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Review Of A Fantastic Week On Freedom Of The Seas (Western) - October 13-20, 2013


bigque
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I am going to start this review of my cruise aboard Freedom Of The Seas – Western Caribbean a little different than my last review of Serenade of the Seas. I am first going to give my impressions and myopinions and things I noticed concerning some of the most discussed topics here on Cruise Critic. I will be adding grades (A,B,C,D, or F). After that I will move on to the good stuff….The review of the ship and ports along with lots of pictures.

 

A Quick Brief About Us:

 

We are a couple are middle age couple (I am 56 and the wife is…….I’m would get killed if I put her age out there) that qualifies for the Senior Discount when available from North Carolina. This was our 3rd cruise (Gold Members) which have all been on Royal Caribbean with the first cruise on Sovereign of the Seas and the 2nd on Serenade of the Seas. We went on Sovereign even after reading all kinds of bad reviews and we loved it and started us cruising. We have been cruising on average of every other year except we have another booked for next year for our first back to back years.

 

Food & Food Facilities:

 

During the week of the cruise we ate at different places on board including the MDR, Windjammer, Sorento’s, Pizza, Johnny Rockets, Chop’s and Portifino.

 

Main Dining Room:

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I have read many threads concerning the food in the MDR and have often times made comments in those threads. I am not going to go into what we ate each night but will give my overall opinion for the week. I thought the food was average to fair. My wife thought that food was poor to average. There was nothing we ate during the week that we thought was just totally excellent. It was hit and miss with each course that was served (Appetizers, main course & deserts). My wife has diabetes so she eats sugar free deserts and she noticed that the sugar free deserts were much better on our previous cruises. I enjoyed the second formal night best with the fisherman’s seafood platter and I ordered two lobster tails up front and when I finished one plate the other was brought to me right away. I just started eating lobster on my last cruise as I was never a fan of lobster and I have only had it two other times up till this cruise. With that being said, I thought it was pretty good, but I’m going to talk about lobster again later.

Our waiter for the week was always good at bringing you something else if you did not like what you had and folks at our table would also sometimes order two of appetizers, main course and deserts and they were brought with no problems and a smile. For those who had soda packages the Assistant Waiter always had their favorite drink at the table upon arrival.

 

Dinner Dress Suggestion in the MDR per the Cruise Compass:

Day 1 Casual (Whatever you wore aboard)

Day 2 – Formal (Monday)

Day 3 – Smart Casual

Day 4 – Tropical Casual

Day 5 – Formal (Thursday)

Day 6 – Casual

Day 7 - Casual

 

We saw it all in the MDR. We saw men wearing T-shirts, jeans, dress slacks, shorts, button down shirts, Sport Jackets, shoes, sandals, flip flops, sneakers, polo shirts and wearing baseball caps at the table. The only thing I didn’t see were wife beater shirts or swim wear.

Women were wearing dresses, skirts, shorts, skorts, sun dresses, blouses, slacks, pants suits, jeans, dress shoes, sneakers and sandals. The women were however generally dressed much nicer than the men they were with.

Kids wore pretty much the same style of clothing that you would see their parents in.

 

Formal Nights:

 

There are two formal nights on this cruise on Monday & Thursday and the style of dress on these nights were men in some Tuxes, suits, shirt and times, dinner jacket with slacks shirt and tie or with an open shirt collar. Women wore gowns, evening dresses

And………………………………….(Hold onto your seat)……………………..

We saw men wearing T-shirts, jeans, dress slacks, shorts, button down shirts, Sport Jackets, shoes, sandals, flip flops, sneakers, polo shirts and wearing baseball caps at the table. The only thing I didn’t see were wife beater shirts or swim wear.

Women were wearing dresses, skirts, shorts, skorts, sun dresses, blouses, slacks, pants suits, jeans, dress shoes, sneakers and sandals.

There was the “Suggested” clothing for each night in the daily Cruise Compass, but was obvious that RCI is backing away from enforcing the suggested clothing on any given night in the MDR. I will not give my views as to what we think as that is not the purpose of my review.

My Ratings: MDR Food – C+ / Service B+

 

 

Windjammer:

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1st there is no longer Honey Stung Chicken on embarkation day. Most days we breakfast and lunch here and there were a couple of days we ordered breakfast through room service one being a part of the classic romance package I pre-ordered.

