B2b - 5/10 breeze & 5/18 freedom

[Linerguy]

Here’s the trip in a nutshell:

 

On 5/9, my wife and I flew to Miami, stayed one night at the Hotel Intercontinental, and then boarded the BREEZE the next day for an 8nt cruise to Grand Turk, La Romana, Curacao and Aruba. When that cruise was over, we took Carnival’s shuttle to the Ft. Lauderdale airport to pick up our son and his friend, and then all four of us went on the CARNIVAL FREEDOM’s 6nt cruise to Key West, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. When the cruise on the FREEDOM was over, we picked up a car at the Ft. Lauderdale airport and drove home to Indiana, staying one night in Perry, Georgia.

 

For those who want just the general low-down, I’m happy to report that we had an excellent time on both cruises. I’ll go into more detail below, but, for the most part, everything went well. It wasn’t perfect, but that’s life.

 

First off, the Hotel Intercontinental is a fantastic hotel. It’s right on the bay, about a ten minute walk to Bayside, in a safe area, and just a ten minute taxi ride to the port – highly recommended. We had a bay view, and could see the ships berthed at Dodge Island. That first day, MAJESTY OF THE SEAS, CARNIVAL ECSTASY, and NORWEGIAN SKY were in port. We woke up early the next morning and watched MSC’s DIVINA and NCL’s new GETAWAY pull in. CARNIVAL BREEZE was the last to show up – much to our relief.

 

Embarkation – We headed over to the port at about 11 a.m., check in took about 15 minutes, and they called our group to board about 10 minutes later….pretty flawless. FTTF was sold out when I booked the cruise, but, as far as boarding, we really didn’t need it. Our room, an outside category 6M (cabin 2448) wasn’t going to be ready until after 1 p.m., so we explored the ship and had lunch at the Lido Marketplace.

 

Cabin – Our room was extremely comfortable, plenty of storage and space, and, best of all, had two bathrooms (one had a tub and sink; the other a shower, sink and toilet). The view from our window was of the exterior window cleaning platform that’s attached to the side of the ship. I knew this prior to the cruise, so it wasn’t a surprise. We could still see out just fine…no issues.

 

The ship – For the most part, we loved the BREEZE. The change in décor from Joe Farcus’ typical, over-the-top designs was a welcomed one. She’s light and bright, sleek and streamlined…some areas were downright Celebrity-esque, while some left no doubt that we were on a Carnival ship. Both main dining rooms, the BLUSH and SAPPHIRE Restaurants, were stunning. The Lido Marketplace (the ship’s main buffet area) is well laid-out, not too crowded, and is divided into different stations. Past reviews have mentioned how slippery the floor is in the Marketplace, and, sad to say, the reports are true – it’s like walking on ice. I saw dozens of people nearly take a nose-dive – us included – and, one morning at breakfast, one lady did…tray of food and all. Hopefully this will be addressed in the future.

 

I have read comments about how crowded the ship can get. Perhaps it was the time of year we went, but, rarely did we encounter long lines or throngs of people bottle-necking into public rooms. We never had a problem getting a seat in the Marketplace or any of the lounges. As usual, the line for the Mongolian Wok could get a bit harrowing, but, if I timed it just right, the wait would be only about 10 minutes. I never waited behind more than four or five people at Guy’s Burger Joint, the deli, or the BlueIguana Cantina.

 

One sour note is how small the lounge is that’s used for the comedy performances (the Limelight Lounge)…it just doesn’t cut it. People would have to get there 45 minutes to an hour before the comedian started just to get a seat. For that reason, we skipped the comedy shows.

 

The waterpark, ropes course, putt-putt, etc. are fantastic – and not just for kids. We had a ton of fun going down the water slides and standing under the dumping bucket. That being said, the pools are too small for the ship’s capacity. No problem, we just went later in the day when people were getting ready for dinner.

