Fresh from the Freedom

[richbum]

Thanks for posting the pix and the video. They were great, It looks like you all had a blast.. Do they do the breast cancer walk on every cruise? If so, can you tel me about it?

:D

[TinaJ04463]

They have done it both times we've been on the Freedom. You pay $10, get a t shirt and one of the plastic bracelets, and everyone walks around the track for a mile. It's fun, but last year Todd showed up part way thru, spoke to us as we went by and that was it. The capers had mentioned pictures I believe but I never saw anyone taking any (except us!)

Tina

[lgerrish]

They have done it both times we've been on the Freedom. You pay $10, get a t shirt and one of the plastic bracelets, and everyone walks around the track for a mile. It's fun, but last year Todd showed up part way thru, spoke to us as we went by and that was it. The capers had mentioned pictures I believe but I never saw anyone taking any (except us!)

Tina

 

When Candi and I showed up to walk - the walk had started a little early - I never saw the CD, but there was an assistant around on the last lap who had pink lemonade for all walkers. I was hoping for a group picture that would be on the Carnival DVD, but only hubby and son took our pics as we walked. But you know - it was still fun and the money is definitely going to a great cause. Candi was especially proud to walk in honor of her mom who has battled breast cancer twice.

[FL LuluBelle]

Welcome Aboard show starts off with the singers and dancers doing their thing for about 20 minutes (same on all ships). Often, they are followed by a comedian (but not always as was the case on the 6 day Freedom - CD said they do have the comedian for the 8 day cruises). Then, the CD gets up, makes some jokes, and then grabs people from the audience to come up on stage to do some sort of silly game. He asks each participant questions, where are you from, cruised before, etc, and then play the game. We did the spoons game where there's a spoon attached to a rope, and the women put the spoon down their shorts and the men put the spoon down their pants. First team to get to the end wins. All participants get a bottle of champagne.

Thanks ~ I guess we have missed that show on past cruises!

[arf2005]

They have done it both times we've been on the Freedom. You pay $10, get a t shirt and one of the plastic bracelets, and everyone walks around the track for a mile. It's fun, but last year Todd showed up part way thru, spoke to us as we went by and that was it. The capers had mentioned pictures I believe but I never saw anyone taking any (except us!)

Tina

Todd actually led the walk when we were on the Freedom in March. Of course, because it was so windy it was cut waaaaaaay down (about 5 laps if I remember correctly). I also thought there would be a group picture but there wasnt'. Perhaps a suggestion for Carnival...

[buggystuff]

Sorry I missed y'all at the meet and greet!

 

I thought Todd was a great CD. Since I was in the Welcome Aboard show, I chatted with him quite a bit afterward. He was very friendly and seemed very personable and really cared that people were having fun. He's actually a Sr CD, and he'll be taking out the Dream, so he's the top dog now that John Heald's doing more stuff for the corporate offices. I also hung out at the piano bar a lot, and ran into Todd there too. Saw him out and about, and he couldn't have been nicer. Maybe it was because of this interaction that I felt he was a great CD, and I wouldn't feel the same if we had never met.

 

Who was the player there? Were they any good?

Was on this ship in Feb for the 8 day south, and the guy was a wet blanket, which sucks because I normally REALLY enjoy the piano bar

[jbroons]

I think with using the big tv and doing the morning show, the CD doesn't have to be out and about as much, nor give so many announcements over the intercom. That used to drive me crazy, especially if we were in the room, because to me it sounded like Charlie Brown's mother, and I never could figure out what he was saying!

 

Forgot to mention that we had an invite to the loyalty program on Key West day, figured we'd go and check it out, if for nothing else than the free drinks. All they served was wine, and I'm already booked with a group for next year, so it wasn't any big deal.

 

First sea day, I had agreed to meet with some of the girls at 8, to get my walking in. Lots of people on the track, a few over achievers running, but most of us just doing the speed walk thing and chatting about Key West and the cruise in general. We must have been near land as several small birds were flying around. Went down to hunt up hubby and get some breakfast, I want to go hunt up some deck chairs! I long ago gave up on the notion of being near the pool, it's just not that big a deal to me. No line at breakfast, so we ate, went back to the room for the clothing change and found our spot to veg out.

 

First elegant nite was nice, went to the Captain's party for the free drinks, but was not impressed by the lack of hors d'oerves! Had the prime rib for dinner, which is unusual for me but just didn't want to tackle that nasty lobster again! I asked for medium and it was perfect! 13 people at our table but we didn't care and we weren't too crowded to have a good time. After dinner we changed back into play clothes and went to the show. We saw it last year but our son and his wife hadn't, so it was nice to go with them. Unfortunately, the place was packed when we got there and Jen was sitting behind the pole. She had found us a spot a little closer, with just room for 4, but when she got up to come holler to us, some lady came and sat with her hubby and didn't seem to get the idea that our little spot didn't have enough room for her. She acted totally oblivious to the fact that we had no room, so we ended up further back behind the pole.

 

After the show we went to the Habana bar for the boy's to smoke, then to our room, caught the tale end of Idol and called it a night.

 

Next up: Grand Cayman

Tina

 

Loving it Tina...I'm reliving my cruise on Freedom....#7322!! Thank you.

[lgerrish]

Who was the player there? Were they any good?

Was on this ship in Feb for the 8 day south, and the guy was a wet blanket, which sucks because I normally REALLY enjoy the piano bar

 

Vince Strong is the piano bar player. He is incredibly awesome! Some people in our group closed the place down a couple of nights. He can sing and play anything! You can search on YouTube and see a couple of his videos too!

 

[Chigirlcruzin]

Vince Strong is the piano bar player. He is incredibly awesome! Some people in our group closed the place down a couple of nights. He can sing and play anything! You can search on YouTube and see a couple of his videos too!

 

 

 

Ditto. I closed the place down every night :) I never spend that much time in the piano bar - I always close down the disco. On this cruise, Vince played well past his 1:00 closing time, and stayed open longer than the disco a couple times! He told me he plays in Milwaukee when not on the ship. It's a two hour drive for me, but I have friends up there, and I will make the drive to see him in MKE.

[TinaJ04463]

We docked in Ocho Rios, and altho from the ship it looks like a little market area, when you get off the ship you'll find the buildings at the pier are empty. We were directed to one of them for our tour, where we were met by the Bamboo Beach Club girls. We asked to be grouped with our group, and they were very accommodating. Once we all were there they put us on the bus for the 30 minute or so trip to Runaway Bay. Along the way they gave a running commentary of what we were seeing, including a factory that makes some ingredient for toothpaste (not cocaine as they kept pointing out). Also saw some sights being developed for new homes, small lots that are going for $500,000.

 

At the bay we were escorted thru a security gate to the beach, lots of big trees if you want shade, lots of sun if you don't. Chairs were good old fashioned adirondacks, which struck me as odd but they were comfortable and plenty of them. The girls were kept busy running back and forth with fresh drinks-beer, rum punch, and mojitos-and food-sausage, rice and veggies, pasta salad and jerk chicken. It was all good. The water was a lovely blue-green and sandy at the shore, but once in the water, there were lots of sharp rocks in places, you had to be careful where you stepped. We had a great time tho, and got plenty of sun. We were ready to leave a little after one and back to the ship by 2-2:30.

 

Second formal night, food was good but service continued to be slow. We changed into play clothes again and went to the Beatles show. Sat up in the balcony this time so we could actually see everything. The place was packed as usual. Then cigarettes and nightcap at the Habana and call it a night.

 

Next: Sea day and disembark

Tina