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Freedom OTS 11/11/17 8 Nights, Modified Western Caribbean


twangster

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13 hours ago, twangster said:

I used to buy Olloclips and others things but I kept upgrading my phone and passing down the last to my kids, so it became a pain having to buy all new accessories each time.  

This is part of why I'm strongly considering the Moment tele, wide angle, and fisheye. They attach using a custom blade mount that works with the cases they sell for phones. So instead of having to buy a new lens when I eventually upgrade my phone, I can just buy a new case.

Only consideration I have to make is that to work with newer phones/cases, I'll have to buy the newer models of the lenses that go for $99 each, instead of the previous version that only works up through the cases made for 6s / 6s Plus but are now sold for only $60 each.

EDIT -- Forgot to note that getting Moment lenses also means that I'll have to get a Moondog Labs filter adapter designed for those lenses, along with their CPL and maybe an ND filter or two.

Money comes in, money goes out...

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8 hours ago, twangster said:

I was hoping to visit the helipad after dark to try to capture some night sky and star shots.  I've done night sky photography before but always questioned if you could do so from a moving ship.  The helipad seemed like a nice dark spot to try but alas, it was gated off tonight.  So I headed aft and tried from there.  Not great, but better than I expected with the ship's motion.

The white blob bottom left is the propeller wake.  Once the Milky Way heads back to our side of the equator I may try this again if I can find a dark spot on a ship on a some future cruise. 

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This is awesome! I am also planning to go to the helipad and try to get some star shots, even though I realize that on an iPhone it's going to be even harder than with your good rig. I'm hoping that the combination of the Gorillapod magnetic tripod, plus the Rigiet gimbal for stabilization / orientation lock, plus my Slow Shutter or NightCap app, will help enough that I can get a halfway decent shot.

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12 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

Matt, you need to add a "Love" and/or "WOW!" reaction to the set of possible choices. "Like" doesn't do his photos justice.

Truth.

20 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

This is part of why I'm strongly considering the Moment tele, wide angle, and fisheye. They attach using a custom blade mount that works with the cases they sell for phones. So instead of having to buy a new lens when I eventually upgrade my phone, I can just buy a new case.

I just ordered the Olloclip.  I had one before, but lost it somewhere and it didn't have a CPL filter. Regardless, I like that you can take it on or off easily.  Mounting plates seem like a pain.

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4 minutes ago, Matt said:

Truth.

I just ordered the Olloclip.  I had one before, but lost it somewhere and it didn't have a CPL filter. Regardless, I like that you can take it on or off easily.  Mounting plates seem like a pain.

The Moment lenses now can use a case and not just a mounting plate. Granted, it's their case, so you have to swap out for the period you expect to be using the lenses. But at least at that point it becomes as simple as using the Olloclip (which doesn't work with any case or even a glass overlay screen protector, btw) -- pull out the lens, screw it into the case's mounting slot, take photos, remove lens and pop back into travel case.

Their case looks very much like the Seidio case I already use, so swapping out for the duration of the cruise won't be a big deal for me. And it's like half the cost if you buy it at the same time you buy a lens.

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58 minutes ago, Matt said:

Truth.

I just ordered the Olloclip.  I had one before, but lost it somewhere and it didn't have a CPL filter. Regardless, I like that you can take it on or off easily.  Mounting plates seem like a pain.

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@twangster what's your count at now???

Everyone else...CALL NOW!  THERE IS STILL TIME!  FOMO IS REAL!! 

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1 hour ago, JLMoran said:

The Moment lenses now can use a case and not just a mounting plate. Granted, it's their case, so you have to swap out for the period you expect to be using the lenses. But at least at that point it becomes as simple as using the Olloclip (which doesn't work with any case or even a glass overlay screen protector, btw) -- pull out the lens, screw it into the case's mounting slot, take photos, remove lens and pop back into travel case.

My iPhone case is really easy to take off, so I prefer the Olloclip because of the easy on/easy off nature.  I agree having the case on is better, but I'm also not interested in changing my iPhone case.  Alas, to each their own!

