Freedom Review: 10/28/12 by FunInTheSun1964

[funinthesun1964]

When we arrived at the house, the tour guide was waiting. The tour was not very long, but informative. We learned about the owners, their family and lives. There were various pictures of the family members and we were told their names, and where the children were now. The tour of the house was only first floor, and mainly focused on the living room and the pictures of the family members. So it's not like you were able to walk all through the house. We did go out through the back door, and wow, beautiful scenery! Too bad it was raining and muddy grounds, because I believe we would have been able to walk around a little on our own.

 

 

 

The view from the back:

 

 

 

[funinthesun1964]

 

 

 

 

When we left the house through the front door, there was a basket on a table for tip $$ for the tour guide.

Back to our ride, and continuing on: We saw some camels. (thought I had a picture, but now can't find it). We were told that most people have the opportunity to ride the camels, but due to the weather, we would not be doing that. I think we were asked if anyone wanted to, but no one said yes :confused: Wonder why. We headed back to the original meeting place. Passed by the goats, which we also saw on our way out:

 

 

 

And here we are, back again. Tour guides asked for tip $$. By the way, I am not complaining, I just want to make any newbies that may be reading aware to take smaller bills with you when you go on excursions, because this is the way it is.

 

[funinthesun1964]

I spent some more time with my new friend Pretty the parakeet, and we had a short wait until we all boarded the mini-bus. We then drove over to Dolphin Cove for the second part of our excursion. We parked near the street level, then there are some stairs to descend to get to the main area.

 

 

The dolphin area. Never saw a show or anything here, I did see one couple (not from our group) getting their life jackets on and I assumed they were going to swim with the dolphins.

 

 

[funinthesun1964]

Our lunch was included in the excursion price. We had a choice of hot dog or hamburger, and a few side dishes, including some jerk chicken. Nice and spicy. A small soft drink was included. Someone was walking around with some rum punch (which DH said was very strong), but since I still had my soft drink in my (small) cup, I did not get any. To get to the lunch area, we had to walk further down a path and we passed some shops.

 

 

 

Saw some marine life:

 

[funinthesun1964]

We had a good view of the ship from Dolphin Cove:

 

 

 

There was a beach area at Dolphin Cove. It had stopped raining, but still just too cloudy and ugly for a day at the beach. After we ate our lunch, we browsed through the shops and just walked around.

 

On our way down to the lunch area, I saw some birds and I wanted to have a closer look. So we went back, and there was a person there who would allow us to pose with the birds while DH could take a picture, and I could do the same for him. (Tip $$$)

 

 

Bad hair day because of the rain, but who cares, right. We had fun anyway.

 

 

[funinthesun1964]

 

 

 

So, our time was up at Dolphin Cove and then our driver told us he would drop us at a shopping area -but we only had 15 minutes. We headed into a couple of shops, I bought some things for my kids, and back to the bus. The driver took us back to the ship then (asked for tip $$$). We had a little wait getting back onto the ship, it was almost time for departure! :eek:

 

It was a fun excursion, I just wish it hadn't rained. You can't control the weather, though. And Carnival did give us the option to cancel, which I thought was nice. I chose not to since I may never get back to Jamaica, who knows, and I wanted to see the land.

 

We boarded the ship, I headed for a hot shower, and we were looking forward to our VIFP party!

[funinthesun1964]

The VIFP (aka past guest party for gold level & up) was held in the lounge, deck 5 aft. Same lounge where the comedy club is. We headed up there a few minutes before, and found a line...we followed it..and followed it...and followed it...almost to the future cruise desk! :eek: We waited there until they opened the doors, then slowly made our way in. We did the VIFP party on the Glory in July, and either there weren't many VIFP members on that cruise, or they didn't attend. This place was packed!! We found a place to sit and waited for servers. It took just a few minutes, since everyone had filtered in at once, but we had some rum punch and snacks in no time. And, the waiters kept coming back to give us more if we wanted.

 

 

 

 

 

When the party was over, Mel and Barbara found us again. We talked for a few minutes, then left. We stopped in the lounge next door, really just to check it out, but no one was there. Well, someone was there, just sitting by herself and we started a conversation with her. It was a woman from NJ, and she was quite talkative. We must have talked to her 20 minutes.

 

Then, we decided to go back to our cabin. This night was the second formal night. I even brought along a second dress for this occasion! It wasn't fancy, but cute with a black sweater. (sorry no pictures)

 

We met up with Floyd and Diane again for dinner.

