Freedom 12-13-14 Shrimp, Dr. Seuss and A Few Calamities

[tranquilreign]

Love this review!

 

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[cessnabmw]

Thank you for the review. We were on the same cruise and had a really nice time.

 

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[Delta Dear]

The Freedom is cool, really cool.

 

By that I mean, take a sweater or wrap. I am NEVER cool. When I go to places where most people are putting on wraps or sweaters, I remain comfortable in my short sleeves. The public areas on the Freedom had me wishing I had brought some sleeves along with me.

 

We were able to control the cabin temperatures ok, but other areas on the ship never seemed quite warm enough.

[mississauga]

Jane, thank you for another great review. You always do a very interesting one. It is always an enjoyable read.:D

[Cruiser 2 too]

You,ve done it again! Enjoyed your review, Keep them coming. I just returned from. a 4 day quicky before the holidays left out of FLL.

[Luckysll]

Great review, Jane.

[jordanaire]

Great review, Jane.

 

Hello Sandy! We sure missed meeting you on the 15-day cruise to Hawaii back in 2012! How are your knees doing? Leila has had a total knee replacement and a total shoulder replacement since the cruise. I guess she's becoming my Bionic Woman! Hope you are well on your way to a healthier you. I just retired, so now it's time to cruise!

 

We set sail on the Freedom in 18 more days!

 

Take care!

 

:cool:Bill & Leila :rolleyes:

[nybumpkin]

 

About 35 years ago, I developed a definite allergy to tree nuts. Around that same time, I thought I was also allergic to shellfish. That was purely a self diagnosis because at the time my allergist said, "Skin testing for food is not as accurate as your own body's reactions." Well, guess what. I was WRONG, I am not allergic after all. So, this would be my first cruise since confirming that. Therefore, we'll get the shrimp feast out of the way first.

Jane - Glad to see the rest of your review! Thanks for sharing it.

 

I had to chuckle at the story of your shellfish non-allergy. Our oldest son had a problem with shrimp and we always assumed it was a shellfish allergy - but he was never tested for it. Six years ago, when he was applying to a service academy, he had to be cleared by the Department of Defense Medical Evaluation Review Board (DODMERB). The evaluation form was very detailed, and did ask about allergies. After he submitted it DODMERB asked for details about his "shellfish allergy." Since he had never been tested, he asked his doctor for a test - and lo and behold, it came back negative! Sent the test results off to DODMERB - which came back with a request for details about why he THOUGHT he had an allergy. Someone at his school must have contacted DODMERB and told them to lay off, because a few days later his DODMERB clearance came through. However, to this day he won't touch shrimp.

 

BTW, I like your signature line about "Why didn't we discover cruising earlier?":cool:

[atinys]

heeyyyyy so glad I found your review. Looks like a great time was had by all

[evandbob]

Thanks for persevering and finishing up your review, Jane, it helped me re-live that particular cruise experience, as well as expose me to some new opportunities like the green eggs breakfast. Did I tell you that I received a letter from the casino hosts that contained an offer for a free inside cabin cruise? I was able to convert that letter into an 8 day Valor out of Port Canaveral leaving March 27 - how's that for luck? HNY, Bob.

[Luckysll]

Hello Sandy! We sure missed meeting you on the 15-day cruise to Hawaii back in 2012! How are your knees doing? Leila has had a total knee replacement and a total shoulder replacement since the cruise. I guess she's becoming my Bionic Woman! Hope you are well on your way to a healthier you. I just retired, so now it's time to cruise!

 

We set sail on the Freedom in 18 more days!

 

Take care!

 

:cool:Bill & Leila :rolleyes:

 

Hi Bill. I am doing well. I think my knee replacement was either 2 weeks before or 2 weeks after Leila's and we made numerous FB posts comparing our recoveries. :D

[patrice1]

What an awesome review! DH & I frequently skip ports that we've done multiple times as we really enjoy just being onboard - reading, lounging and napping! After having knee surgery this year (torn meniscus), I completely understand the reticience to walking long piers! I was 1 week post op on our last cruise. Geesh!

[Kayloves]

Awwww. Thanks so much for this review. I so want to see the Seuss at Sea as well. Great sea pics too.

