June 4 Freedom CC'rs Post LIVE FROM FREEDOM

[emmy]

Wendy will check re the lift for the hot tub... two specialty restaurants Chops and Portofino.. we will dine in Chops on Tuesday..

 

Today at 5 pm is our Meet & Mingle :) we hope to have the Captain present and to present to him the framed copy of the poem we composed called "Ode to Freedom" one of our threadmates Renee did it up in calligraphy and had it framed...

 

Formal night tonight... tuxs and pink cummerbunds and bow ties for our men and ladies in their dresses with pink boas around our neck..

 

Oh yes... the bedding is so wonderful... the pillow top mattresses and linens make a huge difference... it is so luxurious...

 

There are about 1600 C&A members on board and not many children..don't know the numbers but not noticable.

 

Internet is a bit slow for my liking...

 

Chat again later.. time to get ready for M&M.... :)

 

Emmy

[kpgclark]

If you can, please post what you can remember from the menus.

[jerseygirl3]

We got off the Valor yesterday and got a glimpse of FOS. She was beaming in the sunlight (that is, until the rain started!). I was thinking of those poor folks at sailaway, as we got delayed coming home because Miami Airport was shut down for approx. 3 hours due to bad thunderstorms.

 

We wish everyone on board a wonderful cruise. We're booked for the Oct. 14, 2007, sailing. Can't wait!

[Jsme]

What happened last night in the diningroom? What about tonight? When is the first formual night?

 

Yes I have lots of questions. lol

 

Janet told me about the rain. I hate that happened to you guys.

[Eddiesmom]

Emmy, got your card today..............much thanks!

 

Anxious to hear about the M & M and Formal night. Did you get to present your poem to the Captain?

 

Remember......start the thread for the Explorer..:)

 

 

Roberta

[zotzer]

Has anyone reported in about our M&M? Internet is pricey, so I don't want to take time to read all of the threads....but YES, Captain Wright attended our Meet and Mingle and it was fantastic. He stayed for a very long time, signing copies of the poem that was presented to him.

 

You guys.....I just don't know how to briefly say all the things I want to about this ship. It is more fabulous than any photograph anyone has taken. There is just something alive about her.

 

Tonight's show was called "Once Upon a Time", and I have got to tell you, it was absolutely phenominal!!!! No one should miss this show, ever. Seriously...I tend to not go to the shows, so it is a big statement for me to make! :)

 

The weather is gorgeous. I am holding my own in the casino. We were just out on the helipad and saw Mexico in the distance. Before going to bed for a couple hours sleep, I wanted to check in and say hello!!

 

Sorry I don't have time to go through and read/reply to any questions. It's about 3:30 in the morning, and I need to get to bed.

 

Will do my best to check in tomorrow, but I must say...it's hard to even justify trying to sleep, let alone type on the internet! LOL

 

Much love to all....Freedom is incredible!!!!!

Tracy

[cruisinisforme]

Hey emmy sounds like you are all having a blast, I knew you would...isnt ken rush great? He is a lot of fun. I love the pink speedo story, by the end of the week I am sure we will have lots more, cant wait to hear

[LynnAB]

Hi, Tracy,

 

Ooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I can't wait! I can't wait! I just KNEW Freedom was going to be as fabulous as you're saying it is. Enjoy every second!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Lynn

[LauraS]

 

Ken Rush the CD... said 'stop the music" what does PBS'r stand for... so we informed all there that we were from Cruise Critic and the Pink Boa Society... some free advertising Laura :)

 

Well Patrick was our man today so all us ladies with wearing our pink boas cheered him on the victory as he dropped his swimming trunks to reveal his pink speedo and pulled out his pink boa :)... Thanks Patrick... what a sport you were:)

 

Emmy & the rest of the PBS'rs

 

Anyway he was crowned Mr. Flamingo Legs....:)

 

 

LUV IT!!! Love Ken Rush too.....oh, it will be a LOOONG time before the memory of PINK BOAs fade.......

 

Laura

[Borat]

Has anyone reported in about our M&M? Internet is pricey, so I don't want to take time to read all of the threads....but YES, Captain Wright attended our Meet and Mingle and it was fantastic. He stayed for a very long time, signing copies of the poem that was presented to him.

 

You guys.....I just don't know how to briefly say all the things I want to about this ship. It is more fabulous than any photograph anyone has taken. There is just something alive about her.

 

Tonight's show was called "Once Upon a Time", and I have got to tell you, it was absolutely phenominal!!!! No one should miss this show, ever. Seriously...I tend to not go to the shows, so it is a big statement for me to make! :)

 

The weather is gorgeous. I am holding my own in the casino. We were just out on the helipad and saw Mexico in the distance. Before going to bed for a couple hours sleep, I wanted to check in and say hello!!

