mom2mybugs

Hi everone. I had a great time on Freedom in march...even with poor weather the first few days and skipping cococay. I had been worried about the big size of the ship compared to vision (my only other cruise) but I loved it! The ship never felt crowded and I could eat at chops and sabor every night. I was shocked at how much I enjoyed walking the promenade and grabbing a slice of pizza as a dinner appetizer :) My experience with the drink pkg was soso. I felt I did a lot of drinking for the sake of drinking, but I did like the freedom of it. I ended up spending a fortune because I felt guilty and added a tip all the time. The next cruise I take I will try and find a happy medium of tipping when I am brought a drink but not when I get it from the bar myself. 3 days after I returned from the cruise I chaperoned a 17 hour bus ride as my high school son went to new york to perform at carnegie hall. I wound up with a blood clot in my leg and blood thinners for 3 months! My first ever cruise with my husband for August was in jeopardy...argh! We are pretty sure we will be able to go, though, so I'm finally letting myself get excited and come back to the blog! Adventure of the seas...here we come! We are still trying to figure out the excursions and I'm praying my husband won't die from the heat. I think I'm convinced to try the train in st. Kitts as we just can't do 4 beach excursions. Its super expensive but I'm hoping to go cheap on the aruba and curacao days. We will go to st johns for the st thomas day since I was just there in march and did magens. I would love any ideas for the other islands...esp. a resort/beach day in aruba where we can book on our own to save some money. Bobroo was great at telling us about chefs table and I can't wait to do that! I'm not getting the drink pkg this time...we can take 2 bottles on, we will get AAA champagne in our room and the chef table and 4 days excursions. Just not worth the money! Looking forward to reading everyones posts and comments on their cruises. Jane

My 19 year old had a blast on Freedom last march and had tons to do. She was able to join the roll call on cruise critic and friended a 20 year old that she was able to meet as we waited to board the ship. She spent some time by the pool with me, some with her new friend and time with her younger sister just roaming the boat and hanging out. She did go to the 18-20 first day meet and mingle, which she found sort of nice. Your daughter will have no end of things to do! Jane

We leave today on freedom after a very cloudy and wet 24 hours in cocoa beach. La quinta was pricy but this world be a great place to overnight if the sun was shining. It is right on the beach and we had a dated but clean balcony room. The pool bar had good prices and the pool was small but fine. I wish they'd had a hot tub for the cold Illinois traveler seeking warmth lol! Anyway, i will not have any Internet access (can't wait to put my smartphone away for a week!) but will report my impressions of this "big ship to me." I really want to see if it feels more crowded than vision (my only other cruise). I also want to see if i like the eastern caribbean, or prefer the western itinerary of last trip. It looks like coco cay may be a buat due to crummy weather, but if we manage to render, i will get my first coco loco! Happy week everyone! Jane

Where are the discounts showing up? On the initial beverage page or after adding to the cart? Im guessing im just not lucky and it isn't on any of our cruises. Jane

I have been listening to many of matts old podcasts each day! They are keeping me sane this last week as i wait to leave on Sunday lol! Thanks for the new suggestions! Jane

Thanks everyone! You have convinced me that magens will be great! Im hoping we dock a bit early and we will head right there, give ourselves 2 and a half hours to get back, and shop if we get back early! Are there always taxis available for the ride back or do we need to schedule it with whoever drops us? Jane

Hi! This is our first trip to st. Thomas. I was planning on simply hopping a taxi with my two teens to magens beach, which matt says is a must do. My question is, should i do this or do the secret sands excursion to smith beach. Im a tad nervous about traffic if we just do it ourselves, but we are the only ship in that day from what i can tell (if i looked right!). Is magens not to be missed? Is secret sands worth 150 for the 3 of us? I keep second guessing and I'm kinda paralyzing myself! Thanks for any advice! Jane

Welcome! Im dying to try a disney cruise but you will love royal! My 19 and 13 year old had a terrific time last year with tons to do! Ask away☺☺! Jane

