Cheapo dad's trip report on Freedom of the Seas

[harryfat1]

Quick question for all you wise CC folks – I know the Adventure of the Seas had to modify some of refurbishment plans due to hurricane damage to the dry dock area. What is the latest progress on that? Just wondering if we do go on her later this year, what will they have completed?

 

On the RCI web site, they mentioned there will be a 2 deck golf course?

[harryfat1]

(OK, back to the trip report)

The whole ruins area is huge and requires a lot of working. It felt too rushed for those of us that want more time to see things. The 1.5 hours spent there seems to go by real fast. I would need around 2+ hours at least in that place and then 15+ minutes shopping/visiting Uncle Bob in prison afterward.

 

This is the third Mayan ruin we have visited. All are cruise ship related tours – no surprises there as I’m not the type to fly all the way out in middle of nowhere just to see a Mayan ruin. First one was Chichen Itza. Second one as the San Gervasio in Cozumel and this is the third. There are still more to see in the Belize area but that’s for later cruises. There’s also Tulum if you get there via ferry from Cozumel but I read way too many stories of rough waters and cookie tossing time to see Tulum that way. I’ll pass.

 

Now don’t embarrass me by asking me exactly what each of the pyramid were used for (you can look it up on Wiki). The tour guide explained it at the time and it went in one ear and out the other (reminds me of my high school days in history class – in and out). Actually not even sure it made it inside my ear as part of the time I was drifting off to the side taking pictures so don’t think I even heard half of the stuff she said.

 

Part of the reason is this is my third Mayan ruin visit so I know a little about the history so I don’t feel that compelled to listen to the history lesson again and again. Also since there were tons of people around the sites such that when one group moves on, you get a small window of opportunity to take a picture before 50 people comes over to photo bomb your picture.

 

History lesson I can go back to read on Wiki back at home if I have to. I can’t go back home and re-take the pictures if I was standing there listening to her…Priorities, people. Priorities.

[harryfat1]

Here’s the pathway to start the tour – follow the leader

 

 

 

 

Looking back at the starting building

 

 

 

 

Tour guide explaining the area/region/history

 

 

 

 

 

 

First pyramid sighting. A whole lot of people. Everyone s congregating at this one as it’s big and it’s the first one. Our tour guide told us not to get too hung up on this one as we will see it on the way back and by the late afternoon, there will be nobody there. But you can’t resist the temptation to snap off few quickies.

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

You’ll see more of the first one later in the day without the masses on our way back. For now, moving onto the trees section of the tour

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, the tour guide isn’t hugging the tree. She’s explaining that there’s a parasite that is engulfing this tree with an outer layer and will soon wrap itself around the entire tree. You can see there’s outside layer on the outside.

 

 

 

 

Close up view

 

 

Edited January 15, 2017 by harryfat1

[Coralc]

Strangler Fig. :D Cool!

Edited January 15, 2017 by Coralc

[IRcruisin]

We had few photos taken with my wife’s friend’s family at the RP and then we took few more before quitting.

 

 

Good area to have a photo of a big group taken from above

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opposite view

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s time to call it a day as we have to be up early on day 3 to catch the first tender to get off the ship for Grand Caymans.

 

 

Made our way back to the cabins to see our first set of towel animals

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was starting to get windy outside and I can feel the ship’s side by side movement walking around and while sleeping in the cabin, I can hear the hangers banging against each other from the motion but not bad enough to cause motion sickness.

 

 

Ok, Harry next time you are cruising , I, for one, think you should stack your family at each balcony and take a picture that way! How cool would that look?!!

Sailing on Allure in May....can't wait! Your review has given us lots of info, thank you!

[harryfat1]

Strangler Fig. :D Cool!

 

Haha, I figure if anyone here on CC will comment this picture, it would be you. Took few extra tree pics from the ruins just for you

[harryfat1]

Ok, Harry next time you are cruising , I, for one, think you should stack your family at each balcony and take a picture that way! How cool would that look?!!

Sailing on Allure in May....can't wait! Your review has given us lots of info, thank you!

 

Hehe, yes. Us photographers think alike. Only after I came home did I realize I missed the photo op when I saw the 3rd picture in the series that we could have stacked the family on top of each other on different decks – a visual family tree if you will with 3 generations standing on 3 different decks.

 

I was going to do it for the next cruise but we would have to find someone to take a picture for us that would be willing to stand there while we position ourselves.

