FREEDOM OF THE SEAS: BEHIND THE LENS. September 8-15, 2024

[A&L_Ont]

On 9/8/2024 at 1:48 PM, Lionesss said:

Updated stationary and writing implement. 

We had the same waiting in our cabin last week on Symphony.

 

EDIT: haven’t seen pen or paper for years.  We brought our own for a long time. 

Edited September 10 by A&L_Ont

[Lionesss]

Good morning. 
 

My first sunrise in years. 

 

 

Also a picture of the print of my night gown.  Purchased from a sale at Walmart. 
 

 

Definitely good for cruising. 
 

Definitely won’t be out of cabin sporting this one. 
 

Why did I buy them???

 

Close out sale. 
If I opted to leave them behind, the $4.98 cost was nominal

 

Ok. 
 

Grand Cayman today. 
 

Waiting on room service delivery. 
 

Be safe. 

[A&L_Ont]

@Lionesss did you post a photo of your itinerary and I missed it?  I’m trying to figure out if you are on a 6 or 8 night sailing. 

Edited September 10 by A&L_Ont

[Lionesss]

Just now, A&L_Ont said:

@Lionesss did you post a photo of your itinerary and I missed it?  I’m trying to figure out if you are on a 6 or 8 night sailing. 

 

 

 

Getting ready for out RCI tour. Meeting place in theatre @ 8M. 
 

 Be safe. 

 

Edited September 10 by Lionesss

[Lionesss]

Cruise Day 3. 
 

UPDATE. 

Morning Cankles report. 
 

 

So far. 
Eating healthy. 
Drinking plenty of water. 
Walk Walk Walking. 
 

I am happy to say no swelling yet. 
 

Have not taken lasix  yet. 
 

P. S.  Pretty Pedicure if I say so. 
 

Be safe. 
 

Next update before dinner. 
 

Leaving phones on board. 
 

Taking water camera  

 

Be safe. 
 

 

I forgot to say. 
 

We are doing stingrays and beach. 

Edited September 10 by Lionesss

[Sea Dog]

Great news on the cankle report. How many cocktails do you average per day?  I am sure that’s a factor with me.

[Mapleleafforever]

10 hours ago, Lionesss said:

MDR for dinner. 
 

We were seated at  a table for 2 by the window.  Very happy with arrangement. 
 

The waiter and his assistant introduced themselves and asked if we had any requests or needs. 

 

 

Besides asking for calorie free food we requested no added salt. 
 

When  we selected our dinner off the menu we gave the order to them. 
Including dessert. 

In less than 5 minutes we had our appetizers. 
If you ordered 2. They came back to back. 
Note;

Shrimp cocktail not on menu every day. 
 

Portions were smaller than CK. 
Food was presented very hot not just the plates. 
Bread delicious as always. 
 

Dining hall was very clean. So clean a spider was on the ceiling, just hanging out. 
 

We were ok with everything but missed CK. 
 

We do not do specialty dining. 
We said we made arrangements when constantly being asked to buy a 3 day dining experience. 
For others who asked us about doing specialty dining—-

We just said thanks for offering. And just let it go at that. 
 

I re do not know how they decide to use the empty tables in 5:15 seating. 
yesterday and today there were at least 1/3 off tables remained empty. 
 

I thought families with kids would want early seating. 
I betcha some would want a guaranteed time. 
 

Total time always less than 45 minutes. 
 

Be safe. 

We chose 5:15 seating for our Freedom cruise next April mostly because we'll be there with our 7 and 5 year old daughters who are still learning appropriate restaurant behaviour. They're getting there but on our last cruise we dined exclusively in the CK and we let them watch shows on their tablets at dinner so as to not be disruptive to other guests so this will be new. 

 

Enjoying following along, keep it up!!

[BonTexasNY]

4 hours ago, Lionesss said:

Cruise Day 3. 
 

UPDATE. 

Morning Cankles report. 
 

 

So far. 
Eating healthy. 
Drinking plenty of water. 
Walk Walk Walking. 
 

I am happy to say no swelling yet. 
 

Have not taken lasix  yet. 
 

P. S.  Pretty Pedicure if I say so. 
 

Be safe. 
 

Next update before dinner. 
 

Leaving phones on board. 
 

Taking water camera  

 

Be safe. 
 

 

I forgot to say. 
 

We are doing stingrays and beach. 

Sue, I envy those slim ankles!  Enjoy your cruise to the fullest.

[bluewater1298]

13 hours ago, Lionesss said:

MDR for dinner. 
 

We were seated at  a table for 2 by the window.  Very happy with arrangement. 
 

The waiter and his assistant introduced themselves and asked if we had any requests or needs. 

