NJCruisers

4 minutes ago, twangster said:

A great benefit of the package is to try new things. 

I plan to!  I'm more of a rum/vodka drinker.  He's mainly a beer or scotch guy.  We  plan to hit a beach at each port at some point so I don't anticipate hanging by the pool all that much.  We want to enjoy the ship and all it has to offer.  

Just now, Matt said:

Ohhhhh, in that situation that's totally fine. I thought you meant your husband had the drink package and you did not.

Yes - I'm the main reason we are getting the package, lol.  He's normally fine with beer, it's me who enjoys all those frozen fruity drinks and told him it's a Caribbean vacation he needs to branch out.  

1 minute ago, Matt said:

Yes, it is strictly against the rules to share drink package benefits.  You risk having your drink package benefits revoked with no refund.

Wow, thanks for the heads up.  I figured since we both had it we would be okay.  

1 minute ago, twangster said:

If bartenders see you together both having the package and you try a few sips of each other's drink that isn't a problem. 

You or hubby can take both cards to a bar ad ask for two drinks - that is very common (if you are in the pool for example and hubby goes to the bar).  They'll see both of you have the package it usually isn't a problem.  

Bartenders get to know people and their drink habits.  They see cruisers week after week, month after month.  It's pretty clear to them who is sneaking drinks to someone and who are couples covered by the package.  

This is exactly what I meant - also - I'm a bartender myself, I would never try to screw them.

19 hours ago, twangster said:

They are very strict about sharing and will cancel your package without refund if you are caught sharing drinks if that is what you are thinking.

Question about this - hubby and I will both have the drink package.  I mainly enjoy frozen fruity type drinks, hubby and I plan to try a bunch.  If they catch us sharing drinks or trying each others will that be a problem?  I would rather try his & if I don't like it not have to throw away a full drink and waste it & vice versa. 

I try not to over pack, so I usually plan on buying a shirt (and/or hoodie depending on the trip) and wear it once while on vacation.  I'd like to do the same on our cruise & purchase an RC shirt and was also thinking of picking up a nice Tommy Bahama type shirt for the hubby to wear to dinner one night.   

Google wasn't much help, thought I'd ask here.  I love the spirit type jersey's, wondering if they sell them?

I'm far from an expert, but the 3rd party tours I booked all have a 48 hour cancellation window and are to be paid in cash once there.  I only have 2 booked and I also follow them on Facebook just to keep up.  

I don't have any tips but I applaud her for wanting to lose weight on a cruise. 

I've been on Weight Watchers and I've done pretty well, I'm hoping I will be at my goal by the time my cruise comes around, but I plan to enjoy myself (yup, bought the drink package) and eat well but not everything in sight.  I do plan to take stairs and do lots of walking so hopefully it won't be too bad.  Either way I'll be back to the gym once I'm back home.  Which brings up the point there is a gym on board if she wants to use it.  They're supposed to be really nice.  

Wow, Trixter.  I'm surprised people who don't live in NJ know who they are! lol

Glad you are having fun!

Wait - I thought every hour you spend on the ship is Happy Hour?!?

Sorry, couldn't resist!  

8 minutes ago, spiralqueen said:

Just so you know, if you ever do a re-price of your fare, then that resets the clock for the 30 days of booking. That's how I got $100 OBC added to a Thanksgiving cruise I'm taking. 

Oh that's very good to know.  I booked through a TA and she did research this for me after I told her about it.  At that point I would have saved a small amount of money but then she said we wouldn't have control over the booking.  That didn't sit well with us so we figured we'd just use OBC.  I don't see the prices going down but its good information to have! Thank you.

I'm bummed, DH has this but it was too restrictive for us to book the cruise through.  He told me we could do OBC, and of course life got in the way and you have to add them within 30 days of booking.  Oh well, that $100 would have been nice.  

2 hours ago, Gears said:

Squeeze Bar on 11 out on the Deck. Also the Solarium Bar on 11...is that what you are calling the Plaza Bar(?).

I kept googling & compiled the list, I’m not sure where exactly it came from.

1 hour ago, twangster said:

Could the WJ bar be the ‘Plaza Bar’?

I’ve never been on this ship, I have no idea, lol.

1 hour ago, JLMoran said:

I'm not 100% certain, but I think that Sabor has their drinks made by the Schooner Bar, since it's right outside. I can't say that I recall seeing an actual bar inside Sabor when I went there for lunch with my daughter, and on Embarkation Day the gent standing outside Sabor told me I could order any of their margaritas from the Schooner Bar.

We are doing the Guacamole class with lunch & margaritas included that’s the only reason I put Sabor on there & not any others. I should have clarified, sorry.

3 minutes ago, tiny260 said:

@NJCruisers looking at the deck plans on cruisedeckplans.com that list seems pretty accurate.

Thanks.  Ironically, the official one from RC differs quite a bit:

https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/fact-sheet/5/freedom-of-the-seas/

That's why I figured I'd go to the experts!

Just now, Todd W said:

Does Freedom still have a connoisseur club? 

I have no idea.  We have only sailed RC once prior so I know there may be lounges other can use that we might not be able to.

I've been Googling but keep coming up with different lists.  I *think* this is the most current, can someone confirm?  

Deck 3 - On Air Club, Deck 4 - Boleros, Casino Bar, Sabor, Schooner Bar, Deck 5 - Bull and Bear Pub, R Bar, Star Lounge, Vintages, Deck 11 - Pool Bar, The Plaza Bar, Deck 12 - Sky Bar,
Deck 14 - Olive or Twist, Viking Crown Lounge

Also, if I'm missing any or any of them are listed wrong I'd appreciate any feedback.  Have I mentioned I'm a ridiculous planner? We want to be sure to check out the entire ship and having a drink in each bar can't hurt. 

