Just off the Freedom (8 nighter) 2-18-17 to 2-26-17

[emen822]

Just off the Freedom 8 nighter (Saturday-Sunday). Not planning to do a full review but just give some basic tidbits and answer any questions (if I can). I didn't take pictures of menus, didn't keep any compasses or room handouts. :D

 

Flew into Miami and rented a car for the day (Alamo). Stayed overnight in Plantation and drove to the Alamo location near the port to drop off the car and get a shuttle. Couldn't have been any easier. We arrived at the port around 10:30 and were on before 11:00. It was a great time to arrive. Rooms were ready around 1:00 p.m.

 

We had booked the bogo and planned to do Sabor on the first night and Chops on the second. This was our first time using that offer but we had heard that a reservation would be waiting in our room and if we weren't happy with it, we could easily make the switch. Nothing was in our room so we called Sabor to make the reservation for that first night. No problem. Our meal at Sabor was excellent. The guacamole (not tableside anymore) was delicious as well as the margaritas. My sister had one of the fish entrees and she said it was the best fish she ever had. I had the pork tacos which was really good. We were too stuffed for dessert so they wrapped up a sampler for us to take back to the room. As far as Chops, we should've made the reservation for the following night right away but we forgot and when we called the next day, they only had 9:00 p.m. available. We really didn't want to eat that late so they let us use our bogo reservation on the following evening (Monday night). That meal was amazing. Again, we were too stuffed from dinner so we took two desserts back to our room which we didn't eat until Wednesday night. Mississippi mud pie and Red Velvet. Both delicious, even days later. :D More to come..

[famof4togo]

Glad to hear you enjoyed your meals!! We will be dining at Sabor on our trip in March....

[emen822]

Glad to hear you enjoyed your meals!! We will be dining at Sabor on our trip in March....

 

After dinner, they came over to see if we wanted to come back for lunch on Friday where they would show us how to make guacamole and margaritas. Our waiter said it was $30 which would include food and drinks and also an avocado peeler that they were selling for $20. So after our nice strong margarita, we agreed to come back for lunch. Honestly, I thought he was kidding about the drinks being included but they were overflowing! They kept coming over to refill our glasses. Definitely worth the $30 and then some :D

[emen822]

Food is subjective and although I'm not too picky, I was concerned about the food because there have been complaints the weeks prior to leaving. We never made it to the dining room for breakfast but I always enjoy the made to order omelets at the windjammer. We had lunch a few times in the dining room. The tutti salad is always so fresh. As far as the MDR for dinner, I thought the food was ok. Granted, you won't ever starve ;) but there were a few nights I really wasn't thrilled with the menu. The service was very good. We had MTD for the remaining nights and had the same waiters which was great. Lobster night was crazy. We had set reservations for 7:30 every night and didn't get our table until after 8:00. I guess everyone goes to the dining room that night :confused: and I also never saw so many people leaving with covered plates!

 

We went to a few shows. It's the same acts that have been on prior cruises but with no compasses, I can't remember the names. The one guy was from America's Got Talent. I thought he was pretty good although his first 'trick' we were seated on the side and it was done very sloppy (from our viewpoint). But some of his other illusions were really good. The love and marriage and the quest were really funny. The cruise director Michele (male) from Italy was hilarious. Those shows are usually same old, same old but for the Quest he had some new things I have never seen done before and he had some really good comebacks throughout the week. Very witty.

 

We enjoyed all the ports and we had never been to St. Kitts so that was a nice change. And sea days were very relaxing. The last sea day, it looked like the ship had doubled in passengers around the pool area ;). We didn't do any drink package but on Friday, they offered a 10 drink card for $75 which you are able to share (it actually says it right on the card). We made good use out of that and had a few frozen drinks and long island iced teas.

[emen822]

There was a piano player every night in the Schooner Bar who was excellent. He sang everything from Billy Joel to Michael Jackson to John Legend to Phil Collins. Took all types of requests. We stayed and listened to him on our last night and didn't get back to the room until just after midnight, which was after the bag deadline. :o We put the bags out anyway and well, they weren't taken! So we woke up at 6:45 hoping to get a quick breakfast and be off by 9:00 but our plans changed as we now had to carry our stuff off. It turned out to be a blessing because it was the quickest I have ever been off a ship and we waited in line for 90 minutes just to check our bags in at the airport. So it worked out for us in the long run. (y)

 

Forgot to mention that there was also a medical emergency the first night. They had to take someone off the ship which was sad to see. I thought they said the coast guard was coming but the boat said fire and rescue. They asked the captain about the procedure on how they respond to such an emergency and he said they figure out who is the closest to come to them or if we needed to turn back. At that point, I think we were already out to sea for a few hours. Hats off to everyone who made the transition as smooth as possible and I hope the passenger is doing well.

