mom2mybugs

So.... if I'm understanding correctly...a $12 drink would cost $12 +$3.36 (18%+10%)=$15.36? Is this only in port? Or through the entire Mediterranean/Greek isles trip for example? We are on a 12 day cruise which I was absolutely not going to pay for 12 days of drink pkg. However, if each drink costs an extra dollar it might be worth it. And am I right that if the drink card showed up, or i wanted to buy an extra specialty dinner on board that those would be taxed the extra 10% (or would the food be the 21%)? Yikes... hadn't considered any of this at all! Jane

I'm thinking we will stay 2 to 3 days before the cruise! Thanks for your thoughts... the cruise is over a year away but I have so much fun planning! Jane

Omg... this would kill my youngest daughter lol. We are going kidless... I would like to really explore all the neighborhoods. Your scam/ train advice is wonderful... I'm talking a secure purse and I know about the kids grabbing money etc but hasn't heard this one. Other than spending 1 day at Disneyland Paris and going to Versailles, we will be guessing in Paris. I'm excited about where we are starting. Originally I wanted to stay in marais but we just couldn't beat the price for staying out a bit. We are traveling with another couple so we need a bigger living room too! I might message you here as I stay to do research! Thanks again, jane

I love your blogs traveler and am looking forward to following! Do you have any advice for Barcelona (tours, specific hotels/ areas to stay, restaurants we can't miss)? We will embark on vision in summer 2019 and have never been to Europe before! Jane

Anything you have to share is awesome! We will be staying in an airbnb near Luxembourg garden for 9 days before going on the cruise. I'm foggy on best ways to pay for the metro... I'm assuming that is the best way to travel in France... and the trains. Is there a week pass? Jane

Never say never... go back! I know we loved in Virginia for 3 years and I wish we'd visited DC more and got into the Shenandoah more often! Jane

That is our only group pic... the 15 year old found friends and ditched us! It was really a nice break for us! We can't wait for our next family cruise! Jane

St kitts has been my least favorite port so far. We wandered around trying to find anything to buy or do and it really just was pushy people and seedy stores. I'm sure if you get away there are beautiful places, and I hear nevis is really nice, but I'm ok not going back. Jane

We are doing the Paris to Normandy on the seine... if we like it we might do the Basel to Amsterdam trip. I'm really excited to hit Paris (and Europe) for the first time...I will look for the macaroons! I will try oasis class at some point, but I feel like I need to stop spending money on the Caribbean and expand destinations, do I have to hit older smaller ships! Jane

Your sea pass card should show your age (on the computer when they pull it up) so you won't need your license on the ship. I always use a lanyard...it works great! Oh... and avoid sunscreen on your sea pass card (it wipes out the ink! ) Jane

Miami vice (half strawberry daiquiri, half pina colada) and pina colada... both with kraken rum...my new favorite rum! I should have posted my frozen blue Hawaiian... that was great too!

