast? Is it better to go there for breakfast or the MDR?

 

Sorry for these basic questions but we are new to cruising!!

[lrn2cruise]

Is it good to take some lanyards for the sea pass card? if not, how do people carry their card? I have an 11 yr old boy going?????

[Trainman-2]

We always allowed our son a $15/day allowance.

 

He was on the honor system with his Sea Pass (card)

 

If he wanted to buy something more expensive he had to get out approval in advance.

 

This worked well for us.

 

You can look at your Sea Pass charges whenever you want to on the TV in your cabin and once a day we reviewed all of the charges and added up his.

[LBumb]

we also gave our kids allowances and worked well.

[cb at sea]

Aside from the arcade, there's not THAT much kids will be interested in buying. A lanyard for a child is probably a good idea, if they will be going places on their own. If you don't allow him/her to be anywhere alone, there's no need for THEM to carry their own card. You'll be with them, and you can hang on to it. I carry a small purse for my seapass, tissues, lipstick, comb......just like I would in any hotel!

[39august]

Guest Relations desk will punch a hole in the seapass card so it can be put on a lanyard.

[mirgloin]

Thanks for the replies. Just another question about the sea card since I am travelling with my kids, who will be 14 and 12 at the time of sailing. Can I put a certain amount of money on their cards or will they be able to use it to the extreme?

 

Windjammer -can you tell me what time it serves breakfast? Is it better to go there for breakfast or the MDR?

 

Sorry for these basic questions but we are new to cruising!!

 

I have not eaten breakfast in the MDR, so I can't give a comparison. There is a section of the Windjammer (I believe it's the Jade section) that opens for "continental" breakfast a bit earlier than the main section. As I recall, the main section opens at 7:00 AM. If you are an early riser, you usually have no problems finding a table where you want. If you sleep in later, you may have to hunt a bit for one.

 

Hope this helps.

 

m.

[caitlyn's mommy]

Thanks for the replies. Just another question about the sea card since I am travelling with my kids, who will be 14 and 12 at the time of sailing. Can I put a certain amount of money on their cards or will they be able to use it to the extreme?

 

Windjammer -can you tell me what time it serves breakfast? Is it better to go there for breakfast or the MDR?

 

Sorry for these basic questions but we are new to cruising!!

 

We really enjoyed the breakfast in the MDR, most days we do the Windjammer but I would recoment eating in the MDR at least one of the days.

[caitlyn's mommy]

Is it good to take some lanyards for the sea pass card? if not, how do people carry their card? I have an 11 yr old boy going?????

 

If your child is going to the adventure ocean program they will be given a lanyard when you check them in.

[proudpatriot07]

I think a lanyard is a really good idea for a kid... as far as breakfast goes, I haven't cruised on RCCL yet, but we really liked eating breakfast in the dining room just because the wait staff served us and we liked that. We also liked being seated with different people every morning and getting to meet people that way. If you like to sleep in, don't really want to sit with strangers, and don't mind getting your own food (you can get as much as you want, quickly, that way), then I would say go for the buffet.

[EBFURR]

Can I put a certain amount of money on their cards or will they be able to use it to the extreme?

!

 

Yes, we do it every time. Once you are on board, go to guest relations and tell them you want to set limits on your children's cards. You can set individual limits for each. It works this way: If you set, say, a $100 limit and the child runs up $98 in charges leaving $2 available and then charges $20 it will go through and then stop. In other words. if the card is not over the limit, the charge will go through. The good news is that the child cards are linked to yours and you can go on the TV in your cabin and view the charges at any time broken down by card, so you can monitor what is being spent by each person. You can also adjust (raise) the limit during the week by going back to guest relations.

 

We have had guest relations employees tell us that once the limit is set that it cannot be changed - this is NOT true. You can always adjust the limit.

 

The honor system is fine for a lot of folks, but it is very easy to lose track - even for some of us adults (like me:p).

[lisatx04]

Thank you all for the replies! You guys have been so helpful!!

[bearing316]

The pizza place is called Sorrento’s and it is free they also have deserts and some sides and it is free or included in the price of the cruise they open pretty late and usually less busy at night. You will also love the Cafe Promenade it is also free and have great little sandwiches and the best cakes on the ship they have different types of tea and pretty good coffee. The specialty drinks you will have to pay for.

 

I sailed Freedom of the Seas in March and had a great time. The Cafe Promenade is open 24 hours and Sorrento's is open until 3 am. Free lanyards can also be obtained at the casino or could be bought at the Logo shop in the Promenade. Most days, breakfast in the Main Dining Room was 8-10 am and Windjammer 6-11 am. The hours were adjusted earlier at times we arrived in port early in the morning so check your Cruise Compass every day for the official times. :p

[AF-1]

I just jumped on this thread. thank you for posting info about Freedom and kids lanyards, and putting money on kids accounts. I will be on Freedom in Dec; and have five grandkids who will be with me; I was going to ask the same questions, and now I have the answers. thanks to all.:)

[lrn2cruise]

Bumping this info on up. We leave in just a matter of days!

 

Sounds like a plan just to go to Guest relations and then monitor DS activity from the tv in our cabin. The only time he will be without us is when her is at AO otherwise, he is with us

[1153rsmith]

Great info... thanks everyone. We sail in less than 3 weeks now. I can't wait.

 

I even found the kids Dreamworks autograph books today on ebay.... We are certainly counting down the days.;)

[ryansmom]

While you CAN put a limit on your kids' seapass cards, the ONLY place it will NOT limit the charges is in the arcade.

 

I thought that was kinda dumb, because that's what most parents would want to limit :rolleyes:

 

[lrn2cruise]

Looks like Smith is sailing on the FOS a week after us!!!!

 

I agree with the limiting the arcade. We are talking to DS about only 10 dollars a day

 

I think we are going to get the soda card for me and DS. DH is so easy going. He will drink sweet tea all day long

[petesweet]

I think a lanyard is a really good idea for a kid... as far as breakfast goes, I haven't cruised on RCCL yet, but we really liked eating breakfast in the dining room just because the wait staff served us and we liked that. We also liked being seated with different people every morning and getting to meet people that way. If you like to sleep in, don't really want to sit with strangers, and don't mind getting your own food (you can get as much as you want, quickly, that way), then I would say go for the buffet.

 

DH and I love eating breakfast in the MDR and have always been able to sit at a table for two, which we prefer.

 

Kathy

[Eng23]

Thanks for the replies. Just another question about the sea card since I am travelling with my kids, who will be 14 and 12 at the time of sailing. Can I put a certain amount of money on their cards or will they be able to use it to the extreme?

 

Windjammer -can you tell me what time it serves breakfast? Is it better to go there for breakfast or the MDR?

 

Sorry for these basic questions but we are new to cruising!!

No need to apologize. That's the beauty of cruisecritic, people helping those who need help and information about our wonderful way of vacationing. :D

[AF-1]

While you CAN put a limit on your kids' seapass cards, the ONLY place it will NOT limit the charges is in the arcade.

 

I thought that was kinda dumb, because that's what most parents would want to limit :rolleyes:

 

Could you give me a little more info? You mention not being able to set limits in the arcade. Does the arcade use seapass cards to play the games; or something else?

[Cruisegirl6]

Who is this Smith and when is he sailing?