Back 4rm Freedom Mothers Day Cruise 5/13/2012

BING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Cruise is over; they cleared me off the ship and its back to the Normal life J SO you know what that means, its Shatima’s Carnival Freedom Review Timeeeeeeee.. As all ways you know I took many pictures & notes. In days to come I will be telling you about The Hotel, Sickness, Tima’s Good and Bad thoughts, The Port’s, How My nanny got LEFT in Jamaica, The Behind the Scene Tour, ANNNND wait for it My Ship on a Stick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plus, everything in between, Lol. But if you don’t want to read my Long review to come I will tell you that I have a Wonderful time, Freedom was a Great ship. As all ways I make sure I have fun no matter where I go.. All so within my Reviews I try to give Money Saving tips, If at any time I didn’t answer Ur question ,or U want more info..My email is open allaboutthis04@yahoo.com

*** This is my disclaimer; these are MY thoughts, and MY Day to Day Vacay Reviews. This Review was written by ME starting on May 21, 2012. So your Cruise could be a lil different from mines****

On this Mothers Day Cruise (May 13-19,2012) was My GF , My Nanny (60’s), My Mom (40’s) and I (29). We flew into FLL From VA ;-) I drove once b 4 and I just was SO tired when the Cruise was over so I don’t like Driven. Jet blue again for the Airline. I love the TV’S in the Head Rest and I love if I found that the price has dropped that I get a Credit. We did have a Bumps in the flights and the Seat belt sign stayed on the whole flight, but that just meant I got to catch up on three missed episode of Housewives of NJ J Once we got to FLL airport we got our Bags (moms had two holes in them didn’t see them until we got to the hotel) and called the FREE shuttle to Spring Hill Suites Cruise Port/ Airport. It was Nice. And the best part about it was they had a big Shopping center that had a lot of stores, and it was all so home to the David & Busters.. Everyone knows I love my Air hockey and their food. This time was even more Special B/C I was meeting my Cruise Diva Sister Maria.. We have been talking all most two years I think about Cruise this, Cruise that and everyday life. SO it was SO great to finally meet her and her Lovely family, Heeey Maria. After Dinner we ran over to BJ (You don’t need a Membership card to by Liquor or Wine) How wonderful is that! Kmart to get some Water, and then back across the street to the Hotel for some rest before the big day.

Cruise: Mother’s Day Cruise Carnival Freedom

Airplane: Jet Blue

Hotel: Springhill Suite Cruise port/Airport

Happy Mother’s Day to ALL the Mothers (Cruising or not) Today is the first day of the Cruise. Now See my MOM and Nanny have Never been on a Cruise(our 6th on CCL), SO I couldn’t wait until they got to/on the ship… SO b 4 we even left home I got this email about this sickness outbreak . Never got the details, but that made them push back our loading time.. After checking out, we got on the FREE Shuttle from the Hotel to the Port (Savings again, pick a Hotel that has FREE shuttle) When we arrived to the port I could see the line was LONG! They told us that they were going to have to do extra Cleaning bc of Sickness on the Ship. A lot of people were Throwing up/doing # 2 :( They had Buses that were taking people to a lounge 10 mins away and then bring You back (if u didn’t want to wait in the heat) I THANK GOD we were under the Cover so the sun wasn’t shininig on us, SO we opt to stay put. Within 10-15 mins of waiting they started to let us on, Yeeeeeeeeeeeees. While in line We met some Nice people, Shout out to my girl Valerie and her hubby in Utah.. I was starting to get a lil scared bc I had a Meet & Greet set up with my Cruise Critic Buddies, and with the delay it wasn’t looking good.