 

Sorry I don't have time to go through and read/reply to any questions. It's about 3:30 in the morning, and I need to get to bed.

 

Will do my best to check in tomorrow, but I must say...it's hard to even justify trying to sleep, let alone type on the internet! LOL

 

Much love to all....Freedom is incredible!!!!!

Tracy

 

Tracy ~ thanks for your update...i couldnt agree more with you about pictures not being able to show ANYTHING about this ship. you def have to see it to know what its like. I cannot wait to get on the ship this sunday..and i know u wont wanna get off haha...ok so tell me if you have seen Jimmy yet? bull & bear pub in the promenade...if you go to him (between 10pm and 1am) go request stairway to heaven and tell him Jordan from NY requested it. Have fun.

-Jordan

 

we will be lookin for you sunday

[Viclo12]

Tracy!

 

How's the crew? Food, drinks?? Dining Room?

[cruiselife4me]

Tracy-

You are getting us all so excited!! Your post was absolutely electrifying - thanks for the update. :D

 

I know I speak for all of us who are NOT aboard when I say that we're living vicariously through you all - so live it up and then tell us!

 

Thanks Thanks Thanks,

 

Mary

[Beetulz]

Anyone have theirs opened or is it prohibited?

 

John

[BoozeCruise2]

Emmy, Tracy,

 

 

Could someone nail down if Verizon works on the ship or not? I have two beautiful kids that I will miss and need to speak to often. My only other option is spending $200.00 on a satellite phone.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

I know Cingular works. But VERIZON is the mystery.

 

BC2

 

I am going on 7/9/06 !!!

[LynnAB]

I second the request for info on whether Verizon works on the Freedom. I'll be going June 25th and would love to be able to keep in touch if I need to.

 

Thank you,

 

Lynn

[mojo4trav]

If you want to see which ship has the service, try this site. The company is a joint venture between RCCL and Cingular.

 

http://www.cellularatsea.com/shipsinservice.htm

[zotzer]

Tracy!

 

How's the crew? Food, drinks?? Dining Room?

 

Hey Vic!!! (and everyone else!!)

Yes, I am finally home, and a little numb. I am finding it very hard to craft a review right now, or even talk about the week, as every time I do, my eyes fill with tears.

 

But, while I have my badly swollen and abused feet on ice, I am thinking that answering questions may be easier. :)

 

The crew was fantastic!!! Honest to goodness, they were so excited to have a "regular" cruise, and a whole week to get in rhythm. For you single ladies, I must say....the crew is chock full of delightful and gorgeous men! Here's the lowdown on the best I met:

 

First prize and an institution on the ship goes to Deddy, the greeter in the Windjammer. Honest to goodness, where he finds the energy and enthusiasm is beyond me. I wanted to wrap him up and take him home....almost didn't need my morning coffee after a greeting from Deddy!!

 

I have a friend on board named Jesus, from the Dominican Republic. (His identity can now be revealed, as my little contest to find him was officially over by day two :)) I expected he'd be located by our sleuths at the pool, but he was up at the Viking Crown, which is a martini bar called Olive or Twist. Olive or Twist is wonderful, and generally has a jazz band playing. Took a while for people to really find it and appreciate it, but by the second half of the week, it was rocking in there every night.

 

This is in large part due to my adorable friend, Jesus, and the bartenders: Earl and Neville. Be sure to stop in and tell them that Tracy sent you. Gosh, I miss them already.

 

And oh my gosh, if you don't go to Boleros and have Cebe and Adrienne make you a Mojito, you haven't lived. Those two are a force of nature, and the mojitos are delicious!! My biggest complaint about the ship: I went for my last Mojito last night at about 2:00am, and they were out of mint and limes. Well, guess that should tell you something about those two!!! :)

 

Pool bar honors go to Sanji. He won't be there for long, however, as he was a last-minute fill in and is off to Explorer in a few weeks. He's one of the few non-Jamaican pool servers, and special kudos go to the Jamaican bartending duo of Bailey and Loren. Wonderful guys! And Loren CAN make a proper Long Island Ice Tea (do NOT order one from anywhere else!! Not sure what they do to make them undrinkable, but Loren got it done)

 

In the Casino, I have to give the nod to an adorable man named Michael. He is asian, yet with a british accent, and he'll steal your heart (hopefully not too much of your money though! LOL) I thought I remember his nametag saying he was from Canada, but then he mentioned something about Philly. I dunno...alcohol doesn't help my memory with these sorts of things! LOL

 

There is also Owmz, who I'd met before on Radiance. Great guys, both of them! Anyone going on the ship anytime soon who likes to gamble...please track down Michael and tell him I talked him up. I went down to say my goodbyes, and couldn't find him anywhere. I HATE when that happens!! Just mention the pink hat if you can't remember my name, and tell him his future wife misses him! :p

 

Everyone knows the pink hat! Not having to see it anymore is probably their one highlight about being *off* the Freedom. Can't think of much else that would be positive about leaving that fantastic ship behind!!!