 

 

Besides asking for calorie free food we requested no added salt. 
 

When  we selected our dinner off the menu we gave the order to them. 
Including dessert. 

In less than 5 minutes we had our appetizers. 
If you ordered 2. They came back to back. 
Note;

Shrimp cocktail not on menu every day. 
 

Portions were smaller than CK. 
Food was presented very hot not just the plates. 
Bread delicious as always. 
 

Dining hall was very clean. So clean a spider was on the ceiling, just hanging out. 
 

We were ok with everything but missed CK. 
 

We do not do specialty dining. 
We said we made arrangements when constantly being asked to buy a 3 day dining experience. 
For others who asked us about doing specialty dining—-

We just said thanks for offering. And just let it go at that. 
 

I re do not know how they decide to use the empty tables in 5:15 seating. 
yesterday and today there were at least 1/3 off tables remained empty. 
 

I thought families with kids would want early seating. 
I betcha some would want a guaranteed time. 
 

Total time always less than 45 minutes. 
 

Be safe. 

Thank you for posting your table #. I received a response email yesterday about our window table request and it shows us at table 176. We'll be sailing on Freedom the week after next. Glad to know you're happy with the location. We'll be sitting there in 12 more days 😁

Enjoying your review. We are doing the stingrays and beach as well. Hope you have a great time!

[Lionesss]

6 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Great news on the cankle report. How many cocktails do you average per day?  I am sure that’s a factor with me.

One for sure. 
Amaretto Sour. And if I’m in the casino I might get 2. 
 

Last night was a painful night in casino. 
I had 

1 Diet Coke 

2 Amaretto sours. 
 

ADDENDUM. 

EXTRA ADDED ATTRACTION:

 

Upon returning from excursion my Cankles were not happy. 

 

I developed some edema around my Ankle, since this morning. 
 

Now 2 treatments. 
 

1. Eliminate the new variable. Amaretto

2.  Take Lasix. (Furosemide).

 

So now I put my walking shoes on and going to 

walki walki walk till I get 5,000 steps or 2 miles. Whatever comes in last. 
 

And drink more fluids. 
 

Sea you. 

[Ocean Boy]

And this is why I don't let my mother wait until her ankles start to swell.  Better to be proactive.

[Sea Dog]

10 minutes ago, Lionesss said:

One for sure. 
Amaretto Sour. And if I’m in the casino I might get 2. 
 

Last night was a painful night in casino. 
I had 

1 Diet Coke 

2 Amaretto sours. 
 

ADDENDUM. 

EXTRA ADDED ATTRACTION:

 

Upon returning from excursion my Cankles were not happy. 

 

I developed some edema around my Ankle, since this morning. 
 

Now 2 treatments. 
 

1. Eliminate the new variable. Amaretto

2.  Take Lasix. (Furosemide).

 

So now I put my walking shoes on and going to 

walki walki walk till I get 5,000 steps or 2 miles. Whatever comes in last. 
 

And drink more fluids. 
 

Sea you. 

 

You are better than me. I do love my cocktails but I am a responsible drinker.

Let me know if the walking helps reduce the swelling. Good luck Sue.

 

6 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

And this is why I don't let my mother wait until her ankles start to swell.  Better to be proactive.

 

My doctor prescribed 7 pills one for each day of the sailing so I will start day one.

[Lionesss]

Just now, Ocean Boy said:

And this is why I don't let my mother wait until her ankles start to swell.  Better to be proactive.

 

Purrrfect. 
 

Now I will see what the morning report is at 6 am. For me. Everyone has their own guidelines. 

If in anyway puffy. I will take 20 mg. 
Just don’t like taking pills if I do not need them.   I  take everything prescribed by my doctor. . But procrastination in full swing. 
 

Tomorrow is a Jamaica day. 
So can help them (in drought) by donating of fluids. 
 

Later. 
 

Let the steps begin. 
 

Ne safe. 

Edited September 10 by Lionesss

[Ocean Boy]

27 minutes ago, Lionesss said:

 

Purrrfect. 
 

Now I will see what the morning report is at 6 am. For me. Everyone has their own guidelines. 

If in anyway puffy. I will take 20 mg. 
Just don’t like taking pills if I do not need them.   I  take everything prescribed by my doctor. . But procrastination in full swing. 
 

Tomorrow is a Jamaica day. 
So can help them (in drought) by donating of fluids. 
 

Later. 
 

Let the steps begin. 
 

Ne safe. 

The main reason I don't let my mother wait for her ankles to start swelling is I don't want to listen to her whine about them.😉🙂

[Lionesss]

Just now, Ocean Boy said:

The main reason I don't let my mother wait for her ankles to start swelling is I don't want to listen to her whine about them.😉🙂

You got it. 
 

