Just off FOS - any questions?

[ejpumpkin]

I'll try to answer them and be helpful as much as I can. We were in cabin 6606 - balcony port side. Our itinerary was the western caribbean and we chose the late dinner seating. Ask away! :D

[cotomom]

Thanks for the offer! Which nights were formal nights? Do you remember which nights were which menus? How about the mystery dinner? Any chance you had kids that did the Johnny Rockets dinners, and if so which were those nights?

 

thanks!

[iluvkst]

I'll try to answer them and be helpful as much as I can. We were in cabin 6606 - balcony port side. Our itinerary was the western caribbean and we chose the late dinner seating. Ask away! :D

 

Which night is the best one to miss in the main dining room. We want to go to Portofinos or Chops.

 

Do they have any glass souvenir cups? I'm tired of the plastic colored ones.

 

Do they have a wine tasting? I'd like to try going.

 

Thanks so much in advance! I'll be onboard starting March 22. wooooohoooooo!!!!

[maddea66]

I'll try to answer them and be helpful as much as I can. We were in cabin 6606 - balcony port side. Our itinerary was the western caribbean and we chose the late dinner seating. Ask away! :D

 

We don't sail for over a year, but I wondered if the pools, H2O Zone, & flow rider are fresh or salt water? If you could let me know, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

We have been on RCCL before as well as Princess & one of them offered fresh water pools--I am thinking it is Princess. Thanks for your help, Deanna

[vavasmom]

We don't sail for over a year, but I wondered if the pools, H2O Zone, & flow rider are fresh or salt water? If you could let me know, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

We have been on RCCL before as well as Princess & one of them offered fresh water pools--I am thinking it is Princess. Thanks for your help, Deanna

 

I am not the OP but the pools on Freedom are fresh water. When sailed her in 2007 she was the only RCCL ship with fresh water pools.

[maddea66]

vavasmom,

Thanks for the information! That is great to know! I personally hate those darn salt water pools. I guess living in Colorado I have become to used to chlorine!!! Thanks again, Deanna

[ejpumpkin]

Thanks for the offer! Which nights were formal nights? Do you remember which nights were which menus? How about the mystery dinner? Any chance you had kids that did the Johnny Rockets dinners, and if so which were those nights?

 

thanks!

 

Formal nights were Monday and Thursday

Which nights were which menus - lobster was Thursday night, other than that I can't remember much about the menus.

We don't have kids, but I know for sure one of the Johnny Rockets dinners for them was the 2nd formal night. Not sure when the first was for the kids with the adventure program.

 

Sorry I am not more help! :cool:

[alexw]

How many soft serve ice cream machines were onboard?

 

I know theyre is a sprinkles by the pool, is there any in the windjammer?

[ejpumpkin]

Which night is the best one to miss in the main dining room. We want to go to Portofinos or Chops. I say not Sunday, since it's the first night, and not Thursday since it's lobster night, and not Saturday b/c it's the last night. We missed Friday night in the dining room and were fine. I suggest missing Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday.

 

Do they have any glass souvenir cups? I'm tired of the plastic colored ones. All I saw were plastic ones. No glass that I saw and I actually did look to see if they were glass or plastic! :(

 

Do they have a wine tasting? I'd like to try going. There was a wine tasting one afternoon for (I believe) $14.95 per person. I will need to check the compass (I saved one from each day).

 

Thanks so much in advance! I'll be onboard starting March 22. wooooohoooooo!!!!

I am jealous of you - I want to go again!! Even more so since it was -10 this morning! :eek:

[ejpumpkin]

How many soft serve ice cream machines were onboard? There is just the one by the pool.

 

I know theyre is a sprinkles by the pool, is there any in the windjammer? No, no ice cream in the windjammer but PLENTY of other desserts to eat.[/quote]

 

I was actually quite dissapointed with sprinkles, since there aren't any sprinkles or other toppings, just ice cream (it's not though - i actually think it is just iced milk). Oh well - it tastes good and I had my cone a day! :p

[castle701]

Do you recall which night was Quest and the Love and Marriage show by chance??

[Eileen G]

How was the tendering. Did they use the ticket system or did everyone have to wait on line in the stairwells? Any know if Diamond members get priority tendering? I've never been on a ship that large and I know on smaller ships tendering can be awful.

[1waterbaby]

What night is the pool party? Any item that you brought from home that you really got use from? (ex: we always bring a night light for the bathroom) Did they play blues music in any club? Thanks in advance.

 

Susanne

[audome78]

I'll try to answer them and be helpful as much as I can. We were in cabin 6606 - balcony port side. Our itinerary was the western caribbean and we chose the late dinner seating. Ask away! :D

 

We are booked on a B2B next February. We will be in 6636. Did you notice any noise coming up from the shops/bars on the Promenade? My concern is that our cabin is right over the Champagne bar...