 

 

As for the food, I found it very good. This is always a topic where you can ask 100 people and get 100 answers, but from the dining room, to windjammer, to promenade cafe and YES, Sorrento's pizza...it was all good in my book!!

 

Tracy

[zotzer]

Anyone have theirs opened or is it prohibited?

 

John,

We were on the hump with fellow CC members, Carol and Bob, right next door. We had the balcony wide-open all week. Not sure what the "official policy" is on it, but we did it and it was wonderful. The perfect spot from which to watch the Shaggy concert on the dock at Montego Bay! :)

Tracy

[Giorgi-one]

Zotzer:

 

No offense, but it almost sounds like you were making excuses for the food.

[LynnAB]

Hi, Tracy,

 

I am sooooooooooooooooooooooo happy to read your review. I've been checking off and on all day to see if you've written yet ... as I just KNEW you would.

 

I am also sooooooooooooooooooo happy you have a wonderful week. You have been so excited (as I am), and I wanted it to be perfect for you. Now I can get even more excited about my cruise on the 25th. Actually, that's an understatement. I'm going crazy here in South Florida! I've seen the ship in port and have already fallen in love <lol>.

 

Thank you for the tip on the L.I.I.T. That's one of my FAVORITE drinks. I'll check it out at the pool bar.

 

Now ... if I can only find Noel from my past Navigator cruises, my whole family will be happy.

 

And do you happen to know if Deddy is from the Navigator??? We had an EXCEPTIONAL greeter on the Navigator that we talked about alllll week and many times since. I just have a feeling Deddy is him by the way you raved. I'm sooooo curious.

 

I guess that's it for the moment.

 

I'm not happy your cruise is over ... just happy you made it home safely.

 

More soon, I'm sure.

 

Lynn

[eroller]

Here is a pic for you all, taken last night in Olive or Twist. The Pink Boa Society in the flesh!!!

 

Ernie

 

 

[skiiergirl]

Mr. Ski and I are home safely after a fabulous week! Before I start unpacking I just have to take a moment to say what a phenomenal week we had! The ship is fantastic but most of all we so much enjoyed meeting all of the fine folks that we shared this awesome week with. Meeting the wonderful folks from our roll call thread was so awesome! We have a fantastic group. The PBS rocks! It started with a fantastic dinner on the "Night Before Freedom" at Lombardi's and just continued all week. What a great, great group! We really enjoyed our tablemates who made dinner really fun also. All four were from NJ (youse guys know who you are!) and I think for the most part they could even understand my southern drawl most of the time! LOL! We enjoyed seeing folks that we had met on previous cruises too. We enjoyed meeting new folks at the flowrider, at breakfast and lunch in WJ, on shore excursions, on tenders, etc., etc. What a wonderful group of folks!

 

Check out Jane's blog today. She has photos on it now and the PBS is represented. Thanks Jane!

 

Hope everyone else travelling home today makes it safely and those staying an extra day or so aren't treated too badly by the tropical system moving through!

 

Hugs and kisses to all!

 

Until later!

[tezbear]

Skiiergirl...thanks for all your posts during your trip. Glad you got home safely.

 

We are cruising on Freedom in another week (6/18) and wondering about the theme nights. Can you tell me what they are? I just read that Surf Night replaces Caribbean?

 

Also, how did she handle in the seas? I kept reading earlier on that there was so much motion.

 

Thanks.

[Brian131489]

Tracy,

Thank you for your review so far. I have been waiting all week like a little kid at christmas time. I thank everyone for the reviews so far, but this has been the most up beat one yet and being a first time cruiser i'm trying to learn everything i can. IF there is any advice please drop me a line.....

[ILuvCruisin']

Hey Vic!!! (and everyone else!!)

The crew was fantastic!!! Honest to goodness, they were so excited to have a "regular" cruise, and a whole week to get in rhythm. For you single ladies, I must say....the crew is chock full of delightful and gorgeous men! Here's the lowdown on the best I met:

Tracy

 

Tracy:

 

Thanks for the wonderful review. all the details on the bartendars will come in handy but the above tidbit is GREAT NEWS!!! haha.

 

glad you made it home safely and that your week on the Freedom was wonderful!!!!

 

Thanks to everyone else for all their reviews too.