May 26-June 1 Freedom Review with LOTS pictures (AND Food Porn)

[GAMOM4]

So you actually just click on the picture in shutterfly and then paste it in this section of the thread?

[CheckersMidwest]

Givemeliberty: I forgot to mention, I lived in Urbandale until I was about 3. Our house was on Madison Ave. My sister took dance class at the studio on Douglas. We do almost all of our shopping in Des Moines as opposed to KC. It is EXACTLY an hour and a half from my driveway to Jordan Creek. :)

[CheckersMidwest]

The pictures on shutterfly show up several on a page. If you click that one....it's that size. I double click the picture I want so it comes up bigger in another viewing.

 

Right click & "copy"......then go back to cruise critic and right click where you want your photo to be & "paste".

[deetrayn]

Very nice review, and pics. It's not time for lunch yet, but I am ready to eat now after viewing your photos. Thanks for sharing! :)

[poptart]

was the beach at the palms easy to navigate and were you able to get. a taxi fairly near where you get off the tender?

 

that is our plan for the legend in November. my adult daughter is disabled and has walking and balance issues. by looking at the web Cam and their web site they appear to have a fairly level easy to navigate beach and a nice pool.

 

was your lunch about double what you expected?

Edited June 6, 2013 by poptart
tablet typing... ugh

[CheckersMidwest]

I would recommend a taxi instead of the bus if your daughter has mobility issues. The bus 'station/stand' wasn't hard to find, but it is a little walk. The taxi's were on the street right outside the port shops. They are $5 each to Royal Palms.

 

The beach at Royal Palms is level and the pool area is nice. Once you step into the water, there is a drop off though. There are a couple of other beaches people talk about going to, I wonder if they have a drop off......

 

Lunch was really good and the portions were big. I would eat there again. For the 4 of us, we had 2 mahi fish sandwhiches with fries, a shrimp mango wrap (excellent!), conch fritters, 2 alcohol drinks, and 2 cokes. It was $96. I figured it would be around $50 but didn't really do the math for conversion. I just thought that was a lot since it wasn't even fancy food, just basic lunch stuff. Live and learn. :)

[CheckersMidwest]

I forgot to mention that on the last night around 11:00 or so, the couple 2 cabins down (next door to my kids' cabin) were fighting. Screaming & yelling out on the balcony and in the room.

 

It quieted down so I just went on packing , but then it started up again.

 

I called Guest Services. They told me that the cabin on the other side had already called and that security was on their way. I peeked outside in the hallway a few minutes later and security was just walking up. I didn't hear another peep.

 

Nice to know they respond quickly and that security is around if you need it.

 

There have been several questions lately about seeing drunks all around. I did not. There were a lot of people drinking, but I never whitnessed anyone out of line or acting in any way that I felt uncomfortable nor threatened.

 

During the Mr. & Mrs. Freedom pageant, one of the tasks they were given was to collect as many bikini tops as possible in like 60 seconds. They were frantically running around the lido. Women laid down & took off their tops then I saw one standing up ....trying to hold a towel up under her arms and still filming the whole thing. Might want to avoid that if you have small kids.:rolleyes:

 

Still trying to get the Fun Times posted. They're scanned, but not transferring very well to the computer. This Windows 8 isn't always compatible with other stuff, it has to do with the 'reader' it uses.

Edited June 6, 2013 by CheckersMidwest

[newdestination]

Nice review! We live about an hour south of Des Moines and have flown out of Des Moines, Kansas City, Omaha, and Moline, Illinois on various trips. Years ago it seemed like flights from KC were usually significantly cheaper than Des Moines, but lately that isn't always the case. It is still expensive to fly to any cruise port from the Midwest.

[poptart]

thanks for the answer about royal palms. my dd just wades a little at the edge of the surf. she just wants to be able to sit and look at the beautiful caribean water. I think it will suit or needs and we'll definately take a taxi.

 

thank you for your wonderful review.

Edited June 6, 2013 by poptart

[smplyblessed619]

I loved your review and pictures! Thank you for taking the time to post...the excursion in Jamaica looked like a lot of fun but you lost me at spiders! lol.

[rlyans]

Thanks for the great review. We are sailing on the Freedom 7/6 and can hardly wait. The 1st time on the Freedom. We have sailed on Carnival 7 times and never once had a bad cruise. You guys sound like our family....any cruise or vacation is a good cruise or vacation. It's all what you make of it...

[Cupcrazy]

Great review & fantastic pictures! Thanks for taking your time to post your trip report

[caro1998]

Thanks so much for posting such a wonderful, extensive review. I've got my eye on this ship and itinerary for my next cruise :)

Caro

[deedle7544]

Your review is great, thank you - love all the pictures!

[sing2sas]

Very nice review! I had to laugh, when I saw that you flew out of Des Moines becasue it was cheaper than KC. We live in Des Moines and haven't been able to "afford" to fly out of Des Moines on our last 3 vacations! We have driven to KC, Omaha, and Minneapolis. How the heck did you get so lucky?! I'd love to actually fly out of my own town for a change! LOL

 

We live in Des Moines and can't always "afford" it either. We often drive to K.C. It is funny that you actually found better prices than some of the bigger cities could offer.

[cruiseclues]

Thanks for your photo review...especially the food porn. :):):):)

[cruiseclues]

We ate lunch at the Conch Republic Seafood Company on stop #8. It was really good ! I wanted to get some Key Lime Pie at Kermits which is also at this stop, but by now we were full, hot and tired. Back to the ship.

 

Time for Dinner:

 

This was my husband's. I don't know what it was called but it had shrimp, scallops, calamari, a piece of salmon on top and the oysters. He said it was excellent !

 

Good Photo Review. Those oysters look suspiciously like mussels. :):):):)

[cruiserking]

Really enjoyed your travelogue and pictures, thanks for posting.

 

Jonathan

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the report!

[Momofthreeprincesses]

Grease review.. Thanks for taking the time to do it! We are on the freedom next month and can't wait.

Have a question what was the tshirt exchange for the teen group?

[Momofthreeprincesses]

Sorry that should say Great review..[emoji16]

Didn't check my typing I guess!!

[ncovert]

Just came across your review. Thank you for taking the time to post. I love the many, many shared pictures. :D