sjb317

There was Zumba on Freedom of The Seas this past week. But they call it Latin Dance Aerobics in the cruise compass. They can't call it Zumba because of the licensing of the name, but that's what the Latin Dance Aerobics is. Hope this helps you ladies out.

They offered this on our Freedom cruise the first part of April, it was held pooside so there wasn't much room to move around. It was more of a line dance class, if you've never done Zumba you probably would enjoy it but for those experienced Zumba dancers, it did not look like it would be much of a workout. The good news is it was FREE!

Sherri:)

The price was $15 each day for our cruise in June but we were told on our recent cruise the price had been raised to $20. For our cruise a few weeks ago we parked at the Radison for $4.95 per day with a shuttle each way.

Sherri:)

OOPS... I should have mentioned my kids are not little. sorry about that:D

 

I just found a reliable article from AAFP. Who knew, it really does work.

 

summarizes the various drug therapies used for prophylaxis against traveler's diarrhea. Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol), in a dosage of two 262-mg tablets four times a day (taken with meals and in the evening) can prevent traveler's diarrhea. It has been shown to provide a 65 percent protection rate.8 Bismuth subsalicylate can be taken for up to three weeks. Such long-term use can, however, darken the tongue and stool, produce tinnitus and cause reactions in salicylate-sensitive patients. Bismuth subsalicylate also interferes with the absorption of doxycycline and certain other medications.8

 

Of course you might look like you have the plague with a black tongue HA HA

Noro virus is not the same as "traveler's diarrhea".

Sherri:)

Good advice so far, especially about children. Pepto Bismol is not recommended for children under 12 and since it decreases the flow of fluid to the intestines it can be very constipating for someone taking it if they are not having diarrhea.

My husband and I have been on lots of cruises, too, and we have never gotten sick either, and that is without using Pepto Bismol. We wash our hands a lot!:D

Sherri:)

After trying almost everyday for a week with no success, I just used karena1's link above and it worked! Thanks!

Sherri:)

Cruise docs were issued today, I ordered luggage tags and we are at 47 days! But only 40 days until we leave for Satellite Beach!

Sherri:)

I took our grandson to the children's class on Freedom, the cost was $15 and you did get a PAPER apron plus the cupcake. The class was ok and he liked his cupcake so I guess it was worth it. I found the parents pushing and jostling the kids so they could get a picture of their darling child annoying. One dad almost knocked Ben off his stool as he leaned over him.

Sherri:)

On freedom of the seas ?

Unless things have changed since last summer, the answer is no. It is only offered on the Oasis/Allure ships.

Sherri:)

Oasis you went and lined up before the doors opened and then they took you to a table. There were no assigned tables and everyone could see about equally, though I was behind a serving area and could not see where they performed really. But it had nothing to do with when you got your tickets, just had to do with which table they sat you at. You could have easily asked to sit nearer the area where they performed .. had I known and been there before, but I enjoyed the window seat with limited visibility.

 

But each character came around one by one to each table and you could interact with them and get your picture taken.

Freedom handled things differently as you were assigned a table. Each character did come around to each table and I thought it was great that we could take our own pictures. But there was not much of a program so basically it was introduce the Character, watch the character dance around for a minute or two, then wait for character to make it around to your table. In all fairness to RC, this was still pretty new on the Freedom so perhaps they have improved it.

When I looked through the pictures we took, I was mortified to see our 5 year old grandson was poking Gloria in the stomach with his fork:o.

Sherri:)

I wonder how often these events actually sell out? Our sailing is in 19 days on the Allure, and I just checked and all 3 character breakfasts are still available. I'm not interested in it at all, but if all 3 are available, I don't see a huge problem with an adult booking one.

The ones on the Freedom were full but they only offered two. At that time you could not pre book online, so we tried to get reservations within an hour of boarding and were told both were full so we would be waitlisted. The concierge was able to get a reservation for the four of us which was great but we were on the outer rim of the main group so I think we were added on. Was not easy to hear or see what was going on, especially for a 5 year old.

I don't have a problem with adults going without children (although I'm not sure why they would want to, but to each their own!:D). However, I would be upset if I thought there were children unable to attend because adults were taking the reservations.

Sherri:)

How exactly are the character breakfasts setup? People keep suggesting they should simply open more seating. They probably have limited seating for a reason. It's probably not due to lack of physical space, nor lack of food on boar, or even lack of staff to prepare in serve. I am guessing the limiting factor to the capacity is the characters themselves?

