Sunday, June 12 – Embarkation
The hotel has a small elevator, which as it turns out is just large enough to fit three people and one suit case (guess how I know that). At any rate I check out at 10:20am. The hotel has a shuttle that will take me to the ship for a flat $20. That is a little more than a taxi will charge, but at least I get to arrive in style, so I take it. To get into the port I have to show my passport. I don’t know what people cruising with a birth certificate do. But here is the kicker. I am asked if there are any weapons in the car. I don’t have any weapons, but I have no idea what is in the car (actually it is a SUV and I am the only passenger). I stutter for a second and then answer no.
I’m at the terminal by 10:40am and I’m all checked in before 11:00am (but I’m not on the ship yet). I actually cheated a bit. There was a long line to check in, but I have my Carnival Vacation Club card which allows me to join the VIP line. So here I am in the terminal waiting for the ship to be ready for us (we get to board first).
There is supposed to be free Internet access, so I’ll check that out. Well, there is an unsecured network available with a very strong signal. However, from some reason Windows cannot connect to it. No big deal, I don’t really need to worry about Internet access until I get home.
Finally we board. There were people in front of me, but most stopped for the embarkation photo (I have plenty of those so I walk on past). As we head up the ramp to board the ship there were three people in front of me, but they stopped to ask someone a question. So, I was the first one to board the ship (this makes three times I’ve been the first one on the ship).
Once on board I snuck into my cabin to put away my computer bag. I let the cabin steward know I put it in the closet. Then I had to make a decision. Normally I like to photograph the ship (without people in the pictures), but the chance to eat without having to look for a table was too good of an opportunity to pass up. After lunch I started taking pictures of the ship. Just as I was headed to the forward observation deck (deck nine just above the bridge) my friends called. They are on the ship. So we met at the forward elevator. I showed them how to get to their cabin to drop off their stuff (a skill learned from six ship tours). We then explored the ship together.
My cabin ...
# 9253 ...
A typical balcony on the Carnival Freedom (not my balcony however) ...
After that we both headed to our cabins. My luggage arrived shortly after I went back to my cabin. I had a present in there for my friend’s son, so I brought it to him. They are in a suite. I’m not sure what it is called now, but it used to be a side facing category 11 suite. The last two cruises I was on with them they were in balcony cabins, so they are impressed with the larger cabin and bathroom (which includes a tub/shower combination with water jets in the tub).
The observation deck. Note that people can see into the windows of these forward facing cabins, so it is best to keep the drapes closed ...
About this time the muster drill horn went off. Fortunately we do not have to take our life vests to the to the muster drill. When I got back to the cabin I realized it is a good thing I can swim, because I couldn’t find my lifejackets. At any rate the ship was starting to move and I wanted to take pictures. Being on the lido deck meant all I have to do is walk down the hall and I’m there. Except there are a lot of people around the door just standing. This is not good and it is worse once I realize the reason. Apparently it is raining.
Well, I manage to get outside and take a few pictures, and then it is back inside to cool off and dry off. I also take the time to unpack and to look for my room steward. Once I find him I ask him where my left vests are. Naturally he says they are in the closet and that is the first and second place I looked. I’m pretty sure I didn’t miss some bright orange uncomfortable look garment in the closet (after double checking myself) so I tell him it is not there. Naturally he looks in all the places I looked and then he looks under the bed. Sure enough that is where they are. I would not have found the lifejackets there unless some pirates started shooting at us.
I finish unpacking, put the one suit case under the bed (now that the life vests are in the closet where they belong), upload my photographs to my laptop computer and work on this. Then it is time for dinner. I decided to change out of my sweaty shirt and put on my tux t-shirt, which gets lots of compliments (and its not even formal night).
I’m the first to arrive at the table. A little after 6:00pm my friends still have not arrived. It is not like them to be late. I check my Sail & Sign card. I’m in the right place. Still they don’t show up. I ask the waiter to check my Sail & Sign card. I’m in the right place. Finally they show up. Seems they forgot about the warning I gave them. You cannot get to the Posh Restaurant (the aft restaurant which is located on decks three and four) if you are on decks three or four. You have to be on deck five or above and take the elevator down. This is the reason the Spirit class is my favorite class of Carnival ships, as you can go from bow to stern on any deck. The Freedom is a Conquest class ship.
Also, both of us used the same travel agent and neither of us told the agent we wanted a large table. As a result we have a table for four, which means it is just the four of us for the week. Oops!
Dinner is good. I’ve cruised with my friends on Royal Caribbean twice. This is the first time on Carnival so I introduce them to Carnival’s world famous warm chocolate melting cake. Both parents order one. Their son (thirteen years old) and I are saving ourselves until we are really hungry.
After dinner the thirteen year old challenges his father and I to a few games of air hockey (Dad wins - I lose). Then we watch the first half of the NBA Finals game six outside on the big screen (the Seaside Theater). Most of the people are Miami fans, which is not surprising since we left from Fort Lauderdale. However, the four of us, and at least one young boy, are rooting for Dallas. The young boy is rooting for Dallas even when Miami makes a good play.
I realize many people don’t like Dallas because of the owner. But I don’t like Miami because of the show its three (in my opinion – classless) stars put on, especially James, when they joined the team. Dynasty? They had not even had one practice together has a team yet. They can talk about a dynasty after they win three in a row – and this year will not be their first. As you know, Dallas won, and perhaps the Miami stars will learn a little humility and show a little class in the future.
The main show lounge ...