[SCUBADOO414]

ejpumpkin,

Since I am a new cruiser and will be sailing FOS in February 2010, I have a bunch of questions... I hope you don't mind!

1. Do you recall how much a soda card costs? Also, do they offer different types to purchase? Is there an "unlimited" soda card?

2. Do you know if they offer Miller Lite onboard?

3. We would like to attempt ice skating with the kids. Was the ice rink very busy? Do we need reservations to skate?

4. Did you bring soda and/or water onboard? If so, were you confronted about bringing it?

5. How early do you head down for disembarking? We'd like to get off the ship in a timely matter to get our time at port, but how soon is too early to be down there?

6. How was the buffet, the specialty restaurants, the main dining room and Johnny Rockets?

7. Were there many children onboard, that you noticed? We'll have our four kids and I'm wondering if they'll have others to play with.

8. What type of room did you stay? We have two connecting inside staterooms. Can you comment on this type of room?

9. How early were you able to get on the ship the first day? What time was your room ready? What did you do until your room was ready?

10. What type of activities were available during your cruise (for adults)? Did they have the typical belly-flop, etc?

 

I may have more questions down the road, but any help you can give would be appreciated!!! Thanks! :D

[tarahdean]

ejpumpkin,

Since I am a new cruiser and will be sailing FOS in February 2010, I have a bunch of questions... I hope you don't mind!

1. Do you recall how much a soda card costs? Also, do they offer different types to purchase? Is there an "unlimited" soda card?

2. Do you know if they offer Miller Lite onboard?

3. We would like to attempt ice skating with the kids. Was the ice rink very busy? Do we need reservations to skate?

4. Did you bring soda and/or water onboard? If so, were you confronted about bringing it?

5. How early do you head down for disembarking? We'd like to get off the ship in a timely matter to get our time at port, but how soon is too early to be down there?

6. How was the buffet, the specialty restaurants, the main dining room and Johnny Rockets?

7. Were there many children onboard, that you noticed? We'll have our four kids and I'm wondering if they'll have others to play with.

8. What type of room did you stay? We have two connecting inside staterooms. Can you comment on this type of room?

9. How early were you able to get on the ship the first day? What time was your room ready? What did you do until your room was ready?

10. What type of activities were available during your cruise (for adults)? Did they have the typical belly-flop, etc?

 

I may have more questions down the road, but any help you can give would be appreciated!!! Thanks! :D

hello! never been on RCCL but are going on FOS in 6 days. i've been doing so much research on the ship so i will try to answer some of your questions.....

1. there is an unlimited soda card $7 a day for adult, $5 a day for kids but this only applies ot soda from spickets not at a bar or etc. only at windjammer, promenade cafe, not sure where else. go to RC.com and look up all about cruising from top of sight and choose family cruising, this has lots of answers to the questions you asked.

2.not sure but why not

3. yes it could be crowded as I 've heard but the cruise compass will list availabke times for passenger skating. no resrvation I think

4. i heard someone say that they asked there travle agent about this and they said just tape 2 cases together and check it. it should be alright. not usre about this though

5. i headr that the disembarking to port can take a while if we have to tender but it depends on your ports of call. obviously earlier is better but what is too early is up to you on how long you want to wait. I guess , i think at least an hour before

6. there is a great website www.thepreismans.com you can go to this and see a great review, it is lengthy but very informative. they have great pics and good info from departing, food and other stuff. they took pictures of all 7 nights at dinner and from each of the specialty restaurants, not johnny rockets but that menu is the same at the regular restaurants.

7. i think each cruise obviously differs but the Adventure Ocean, kids club is suppose to be good. depends on your kids ages, you can also find that on RC.com

8. go to RC.com again and look under plan a cruise and click on staterooms. you then pick your ship and there are many to look at. you can look and see the type of room you have, ex. N, L, JS etc.... and then click on it. there are quite a few pics.

9. they say if you get to the peir around 10 or 11am the expedited check in, check in online it is the easiest thing and makes everything quicker ( go to the top of the RC.com site and choose before you board and online checkin), the wait shouldn't be too long. have to go to check in and security but then it shouldn't be too afte that. they say to put a bathing suit in your travel bag if you want to swim right away. you can checkout the ship and look around and also eat some lunch in the windjammer cafe, cafe promenade or sorrento's pizza place.

