Live from the Carnival Freedom !!!

[Donna n Francis]

Our Luggage was already there waiting for us when we got to the cabin at 1pm. Cathy's luggage arrived around 4:40pm, right after the Lifeboat drill.

 

********************************************************

 

Hi Fred....have a couple of question. On your 2nd 'Live from the Freedon' post you mentioned that you received you luggage at 1pm but Cathy's did not arrive until 4:40pm. Is this because you are Platinum level? I will be Platinum on my next cruise and have 2462 booked too:D.....I am so excited.

Also my DS has a large group going on the same cruise...she is wondering if you heard of any positive or negative feedback from any of the Gold level or 'New to Cruising' passengers regarding the new cruise terminal? I think she is mostly interested if you should still have everyone get there early in the morning. Please advise.

Thanks again for taking me on your cruise and I look forward to seeing all your pictures.....Donna

[Wennfred]

Our Luggage was already there waiting for us when we got to the cabin at 1pm. Cathy's luggage arrived around 4:40pm, right after the Lifeboat drill.

 

********************************************************

 

Hi Fred....have a couple of question. On your 2nd 'Live from the Freedon' post you mentioned that you received you luggage at 1pm but Cathy's did not arrive until 4:40pm. Is this because you are Platinum level? I will be Platinum on my next cruise and have 2462 booked too:D.....I am so excited.

 

Also my DS has a large group going on the same cruise...she is wondering if you heard of any positive or negative feedback from any of the Gold level or 'New to Cruising' passengers regarding the new cruise terminal? I think she is mostly interested if you should still have everyone get there early in the morning. Please advise.

 

Thanks again for taking me on your cruise and I look forward to seeing all your pictures.....Donna

 

 

Cruise Critic member Ahoy travelled with her friend, they are both Platinum cruisers and only 1 of their luggage arrived to their cabin around 1pm, the other arrived around 4pm. I guess its luck of the draw when it comes to luggages.

 

I like to start my cruise right away, as soon as the doors are open I step right onboard. Although you can not get to your cabin until 1:30pm you can hang around the pool deck and get some food on Lido Deck. We got to the Terminal earily and it was pretty crowded already. There were 2000 past guest onboard and they had 2 past guest parties to accomidate everyone. I didn't talk to any Gold Card members but I saw them all over the ship.

 

 

Fred

[Wennfred]

It's quite funny to see the look on the ship employees faces when they see that platinum card.

 

They will bend over backwards for you and Yes, Dream Team Cruise Critic cruise is sometime in 2010 or 2011 depending when they show up to the states.

 

Host Randy has a tread going and you can add your name to the list if you are interested.

 

 

Fred

[Wennfred]

Did you get to try the new Mexican food place?

Lisa

 

Lisa, since we are only a stone throw from Mexico and here in San Diego we have like more taco shops then McDonald's LOL, I didn't want to mess with any Mexican food. But I did peek every time I walked by, they have all of the things to make tacos and they had large bowls of Salsa and Guacamole so you can spread them over your tacos etc.

 

 

Fred

[Wennfred]

Enjoy your travels home. (Well, I suppose flying 1st class, it can't be too bad!)

 

Take care!

 

 

This was our first time flying First Class, I just didn't want to feel crampped all the way to Miami and then back to San Diego, we booked a year in advance and the tickets cost us 998.00 each round trip. A lot of over time paid for those. Was it worth it? Yes, especially cutting through the long lines at the ticket counter and also having a nice big leather seat to relax in.

 

 

Fred

[Wennfred]

Our American Airline 757 has arrived and it has some dirt on the tail so I hope the get up there and get it all cleaned up for us :D We will be boarding in 30 minutes.

 

Looks like Miami International Airport is adding another Concourse so there is construction going on here, hoping to relieve some of the crowdedness or just add more Gates.

 

Its quite cloudy in Miami right now and there is some rain here and there. We were so lucky to have had a beautiful sunny week.

