Explore Anthem of the Seas’ North Star from a new angle. Go behind the scenes with the North Star Operator on Anthem of the Seas as she takes guests on a 300 feet above sea level adventure.
Royal Caribbean Blog contributor Michael Poole is on Freedom of the Seas this week reporting all about his cruise experience.
You may recall me from the Labadee vs Coco Cay podcast, that I’m a huge fan of Coco Cay. To me this is what paradise looks like blue waters, hammocks under shaded trees, and chicken’s walking around like they own the island. I know there is not a lot excursions to do in Coco Cay, but to me that’s what makes it special, you just relax.
Since we are traveling in-group it takes a while to get everyone together, so we didn’t get off the ship until 10am.
Okay, so if you listen to the podcast, you will know I’m a big fan of the tender boats and the ride over. Well not on Freedom of the Seas, it took us almost an hour to get from ship to shore. We did arrive at 7am and departed at 3pm, so it was a shorter day in Coco Cay.
Today I had booked the Aqua Park with my sister, I had played on it a few years ago and wanted to revisit.
All I can say about this park was, holy cow! There were around 100 kids out there with a few adults. I was worn out within a few minuets of being out there, but it sure was a blast.
I actually lost my water camera in the water, I was kind of freaking out because it’s brand new. I went to the check-in stand and asked for some snorkeling equipment, and after 15 minutes of searching I found it!
After the aqua park we headed back to the ship since it was almost last call for a tender ride at 3pm. Once I got back on board I headed to the schooner bar for some trivia, and well I just blogged.
Tonight was formal night so everyone was very nicely dressed and this just happens to be my favorite night.
One recent change is they no longer have the captain’s reception on the Royal Promenade; it’s almost hard to believe. They now have the reception in the main theater, without free champagne.
Before the show they hosted a Make a Wish auction on WiFi, drink packages, bridge tours, ect. Around a half hour in they started the welcome aboard show.
Tonight was our first time in the main dining room and we had a table for 12. They had live music playing from the staircase and the passengers were really getting into the music.
For dinner we all order the filet of beef and it was so tender, quit possible the best I’ve ever tasted.
That about wraps up our day in Coco Cay, up next is sea day!
Royal Caribbean announced today it was promoting Dr. Zinan Liu as its new President for the China and North Asia Pacific region.
Zinan joined Royal Caribbean International in 2009 and has been spearheading all of Royal Caribbean's commercial and operational activities, and significantly growing the brand in the region, including opening offices in Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, and bolstering the brand's operations in Shanghai.
Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley commented on the promotion, "These are exciting times for Royal Caribbean International as we continue to build our business in China. I am confident that Zinan's expertise as a global travel veteran, his strong relationships in the region, and astute business acumen, will put us in a powerful position to reach our goals."
Zinan holds a doctoral degree in economics from the University of London, and also is Chairman of Cruise Lines International Association, North Asia, where he has been an influential spokesman for the cruise industry in the region.
Royal Caribbean is offering a free Royal Refreshment package with any Ultimate unlimited alcohol package purchased for a limited time.
Royal Caribbean had created a flyer over the weekend advertising the deal was to get the Royal Replenish package, but Royal Caribbean Global Brand Communications manager Lyan Sierra-Caro confirmed that "was an error" and the deal is in fact for the Royal Refreshment package.
In a message to Royal Caribbean Blog, Royal Caribbean explained, "It seems there was an error on the trade flyer and it is being updated."
"With purchase of an ultimate beverage package, guests will receive an additional souvenir cup and royal refreshment package to share with a friend."
Guests will also receive a complimentary bottle of limited edition American Summer Domaine Chandon.
The Royal Refreshment package allows for unlimited fountain soda refills and a free Coca-Cola souvenir cup for $6.50 per person, per day for adults and $4.50 per person, per day for kids.
Offer valid June 15 through August 31, 2015. One bottle of champagne per stateroom.
Royal Caribbean Blog contributor Michael Poole is on Freedom of the Seas this week reporting all about his cruise experience.
I arrived to Cape Canaveral around 1:00pm, so we had the whole afternoon ahead of us.
For lunch, I wanted to head down to the restaurants on the water and watch the cruise ships sailaway. We ended up going to The Grill on the water; it had live music and right beside the new terminal 1. If you are looking for a fun way to start the vacation, I would suggest their patio on Saturday afternoons.
