Freedom! Live From The Freedom of the Seas 8/11-18, 2024

[jam19872016]

13 minutes ago, DeltaJoe15 said:

Will be on the Freedom 10/27-11/03  Looking  forward to the cruise 

A Halloween cruise! Nice. Almost booked Freedom again for that week but I'm looking at a Carnival cruise that week. 

[vagolferbob]

We are on the Oct 20th cruise with most likely the same itinerary, pending decision on Labadee replacement.

[Ukigirl]

Excited for your review, we will be sailing on Freedom for the first time December 7th. We’ve sailed on Independence and love this class of ships. I’m sure I’ll be asking some questions along the way, happy sailing and congrats on your impressive weight loss!

[#55worktoplay]

On 8/7/2024 at 5:47 PM, jam19872016 said:

Well we have previously established that on the last day of work before vacation that anything that can, will, go wrong. We can now apply that to the last few days. With three days to go a coworker has decided that today will be his last day.

 

Things are already tight in order to accommodate my upcoming time off so things are going to be extra fun now for my final three days. Going to grin and bear it and this time on Sunday I will not have a care in the world except how am I going to carry around all this money I won the first hour the casino was open?

 

Final weight in for the day has me at +.2. Bummer. 

 

Thankfully in anticipation of a crazy final few days, I am all ready to go. I have one last minute item to purchase, and even though I am usually a night before kind of packer, I am 99% packed. Parking is paid for, check in complete. I have one purchase to make on the cruise planner and if i miss it, well onboard cost is only $4 more no big deal.

 

Yep, I think I'm good to do, just gotta survive three more days 🥳

I think you need @princess76021 and her “Oh Crap” button 😀

[jam19872016]

1 hour ago, vagolferbob said:

We are on the Oct 20th cruise with most likely the same itinerary, pending decision on Labadee replacement.

They are cutting it close to update the itinerary for sure!

 

1 hour ago, Ukigirl said:

Excited for your review, we will be sailing on Freedom for the first time December 7th. We’ve sailed on Independence and love this class of ships. I’m sure I’ll be asking some questions along the way, happy sailing and congrats on your impressive weight loss!

I love Independence! Very similar ship with a few minor changes. Only negative for me is she has had her steam/sauna removed. Other than that she is pretty much perfect. Ask away and I'll do my best to get an answer if I don't already know 🙂 

 

Thanks for the congrats, every day is a struggle but I've made good progress and have just a little ways left to go 😄 

[jam19872016]

27 minutes ago, #55worktoplay said:

I think you need @princess76021 and her “Oh Crap” button 😀

I agree!!

 

@princess76021 you're late to the party!

[jam19872016]

Made it through the day without it being too crazy. Today is the easy day, well rested and a normal 8 hour day.

 

Back at it at 5am for a 16 hour day.

 

Bet I will be riding the struggle bus tomorrow but the finish line is in sight!

[dbancroft]

We are on Freedom now and doing a b2b. Just left St. Thomas this afternoon and 2 days at sea. Hopefully the weather behaves and we make the western caribbean. 

[dbancroft]

Eric Lopez is the cd

[NJ&Ozzie]

14 minutes ago, dbancroft said:

Eric Lopez is the cd

Thanks for the info.  Hope you're have a great time!

 

May I ask - who is the hotel director?

Hugs,

NJ  

[jam19872016]

4 hours ago, dbancroft said:

We are on Freedom now and doing a b2b. Just left St. Thomas this afternoon and 2 days at sea. Hopefully the weather behaves and we make the western caribbean. 

 I'll be there soon 😄

 

[jam19872016]

Gained 1.8 today. Not unexpected after the big drop yesterday. 

 

Had good steps and then the app had a new competition feature that was giving double points to take a 30 minute GPS tracked walk so ran the steps up higher. 

 

 

I'm liking these fun challenges that encourage me to walk. I have no idea how they score the points but I'm in fourth place out of 30, top20 advance to the next level. 

 

Off to do my 16 hours now 😱

[Ocean Boy]

It has been a few years since I was last on Freedom. That, however, may change in a few months so I'm looking forward to reading about your experience 

[jam19872016]

16 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

It has been a few years since I was last on Freedom. That, however, may change in a few months so I'm looking forward to reading about your experience 

Thanks for reading along, any questions along the way ask away 🙂

 

[jam19872016]

Made it.

 

Just got one more day to get through, then it's cruise time!!

[jam19872016]

-2.0 lbs as the wild swings continue. I did good not over consuming yesterday so it is probably correct.

 

All day running around ran up my steps for sure!!

