Freedom of the Seas - Photo Review - 3/30 to 4/6 - Western Caribbean

[WinksCruises]

 

The Casino Royale.

 

 

The Library - It's been pretty much picked clean by book thieves! Princess ships lock their library shelves up and provide a manned desk for checkout (albeit only a few hours a day)... but at least you can find recent, good books!

 

 

Hoe Noes... teh Illuminati control the cruise lines too!

 

 

These are two of the oddest things I saw while on board. What are they growing in the closet! Herbs! Can't we just get that in Jamaica? And then, to the right in the picture above, down on Deck 7 - the muster deck - back by the aft engines there was their box of firewood kindle... that sat there day in and day out. Holy fire hazard, Batman. What was going on with that?

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1northstar]

Well done review. Thanks for taking the time to post.

[cruiserdudebobby8]

amazing

 

 

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[S&Slovecruises]

Thanks! Loved your review and all your photos!

[LisaGoeke]

Great review!

Love her "Cruise Chick" tank. Where can I purchase one?? :D

[Clamett]

We were on the cruise just prior to yours and that "box of firewood kindle" was actually there for a service dog. Maybe he/she was still on board.

[lgonquin]

That was an enjoyable read. Many laughs. Well done.

Thanks for the effort.

 

 

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[tlatrice]

 

 

I love your wife's top in this pic! Did she buy it on board?

 

Awesome review, btw.

Edited May 3, 2014 by tlatrice

[WinksCruises]

For those asking about my wife's Cruise Chick top... it's actually a Royal Caribbean girl's t-shirt (RC is spelled out on the back). She got in on board during a voyage few years ago, literally in the Logo Souvenir shop on the Promenade. We think it was on Adventure of the Seas. But she hasn't seen it available on any subsequent cruise.

Edited May 3, 2014 by WinksCruises

[Debitoo]

Great review! I really enjoyed your writing style. Thanks for the laughs and the awesome pictures!

[Susie51]

Thanks for your kind remarks, Cool Cruisers. Those of you getting ready to depart on a future Freedom voyage are in for a genuine experience of a lifetime. The ship is in grand shape and the crew is in good spirits. There are plenty of new things to do and see. The Western itinerary is fun.

 

So, back to the review: Sitting with my head in my hands in the Windjammer after lunch and waiting impatiently for our cabins to finally be readied (behind the scenes housekeeping was working in full force to play catch-up, thanks to intrusive delays caused by the morning's Coast Guard inspection) I had plenty of time to ruminate which I was more upset by: the fact that I was a newly anointed Diamond member or the fact that I was Gold Card carrying Suite Guest and being subjected to this, regardless of which status, level of substandard treatment. And whom the best person to complain to was: the concierge, a guest services desk manager, or right to the top with a scathing letter to good ole Adam himself.

 

That's when my wife, who is less preoccupied by such quandaries, grabbed my arm and gleefully proclaimed it was time to "get out there" and explore the ship! A washy-washy dispense later, and we were out on the decks where I quickly noticed some changes that Royal has incorporated since last we cruised with her.

 

First up... the ample use of interactive digital signage.

 

 

These large, colorful and bright signs could be found one each deck. For first timers, they can be used merely to ascertain where the heck you are in relation to your cabin or some activity center. For more seasoned cruisers, it's a quick way to check the Cruise Compass to make sure you're not missing your shot at the belly-flop contest or simply to see if the mens room is port or starboard side. I thought it was a very useful addition to the ship logistics and saw passengers, young and old, making use of them.

 

Another addition was the ship-wide installation of soda-pop dispensers.

 

 

We're from New York where the battle against super-sized cola consumption is never ending. I can just imagine the war our former Mayor Bloomberg would wage against this new service amenity. Folks on the carbonated beverage package were making liberal use of these machines... and the variety of drink choices was mind boggling (adding perplexing depth to the term "pick your poison"). Topping off or refilling one's soft drink every time they were in eye shot of one of these caffeine pumping behemoths became a stylized ritual, especially among the younger set. And as I sat in the Promenade at Vintages reaching for another glass of wine and observing it all, I wondered about the darker consequences these unlimited drink packages portend.

 

If soda wasn't enough, there was also the proliferation of Dreamworks characters to keep you hyped up and happy...

 

 

Back in my cruising days, you took your picture with the ship's topless figurehead down by the Schooner bar and considered it an accomplishment. Now, we were accosted by no less than Shrek, Mrs. Shrek, a lion, a penguin and this panda big boy... even for photos on formal nights! The character breakfasts and other Dreamwork branding opportunities are starting to give me the Disney Cruise willies. Fortunately, it isn't pervasive enough to really effect the overall experience. Not yet, anyway. But I miss the time when the Captain was the only animated character you stood in line for.

 

I'm going to predict the faddish, cash-grab, Cupcake emporium will eventually go the way of the on-board barber shop - a service it replaced.

 

 

Initially, like on the first few days of the voyage, this bakery didn't seem to be doing a very robust business. But by day 5 or so... dietary caution was thrown to the wind and there was a lot more action crossing over the display case. The cake decorating classes also appeared well attended.

