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New- Just Off Freedom (Aug 12th) Review & Thoughts

jkskrap

By jkskrap,
in Royal Caribbean International

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My impression of the new menu is there is a lot of promising stuff I'm going to want to try, but I might have to get the internet for my phone so I can figure out what some of it is. "Its a what served on a what with what sauce?" I guess I'll be having the waiters explain things every night for a couple of years.

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jkskrap

jkskrap

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My impression of the new menu is there is a lot of promising stuff I'm going to want to try, but I might have to get the internet for my phone so I can figure out what some of it is. "Its a what served on a what with what sauce?" I guess I'll be having the waiters explain things every night for a couple of years.

 

Yeah, we had to ask about several dishes. The waiters were anxious to see what we thought. They had 2 meetings during the week about the new menus but hadn't been able to try everything yet. They seemed excited about the change, too.

 

I forgot to mention on the first night the vegetarian dish (always the last listed on daily main courses) was a soft shell mexican-style tortilla dish that was fantastic. My youngest and I both had it and it was one of our favorites.

 

Also the lobster tails on the Fisherman's Platter are now 6 ounces (they were 4 oz). Our waiter said they looked much bigger than the old lobster tails. They were also very delicious. I had 2 of those dinners (oink oink). I asked for a 2nd lobster tail and she brought me another dinner. YES!! :)

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jkskrap

jkskrap

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lab1.jpg[/img]

 

Here is the "upgraded" buffet. BTW, our balcony-friend and neighbor thought the "regular" buffet was very good. He loved the chicken in particular. His only complaint was that the lines were long and slow moving.

 

lab11.jpg[/img]

 

lab13.jpg[/img]

 

lab12.jpg[/img]

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jkskrap

jkskrap

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The shows:

 

We only saw 3 of the shows, but heard good things from most people about all of them. I had pre-booked the shows on the cruise planner but they never checked our reservations. You just walk in. The most crowded was the ice show, but even then they did not ask for our seapass cards or a ticket.

 

The Ice Show

 

We saw the first ice show on Monday at 3:30 pm. We arrived at about 3:15 and it was already starting to fill up. It was almost completely full by the time the show started. You may meet several members of the Bickerson family here. Elbowing you as you walk in, fighting with spouses about what seats to grab, arguing about what drinks to order, etc. Consider it a pre-show and enjoy! We got a few laughs out of one guy who kept moving his family to “better” seats only to finally end up behind a pole.

 

DON”T MISS THE ICE SHOW! We really enjoyed it. There was a “special guest” that brought the house down. He uses a big wheel and rolls around the ice. Sounds lame, but it was spectacular!

 

 

Once Upon A Time

 

We saw the 7:00 pm show and it was only about 25% full. This was the night we asked our server to get us out of the MDR early.

 

A very good show using popular Broadway songs and retelling a few fairy tales (Cinderella, Pinocchio, Rapunzel, etc.). Great cast of dancers, singers and talented orchestra. It is a short show – barely 45 minutes. Our only criticism would be that the singers mikes were way too loud. The music wasn’t too loud, just the singing. So loud it was a bit distorted. But, again, a really good show – make sure you see it!

 

 

The Farewell Show

 

We went to a 9:00 pm Farewell Show on the last night. We thought the comedian was very funny (sorry, dude, can’t remember your name). Drew, the cruise director, was also funny. The re-cap video was lame. Most of it was stock stuff of the shows, etc. and not enough of our actual cruise.

 

The biggest problem with this show was that we had to keep clapping for the crew – bartenders, cabin stewards, guest relations, on and on. WAIT. Before you think I am an ass, let me say they DESERVED our praise. At the end of the show a few members of each part of the crew come on stage (even the captain) and are acknowledged with applause. The problem is, by then, Drew has had us clap and cheer for every crew team 3 or more times already!! Not enough of thanking all of us in the audience for making it a great cruise IMHO. ;)

 

The other thing I found strange was that they sang “Imagine” by John Lennon at the end of the show. We all thought it was an odd choice of a song. I love the song, but????

