Our S2S Adventure - Freedom / Spirit (with pics) - 1/7/23

[jamscckmc]

Will be on the Spirit in April. First time to Bonaire. Looks like a great port! 

[Megan_Strick]

On 2/18/2023 at 3:05 PM, Jamman54 said:

Once across the bridge, we go through this building and come upon the pool which is huge…..

 

 

 

 

We make these chairs our home base for today….

 

 

Here are a couple more pool area pictures…..

 

 

 

 

This is the beach taken from the pool area…..

 

 

We head to the nearby Palm Beach Bar…..

 

 

Patti and I have our first drinks of the day…..

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

Patti is being fancy fancy with her wine 🙂

[Megan_Strick]

OK, so I'm going to start this review all over. I just booked the Freedom for Sept so now I have to go back and pay attention to the pictures. 😁

[Saint Greg]

On 2/18/2023 at 3:03 PM, Jamman54 said:

 

So, where are you supposed to throw it?

 

 

 

 

See that little trash can in the corner…not near a sink? Good thing it has a lid….

[Jamman54]

32 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

See that little trash can in the corner…not near a sink? Good thing it has a lid….

Ewwwwwwwww!!! 

[Saint Greg]

Just now, Jamman54 said:

Ewwwwwwwww!!! 

I ate at a restaurant in Kuwait City that had little trash cans without lids in the stalls. I was glad I waited until after I ate to use the facilities.

 

[Jamman54]

Day # 16 – (January 19^th) – Oranjestad, Aruba  (8am – 4pm).

 

We are up early to what is going to be a hot sunny day. There may be a few passing showers early. The seas are fairly calm. Here are the views from our balcony….

 

 

 

We did catch a little bit of the sunrise…..

 

 

 

We can see some rain showers as we approach the coast of Aruba…..

 

 

 

 

 

Our plans for today are to go over to the Barcelo Aruba. We have all inclusive day passes which include breakfast and lunch, so we won’t be eating breakfast here. I need my morning coffee so I head down to the Fountain Café Coffee Bar to get some and to pick up today’s “Fun Times”…….

 

 

 

To be continued……

[Jamman54]

A short time later the Aruba Pilot Boat drops off the pilot and departs…..

 

 

 

 

As we approach Oranjestad, we pass Eagle Beach where the low-rise condos and hotels are located…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The high-rise properties are over on Palm Beach, and that’s where the Barcelo Aruba is located. The tall white buildings belong to the Riu…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

As the Carnival Spirit glides into her berth, we slowly pass the Church of Scientology’s Freewinds. She spends the majority of her time moored here in Oranjestad, but will sail over to Venezuela every so often…..

 

 

 

We’re scouring the decks looking for Tom Cruise……

 

 

Okay, back to reality. Some of the tour busses have begun to arrive…..

 

 

 

 

We get off the ship as soon as it’s cleared at 8am. We grab a cab and head over to the Barcelo Aruba. The fare is $16 plus tip for about a twenty-minute ride. We have arrived at the Barcelo Aruba…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued……

[Jamman54]

I’m getting us checked in. The cost for the two of us is $180…..

 

 

While I’m doing that, Patti gets some shots around the lobby…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That done, we’re heading out to the pool area…..

 

 

 

To be continued……

[Jamman54]

We decide to hit the breakfast buffet first. There is a bit of a line, but it moves quickly, and we are seated. This is our table…..

 

 

This breakfast buffet is extensive so it will probably take a couple of pages to show it. Let’s start here…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued……

[Jamman54]

There is much, much, more…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Here are a few of the drink stations…..

 

 

 

 

This is one section of the Breakfast Buffet seating…..

 

 

Here are our first plates. You can believe it that we had seconds….

 

 

 

After stuffing ourselves with that delicious breakfast, it was time to find ourselves some seats. But first a stop at the towel hut to get our towels……

 

 

Once we had our towels the quest to find seats began. We checked all around the pool and every chair was occupied or saved with towels. We went out on the beach and the same thing, nothing looked available. We went back to the pool and found one chair that a couple from our home state of New Jersey said we could have. We weren’t planning to lay out, so all we needed was one chair to put our stuff on and we were good. Next time, we will stake our claim before we head to breakfast! Here are our views of the pool from our location…..

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

 

[pirate4me2]

This resort looks like a place I need to make note of for next year! 

[WKUTopperFan]

1 hour ago, pirate4me2 said:

This resort looks like a place I need to make note of for next year! 

The Riu is a great property (the all adult one... there is two on the island).  I have done day passes there twice on cruises. I would highly recommend it. 

[dltvermont]

So sad to see your post on Jack's. We have been trying to get there since Covid cancellations and now the new owners appear to have ruined it. Maybe it wont be on our list in a couple weeks. Was really looking forward to it.

[RenoNanaOz]

On 2/19/2023 at 1:59 PM, Alabaster Cruiser said:

Enjoying your review.  Will be on Spirit in October.  Years ago we used to walk to Plaza Resort.  They had a bell at the gate and you ring it for service.  You would pay $10 to $12 dollars for entry.  It only included 1 drink and use of grounds.  Had to pay extra for pool usage.  The snorkeling from their area is some of the best on island.  We would go snorkel there everything we were on island.  Now we tend to rent golfcarts each time we are there.....Susan

We rented Golf Carts last month and had a blast!

[Jamman54]

Now that we’re settled in, I head for the pool bar where I will drink copious amounts of Aruba’s Balashi beer one cup at a time…..

 

 

 

Patti is going to walk on the beach. She gets these pool shots as she leaves…..

 

 

 

 

Patti is leaving the Barcelo Aruba…..

 

 

 

Patti is going to walk up to the RIU. She takes these shots along the beach on the way…..

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Here are some more Palm Beach views as Patti walks towards the RIU…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She has made it as far as the RIU…..

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Patti is heading back towards the Barcelo Aruba…..

 

 

 

She has made it back….

 

 

Patti heads off in the other direction…..

 

 

 

 

She’s looking towards the Hyatt Regency pool…..

 

 

Back at the Barcelo Aruba, there’s an exercise class on the beach…..

 

 

 

This is the Barcelo Aruba Kid’s Club…..

 

 

 

Patti catches me in one of the hot tubs…..

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

It’s time for Patti’s Aruba Critters page. Can you see them?

 

 

They come in all colors, shapes, and sizes…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one likes to beg for fruit…..

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Patti is going to explore the area on the street side. She heads through the hotel to head out…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[rwest898]

Thank you,  this is a place to consider.  It looks like we will be cruising at the same time in September on the Venezia.  This will be the next time we are going to be in Aruba. 

[aztekpm]

2 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

Now that we’re settled in, I head for the pool bar where I will drink copious amounts of Aruba’s Balashi beer one cup at a time…..

 

 

 

 

 

LOL please tell me that's not your beer ... 

 

If so can understand copious cups!

[canes20]

10 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

Now that we’re settled in, I head for the pool bar where I will drink copious amounts of Aruba’s Balashi beer one cup at a time…..

 

 

 

Patti is going to walk on the beach. She gets these pool shots as she leaves…..

 

 

 

 

Patti is leaving the Barcelo Aruba…..

 

 

 

Patti is going to walk up to the RIU. She takes these shots along the beach on the way…..

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

 

Is that shots of Balashi?