SO we are now inside the Building, the lines were moving smoothly, then BAMMMM 1st problem. Nanny get’s to the desk to hand over her paper work (BC/DL) and this Older guy looks at the two and see Nanny’s Maiden name didn’t match her ID.I said hello she got Married???? He tells her to please come with him, SO I went with them of Course. The next guy she had to see told her to have a Wonderful Cruise, and NOT to worrie about him. lolol Some folks I tell ya. Ok, so now the monies is loaded on the card, Paper work done, pix taken and off onto the ship we go.. Step on the Ship and I/we loved the colors, neat and clean as always, no smells, the décor was very nice. I think I’m in love with the Freedom, lol

Mom and Nanny Cabin was first of Course. Once they open the door, they loved their Ocean View Cabin (m 2312). I Asked them was it as small as they thought it would be, but they said it was a little more roomy then they though J After I got them to their Cabin and drop off their items Off to DD and I cabin (U 6481). Mom and Nanny got to see the difference in a Balcony Stateroom Vs Ocean View. This was a different kinda Balcony room. At first I started out in a Regular Balcony, but then a Price drop came and free upgrade. SO I was move to an Extended Balcony on a Corner on Deck 6. The only bad thing is I had NO clue the Punch Line Comedy club was under there. SO I heard some lol but Never un bearable. We are now on our way to the Meet and Greet, Yeeeees Finally. To be honest I just knew there wouldn’t be anyone there, Boy was I wrong.. I was SO happy to meet my crew, I would say about 10+ came. And I totally understand why some others didn’t make it. Luggage didn’t show up until Dinner time, NP. Speaking of which Its Dinner time.. We had the Posh (aft) and table # 406.. Wait for ittttttt, It’s a Booth, In all of my Cruises I have wanted a Booth. I couldn’t believe it. So great it couldn’t have been any better.

After dinner it was time to put my Door Decorations up, Shower, chill, & get ready for the Welcome aboard show. Met the Very Nice CD during the show, and after that was over, it was time to go to bed, but NOT b 4 ordering Room services. Hello BLT and some Cookies J took 45 mins, and we did fall asleep waiting, the guy said a lot of folks had fallen asleep. Didn’t meet our Room Attended this night, SO no towel Animal, or ice but that’s wasn’t a big deal… Key West is Tomorrow

Noooo! I need more please. Cruising on the Freedom in Nov. Really looking forward to your review

Glad you and your fam had a great time! Looking forward to reading the rest of your review. :D

Welcome back! Glad to read you had a good time :) looking forward to reading more of your review and seeing your pics! Love your reviews.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

Aw thanks yall. I will cont tomorrow and try to add some pix *-*.

Welcome back and you are starting off to what looks like a great review. I like your style. We well be on the Freedom in July so looking forward to the rest of your review and Pics

Cant wait for the pictures.

Nanny got left in Jamaica??? :eek: :eek: :eek: Hurry back with that story!!!

Welcome Back! Good to hear that you enjoyed your cruise! Looking forward to reading more.:) Thanks

Here are a Couple . Me in Key West. The Spring Hill Suites. And me and the CD on the Freedom (Now on Vacay *_*

Nanny got left in Jamaica??? :eek: :eek: :eek: Hurry back with that story!!!

Hey Girl. Oh I will ;) It was a HOT mess!

Hey Shatima! It was go great meeting you and your family and hanging out with you guys in Jamaica! We heard about the people left in Jamaica..so sorry that happened to your nanny :eek: I love your review so far and can't wait to read more! I'm hoping to wight my own review, but it may take me awhile.

Can't wait to see more! We are in 6481 when we sail in Sept.:)

Awe! Great pics - you look great! Love the dresses!

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

Loving your review so far, reads like a wonderful story with some intense mystery...lol!!! I'm on the Freedom in September and can hardly wait!!!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I love the dress. IMO nothing says cruising like a ton of summer dresses in the suit case :D

I can't wait for the rest of your review. We are visiting the same ports but on the Valor.

Great review so far!! Keep it coming.

Loving your review! Can't wait to read more.....

Good Morning,

Today we will be chatting on Key West. As always I’m up early on the Balcony talking to JESUS & watching us pull into the port J . It was a Beautiful Sunrise, and the start of the day was running smoothly. I had heard some folks say they docked on the Navy Pier, well we dock in Mallory Square and it was Nice. After taking pix and people watching I had to wake up DGF (Dear Girl Friend), and do my Hair and Make –Up then get dress, we had docked at 8am but didn’t leave the ship until 10am. As soon as we set off that ship, the sun was Blazing! I even think I forgot my Big Straw hat (please try to remember that the sun isn’t good for your skin, nor health). I had plans today for us to ride a Trolley around Key West. It was about a two hour Tour I believe ($30pp) book online and save about $3 bucks pp, we had Rich, And He gave us SO much info on the Island. There were 12 stops and you could get off or on whenever you wanted to. But here is the crazy part. They ran every 30 mins, and if that bus was full, and no one got off, they would have to wait until the next one. I think every 15 mins would be great (for folks that didn’t want to shop) but it’s all good.

