twangster

Time to get geeky.
</geek on>
I noted on day one that Voom had just over 200ms of latency.  I was expecting closer to 500ms like I had on Grandeur.  Could it be?  Yes!  Freedom is using O3b Medium Earth Orbiting satellites.  I wanted to get away from the US mainland before confirming but can report Voom is consistently around 210-220ms of latency.  Speeds on Freedom are not as fast as Harmony where I was getting a whopping 23Mb down and 11Mb up.   
I need to get some work done and since its raining this has become a work day for me.  I waited until today to buy the on-board Surf package for my laptop.  I need to make some calls on my phone and need my laptop in a GoTo meeting so by waiting until day 3 the Surf only package was $66 for the rest of the cruise with my emerald discount.  It was $88 on day 1 so I saved $22 by waiting until Monday to buy it on board but now I have it all week.
Before sailing I bought the Voom & Deluxe package so now I have both 'Surf' plus 'Surf and Stream' to play with.
Surf is definitely slower compared to Surf and Stream.
Sitting at anchor in Grand Cayman I've done some speed tests.
Surf on iPhone:

And Surf and Stream on iPhone:

I couldn't get my Slingbox to work from home, but streaming Amazon Prime video is working fine on my phone using Surf and Stream.  
I have noted my devices are connecting to the 2.4Ghz radios despite 5Ghz being available.  On Harmony they were doing "Band Select" to suppress 2.4Ghz beacons resulting in 5Ghz connections.  This seems to be absent on Freedom.  
With my phone connected using Surf, I can use the Pandora app to listen to music.  
I've bought the internet on all 10 Carnival cruises I've done and none have come close to my Voom experiences on the RCI ships I've sailed.  
I'm going to try some wifi calls on Surf this week to see if I truly need Surf and Stream to do wifi calling.  With TMobile my iPhone can do wifi calls.  Latency is so important and I'm very happy to see Freedom using O3b for the lower latency that comes with MEO vs. Geostationary satellites.
And now back to our regular live blog...
</geek off>

Honorable mention goes to the local harbor pilot this evening.  With the wind up the seas were not smooth and the pilot boat was being tossed around quite a bit.  We turned and slowed to provide some shelter from the wind but it was fun to watch the pilot leave the ship.  Freedom makes it very easy to watch the event from deck 4.  Pictures don't do it justice.


 
 

Speak for yourself.  I resemble that image.  In the late 80s I was grilling a steak in Iqualit at -45.  Poor grill took forever.  

Day 2 - Sea Day
Breakfast in the WJ.  Typical WJ selection, I can't imagine someone not finding something to eat.  Lots of fruit, eggs different ways, Belgian waffles, french toast, etc.  Noted a gluten free section with GF french toast this morning.  Our friendly WJ greeter Victor:



Found these great quiet areas deck 11 forward.  Open air, very peaceful.


Also found the forward sun deck on deck 13.  I'm not sure if this left over from her recent return from Europe, but did I mention that Freedom is my new favorite ship? 

In a show of support, I plan to join them later and go topless.  No pictures though...

Honorable mention goes to the local harbor pilot this evening.  With the wind up the seas were not smooth and the pilot boat was being tossed around quite a bit.  We turned and slowed to provide some shelter from the wind but it was fun to watch the pilot leave the ship.  Freedom makes it very easy to watch the event from deck 4.  Pictures don't do it justice.


 
 

First round of photos, let's start with the cabin.
I booked an inside guarantee and ended up in 1307 on deck 10.  So far no noise from the pool deck, cabin is fine for me cruising solo.


The bathroom features a shower door.  No shower curtain klingon.  Phew.

Speak for yourself.  I resemble that image.  In the late 80s I was grilling a steak in Iqualit at -45.  Poor grill took forever.  

Absent of a team in Southern Ontario who tends to play past May, do the kids care?   Rhetorical question.  I know better.  

More pictures.  In and around Boleros.  This really is a pretty ship.



Can't neglect the Morgan.

Or the lady/mermaid thing coming out of the ceiling

Then it was off to the ice show.  Very well done.  It doesn't have the ice projection you'll see on Oasis class, especially with Harmony, but a great show with emphasis on skating instead of projection on the ice.