 

 

Speaking of the Allure and unique family pictures, we had the horizontal family pictures from the balconies back then. I miss that ship. Can't get these picture other than the Oasis class ships

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

Onto the next set of pyramids. Again, a lot of people everywhere. Just have to get used to having people in your pictures

 

 

 

 

Not easy to find a peaceful corner without anyone else around

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally no one is around. Hurry, take a picture as another group of 50 people is approaching

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

More history and background info that I kind of tuned out. At first glance, the guy on the left reminds me of Richard Attenborough from Jurassic Park

 

 

 

 

Moving through the ruins and the narrow passage steps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

Interesting looking trees. I assume Patti and her expertise will shed some lights on these

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gatour]

While the flight time to London and the southern islands may be the same, keep in mind the flight to London will be overnight. If you can sleep in an upright airplane seat overnight this may not be an issue. Whereas a flight to the islands will not be as bad.

 

Thanks for all the info. Appreciate you sharing the knowledge of the islands.

 

 

My preference is to go the southern route for the simple reason of never having been there. Only drawback historically has been the long flight (cost) to fly from CA all the way down there. With connecting flight time included, it’s about the same amount of time to fly to London nonstop.

 

 

It was never really a serious consideration previously as I had younger kids but now the boys are older, they can tolerate the longer transit.

 

 

I was looking at the various travel agents sites this weekend and I think I will pull a “Ken maneuver” by double booking both Celebrity and RCI and just wait to see how the airfare works out later on and cancel the other one.

 

 

I read any good things about Bernards at St. Maarten here on CC and Trip advisor. Will book with them as we will be there regardless of which cruise we ended up choosing. Both cruises stop at St. Maarten.

[harryfat1]

While the flight time to London and the southern islands may be the same, keep in mind the flight to London will be overnight. If you can sleep in an upright airplane seat overnight this may not be an issue. Whereas a flight to the islands will not be as bad.

 

Good point.

 

Obviously it’s still too early to know the December flight time and costs. I’ll need to monitor that closely along with the cruise cost itself to see what we will do.

 

For now, we are double booked on both eastern and southern so will see what happens next few months.

[harryfat1]

I think I had this one as one of the sample front page pictures. I liked how the trees are growing on top of the stair cases

 

 

 

 

 

Tour guide was showing the people the various stages of the excavating the ruins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Coralc]

Mexican Fan Palms in the last photo, possibly. More fig trees. And I have no idea what those long fronded palms are in the initial photos. :)

 

I sure wish that our retaining walls held up as well as the Mayans. They don't.

Edited January 16, 2017 by Coralc

[harryfat1]

Mexican Fan Palms in the last photo, possibly. More fig trees. And I have no idea what those long fronded palms are in the initial photos. :)

 

I sure wish that our retaining walls held up as well as the Mayans. They don't.

 

I guess they don’t make the rocks the way the used to anymore…

 

Think you may be the only person in reading this report that is still awake. All the Mayan stuff has put the people to sleep.

 

That’s OK. Just like a buffet, everyone has different interests. They can rejoin the tour later on…

[harryfat1]

More show and tell time for the tour guide to explain things

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time for the climbing part of the tour

 

 

 

 

The family up top

 

 

 

 

The other perspective

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

That gets us up to this area

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then the tour guide spotted a monkey in the trees

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

Back to the ruins – the size is certainly impressive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since most of the steps are narrow and tall, it’s best to walk down sideways as not to fall

 

 

 

 

There’s always a rope to prevent people from going to the top of each one of the structures

 

 

[tb4]

I'm here Harry. It's only 6.45pm in New Zealand

[harryfat1]

My wife took this picture. Not sure what caught her eyes but maybe someone else sees something I don’t

 

 

 

Look, more trees. Bet you didn’t expect to see trees in a jungle area

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’re at the edge of the ruins area here with the jungle in the back

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Coralc]

My wife took this picture. Not sure what caught her eyes but maybe someone else sees something I don’t

 

 

 

Houseplants run amok in their native environment! Pothos and Split Leaf Philodendron. :)

[JamesEM]

If you really want to do something different when visiting St Maarten take a taxi to the French side then take the ferry to Anguilla.

[harryfat1]

I'm here Harry. It's only 6.45pm in New Zealand

 

Thanks for following along.

 

I know the Mayan thing is special interest only for some people. Once we get back to the ship, that's when people are more interested.

[harryfat1]

If you really want to do something different when visiting St Maarten take a taxi to the French side then take the ferry to Anguilla.

 

What the reliability/frequency of the ferry? The paranoid part of me would then be worried that we could be stranded on the other side and miss the ship.