 

 

 

On the last sea day we took the behind the scenes tour of the Arcadia Theatre. It was a fun tour and the crew did a great job showing us around.

 

Lots of talent on the Freedom!

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jkskrap

jkskrap

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Falmouth, Jamaica

 

We had booked an RCI excursion for Jamaica (Essence of Montego Bay and Rose Hall Great House) but it was cancelled a few days before we left on the cruise. We thought about taking another excursion but finally decided to just check it out on our own. We ended up just walking around the port and did not venture outside of the gated area.

 

There is a very nice outdoor mall at the port with lots of shops. How can all those jewelry stores stay in business? Most of the gift shops carry the same merchandise so it becomes a bit tedious towards the end. My advice to our girls was to hit all the stores and check prices, then go back and buy what you want. The prices did vary a lot – and just about everything is negotiable. A very nice T-shirt my youngest wanted was $25 - $40 depending on the store. She bought it for $20. When you go back to the store they may quote a completely different price. They seem to be making it up as they go along. Also, many are pretty forceful and don’t want to let you leave the store. It’s nothing like the street vendor encounters we have all had, but to people who aren’t used to it, they will seem very pushy.

 

I had a delicious, ice cold Red Stripe beer as we walked around. It was six bucks – more than on the ship. Go figure.

 

My youngest had a strand of hair braided with 3 beads for $3. After she knocked over all of the ladies beads and sent them careening down the concrete I tipped the lady a few bucks! She was SUPER nice and couldn’t believe we were on hands and knees trying to pick them all up. She had a great smile.

 

When you first walk into the shopping area there are guys on stilts who want you to stand for pictures. Afterwards they insist on a tip, of course.

 

All in all we enjoyed the shopping plaza. We kept referring to it as our. “extensive tour of Jamaica.”

 

We were back on the ship for lunch. The girls went to Windjammer and said it was very good this time. Then they hit the pool area which was not at all crowded. They had a great day. My DW and I went to Johnny Rockets, hit the casino, napped on the balcony, and had a delightful afternoon. :)

 

Here are a few pics of Falmouth:

 

lab4.jpg

 

fal5.jpg

 

fal4.jpg

 

fal1.jpg

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jkskrap

jkskrap

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You got the upgraded buffet because you were in a suite or because you had booked a cabana through RCI?

 

If you book a cabana at Nellie's Beach you get the upgraded lunch that they serve the suite guests. They give you wrist bands that get you into the suite area at Barefoot Beach.

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surreymum

surreymum

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I was asked to join a forum on board to discuss the new menu. There were about 12 of us that had a meeting with 3 RCI staff including the head of food and beverages for the whole cruise line. The meeting lasted approx 90 mins and we were given $50 obc as a thanks. They asked about the menu format, the importance of the dining experience, what we liked and didn't, what we would like to see in the future etc. It was fascinating. The head honcho arranged a galley tour for us but unfortunately I was on a tour in Jamaica so couldn't make it. I spoke to a few of those that did go and they said it was amazing. I fly back to the UK tonight so will post more when I get back.

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jkskrap

jkskrap

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I was asked to join a forum on board to discuss the new menu. There were about 12 of us that had a meeting with 3 RCI staff including the head of food and beverages for the whole cruise line. The meeting lasted approx 90 mins and we were given $50 obc as a thanks. They asked about the menu format, the importance of the dining experience, what we liked and didn't, what we would like to see in the future etc. It was fascinating. The head honcho arranged a galley tour for us but unfortunately I was on a tour in Jamaica so couldn't make it. I spoke to a few of those that did go and they said it was amazing. I fly back to the UK tonight so will post more when I get back.

 

That's awesome! Can't wait to hear more. What did you think of the food? As you can tell, we enjoyed it tremendously!

