Just off Freedom...W. Caribbean 4/5-4/11

[jbroons]

Sorry all...had a business meeting...I know that it's late but here goes.

 

Day 4 April 8th 2009 Grand Cayman...YAY!

 

We woke up to (Cruise Director) Todd Wittmer's announcement "Well, the Captain (Orazio D'aita) did a fantastic job getting Freedom preferential docking in Grand Cayman as only 3 out of 5 ships were able to tender....something to do with weather and high winds". Apparently, all Carnival excursions were cancelled for this day...or most were. We, however, were booked through NativeWay Watersports for the Rays, Reef & Rum Pointe Beach excursion so we lucked-out.

 

So, breakfast buffet...again omeletts, sausage, very crispy bacon, hot bagels with cream cheese, hot hard-boiled eggs (ummm), lots of coffee;) and OJ.

 

Leaving Freedom was totally painless.....I really think that Carnival/Freedom gets special treatment in ports as it happened during our entire cruise....maybe it's just me;)...Bflow....little help here...you recall better than me!! Anyway, this was a spectacular day, including weather....82 degrees...perfect!

 

So we waited a little while next to the NativeWay sign...20 minutes or so and boarded a bus to our boat. NativeWay was great. We cruised out over beautiful open water to Stingray City. NW had only like 20 people on board while the other boats in the area were loaded with 40-50 people....and they went to the stingray sandbar away from the other boats....wonderful!!

 

We got in the pristine water and when the stingrays came my girls jumped right back onto the boat....scared beyond belief!! They had kissed dolphins before but somehow this was different;)....I loved it!! Anyway, they eventually felt bad and joined me long enough to snap a few pictures (priceless) and, when I fed the beautiful beasts squid, the Rays commenced a gentle feeding-frenzy. It was truly a "not to miss experience"...really!!

 

We then went out to a reef 15 minutes away and snorkeled for 35 minutes.....great. I got some nice pictures of some beautiful fishies....blues, yellows, reds...just great!! Then Captain Chris gave us menus and took our lunch orders to be served at Rum Pointe Beach. Well, we arrived at Rum Pointe and the food was there, hot & fresh, on picnic tables, along with iced-tea & lemonade. I had a Jamaican jerk-chicken sandwich (excellent) & my girls had a cheeseburger and some kind of veggie-wrap thing (Kyra is apparently a vegetarian these days....saw some film in school about how "meat" is cured, etc., enough!!) We then just lounged in chairs...but then Kyra, who loves sea shells, walked the beach and found this incredibly beautiful conch (I think) shell....it must weigh 15 pounds and I carried it from there back to home...YAY!! The beach is beautiful as was the entire excursion....I really recommend it.

 

I'll finish this day tomorrow as I'm exhausted but felt compelled to give you more this evening!!;)

 

Sleep well cruisers!!

[jbroons]

we are booked on the freedom on 5-9-09 and i dont think j is going to be thru w/ the review by then,

LMAO , JK , enjoying the review keep it going.

i'll try to add to it when we get back

 

JERK;)...and what the hell is the Whale Tail Club......sounds perverse. Can I join??

[jbroons]

hey,

i tried to help you earlier on my post about how to upload pics. i misinformed you on something. i upload to tinypicdotcom, the copy the "IMG code for forums and message boards" then you just paste that onto your reply, i found thats the easiest for me. keep the review coming! thanks

 

 

Thank you Mike.

[shabcruzn]

Enjoying the review--can't wait!

[jbroons]

Sorry all...had a business meeting...I know that it's late but here goes.

 

Day 4 April 8th 2009 Grand Cayman...YAY!

 

We woke up to (Cruise Director) Todd Wittmer's announcement "Well, the Captain (Orazio D'aita) did a fantastic job getting Freedom preferential docking in Grand Cayman as only 3 out of 5 ships were able to tender....something to do with weather and high winds". Apparently, all Carnival excursions were cancelled for this day...or most were. We, however, were booked through NativeWay Watersports for the Rays, Reef & Rum Pointe Beach excursion so we lucked-out.