10. the above site shows stuff to do and also the family cruising link as well, there is lots to do, quest game show which is suppose to be very funny and adult, ice shows are suppose to be great, also the shows in the theater, there are comedians, magic shows and the casino, bingo, the solarium which is the adult only pool area. always pool side entertainment, go to Rc.com plan a cruise on top of sight and choose onboard experiences. hoep this helps! enjoy! :D

[GXmanDC]

I've been on Freedom and Liberty, here is my take:

 

ejpumpkin,

Since I am a new cruiser and will be sailing FOS in February 2010, I have a bunch of questions... I hope you don't mind!

1. Do you recall how much a soda card costs? Also, do they offer different types to purchase? Is there an "unlimited" soda card? It was about $50 for 7 days, they give you an insulated tumbler. It works at any bar, restaurant where they have the soda gun. If you don't have your tumbler they'll fill a disposable cup. It is unlimited Coke products.

2. Do you know if they offer Miller Lite onboard? I believe so, but I am not a beer drinker so I did not take notice.

3. We would like to attempt ice skating with the kids. Was the ice rink very busy? Do we need reservations to skate? No reservations, it was crowded but not prohibitively. The cruise compass will list the times.

4. Did you bring soda and/or water onboard? If so, were you confronted about bringing it? I have not brought water or soda, but many people do. Most check it or slap a luggage tag on the case and drop it with the porters. I tip the porters $5-10 depending on how much we have.

 

5. How early do you head down for disembarking? We'd like to get off the ship in a timely matter to get our time at port, but how soon is too early to be down there? The cruise compass will tell you what time you are scheduled to arrive in port. You can't go down until the ship is cleared by the local authorities. I would plan on hanging out on the Royal Promenade and wait for the anouncement. If you go down too early, they'll send you back up. No big deal.

6. How was the buffet, the specialty restaurants, the main dining room and Johnny Rockets? Chops is good. I love the Main Dining Room, I prefer to eat most meals there. Johnny Rockets has the best burgers on board, but I don't always go. The kids will probably like it. The waiters sing, it is entertaining. Personally I don't like buffets, but most of my friends find the Windjammer good and don't complain about it.

 

7. Were there many children onboard, that you noticed? We'll have our four kids and I'm wondering if they'll have others to play with. On Explorer last August, there were lots of children, well lots of families. Someone with thier own kids would probably know more than me about it.

 

8. What type of room did you stay? We have two connecting inside staterooms. Can you comment on this type of room? I've stayed in OceanView and Balcony, but many friends have stayed in interior rooms. You won't spend that much time in your room. It is adequate and there is a good amount of storage.

 

9. How early were you able to get on the ship the first day? What time was your room ready? What did you do until your room was ready? Rooms usually open up at 1PM. This year we got to the pier at 12:45 and were probably on board around 1PM. We dropped out bags in our state room then went to Windjammer for lunch. We then walked around the sports deck for a bit, bought the coke cards and hung out on the Royal Promenade before heading to our cabins for the Muster Drill.

 

10. What type of activities were available during your cruise (for adults)? Did they have the typical belly-flop, etc? There is a lot to do. The shows are good, especially the ice skating. I'm not much for the pool games, but many enjoy them. I love the solarium, but you have to be 16 to be in there. There are two other pool areas without age restrictions. I like the cabaret/piano acts and I absolutely love watching the sea go by. The promenade on deck 4 is a great location to see the sea. Also, the windows from Studio B on two has big windows pretty low down. Another great view of the waves.

 

I may have more questions down the road, but any help you can give would be appreciated!!! Thanks! :D

 

Have a great cruise and ask anything. I love the Freedom class ships.

[SCUBADOO414]

Thank you for taking the time to answer all my questions. I'm really glad to hear you had a good time on FOS. I don't think I've read any bad experiences about being on that ship yet! Thanks again!

[Schplinky]

I've been on Freedom and Liberty, here is my take:

 

 

 

Have a great cruise and ask anything. I love the Freedom class ships.

 

I LOVE them too. We're about to take our first transatlantic (well, next spring) and had narrowed it down to Jewel or Independence but the dates make Jewel the likely winner. I regret we won't get to try Indy as she is the only one I've not sailed on.

[ejpumpkin]

I know others have already answered but I figured I would as well in case I have any different/more information than the others.

ejpumpkin,

Since I am a new cruiser and will be sailing FOS in February 2010, I have a bunch of questions... I hope you don't mind!

1. Do you recall how much a soda card costs? Also, do they offer different types to purchase? Is there an "unlimited" soda card? The soda card was $7 a day for adults. You have to buy it the first day. There aren't different 'levels' for the soda package. It is unlimited coke, diet coke, sprite and ginger ale.

2. Do you know if they offer Miller Lite onboard? Not sure on this one - sorry.

3. We would like to attempt ice skating with the kids. Was the ice rink very busy? Do we need reservations to skate? The ice rink wasn't that busy and we went on a sea day. No need for reservations, you actually aren't even able to.