There was a group of 20 staying at the Radisson resort at the port. The best thing about this hotel is the location, its right across the street from the pier; we could actually see the Freedom. They have a beautiful swimming pool, tennis courts; only downfall is the layout of the resort.
More often than not, I was lost I couldn’t find my room, very few signs directing you where to go, but we managed. Also a good perk of this hotel is 0.2 miles from hertz rental car.
This morning I dropped the car off at 7am, and walked back to the hotel and it took less than 10 minuets. If you can grab a good rate on the rental car, this might be the best way to travel the 45 miles to Cape Canaveral.
We arrived to the pier at 11:30am and there was no line until we made it to the check-in desk to receive our sea pass cards, but didn’t take more than 15 minutes. The terminal is beautiful with such a modern look, though it does not feel larger than the one Oasis of the Seas is currently using in Fort. Lauderdale.
By noon, we were walking onboard and headed straight to the Windjammer for the signature first meal.
It didn’t feel that over crowded that it usually does on day 1, and we were able to get a table for our group, which is 11 people.
The staterooms are ready at 1:00pm and I’m in an inside cabin, where the nightclub used to be on deck 3.
The cabin is actually great, if not the best inside cabin I’ve had. I’m sorry I haven’t taken pictures yet, but I will.
Everything has that blue theme color, where the other inside cabin’s have the green tint. It looks like the cabins on the new Quantum ship.
I would book this cabin again if I was returning to the Freedom, it’s 3543.
Before dinner we went to vintages for some wine, it’s located on the royal promenade on deck 5. They did have a shortage of almost every wine we asked for, they said the guest on Saturday night wiped them out and they would be restocked on Monday.
Not a big deal, but we actually ran into the same issue at the new R Bar. They couldn’t make a few drinks because they were out of everything, including bottles of water that are included in the drink package.
Tonight my brother treated the whole group to dinner at Chops Grill. The cost of this dinner is $35 pp, which includes the gratuity.
The service was really great, especially for such a large group.
I started out with the French onion soup and it’s so full of flavor, one of my favorite items on the new menu. I also had the shrimp cocktail, and the shrimp were so large almost a meal within themselves.
For the main course I had the filet mignon, with the red wine sauce. This is always such an amazing steak, no matter what ship you are on and I would recommend everyone to try it out.
Our waiter surprised my brother and his new husband with a desert at the end of the meal, one more reason I love Royal Caribbean so much. Shortly after dinner we all headed to bed, it was a really long day for everyone.
The cost of the Internet package for 1 device is $140 and 2 devices was $220. This is before any crown and anchor discount. For Diamond members, it’s $40 off.
The speeds are extremely slow; I was so spoiled from the Internet speeds on Oasis of the Seas. When you send a text (imessage) they are pretty fast, but pictures almost can’t go through.
Also, I cannot pick up a WiFi signal in my stateroom.
That about wraps up my day 1 on board the Freedom of the Seas, up next is Coco Cay!
Feel free to comment below and let me know if you want to see pictures of anything onboard.
UPDATE: Royal Caribbean confirmed the original offer advertisement was "an error" and the promotion is actually for a free Royal Refreshment package. Details here.
Royal Caribbean is offering a new deal for anyone that buys an Ultimate unlimited alcohol package, they will receive a complimentary Royal Replenish package for another guest, plus souvenir Coca-Cola cups for both of them.
Guests will also receive a complimentary bottle of limited edition American Summer Domaine Chandon.
Offer valid June 15 through August 31, 2015.
The ultimate beverage package is a combination of the Premium unlimited alcohol package and the Royal Replenish package and costs $55 per person, per day. It features
The Royal Replenish package ordinarilly costs $19 per person, per day and includes
Only beverage packages purchased between June 15 and August 31, 2015 are eligible for the promotion.
The promotion only applies to beverage packages reserved before the cruise and limited to one offer per stateroom.
Royal Caribbean Blog contributor Michael Poole is about to go on Freedom of the Seas this weekend and here's his preview of his cruise!
Hi Loyal to Royal Cruisers, its Michael Poole again for another live review onboard Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas. If you didn’t get a chance to read my review from March onboard Oasis of the Seas, you can click here to hold you over until sail away.
This cruise is a 7 day, Eastern Caribbean sailing, visiting: Coco Cay, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.
This cruise is unlike any cruise I’ve ever taken because I am sailing as group; in fact it’s a wedding group. My brother Jason Poole is getting married Sunday morning at 10AM, and then we are headed to board the Freedom of The Seas around noon. We have a range from grandparents, parents, and friends we have met of previous cruises joining us. My brother is lucky enough to stay onboard for two weeks, but the whole group is just sailing on the first sailing.