It appeared that they had less of a variety of offerings at breakfast and lunch. A new friend we met on this cruise was like “What happened to the donuts”? At lunch we were able to find something to suit or fancy be it hot food or cold cuts. As with the MDR, this too was a hit and miss venture and if got something I didn’t like I would just let the waiter take it away and then go get something else. The Breakfast my wife didn’t like at all. I hated those powdered scrambled eggs, and the coffee was so so to yuck some days. I was glad to have the classic romance package breakfast delivered to the room as it had real eggs!

Breakfast and lunch were always packed out especially lunch on sea days but we were always able to find a table empty to sit at. There were always tables in the front at the entrance by the bar available, so we would usually sit up there.

That is all I have to say about the Windjammer.

Breakfast – D / Lunch – B / Dinner – N/A

 

Johnny Rockets:

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This was well worth the $4.95 price of admission. We wanted to try it out one day for lunch for a change of pace, so the 2nd sea day was a perfect time. The burgers on the bar in the Windjammer were typical buffet bar burgers…dry but edible. Johnny Rockets burgers were outstanding, nice and juicy and very tasty. I had a big double cheese burger with bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and onion rings on it and a bowl of chili…..superb! Wife just had a regular cheese burger and she thought it was very good. They bring you out a plate of Onion Rings and French Fries without even asking. The onion rings were very good. I also had a strawberry shake that was very thick and delicious! The waiter was very nice and efficient. We also enjoyed the little dance number that the waiters do every so often.

Food – A+ / Service - A

 

Sorento’s Pizza:

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We usually stopped by here late night after doing a little partying and would grab a couple of slices of pizza a piece to take back to the room and also grabbed a few slices to take back to the room one day after a long hot day of our excursion. The pizza wasn’t bad for a quick late night snack. It’s not as good as Pizza Hut which is my favorite chain pizza but it wasn’t too bad!

Pizza – B

Edited by bigque
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Chops Grille:

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This was one of two great dinner dining experiences on this cruise. We really like eating at chops, The food and atmosphere is just outstanding and it is a good escape from the hustle and bustle of the MDR. It makes for a romantic like dinner as we cruise during our anniversary each year.

On this night we both had the filet. I had the large 10 oz and she had the smaller 6oz. They were cooked to the temperature we ordered and were nice and tender. The shrimp cocktail appetizer had nice big jumbo shrimp and was very delicious. For desert I had the Red Velvet Cake and the wife ordered a chocolate desert (Can’t remember the name). We were stuffed from all the food, so they plated up our deserts and we took them back to the room for later. The deserts were to die for. If you can do Chops one night, it will be well worth it! See my previous comments about clothing and we saw the same thing here in chops also. The waiter was nice but we did not think he was very efficient and was really like going through the motions!

Food – A+ / Service – B

 

Portifino:

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This was the second of our great dinner dining experience. We really don’t know what we liked better, Chops or Portifino as they were both superb. On this night I had the seafood skewer and when it was brought out that huge skewer of Salmon, Jumbo Shrimp, Scallops, Maine Lobster, peppers and onions looked amazing and taste as good as it looked. This lobster is definitely not the lobster you get in the MDR on the fisherman’s platter. As I stated above I have not been eating lobster that long and I like the lobster on the platter in the MDR, but this Maine lobsters was very good……I now know the difference and there is no comparison as to what you get in the MDR compared to what you get in Portifino! The wife had the lamb chops and she thought they were amazing. I concur with that as she let me taste them and they were very flavorful. We also had a plate of pasta in a mushroom cream sauce and it too was vey delicious. The deserts here also were very delicious and I ate as much as I could of it and did not take it back to the room on this night. Our waiter here was very efficient, friendly and personable. The dress here was the same as in my comments about Chops & the MDR including one guy in a T-shirt and baseball cap. It seems on this ship and cruise anyway, that Royal has moved back from any dress code enforcement in any of the dining facilities.

Food – A+ / Service A+

 

Smoking:

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4th deck Starboard (Smoking Side)

 

 

Smoking was in the usual places, 12th deck Starboard, 4th deck Starboard, The Casino, Some Clubs, Sky Bar and for a couple more months….Balconies.