Chops tonight.  Going to miss the Captain's address.  

Time for a stroll down the Royal Promenade.  A Dreamworks character was posing for pictures with children of all ages.





Beer and cider selections at the pub.  Time to start on those 12oz curls I mentioned before...

Freedom has a feature I really enjoy on cruise ships.  The deck 4 outdoor covered decks below the lifeboats.  Great place to grab a book or possibly a cold beer and enjoy the sounds of the ocean.

Time to hit the gym. 

Wow, that was a grueling walk up the stairs from deck 10.  My workout complete, I just had time to take a picture of people a lot more dedicated than I. 

For the record, classes offered include:
Tour De Cycle $12
Pure-Form Pilates $12
Trilo3y Bootcamp $35 per class, 3 classes for $90
Pure-Form Yoga $12
I decided to workout my biceps and will soon start with 12oz curls.  It's past noon in Mongolia right?

Day 2 - Sea Day
Breakfast in the WJ.  Typical WJ selection, I can't imagine someone not finding something to eat.  Lots of fruit, eggs different ways, Belgian waffles, french toast, etc.  Noted a gluten free section with GF french toast this morning.  Our friendly WJ greeter Victor:



Found these great quiet areas deck 11 forward.  Open air, very peaceful.


Also found the forward sun deck on deck 13.  I'm not sure if this left over from her recent return from Europe, but did I mention that Freedom is my new favorite ship? 

In a show of support, I plan to join them later and go topless.  No pictures though...

Honorable mention goes to the local harbor pilot this evening.  With the wind up the seas were not smooth and the pilot boat was being tossed around quite a bit.  We turned and slowed to provide some shelter from the wind but it was fun to watch the pilot leave the ship.  Freedom makes it very easy to watch the event from deck 4.  Pictures don't do it justice.


 
 

Next up, some outdoor photos.  I'm hoping to take better pics once at sea and in beautiful Caribbean waters, but we had a nice sunset while in Port Everglades so here are a few photos.







Our departure was delayed when a Sheriff's boat apparently collided with the Oosterdam while she was at the pier in front of us.  This occurred during our Muster drill.  Two officers were injured so it became a big deal with lots of emergency responders.  With a strong wind blowing from the North East we couldn't sail until the Oosterdam departed and with a collision the USCG had to inspect her before releasing the ship.   

As a result we enjoyed the sunset tied up in Port Everglades and departed in the dark after dinner.

First round of photos, let's start with the cabin.
I booked an inside guarantee and ended up in 1307 on deck 10.  So far no noise from the pool deck, cabin is fine for me cruising solo.


The bathroom features a shower door.  No shower curtain klingon.  Phew.

No.  I only saw Powerade.  Gatorade is available in powder form.  Easy to carry on and make your own.  I've have two big cans at home and some small individual packets I travel with.   You can pour those directly into bottled water to make it into Gatorade.  

Go Pats!

For NFL fans, today's games are Jets vs. Bucs in the pub or Saints vs. Bills poolside (no audio).   Followed by Texans vs. Rams in the pub and Cowboys vs. Falcons in On Air.  Sunday night game Pats vs. Broncos in On Air.  Go Broncos!   

Day 2 - Sea Day
Breakfast in the WJ.  Typical WJ selection, I can't imagine someone not finding something to eat.  Lots of fruit, eggs different ways, Belgian waffles, french toast, etc.  Noted a gluten free section with GF french toast this morning.  Our friendly WJ greeter Victor:



Found these great quiet areas deck 11 forward.  Open air, very peaceful.


Also found the forward sun deck on deck 13.  I'm not sure if this left over from her recent return from Europe, but did I mention that Freedom is my new favorite ship? 

In a show of support, I plan to join them later and go topless.  No pictures though...