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wolfganghowell

wolfganghowell

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Great review - thanks. Hoping you'll have some comments on the entertainers in the Pub and Schooner Bar too.

 

I too am always amazed at the Bickersons's onboard. Fighting in public is one of my "Oh no you di-ent" pet peeves. The worst was the drunk couple at the Pool Bar who sat there arguing, cursing, crying and planning their divorce. I thought the poor bartenders were going to have a meltdown - they didn't know what to do! :eek: Thank goodness we never saw them again after that little scene.

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Annefran

Annefran

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Absolutely loved your review. We are doing this same cruise next May 2013, me, DD and her friend. We loved the Liberty of the Seas and I'm doing the Independence of the Seas in January with my sister. So I will have done all the Freedom class ships by next year. Loved your reference to the "Bickersons". We always encounter those people at check-in on boarding day and wonder if they are going to do that their entire cruise???? :rolleyes:

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jkskrap

jkskrap

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Great review - thanks. Hoping you'll have some comments on the entertainers in the Pub and Schooner Bar too.

 

 

Believe it or not, we spent very little time just sitting at a bar relaxing. The music we heard was very good, but it wouldn't be fair to give an opinion on the different entertainers. I can tell you everyone seemed to be having a great time!

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jkskrap

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Grand Cayman

 

We had a great time in Grand Cayman. Haiti and Jamaica look beautiful from the ship as you are pulling in. Grand Cayman is flat without the “curb appeal” but nonetheless beautiful.

 

We booked the 4 hour “Stingray and Island” excursion with Native Way Watersports for $60 each. I had great email communication with Sharon when we booked and when I followed up right before the cruise. This was my daughters’ favorite day of the cruise. Wear your bathing suits because you are going to get wet!

 

We caught a Tender from the ship at about 9:00 am. There was a line but it moved quickly and we were ashore within 15 minutes of leaving our cabin. We were early (meeting time was 9:45 am), so we walked to a coffee shop in town and messed. We met up with the Native Way folks back at the pier and waited for another family that never showed up. It turned out to be just us and one other family – 9 total. We walked over to our little bus and were on our way! Our bus driver was Eldon, Sharon’s husband, and Sharon was narrating as he drove. Eldon is a native of the island and Sharon is a New York transplant and has lived there for 10 years. I can’t say enough about how friendly these two were. It just couldn’t have been any better.

 

We drove by a few sites for some pictures and got out by the 7 mile beach. Such beautiful water. Pictures don’t do it justice. We live right by a beautiful beach (Boca Grande, FL) but this water was gorgeous.

 

We then stopped by the Tortuga Rum Cake factory. Basically a gift shop, but you can see them bagging and boxing the Rum Cakes in the back. Prices for the cakes were no cheaper than the cruise ship, but the variety was huge. I sampled lots of rum: gold, coffee, pineapple, vanilla . . . good stuff! I purchased a couple of bottles that they sent to the ship. They were delivered Saturday afternoon to our cabin (with our onboard liquor purchases). They also have a snack bar that serves what look like hot pockets. We weren’t smart enough (like another cc member who was on the tour with us) to buy a couple to eat later, but I would do so if given the chance again! No lunch is included on the tour, and when they pulled out their hot pockets on the boat ride back I thought, “Man, what a smart idea!”

 

Next we went to Hell. It is the name of a rock formation that looks like . . . hell. I guess. Very cool. Eldon showed us around and told us stories. He also talked about some of the plant life. Then it was off to the oh-so-pleasantly-tacky gift shop. A cute old timer looked at me and said, “Welcome to Hell” with a devilish grin. Loved it. Tacky - yes. Loved it. Bought a hat from Hell.

 

Next it was a drive to the Turtle Farm. Very, very cool. Eldon gave us the tour here. It was great to have a guy who knew what he was talking about. He knew the history; he had caught and ate the turtles when he was younger. We were petting and holding turtles of all ages. It was great!