 

So, breakfast buffet...again omeletts, sausage, very crispy bacon, hot bagels with cream cheese, hot hard-boiled eggs (ummm), lots of coffee;) and OJ.

 

Leaving Freedom was totally painless.....I really think that Carnival/Freedom gets special treatment in ports as it happened during our entire cruise....maybe it's just me;)...Bflow....little help here...you recall better than me!! Anyway, this was a spectacular day, including weather....82 degrees...perfect!

 

So we waited a little while next to the NativeWay sign...20 minutes or so and boarded a bus to our boat. NativeWay was great. We cruised out over beautiful open water to Stingray City. NW had only like 20 people on board while the other boats in the area were loaded with 40-50 people....and they went to the stingray sandbar away from the other boats....wonderful!!

 

We got in the pristine water and when the stingrays came my girls jumped right back onto the boat....scared beyond belief!! They had kissed dolphins before but somehow this was different;)....I loved it!! Anyway, they eventually felt bad and joined me long enough to snap a few pictures (priceless) and, when I fed the beautiful beasts squid, the Rays commenced a gentle feeding-frenzy. It was truly a "not to miss experience"...really!!

 

We then went out to a reef 15 minutes away and snorkeled for 35 minutes.....great. I got some nice pictures of some beautiful fishies....blues, yellows, reds...just great!! Then Captain Chris gave us menus and took our lunch orders to be served at Rum Pointe Beach. Well, we arrived at Rum Pointe and the food was there, hot & fresh, on picnic tables, along with iced-tea & lemonade. I had a Jamaican jerk-chicken sandwich (excellent) & my girls had a cheeseburger and some kind of veggie-wrap thing (Kyra is apparently a vegetarian these days....saw some film in school about how "meat" is cured, etc., enough!!) We then just lounged in chairs...but then Kyra, who loves sea shells, walked the beach and found this incredibly beautiful conch (I think) shell....it must weigh 15 pounds and I carried it from there back to home...YAY!! The beach is beautiful as was the entire excursion....I really recommend it.

 

I'll finish this day tomorrow as I'm exhausted but felt compelled to give you more this evening!!;)

 

Sleep well cruisers!!

 

OK, so we then hear the "horn call" from the NW boat and we all walked down the pier to the boat which took us back to the bus. On the way we went through this little channel with absolutely gorgeous homes on its right side. There was a sign that read "Make No Wake...Swimming Iguanas"...and then there they were. Iguanas everywhere, including the beautiful blue Cayman iguanas. There was a huge yellow one on our left sitting in a Mangrove....very neat!!

 

Back on Freedom we checked out some of the shops on Promenade Deck 5...very nice. I bought some Carnival apparel for friends and Easter baskets when back at home (don't want to think about that just yet)!! Dinner was again in Chic #133 and we dined on tiger shrimp, french onion soup, caesar salad, escargots, tournedos de boeuf with creamed spinach and, yes, warm chocolate melting cake...ummm! Oh, Shannon & Kyra got french fries with dinner every night as well so, if things do not appear on the menu, you can oftentimes get them anyway....the fries were very good...thin & crispy.

 

Now is where the only real bad Carnival mistake began. In our room we received forms for the Express Luggage option. This is where you put your bags outside your stateroom by 11:00pm on the last night of the cruise and they are brought to the airport and checked, thus Luggage Express. The next time you see them is in baggage claim back home (you pay your airline's luggage fee plus Carnival's fee of $20.00 per passenger). So filled out three forms...one each for me, Shannon & Kyra and we gave them to Guest Services for processing. The next step is to wait for the travel documents and luggage tags which are delivered to your mailbox outside of your room. The documents arrived but only for Shannon & Kyra. Guest Services then told me "No Problem", they will contact the airline and my documents will arrive the next day by noon. Well, documents did arrive next day but they were once again for Shannon & Kyra and not me....I believe that Carnival miscommunicated the situation to the airline. Anyway, it turned-out that my Baggage Express request was eventually cancelled because of lateness/time constraints.....so I cancelled all three...this will come back to hurt us later!!