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Day 7 - Labadee!

I love Labadee.  This is my 3rd visit this year, 4th overall.  I awoke in my cabin and could smell a faint campfire smell already.  Much of Haiti uses wood for heating and cooking and arriving here I can always pick out the familiar smell of wood burning fires even as we cruise along the North shore of Haiti approaching Labadee.  The captain informed us we may have increasing chances of snow rain in the afternoon so I planned to get out early and take some pics trying out my new lens. 

Barefoot Beach for Suite Guests and Pinnacle:

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Our welcoming committee:

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I always take the nature walk up toward the spa area where you will find the best view of the ship.

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This continues to the spa

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If you continue towards the base of the zip line and keep walking past that you can walk out to the point.

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I noticed some new features along the beach under the zip line since my last visit.

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They have created these little bump outs complete with palm trees for shade.

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A less recent addition since last year is the floating bar.  Unlike Coco Cay this is a true swim out experience.

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The Artisan Marketplace was busy as ever.
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Since I'm not in a suite this time I missed out on Barefoot Beach but there are several other very nice beach areas.

Columbus Cove has a nice view of the ship.

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Nellie's Beach isn't bad either.

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Time to honor the Labradoozie Society.

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It's hot today and I decided to head back to the ship. 

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They had the anchor out, I guess to paint it after using it at Grand Cayman, so one last picture taking advantage of the fisheye lens.

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19 minutes ago, DDemuth said:

:8_laughing:   That last picture of the anchor really illustrates the distortion induced by those ultra wide angle lenses at close distance.  You've bended the bow of the ship about 90 degrees to the left.  Appreciate all the photos that you've posted.

Actually the captain rammed the pier arriving and he bent it :8_laughing:

Just kidding... 

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1 minute ago, rjac said:

So, if a chopper is coming in for a landing on the helipad.......what happens to those deck chairs and that cable?:27_sunglasses:

I've been looking at that thinking the same thing.  The forward radar antenna tower appears like it it could fold forward.  The deck plates appear like they can be hinged back, the cable that tensions the radar tower could be slackened allowing the tower to fold flat pointing forward.  The benches have a few bolts holding them in place that could be easily removed.  The railings around the helipad also hinge outward so they could be laid flat as well.  

I've asked the captain about a helicopter disembarkation for later today so we'll see.  Not.   

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Today was a beautiful sunny day as we made our way around the North coast of Cuba on our way back to Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale.  

I enjoyed my lunch in the Windjammer, took in some sun at various places including the solarium, captured some sunset pictures and headed to dinner in the MDR.

Minutes ago I entered an elevator and made small talk as you some times do in an elevator.  When a woman asked how am I am doing I replied "Not good, I have to leave tomorrow".  At that point none other than Super Mario turned from looking out the elevator at the promenade and said "get off my ship!".  Too funny!  With his back turned I had no idea I was chatting with him! 

I'm procrastinating at the moment.  Packing my bags is what I should be doing, but as long as I make the final theater show at 9pm...

Here are some sunset photos from tonight:

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I caught a cat running down the stairs after the Dreamworks parade.

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One last look at the decks 3, 4 and 5.

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Disembarkation

I had an early flight so I wanted to be off early and did the self-assist disembarkation.  The line by the doors on deck 4 near Boleros began queueing at 5am. The ship was already tied up at the pier.   You have two options for self-assist, line up near Schooner Bar or line up near Boleros.  At the forward Schooner Bar door to the outside deck it's farther from the gangway so they allow you to queue up outside.  At the Boleros end they require you to wait inside. 

You don't have to do self-assist, standard disembarkation for guests who put luggage out the night before works as normal and luggage valet is offered in Port Everglades.  I've done luggage valet on Harmony in Port Everglades and it works great.  Put your luggage out the night before and you never see or touch it again until baggage claim in your home airport.  You have to have a later flight though, after 11am I think.