 

We then drove to board our boat for the ride to Stingray City. There were 2 crew members and our group. Sharon and Eldon were not with us, but would be there when we got back. It is a quick 10-15 minute ride to the middle of the bay to the sandbar where the rays hang out. Pretty amazing place.

 

When we first arrived, there were several large boats and probably 100 people in the water. Our guys (Thomas and JC) found us a spot on the end of the sand bar and put down the anchor (actually JC hopped in the water and placed the anchor). Within a few minutes most of the other people had packed up and left. Thomas and JC will dive down a grab a ray for you to pet, hold and kiss (yuck – but I did it after my kids forced me). There are rays swimming all around your feet. Some huge, some small. All completely wild. It was awesome! Never have we experienced something like this.

 

Some people might freak out a bit when a stingray knocks into them (my DW did), but you don’t have to jump in the water if you don’t want to. We stayed about 30 minutes or so. It was fantastic.

 

JC took pictures of us and then showed them to us on our ride back. I bought all of them on a CD for $50. Pretty ingenious way to make an extra buck! The pics are really good. We had bought a cheap disposable underwater camera for $12 at one of the gift shops (35 mm). We were surprised how good the pictures turned out when we had them developed!

 

A quick ride back to the bus on the boat (with a slight detour to show us homes in a canal and some of the iguanas sunning themselves). That’s something a big tour could never do for you.

 

We were dropped off back at the pier at about 2:30 or so. Said our goodbyes to Sharon and Eldon, and headed towards our Tender. There was no line – which I thought was amazing – and as we walked through the gate a guy started yelling at us. Turns out we were heading to the Carnival Tender! He pointed us in the right direction and that’s when we saw it . . . the line . . . the line of all lines . . . the twisting, turning, where-the-hell-is-the-end . . . line. Must have been 500 or more people in this line. We finally found the end and my daughter noticed a lemonade stand that also sold the hot pocket things. They stayed in line and I went to the lemonade line. By the time I got 2 lemonades and a couple of the sandwiches, they were almost through the gate! A quick moving line! We downed the drinks, ate the last bites as we scanned our seapass cards and were back on the ship in no time.

 

It was a wonderful day! Thank you so much Sharon and Eldon! You guys are the best!

 

Pics will follow . . .

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adamdm

adamdm

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The "hot pockets" jkstrap references are more commonly known as "Jamaican Beef Patties" although they do come in other varieties than beef and in Grand Cayman they do leave out the "Jamaican" part. =)

 

You are right about that line getting back on the tender; I thought I was going to be sick...the longest line I have stood in a very long time. It did move fairly quickly, but it was SO hot and it was in the middle of a concrete oasis (which IMO most of Grand Cayman seemed to be) so I had to duck out at one point to get some bottled water. At that point, though, people are pretty easy-going about people saving places in line and whatnot -- after all, what's one more person getting ahead of you in a line of 500 people? Our Atlantis Submarines excursion left us with just 15 minutes to get back for the "last tender" so you can imagine my horrification turning the corner and seeing what I think at that time was probably closer to 800-900 people in line. Of course once you get there you quickly realize that they're not going to be leaving 800 people on shore so at that point you can relax a little.

 

Anyway, back to the patties. A friend and I stopped at that same patty shack earlier in the afternoon. The lady talked on her cell phone for nearly the whole time we were in front of her -- and to make matters worse she was not a multi-tasker so we pretty much had to stand there are stare at her for 3-4 minutes while she wrapped up her cell phone conversation.

 

She offered a few different flavors of patty including a seafood patty that I had never seen before. I got that and a spicy sausage pastry of some kind that was quite delicious -- it was basically just the patty "pie crust" sort of thing wrapped around a spicy polish sausage kind of a thing. The seafood patty was OK...kindof like a pastry filled with crabcake stuffing. Got a few pieces of shell in there and that grossed me out a little.

 

Also had a hand-shaken lemonade which was good. And all of it much better than a Hot Pocket! ;P

Edited by adamdm
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