I did not have anybody on either side of our balcony that smokes so I never smelt any smoke. I was on the 9th deck middle hump starboard and looking down I did however notice these two young guys a couple of times on the 8th deck standing at the rail with one smoking a cigarette and one smoking a cigar. I know if there were non smokers around them, they were probably having a fit. In the Casino you could smell the smoke depending on the location you were in. The most place I saw gathered with smokers were on the 4th deck and most on the aft end of that deck. I never noticed a lot of smokers on the 12th deck except during the late night parties out there. As with the food review, I am not going to give my opinion on if I agree with the smoking policy or not, but once again just reporting what I saw.

 

Drinks:

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We did not purchase one of the drink packages as it would not benefit us as we only spent $279.00 for the week for the two of us on drinks. The price of drinks were comparable to bars, clubs and restaurants in cities in the U.S. Most of my drink purchases were at the Sky Bar as on the first day on board I picked me out a bartender and gave him a couple of nice tips and provided me with some nice drinks for the week. Our drinks usually were margaritas and beer for me and the wife would usually have the drink of the day. At other times when below decks we would a drink at a club we were in or on the Royal Promenade. My margaritas were good in those venues but of course they were much better when I would go up to the Sky Bar and got one form my favorite bartender.

Drinks – A:

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This is my 2nd attempt at doing a review, so let’s get started with the fun stuff we did the day before the cruise and on the ship and in the ports and Pictures, Pictures and more Pictures!…..I hope you all enjoy:

 

“Ode To My Freedom Of The Seas Cruise” (Sung To The Tune Of Gilligan’s Island)

So…………………………..

 

Just sit right back

and you’ll hear a tale,

 

a tale of a great big trip,

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that started from this tropic port

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(From Our Hotel Balcony)

 

aboard this great big ship.

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Myself is a mighty cruising man

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The Skipper brave and sure

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(Captain Tor)

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3,600 passengers set sail that day, (Couldn’t Make This Rhyme – LOL!)

For a 168 hour tour

A 168 hour tour.

The weather never got real rough

The great big ship was tough

 

If not for the funnies of the fearless crew

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Richard Spacey (Cruise Director) & Katie (Activities Manager)

 

 

The Freedom would be dull

The Freedom would be dull.

 

 

The ship set ground on the shore of these wonderful chartered isles (Labadee, Falmouth, Grand Cayman, Cozumel)

 

 

With Michael J. and his wife

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The Movie Stars

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And The Rest

 

 

Were here on Freedom Of The Seas!

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Ok…..Ok….I know it was corny….LOL!........That is my only attempt to interject a song!

 

Next Up....The Day Before & Embarkation!

Edited by bigque
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The Day Before The Cruise:

We arrived in Orlando for a 1 ½ hour flight from Charlotte picked up our rental car and took the 40 minute drive to Cocoa Beach.

We stayed overnight at the Hampton Inn. The Hampton wasn’t bad. The front desk service was good and we were able to check in before the 3:00 check in time. Our price at the Hampton was $129.00 pre cruise and $99.00 post cruise (Ocean View Balcony Room) as we stayed overnight after the cruise.

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There were many fast food eateries within walking distance of the hotel. A free full breakfast is provided here each morning.

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There is no bar in the hotel but there is a Courtyard Marriott on the same property next door and you use their facilities and bar as both hotels are owned by Hilton. There is also a private beach area entrance for the Hampton Inn guest.

In the evening at 5:30 we drove over to Rusty’s Seafood and Oyster Bar for dinner and a pre cruise meet & greet with about 30 something folks from our Roll Call.

 

(Pictures at Rusty's were taken with my Iphone)

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It was good time had by all and as always it was good to be able to put faces with the names of the folks from the roll call. The food at Rusty’s was good and plentiful. They do not have the cheapest prices in the world but I thought it was reasonable.

 

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It is also here that we met or dinner mates for the week and now are good friends. We all were reserved for the early seating for dinner at different tables but once on board, one of our new friends (I’m not going mention people by names on here) went straight to the MDR and was able to get a table for the six of us together! We had a coveted table for two and because we bonded nicely at Rusty’s we were willing to give it up to be with them for dinner and we were not disappointed.