41 minutes ago, rjac said:

Is this in Curacao? 

Yes

20 hours ago, Heidi said:

Does anyone know if the entrance fee to blue bay beach is included in the price of the excursion? Also is this excursion worth the $40?

I bought this last month for $33 a person.  I went on this excursion almost 10 years ago & we didn't have to pay admission, it was included as was the lounge chair.  Only out of pocket cost were food and drinks.  The place was beautiful.  

On 2/23/2019 at 10:58 AM, Pima1988 said:

It might look lame, but the fact is everytime I travel overseas all they do for the US passports is just scan the barcode and BOOM you are in.  

When I was in Australia last May, they had kiosks for your passports when entering the country.  You just scanned your passport and declaration forms, than walked straight to the luggage carousel.  You did not meet any custom agent.

Back on topic. For all of my RCCL cruises they bring on board custom agents and corral you into a specific area at a specific time (ours has always been in the theatre)  You bring your docs/passport to the meeting place.   I never got a stamp.  It was scanned and done.  

We never carry our passports with us.  We keep them in the safe.  We only take our license, sea pass and 1 credit card.  Just me, but 

1. We always plan to be back on board at least 90 mins prior to sail away.  G forbid there is a traffic issue, I won't have to worry about running to the dock

2. We do book with RCCL for certain excursions.  IE we are going to snorkel in Bermuda, and used RCCL because I know that if the catamaran breaks down, or is late returning, since it is with RCCL they will hold the ship.  For the Bahamas we are going to Graycliffs (Chocolate Factory) and Queens Anne staircase on our own because we are docked for 12 hrs., and I am not needing a tender or bus to get there.

3. FEAR.  G forbid my bag is stolen and I have our passports in my bag.  Now I am stuck trying to fix the problem while I am at sea.  No thank you.  

Just me and how I feel

You bring up many good points.  I know for a fact, 2 port days we will be coming back to the ship in between so I figured if I could just get my passport stamped nearby I would do it.  

3 minutes ago, MotleyCruiser said:

I had an Uncle in Matawan and famous cousin in Brick. last time I was at PNC was for Motley Crue and Scorpions 1999!!

I wasn't working there at that time but unfortunately the venue is not as nice as it was back then either.  I last saw Crue and Alice Cooper for their latest farewell tour both at PNC & Philly.  Looking forward to your reviews!

16 minutes ago, MotleyCruiser said:

DO IT!!!  Book early and pay over the year. It's always this time of year. I'm sure you sick of Jersey winters by now. I grew up in Bergen County. This is number 7 for me and Eddie has hosted all of them...YEP he can shot the S#@$ with the best of them.

I've been a bartender at the PNC Arts center for a long time now, so I'm lucky to see so many shows on a regular basis - for free  Our next cruise is November so I'm not sure I would be able to cruise again in Feb. just yet.  I agree, I'm not a fan of winter so getting away then would be awesome!

22 minutes ago, Pima1988 said:

I believe someone here has done it and they said they had to pay to get the stamp.   However, may I ask why?  My passport is 3 yrs old.  I have no stamps.  3 cruises and Australia.  I laugh now bc I want to know why on earth am I carrying around this passport book.   Can't we just make something like a drivers license? I pity my Hubby bc he floats between 2 passports due to work.  Neither one has a stamp.

Please don't answer, bc I know the answer.  My cousin is a consultant for a company that makes the glue for the passports.  

LOL - sorry I'm going to answer.  My daughter used to work for Disney in Epcot and had a souvenir passport that they stamped at all the countries there.  Now she travels internationally and we joke that her real passport isn't as fun. Mine looks really lame so I figured if it was easy to just get it stamped then I would like to.  It's certainly not a must do. 

Thank your cousin - my daughter's work visa for China has held up pretty good!

On 1/4/2019 at 8:05 PM, monorailmedic said:

Here is the crawl schedule from Symphony.  To be honest next time I'll remove the pool/mast bar as everyone skips it.  

https://www.cruisehabit.com/barcrawl/

The hard part is keeping people going.  I set a timer and get people moving ahead of schedule and share with the stragglers where we'll be next.  You may want to try adn give the bar managers a heads up if you can.  Sometimes they're helpful with this - sometimes they're not.

Also, big thanks to @BrianAlt (pretty sure I've got the right username for him) for helping me make this more organized a couple years ago by sharing his schedule.

That looks awesome!  If we were traveling with a group this time I would totally set something like that up.  This time it's only the hubby and I but we plan to have a drink in every bar on the ship at least once.  Our last cruise although a lot of fun with a large group, we tended to end up in the same spots night after night.  This time we want to really enjoy the ship.  Thanks for posting.

Sounds like so much fun.  Can't wait to see how it goes. I turn 50 next Feb. and I'm seriously considering doing this!

Also - anything Eddie Trunk is doing add at least 30 minutes to it - that dude never shuts up!  I've met him and he's a real nice guy, but boy does he love the sound of his own voice, lol.

I'm in the process of getting new passports and our expired ones do not have any stamps - how sad.  

We are traveling to Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire & St. Thomas - any idea how to get this done?  And if so is it something that can be done close by to where the ships are in port?

I'm more worried about taking our passports with us while on the beaches.  Since it's only 2 of us constantly switching off to swim doesn't sound like much fun.  

On 2/15/2019 at 2:41 PM, rjac said:

I'm pretty sure she will furnish you that info when you book with her. With a max passenger of 5, they may pick you up at the ship. 

Probably, but I'm the type of person who likes to know what exactly the excursion is before I hand over my money  I also tend to overthink pretty much all of them once I think I'm done planning, lol.