 

We then just walked around and about 11:30 again got room service...blts, pb&j, tea & cheesecake. Did I mention that we loved Carnival's room service??!!

 

More later!!

Tomorrow...Ocho Rios, Jamaica!!

[bflowngs]

The Freedom was treated better at all three ports than the Pride which followed the same itinerary.

 

In Key West, our dock was right next to downtown. The Pride's dock was much further away, even though it appeared that our ships were right next to each other.

 

In Grand Cayman, we tendered, but the Pride could not.

 

In Jamaica, we got the prime dock next to the shopping area, while the Pride who got their earlier docked in an industrial area blocks from downtown.

[jbroons]

Enjoying the review--can't wait!

 

Thanks shab....where does Freedom go on your cruise in October?

[crazy cajun]

J,

Was not trying to be jerk :D

If you go to carnival connections and go to the freedom site there is a post ,

think its ,i probably shouldn't ask this question ...

The whale tail club is just a bunch of folks that like to kid around and have a good time between cruises.

We all have decided what position we want to hold in the club . As DW and i are both cooks

i hold the title of ,Executive chef of this motly crew. Come and join us and you can hold the title of, (slow) poster of cruise reviews.

Enjoying every min. of your review, Thanks for posting it.

Crazy Cajun (Bob)

[jbroons]

J,

Was not trying to be jerk :D

If you go to carnival connections and go to the freedom site there is a post ,

think its ,i probably shouldn't ask this question ...

The whale tail club is just a bunch of folks that like to kid around and have a good time between cruises.

We all have decided what position we want to hold in the club . As DW and i are both cooks

i hold the title of ,Executive chef of this motly crew. Come and join us and you can hold the title of, (slow) poster of cruise reviews.

Enjoying every min. of your review, Thanks for posting it.

Crazy Cajun (Bob)

 

Thanks Bob....It takes a while to rethink things and then actually have the time to post it. I think most people like a little tease now & then anyway;). BTW, spicy gumbo and po boys??!!

[mitchpam]

bflowngs... thanks for the response... been to GC and loved it and was anxiously awaiting jbroons recount of it...

 

jbroons... your report of GC and Native Way is just how I remembered it! (only we did not see the eguana's) Did you sit on the front of the boat and let the wind flow though your hair? My niece did NOT like the stingrays either, but obliged a photo op. Thanks for bringing back some very pleasant memories. Am looking forward to more of your review... We've never been to Jamaica.

[jbroons]

bflowngs... thanks for the response... been to GC and loved it and was anxiously awaiting jbroons recount of it...

 

jbroons... your report of GC and Native Way is just how I remembered it! (only we did not see the eguana's) Did you sit on the front of the boat and let the wind flow though your hair? My niece did NOT like the stingrays either, but obliged a photo op. Thanks for bringing back some very pleasant memories. Am looking forward to more of your review... We've never been to Jamaica.

 

We sat at the back on the way to Stingray City and got really wet from the "boat splashes"...then we sat in the very front after that. The wind...ahh...soo much better!!;)

 

Jamaica tonight!!

[mitchpam]

We sat at the back on the way to Stingray City and got really wet from the "boat splashes"...then we sat in the very front after that. The wind...ahh...soo much better!!;)

 

Jamaica tonight!!

 

Can't wait... I'll check back in later...

[jbroons]

Day 5 April 9th, 2009 Ocho Rios, Jamaica

 

I woke the girls up an hour early due to being confused about time changes....& Kyra, who is NOT a morning person wasn't too happy about it! I brought a battery-operated travel clock with me and also set the time on the DVD/VCR player so you would think that I could have figured it out. We figured this error out when we went to Lido for Breakfast Buffet and there were very few people there. At first I told the girls "Well, a lot of people don't like to go to Jamaica so they are probably just sleeping in"....so much for the smart Dad!;) We had ham, swiss & mushroom omellettes, fruit, bacon, bagels (with cream cheese) and the hot hard-boiled eggs with coffee, oj and water. It was excellent as usual...especially with no buffet lines whatsoever:D.