 

After dinner we stopped by the local Wal-Mart and then went back to the hotel

 

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to await the big day:

 

Rusty’s – A+ / Hampton Inn - A

Edited by bigque
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Embarkation Day:

After checking out of the hotel (Loads of people in the lobby waiting to go to the 3 ships scheduled out that day) and driving to Hertz (About 2-3 miles from the port) to turn in the rental (they provide transportation to the ship) we arrived at the ship. The 1st time we pulled up to Sovereign we were like WOW, this ship is huge! When we pulled up to Serenade we were like WOW, this ship is huge! When we pulled up to Freedom we were like WOW, this ship is HUMONGOUS! I have see many pictures but to see this ship in person for the first time is amazing!

We had our luggage tags (In the tag holders from Amazon) already on our luggage, so we were able to just hand off the luggage to one of the porters, gave him a tip and went and got in line to get checked in.

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On the way up to the escalators there was an elderly gentleman with a cane that fell down when he stepped on. The worker at the top of the escalators seem like she didn’t know what to do as the gentleman was in a very awkward position and folks had to scream at her to push the emergency stop. She did have sense enough to tell people not to try to move him just in case something was broken. When we went on our way she was still trying to get medical assistance there. We think that we saw him later in the cruise but were not really sure it was him.

The time of our arrival at the port was about10:45am, and we were directed to the priority check in Gold Members which only had about 3 other couples in line at the time. Check in was painless (We have Passports) and after sitting for about 15 minutes we were on the ship by 11:45. An hour wasn’t too bad!

Don’t laugh but we are some of those people that go right up to the Windjammer to grab lunch when we get on board. Because of the time we boarded we got our food and was able to find a table right by the window with 2 of our friends we met Saturday night. The Windjammer had me laughing to myself looking at everybody including us cause I thought about hogs being led to and then lined up at the trough! LOL!

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After lunch we went on our first tour of the ship and went up to the spa as the wife wanted to make her spa appointment. The rooms opened up at 1:00 sharp. We were in 9340 (D-1) Center Hump Cabin. Room was plenty big, with the typical bathroom with small shower (Sliding glass doors) and the various things I had pre ordered in the online gift shop was there waiting in the room. This was the 1st cruise were we did not meet the steward on the 1st day and we didn’t never see him until around noon on the next day. He was efficient however and all we asked was that he kept the ice buckets filled during the week for ice water and to keep our wine and Champagne cold. We did miss the towel animals as there were none made all week. Because of a miscommunication he threw out a souvenir cup the wife got on Labadee, but he was able to find it our come up with another one the next day. We gave him a Wow Card and a tip in the envelope at the end of the cruise.

After checking out the room we headed up to an informal Meet & Greet of our roll call at the sky bar. We then grabbed a table in the pool area with our friends and had a couple of drinks and by then it was time for the muster drill. After the drill it was off to the helo pad for sailaway an a wave at the Port Canaveral Web Cam and then finally back to the room to get ready for our early seating dinner.

Room – A / Steward – A /

Here are some of the pictures of embarkation day.

Freedom arriving into Port Canveral on Saturday Morning October 12, 2013

I took these from Rusty's were we were at the night before.

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Next Up..More Embarkation Day

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I am noticing my spelling errors as I go back through this (sorry)! I will try to be better as I go along. The wife made me get off the computer after all day organizing the pictures and typing out the review!

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Embarkation Day:

 

Here are some of the pictures of embarkation day.

Freedom arriving into Port Canveral on Saturday Morning October 12, 2013

I took these from Rusty's were we were at the night before.

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Next Up..More Embarkation Day

 

I actually meant that these were taken on Sunday Morning October 13, 2013

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The Freedom Of The Seas is an awesome ship! First impression once on board reminds me of a song by Stevie Wonder called "Living For The City" in the talking part of the song it says...."New York City...Just Like I Pictured It....Syscrappers And Everything"! In my version it was more like....."Freedom Of The Seas....Just Like I pictured It..... A Promenade And Everything"! Ok OK I promised I wouldn't throw in another song lyric at my attempt at humor...LOL! I know get on with the review and pictures! So........

