Browneyedangel

Hi Browneyeangel. I have booked this excursion for August 2023 for my family too. Hopefully someone else will try it out and report back before then! 🙂

Ok folks, I am super excited! Only 4 days until we set sail on Freedom for 6 days in the Caribbean! We are celebrating our 22nd wedding anniversary on day 2 and celebrating St. Patty's day on day 6 (I am 1/2 Irish).
 
* Drink packages have been bought
* Specialty Dining package has been bought
* Excursions have been booked and paid for
* Couples massage has been booked and paid for
* Online check in complete
* All documents signed
* Set sail passes printed
* Luggage tags printed
* Parking arranged and paid for
* Driving so, no need for airport or hotel room
* Bank/Debit card ready for travel with my bank
* All documents required are ready
 
 
Am I missing anything?????? Is there anything that I may have overlooked??????
 
I appreciate all the help you all have given me during my planning period, I learned so much from this forum and I loved reading the blog! I plan on posting and sharing about my experience with you since this is my very first RCCL cruise but, I think it will only be the first of many!!!

If you're driving from Tennessee, make sure you give plenty of cushion time for any delays, especially if I-95 is involved!
 
I'm stoked for you!!!  Freedom is a fabulous ship!

Yes Matt, it has been a life saver in several decisions made!! I was hoping you would say I was prepared lol, thank you again!!!

Although I am not a seasoned cruiser like some of these folks, I did raise 3 kids with years worth of vacations under my belt and yes, it is good to be organized and prepared but, when vacation starts, you must allow yourself to be on vacation! Vacation is supposed to be an escape from reality where you can laze away and whimsically float through it! That is what hooked me after the first cruise. Cruising is the ultimate escape from reality. Let it happen and enjoy every second!

Ok folks, I am super excited! Only 4 days until we set sail on Freedom for 6 days in the Caribbean! We are celebrating our 22nd wedding anniversary on day 2 and celebrating St. Patty's day on day 6 (I am 1/2 Irish).
 
* Drink packages have been bought
* Specialty Dining package has been bought
* Excursions have been booked and paid for
* Couples massage has been booked and paid for
* Online check in complete
* All documents signed
* Set sail passes printed
* Luggage tags printed
* Parking arranged and paid for
* Driving so, no need for airport or hotel room
* Bank/Debit card ready for travel with my bank
* All documents required are ready
 
 
Am I missing anything?????? Is there anything that I may have overlooked??????
 
I appreciate all the help you all have given me during my planning period, I learned so much from this forum and I loved reading the blog! I plan on posting and sharing about my experience with you since this is my very first RCCL cruise but, I think it will only be the first of many!!!

First, I am really glad to hear this blog helped you plan your trip.  Means a lot to me to hear this info is useful!
 
More importantly, you are way ahead of the game and off to a great start!

I am also a first time cruiser, so I can totally relate to your excitement! This will be a 27th anniversary present for my wife and I in Oct. I'm busting at the seams, as it is a surprise, and I haven't told her yet, so I have to keep it all inside! I'll be excited to hear about your experience and gain any first time tips you might have. Happy cruising!

Awesome!  I will be sure and do this.  I would like to do it on the first formal night as we are all dressing up in our finest that night!

Just talk to the head waiter at dinner on your first night and he or she will help you arrange it.

My son-n-law turns 50 a few days before our cruise.  I would like to have a cake or something one night during dinner.  Is this something I can arrange once on board or does that have to be done prior?  I would like to keep it a surprise.  I know you can do something for the cabin decoration and such; however, I would rather do something special during dinner.

But.... There is a cost limit, I think its $12 then you pay the difference.  I got off the Oasis last December with the package, not an issue with buying frequency.  The only one who got crazy was my wife on the first day.  She was skipping across the pool deck as we left the port.   Stop back when you return and let us know how you liked\disliked the cruise.  Oh yeah, Freedom is my favorite ship.  We took her last cruise out of Canaveral.

Well my husband doesn't believe in getting sloshed unless its a party at home so we are good there. I have only been one 1 other cruise before with Carnival and since I have nothing to compare it to yet, it was great! Reading all the info on this site has made me more and more excited for this trip.

When we had it last September ..... there was no limit in quantity or frequency (at least we never had a problem every time we wanted a refill) ---
 
Intoxicated folks?  That's a whole different issue, that, in my opinion, has nothing to do with quantity in terms of policy, every person's ability is different ......  and every adult should know his or her limitations.
 
What was amazing, was, we witnessed a fight (incredibly childish) during the belly flop contest (both participants were sloshed) - it lasted maybe 30 seconds because Security was on it at lightening speed, most folks probably never noticed it......which is a good thing.

Technically no limit, but I have seen staff kindly ask a couple of very intoxicated people to have a bottle of water before having another adult beverage.  

This never happened to us but I think there is a time limit between drinks...maybe 10 or 15 minutes between beverages ??  I think this is more of a rule to try and curtail sharing than it is to limit drinking....but I don't know how strict they are about enforcing it.

No limit as Wilson stated. Unlike Carnival, Royal does not limit the amount of drinks one can get with the package.

I'd say roughly 11:30/12 to 1:30/2 is the most crowded. My goal is to always arrive before 11, with 10:30 being the sweet spot for me.

My husband will be soooooo happy to hear that he can wear his slacks, dress shirt, and dress shoes and that be good enough for the formal night! He is a blue collar worker and anything more than that makes him feel like a stuffed sausage (his words lol). I am looking forward to wearing my dress that I never really have an occasion to wear otherwise.

We are going to Georgetown next month (30 days and counting whoo hoo) and we are going to the Cayman Distillery Co for a tour and taste testing of their 15 different liquors. It's $15 per person and we reserved directly through their website. We are then going to check out shops and do lunch somewhere. We have such big excursions planned the 2 days following, we wanted a nice leisure day in Georgetown.

We are very flexible with our time so no worries there. Thanks for your thoughts on this. Originally we were just going to eat at Chops on night 2 since its our anniversary but when I saw the BOGO at a cheaper price than Chops alone, I couldn't resist to be able to eat at Giovanni's too! Thanks again, you guys are all so very helpful!

I agree with Matt. You shouldn't have any problems. As long as you make the reservations shortly after boarding, you'll likely even get the times that you want.

I think you will get the restaurants on the day you want, provided you go change/make reservations on embarkation day.  Just go to one of the restaurants and ask to change what was automatically booked for you.
 
The word of warning I always share is you might not get the exact time you want, but you should have no trouble getting into Giovanni on night 1 and Chops night 2.  Just be flexible with your times.
 
If you have to have a certain time, then forgo the package and book the restaurants individually now.

New trademark by Royal Caribbean called, "Perfect Day".  It is described as for Restaurant, cafe, and bar services; providing food and drink.
 
I am guessing this is the name of a new restaurant.  Any ideas?  Also, it's possible this is not for RCI, but for a sister company since trademarks are filed jointly.
 

Hey all. RC website now shows the WOW sale is going on -- 60% off second guest, bonus OBC, and $50 off deposit.
 
Just got an email about this from my TA. Saved us a TON as the sale knocked just shy of $800 off each of our state rooms (having originally booked during the end-of-year sale) as well as giving us $100 in OBC.
 
I know there's been a lot of discussion here lately about how the rates really are best if you book 18-24 months ahead, and that they just don't get any better even with promotions; but seeing as we could "only" book 15 months out, I'm really glad our TA Heather at MEI Travel was able to get us these savings!
 
And THIS is why you use a travel agent.  :D