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Review: freedom of the seas 12/13-12/20

cajuncowgirl13
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cajuncowgirl13

cajuncowgirl13

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Hi everyone! I'm doing a review on our first Royal Caribbean cruise we took on 12/13/15. We sailed out of port canaveral on the freedom of the seas. We had 6 in our party. My husband (27), me (24), in laws (40s), and another couple (21,30). We had this vacation planned for 14 months out with a good deal. I learned a lot from these boards, so I figure I would share my experience.

 

We went to Disney a few days early. From Disney I arrange private shuttle to bring us to the port on Sunday. Was pick up in a van for 6 people paid 142 with tip. Not too bad and the service was awesome. We arrive at port around 12. Took 30 minutes from security,checking in, and boarding ship. We went straight to the wind jammer where we held a table in chops grille. Ate and then by the time we was done our room was ready at 1:30.

 

We booked a promenade room which was perfect for us. I loved sitting at the window seat watching people on the promenade. We had our room decorated for our anniversary by some friends. It was very nice. We was able to put our suitcases under the bed. The bathroom was average for a cruise. FYI bring smell good stuff. I find the carpet was old and had a smell. I have scentsy spray with me and that helped a lot .

 

After relaxing in our room, we checked out the promenade. Before the cruise I have gotten a special email stating if I buy the premium drink package they would upgrade it to the ultimate package. I brought the email and the confirmation to one of the drink salesman. He checked a list, and upgrade my sticker on the sea pass card. Was very simple, I didn't have any issues. We went up to the pool deck for the sail away party! After we explored the ship until dinner. Our luggage arrive around 6pm to our rooms. Our dinner was schedule for 8pm. Personally this was a upset for me. I'm a food lover and I felt the mdr food could have been better. We did do ALL the speciality restaurants and they were awesome. We did sabor and Giovanni for lunch on sea days and chops grille Thursday night. Everyone loved them, worth trying. The mdr was just average food, nothing really scream out to me. Our waiters were andi and rose. They were awesome. They even made our table cheesecake one night when it wasn't offered! Every night the ladies dressed like Sunday best, formal nights we wore dresses. The guys wore jeans on the regular days and slacks and nice shirt on the formal days. For this cruise, I find a lot of people dressed up.

 

The spa and salon is a waste of money. Way over priced than what you get. I did the formal night package. I could have done it better myself. My husband did get a shave and he enjoyed it.

 

The adult shows were amazing. We loved them. You have to do the battle of the sexes game and the quest. Both were a blast! Our cruise director Casey was awesome and so was the lady (I don't remember her name) !

 

The casino was fun. Some dealers were friendly and some were not. We actually have like 4 favorites that we saw each day for the length of the cruise. We play bingo (didn't win). Everyone who did win had a tablet if I remember correctly. It gives you 36 chances each game :)

 

 

We enjoy our cruise. I would definitely book another cruise. We did this cruise for the ports. I will review the ports tomorrow. Hope everyone enjoys. Please feel free to ask questions.

 

 

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Fyruf

Fyruf

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We will be going Jan 3 been on several times. We like the Freedom and are looking forward to it. Doesn't sound like much has changed, we've been doing NCL lately. Really like driving to this port so easy and yes I do park in the garage area.

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K1200S

K1200S

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when is earliest you can get off ship?

 

If you are willing to carry all your luggage off you can be first which is usually about 7 AM. If you have RCI take your luggage off you are given a luggage tag which indicates when you will get off which coincides with when your luggage gets off.

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cajuncowgirl13

cajuncowgirl13

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Do you remember the price for bingo?

 

 

It was 69 for a tablet and 3 packets at shirt and then 37 for a packet (not sure on this one).

 

Both times we played it was buy 2 get one free! We have 3 tablets and 18 cards. Never won, but it was fun

 

 

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cajuncowgirl13

cajuncowgirl13

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Curious how you did your transportation from Orlando. Seems like a great price, but we have 9 people and coming from around Cape Canaveral.

 

 

We use a private car service that drove us. Pick us up at Disney animal kingdom lodge and drop us off at the port. Took about 90 minutes. Each couple split the cost, so it was about 47 per couple.

 

On the way back to the airport after our cruise we used a bus shuttle service which only costed 20 dollars per person.

 

 

I was unable to use the luggage service since my flight was at 11:55am and not noon. Southwest was on the list by the way too! We fly out United and made it to the airport at 9:30am. Left the port at 8:15am.

 

 

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cajuncowgirl13

cajuncowgirl13

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We sail January 3rd and haven't bought the beverage packages yet. With your upgrade did you already buy them and then they upgraded you or was it an email saying "if" you buy the premium you get the ultimate?

 

 

I got the email and had to buy the package that day I revived the email! The packages were worth it to us! Red bull by itself is not included on the premium package. Was counted on the ultimate package. Also the only drink we had to pay extra for was the simply and perfect margarita from sabor. We just paid the difference. The drinks were not strong, so I had about 4 frozens a day, coffee speciality in the morning, and then water through out the day. Also for the frozen they don't mix the alcohol in them less you ask. They pour it on top which I hated.

 

 

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cajuncowgirl13

cajuncowgirl13

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Any thoughts on the new bedding on Freedom? Have heard the new mattresses are really too firm. Just sailed in September and will be on Freedom in May.

 

 

The other couple had a new mattress and they were like concrete. We had a foam topper on ours and it was comfortable for us.

 

 

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cajuncowgirl13

cajuncowgirl13

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Ports review

 

First one was coco cay! This is one of Royal Caribbean private island. We purchase the beach loungers. You pay one price of 49.95 for 2 people. We met at the excursion building and a tram took us all the way in back of the island. This was a area just for the beach loungers. Suppose let you get a butler, but the lady was terrible and we had to go to the bar to get drinks. Only certain drinks were available. The water was gorgeous. It was cold at first but once you got in , it was fine. We stayed until lunch. The lunch on the island was average, nothing I would go back for to eat. Here are some pictures

 

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cajuncowgirl13

cajuncowgirl13

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Next was st Thomas. We decided to do the excursion to snokel and honeymoon beach. We paid 99.98 per person for an all day excursion. This excursion was on the silent lady. The crew met everyone outside the boat and took us to the dock to board the pirate ship. We started first to buck island to the turtle reserve where we was allow to snokel. This part was amazing. The water was beautiful and we saw so many creAtures. I got to hold a star fish, crab. You are not allow to touch the turtles but one bumped into me coming up. The reef was beautiful. We snorkels for about 90 minutes. Once everyone was done. Punch was served and we went to our next destination. It was about an hour boat ride to honeymoon beach. This is where lunch was served, buffet style. It was tasty. The crew was awesome. We all loved this excursion. We got to watch the sunset and headed back to the ship.

 

Silent lady

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Honeymoon beach

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Sunset d3361665857add4ef246eb3ff8d425c0.jpg

 

 

The ship when we returned to the dock

 

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cajuncowgirl13

cajuncowgirl13

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Our last excursion was in st Maarten. We did the tree farm zipline. When we first book this cruise we had the extreme planned. The day before we left, I got an email from Royal Caribbean stated they cancelled it. I always wanted to zipline in the Caribbean, so I found another one. The farm was on the Dutch side of the island and I would never return to this side. For as much as we payed per person, I would not do this excursion again. It was in this small area. We didn't even go in the mountains. It was more obstacles than zip lines. There was maybe 5 zip lines thru the whole tour, which only took 45 minutes because we had these kids behind us shaking everything and rushing. It was not worth the money. I would have been happy with going to the airplane beach . I do have pictures of this on my camera, just not loading on my iPad.

 

 

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