GatorCruiser Posted March 13 Report Posted March 13 Hello All, Time for the @GatorCruiser family spring break, starring me, @Tarheel Cruiser, and sons ages 11 and 9 Who: see above What/Where: Freedom of The Seas: 8 night eastern caribeean cruise visiting Puerto Plata, DR, St Thomas, St Kitts, and St Maarten. Staying in Grand suite. Will achieve Diamond Plus status! Flying from Charlotte to FLL. staying at Marriot Fort Lauderdale Airport (will provide pics) Excursions: DR: waterfall hike, ATV, St Thomas: Royal signature excursion, kayak in marine area Cas Cay plus hike/snorkel, St Kitts: catamaran to Nevis/beach/lunch, St maarten: Rhino Rockets Ancillary stuff: Booked dining and booze packages. My first time on a Freedom class ship. Lovetocruise2002, OCSC Mike, Sweety and 8 others 10 1 Quote
smokeybandit Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 Also on this cruise. We're flying into PBI and renting a car. Flight+car was a good bit cheaper than flying to FLL. I haven't been on a ship with a Playmakers since Dec 2022, and haven't been on Freedom since she got the Playmakers. Sweety, WAAAYTOOO and MaryS 3 Quote
GatorCruiser Posted March 14 Author Report Posted March 14 Just now, smokeybandit said: Also on this cruise. We're flying into PBI and renting a car. Flight+car was a good bit cheaper than flying to FLL. I haven't been on a ship with a Playmakers since Dec 2022, and haven't been on Freedom since she got the Playmakers. Fell free to add to this blog as well. We can co-blog if you like. Sweety 1 Quote
smokeybandit Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 We'll be in the suite lounge each night. Happy hour the easiest place to try to make some money back for the cost of a suite. We don't have any excursions. Just taking a taxi to a beach bar in St Kitts we've been to a couple times. Stopping by Gulhomar's in St Maarten to buy some liquor that'll be overpriced, but it'll be stuff I can't get in the states. Playing it by ear for the rest. GatorCruiser, Sweety and MaryS 3 Quote
GatorCruiser Posted March 14 Author Report Posted March 14 I’ll randomly yell out “smokeybandit” in the lounge and see if anyone responds Ampurp85, MaryS, FionaMG and 3 others 6 Quote
smokeybandit Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 My response will be directly proportional to how many drinks I've had that evening. Robert M, Kelseylovestocruise, MaryS and 3 others 5 1 Quote
GatorCruiser Posted March 14 Author Report Posted March 14 25 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: . Stopping by Gulhomar's I plan on sliding by there as well. I have usually come away with some Weller or Blantons in previous trips. Quote
smokeybandit Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 34 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said: I plan on sliding by there as well. I have usually come away with some Weller or Blantons in previous trips. I've got a list this time, just of stuff that isn't overly rare, just hard to get in the US. I got Blanton's last time. GatorCruiser 1 Quote
Kelseylovestocruise Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 1 hour ago, smokeybandit said: My response will be directly proportional to how many drinks I've had that evening. This right here tells me we could cruise together GatorCruiser and Sweety 2 Quote
JohnK6404 Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 Congrats on hitting D+ on this sailing! Enjoy it! We'll be following you of course! GatorCruiser, Ampurp85 and Sweety 3 Quote
Sweety Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 I been on Freedom a few times. I have a B3B on Freedom in June. I will be following. Congratulations on reaching D+. GatorCruiser and Ampurp85 2 Quote
TarheelCruiser Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 Got our ducks in a row for the kids to hide. @GatorCruiser actually helped attach the tags asquared17, Ampurp85, Lovetocruise2002 and 4 others 1 1 5 Quote
Ampurp85 Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 I love the key chained ducks, they are so cute. I think Freedom is my most sailed ship and usually the one I have made Prime the most on. Congrats on making it to D+ GatorCruiser and Sweety 1 1 Quote
GatorCruiser Posted March 14 Author Report Posted March 14 2 hours ago, Ampurp85 said: Congrats on making it to D+ Gracias. Landed in FLL. Go time! JohnK6404, MaryS, Ampurp85 and 4 others 6 1 Quote
GatorCruiser Posted March 14 Author Report Posted March 14 Hotel pics. Hotel is fine. It’ll work nicely. May try to hit up la bamba later. WAAAYTOOO, Ampurp85 and MaryS 3 Quote
Lovetocruise2002 Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 14 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said: May try to hit up la bamba later. There is no “may try”; it’s “must go” Sweety, WAAAYTOOO, OCSC Mike and 2 others 1 3 1 Quote
GatorCruiser Posted March 14 Author Report Posted March 14 Just now, Lovetocruise2002 said: There is no “may try”; it’s “must go” Yes but we have paradise tiki bar within walking distance to the hotel. https://paradisetikiofdaniabeach.com/ Ampurp85 and Lovetocruise2002 2 Quote
OCSC Mike Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 42 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said: May try to hit up la bamba later. Just don’t hit up multiple buffets like @Lovetocruise2002. Lovetocruise2002 and Ampurp85 1 1 Quote
Lovetocruise2002 Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 1 hour ago, GatorCruiser said: Yes but we have paradise tiki bar within walking distance to the hotel. https://paradisetikiofdaniabeach.com/ Meh… no contest to La Bamba imo lol 37 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said: Just don’t hit up multiple buffets like @Lovetocruise2002. Good point! Sweety and OCSC Mike 2 Quote