And one other passport thing...check and double check your picture! The govt held my passport forever and finally sent me a letter saying that my glasses were ever ever so slightly over my upper eyelid. So i had to expediate a photo (that i took without my glasses even though they say to because i couldn't chance it again) even though it should have been processed with tons of time to spare! And might i add, its now an awful picture with no smile (was worried about showing teeth!) But a legal one! Jane

Well, for one thing, the rc website often contradicts itself like crazy or isn't updated. Secondly, because it is more fun to ask people, get their ideas and have a conversation. Even if it takes a little longer. Jane

I ran the disney marathon! That isn't as bad as when all the pop warner sports teams invade the all star resorts! Jane

I've done all my online planning for restaurants, drink packages, and excursions. I've read through a recent Cruise Compass, although I'll probably skim it again to see whether I missed anything of interest. I've even contacted Royal Caribbean to find out what the entertainment lineup is going to be onboard so I know who the headliner and guest musicians will be. I've watched their YouTube videos to get an idea of who I might want to see onboard. Marc can you post what the entertainment lineup looks like? Figure it's likely to be the same the next week! Jane

Great idea! I have seen the port canaveral link, but never think to look when they are actually there! Jane

Jealous! Though i am planning our trip for august too! Since I'm disney obsessed too, i may have to slow down the cruising and save for disney parks(cause i will never be able to afford the disney cruise lol!) Jane

I'm going through the same as you. My cruise on Freedom of the Seas is on March 13 (in just 12 days!), and like DocLC, I'm scouring YouTube for videos, reading all the boards, and keeping myself cruise-ified So you will be getting off the boat as we go on! I have been checking youtube like crazy too, and there is no way i can stop thinking about the trip lol! Hoping i love the big ship and that my 2nd cruise is as relaxing and magical as the first. Just can't wait! Argggghhhhhh. Jane

So we cruise on freedom on march 20! I think I'm driving my family crazy though! I check the blog a million tines a day and lurk cruisecritic constantly. I have made my lists and checked them twice! I just can't wait to leave and find the sun (2 to 4 inches of snow expected here in chicago tomorrow..ugh). Anyway how does everyone else keep their excitement from making everyone loopy? I resorted to even checking port logs and have found we are the only ship in ports on both freedom and our adventure cruise in august. Jane

I cant wait to hear! Thank you so much! I have it booked and can always cancel if it doesn't sounds great. Would love to see the galley. Just having the wine pairings is such a treat. We love the mdr, but i thought since there isn't much in the way of other restaurants, we would try it. Can't wait to hear all about your cruise! This will be my husband first cruise (my 3rd) and our first on adventure. I go in 3 weeks on freedom and nervous about the big ship and feeling ceowded (my first was on vision, a much smaller ship obviously!) Jane

So they just opened up dining on adventure for august. However the description for chef's table had it located in chops and i know there isn't a chops on the adventure. Does anyone know where it takes place? Also is there any choice in dining, or are the courses all very set? Thanks. ..i reserved it for our st. Kitts day, but it's a lot of money and i want to maker sure it's a good for for us! Jane

Thank you! Jane

I think this got lost before so i will try again! I have an old rc soft cooler that i bought on vision last year. I was able to buy 5 or 6 beers (or angry orchards!) For a discounted price. I won't do that for this trip on freedom since I'm getting the drink pkg but would be interested on adventure this summer. Can i bring the old cooler and do they still do this offer? Thanks! Jane

Thanks marc! Jane

So this my first time as gold (only my second cruise). Do they put the c and a coupons in your room? If not, where do you get them?

I called my ta because the wow sale seemed a bit better. I had only paid the deposit. She said that it was 300 better but only 100 instead of 200 obc. So I saved 200 dollars and didn't change my room or anything! Yeah! Jane

Hi...we are doing a 7 day adventure of the seas cruise in august to st. Thomas, st. Kitts, aruba and curacao. We will do an excursion to st johns and trunk bay. Im wondering though on the other 3 islands if it is worth it to do excursions, or if the beaches are easily accessible by taxi or walking. Are the taxis easy to find and cost effective? We'd love to save 100 bucks a day for a beach trip. Also are there any really good beaches on any of these islands you would recommend?