I always remember WINE is always a great drink for all legal ages. 
 

But

 

WHINE is a trait  that follows retirement. 
 

 

Yes my mom was fixated on her blood sugar readings. 
(RIP). 
 

Later. 

 

[Lionesss]

A short story presenting the Pros and Cons on ;

 

RCI. Stingray— Star fish excursion. 
 

PROS

1.  The vendors that transported us was EXCELLENT!!!!!

2.  Safety was their major concern. 
3.  Provide water and punch

4.  Interactive was great with stingrays 

5.  The transporting boat was new, clean and they keep the number of guest to minimum. 
 

CONS: 

 

RCI 

YOU FAILED in your planning. 
 

We were to meet in theatre by 8am to get  our sticker for excursion seating area. So they knew who went where. 
That’s where  it got interesting. 
 

We waited

waited

8:00am came and went

8:15am…………………

8:30am………………..,

8:45am……………….,.

9:00am…. We went down the steps to tender. 
 

Our directions were to proceed to white tent. 
We did

Unfortunately the tour was waiting for us at red tent. 
9:10am went to red tent

9:15am waiting. 
9:30am we went to bus. 
9:40am arrived at marina got our tour boat. 
10:15am. -12:15ish. Stingray /Starfish 

 

12:38 pm. Back on board. 
 

So my point is 

RCI. Why oh why did we have to wait 1 hour to go to tender.  
Then direct us to wrong tent 

POOR TIME MANAGEMENT!!!!!!

 

I will present this at shore excursion desk. 
 

NOW PICTURES. 

 

 

Spousette

 

Spouse 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 10 by Lionesss

[Lionesss]

6 hours ago, Mapleleafforever said:

We chose 5:15 seating for our Freedom cruise next April mostly because we'll be there with our 7 and 5 year old daughters who are still learning appropriate restaurant behaviour. They're getting there but on our last cruise we dined exclusively in the CK and we let them watch shows on their tablets at dinner so as to not be disruptive to other guests so this will be new. 

 

Enjoying following along, keep it up!!

 

Picture of our table. 

 

But the numbering system can change cruise to cruise. 
When they rip down and terminally clean.
 

If I were you I would request a table by window as soon as you can. If in a  suite ask concierge.
If not the minute you board before people get sea pass cards go to mdr deck 3 and make your request.
 

Good luck. . 
 

 

[Lionesss]

OMG. 

NEW hand held hair dryer. 
Stays on till you shut off. 
Powerfull. 
You do not have to hold button constantly to keep it working. 
 

[A&L_Ont]

53 minutes ago, Lionesss said:

OMG. 

NEW hand held hair dryer. 
Stays on till you shut off. 
Powerfull. 
You do not have to hold button constantly to keep it working. 
 

We had the same style last week on Symphony in a SLS. My thumb was happy.

[A&L_Ont]

10 hours ago, Lionesss said:

Morning Cankles report. 
 

 

3 hours ago, Lionesss said:

I developed some edema around my Ankle, since this morning. 

 

Sue, I’m just thinking out loud as I type this to you.  
 

If you ever decided to stop casino gaming to help cover your cruise fare, you could always start a fans only page for “cruise cankles”.  Just a suggestion. 😜

Edited September 10 by A&L_Ont

[Sunshine3601]

1 hour ago, Lionesss said:

OMG. 

NEW hand held hair dryer. 
Stays on till you shut off. 
Powerfull. 
You do not have to hold button constantly to keep it working. 
 

Is this same one at (different color) then embassy suites?  Your wish was granted😃

[Lionesss]

5 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Is this same one at (different color) then embassy suites?  Your wish was granted😃

Embassy was black dryers 

 

Be safe. 

[Lionesss]

The ship is turning around to back into the port. 
 

We have been followed this cruise by a mouse. 
 

We beat you. 
 

 

 

 

More to come. 
 

Well my updates. 
 

 

Edited September 11 by Lionesss

[Lionesss]

YO MAN. 
 

Welcome to Jamaica. 
 

BREAKING NEWS. 

 

But before we get that report started let’s check in with our traveling field agent. 
 

We here at W - R - C - I -  have been monitoring what is going on in the Caribbean.
Namely:  The cankles. 
 

After walk walk walking. 
Eating and drinking fluids my cankles look like this. 
 

 

 

As you can see. 
 

Some lateral edema shown. 
 

Taking 20mg of Lasix now. 
 

Pee you later 

 

oooops. 
 

I mean …,Sea you later. 
 

Dang it spell check. 
 

 😉

[Sea Dog]

Hopefully soon it will be “Ankles Away.”