I am sitting in my hotel waiting for magic hour - that time when you head to the pier.  It's slowly inching closer, minute by minute.  Tick, tock, tick, tock.  
IT'S CRUISE DAY!!!!!!
I spent the week in the Rocky Mountains working at a site just over 10,000 feet in altitude.  It snowed twice and temperatures went below freezing every night.  Last night the Florida humidity was even higher from the rain and it hit me like a wall as I stepped off the plane onto the jet bridge.  Less than 24 hours ago I was scrapping ice off the windshield of my car.  I'm so ready for this cruise...
I flew in last night and stayed in the Las Olas area of Ft. Lauderdale.  It was raining as I headed out late for a bite to eat and my sneakers were soaked by the time I got back to the hotel.  Thankfully the hotel had a shoe drier (a.k.a. hair dryer).  It's a beautiful sunny morning today and I've got that wonderful feeling in the pit of my stomach - IT'S CRUISE DAY!!!!!!
I ran into some RCI IT workers at the bar last night but I bit my tongue and didn't bring up the website.  Good thing, these guys work in other areas like point-of-sale.  I did learn that IT doesn't sit in the Miami office where the executives are, rather they are in Miramar, FL.  These guys seemed to enjoy working for RCI and had only good things to say about the company.  
The cruise is operating a modified itinerary.  Despite Eastern ports opening back up this month in the wake of the hurricanes, the itinerary was changed from Eastern to Western Caribbean.    
Day 1 - Ft. Lauderdale
Day 2 - Sea Day
Day 3 - Grand Cayman
Day 4 - Cozumel 
Day 5 - Sea Day
Day 6 - Ocho Rios
Day 7 - Labadee
Day 8 - Sea Day
Day 9 - Ft. Lauderdale
This will be my first time using terminal 29.
My inside guarantee fare has landed me midship on deck 10.  First time on Freedom class and I'm looking forward to exploring a class of ship that I've heard great things about.  After this cruise I have a longggg 6 nights before my next cruise.   
I've recently added a couple of lens to my camera kit and I'm looking forward to trying them out on this cruise.
Without further adieu, it's time!   

I'm on board now, will be adding some photos soon, but am waiting to be at sea to get some good shots.  
My $30 BOGO specialty dinner has me in Giovanni's tonight and Chops tomorrow.  Mouth is watering just thinking about it ?
I'm liking this ship and fear it's going to cost me a sailing on Liberty to get some slide action.  
I've added a 16-35mm and 12mm fisheye.  I have a full frame body so those are native, not crop.  The 16-35 takes filters and while I've often used and love my 14mm, it's quite bulbous and filters are a challenge.  So I've given up 2mm to have filters.  Oh the humanity.  
I've learned a cruise ship works well when using Ultra Wide Angle lens. 
For Alaska I used my 28-300mm but am looking at some longer glass for the Alaska group cruise next year.  Hmmm, a cruise or another lens? Tough choice.  Cruise might win that battle.  

Have a great time! Looking forward to following along. It is -5 degrees Celsius (no idea what that is in Fahrenheit) here in southern Ontario so I'll be following along with envy.

I booked the Alaska Group Cruise on a non-refundable basis.  Two in our cabin.  A week later learned planned guest couldn't go.  I ran through the options with MEI.  Pay the cancel fee for guest 2 and go solo, or  swap guest name to another name free.
Keep in mind your total cost due at final payment includes port fess and taxes for each guest.  If a guest doesn't show up you will (or should) eventually get the port fees and taxes back for the guest that doesn't show up, but you will have to pay those at final payment due date and wait until after the cruise for those to refund back.
If you cancel a person after booking you would lose the non-refundable deposit for that guest but avoid the port fees and taxes at final payment. 
In my case it made more sense to just not have the other guest show up, then I'll get their port fees and taxes back shortly after the cruise.
Your situation is slightly different given the fare for the 3rd person as a variable, but the math exercise is similar.  Put it all in a spreadsheet and arrive at a total for each scenario.

There is a bunch of hotels near the airport (EWR) that are often used by frequent business travelers.   As such they tend to be very good to great at a reasonable price.  EWR is convenient to Cape Liberty.  I found one in the Hilton brand at a competitive rate to what I pay in Fort Lauderdale.   Parking packages likely vary by hotel.

Lyft.  If no Lyft nearby I'll just cab it.