 

Some random thoughts: The casino was sooooo smoky every night and was not very good to me. :mad: The ship itself is in very good condition. I did notice a big difference in the upsell of the onboard restaurants. They came over while in the windjammer, the pool area and also in the café promenade. If you are interested, you could definitely strike a deal with them. They almost convinced us to try Giovannis but we really wanted to do Chops and we had Sabor booked for a second meal.

 

Anyway, I'm drawing a blank right now about everything else (back to work syndrome) but if anyone has any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. And if I think of anything else, I'll add it to this thread.

[easyboy]

Nice start for a meal feedback. Looking forward for more.

[ace6636634]

So we woke up at 6:45 hoping to get a quick breakfast and be off by 9:00 but our plans changed as we now had to carry our stuff off. It turned out to be a blessing because it was the quickest I have ever been off a ship and we waited in line for 90 minutes just to check our bags in at the airport. So it worked out for us in the long run. (y)

 

 

Great review. Which airport did you go to and what time was your flight?

[cruzinisgood]

We will be on this itinerary Saturday Mar 4th.

So they offered the 10 card punch for the last two days?

Also do you remember what time zone they used in St Maarten?

We have a tour that is picking us up at 10:15 their time.

If we arrive a 9am ship time is their time 8 9 or 10?

If you still have the compass it may tell you..

Thank you for the review!

[ckrobyn]

We will be on this itinerary Saturday Mar 4th.

So they offered the 10 card punch for the last two days?

Also do you remember what time zone they used in St Maarten?

We have a tour that is picking us up at 10:15 their time.

If we arrive a 9am ship time is their time 8 9 or 10?

If you still have the compass it may tell you..

Thank you for the review!

 

 

I was on this sailing too :D The time in St. Maarten is one hour ahead, but we were told to remain on ship's time.

[emen822]

Great review. Which airport did you go to and what time was your flight?

 

Our flight was out of FLL and it was scheduled to depart at 11:25 (which it didn't...:evilsmile:...we left about an hour late).

[emen822]

We will be on this itinerary Saturday Mar 4th.

So they offered the 10 card punch for the last two days?

Also do you remember what time zone they used in St Maarten?

We have a tour that is picking us up at 10:15 their time.

If we arrive a 9am ship time is their time 8 9 or 10?

If you still have the compass it may tell you..

Thank you for the review!

I had been looking out for the 10 drink card offer because I had read another review saying they offered it on Thursday (but that very well could've been the 6 day itinerary now that I think of it.) Picture of card attached.

 

Unfortunately I don't have any of the compasses but we stayed on ships time for the entire cruise. That always somehow confuses me as well. :confused:

[hydrojim]

What time does Freedom get back in port? When time does the "self assist" disembarkation start?

[emen822]

What time does Freedom get back in port? When time does the "self assist" disembarkation start?

 

Not sure what time we were back in port but we walked off around 7:30.

[mtns2sea]

Do you remember the cost for Sabor on-board? It is available in the cruise planner for $15 per person for dinner. Trying to figure out if I should book ahead or wait to use obc. Thanks.

[famof4togo]

Is the ice show during the day or evening? If so do you recall which day? Time? Also, is the magic show during the day or evening? These are the two shows I want to take my 6 year old too and I didn't know if they were in the evening or not...

 

Thanks in advance...

[Prinny11]

Is the ice show during the day or evening? If so do you recall which day? Time? Also, is the magic show during the day or evening? These are the two shows I want to take my 6 year old too and I didn't know if they were in the evening or not...

 

Thanks in advance...

 

 

On the Freedom 8 day, the ice show played two different days. On the first sea day (day 2) at 1:30 and 3:30pm. It repeated on the San Juan day (day 4) at 7 and 9pm. The magic show was at St Maarten (day 5) in the evening, 7 and 9pm I believe

[emen822]

Do you remember the cost for Sabor on-board? It is available in the cruise planner for $15 per person for dinner. Trying to figure out if I should book ahead or wait to use obc. Thanks.

 

 

I think Sabor was $30 pp (or 29pp?) if you book onboard. When we went to the lunch on Friday, it was $30 but included the extras.

[famof4togo]

on the freedom 8 day, the ice show played two different days. On the first sea day (day 2) at 1:30 and 3:30pm. It repeated on the san juan day (day 4) at 7 and 9pm. The magic show was at st maarten (day 5) in the evening, 7 and 9pm i believe

 

 

thank you!

[mtns2sea]

I think Sabor was $30 pp (or 29pp?) if you book onboard. When we went to the lunch on Friday, it was $30 but included the extras.

 

 

Guess I should book it before. Thanks again.

 

 

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[DaisyGirl55]

When I sailed on the ship a few years ago, there was a schedule in our room for activities and shows for the week ahead. Do they still do this?

 

Any issues getting the tickets for the Ice Skating show or Magic show?

[riclop]

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Clarea]

Appreciate the feedback.