Freedom of the Seas June 22-29 Review!

Background Information: I am Michael, a 15 year old from Virginia. This is my first cruise ever as is the first one from my parents, Jean and Tom. We had been anticipating June 21/22 for 160 days. After we went on this cruise, we are already planning on booking one. In preparations for the cruise, we took ginger tablets once a day everyday for 2 weeks prior to the cruise. I think this helped but then again I have never been on another cruise and not taken it so I don’t have experience. My mom was the only one out of the three of us who took anything while we were on the ship (she took Dramamine one night).

Day 1: Saturday- Miami

Today was the day that we left for Miami. The three of us got up at about 4:30/5 am and we were out of the house by 6:15. We got to the airport and checked in and went to our gate. Here is something really funny. A girl that is in my class from high school was on my plane and they were talking about a cruise. I was thinking that she would be on Freedom, but I later found out that she went on Liberty. Wouldn’t that have been funny if she was on my cruise? Anyway, so our plane left at 8:15 and we landed in Miami at around 10:30. Boy that airport is huge! There were over 100 gates just for American Airlines. We went to baggage claim and saw my cousin, Brian, who we were staying with for the night. So we packed our bags into his car and headed off to South Beach for lunch. We went to Mangos. The food was really good but it was so loud and there were so many dancers. If anyone has been there you know what I mean when I say ‘There was a lot of booty action” as my dad would like to say it. After lunch we went back to the car and headed to Brian’s apartment in Miami Lakes. We went in, watched a little TV, and eventually all 4 of us took a 2 hour nap. Once we got up, we headed to the Hard Rock Café and Casino Seminole in Hollywood. There was a boxing match going on so it was packed and it took us 15 minutes to find a parking place. After we parked we headed inside the hotel and put our name down for the Hard Rock Café for dinner. My parents went off to gamble and I stayed with Brian. Then the buzzer rang and we ate. I got this berry pina colada drink in a HRC cup, which I got to keep. It was really good. Anyway after dinner my parents and Brian started taking turns of who would stay with me while the other two gambled. It was 10:30 and we headed back to Brian’s apartment and went to sleep. Tomorrow is the cruise!

Day 2: Sunday- Miami/First Day of Cruise

The day has arrived!!!! We got up and headed off to the ship terminal. Two other ships were in port with us, which were two Carnival ships. I believe it was Valor and Imagination. We got to the port at 11:00 and were group 14 to get on the ship. My parents and I got on the ship at around 12 and we went straight to the Windjammer. The food there wasn’t as bad as everyone says it is. It was actually pretty good. After we had a bite to eat, we went exploring a little and then it was time to go check out our stateroom. We were on deck six in room #6592 which was a balcony stateroom. It was very nice. At first we were wondering, “Where is Michael’s bed?” Then we saw that it was a bed that came down from the ceiling. We hadn’t gotten our luggage yet, but our stateroom attendant, Abdel, came in and greeted us and already was asking if we needed anything. Then we went to the Sky Bar to meet some people from Cruise Critic. We kept running into the honeymooners, Katie and Jonathon, throughout the whole cruise. We went back to the room and watched the ship leaving Miami from our balcony. So many people were pulling on the side of the road to take pictures and others were honking their horns and waving to us. Then it was time for dinner so we had received some of our luggage, but not all of it so we changed and headed to the Leonardo’s Dining Room on Deck 3. We actually were in the Terra Dining Room which was in the front right corner of the main dining room. We had main seating and were at table 232. We were really hoping for a teenager at our table but instead we got a couple from Australia, Trish and Bill Ryan. They came on the cruise as a week of relaxation after their 7 week trip all over the United States. Our Waiter was Das and our Assistant Waiter was Reyna. They were both very nice and helpful and they also knew our names after the first night. Dinner the first night was very good. I don’t quite remember what I got, but I know I got Caesar Salad as my appetizer. After dinner we headed to the “Welcome Aboard Show” where we met our Cruise Director, Richard Spacey. He was a phenomenal and hilarious Cruise Director! I really liked his entrance and exit of each show. Anyway the show was very good. There was a comedian and an acrobatic act performed by Laetia and Artol. They were amazing! After the show, I went to the Mix and mingle in the Fuel and Living Room. This was my first and last time there. I really didn’t enjoy it at all. I met some people but there was nobody that I want to hang out with during the cruise. All of the kids were jerks or people trying to impress everybody else. Then I met my parents at Sorrento’s for a quick bite to eat. The pizza was great, which I had heard it was horrible on Cruise Critic. I went back to the room and went to sleep at around one am. Tomorrow is a day at sea!

There is more to come. It may take me a while because I have a lot of stuff going on!