 

 

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[NCTribeFan]

Jane, you are now officially in charge of packing Morgan's insulin pens! :p

 

I also thought I was allergic to shellfish for several years. I had a reaction to something during an office Christmas party almost 20 years ago. The thing was, I'd eaten just about every type of seafood that was on the menu - crab, oysters, calamari, escargot, shrimp, and several other things. I had asthma anyway, and realized I was wheezing. My inhaler did nothing at all, so I got in the car and drove myself the 8 miles to the ER back in town. By then, I couldn't speak and my nail beds were blue. I think I came very, very close to dying. At the least, I probably should've passed out and wrecked on the way.

 

When I got to the point that I could speak, I told the ER doc that if I was allergic to shellfish to just let me die because life wouldn't be worth living if I could never eat shrimp again. :p

 

Well, I survived and was sent for allergy testing. While I was allergic to vitrually everything (especially cats and dust mites), I did NOT react to the shellfish serum. Interesting. She tried a different serum and still no reaction. So I've carried an EpiPen since and I avoided shrimp and lobster for years. I finally decided to try one shrimp one night at a restaurant that was near the hospital, just in case. Nothing. Next time, I ate two. Nothing.

 

So, the good news is that I really wasn't allergic to shellfish and I again eat shrimp and lobster whenever possible. The bad news is we don't know what triggered that reaction, so how do you avoiding consuming something that might kill you if you don't know what that is? I think that something was tainted, and that's just how my body reacted. Hopefully!

 

That room service shrimp salad looks great! And I know what I'm having as an appetizer next time I eat in the steakhouse!!

 

Anyway, I'm glad you're back to the review. I finally finished my Freedom 11/29 review!

 

There are a few (ridiculously expensive) cabins available for Splendor to Bermuda. Come join us!

[SMSACE6]

Hi Delta Dear/Jane! Thank you for your excellent review which I have enjoyed very much. It brought back some lovely memories of my November cruise on the Freedom. Even though you encounter calamities on the way and during, I love the way you deal with them. Reminds me of the saying Keep Calm and cruise on:D and you do that very well. Thanks again for the fun review.:)

Edited December 30, 2014 by SMSACE6

[michiganirish]

Thanks for the wonderful review. We sailed with you - we were the goofs in the Raindeer and elf hats. Also loved everything Seuss breakfast. Such fun. Seems like a forever ago that we went. Enjoyed the quick trip down memory lane.

[Delta Dear]

Here's the link for the first part of the review. If you haven't read it, enjoy.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2142676

[gapearl]

On the lighter side, if you have ever read reviews by GA Pearl, you know how she has given Carnival the thumbs down on what they call ‘corn bread.’ I spotted corn bread on the Lido Deck one afternoon at lunchtime and just HAD to take it to examine it for myself. I’ll admit, I wasted it because it was so unappealing I didn’t even taste it. I like good made from scratch southern style corn bread. Morgan likes Jiffy mix corn bread which is a stretch for me. This Carnival corn bread is like nothing I’ve ever seen in life. NO WAY is it even close. Disgusting looking, isn’t it? Even bacon can't help.

 

 

 

 

 

GA Pearl; This was just for YOU. If you have it, please put in the link of your first comments about the Carnival corn bread. They were hilarious.

 

WRONG! WRONG! That is just so WRONG!!! Did you put the bacon on top yourself? Cause if it came like that, that's even MORE WRONG for pork haters like myself! smh :eek: You should have had one bite just for the fun of it. lol

 

Here's the link you requested. Post #179 covers them all. :D

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1957128&page=9

[sjn911]

Great review..I navigated from GPearls and the cornbread talk got me interested...I can eat and like lots of mixes and have yet to make it totally from scratch but make it every year for Halloween with chilli..and we usually have some local honey with it...we unsed to have honey bees when my dad ranched...nothing like butter cornbread and honey...I like Krusteaz the best and sometimes add whole corn but drained well so bread is real...well cornbready...LOL.

 

Dad just made the Juffy last few weeks ago and vegetable soup...he is allowed..tasted ok cause it had the honed and dad did it for us..mom is now gone and when dad does anything..it may sometimes be bland or off but it tastes still like heaven becasue of his effort..really good on the salt too..LOL..healthy.

 

That stuff looks like indercooked corn pudding of something..LOL..Sarah

 

Thanks for always sharing such special reviews..

Edited January 7, 2015 by sjn911

[bvhboat]

Where did the hot tubs go???