 

We loved the open wrap-around promenade deck (Deck 5). The views were great, and it was never crowded. In fact, it seemed deserted for much of the cruise. There are steps at the front of the promenade that lead to the forward observation areas on decks 6 and 7; however, if folks want to go to the forward observation areas ABOVE the bridge, they can only be accessed by going inside and walking forward through the cabin corridors on decks 9, 10 and 11. The observation area on deck 9 is the best as it sticks out from each side of the ship – the view is worth the trouble of finding it.

 

We used the Serenity area only a few times – mainly when we could find an empty cabana – and it was very nice. The guys at the bar were very nice and had a great sense of humor.

 

Food – For the most part, everything was excellent; no major complaints. We didn’t have a bad meal in the MDR, and the food in the Marketplace was just fine. As far as casual dining, The BlueIguana Cantina was probably our favorite place – the freshly-made tacos were outstanding. Guy’s burgers were good, but nothing to write home about; I had only two during the entire trip. Had the Tandoor only once and it was good. The pizza, meh, it was hit or miss, but usually it was pretty good.

 

One of the highlights of the cruise (as far as dining is concerned) was dinner one night at Cucina del Capitano – outstanding. Service, food, atmosphere, etc. were flawless. Well worth the $12 cover charge. The fried risotto balls were fantastic. During the day, at lunch, they offer a free pasta bar. We made the mistake of waiting until the last day to try it (frankly, I thought it was going to be a bunch of dried-out pasta set out on a steam table – I was wrong). They give you an order form, you check off what type of pasta, sauce, meat, veggies, etc. you want, and they cook it to order. It was piping hot, super-fresh, and very tasty.

 

Since we had reservations for the steakhouse on the next cruise, we skipped it on the BREEZE.

 

Service – This was my 45th cruise (my wife’s 30-something) and, I have to say, this was the friendliest crew we’ve ever encountered. Not one person had an attitude, they were all smiles, and everyone said “hello”, “good morning”, and “have a great day.” We had Your Time Dining, and we always asked for a table for two in the center of the dining room. Every single time the response was, “of course.” Our cabin steward, Jorge, did a fantastic job. He was always friendly, brought ice without us asking and addressed us by name. From the cleaning staff to officers walking around the ship, everyone was very pleasant.

 

Unfortunately, I saw one crew member do something that I consider inexcusable. One day I came out of the restroom near the casino bar, and I noticed a waitress standing next to the bar. She was licking her fingers and then kept sticking them in the round container of margarita salt – the same container they used to dip the rim of glasses in. I watched her do this over and over again. She started to walk away to walk into the casino to wait on people, and I stopped her in her tracks. I said, “You ARE going to go wash your hands, right?” She thought I was kidding, so she just smiled. I said, “Does it look like I’m smiling? I just saw you lick your fingers and stick them in the salt. You’re also going to go throw that salt away, right?” All of a sudden she looked terrified. She sort of nodded, turned around, picked up the salt container, and went in the back. If nothing else, at least I planted a seed that such behavior is not tolerable. I actually thought about going to the ship’s bar manager, but then quickly decided that I had made my point, she made a stupid mistake, and it was time to move on. The next day, I walked by her in the casino. She looked at me and I smiled and winked – she smiled back. Message received.

 

Entertainment – As I said earlier: nothing is perfect. This was our first encounter with Playlist Productions, and, well, some things were good (Motor City), some things were OK (Divas) and others were downright insulting (The Brits). I thought I was watching a mixture of HR Puff-n-Stuff, The Banana Splits, Scooby Doo and a Frankie and Annette movie – nothing short of childish. We didn’t go to the Latino-genre show.

 

We went to the piano bar once, for about five minutes. The guy playing kept picking up a small spotlight and would shine it in people’s faces, all the while attempting comedy. It was pretty lame. The schtick might have been ok if he was a good player and vocalist, but, alas, he wasn’t. On the flipside, we were thrilled to find that the juggler/comedian The Edge was on board. He was on the SPLENDOR when we went last November and he was fantastic. Although his show this time was exactly the same, he was just as good. Throughout the ship, day and night, there was always something going on: trivia, karaoke, dance lessons, Dive-in movies, etc.