 

 

 

 

After dinner, we went to the cabin to change our clothes. We are just so comfortable in our casual clothing.

[funinthesun1964]

Passed this little fella in the hallway

 

 

Dancing waiters

 

Diane was going to be singing in some karaoke, so we went to see. This was held in a lounge, deck 4 aft.

 

 

We had fun here, I had another chance to do the cupid shuffle! Some people felt sorry for me and tried to help me along. LOL, I must be really bad. But I have fun. :o

 

I just cannot remember what we did for the rest of this night, after karaoke. I should keep a journal, like other reviewers do, but I am just not that organized. Sorry.

[funinthesun1964]

To round off the day in Jamaica, I have these photos:

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, time passes by too quickly!!! Tomorrow will be our last day, a day at sea :)

[funinthesun1964]

Well, we woke up on our last full day of the cruise, and I was hungry! We decided to go to breakfast first, then go to the gym (well, I decided). So we went to MDR, and I felt so much better after some coffee and food in my stomach. We sat with three other couples this morning. We didn't get to talk much to the other two couples. It seems that when they seat you with 3 other couples, 2 of the couples get talking to each other, then the other two talk, rather than the whole table conversing. Anyway, we had nice conversation with a couple from Wisconsin.

 

Afterwards, we went to the gym. We ran into Mel and Barbara there. We stayed 45 minutes, then went back to shower and get ready for our fun day at sea. We decided to go out to Lido to see what was going on there. Unfortunately, it was still mostly cloudy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I decided that I would like to get a cup of coffee and relax for a while, and DH wanted to get a yogurt cone. It is obvious that we just came from the gym. I hope we didn't gross anyone out.

 

[sweetcurves]

*sigh* I miss that boat. So many fond memories to think back on.

[2bthereagain]

Hi Brenda,

 

It's me again - loving your review. I was also on the Carnival Freedom, a couple of weeks before your trip. I was wondering what you thought about the decor of the ship? Did you find the copper/metallic made the ship look dark and closed-in? I sorta' did and was wondering if it was just me :). This ship has a great 8 day itinerary that I am strongly considering for our cruise again next October (we did the 6 night like you last time), but I'm just undecided. I generally try to not repeat a ship (there are so many to see!).

 

Thanks!

 

Lisa

[sjn911]

I loved the review...i really want to see Key West like you did and I too want to be aware of Jamaica issues but not miss out on the whole experience of seeing somewhere...you did great and so glad you had a great cruise and thanks for sharing all the tidbits and giving us such a sweet review, you guys just have the best looking sweet faces,,you really are a cute couple..thanks so much..Sarah

[funinthesun1964]

*sigh* I miss that boat. So many fond memories to think back on.

 

I miss it, too! It was such a great cruise! Loved it, can't wait until my next cruise. I think Freedom will definitely be in my future again though. I'm hoping to do the 8 day, though - one of these days.

[funinthesun1964]

Hi Brenda,

 

It's me again - loving your review. I was also on the Carnival Freedom, a couple of weeks before your trip. I was wondering what you thought about the decor of the ship? Did you find the copper/metallic made the ship look dark and closed-in? I sorta' did and was wondering if it was just me :). This ship has a great 8 day itinerary that I am strongly considering for our cruise again next October (we did the 6 night like you last time), but I'm just undecided. I generally try to not repeat a ship (there are so many to see!).

 

Thanks!

 

Lisa

 

Thanks, LIsa. I didn't think about the decor too much, usually I don't notice. Both DH and I thought the dining rooms were lovely. I didn't find it dark until the day in Jamaica (when it was raining) :(

 

I also have my eye on that 8 day itinerary. The only thing is, it is hard for me to get more than one week of vacay at a time. I may be able to squeeze in an extra day in this case, at least I can try. I definitely would love to do it!

[funinthesun1964]

I loved the review...i really want to see Key West like you did and I too want to be aware of Jamaica issues but not miss out on the whole experience of seeing somewhere...you did great and so glad you had a great cruise and thanks for sharing all the tidbits and giving us such a sweet review, you guys just have the best looking sweet faces,,you really are a cute couple..thanks so much..Sarah

 

Thank you so much Sarah, that was very nice of you!

[funinthesun1964]

I am work now, and am very busy here. Taking out a minute to grab a bite to eat. I will work on finishing up the review tonight though. I have to finish our sea day, and then tell about the Everglades tour after the ship, before the airport!

[Miamichile77]

Rio was especially pushy :eek: I Made was nice though!

