My Freedom Review - Kinda "Live" but not really with lots of pics

[Delta Dear]

Thanks... well perhaps I can get you on her sooner with my review and pics!

 

I wish ! LOL. I'll have to just pretend by imagining myself in your photos.

[Delta Dear]

So, where will I show up next ?

[sayvan]

ok... now where was I...

 

Ah yes... I had made my way back up to the Lido deck to fetch myself one more Drink of the day while my DW Vanda organized our stateroom a tad. By this time, it was almost that dreaded time... the Muster Drill! Now I have to admit we need to do this but I often wonder if anything really did happen would we all be so organized and lined up row to row waiting our turn to get on the life boat. As I stood on the lido deck snapping a few more pictures the call went off for the herds to make their way to a designated muster station.

 

 

The Muster was out on the deck by our designated life boat. Although I am glad you no longer have to take your life jacket with you when we have sailed on other cruiselines the Muster Drill was held somewhere inside the ship like the theatre or a lounge. Not really sure which I prefer. Anyhow.... the mandatory muster lasted about 20 minutes and then we were back to the "fun".

[sayvan]

I wish ! LOL. I'll have to just pretend by imagining myself in your photos.

 

Photoshop is a great tool... send me a pic and I will place you in a few...lol! :D

[sayvan]

After the Muster it was back up to the Lido deck to watch the sailaway. I have to admit with an inside room it is usually at sailaway time that I miss the balcony the most. Then again, it is nice to join your fellow cruisers up on the open decks as the excitement builds and everyone is so happy to be on their way at last!

 

As we started to pull away from shore the sun was just beginning to set but still high enough in the sky to ensure we all got a good look as we headed for the high seas and the warm Caribbean sun!

 

In this shot the sun created an almost silhouette of the Oasis as we moved away from the dock.

 

 

A view of the Port with a Pilot boat in the distance....

 

 

 

Protection....

 

 

Across the Bay...

 

[sayvan]

When home I often go on the web on a Saturday or Sunday to watch the ships sail out of port on the web cams that are located at Port Everglades or Port of Miami. Knowing that they always get some good shots of people onboard we headed for the upper deck of Freedom's Port side to make sure we could get on the Web Cam.... I have learn't over the years that if you have some big sign or a flag of some sort you will have a pretty good chance of getting the cam to find you. Thus, we were off on our first adventure of the cruise... get ourselves on the cam!

 

We knew that the Hyatt was one of the locations of the Port cam.

 

 

This would be our target area. Another area where the Cam is located is in some condominium's just to the left (looking at the ship from Shore) of the Hyatt.

 

 

We found an open spot and started to wave and jump when the people next to us, who just happened to live about an hour and half away from us pulled out a big Canadian flag and placed it across the railing... Bingo we had our spot!

 

Now, I have some work for you to do... I am going to post a link to the Port Everglades Webcam replay. To make this review even more real, I would ask you to click on the link, then when you get to the page at the top of the page there is a drop down menu. Put in Carnival Freedom, January 25th, 2014. This will then take you to our ship leaving port during our sailaway...yes that's right you all can really come along with us.... now once the video starts be watching very carefully between 1:20 and 1:30 and you will see Vanda and I jumping up and down as we sail by. I seem to be doing some kind of pumping action with both my arms. I am in the purple shirt and Vanda in the white. We are just to the left of the flag! OK... off you go... but be sure and come back for more of the review!

 

http://portevergladeswebcam.com/replay.php

[Delta Dear]

Photoshop is a great tool... send me a pic and I will place you in a few...lol! :D

 

Let me know how to send it. That would be fun. Should the picture be from one of our cruises?

 

I have to tell you that it is special that we are booked. Several weeks after coming home from our Breeze cruise last March, my husband announced he didn't want to go on any more cruises. He wasn't feeling well on the Breeze, so I think it was that more than anything.

 

During this cold, snowy winter we've had, one day he said, "I wish I was on a cruise." He said the word cruise again a few weeks later. So, that was all I needed to hear. I booked. I kept it a secret until Valentine's Day. His cards revealed the trip but what sealed the deal was the Power Point I made about all of the details, including pictures of friends who are cruising with us. Now, I think he's looking forward to it.

 

The bonus is that since our son and daughter-in-law live in Hollywood, FL just outside of FLL, we'll spend some Pre-Christmas time with then until we fly back home.

 

Sorry for the highjack. Thanks for a way to add to his idea of what it will be like to be on the Freedom.

[sayvan]

Well... did you enjoy that?

 

Freedom continued to make her way out of the channel and toward the Atlantic... our 8 days of fun was now officially happening. Here are a few shots from the sailaway.....

 

 

 

We are almost out of the channel....

 

 

 

Good Bye Florida...see you in 8 days....

 

 

[sayvan]

We were finally in the open seas...

 

 

It had been a long day and as the sun was beginning to set we would be off to prepare for our first evening onboard... of course, first I pretty much needed a nap because I quickly realized that in the short few hours I was on board I'd had my share of drinks of the day and one or two wobbly pops....or maybe the ship was just rocking...

 

Standing at the railing the wind styles Vanda's hair...

 

 

and then the sun said...see you tomorrow!

 

[sayvan]

Let me know how to send it. That would be fun. Should the picture be from one of our cruises?

 

Ok... send me a shot of you guys on a cruise or beach and I will have some fun and add you to my review...

 

Not sure how or whether its possible to contact other cruise critic members via the site but simply go to my web site at www.sayvanphotography.ca and then go to the contact section and send me a note. This will provide me with your email address and then I can send you an email and we can arrange from there.