 

I will see ya all in Vegas, Paul and the rest of the Roll Call family have a safe trip home.

 

 

 

 

Fred

[summercruisin']

Fred, I gotta tell you...you have really been there for me this week! I have been suffering serious depression b/c I couldn't go on a cruise last year or this year, and, to be honest, see no cruise in the near future. I know...spoiled brat! :rolleyes: Nonetheless, I can't help myself. So, I usually treat my depression with little things...chocolate mousse from the market (Carnival used to have fantastic mousse in their dining rooms...miss it!), lots of red wine, good breads with dinner, an occasional lobster tail at one of our restaurants, and, on really bad days, a margarita with homemade chips and salsa (yum...brings back days on Paradise Beach). :D

Your allowing us to join you on your cruise has saved me this week. I have REALLY enjoyed every minute of it. Like others have said, your fantastic review made us feel like we were right there with you.

Thanks, Fred. You indeed rock.

[Wennfred]

Fred' date=' I gotta tell you...you have really been there for me this week! I have been suffering serious depression b/c I couldn't go on a cruise last year or this year, and, to be honest, see no cruise in the near future. I know...spoiled brat! :rolleyes: Nonetheless, I can't help myself. So, I usually treat my depression with little things...chocolate mousse from the market (Carnival used to have fantastic mousse in their dining rooms...miss it!), lots of red wine, good breads with dinner, an occasional lobster tail at one of our restaurants, and, on really bad days, a margarita with homemade chips and salsa (yum). :D

Your allowing us to join you on your cruise has saved me this week. I have REALLY enjoyed every minute of it. Like others have said, your fantastic review made us feel like we were right there with you.

Thanks, Fred. You indeed rock.[/quote']

 

 

Thanks, Start planning for the Dream Team cruise, its not till 2010... hope you can join us then.

 

 

Fred

[bakechef]

Thanks so much for this thread, it is really appreciated, can't wait to see more of your pictures.

 

MAC

[CruiseJunkee2]

I am thoroughly enjoying this!!! Reading your posts gets me even more excited to leave on the Victory in 22 days!! It also has us thinking of heading on an Eastern Carribean cruise - we have only done Western Carribean.

 

Thanks Fred!

[cruisingrobert]

Fred:

I hope your flight home went well. Sorry we did not meet up again after the first day. I am looking forward to reading your week long thread when I have a chance. We were able to get back home wtih Delta (Miami - Orlando - Greensboro). We met another family (was on NCL boat) who also had to scramble to find a way home (no thanks to Skybus). We saw many Skybus planes sitting at Greensboro airport.

Overall - Trip was great - Boat was Great!!

I read last few messages - I tried mexican food and it was pretty good on ship.

Getting on and off Freedom was very easy....we got off early today to catch early flight out of Miami - did self assist and was off in 30 minutees or less.

The two tours we did (St. Thomas and St. Marteen) were both very good - especially Papa Bear wtih Air Force One in St. Thomas!!!!!!

Beatles show was best of all entertainment!!!

Camp Carnival was Great - my kids were involved all week!

Posh (6pm)) service was very good - we had Dennis and Richard and they took their time and food was delivered perfect for us!!!

Luggage question - we did not get our last bag until after dinner first night....I think it is hit and misss.

Repeat party was good - but just so surprised that Carnival did not have guaranteed extras that was in magazine last year - and no coupon book - but, trip was great (took advantage of 2 for 1 in Spa yesterday and had great couples massage).

Just finished grilling out hamburger and ready to zonk out!

More later when I have recoverd and have time to read thread.

[deborahjo]

Fred-Thank you so much for giving up your time for our enjoyment. Please tell Wendy thank you for sharing you with us.

 

I can hardly wait for the pictures and again thank you for the beautiful pictures from St Thomas. It really helped me get thru that storm.

 

Now get unpacked and you guys rest. Will see you on the Dream Team if not before....