 

As a Suite Guest (but less so as a Diamond member), the next horrific change ripped a big hole in my pounding Loyal to Royal heart. It turns out that the "bleacher" seating overlooking the pool - an area was once reserved for the Gold Card carrying elite to separate themselves from the chair hogging heathens and their towel-hoarding ilk - has now been replaced by even a higher class of service: the private family cabana! Hoe Noes!

 

 

You can just imagine my dismay at this. Especially when we learned that the Suite Guests / Gold Card Only reserved section had now been relegated to a roof of the Pool Bar... a place they probably used to store deck cleaning tools and window washer supplies. This new area isn't even stanchioned off from other cruisers - meaning most any order of riff-raff can make their way up there "accidentally", of course - and you can forget about being on display, as you were before this change. Where people could ogle at your Diamond shininess and awe at the untouchable.

 

I guess it's a good thing I don't sun bathe... or this would have been the deal breaker for me.

 

Upon seeing I was visibly upset by this culmination of demeaning changes, my wife figured she'd best get me situated into our Suite for a much needed time out and decompression opportunity... where, at least for a little while, I could pretend that Gold meant Gold.... and Diamond meant Diamond.

 

 

And for a few precious minutes that afternoon... before the horrors of muster ruined the illusion, I was able to live that gold means gold dream, as I was able to savor the amenities of Suite life in cabin 1560.

 

 

We will be in 1560 in March 2015. I'm enjoying your picture review.

[pearlie]

We were on board with you, on the second leg of our back to back. You caught me, well my back in the meet and mingle. Sadly, we had to disembark in Grand Cayman, as we had a death in the family. Spent my bday traveling home 14 hours. I enjoyed your review especially your Salsa tour. Thanks for taking the time to do this!

[webteach]

Absolutely the best review I've ever read. Laughed and laughed. Thanks!

[iheartbda]

GREAT review, your sense of humor is priceless and your sarcasm delightful. However, I have one teeny tiny issue.....you dissed Bermuda by not being able to distinguish it from Caribbean islands AND, there is no Del Sol or International Diamonds there.:D:D:D

[aloha43]

Thank you so much for your WONDERFUL, funny review!

 

We have 615 days to go before we see Freedom, so your review definitely helps us get through the LONG wait!! :D

Edited May 4, 2014 by aloha43

[thebooth]

Was there an unlimited wifi package available? Thanks!

 

 

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[philps]

It was a great review. We where on the same cruise with you and it was fun to see that we showed up in some of the pictures.

[WinksCruises]

However, I have one teeny tiny issue.....you dissed Bermuda by not being able to distinguish it from Caribbean islands AND, there is no Del Sol or International Diamonds there.:D:D:D

 

Perhaps so, but if your SeaPass card is gold colored, it's not necessary to be correct, ever. :p

[WinksCruises]

Was there an unlimited wifi package available?

I don't believe it was or we would have jumped on it. But to tell the truth, I didn't really look into it very much, only really noticing that we had a discount off any package we did purchase... that's about it, so I could be wrong about that. Perhaps check with some other recent Freedom cruise reviews here.

[iheartbda]

Perhaps so, but if your SeaPass card is gold colored, it's not necessary to be correct, ever. :p

Touche' lolololololol.

I'm surprised someone didn't "get" your review and showed up with their knickers in a knot.:D

There are some who are completely humorless and take everything too seriously.;)

[GHarkness]

Thanks for all your readership! Please know all the Suite / Commoners references are made tongue in cheek and are really meant to poke fun at those who think having Diamond or Suite amenities confers some sort of elevated status or on-ship entitlements beyond what's spelled out in black & white.

 

What a hoot! This really hits home because I just finished my 80 points last Saturday and had to do some creative begging to get my Diamond status installed before my next cruise this coming Sunday (usually it takes a couple weeks for the switch)! But the C&A staff came through for me and I am SO looking forward to being a hoity-toity Diamond, just like you, hahahah! I'll be sure to raise my nose just a little higher in your honor! :D

[GHarkness]

Oops. Duplicate submission. Sorry! Couldn't see over all those diamonds on my nose!

Edited May 14, 2014 by GHarkness
Oops duplicate.

[WinksCruises]

I'll be sure to raise my nose just a little higher in your honor! :D

Thank you... it's good to know that some one will be on board carrying on with proper decorum and age old tradition... otherwise the Emeralds would get all uppity and who knows what impropriety that would wield.

 

PS: If you didn't get a Diamond pin in all the haste to join the good life, you can ask the concierge for one. Works wonders when you wear it in public. We had cabin stewards turning to face the corridor walls as we passed, and nothing beats that thrill!

 

High crust sailing to you!

Edited May 15, 2014 by WinksCruises

[GHarkness]

Thank you... it's good to know that some one will be on board carrying on with proper decorum and age old tradition... otherwise the Emeralds would get all uppity and who knows what impropriety that would wield.

 

Most definitely. Having JUST been an Emerald up until last Saturday, I gotta make sure those low life keep in line! :p Wouldn't want ME to be confused with one of them! :D

[JustUs275]

Was searching for FOS Western itinerary compasses and found yours - thanks for a great review! :)