 

Like most people, I’m disappointed that Carnival has replaced live Caribbean bands by the pool with DJs. While I understand that some people like hip hop, fact is, some people don’t (I personally would rather suck on the tailpipe of a bus than listen to the stuff). IMO, its ruined the once fun, happy, and family-friendly atmosphere.

 

One final comment about the entertainment: the duo that played Latin music in the atrium several nights was very, very good. They sounded great and people had a blast dancing. I only wish, however, that, between songs, they would have said at least SOMETHING in another language besides Spanish. Even if they had said, “thanks, ladies and gentlemen”, it wouldn’t have felt so awkward. Instead, they spoke only in Spanish, and I heard people make comments. One guy said, “I feel like I’m crashing their party”, and another guy said, “I guess we weren’t invited.”

 

Misc. – While the chair hogs were out in full force, there didn’t seem to be a problem with anyone finding a chair. The only time we had a problem was when they were showing “Gravity” (dumb movie), and that was our fault as we arrived at the last minute. BTW, the sound system for the Dive-in Movies is phenomenal.

 

And now my biggest beef: smoking. Carnival is EXTREMELY generous when it comes to the amount of exterior space it gives smokers. On the BREEZE, it’s the entire starboard side of the Promenade Deck (Deck 5), the starboard side of the aft end of Deck 10 and the entire starboard side of Deck 11 – not to mention on all balconies (except Spa accommodations). Even with all that space I saw at least a dozen people who thought they were above the rules. One lady was even standing next to a non-smoking sign that was tied to the rail while the ship was being fueled. I saw people throw cigarettes over the side, and one guy was walking around the putt-putt area with a cigarette while people were playing.

 

Part of the problem is that not one Carnival employee said a word to any of them, so I guess they thought, “What the hell, if no one says anything, I’ll do what I want. If they do, I’ll just go somewhere else.” I understand that a majority of the smokers on board were following the rules, which I appreciate very much. I guess I just don’t get the audacity of some people who have the, “Screw ‘em, I’ll do what I want” mentality. Smoking inside was never a problem.

 

Ports – Grand Turk is wonderful. We just wanted to go to the beach, which, as most people know, is just at the end of the pier. Take note: if you to the beach to the right of the pier, it’s very rocky, but not crowded at all. If you go to the beach to the left of the pier, it’s much better. And if you keep walking, you’ll eventually get past the crowd and there’s plenty of room to roam.

 

We didn’t get off the ship in La Romana, so I can’t comment. The view from our window was that of a junkyard – rusted bulldozers, beaten up boats, trash, rusted piles of jagged metal…..that was enough to keep us on board to enjoy the nearly deserted ship.

 

We fell in love with Curacao. Just the feel of the place was wonderful. I was thrilled to see that Royal Caribbean’s old MONARCH OF THE SEAS (now just MONARCH for Pullmantur) was docked in the inner basin. We watched in awe as the bridge that spans the harbor swung open and tugs pulled the MONARCH out backwards. We also went to the Maritime Museum, which was great. I was happy to find so many Holland America exhibits as well as a room upstairs that contained about a dozen albums filled with hundreds of ocean liner photos and postcards.

 

In Aruba, we walked off the ship, grabbed a taxi and told the guy that we just wanted to go to a close by beach for about two hours. He took us to Eagle Beach (?), which was about 2 miles away, and it was perfect. The beach, which was nice and wide and went on for miles, was nearly deserted. There couldn’t have been more than 30 people there. Two hours later, they guy came back to pick us up.

 

Disembarkation – Flawless. We walked off the ship, got our luggage, went through Customs, and were on board the Carnival shuttle to the Lauderdale airport all within 15 minutes from when they called our group.

 

I know I had what seemed to be several negative comments, but please understand, we had a fantastic time. The food, service, the friendly staff, the ship, the itinerary, etc. made up for any shortcomings we encountered. I would go on the BREEEZE again in a heartbeat.

 

Below are links to about 400 photos within several photo albums I have on my Facebook page. Part two – the six night on the FREEDOM will be added to this thread one day next week.