Suite and Pinnacle were escorted past us, including Super Mario who explained customs always wants to see him as they suspect he is laundering money :).  There was some sort of delay, supposedly someone's credit card had an issue and immigration wouldn't begin until it was cleared up.  So we waited, and waited.  It was becoming quite stuffy inside and this morning was cool by Florida standards so all of us longed to be waiting outside.  If it was hot and humid we would be glad to inside. :8_laughing:

Breakfast options start at 6am for a continental breakfast at cafe promenade or 6:30am for WJ, so I planned to grab something at the airport.

At 6:50am they allowed us to disembark.  I was in a cab heading to the airport by 7:05am, bag checked and through security at my gate by 7:25am.  My  8:45am flight will start boarding at 8:15am.  Since I have elite status with my airline I can push my luck knowing I can get something later if needed, otherwise I wouldn't book an early flight like this.    

With that it's time to exit the Delta Skyclub and head to my gate.  I'll work on a summary on the plane and post that later.

 

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Cruise Summary

An important question after any cruise is... "Would you sail this ship again?".  YES!

I enjoyed my time on the Freedom of the Seas and would not hesitate to sail her again.  Wait staff in the restaurants were great.  Food in the Windjammer and the My Time Dining room was very good.  Cabin service awesome.  Everything was clean

As for the ship layout and features I can see why so many like this class of ship.  I really like having open access to the helipad and the solarium pool being uncovered.   

I'm glad I had the opportunity to try both the Voom Surf as well as Surf and Stream.  I had several hour or two hour wifi phone calls using the basic Surf.  During heavy rain it slowed down, a phenomenon called rain-fade that affects all satellite reception even on land so its not perfect or just like at home, but heck I'm in the middle of an ocean.  The O3b satellite system makes a big difference and I'm hoping ships like Mariner or Independence entering dry dock next year will receive this upgrade.   

The comedians were very funny without resorting to excessive profanity that some comedians use in lieu of not being that funny.   Some of the entertainers left mid-cruise while others replaced them.  It was nice to have new faces and new shows. 

There is always risk booking a 'guarantee' cabin.  When I saw a deck 10 cabin assigned I was curious if pool deck noise would be an issue.  I am happy to report it was not.

One of the crew is approaching the end of their contract term and had been assigned another ship for his next engagement.  He requested staying on Freedom and was approved.  He also told me he is trying to get an extension on his current term.  Obviously the crew like the Freedom of the Seas as well.   I can't think of a single negative crew experience anywhere on the ship.

Freedom is not a brand new ship and after sailing on Harmony a few weeks ago you do need to maintain perspective and research the ship.  By doing so expectations were met and overall I'm very happy with the experience.  Money well spent.

The only problem - it was too short.  I had almost made it into a B2B but work intervened.  Having sailed Freedom I'll keep an eye on her in the spring for short term deals.  Liberty is high on my list for her water slides and I've booked Independence so hopefully soon I can complete the Freedom class trilogy.  

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23 hours ago, twangster said:

Freedom is not a brand new ship and after sailing on Harmony a few weeks ago you do need to maintain perspective and research the ship.  By doing so expectations were met and overall I'm very happy with the experience.  Money well spent.

Really enjoyed the review, really glad you mentioned what you did in the above quote, I think this is what determines what people believe if their cruise was enjoyable or not. I have Freedom booked next year, have been on Liberty twice, I believe you will enjoy her just as much.

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On 11/15/2017 at 11:56 AM, twangster said:

Cruise Tip # 1307 - Take a photo on your phone of the ship contact information for each port found on the back of the Cruise Compass before leaving the ship.  It changes at each port and lists the closest US Embassy, local police, ship's local agent and the telephone number of the ship and RCI Miami. 

This is a great tip which I had never considered.  Thought I would highlight it since it is hidden deeper in this review from 2017 and not sure if others would read the entire review as I just did.

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@twangster I'm not sure why I didn't see this sooner, but thank you so much for this blog.  Although at the time you experienced it I had no idea I would even be taking another cruise, I'm going on the Freedom in November and absolutely loved reading your blog and those pictures were just amazing.  I also emailed the link to myself so I would be able to find it again!

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