4. Did you bring soda and/or water onboard? If so, were you confronted about bringing it? We didn't bring any on - but you are allowed to.

5. How early do you head down for disembarking? We'd like to get off the ship in a timely matter to get our time at port, but how soon is too early to be down there?Check the daily compass - it will tell you when the first tender is. People who has early excursions through RCCL have priority at the first tenders. When you are docked, it doesn't take long at all to get off. You will have plenty of time at each port - don't worry! :)

6. How was the buffet, the specialty restaurants, the main dining room and Johnny Rockets? The Windjammer was crowded depending on when you went. We tried to eat lunch around 3 or 4 to avoid the lunch rush. It was really hard some mornings to get a table for breakfast up there. That is my biggest complaint about the ship. It holds thousands of passengers and yet the windjammer (the place where MOST go for breakfast and lunch) is tiny in comparison! The main dining room was great food and service. Johnny Rockets is a loud place! Make sure you are in good spirits and are ready for some noise.

7. Were there many children onboard, that you noticed? We'll have our four kids and I'm wondering if they'll have others to play with. There were kids, but the ship wasn't "over-run" with them. Your children will have plenty of others to play with and LOTS to do on board! Don't even think about them not having fun. :D

8. What type of room did you stay? We have two connecting inside staterooms. Can you comment on this type of room? We stayed in a balcony port side. Our room was connecting although we don't know who was next to us. You will have a chair instead of a couch since it is connecting, but it's no big deal.

9. How early were you able to get on the ship the first day? What time was your room ready? What did you do until your room was ready? We got on at 11 and walked around, ate, sun bathed until rooms were ready at 1! Go early to the port is my advice.

10. What type of activities were available during your cruise (for adults)? Did they have the typical belly-flop, etc? SO much to do on board. Yes, they had the belly flop and other silly contests.

 

I may have more questions down the road, but any help you can give would be appreciated!!! Thanks! :D

[Samira0207]

how was your cruise?? I'm so excited to sail on FOS in November! Can you share any little hints or advice you may have?? How was the food in the Windjammer & MD? Are the ice cream sundaes at Ben & Jerry's expensive?

[raina*faith]

I'll be sailing on the FOS in December and I hope you can help me:

1. Who was the CD? Was he funny? Upbeat?

2. When were the quest and Love & Marriage game shows?

3. Do they have the "american idol" karaoke?

4. Port side Rooms: Were you able to see the islands? I've heard only the starbord side sees the rooms?

5. Do you have copies of your compasses?

6. How much are the restaurants? Portofino, Chops, Johnny Rockets?

7. Do they have a "19th hole" the sports bar? We're big sports fans!

8. How do you get to the Heli pad for sail away?

 

Sorry for so many questions. But thanks for all the help you can give. :D

[dmndlil]

Do you recall which night was Quest and the Love and Marriage show by chance??

 

 

Love and Marriage was on night 4 and Quest was on night 6:D

[dmndlil]

I'll be sailing on the FOS in December and I hope you can help me:

 

1. Who was the CD? Was he funny? Upbeat? We had CLO..she was upbeat and funny

 

2. When were the quest and Love & Marriage game shows? Love & Marriage - Night 4; Quest night 6

 

3. Do they have the "american idol" karaoke? karaoke was held in On Air Deck 3.

 

4. Port side Rooms: Were you able to see the islands? I've heard only the starbord side sees the rooms? Cannot confirm

 

5. Do you have copies of your compasses? Yes, but no scanner, sorry.

 

6. How much are the restaurants? Portofino, Chops, Johnny Rockets? Portofinos $20; Chops $25.00; JR's $4.95 all you can eat (milkshakes and sodas are extra)

7. Do they have a "19th hole" the sports bar? We're big sports fans! Not that iIm aware of. You can check that out on board, or maybe someone else here at CC can answer that on for you.

 

8. How do you get to the Heli pad for sail away? Deck 4 all the way forward. Go up the stairs

 

 

Sorry for so many questions. But thanks for all the help you can give. :D

 

 

Enjoy your cruise. Freedom is a great ship!

[dmndlil]

how was your cruise?? I'm so excited to sail on FOS in November! Can you share any little hints or advice you may have?? How was the food in the Windjammer & MD? Are the ice cream sundaes at Ben & Jerry's expensive?[/

 

We felt the4 food in the MDR was good most nights, and the WJ food was typical buffet, but good overall. The pizza in Sorrentos we thought was pretty good as well.

 

The ice cream at Ben & Jerrys was $2.50 for a small cone. Hubby's sundae i believe was about $4.50