DunwoodyDad

Please reply with your favorites and things that are just a no-go (such as Matt mentioned something about a horrible cauliflower dish on his Monday YouTube video).

Yeah…the more I think about it, I’m booking a car. It’s just not worth a few bucks.

Hey all, Any issues/experience getting UberXL or LyftXL from Port Canaveral on disembark day to the Melbourne (MLB) airport? We have an 1130 flight out so don’t want to have to wait a long time for one to show up. I am considering booking a van instead but obviously will have to pay more. Thanks in advance!

Thanks all! I’m going for it!

Thanks for the input to all. Everyone prioritizes different things but to be clear, I’m not the only one looking to get onboard as soon as possible (and yes, I’m a rope dropper at WDW too )….

I know during COVID this was a big no-no. Still the case? I completely missed the 45 day point and now have a 12:30 time in Port Canaveral. Would love to get on earlier to eat lunch.

When we were on Freedom in late Dec 21, they had a bowl game schedule at each table showing games that would be playing. Not March madness obviously but they were definitely aware of the schedule and promoted it.

Family of 6 here. As folks have already pointed out, 2 cabins is the way to go. I started with adjoining for a few cruises, but then switched to a balcony for my wife and me with kids in an interior across the hall. My experience is it needs to be directly next to or across the hall especially depending on ages of the kids. You usually need to have your TA call if you don’t split the adult names across the cabins. That way you don’t have to change the names after you are on the ship. As my kids grew into big teens, we ended up getting 3 cabins (normally 1 balcony for us with 2 interiors across the hall with the kids) as it really wasn’t much more $.

Agree that the ideal approach here is a button in the app that launches the pdf so you can easily access it. Also needs to be available at least early evening the night before for those of us (certainly me) that like to read through the CC as a wind-down activity each night to plan the next day. It seems like this is where they are headed but need to tweak the process of each ship uploading the pdf and making it available in the app (which is honestly the easy part).

OP said Adventure which looks to be sailing 4/5 night cruises, which I don’t think has had lobster nights for a while (old or new menus). I believe they are only on 7 night or more cruises.

I haven’t been following Icon news for a few weeks. Any more info on the Pearl? Just a glitzy staircase?

Agree. Was thinking the same thing. Well, fancy staircase with a light show.

I’ve not seen many renderings of the Promenade other than the 2-3 Matt has now on the blog that really feature the Pearl. Would love to see more there if they exist. I saw his comment that they are adding windows to the sea which I think don’t exist at all today.

This is what I use. I got a couple back in 2019 but looks like they have a new one with even more ports on it. But this works great. https://a.co/d/06cZKjn

Do we think this is replacing Surf/Stream? Or is it a new service and price point?

Playmakers

Thanks. Sounds like staying near their hotel is the best bet.

We’ve never sailed out of Tampa Bay before and I’m researching for my oldest daughter going with her friends for college spring break in March. They procrastinated getting a check-in time (yes, I repeatedly told her…) and got 1:30 but have an 11:00 checkout time from their hotel and will be ubering. With strict check-in times, what are the recommendations to fill that time? I’m thinking late breakfast either near the hotel and then get in the Uber a little after 1 or going to the port right at 11, dropping off luggage (can they do this early?), and then walking to somewhere for late breakfast. It looks like it’s possible to walk from the port to coffee shops, etc. is that true? Thanks in advance!

Nassau instead of St Kitts ……. Not ideal. But Labadee is beautiful

Craps was only thing closed on Freedom when we sailed in late December. They said it was due to staffing issues (Omicron was going through the crew).

It was mentioned above and I’m sure you’ve done this but it’s worth repeating…. Definitely price out 2 connecting cabins. I’ve found that it’s often very little difference in price and gets you the space those teens need/want.

The whole thing felt like some kind of red tape gone wrong situation. But I never heard a proper explanation of what happened. We did get a few hours on the island in the afternoon but it was far from ideal. My wife stayed on the boat so missed it altogether.

Also While the snack shacks are open it seems like the larger restaurants are closed (at least from what I could see).

Sorry for the slow update here folks but at about 130 we were told things had been worked out and we were cleared. Most folks including some of my group rushed off to enjoy what of the day was left.

We are making the best of this. Eating wings and burgers in Playmakers (which is awesome here on Freedom BTW) and about to head back up on the pool deck. But it’s really disappointing.