 

I think out of the 6 cruises I have been on, this was one were the Lido deck servers were the most pushy.

 

Glad you enjoyed the cruise and the Halloween Party!

 

I agree with the pushy deck servers/waiters, also. It seems that they came around every 30 seconds!

[funinthesun1964]

I agree with the pushy deck servers/waiters, also. It seems that they came around every 30 seconds!

 

LOL, I always say that when you don't want a drink, someone is there to take your order, and then when you want one, no one is around! :rolleyes: Murphy's law!

[funinthesun1964]

Well, I guess we went to Lido deck first, then had our showers. oops

 

Anyway, when we changed into our swimsuits and were ready for our relaxing day at sea, it was still a little cloudy. We changed seats a few times, and finally found a place right beside center pool.

 

At lunchtime, we had mongolian grill. The chocolate buffet was set up directly across from there

 

 

Chocolate fountain:

 

 

Proceeding along the line for the Mongolian:

 

 

We found a place to eat and noticed that it was getting sunnier and more people were out on Lido now

 

 

 

[funinthesun1964]

Here is our "spot for the afternoon" - right in front of the pool

 

 

went upstairs to take a picture:

 

DJ - no band on lido :-(

 

 

 

 

rough life, Scott

 

[funinthesun1964]

 

 

[NS-Cruiser]

Thanks, LIsa. I didn't think about the decor too much, usually I don't notice. Both DH and I thought the dining rooms were lovely. I didn't find it dark until the day in Jamaica (when it was raining) :(

 

I also have my eye on that 8 day itinerary. The only thing is, it is hard for me to get more than one week of vacay at a time. I may be able to squeeze in an extra day in this case, at least I can try. I definitely would love to do it!

Our first cruise was on Freedom in 2008, and was this same 6 day itinerary.... our next cruise will also be on Freedom, doing the 8 day Exotic Southern Itinerary to Grand Turk, La Romana, Curucau, and Aruba...

 

(They do two 8 day trips, one Exotic Southern, and one Eastern)

 

Our "cruise buddies" (neighbours of ours) have been on the Freedom three times now... with us on our first - their first too, then they did the 8 day western (that they don't offer any longer) and just now they were on THIS sailing along with you!!!

 

The 8 day itinerary we are booked for (with our "cruise buddies") departs on a Saturday, and gets back in on the following Sunday, so IF (big IF) you time your flights right it can be done with just 1 week's worth of vacation time used...

 

We are flying in on the Friday, and Flying home right after the cruise on the Sunday (Taking Monday as another vacation day to "recover and unpack" before going back to work).:rolleyes:

[funinthesun1964]

What a fun day out on the Lido deck (so happy that the sun came out and it turned out to be a nice day :D) I Made helped us with our buckets of beer. Rio came over and tried to get us to take another bucket, but we told him no. I Made came by soon after, and we had him get us the bucket of beer ;) Rio came back and said why do you now have another bucket of beer when I just asked you? We said, "I Made got..." and he was angry and just walked off!!!:rolleyes: I'm telling you, he was really something else. We just laughed at him.

 

We told I Made we would see him in the dining room at dinner. He always worked in the dining room at dinner.

 

We were scheduled to meet with Floyd and Diane for dinner that night, so we met shortly after 6. We had a good time and good food. I Made came over and saw us and I didn't order a drink that night, but gave him some extra $$$ for taking care of us that week. We said our goodbyes, and finally left the dining room.

 

It was then that I asked the time and it was 7:30 :eek: Remember, I had wanted to see Funship Freddy, he was scheduled to be in the 70's disco at 7!!! I took up and went up stairs and found a bunch of 6 & & year olds. LOL! The camp counselor came up to me and said "Can I help you?" I told her I was looking for FF and she told me sorry, I just missed him! Darn! In the wrong place at the wrong time again!!!

[funinthesun1964]

Ticket to ride was the show tonight. I had head alot about the show, and I definitely wanted to see it. It was never a show on one of our previous cruises.

 

So we went to the theater in plenty of time. I took photos, thought it was very nice looking

 

 

 

 

I thought the show was good, I did get bored in a couple of spots but it was entertaining.

 

After the show, we saw both of the comedians. We sat at a large table with others and had a good time.

 

Then it was time to pack :eek: We do self-assist, so I really just "throw it all in", no worries.

 

We had an excursion booked for tomorrow, after they kicked us out (how rude), so we had to get some sleep.

 

That was all for that day, went by too fast!!! :(