 

 

How many are at a given breakfast and how many are there in total that could actually be available? People have said there are multiple breakfasts on a cruise and they sign up for all of them. I assume this means there are different characters at each? Is each breakfast tied to a particular movie? Like one day it's Shrek characters, the next Kung Fu Panada, then the Madagascar ones another day?

 

If you want to expand capacity, you would want to do it without really cutting down on the time each table/patron was able to spend with the characters. Is this really possible? Can you even have more characters at once? I don't know if they have performers that play multiple roles.

Our character breakfast in June on Freedom had about 75 people in the back corner of the dining room. There was not much of a program, the MC was one of the activities staff. I think he told a few kid appropriate jokes but we couldn't hear very well as we were on the outskirts of the group. He then brought the characters out, one at a time, and they danced around for a minute or two to music. We had the characters from Madagascar: Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo and King Julien. The character then went from table to table for photo ops. After the first character had visited all tables, the second one was brought out and everything repeated.

I was surprised by the number of adults there who did not have children. We would not have gone if not for our two grandchildren. :D And I don't think I could have gotten my husband or grandson #1 back for a second breakfast as they both thought it was boring!

Sherri:)

Love your pictures! Funny though, our Freedom cruise in June had some of the best honey stung chicken I've ever had. It wasn't dry, and seemed to be real chicken, not pieces & parts! I guess we got lucky!:D

Sherri:)

Everyone keeps talking about jeans and the Caribbean... but I guess I didn't really notice it not being uncomfortable because I always go in the middle of winter when the temperatures are still very moderate. Jeans were comfortable in the dinning room this year in early February in the southern Caribbean and I imagine will be just as comfortable in western as well next year.

I don't think it's a temp thing as I think jeans could be comfortable in the dining room, it's just a "mind" thing for me. When we go to the Caribbean it is winter in Indiana and a cruise for me is an opportunity to escape the ice & cold & wear capris & flip flops, so no jeans! My husband says he knows he's on vacation when he hears my flip flops coming down the hall:D. I do take (and wear) jeans on our European cruises.

Sherri:)

And the fiance and I also agree with that, and we're both in our 40s. So it really isn't an age thing from what I can tell. It is nice to dress up every once in a while and that's what the formal night is where I go all out as you can see by my avatar. But the rest of the nights are focused more on comfort, and I am most comfortable in a pair of nice jeans. :)

And my husband & I are in our 50s:eek: so I agree it isn't really an age thing. I have worn dark jeans with a sparkly top and heels to the MDR for casual nights (although not in the Caribbean, jeans usually stay home for the Caribbean:D) and my husband has worn jeans with a sport coat to Chops or Portofino. Personally, I don't understand the people who get so upset with what others wear, I do not spend my dining time criticizing the clothing of my fellow diners.

Sherri:)

The right pair of jeans can look very nice and very appropriate for the MDR. The make-over on the Nate show today had on a pair of dark wash jeans with a navy blazer and his outfit looked dressier than any pair of dockers I've seen.

Sherri:)

I was laying in a chair at the pool on a very crowded afternoon. A woman who looked like she was in her early 70s came up wearing shorts & a blouse. She laid her towel neatly on a chair, took her blouse off & folded it. She appeared to be wearing a white bikini top but I thought it looked a lot like a bra. She proceeded to take her shorts off, and as she was folding them, she realized she did not have her swimsuit on under her clothing!:D

I don't think I've ever seen anyone dress & run as fast as she did!

Sherri:)

We've been on 8 RC ships and I'm pretty sure I've seen kiwi fruit in various forms on all of the ships. Sometimes balloons too. Plus, I wonder if some of the junk passengers hang on their doors might contain latex too?

Good Luck!

Sherri:)

35 days!! Can't wait to be back on the Jewel again!

Sherri:)

Other than being forced to get off the ship, the only thing I have ever hated about cruising, at least on RC ships, is being forced to listen to Fox for any news. :eek: My husband is a "news junkie" and Fox seems to be the only station we can consistently receive when he needs to get a "fix". :D

Sherri :)

If I want to take jeans with me, I will wear them on the plane. I also wear my athletic shoes, plus if I want a sweater or a shawl, I wear it. We try to fly in the day before as much as possible and I will buy shampoo, sunscreen, etc. before we get on the ship in amounts that I will use up before the return trip. I don't take my blow dryer but use the one provided in the room. It is not the best but it will do the job and that is one less thing taking up space/weight!

Sherri:)