Also if you have any questions, ask them! I will try to do my best to answer them but I can't guarantee an answer

Sounds like you and your family had a good time, great attention to detail. Can't wait to read the rest.

Day 3: A Beautiful Day at Sea

Today was our first of two days at sea. We got up and sat on our balcony for a while and then went up to the Windjammer for breakfast. The food was very good again. There was a wide variety of breakfast foods including doughnuts, omelets, French toast, yogurts, etc. etc. After that we went back to the room and threw on our bathing suits and went to the Meet and Mingle. We saw all the people that we saw the day before at the Skybar with a few new faces. After the gathering was over, my dad and I went to the pool while my mom went to the Slot Tournament that she was entered into. First my dad and I went to find a chair (it wasn’t that much of a problem finding a chair but that may have been because we were on the deck above the pools) and then headed over to the Flowrider. I watched about 20 people go and then headed back to the pool. When I arrived, the Men’s Sexy Legs Contest was just about to start so I watched that. Let me tell you, THIS WAS HILARIOUS. There was an old, overweight man and his dancing was outrageously funny. He was getting on top of the chairs and pretending to give the girls lap dances. My mom came back midway through the contest and she didn’t win. :( After the contest was over, my parents and I headed to the Promenade for a snack. I think we went to Sorrento’s but I can’t remember. Then we went to bingo. Unfortunately, we didn’t win. Sad I know… After bingo, we headed back to the room, took showers, and got ready for dinner. Tonight was a formal night so my dad and I had our shirts, ties, khakis, and jackets on, while my mom had was wearing a dress. We all ordered filet mignon for dinner and it was delicious as were the mashed potatoes, which are my favorite food. After dinner we went to go take formal night pictures and went back to the room to change. Then we headed to the show, Marquis. This was Broadway themed show which had songs from 7 or 8 different Broadway productions, including A Chorus Line and Phantom of the Opera. The show was very good. The singing and dancing was very well rehearsed and amazing. Once the show was over we went back to the room and sure enough we had our first towel animal! It was a bunny and it looked fantastic! I wish I knew how to make these remarkable towel creatures. It was around 11 pm so my parents went to the casino while I watched Vantage Point, a movie I have been dying to see ever since it came out. My parents came back to the room at around 1:30 announcing they had lost again! Tomorrow is Labadee! Zip line here I come!

I am sorry that you did not enjoy the teen club. My daughter 16 years old did not have fun @ the Carnival cruise 02 either.:eek:

Thats good you had a great time. Its sad to see sometimes people spend all that money and hate cruiseing (IT DOES HAPPEN) don't know why (MY BOSS) but it does happen. Can't wate to read the rest. Oh did you enjoy the Pramanade my favorite part of the ship. Never been on Freedom, but have been on Liberty one and the same.

A bad day cruising is better than a good day at work

Monarch of the Seas June 2002

Liberty of the Seas August 2007

Libert of the Seas February 2008

Im so glad to hear you had a great time on Freedom , we will be on her soon.Cant wait to read the rest of review, Michael your writing is so great for a 15yr old, you wrote a better review then most adults on here, i bet most will agree with me.:D

So far so good can't wait either!!! Are we sure this kid is only 15 :D:p:D

I have to agree with the others, I'm really looking forward to more of your reviews of the cruise. You write very well; you have an easy style that's a pleasure to read. I'm glad you enjoyed your cruise, too.

You're off to a great start, Michael! I agree with the others that you write very well. :)

I just booked FOS yesterday for my husband and 3 kids (19, 22, and 25) for late November 2009, so I will be paying attention to the reviews for that ship.

So far so good can't wait either!!! Are we sure this kid is only 15 :D:p:D

Yes I am 15!

And thanks everyone for the compliments.

I will try to write day 3:Lbadee today

I was on your cruise!!!! We had a blast. It was our best crusie over. We enjoyed the food and the servie. The staff was among the best that RCI has to offer!

Michael, you are doing a great job on your review, I love to hear all of the little details. Can't wait for the rest!

Wow that sounds like a really fun cruise.