 

Got off Freedom to Ocho Rios and met up with our guide for the day. I booked a Carnival excursion for Dunn's River Falls & Bamboo Beach Club. The port in Ocho Rios was very crowded but also very "guarded". The bus didn't leave for like 20 minutes...just sat there waiting for "two more people" who never showed. At DRF, long wait (again very crowded that day) for water shoes and to meet up with our DRF tour guide. Walked down to the beach to begin our ascent up the falls...it's supposed to take about 45 minutes but because of all the people it took twice as long. However, the Falls were amazing but the climb was much harder than I thought it would be...I am a male (47) in good shape, fyi. Anyway, this was my daughters' favorite part of our trip. There were natural sliding pools along the way and we had ample chance to enjoy them. The Falls are surrounded by lush vegetation, banana & palm trees so any sun exposure was not a concern whatsoever. BTW, all groups hold hands, single file, while climbing the falls (it's like 954 feet up) but I found that in difficult areas it was easier to go it alone so I could use my feet AND hands for momentum. Also, the thing that made it hard to climb was because of the volume of people....we would gain a foothold on a rock and would then have to stop and wait for the person waiting in front of you....couldn't get any momentum, especially when the person behind you is pulling you backwards. Anyway, this was another "must do" activity....we all just loved it!!

 

Bamboo Beach Club...Lengthy bus ride from the Falls to BBC...about 20-30 minutes. Drinks and reserved lounge chairs were waiting for us. The food was offerred throughout our 1.5 hours there, the entertainment was great and the sand & water beautiful. Perhaps because of the crowd, the place was a bit dirty with plastic cups, plates and forks all over the place. Overall, we had a good time. Bus then took us back to Freedom @ about 2:15....Inside the gates near the ship there were all kinds of vendors selling all kinds of Jamaican artifacts (most with Bob Marley on them...hehe...I love Bob, don't get me wrong, mon). So, there's no reason to get harrassed by vendors near the Falls when you can get the same things in a "protected area" by the ship. We bought some things for my girls' friends at home...BTW, whenever I was quoted a price for something I would offer half, and negotiate from there...this usually cut-off 25-30% easily.

 

Back on Freedom (I actually missed her while in Ocho Rios) we showered, got some pizza and hit Lido for some sun and rum drinks (for me). The girls were actually offerred alcohol on three occasions on Freedom but, of course, declined....twice in the MDR. What parent let's their kids drink alcohol when they are 15 & 17....I just don't get it!!

 

Dinner in Chic was again great. I forget exactly what we had this night but I do recall tiger shrimp, caesar salads, salmon, steaks, lots of french bread, french fries, baked alaska and, yes, warm chocolate melting cake...ummm.

 

OK, I LOVE The Beatles. In Vegas last year the LOVE show at The Mirage by Cirque de Soleil was unbelievable. The show on Freedom tonight was Ticket To Ride in Victoriana Lounge...Love that theatre!!! This show is soo good....do NOT miss it if you have the chance to see it!! I felt like I was in NYC on Broadway...yes, it was THAT good. The stage changes in a relatively small confinement were so impressive and smooth that I cannot do it justice or say enough. See this show!

 

I then hit the casino (slots) for a while and went back to #7322 to hang with the girls. We again got room service and ate every bite...blts, ham & cheese & pb&j...with tea & water...soo good!

 

I sat on the balcony for a while and took deep breaths looking out to the open sea....peaceful is the only word that applies! Read capers and went to sleep to dream about our final day on this wonderful ship...Go Freedom!!

