Live from the Freedom of the Seas - March 18, 2012

[rosebud1g]

I just wanted to say have a great time Marc and Bryan! I will be reading your posts this week, so far I am enjoying it and the pictures you have posted. Your excursions will be fabulous.

One question for you, how far is the car drop off from the port?

[Daghis]

We were just looking at where the Budget car rental place is for tomorrow's planning. It looks as though it's really close to the hotel, just a block further down Astronaut Blvd., so that puts it about a mile or so, maybe two, from the port.

 

I've read that people have experienced long delays getting a shuttle from the rental car place to the port and that some have suggested simply taking a taxi from there, so we're keeping that in mind, too, just in case.

[Tricia1972]

Our rental is with Budget as well, so I am anxiously awaiting your report on the Rental Car tomorrow. Hoping that our pickup is smoother than yours was today. I am not a special member with Budget, so we'll be in the long long line. :)

[Daghis]

I'll also mention that when we glanced at the various companies' rental car desks in the Orlando airport, it seemed that Budget was the busiest by far. I don't know whether that's good or bad. On the one hand, it could be good because Budget may have the best deal for the cruising renter; on the other hand, Budget's line was the longest, so people would probably have to wait longer for them.

[Jimbo]

We were just looking at where the Budget car rental place is for tomorrow's planning. It looks as though it's really close to the hotel, just a block further down Astronaut Blvd., so that puts it about a mile or so, maybe two, from the port.

 

I've read that people have experienced long delays getting a shuttle from the rental car place to the port and that some have suggested simply taking a taxi from there, so we're keeping that in mind, too, just in case.

 

Get there a little after 10am and you should be fine it gets worse when people that fly in the same day of the cruise rent cars and come in there in droves after arriving from their flights from 11am on to about 3pm.

 

You should be fine.

 

Jimbo:)

[brw1965]

Get there a little after 10am and you should be fine it gets worse when people that fly in the same day of the cruise rent cars and come in there in droves after arriving from their flights from 11am on to about 3pm.

 

You should be fine.

 

Jimbo:)

 

Thank you for that peace of mind as 10am was already our plan!

 

--Bryan

[kuddles14]

Thanks for the pictures and review of the Residence Inn. We are booked there for our up coming cruise. Looks very nice.

Bon Voyage!!!

[Radio]

Thanks, Daghis. . . I will be sailing Freedom of the Seas later this year.

 

I am looking forward to your daily reports.

 

Enjoy your Cruise !

 

Radio

;);)

 

 

.

[cruiseturbo]

Bon Voyage and have a great time!!

 

We are sailing this same ship & itinerary on May 13th so I can't wait to see your review for this week! It will help make the time go a little faster at least.

 

Definitely looking forward to seeing the cruise compasses when you get back and the dinner menus as someone else stated. We already have dinner reserved at Chops but may need to move it based on what we are missing that night in the dining room!

 

Have fun!

Debra

[beej]

We're not sailing on the Freedom until Dec, but can't wait to live vicariously thru you. Just love the Freedom Bon Voyage. Have a great time

[luv2cruiserccl]

Rusty's is much better than fish lips. Or u can try grills. They are great and live bands

 

 

i ended up eating twice at fish lips and everyone in my party loved it. I may have to try Rusty's next time but i was happy with fish lips as well.

[luv2cruiserccl]

hope all going well for you this morning looks like a awesome day from the web cam there. I was on the fos on the march 4th sailing so i am missing her. We where on the same ports as you are visiting you will have a good time!!!! Looking forward to some more reports

[luv2cruiserccl]

so you on board yet hope all is well!:p

[Familygoboston]

Hey Marc,

You scored a good deal on this cruise! Have fun!

I am subscribing even though I'm not sailing freedom class anytime soon and not doing western ports anytime soon, but hey, it's fun! :D

Can't wait for boarding!

[HB Cruiser]

Marc

 

Hopefully your experience at Cape Canaveral's Budget was better than at MCO.

 

By now you should already be on the ship. I wish you a great and slow cruise as I will be living your cruise with you. We will be leaving 10 weeks from today on the same cruise so this is kinda a precruise cruise. LOL

 

Hopefully your balcony will have the larger table I was referring to in an earlier post so you can enjoy a good dinner comfortably on your balcony.

 

Anxiously waiting for more posts.

 

HAVE A GREAT CRUISE!!!

 

Tim

[keyarra]

Have fun we leave 4 weeks from today!!

[luv2cruiserccl]

Our stateroom att told us it was ok to take the glass table from room to balcony so we had more room and a extra table. We had the room that the bed folded in to a bed so it made some extra room plus it was nice to have a extra table for relaxing and room service in the late evenings. If drew the magic guy is onboarb this week do not miss it he was awesome! And the ice show this time was great as well. Also the cheesecake u can order from room service is good I always order a couple! Haha. Have a great trip.

 

Sent from my BlackBerry 9630 using Tapatalk

[Kimmie36]

I know your are on the ship now with the wind blowing in your hair getting ready to have a great time! I am curious to know is it expensive to do a live cruise report? Once we hit open water I cut my phone off because I am scared of fees. My next request is if you eat in the MDR please indulge us with Food Porn and Menu Pics! I may be sailing on her again and want to know the days that I should book Chops and Portofinos! Thanks

[Daghis]

Onboard!

 

Just a quick note while we are taking a break at Sorrento's. Check-in was pretty fast and we immediately boarded at 11:00.

 

Our cabin is quite nice. For the person asking about the balcony table, it's approximately 16" across. Definitely not very big for a meal.

 

We have inquired about the cabins at Nellie's beach, but we've been getting a bit of a runaround. Supposedly, we need to talk to the Concierge, but since we can't get into the Concierge Lounge and we can't get him on the phone, it's a bit tricky to figure this out.

 

I had a humorous moment as we waved as some young kids who were in the Promenade cabin that we'd had before upgrading. They don't know that they ended up in that cabin because I upgraded ours. :)

 

Ok... More later.

[HB Cruiser]

Onboard!

 

Our cabin is quite nice. For the person asking about the balcony table, it's approximately 16" across. Definitely not very big for a meal.

 

Ok... More later.

 

THANKS MUCH!!! for the table info.

 

We will be taking ours with us when we cruise.

 

Again, have a GERAT CRUISE and THANKS for the info.

 

Tim

[Daghis]

News!

 

We have new coupon books, although we had to track them down since we didn't have them in the cabin waiting for us.

 

They are the same coupons as before, but are marked as version 17 and no longer list valid/expiration dates.

[skyking]

News!

 

We have new coupon books, although we had to track them down since we didn't have them in the cabin waiting for us.

 

They are the same coupons as before, but are marked as version 17 and no longer list valid/expiration dates.

 

It's been a while since I have been on RCCL, we are ailing freedom in 4 weeks:) quick question, do they have the drip coffee machine in sorentos for regular coffee like the Mariner had, or is all pay at the Seattles best on the promenade??? Thanks and looking forward to following your review.

[soulpower]

Have a great cruise! I'm looking forward to "joining you" this week, as I will be on the May 13th sailing.

 

Thanks for the updates!

[Daghis]

quick question, do they have the drip coffee machine in sorentos for regular coffee like the Mariner had, or is all pay at the Seattles best on the promenade??? Thanks and looking forward to following your review.

I didn't see coffee at Sorrento's, but I bet you can get regular coffee at Café Promenade.

 

Also, the coffee at Café Promenade appears to be Starbucks and not Seattle's Best Coffee now.

[HB Cruiser]

Getting ready to watch you leave port!!! ENJOY!!!

 

Tim