 

The dreaded start of the elevator day of the week in the floor signs!

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Let's Start with a look outside!

 

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We were parked next to The Disney Dream & Carnival Sensation

 

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H2o Zone for the kiddies

 

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The solarium for the grown folks

 

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The Flow Rider (I was going to do the flow rider but never got a chance to)!

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Looking toward the Bridge

 

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The Pool Deck (With Movie on the big screen)

 

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Men Of Culture (One of Two Bands For The Week)

It was good to hear a live band performing live music

throughout the week!

 

Ok Lets Go Take A First Look Inside:

 

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The wife headed to the Promenade for the first time!

 

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Strolling down the Promenade

 

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I drove this on board and parked it on the Promenade for the week! LOL!

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The Promenade was a great place to sit and people watch, which I did a lot of during the week of the cruise. Why oh Why oh Why did they have to have that Michael Kors store on board???? And Why oh Why oh Why did they have to have a sail on those Michael Kors handbags????? Many many husbands, boyfriends, and partners could only stand and watch as they counted in their minds the amount of their Seapass Cards decrease! It was a setup I tell you....A setup! LOL!

 

I have to hand it to Royal Caribbean......They have some of the best sales persons at sea and they know how to put on a sale, as there were many throughout the week for the good stuff and the cheap stuff! We bought some of the good stuff (Me a nice watch and her two Michael Kors bags) and some of the cheaper stuff for the old "bing me something from the cruise" kids back home and Christmas Presents!

 

There were things I loved about the Promenade with all the shops and eating and drinking places and all, but I also like the the more intimate setting of the Centriums on the previous ships we have been on! I know some folks say that they have to have a ship with a Promenade but I don't think I will have any problem going back and forth between ships with it and without it. I guess I will know for sure on my next cruise coming up on the Jewel Of The Seas next year!

 

Now.....More indoor pics on embarkation day!

 

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Miss Mermaid looking down!

 

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The Pharoh's of Pharoh's Palace

 

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Another Promenade Shot

 

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Studio "B" (Ice Skating)

 

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Fitness Center

 

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Yes there is a boxing ring in the fitness center!

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Looking toward the Bridge

 

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The Pool Deck (With Movie on the big screen)

 

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Men Of Culture (One of Two Bands For The Week)

It was good to hear a live band performing live music

throughout the week!

 

Ok Lets Go Take A First Look Inside:

 

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The wife headed to the Promenade for the first time!

 

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Strolling down the Promenade

 

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I drove this on board and parked it on the Promenade for the week! LOL!

 

That's me and my husband walking forward on the helipad! We had to get a good spot on the starboard side to wave at the kids back home. We had a wonderful cruise. We made it to the meet and mingle (and won a bottle of champagne!), but didn't make any of the other roll call activities. I'm enjoying your review and pictures.

 

We ate in the MDR every night and were very pleased with everything they offered. Food is very subjective, so it is always interesting to read the opinions of others. We will be cruising Serenade in January, and I think we may try Chops for the first time.

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That's me and my husband walking forward on the helipad! We had to get a good spot on the starboard side to wave at the kids back home. We had a wonderful cruise. We made it to the meet and mingle (and won a bottle of champagne!), but didn't make any of the other roll call activities. I'm enjoying your review and pictures.

 

We ate in the MDR every night and were very pleased with everything they offered. Food is very subjective, so it is always interesting to read the opinions of others. We will be cruising Serenade in January, and I think we may try Chops for the first time.

 

Oh...Ok I remember you winning the champagne! :cool:

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Great review so far Mike! We were on the same cruise but I guess our paths didn't cross. We weren't at Rusty's the first night so, even with the sail-away gathering at Sky Bar and the M&M, we had a hard time putting faces with cruise critic names. I'm looking forward to the rest of your review!

Ruth

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Great review so far Mike! We were on the same cruise but I guess our paths didn't cross. We weren't at Rusty's the first night so, even with the sail-away gathering at Sky Bar and the M&M, we had a hard time putting faces with cruise critic names. I'm looking forward to the rest of your review!

Ruth

 

Hey Ruth...I do remember you at the meet & mingle!