 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.830133080349152.1073741842.100000574021023&type=1&l=14b18ce0b4

 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.830286220333838.1073741843.100000574021023&type=1&l=e710be5f77

 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.830381513657642.1073741844.100000574021023&type=1&l=bf8074c113

 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.830718370290623.1073741845.100000574021023&type=1&l=743f27a638

[SMSACE6]

Great review, and thanks for posting it.

 

I am especially looking forward to your next installment (Freedom), since that is the next ship that I will be sailing on.

[MuffyKismet]

Thank you, we are sailing on the Breeze for the first time this September our ports are different because it is an 8 night itinerary , but Grand Turk is our last stop, I see you like to go to the beaches a lot, we live in SW Florida so we pretty much want to do anything but a beach day LOL!!! Thanks again!

[Linerguy]

our ports are different because it is an 8 night itinerary

 

Ours was an 8nt. as well, with two days at sea at the end...my favorite part. I'm sure you'll have a great time on the BREEZE.

[CruisingAgain]

Great review of your cruise on the Breeze. I'm looking forward to your review of the Freedom. It's our next cruise too.

[sjn911]

Great review and photos...thanks..Sarah

[Linerguy]

After leaving the BREEZE, we took Carnival’s shuttle over to the Ft. Lauderdale airport to pick up our son and his friend (both 19). The cost of the transfer was $30 per person. After collecting the boys, we took a taxi to the port – about $12.

 

Embarkation – Well, I’d like to say that checking in and boarding was as seamless as the BREEZE, but, no go. When we went up to the guy checking passports and birth certificates, he told me that, because of the deck our cabin was on, Deck 2, we needed to get into line number 1. He wrote a 2 on our Funpass – I assumed for Deck 2 – and we went upstairs to check in. We were thrilled that there were only about five people in line 1 and we started to get in line. Just then a lady from Carnival walked up and asked to see our Funpass. She saw the number 2 that the guy had written on it and then told us we were in the wrong line, and that we should be in line 2 – which had about 300 people in it. So, we moved to line 2. Just then I noticed a sign on a post that listed what line to get into based on your deck….and it said that people on Deck 2 should get into line 1. So, I went back to the lady and, very politely, said that I think there was a mistake. She cut me off, point-blank, yelling, “Sir, you are supposed to be in line 2, your Funpass has a 2 on it, THAT’s your line!” So, we went back to line 2 and waited….for over an hour. After the lady at the counter checked all our paperwork, etc., she said, “OK, now you’ll have to follow me to the other side of the room because your boarding cards are over in line 1…you got in the wrong line.” I was livid. I told her what went down with the other lady and she apologized profusely. I explained that it wasn’t her fault, but that someone should talk to the other lady about procedures and customer service. She agreed.

 

When we went to board the ship, there was a problem with my boarding card – the machine wouldn’t take it. The guy did something on the screen that allowed me to board, but he said that I would need to go to the Guest Service desk before we stop at Key West the following day and they would issue me a new card.

 

Although our room was supposed to be ready, it wasn’t. No problem, we just went to the lido and had lunch and explored the ship a little. After that, my wife and the boys decided to go see if the room was ready. I lagged about 10 minutes behind. When I got to the room, I walked in and it was like an oven. My wife looked at me and said, “The air conditioning isn’t working.” I went to find our room steward and, instead, found an officer. He told me that, because all the balconies had been opened up when the ship was cleaned, the ship was hot on the inside. He said he would have a fan sent to our room, but that the ship should cool down after we set sail. What a line of BS. I went back to the room and confirmed that NOTHING was coming out of the air vent on the ceiling. It wasn’t that the ship was hot (the corridors were plenty cool), it was that it wasn’t working. So I called the Guest Service Desk and reported the problem. They said they would send someone down to check it out. We went to the safety drill and then stayed on deck to watch the sail away. I went back to the room and it was still like an oven, so I called again. They sent someone right away, and a lady brought a temperature gauge with her….it read over 80 degrees. I decided to go to the Guest Service Desk to get a new boarding card and to discuss moving us to a different cabin. When I got there, I asked the lady how to go about implementing the Carnival guarantee – she looked at me like she had never heard of it before. I said, “You know, the guarantee that says that if we don’t like our cruise, Carnival will fly us home or back to Ft. Lauderdale?” I said that, unless the a/c is fixed, or they move us to another cabin, I wouldn’t hesitate to use the guarantee. She checked the computer and said that an a/c unit had broken down, they were working on it, and that it should be up and running within the hour. Finally: the truth. Sure enough, after dinner we returned to a nice cool room. Crisis averted.

