Recent Freedom of the Seas trip...new improved review

I had tried to put in a review earlier but had alot of technical difficulty with the photo part of this experiment...thanks to Trainman for the tips on posting photos I want to try again....

Freedom of the Seas, October 13, 2011, Western Caribbean..

our room, full aft balcony, great view and lots of room!!! Fantastic room!

Our balcony...very large and no over hang above us for people to look down on our deck so relatively private...

exploring the ship...

More of the ship...and our explorations...

never mind the time on my camera was wrong and being technically challenged I didn't know how to change it...for a while...

[iM

G]http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i341/Sunebeach/60070023.jpg[/img]

and more...

opps it turned out sideways...

the main pool area...

the solarium...

and another neighbor...at Port Canaveral...

our cruise port comrades...the Carnival ship...Sensation...

the promenade...

the flow rider...

the Main Dining room...Galileo's

ship docked at Port Canaveral...waiting for us!

We were allowed to board just after 11 am, and even though we couldn't get to our room, we went to the windjammer and had the honey stung chicken which was awesome, thanks to the CC members who endorsed this...

we wondered the ship and took lots of pictures before the crowds built up...

got our bearings as to where things were located. DH's favorite place was the Bear and the Bull Pub...great service.

if you'll note the top row of balconies, the second from the left was ours...and very good view indeed, glad we didn't get the 'corner' room...smaller balcony and obstructed by superstructure of the ship...as were the lower decks...as you can see...

and still more...of the ship...

the jumbotron TV...poolside...

the boxing ring...in the gym

the ice rink...

the closed circuit tv station..

Our pre-cruise say was at the Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach, snooze and cruise package that included room, breakfast [typical of 'free' breakfast at chain hotels] and shuttle from MCO to hotel, to pier the next day and then back to airport after the cruise...not a bad deal for around 200/for a couple.

sorry no pics...hotel was not right on the beach, but was a little hike through an alley to get there. Walked to Cocoa Beach pier [about 2 miles] and had a nice dinner at Atlantic Seafood...enjoyed the live music and had a nice moonlit walk back to the hotel on the beach [yes, we like to walk] , had a hard time finding the entrance gate to the 'alley' again so I wouldn't recommend going after dark without a flash light.

After our free breakfast, we were on the shuttle and to the pier. Embarkation went smooth, once the lines started moving. Yes, we got there a little early...met some real nice people while we were sitting in 'line' waiting.

and of course you've seen the pics from our explorations around the ship on day one and the morning of day two [some] we didn't find the flow rider the first day, basically because we didn't go looking for it. So much for day one...getting to know our way around the ship...

Day two...at sea...more ship exploration.

Meet and Greet was held at Olive or Twist,

we had a nice turn out, and left from there to do our cabin crawl...

Thanks to REV for letting us stop in her 'Royal Suite'... didn't think to get photos from all the other rooms, but Rev gave us permission to take pics of hers.

Her walk in closet...

the real tub...

the toilet...

the bedroom...

living room...

more living room...

Later we had reservations for the Ice show, it was remarkable.

Hard to believe they can pull that off while the ship is moving, and no one fell!

Tomorrow...Labadee, Haiti.

I lied...more pics from ship first...?

view from the Olive or twist lounge...

Solarium...

Hot tubs...

Johnny Rockets...two views...

Wedding Chapel... an interest for some?

It is handicapped accessible by a rail/chair lift installed on one stair well leading to the chapel...

The layout of the room is rounded, so it's more like a pie shaped area. I assume one could change the back drop between the plants? The one that was there was on a curtain rod and appeared to be a

prop similar to the ones the photographers use on formal nights for photos and could possibly be changed out if you don't care for the rather 'modern' art back drop that was there...I'm sure you could ask the wedding coordinator for RCI if you are planning a wedding on board, there were a few brides an grooms seen on board this cruise...

I see this thread has been viewed, but if I am boring people please let me know...

I myself like to see the ship in photos from other people, I don't care to hear about their crappy breakfast in the windjammer or other gripes...the quality of the cruise is in the 'eye' of the beholder...so I apologize now that I don't have 'food porn' or complaints about every little irritation of my vacation...I don't honestly think I had any.

I don't consider myself witty or entertaining, so I don't comment too much in my 'reviews'...but let me know if I should continue...or given up for other people who are more 'entertaining'...

Keep it up. Your doing a fine job. I was the Freedom two ago and am going again in March.

You're doing great. Love the pics - please continue.

I'm going on this cruise the end of April and I would love to see more of your pictures. If you did any excursions, I would love to hear about them too.

Enjoying it! Love pic reviews. We'll be on her in a couple of weeks - can't wait!

I enjoy seeing what other people take pictures of. Yours are very good so keep them coming. I also don't much care what others think of the food at a given venue.

Thank you for the wonderful preview of our up-coming cruise!!!'

Please keep it going!! Photos speak for themselves!!!

More of the ship...and our explorations...

never mind the time on my camera was wrong and being technically challenged I didn't know how to change it...for a while...

 

 

 

 

[iM

 

G]http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i341/Sunebeach/60070023.jpg[/img]

Love the pictures. Lovely ship! Am considering Freedom in October or November. Or Liberty same time frame. Question. What is Full Aft Balcony? Is this a Junior Suite? What's the category? It looks huge!!!!! We usually go for a JS on longer cruises but might not have to if this is the size of the regular balconies on Freedom class.

I'm definitely enjoying the pictures. We are going on FOS may 13th Western Carb. The pictures are great.

Was just on her last month (had a WONDERFUL cruise) and I am definitely enjoying your pictures. Thank you for taking the time to share.

Freedom has my favorite Solarium and favorite Windjammer. Simple little things can be enjoyable to me, I loved those stools at one end of the pool. Its also just a little more spacious than the Voyager class solarium. That deep aft balcony looks nice, will have to try that sometime. That is one thing still on my must do list based on things I've read here over the years.

Nice review.

Great pictures! We will be on the FOS first week in march - looking forward to it. By the way, do you recall when the second formal night was (day 6?)? Thanks.

Vicky