 

 

One more jam packed day, only 15 hours this time then I'm at the finish line!

[ajtaylor29]

On 8/8/2024 at 6:32 PM, vagolferbob said:

We are on the Oct 20th cruise with most likely the same itinerary, pending decision on Labadee replacement.

We're on the Oct 6th cruise, still haven't heard about Labadee either. Seems like they would be making decisions already for a cruise less than 60 days away....??

[vagolferbob]

1 hour ago, ajtaylor29 said:

We're on the Oct 6th cruise, still haven't heard about Labadee either. Seems like they would be making decisions already for a cruise less than 60 days away....??

Surprising that Royal is holding out on announcing alternate ports, especially when this post alone had identified several viable alternatives. Maybe they are hiring and training their own army to deploy to Labadee after September, or they are waiting to see which islands are still viable after the current hurricane season.

[Iamthesea]

3 hours ago, ajtaylor29 said:

We're on the Oct 6th cruise, still haven't heard about Labadee either. Seems like they would be making decisions already for a cruise less than 60 days away....??

 

We are also on the 10/6 cruise.  Frustrating not knowing what port is being substituted.  We did know that Labadee was out when we booked the cruise, but thought we would have an itinerary by now. 

 

BTW - I went to the Roll Call and it appears to be mainly dead.  I will post there tomorrow.

[wolfcathorse]

Please also confirm if you have Capt Ivo as captain. I don't know who the other captain is assigned to Freedom.

[jam19872016]

7 hours ago, ajtaylor29 said:

We're on the Oct 6th cruise, still haven't heard about Labadee either. Seems like they would be making decisions already for a cruise less than 60 days away....??

That's a bummer. I wonder if Nassau is at capacity already on the 8th? I would imagine if there is room, that is where you will end up. I agree that sucks to not know but I would say it is a safe bet at least that you won't be going to Labadee. 

2 hours ago, wolfcathorse said:

Please also confirm if you have Capt Ivo as captain. I don't know who the other captain is assigned to Freedom.

I will be sure to find out and let you know.

[jam19872016]

Made it! One more sleep and a wake up and it will be time to head back out to sea!

 

The plan is to be on the road by 8. 830 at the latest. I don't have anything major left to do just a lot of little things so probably need to be rolling out of bed by 7 or 7:30. 

 

Two stops to make. One to Walgreens (on the way). One to gas up but that can wait if I find myself running behind. Hopefully I'm just tired enough to fall asleep with how excited I am for tomorrow without being so tired I can't drag myself awake tomorrow.

 

See you all on the other side for boarding day!!

[bluewater1298]

Hey! So glad you’re doing another cruise review. Especially since Jeff and I will be on Freedom next month with the same itinerary! (Deja Vu) When I told him you were doing this review, he ask if I was paying you. It seems like you are always preparing us for our next adventure. I’m sure I’ll have a few questions for you before the week is up.

 

Great job on keeping the weight down. Jeff and I have both lost weight since we saw you in Feb. We started using a fitness app too. It really does keep you accountable. But I’m like you, the cruise doesn’t count.

 

I’m so excited to be following along!! I pray you have a wonderful, trouble free sailing! Safe travels in the morning!!

 

PS: Hopefully you’ll meet a really nice couple on your shuttle in the morning. 😉

[jam19872016]

1 minute ago, bluewater1298 said:

Hey! So glad you’re doing another cruise review. Especially since Jeff and I will be on Freedom next month with the same itinerary! (Deja Vu) When I told him you were doing this review, he ask if I was paying you. It seems like you are always preparing us for our next adventure. I’m sure I’ll have a few questions for you before the week is up.

 

Great job on keeping the weight down. Jeff and I have both lost weight since we saw you in Feb. We started using a fitness app too. It really does keep you accountable. But I’m like you, the cruise doesn’t count.

 

I’m so excited to be following along!! I pray you have a wonderful, trouble free sailing! Safe travels in the morning!!

 

PS: Hopefully you’ll meet a really nice couple on your shuttle in the morning. 😉

That is too funny that you are going on the same ship as me again 🤣. What are the odds.

 

Any questions that pop up ask away and I will try to find out 😀

 

Congratulations on your weight it is not easy but so worth it, and I can't wait to let loose next week. I officially did not get the dining plan this time so at least I won't be over eating just for my money's worth 😅. No al bacon to tempt me either and the Cafe promenade snacks just don't measure up.

 

Sure I will still end up over indulging somehow 🤪.

 

 I'm using the same group again, always a wonderful experience booking with them.

 

Thanks for following along!!

[Ocean Boy]

Time to get this show on the road... I mean the sea.