Outside of this being my first cruise sailing as a group, it will actually be my first time onboard Freedom of the Seas. I still find it hard to believe after 22 cruises I’ve never found my way on one of their flag ship vessels in the fleet. With that being said, I have sailed on her sisters Liberty of the Seas twice and Independence of the Seas, so I know what to expect. However, the Freedom will be a little different since her recent dry dock in January 2015. During the dry dock they added R Bar, Giovanni’s Table, and Sabor, but removed the night club.
My stateroom is one of the recently added cabins, where the night club was on deck 3 and I’m staying in it solo, chasing those Crown and Anchor points! For those unaware, if you stay in a cabin solo you received double points and suites you received triple points.
Some of the topics I’ll be including during this live review are: the drink package vs A la carte, specialty dining, stateroom, actives off shore and general info around the ship. Please feel free to join in on the comments and I’ll respond promptly.
Sunday will be upon us shortly and I can’t wait to share my first time onboard The Freedom of the Seas with you, well virtually!
Royal Caribbean will kick off a five-day WOW sale starting June 13, 2015 that will run through June 17. The sale offers up to $200 onboard credit and 50% off deposits in addition to the 30 FOR 30 sale that is ongoing.
The WOW sale is valid on all sailings departing on or after July 13, 2015, excluding China departures.
The onboard credit breakdown is as follows
LISTEN TO OUR ADVICE ON WOW SALES AND IF THEY ARE A GOOD DEAL
Offer is combinable with standard/full fare and restricted rates (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military, BOGO, etc.), Next Cruise, weekly Sales Events, and Anthem Upgrade offers.
Offer is not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Net Rates, Crown & Anchor Discount programs or rates.
Offer is available to residents of the United States and or Canada.
What is a WOW Sale? Are WOW Sales good deals? Read our Cruise 101: WOW Sale post to get information on what this deal is all about.
The sheer beauty of the South Caribbean is perhaps best exemplified by Antigua, which boasts 365 beaches, one for each day of the year. When we visited Valley Church Beach in Antigua, we were blown away by the views, ocean color and serenity of the location.
Valley Church Beach is about twenty minutes away from where Royal Caribbean docks in Antigua by car. It's located in the southwest corner of the island and is fairly easily to get to, especially by taxi.
Located in Valley Church Bay, the beach features a palm tree lined beach with soft white sand and not a whole lot around it. It's the kind of beach experience where you will find natural beauty and quietness around you.
When you arrive at Valley Church Beach, you will find a sprawling beach with locals working there to help you get a spot. There are beach chairs available to rent for $5 each and beach umbrellas for $10. There is also free WiFi available.
There's a restaurant that serves up food and plenty of beverages at the center of the beach, close to the parking lot. It's close enough to walk to from almost any spot on the beach.
What will likely strike you about Valley Church Beach is the beauty of the water's color in contrast to the beach around it. It's the kind of scene that you would dream of when thinking about a Caribbean beach.
While the water is a beautiful shade of blue, it's rather cloudy, so snorkeling is not a great activity in this spot.
Plain and simple, Valley Church Beach is a beautiful spot to visit and the perfect beach for a day trip that many cruisers are looking for.
The combination of natural beauty, inexpensive prices for beach furniture and close proximity to where Royal Caribbean docks its ships, makes for somewhere we would love to go back to anytime.
There are only two negatives that can be pointed out about Valley Church Beach: the water is not clear enough for snorkeling and there are lots of locals trying to sell their services and wares. Neither is a concern large enough to warrant skipping.
There are no water toys or other activities other than something a local might be offering. Valley Church Beach is perfect for lounging, as well as families with small children who are looking for a beach with small waves.
Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas made her first stop ever in Singapore yesterday.
Quantum of the Seas is on a 14-night cruise from Dubai, which also made stops at Muscat, Cochin and Penang.
As part of the maritime tradition of when a cruise ship comes to a port for the first time, there was a plaque exchange between Quantum of the Seas' Captain Srecko Ban and Singapore's Assistant Chief Executive Neeta Lachmandas and Singapore Airport Terminal Services Executive Vice President Yacoob Piperdi.
Quantum of the Seas is currently on a 53-night around the world cruise, which departed from New York en route to Shanghai where it will homeport year round.