Day 3: Tuesday- Labadee, Haiti

Today is our first port of call, Labadee, Haiti, RCI’s private island. We woke up and went to the Windjammer for breakfast (we did this everyday). Again the food was really good. After that we went back to our room, sat on our balcony, and watched the ship roll into the waters of Haiti. This island is beautiful, and it is so sad knowing that it is one of the poorest countries in the world…Anyway, we took a tender to the island. I always thought that these boats were smaller but you would be surprised at how many people the can or will fit on to one tender. Once we got on the island, my parents and I headed over to the local market. Let me tell you one things- the people trying to sell their stuff at the markets were so annoying! They kept saying, come here little boy I have the perfect thing for you. One guy tried to put a bracelet that matched my orange shirt on my wrist and I was like “no thanks!” and walked away. Anyway I got my friend, Audrey, a really nice painting of Bob Marley there because she is obsessed with Bob Marley! After we bought a few more souvenirs, we went to the beach and someone saw my shirt and came over to us and asked where we were from in Virginia? We are from Richmond and they were from southwestern Virginia. They told us the name of the county but I can’t remember it. After some time lying out on the beach, my dad and I headed to the Dragon’s Breath Pub. This is where we were supposed to meet for our excursion. The excursion my dad and I were doing was the Dragon’s Breath Flight Line, otherwise just the zip line. This zip line is the longest zip line over water in the world! My mom didn’t partake in this excursion because she really wanted to film us and she is kind of afraid of heights. Once it was 10:30, the time our excursion began, we headed into a briefing room. This is where we put on our helmets and then we were off! We walked down a path that led us to the smaller zip line. I think it is called the “Little Dragon.” This is where they taught us all of the different body positions for the real thing. There were four body positions, torpedo, starfish, mini starfish, and normal. Torpedo made you go faster, while the starfish made you go slower. After our test ride we hopped into jeeps and rode up to the top of the hill. We crossed a little bridge and then we arrived to the platform where we took off. There were many jagged rocks below us and some people were freaking out. Then the rides began. Five people went at a time and the first girl was screaming at the top of her lungs the whole way down. My dad went before me because they based who went on bodyweight. He went down and then I was in the next group. Once I got down my mom told me that she missed video taping my dad and me! She was making a really big deal about it, but I didn’t care that much about it. After this we headed over to the barbeque lunch, which was held on the island. The food was okay. There was a dancing and fire eating show while we ate lunch. The dancers were very good, but the fire eater was the best! He kept eating all this fire and then he stepped on the fire! He was insane! Once the show was over we headed back to the ship. It was around 2, so we headed to the rock wall. I was the only one that climbed, but I climb once a week at a rock climbing gym close to my house. Later on that evening, we had dinner at Chops Grille. Dinner was phenomenal. It was the best filet I have ever had. My mom and I got the filet, but my dad got the T-bone steak. For dessert, my mom and I both ordered the Passionberry Duo. This was fantastic! It was really sweet though, but I like sweet! After dinner we headed to the show. Tonight it was the Nelson Brothers. They were really good and a lot of their songs that they sang were in tribute to their father Ricky Nelson. The show was very good! Once it ended, my parents and I got a picture with the brothers. When we got back to the room, another towel animal was there to greet us! Tonight’s animal was a dog. My parents then went to the casino while I stayed in the room and watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which was always on so I watched that a lot. I think I fell asleep during it, but I don’t remember. Tomorrow is Ochos Rios!

Does any one here have any questions?

and what did you think of the Labadee part?

very good review and i am also from richmond where do you live in richmond. because i am 15 and maybe we could hang out some time.

Does any one here have any questions?

and what did you think of the Labadee part?

your review very much. We had to be gone most of the day and were hoping to see your next post by the time we got home. Keep up the good work kiddo, you're doing a great job. We love all the details.

Shankiko

Does any one here have any questions?

and what did you think of the Labadee part?

Hi Michael your review is great, i really cant wait to here more. You are sooo detailed that it makes it so much more exciting. I can't wait to be on Freedom. Keep up the great job.

1) question did you walk to Dragon’s Breath pub, was it far from where the tender drops you off?.

silentkink- i live in henrico. where do you live?

ilovecruise- we went to the beach first and then walked to the pub. the beach was about the same distance from the tender drop off as the pub... i think. its probably a 5-10 minute walk if that

silentkink- i live in henrico. where do you live?

 

ilovecruise- we went to the beach first and then walked to the pub. the beach was about the same distance from the tender drop off as the pub... i think. its probably a 5-10 minute walk if that

silentkink- you are not a 15 year old fromvirginia. you are a mother of 2 from new york! why would you try to be someone you are not?

I love hearing the thoughts of the younger group! Waiting for the review of Grand Cayman ... that's where I'll be on my 50th birthday.

firsttimecruiser44-How do you know if silentkink is a mother of 2, not 15 yr-old? This is really weird some's pretending to be someone else on this thread. Creepy!

firsttimecruiser44-How do you know if silentkink is a mother of 2, not 15 yr-old? This is really weird some's pretending to be someone else on this thread. Creepy!

I am pretty sure because this is what I found on her posts

My husband and I and daughter and 2 grandkids (boy 13 & girl 8),