DDaley

Vodka, water, splash of pineapple or cranberry is my go-to. Refreshing and hydrating at the same time! When I asked for this in New Orleans the bartender guys kept saying "oh so you want a vodka cranberry?" nOOoo no, I want a vodka water WITH a lil cranberry. They could not understand why I wanted any water. Maybe it's a CA thing?

Has anyone done this sailing that was up and paying attention the night between Antigua and St. Lucia? According to the itinerary map on cruisemapper.com, we're gonna sail right through the center of Guadeloupe? On other itinerary maps I have seen, we go around the outside. Even when you zoom in, they're very specific about how we're gonna squeeze right through there! ?

Exactly! I had also searched for flights from San Diego directly to St. Lucia (the pitons have been calling to me) but the flight alone would've sucked up most of the vacation budget! Awesome. One day I will make it to B2B status!

Hah! I was singing it this morning at 6:15! Also I just realized I didn't correctly tag you above but you are my reason for wanting to produce a break-even drink report each day. I am truly interested to see how my list stacks up since I basically only drink water and liquor.

It’s nearly time! I feel like I have waited for yeeears to set off on my first cruise as an adult! (It’s been… 84 years… ) In reality, I haven’t had to wait all that long as the days between booking and embarkation maxed out at 146 days. Now it’s down to just SIX days! The saddest part was that I had three vacations to go on between then and now and the poor Grand Canyon and Puerto Vallarta did not get the travel-obsessing they deserved. In March, my boyfriend and I were looking into different trips we could take for our birthdays this August (on the 22nd and 25th) and as a Puerto Rican he suggested a trip there to visit his mom who went down to help family after Maria. I was pricing it out to stay in PR for around 6 nights (typical length of a land vacation I can afford) when he mentioned having taken a cruise from there back when he was in high school. The next day I googled cruises from SJ and booked a 7-night sailing on Freedom hours later! The price was pretty comparable and on this itinerary we would get the added bonus of seeing 5 other Caribbean ports! Who could say no? It should be noted that I booked during the 30% off sale but I even got us into a JS for less than every vacation I have taken to Hawaii. After reading about a million fabulous live blogs here I thought I would give it a go because I would love to give back, so if you have any Freedom questions, feel free to ask! Itinerary Day 1 8/18 - San Juan, Puerto Rico Day 2 8/19 - St. Thomas 8am-6pm - Magen’s Bay via taxi (haven’t been since I was 7!) Day 3 8/20 - St. Kitts & Nevis 8am-8pm (only ship in port) - Cockleshell Beach via Shore Excursioneer Day 4 8/21 - Antigua 8am-5pm (only ship in port) - Antigua By Sea (RC Excursion) Day 5 8/22 - St. Lucia 8am-6pm - Rainforest Zipline & Aerial Tram via Shore Excursioneer for MY BIRTHDAY!!!! Day 6 8/23 - Barbados 8am-9pm - Catamaran/Snorkel via Shore Excursioneer Day 7 8/24 - Cruising Day 8 8/25 - Return to San Juan With the added bonus of Day 9 - Extra day in San Juan! With a newly-renovated oceanfront room at my favorite hotel in SJ, the Caribe Hilton. I could not say no to seeing the renovation for myself. I am also a brand loyalist to my dear, sweet Hilton, specifically because I love getting to pick my own room (e.g. north-facing Disneyland Resort room for fireworks every time). We also got a rental car so we can cruise the island and pick up my boyfriend’s mom so she can point us to the best mofongo! Who’s Going - my boyfriend (Adrian) and I (Daryl) Cabin - Junior Suite 9538. The larger balcony is what got me because I am a lanai girl through and through. I get an oceanfront every time I go to Hawaii and even extended the year-round lanai time to include my apartment in downtown San Diego, specifically for sunset balcony-sitting! So suffice it to say I plan on spending a lot of time out there for sail away cocktails and the JS balcony was a major draw. Priority embarkation also sounds nice without having purchased The Key. Pre-Purchases - I got us the DBP for $44pp/pd during the 30% off sale although I can never figure out if it’s on sale or not cause it remained the same price once the sale was over?! Seems like at $12 each it is not hard to get to $44 per day, I can easily drink 4-5 cocktails and will also need 100+ ounces in water to make up for all that dehydration. Hoping to keep track of my drink consumption like @JLMoran! Also got the Voom Surf and Stream for 2 devices for instagramming and live blogging. Excursions St. Kitts - Cockleshell Beach transportation that includes a stop at Timothy Hill on the way. A taxi all the way down there was somewhat comparable but with a drink and chair included, it was worth it for the excursion version of going straight to the beach. Antigua - 80ft catamaran that circumnavigates the whole island! I went back and forth on which beach to taxi to from the port (for the record I had settled on Dickenson Bay - $14, haha) but decided this would be a fun way to see all 365 of them with a lunch/snorkel beach stop on Green Island off the east coast of Antigua. St. Lucia - Rainforest Aerial Tram and Zipline in the Castries Waterworks Forest Reserve on my biiirthday! I almost did the Pitons zip as advertised on the cruise planner but opted for the one with the sweet 45-minute aerial tram ride through the jungle. I am thinking SD Zoo Skyfari x10! Barbados - Catamaran/Shipwreck Snorkeling excursion to Folkstone Marine Park and Carlisle Bay. I am a sucker for both catamaran rides and snorkeling (a must in Waikiki and at Hanauma Bay evvvery single time) so I couldn’t pass this one up! --- I hope I can keep up with this blog as we go. I haven’t been on a cruise since December of 2005 when I sailed HAL Oosterdam with my parents out of our home port of San Diego to the Mexican Riviera. BUT! My very first cruise experience was with my friend's family on RCCL ol’ gal Sovereign of the Seas out of Miami in 1998! We went to Key West, Nassau and the oooolddd fashioned Coco Cay. Would love to try out Perfect Day on a future cruise to see the transformation (besides the fact that I love waterslides). Ahhh! Seeing the logged-in Royal countdown at 6 Days To Go has me feeling near-constant excited stomach butterflies! ? These 5 work days are going to crawl by.