So I did one periscope but my cruises are about absolute relaxation! So no voom, no live blog and not a ton of pics. But I had an amazing time with my husband and 15 year old daughter (who I pretty much only saw 1 day lol). I had not been on a cruise until 2015. We did 3 cruises in 2 years and then we hit Disney (the other obsession!) I can't even describe how much I missed being on a ship. This was the 2nd time on freedom. I did like the cruise terminal at port Canaveral better than port Everglades but embarkation was super easy... under 40 minutes for sure and drinking my first lava flow (with kraken rum) by 11! We had an ocean view... plenty big enough for the 3 of us. Our stateroom attendant suzanna was wonderful and we loved our 4 towel animals! The 6 days was too short (Joe took my extra day for his 8 day. Freedom alternates 6 and 8 day cruises right now) but we still hit 3 ports... grand Cayman, Costa maya and cozumel. The biggest disappointment of the trip was that it was so windy in grand cayman that they canceled all excursions to stingrays city. I was very bummed but we still got to swim with lucky the dolphin and buy lots of pics! In Costa maya my husband did one of the ruins while my daughter and I shopped and enjoyed the one day we could get near the pool (chair hugs were awful and i sure wish rc would enforce their policy). In cozumel we went to nachi. Since there were a ton of ships in port I'm glad we went. We got in so early we beat all the employees... got a beautiful beach spot! We enjoyed it... the food was excellent! Speaking of food, we ate...a ton! Sabor was excellent (service not great though) and I loved the tuna tacos and the guac. I tried all 3 margaritas (goes love the drink pkg) and liked the cucumber jalapeno the best. Chops was so good (and the service great) that we took the 25%off and went back the next night. The my time dining was mixed.... the service was fast (almost too fast) but the tables for 2 were right on top of each other and the food was good, but not amazing. I'm glad we tried my time but not sure we will do it again. And then....CHEFS TABLE! the chef was amazing, the wine was amazing, the food was amazing and the dessert (the world from wonderland) was ever moist AMAZING thing I've ever eaten or watched!! This was our 2nd chefs table and we will definitely do it again. RC lost money on my drink pkg for sure. Most days I parked myself on my sky deck chair with my book... read, eat, drink, repeat. We also had a mocha or latte every morning, wine with dinner (loved the bartender at vintages... she never steered us wrong and one of her suggestions was served at chefs table) and after dinner drinks. My daughter was probably a wash in terms of cost...we got her the refreshment pkg and she was over a few days, probably underused more but it was nice to have it paid for before the cruise. The ship never felt crowded and traffic flow was great. It's really a perfect size... not too big and not too small. For what I do (loaf in a chair and try to thaw) it works well. I'd love to try oasis class for the dining and the shows... someday lol! Precruise we stayed at the Hilton marina. We had an amazing corner balcony that had views of the intercoastal waterway as well as the port. Their pool area was a perfect way to unwind precruise! We ate at cheesecake factory on Las olas and that was fun. Post cruise we stayed at the W hotel and got upgraded to a 2 bedroom suite...amazing! I could sit on the balcony staring at the ocean and the waterway!. Both were absolute splurges but we decided to yolo book them! And so now I'm over 400 days till my next ocean cruise. I thought about a 5 night navigator next spring break but we really need to save for our summer 2019 cruise...12 night Mediterranean/ Greek isles out of Barcelona on vision of the seas. It will be the trip of a lifetime and with 8 ports we will spend a 5 night cruise amount just on excursions. We also have Paris this summer to link forward to (we have never been to Europe and will be going on a viking river cruise!) Both are very different from our Caribbean cruising! So that is my freedom trip. I wanted to share more since I love reading everyone else's blogs but I was too busy reading and being lazy! Let me know if you have any questions! Jane

Joe I am loving your blog. We got off as you got on and I was ready to stowaway in your suitcase! We loved chefs table (one of the best meals ever) and getting to try the wonderland dessert made my cruise complete! Every picture you post makes me remember what a great cruise it was! Glad you are having a great time! Jane

We stayed right near the port. It wasn't cheap but we lived the location without a car. We could easily get on the trolley to ybor city (which was really neat) and there was a nice area with restaurants and stuff to do right near the port entrance. If you are trying to economize or hit the beach, then you might want to stay father out and uber to the port. I agree with arabee... get on as soon as you can! It really is fun to roam the ship that day! Jane

Sweety...I'm not going to be able to take a bite of red velvet cake on freedom next week without thinking of you! Jane

You can totally wing it. We did combination of the 2 on both ports... did an excursion but then did whatever for the rest of the day. They are bitty great ports and ready to maneuver on your own. Jane

You are going to love freedom Joe. I'm the same way and I will be on my 4th in 4 days....my family is ready to strangle me (until they enjoy all the reservations and things I planned...nachi, chefs table etc... with this blog's help! ) Freedom here I come! Jane

Giovannis had the best fillet I have ever had... not sue if it makes a difference but we were on adventure. My daughter and I did both sabor and chops on freedom and both were wonderful. If you want a " big night" do chops or even try chefs table. It's pricey (85 per person) but the food and wine pairings on adventure were amazing. It was a, wonderful evening and my husband and I will be enjoying it on freedom next week (along with chops and sabor) . Definitely check twangsters menus and decide what you want... all of the specialities are really good! Jane

Omg...I actually was trying to figure out how bad this would be... totally fell for it! I won't look for this on freedom in 4 days! Jane

This is so cool! Jane

You would get along very well with my friend Michelle lol! She told me the same thing! Jane

I will be there the 29th! I will try and leave it in good shape for you!

We just saw this...im not a huge fan of the genre and i was blown away. I want to read biographies of all 4 of these musicians now. You would need a decent cast though to have it on a ship. Jane

This is one of the big draws for me and the big ships..seeing the shows. I like the other shows but would love to see one of these. Someday.... jane

We will be there in two weeks. I will try and notice what is there... though im not really a snorkler! Jane