[dizneydawn]

Fred, thank you so much for all the time spent on your trip giving us details! Hope your trip home was safe and relaxing!:)

[kicia]

Thanks for the review Fred. We were on the Freedom last summer and you helped us to relive that cruise.

 

Hope you had a safe trip home and good luck at work next week.

 

Linda

[Margienj]

Fred,

 

We were on the Freedom 3/15 and your posts have taken me right back there again. It's been the highlight of my week. I anxiously await your photos. Hope your trip home was safe and uneventful. If you have ever been on the Miracle, I would love to hear your thoughts on her. Thanks again.

 

Margie

[BonnieJeansMum]

I'm throwing in my thanks to you and Wendy AND Cathy for taking us all along with you. You have an easy way with words and descriptions and information. It's always a pleasure to read to your posts. It's apparent that you enjoy sharing with all of us and don't regard it as a chore. Lucky us!:D

[PaulMedik]

Fred,

 

It was a pleasure sailing with you while reading of your adventure. I look forward to our next cruise together and I'm hoping Carnival Dream will have a sailing over Spring Break 2010 that we can both make.

 

It would be awesome if Carnival could arrange for better internet access so we could post pics along with live reviews.

 

You've done an awesome job keeping everyone on the forum up to speed and you did an excellent job of sharing your experiences in person.

 

I started a pictorial review of our cruise and you're more than welcome to include pics of your own. CLICK HERE for the thread.

[Wennfred]

Thanks Paul, we will probably be hanging out with you and you family on our next adventure together. I can't wait to see your cool pictures, the ones I saw on your laptop were very nice.

 

Well we finally made it into Vegas at 6pm and now I'm relaxing in our Casita in Henderson, the WIFI here is free also LOL, some one has it unblocked in the neighborhood. Tomorrow we are up at 6:30am to hit the buffet for breakfast over at South Point Hotel and Casino, its pretty good there and its close to us.

 

Now the long wait till March 29th for our Splendor cruise, Oh that reminds me, Paul, Im going to look for that video. Thanks again.

 

 

Fred

[gypsyrose]

Fred, thank you so much for taking so much of your valuable vacation time to post regularly for all of us cruise junkies. That is more than just kind, it's fabulous. You and Wendy are super!! Can't wait for the "other" threads to get started. But you need to hurry, I'm leaving FRIDAY to head to South Beach for 2 nites then board the Victory for a week. Wooohooo! Tell Wendy thanks for sharing.

[crusinpsychRN]

I agree completely...Thank-you Fred!!

 

You should get a free cruise from Carnival for all the publicity you gave them! Have a safe trip home and thank you, thank you, thank you!

[CarnivalCruiseLover]

Sweetheart, don't hold your breath, smokey or not, for an apology.

 

...there's no need for your tone...I believe you owe us all an apology, but more so to Mikel1733...your response was to say the least, rude...I am sure you could have found a different, more civil way to state your view...

One day, you might find yourself in a position where others might have to make some concessions in order to accomodate you, and if so I hope you don't encounter someone who might feel that you "should stay out, or stay home and live in a ... bubble in your house".

[mitchpam]

Still hoping for more..... looking forward to pics, as I'm sure many others are too! Thanks for all you hard work on your vacation... I know it has given me great joy to read...hope you are getting just as much enjoyment from the frothy mouths of your avid readers...

[Wennfred]

Thanks, we are still in Vegas, had a good time at South Point Hotel and Casino as I finally got back some of the cash that I donated onboard Freedom.

 

We fly home to San Diego around 11:30am this morning and then once we get there we have to pick up our 2 beagles.

 

 

Fred

[mitchpam]

Fabulous, now I can rest easy. I bet the doggies will be happy to see you!

[Wennfred]

By the way, for those that run into Celebs, we had one of the Temptations singers sit right next to us on the cruise during the Beatles show.

 

And on the plane sitting 2 seats behind us in first class we had KC & the Sunshine Band guy there. KC was nice enough to give Wendy his autograph. He is playing at the Hilton I believe on Tuesday in Vegas.

 

 

Fred