haha, I have been guilty of using that hashtag on instagram!

The clouds look so amazing in all of these! That is one of the many things I am looking forward to seeing. Gorgeous cloud pics are my weakness! Did you ride anything at Thrill or just go in for the early morning photos?

I got 25!! It was Grandeur and Rhapsody that got me.

Oh nooo! This will be my same Fly Home day after Freedom in a week. Best not to think of that yet! hahah Have such an awesome time!

Hah! Oh good! I was planning on reserving that little number for port-only appearances but good to know it'll be okay on the pool deck as well.

Loving all the pictures!! I am suddenly remembering tiny details about the Pieta and the Sistine ceiling from my years of memorizing art history test note cards. Brunelleschi's dome was buttress-free which was unheard of! haha Also, you have so many great summer dresses! ?

I had clicked through to see the PDF versions Matt posted on the blog and was impressed with the full bleed/color design! I see it's not that way in practice though. B/W even for a Sky Class guest?! Cheapskates.

I'm thinking maybe yours is that way since it was already custom! I don't see this option under Basic Info for regular-ol' users.

19 days for me, too! Soo close to single digits.

Is this available nightly? Or just on a specific Asian food themed night?

Wow! Did you need a special remote to access the different input for mirroring the computer? Or did the TV have a source button?

I flew Delta to Detroit for a wedding two Fridays ago and thought of you from your many DTW-origin live blogs!

I'm finally at 25! When it hits 10 I will have constant it's-nearly-vacation stomach butterflies!!

I am the same way! All that alone time growing up taught me to keep myself easily entertained, I guess. Traveling solo is so nice, I am looking into trying my first solo cruise next spring!

Snagged a 30% off JS for my first adult cruise next month but it's only on Freedom! I am realizing I gotta get onto a bigger ship to try this illusive CK. I worry that once I work my way up to Sky and Star Class there will be no thoughts of sailing in a skinny mini cabin ever again. The Mint full recline beds on Jet Blue certainly ruined regular first class, let alone coach!

I have read somewhere on these boards that people have had success asking the cabin attendant for a remote that will change the input but I have not yet tried this myself!

Can't wait to follow along. You guys are suite-loving-husband-and-wife goals! Happy Anniversary!

I swear by these Loksak underwater bags. They're certified water tight to 60m. I use one bag for my iPhone and another smaller one for passport/room key/money etc, put them both into the splashsak waist bag and bring everything into the ocean with me. They work fantastically, I have had the same set for 8 years and might just now have to replace one (only due to cloudy plastic, not from any leaks).

Please show us a pic!! I love to see design differences when packaging changes over the years.

I have never cruised solo but I have been on several big 5-6 night trips by myself and had the best time! Everyone is shocked and wants to be your friend when you're traveling alone... I bet even more so in a cruise environment. Hope you get to do it!