7 days to go til Freedom and I have some questions....

[donutcop]

I sail in 7 days (whoohoo!) and am starting to think of the little things that i'm not positive of the answer for.... If anyone can answer some or all of them I would really appreciate it :)

 

1. Do I need to pack sneakers for anything? We both have good quality walking sandels so i'm thinking sneakers probably wouldn't get used in the warm weather...(we are only doing Dunns River Falls, white water tubing, and a catamaran excursion...other than that, just beach days)

 

2. What time is the best time to show up at the pier? (we are sailing on the Freedom and I *think* on the tickets it shows 1:30, but i'd show up earlier if we can get on earlier)

 

3. We rented from Budget and will be dropping it off to Budget close to the pier. I understand that they have free shuttle service to the pier. Does anyone know if it's a long wait for the shuttle typically? I ask because my DH will most likely drop me at the pier with our luggage and he'll go back to drop the car and get shuttled back..I don't want to start worrying about him if I think he's taking too long :o

 

4. How much cash should I plan to bring with me? We plan to use credit card for as much as we can, but I assume we'll need money for taxis, shopping at the carts, renting things at the beach etc...

 

I think that's about all I have for now... Thanks :)

[PrincesScuba]

I sail in 7 days (whoohoo!) and am starting to think of the little things that i'm not positive of the answer for.... If anyone can answer some or all of them I would really appreciate it :)

 

1. Do I need to pack sneakers for anything? We both have good quality walking sandels so i'm thinking sneakers probably wouldn't get used in the warm weather...(we are only doing Dunns River Falls, white water tubing, and a catamaran excursion...other than that, just beach days)

I always used to take sneakers; now I don't on a Caribbean cruise.

 

2. What time is the best time to show up at the pier? (we are sailing on the Freedom and I *think* on the tickets it shows 1:30, but i'd show up earlier if we can get on earlier)

10:45 - 11:00.

 

3. We rented from Budget and will be dropping it off to Budget close to the pier. I understand that they have free shuttle service to the pier. Does anyone know if it's a long wait for the shuttle typically? I ask because my DH will most likely drop me at the pier with our luggage and he'll go back to drop the car and get shuttled back..I don't want to start worrying about him if I think he's taking too long :o

Well, if you both use your cell phones, you can keep in touch. There shouldn't be much delay, however.

 

4. How much cash should I plan to bring with me? We plan to use credit card for as much as we can, but I assume we'll need money for taxis, shopping at the carts, renting things at the beach etc...

That's purely a personal thing. I suggest $50 per day, just for the things you mention, not for the casino. Others may have different ideas.

 

I think that's about all I have for now... Thanks :)

Bon Voyage!

[cb at sea]

We don't bring sneakers, either.....if you want to use the gym, tho, you will want some. Same if you plan on any "strenuous" off-road type of excursions.

For wandering around the port area, you won't need them.

[TravlGrl]

Keep in mind that at Dunns River Falls you need to have some sort of water sandals or water sneakers as opposed to flip flops. If you're already set for water sandals, then you wouldn't need sneakers.

 

In complete agreement about getting to the pier no later than 11 a.m.

 

Rather than having your husband drop you and the luggage off at the pier, why don't you just ride together in the shuttle with your luggage? There will be luggage storage on the shuttle, and then you don't need to worry about waiting for him.

 

Have fun! Freedom is a BEAUTIFUL ship!

[firstsgtsteiner]

ill be with ya on this cruise.....cant wait...itll be my first!

[Cmiles1013]

You shouldn't need sneakers unless you plan to do the rock climbing which I think you have to have them.

[mjldvlks]

I take running shoes [well cross trainers] because I always "plan" to use the fitness center. Sometimes I actually do. You won't "need" them unless you plan some sort of athletic activity or that's what you want to wear for walking or other excursion activities.

[blessedx3]

ill be with ya on this cruise.....cant wait...itll be my first!

You should come join us on the meet and mingle board!!!!! Welcome, we will also be on this cruise. Your first cruise ever? If so, look out you are in for a wonderful vacation!!!!!