 

Cabin – The room itself, 2324, was fine – a pretty typical outside cabin. It was in good shape, but the mattresses had seen better days. There was plenty of storage space; even for four people.

 

The ship – Most people know that the she just came out of dry dock – well, she looks great. New carpeting, fresh paint, the 2.0 enhancements, etc….it all looks good. As far as the décor, it’s pretty much typical Farcus stuff. The atrium looks like something out of ‘War of the Worlds’ and the faux wood grain all over the place makes for very dark stair landings and elevator banks; interesting if nothing else. I will say I loved the look of the Chic and Posh Dining Rooms – very classy. The really interesting thing about them is the wall covering. At first it looks like a red Victorian motif, but, after a closer look, it’s actually snake skin! Both dining rooms had a grand feel to them – more so than some of Farcus’ other work.

 

The addition of Guy’s Burger Joint and The BlueIguana Cantina works very well since they were built in areas that originally had something else there; however, the RedFrog Rum Bar and BlueIguana Tequila Bar take up precious deck space, making the midships pool area that much more crowded. They did move the hot tubs away from the pool, which was smart, and that helps a bit. Inside, The RedFrog Pub looks exactly like the one on the BREEZE. The new Alchemy Bar replaces the old Nouveau Wine Bar; frankly it looks out of place. As you walk down The Centuries Promenade you’re surrounded by all this whacked-out Farcus décor, and then, out of the blue, sits this sleek-looking BREEZE-like bar that looks like it should be on a Celebrity ship.

 

They were still working on some of the 2.0 enhancements – mainly the outdoor children’s play area, and the Warehouse Video Arcade. The location of Serenity in relation to the children’s areas is sort of goofy as they're right by each other.

 

Unlike the BREEZE, the FREEDOM doesn’t have a wraparound promenade deck, the open deck on Deck 3 dead ends both forward and aft. Like the BREEZE there are forward observation areas, but you have to know how to find them. On FREEDOM, the forward observation areas below the bridge are accessible at the end of the cabin corridors on Decks 6 and 7. Above the bridge it’s Deck 10 (because of addition of the suites on Deck 9, the reconfigured observation deck on Deck 10 is massive). I actually liked the observation areas on the FREEDOM better than the BREEZE.

 

Food – Pretty much the same as on the BREEZE; with the exception of the 24hr. ice cream. On the BREEZE it was gritty; not very good. On the FREEDOM, it was excellent…just like Mr. Softy or Dairy Queen (which I like). The menus in the MDR were basically the same, and the food was just as good – no major complaints. The boys (OK, and I) had as many warm chocolate melting cakes as possible. The food at the buffet (the Freedom Restaurant) was fine. The Fish & Chips didn’t look all that great so we skipped it, but The BlueIguana Cantina was just as good as on the BREEZE. The boys liked Guy’s, but, on this cruise, I decided to pass. Pizza was better on the FREEDOM. No Tandoori.

 

On the first elegant night, the four of us went to The Sun King Steakhouse. This time, it was just okay; not nearly as good as on the SPLENDOR. At the beginning of the meal they brought out the usual tiny 'compliments of the chef' offerings...they gave my wife and son each a small tureen of mushroom soup, and my son's friend and I were given filet mignon tartare with horseradish ice cream. I enjoyed it – somewhat – but Jeff (my son's friend) had a look of terror on his face when they sat it in front of him. I'll give him credit: he tried it. For some reason, not sure why, they gave us a complimentary bottle of wine, which was nice. She liked it, I thought it was just ok.