 

Next, final day of our Caribbean adventure tomorrow!:(

[jbroons]

I'm enjoying your review also. I was on the 8 days of Freedom cruise 2/28 to the Eastern Caribbean. We had a great time, and I loved the ship and staff so much I just booked the 6 day itinerary for September! :eek: It's so nice to live near the port! ;)

 

 

No kidding! If I could save $1,500 every time I could cruise I'd be a cruisin' maniac....good for you;)

[crazy cajun]

Spicy Gumbo and oyster po boys w/ a fish bowl of beer.

[jbroons]

Spicy Gumbo and oyster po boys w/ a fish bowl of beer.

 

OMG...seriously...when & where? I'll bring NY pizza...and whatever else you may want;)

[crazy cajun]

Thats everyday weekend food here . If you can cook i can send ya some great recipees for gumbo and anyone can fry oysters. Or ya'll can come on down to south louisiana. you'll never find a cajun that will turn someone away from the supper table.

we tailgate at LSU football games every year and all the opposing fans are our friends and we feed any that come by Untill The band comes marching down the hill playing the fight song . Then it's game on If you not a tiger fan you tiger bait.

[jbroons]

Thats everyday weekend food here . If you can cook i can send ya some great recipees for gumbo and anyone can fry oysters. Or ya'll can come on down to south louisiana. you'll never find a cajun that will turn someone away from the supper table.

we tailgate at LSU football games every year and all the opposing fans are our friends and we feed any that come by Untill The band comes marching down the hill playing the fight song . Then it's game on If you not a tiger fan you tiger bait.

 

That is beautiful...the food part!! And I agree about when "game's on".....here it's Yankees vs Mets fans, Giants vs Jets fans etc.....you, at least apart from college ball, have Reggie Bush & Kim Kardashian....Go Saints!!

 

Send me recipes!!!

[SeeJennyCruise]

I sat on the balcony for a while and took deep breaths looking out to the open sea....peaceful is the only word that applies! Read capers and went to sleep to dream about our final day on this wonderful ship...Go Freedom!!

 

Next, final day of our Caribbean adventure tomorrow!:(

 

Sitting on the balcony and looking at the ocean is one of my favorite places on earth. We're trying to decide which cruise to take in September. Your review makes Freedom sound like a great choice. Thank you for taking the time to post the details of your trip. I am anticipating the next installment!

[jbroons]

Sitting on the balcony and looking at the ocean is one of my favorite places on earth. We're trying to decide which cruise to take in September. Your review makes Freedom sound like a great choice. Thank you for taking the time to post the details of your trip. I am anticipating the next installment!

 

 

Thanks Jenny.....it was so peaceful there...and private as well. Choose Freedom...she will make you glad that you did!!;)

[jbroons]

Until I get at least twenty responses now I will not finish this review, savvy?!

 

Can I hear a call-out for Freedom! Is there anybody out there?....Can I hear a shout-out for Freedom...Can you hear me people??!! Ask not what your ship can do for you....Ask what you can do for your ship!!

[cruisernewbie1]

Your review has been great!! My fun week on Freedom is getting ever closer - can't wait!!!!:D

[powderqn]

Great Review...I feel like I'm at an old time movie...waiting each week for the next serial installment....

We did the Rays, Reef, and Rum last year...thanks for giving it a good review...we loved the tour and especially loved our beach time at Rum Point.

We have done the falls before so we are just doing the Bamboo Beach excursion...can you tell me more about the beach...drinks...food....

Thanks....and of course....keep it coming.

[newbieMom]

We're booked on the Moby Dick tour for Stingray City, but after your review I'm thikng about switching to Native Way. Were there other tours at the beach? Lots of shells or did your daughter get lucky? How much was your DVD and do you love it? GO FREEDOM!!!! 17 days to go! (yikes!)

[karenw]

Glad you had a great time, John! Kelly is boarding the Destiny right now, and the rest of us will be joining her on Monday. Then 12 short months till the Splendor. I have got to get busy making a decision about my fall cruise!