Donutcop, we always arrive to PC pier about 10am I'm a nerd for getting on asap!!!!!

[amybeth4]

You shouldn't need sneakers unless you plan to do the rock climbing which I think you have to have them.

 

Noooo you can't wear sneakers on the rock wall. You HAVE to wear pants or shorts and SOCKS. They give you climbing shoes that you have to wear.

 

I always wear sneakers on the plane so I don't have to carry them, just in case I want to do something athletic. I needed them on a Belize excursion and had I not been a lazy pig I would've either walked the jogging track or used the gym.

 

On my last cruise I had $200 cash and had quite a bit left over.

[tneah]

We always take sneakers because we use the gym everyday. If we didn't use the gym, then no need to bring them along.

 

Get water shoes for Dunn's River. They also have rental water shoes. The ship sells these for $20.00 a pair.

[hazeleyez3]

For the rental car...

 

Last August we drove to the pier, and only dropped off our luggage to the porters (minus the one we wanted to carry on). Drove back to drop off the car, and then took the shuttle over to the pier.

 

We plan on doing this in January...found it much easier to do that then stand around with the luggage (waiting for the shuttle) and then carrying it on the shuttle.

[sailingawaysoon]

Have a great cruise. You'll love the Freedom. She's my favorite ship to date. I hope you'll come back and tell us how your trip was. Happy cruising!

[djay]

We returned from Eastern Cruise FoS last Sunday (11/15). We wore tennis shoes on to the ship but wore sandals almost all the time except for evenings.

We got to ship about 10:45am- we were checked in by 11 but had to sit about 30 min to board. We were in the Windjammer before noon eating Honey stung Chicken & watching the Disney ship being loaded. Then we started walking the ship. To be honest- after a week there are still places we never saw.

 

DW is a diabetic & cannot drink & i drink seldom. I had a yrs worth of alcohol durng that week (about 8 drinks). We actually had over $500 left.

That is a first. Could not complete our waverunner excursion because of rough seas & after 30 min had to turn around & go back in. Got our $150 back

 

We did My Time Dining- found to be great. (- ask for Armie head waitress from Phillapines) - Greatest ever! We enjoyed our balcony and poolside. Pools were too cool to swim last week- it was a VERY WINDY.

 

We never made it to Chops- had reservations for nite after St maarten but were too exhausted & canceled & had Room Service.

 

Go to as many shows as possible- They televised the shows later- so you can prop up on the bed & enjoy those missed shows. BTW- the beds were the best of any ship we have sailed.

 

Wow we do so want to go back- maybe next week?? We were treated like Royality and was a great week (except for the windy weather).

 

After reading reviews of the Oasis 2 nite cruise- we have decided not to go that way & may try to go 1 step smaller than FoS.

 

I cannot believe no saunas & steamrooms on Oasis. I did enjoy the gym (did wear sneakers those times) Used the Treadmill , watched mounted personal TVs (got my Fox-News) and looked out over the vast seas. Usedthe cycles also. The cantelievered spas were grt8.

 

Have a great week - TAKE US WITH YOU _ PLEASE!!!!!!

 

Djay

[James MTL]

I am assuming you are doing Western. My family just got off Freedom 2 days ago and also did the Western. Great ship and great itinerary. I see your initial questions have been answered. If you have any others, I'll be more than happy to answer them for you.

 

James

[aucruiser]

We also rented from Budget and did the same thing as hazeleyez3. We drove to the pier first and dropped off our luggage. It was very easy as there are slots to pull up with the car and before we put it in park a porter was at our car. We gave him our cabin number and watched him put the tags on each bag. It took about 3 minutes. Then, both of us took the car to Budget with only our carry-on and rode the shuttle together to the ship. I believe that we dropped the bags off around 10:30. It is a very short ride to Budget and we were back at the port around 11:00.

[MBRN]

I was just looking today at RCL web site and wow our cruise went down!!! pays to look once and a while! called them and they gave me the new price!!! So my advice everyone check their cruises in the next couple of days and see if price has changed!!!:):D