When the Trolley Ride was over, we walked around the Main St in Mallory Square. And boy was there a $5 war going on. I hope I have pix of that. Each store had a guy standing out there with a Sign that said. Everything for 5 dollars. As all ways Most of the items were for my Smaller Sister. After D, Nanny, and Mom did their shopping thing is was time for me to get my last min photos taken and then back to the ship we go, Don’t forget how I told you it was VERYYYY hot, but I prayed for great weather and that’s what I got, lol.. After that tour, walking, & heat I was in need of something to eat, A shower, and AC. That made us ALL feel better. Lido deck time a Salad would hold me over until Din Din time (6pm)Went back to the Cabin to chill a couple of hours, then DGF was off to her 2nd home while on the Cruise, the CASINO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She played until it was dinner time then came on down to the Posh to eat. Dinner was kool, it wasn’t the BEST. I’m the type of person that makes my OWN opinion, there were so many people saying how Carnival Food has went downhill. Well they were correct (to me) that’s not to say every day I didn’t find something good b/c I did. Just some of the food had no taste or was dry, But trust after I hooked it up, it was all good J Time to head back to the People watch Floor, which was Deck 5 in the center, right in front of the Casino by the Stage. Nanny, Mom, and & I set there and order Drinks, while DGF You guessed it went right back to that Dern Casino. I didn’t feel like working that night (She pays me to sit with her, lol) so I chilled out. There was a Very nice band (a man & Lady) and they were playing some hits, so I start to dance in the middle of the floor( right in front the stage, folks were dancing) For the first two nights Mom couldn’t find anything good that she liked or wanted to eat. She kept hollering about a Carrot Cake or Good Cheese Cake, Well Lord and Behold, while sitting there (PW) People Watching and she looked to the left there was this lil Sweet Bar, They had Huge Slices of both, $2.25 each. While she orders her Carrot Cake I heard the club playing the Wobble so I ran to the dance floor and got down, lol then came right back out. Wait 4 it……… She said it didn’t have any taste… I fussed at DM, and told her NO more Complaining about food. There is something on this ship that U will like. S/N The Sweets on board are NOT gonna taste like the Cheese Cake Factory (but then again, it was DM 1st Cruise so she didn’t know .

I was amp and SO not sleepy, so DGF and I found the Senerity Deck, Boy was it nice. We got one of those over size round Chairs at the Very front of the ship, and just laid there and talked and drink until 1:30am ish, Now this was a Full nice Day.. Tomorrow is a Sea Day, so hey I can hang a lil late tonight..

P.S I thought I had more pix of my Cabin, but I was a lil off this time being Mom and Nanny's 1st Cruise, had to nake sure they were cool, but U will see me in some pix inmy room so you will get a idea :(

Hats- Try to Protect you’re skin/head where a hat (plus it’s a lil cooler)

Sweets- Will not taste like at home treats

Food- Has went down hill some. But it was ok. Salads were the Bomb though

Excursions- Try to book them Early or online, sometimes you can safe a couple of bucks

Our Door Dectorations

A place to eat in KW

I told you it be going down in front of the Stage

Our Ext Balcony

I for got to say in My review that we went to the Newlywed Game, OMG U are talking about funny!!!! This is a Must do

Me and My Cruise Critic Crew(half of us)

I see U looking (KW)

Hey Shatima! It was go great meeting you and your family and hanging out with you guys in Jamaica! We heard about the people left in Jamaica..so sorry that happened to your nanny :eek: I love your review so far and can't wait to read more! I'm hoping to wight my own review, but it may take me awhile.

I love meeting yall too.. OMG We had a blast Tammy!!!!

Thanks so much for the love yall.

Dresses are the way to go.. Light weight, and cool (as u can get) lol. I just love them.. I hope everyone is still loving my review:p

Great stuff! I've got the DOD fever now.

ChipQ. http://luv2cruise.blogspot.com