 

:)

[5Hawkeyes]

Thanks for the fun review!!! Your pictures are amazing!!!

[Joie]

great review.....we sail on her in a few weeks....can't wait !!! 9th Carnival cruise, first on Freedom though.

[sayvan]

Thanks for the fun review!!! Your pictures are amazing!!!

 

Thanks for following along....

[sayvan]

great review.....we sail on her in a few weeks....can't wait !!! 9th Carnival cruise, first on Freedom though.

 

This was our first time on Freedom as well. She was a lovely ship, in good condition and lots of fun.

[sayvan]

Ok... we need to do this very quiety because I am sitting in my office and I am supposed to be working so.... shhhhh...

 

Our first night on Freedom was rather tame to say the least. It had been a long day. We had the late dinner seating (as we always take) and we sat at a table of ten. Of course the first night is always fun at the table, kinda like a grade 9 dance where the boys stand on one side and the girls on the other. Each wanting to chat with the other, but to shy to bridge that gap on the dance floor. Only at the dinner table, we of course, sat in couples but each of us feeling out the others to see if the table was going to work out... you know what I mean? Usually just some small talk mixed in with awkward silent moments.... a bit like a high school reunion where everyone tells something about themselves and really who knows if its even true... every now and again some fake laughing.... lol.

 

But alas, all was working out just fine at dinner (except that I forgot to take my camera to dinner). We had a great table, two couples were fellow Canadians from Quebec and another couple was from the Miami area and the other couple were newlyweds from Maryland.

 

You remember the picture I showed at the start of Vanda double fisting some drinks of the day? here it is again to refresh your memory....

 

 

Well as it turns out the couple in the background, just happened to be the Newlyweds sitting at our table. What are the chances of that really... close to 3000 passengers on this ship and "bazinga" a couple we happened to see on deck would be at our table... in fact i didnt even realize they were in this shot until I got home and reviewed my shots in more detail... but I seem to be straying from the review now....

 

We finsihed up dinner, everyone said their good nights and off we went, no doubt talking to our spouses about the table and thoughts on the other couples....

 

We went to the casino, lost some money and called it a day.... the first full day of this cruise would be a Sea Day.... thats next..

[SMSACE6]

A fellow Canadian and Ontarian here!:)

 

I am loving your review and photos. I admit to watching the Port Everglades webcam most weekends, and love to see the Freedom sail out. I cruised on that lovely ship four years ago, and now I have booked one again on Freedom for later this year.

 

Thanks for taking the time to post your great review.:)

[sayvan]

A fellow Canadian and Ontarian here!:)

 

 

 

I am loving your review and photos. I admit to watching the Port Everglades webcam most weekends, and love to see the Freedom sail out. I cruised on that lovely ship four years ago, and now I have booked one again on Freedom for later this year.

 

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to post your great review.:)

 

 

Thanks for enjoying. With the winter we have had this year I am wishing I booked even longer time on Freedom...like all winter!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[SMSACE6]

Yes this winter sure had been a tough one!

[hancogran]

Looking forward to your review neighbour! (just down the road in Cambridge). We were on Freedom for 8 days starting January 11th and had a fantastic time. Too bad we had to come back to all this snow! :(

[cruisingbajan]

Nice review and pics. We will be sailing on the Freedom our next cruise.:)

[cruzkitty]

Enjoying your Review and Photos! Thanks for taking the time to do your Review. We will be sailing on the Freedom in Sept for the first time. (Oh, and we have been on Oasis twice and loved it!)

[seanborchelt]

Great review, going on the Freedom March 30th, first time cruiser and really excited

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Daddyfto]

When home I often go on the web on a Saturday or Sunday to watch the ships sail out of port on the web cams that are located at Port Everglades or Port of Miami. Knowing that they always get some good shots of people onboard we headed for the upper deck of Freedom's Port side to make sure we could get on the Web Cam.... I have learn't over the years that if you have some big sign or a flag of some sort you will have a pretty good chance of getting the cam to find you. Thus, we were off on our first adventure of the cruise... get ourselves on the cam!

 

We knew that the Hyatt was one of the locations of the Port cam.

 

 

This would be our target area. Another area where the Cam is located is in some condominium's just to the left (looking at the ship from Shore) of the Hyatt.

 

 

We found an open spot and started to wave and jump when the people next to us, who just happened to live about an hour and half away from us pulled out a big Canadian flag and placed it across the railing... Bingo we had our spot!

 

Now, I have some work for you to do... I am going to post a link to the Port Everglades Webcam replay. To make this review even more real, I would ask you to click on the link, then when you get to the page at the top of the page there is a drop down menu. Put in Carnival Freedom, January 25th, 2014. This will then take you to our ship leaving port during our sailaway...yes that's right you all can really come along with us.... now once the video starts be watching very carefully between 1:20 and 1:30 and you will see Vanda and I jumping up and down as we sail by. I seem to be doing some kind of pumping action with both my arms. I am in the purple shirt and Vanda in the white. We are just to the left of the flag! OK... off you go... but be sure and come back for more of the review!

 

http://portevergladeswebcam.com/replay.php

 

Too Funny!

[crusinpsychRN]

Sailaway video is very funny! Thanks!

[sayvan]

Looking forward to your review neighbour! (just down the road in Cambridge). We were on Freedom for 8 days starting January 11th and had a fantastic time. Too bad we had to come back to all this snow! :(

 

Yes and we are seeing even more of it again... Why do we live up here again? Oh yeah our free health care! ;)