 

Service – Although the crew weren’t quite as friendly as on the BREEZE, the service was still fantastic; especially in the MDR. We had YTD and we asked for the same section every night, which we got, and our waitress, IIS, was just lovely. Our room steward did a decent job, but it was two days into the trip before we met him, and when my wife asked if he could put some Coke Zero in our fridge, he said no. He rarely said hello or anything when we would pass him in the hall. To be honest, I don’t even remember his name. Service at all the bars was great, and they were very friendly…no attitudes whatsoever.*

 

The photographers were out in full force, but unlike our experience on the SPLENDOR, they were not pushy; nor did they take up nearly as much room when people were trying to walk through the ship. This brings me to something I forgot to mention in my BREEZE review: the photographers doing the formal portraits on the BREEZE took advantage of the many alcoves and nooks throughout the public rooms: they NEVER set up in the way. Oh, and they've finally done away with art auctions in the atrium...good move.

 

Entertainment – Having learned our lesson on the BREEZE, this time we decided to skip Playlist Production on the FREEDOM. The boys could care less about Vegas-style shows, and my wife and I had had our fill. We did go to see Peter Gross, the magician/comedian; he was pretty good. In the atrium and near the casino, an acoustic duo (a female guitarist and a male bassist) would play..they were pretty good (though I heard the same tunes for six nights straight).

 

And yes, we had to suffer through what seemed like endless hip hop from the DJ...I just don't get it: I'm on a friggin' Caribbean cruise – why the hell does Carnival think people want to listen to that garbage instead of actual Caribbean music? Save it for the dance club.

 

Misc – Although the midships pool could get crowded during the day, I didn't notice any chair hogs or scuffles over chairs, everyone seemed to have a good time and were well-behaved.

 

Everyone, that is, except the handful of rude smokers who, just like on the BREEZE, thought that the rules don't apply to them.

 

Ports – While we were in Key West, it was hotter than blue-blazes, but we did manage to walk around for about four hours. We went to Mel Fisher's Museum (HIGHLY recommended), had some key lime pie and ice cream, went to the southern most tip of the U.S. (which I don't buy), did a little shopping, and then headed back to the ship. The museum was the highlight.

 

Grand Cayman – We tendered in and, after making our way through shopping hell, we grabbed a taxi and headed straight to the Royal Palm Resort on Seven Mile Beach. After that, we went to the turtle farm, which was pretty cool. It was $18 for the basic ticket. Afterward, we stood out front until a local bus came by and took us back to the ship ($4.00 per person, much cheaper than a taxi). The BREEZE was also there, so we got some great shots from the tender. About 20 minutes after we got back on board, the sky opened up and it poured...and I mean buckets.

 

Cozumel – It was like Carnival was invading Mexico. The TRIUMPH docked first, we were second, and then the BREEZE. As a ship nut, I was loving it. We took a taxi to Paradise Beach (we had been there before and loved it), and had a great day swimming, using all the water toys, snorkeling, etc. I was disappointed how much more expensive it was this time. When we were there the last time, just a few years ago, it was $14 to get in and to use all the facilities. This time it was $18 to get in, PLUS you had to buy $10 worth of food/drinks per person.

 

Disembarkation – What is it with Lauderdale? You'd think they'd have this down by now. Unlike getting off the BREEZE in Miami, this was a cluster you-know-what. Once we did get off the ship, it took nearly an hour to go through customs and immigration. They had only two people working the booths, which is ridiculous. Then we had to wait nearly 45 minutes for the Alamo/National bus to come by to take us to the airport to pick up our rental car. Miami has it down, Lauderdale needs some work.

 

To say that we had an excellent trip is an understatement. In the overall scheme of things, Carnival did a great job on both cruises: the ships were cool, food was good, service was pretty flawless, and it was great to do our first back-to-back. Nineteen days is a long time to be off work, but, as usual, it flew by.

 

Contemplating the DREAM or MAGIC in September.