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Day 2 - Sea Day

 

The 1st sea day would be a busy day for us. Something going on all day long. One thing about Freedom is that there is always something going on day and night. You can always find something to do. When you look at the daily cruise compass, it is overwhelming...sometimes you just don't really know what you want to do with yourselves. That is however how we like it. Wow Me and entertain me! Make me feel like this is the cruise line I want to keep coming back to again and again. Freedom of the Seas didn't fail in this area. I feel that if people say they can't find anything to do, they just don't really want to do anything. In addition to the ports and excursions, Royal do a really good job of making their ships a destination in and of itself. We had fun and were thouroughly entertained! We have said until Royal does something really bad or we have went on all their cruises they have to offer (Not just the Caribbean) to we will stick around for a while. I am not a Cheerleader but just give credit where credit is due.

 

Entertainment - A

 

The Sea Day started with getting up with my daily ritual of going up top to take pictures of the sunrise. It is just something to see that sun come up over the horizon at sea and I love it!

 

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Sunrise somewhere in the Caribbean!

 

I went back to the stateroom and woke up the wife to get started on our day. The 1st thing we had planned was a 7:45am breakfast in the MDR for the Character Breakfast. We are jus big grown kids at heart and we booked this online before the cruise. Even though we made a reservation they did not check anything to see if you had a reservation and anyone was allowed to enter. It was in a small section of the MDR, but anyone that was in the MDR could see the characters. There were plenty of kids on hand for this and they all seem to have had a good time as did we. They have a special breakfast menu for this and I had a Ham and cheese omelete, wheat toast, hash browns, sausage and coffee. The wife had scrambled eggs, has browns fruit and apple juice. You can also go and get food from the buffet area setup if you like which had assorted pastries also.

 

There were only two characters at the breakfast....Shrek & Fiona. Some of the kids were disappointed as were we as they thought there would be more characters present! They do however give every table present to be able to take a picture with the characters.

 

Here is my opinion of eating breakfast in the MDR. Other than not having to deal with the crowds in the Windjammer, the food is not spectacular just because you order off the menu. You get real eggs but the other food is the same as in the Windjammer. Also as I said in my MDR review this is the formal night, So.........

 

Character Breakfast - B (Could have been an A if they would have had more of the characters) / Breakfast Food - B-

 

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Edited by bigque
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After the Character Breakfast we walked around and window shopped in some of the stores on the Promenade, and went up to the pool deck. One thing I did look at while on the cruise was to see how many early morning chair hogs there were since I was up with the sunrise. From what I noticed there were never really anyone saving loungers that early. Later on in the morning as on this day when we went up after the character breakfast I did see about 4 of 5 chairs with things on them, but I don’t know if these people were in the pool or what. The 11th and 12th deck as well as the solarium were very crowded as expected on sea day so no big surprise there. When we went up there later in the afternoon we were able to find a table and 4 chairs with our friends under the overhang area and I also saw some loungers that we could have had if we would have wanted to use them.

 

Next up was the Cruise Critic Meet & Mingle in the Olive or Twist on the 14th deck Viking Crown at 10:45am. Our Roll Call had I believe 249 people that singed up and there were my guess-a-ment about 100 or so there. As it has been noted many time in the forum they will leave the invitation for you in your room if you signed up for it. For the Meet & Mingle, Katie (Activities Manager) was present to MC and she was funny and entertaining. They provide coffee and juice but I did not see finger snacks as on my last cruise. If there were any, I just missed them.

 

Many in the Roll Call either sat with people they met at the pre cruise meet & greet, or the meet & greet at the sky bar or just sat with the people they came on the cruise with. We still did the stand up and introduce yourself thing with you cruise critic name so that everyone could put a face with the name. We also did a gift exchange with those who wanted to participate and I think that Katie’s humor and the gift exchange was the best part of the Meet & Mingle. As with my last Meet and Mingle, I don’t see where a lot of folks mingle with other folks other that the ones as I mentioned. Everyone seemed however to have a good time.

 

Meet & Mingle - B

 

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Katie (Activities Manager)

 

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The Meet & Mingle

 

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Meet & Mingle

 

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Meet & Mingle

 

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The Gift Echange Gifts

Edited by bigque
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