GatorCruiser Posted March 14 Author Report Posted March 14 3 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said: Meh… no contest to La Bamba imo lol Have you been ? Quote
dustfsu Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 (edited) 20 hours ago, GatorCruiser said: I’ll randomly yell out “smokeybandit” in the lounge and see if anyone responds Just start singing East Bound and Down Edited March 14 by dustfsu Typo Quote
GatorCruiser Posted March 14 Author Report Posted March 14 1 minute ago, dustfsu said: Just start singing East Bound and Dow Loaded up and trucking ? dustfsu 1 Quote
dustfsu Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 3 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said: Loaded up and trucking ? Maybe he looks like Bert Quote
smokeybandit Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 2 hours to get from palm beach airport to the hotel. Holy traffic. Robert M, GatorCruiser, asquared17 and 3 others 1 5 Quote
GatorCruiser Posted March 14 Author Report Posted March 14 1 minute ago, smokeybandit said: l. Holy traffic This will make you feel better. Paradise tiki bar was an organic choice, I looked out our hotel window and saw it and said let’s go. Waterfront dive bar with live music. Works for me. Sweety, Lovetocruise2002, Robert M and 3 others 6 Quote
Gilley Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 On 3/13/2025 at 5:08 PM, GatorCruiser said: Hello All, Time for the @GatorCruiser family spring break, starring me, @Tarheel Cruiser, and sons ages 11 and 9 Who: see above What/Where: Freedom of The Seas: 8 night eastern caribeean cruise visiting Puerto Plata, DR, St Thomas, St Kitts, and St Maarten. Staying in Grand suite. Will achieve Diamond Plus status! Flying from Charlotte to FLL. staying at Marriot Fort Lauderdale Airport (will provide pics) Excursions: DR: waterfall hike, ATV, St Thomas: Royal signature excursion, kayak in marine area Cas Cay plus hike/snorkel, St Kitts: catamaran to Nevis/beach/lunch, St maarten: Rhino Rockets Ancillary stuff: Booked dining and booze packages. My first time on a Freedom class ship. I would like to know what you think of the ATV after your excursion. I have it booked for my April Symphony cruise. My cousin will be joining me and she has never rode them before. GatorCruiser 1 Quote
dustfsu Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 1 minute ago, Gilley said: I would like to know what you think of the ATV after your excursion. I have it booked for my April Symphony cruise. My cousin will be joining me and she has never rode them before. Im sure the terrain isn't too bad, but if you have a bad back you might be a little sore after bouncing around. Quote
dustfsu Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 59 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: 2 hours to get from palm beach airport to the hotel. Holy traffic. That's been FL traffic for the past few years. But most of the schools are about to start spring break Quote
GatorCruiser Posted March 14 Author Report Posted March 14 11 minutes ago, Gilley said: I would like to know what you think of the ATV after your excursion Will do Quote
asquared17 Posted March 15 Report Posted March 15 i love the ducks!!! @TarheelCruiser also the hotel looks quite nice Sweety and Ampurp85 1 1 Quote
smokeybandit Posted March 15 Report Posted March 15 Since we have a car we booked a hotel west of town to save a few bucks. No pictures necessary, just your run of the mill Hampton inn. Planning to get to the port by 10am MaryS, Ampurp85, WAAAYTOOO and 2 others 4 1 Quote
smokeybandit Posted March 15 Report Posted March 15 Rise and shine Saturday cruisers GatorCruiser, Sweety, Ampurp85 and 3 others 4 2 Quote
GatorCruiser Posted March 15 Author Report Posted March 15 Got my embarkation drip all ready! Ampurp85, WAAAYTOOO, Robert M and 5 others 7 1 Quote
asquared17 Posted March 15 Report Posted March 15 ITS CRUISE DAY GatorCruiser, Ampurp85 and Sweety 2 1 Quote
OCSC Mike Posted March 15 Report Posted March 15 13 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said: Got my embarkation drip all ready! Drip? And I got crap for wearing cargo shorts? Act like the pre-vintage you are, lol. @smokeybandit This is how you can find @GatorCruiser (or avoid him), by looking for his t-shirts. That's how I knew who he was in the terminal last year. Robert M, GatorCruiser, Sweety and 1 other 2 2 Quote
GatorCruiser Posted March 15 Author Report Posted March 15 14 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said: Drip? And I got crap for wearing cargo shorts? Act like the pre-vintage you are, lol. Bruh I’m down with the whippersnapper lingo. remember I have two pre teen boys who keep me contemporary. OCSC Mike, Ampurp85, Sweety and 1 other 4 Quote
OCSC Mike Posted March 15 Report Posted March 15 7 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said: Bruh I’m down with the whippersnapper lingo. remember I have two pre teen boys who keep me contemporary. That's @Lovetocruise2002's excuse... "I teach teens." My nieces are 15 and 11, just because you know the lingo doesn't mean you have to use it. Bring on the cruise! GatorCruiser and Sweety 2 Quote
Ampurp85 Posted March 15 Report Posted March 15 It's cruise day, turn up!!! Sweety and GatorCruiser 1 1 Quote
smokeybandit Posted March 15 Report Posted March 15 Got to the port right at 10am. The check in agent said we could drop our bags off at the room, which would be a stark change. I'm assuming she thought she was working a different line today Sweety, Ampurp85 and WAAAYTOOO 3 Quote
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