 

As before, here are links to hundreds of photos on my Facebook page:

 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.830812556947871.1073741846.100000574021023&type=1&l=53627d3195

 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.831033500259110.1073741847.100000574021023&type=1&l=895461eb72

[Scotch Mist]

Does the Freedom have a seating area at the back, above the lido deck like the one on the Breeze? The Breeze had a lovely seating area with rattan chairs and sofa's with red padding and parasols situated on either side above the rear pool on the lido deck.

 

 

Freedom b2b Sept 2014

Splendor Jan 2014

Breeze Sept 2013

Imagination Sept 2013

Triumph Sept 2008

Pride Sept 2007

Miracle Sept 2006

[Linerguy]

Does the Freedom have a seating area at the back, above the lido deck like the one on the Breeze?

 

Unfortunately, no. The lido pool (deck 9) is covered by a retractable 'dome'...there are deck chairs on the deck above it, but that's all.

 

And you're right: the sitting area on the BREEZE is fantastic.

[Scotch Mist]

That's a shame! It was a great alternative to the Serenity deck!

 

Freedom b2b Sept 2014

Splendor Jan 2014

Breeze Sept 2013

Imagination Sept 2013

Triumph Sept 2008

Pride Sept 2007

Miracle Sept 2006

[vanderty]

We not only are staying in the same room for our 7/21 Freedom cruise but look to be neighbors in the Nati area. When you mentioned Mr. Softee I knew you had to be close by. Thanks for the tip about line 1 vs 2, I too would be livid after waiting in the wrong line.

 

When you say the mattress has seen better days, do you mean like you are rolling to the middle because of the indentations or just not the quality of your home mattress? I am really picky with my sleep and I am a little worried at this point.

 

Thanks! Loved the pictures, they were helpful.

 

Tammy

[Linerguy]

Tammy:

 

We're actually from Cincy (Colerain graduates....a long time ago). How funny that you're staying the same room!

 

The mattress didn't sag in the middle, it just seemed a little lumpy. I'm not a good sleeper to begin with, so, it might have just been me. We did see them off-loading mattresses at one of the ports (can't remember which one), so they might be in the process of changing them out. The linen is of course of super high quality, and the pillows are down. A tip: after you've dressed for dinner, do NOT sit on the bed...especially if you're wearing black. My wife did and her slacks were covered with bits of feathers. Looked like she was molting.

 

-Russ

[sunnydaygirl]

Tammy:

 

 

 

We're actually from Cincy (Colerain graduates....a long time ago). How funny that you're staying the same room!

 

 

 

The mattress didn't sag in the middle, it just seemed a little lumpy. I'm not a good sleeper to begin with, so, it might have just been me. We did see them off-loading mattresses at one of the ports (can't remember which one), so they might be in the process of changing them out. The linen is of course of super high quality, and the pillows are down. A tip: after you've dressed for dinner, do NOT sit on the bed...especially if you're wearing black. My wife did and her slacks were covered with bits of feathers. Looked like she was molting.

 

 

 

-Russ

 

 

I don't want to change topic, but since you're mentioning mattresses, a tip. There's a date imprinted on the mattress tag. On my Glory cruise I couldn't sleep. They sent two people to check and replaced both mattresses. From their looks I could tell they were well past the change date. I don't know their official policy, but I now know they only have so much room to store mattresses. So the squeaky wheel gets the oil, if you get my drift. Always speak up.

 

 

Send from device_name using Cruise Critic your_app_name App

[krumyilingy]

I'm looking forward to your review of the Freedom.

[Cruisegirl6]

Carnivals specialty restaurant does give that free bottle of wine the first night, although we won't get it again it wasn't good wine sort of like vinegar lol your best choosing white over red.

[Linerguy]

I'm looking forward to your review of the Freedom.

 

The review of the FREEDOM portion of our B2B is just above.

[Linerguy]

Carnivals specialty restaurant does give that free bottle of wine the first night, although we won't get it again it wasn't good wine sort of like vinegar lol your best choosing white over red.

 

Which is why I thought it was odd that they gave us a free bottle....it was on the third night. Maybe it was just a way of getting rid of the stuff.