Monday, November 25, 2013

Carnival Freedom

On Friday the 15th, we flew to Ft. Lauderdale, with layovers in Denver and Austin.  We stayed at the Weston Courtyard by Marriott in room 418.  We ate dinner at Shorty's BBQ in Fort Lauderdale. I had the beef brisket plate.  We drove past the new LDS Temple in Davie. 


     








On Saturday, we went to Walmart and got groceries.  We ate breakfast at McDonald's.  We boarded the Carnival Freedom.  It was our first time on this ship.   We were in port with Celebrity Eclipse, Westerdam, Crown Princess, and Oasis of the Seas.    We were in cabin 9269 on the lido deck.  After we unpacked, we had to go to the muster drill in the Chic dining room.  We went and tried chicken tortilla soup and pulled pork at the Taste Bar.  We had dinner in the Posh dining room at table 557.  I had the Caesar salad, chips and salsa, sweet and sour shrimp, and the black forest cake.  Service was very slow.  We were at a table of 8 with a couple and her father from Kansas, and a single older man from New York who kept talking about medical marijuana.  We went to the Victoriana lounge and watched the ballroom dance class to the song, Sway.  We played trivia and watched Game Show Mania.  









Sunday was our first full day at sea.  We had breakfast in the Freedom Restaurant.  We signed up for Shore Excursions and saw the Fun Ashore Talk with our cruise director, Craig.  We went to the shopping Talk and had to wait in line for coupons at the shopping desk.  I finished reading, Most Talkative by Andy Cohen.  For lunch, I had chicken fingers and key lime pie.  It was our first formal night.  I wore a white shirt, my red and black skirt, and a black jacket.  For dinner, I had a fruit cocktail, Strawberry Bisque, Prime Rib, and Warm Chocolate Melting Cake.  The man from New York changed tables, so we had an elderly couple from Florida join us.  We went and saw the comedian, Smiley Joe Wiley, who we had seen on a previous ship.  The main show was Ticket to Ride, a tribute to the Beatles.  I love when they pass out the glow sticks for the final numbers.  I tried a Mango Madness smoothie, which is mangoes with grenadine.  We went and walked around the shops on board.  I finished reading, Catherine by April Lindner.  We met our room steward, Sladana, who was very nice.  We had an elephant towel animal in our room.  









Monday was our second full day at sea.  We walked around the shops some more.  The ship was very rocky, so we returned to our cabin.  For dinner, I had a fruit cocktail, jerk pork loin, and fig cake.  Due to the rockiness of the ship, the main show was cancelled, so we saw Smiley Joe Wiley again.  There was a rabbit towel animal in our room.  












Tuesday, we docked in St. Thomas.  We were there from 8 am to 6 pm.  We were in port with Carnival Dream, Oasis Of The Seas, and the Celebrity Reflection.  We took an open air taxi into Charlotte Amalie.  Mom bought some tablecloths and some jewelry.  We walked back to the ship, which was a couple of miles.  For dinner, I had the peach soup, farfalle with turkey and peas, and the bitter and blanc.  We sat on deck 3 and listened to the Rock band.  The main show as the Magic of Bobby Borgia.  It was pretty incredible with some neat tricks.  






  


Wednesday, we docked in Antigua. We were there from 8 am to 6 pm. We were in port with Carnival Conquest and Celebrity Summit.  Dad went on a Catamaran Sail and Snorkel, which also had a beach break.  Mom and I walked through the shops near the dock.  She bought a hand painted purse and some tablecloths.  There was a calypso band playing near the ship, which was nice to hear.  We sat in the lobby and used our ipads.  I finished reading, Insurgent by Veronica Roth, which is the second book in The Divergent Trilogy.  After a nap, I finished reading The Elite by Keira Cass, which is the second book in the Selection trilogy.  For dinner, I had the fruit cocktail, chicken pot pie, and the white chocolate bread pudding.  The elderly woman at our table kept bringing me books to read.  We went and played Michael Jackson Trivia.  The main show was Jump Jive and Wail, a tribute to the 1940's.









Thursday, we docked in Tortola.  We were there from 7 am to 2:30 pm.  We were the only ship in Port.  It rained the whole time.  We took the three hour tour to North Shore and Pusser's Landing.  I finished reading, Maybe This Christmas by Janet Dailey.  For dinner, I had chicken noodle soup, tom turkey with cranberry and sage stuffing, and the chocolate raspberry vanilla cream cake.  We went and watched Karaoke.  Dad went and saw the Juggler.  





Friday, was our final full day at sea.   We ate brunch in the dining room.  I had a fruit platter, blueberry pancakes, and a strawberry peach smoothie.  We sat with a couple from Wyoming.  We went and got some shirts in the gift shop.  I finished reading, Allegiant by Veronica Roth, which is the third book in The Divergent Trilogy.  We played Decades trivia.  We watched the dance class to the song, "Greased Lightnin'" and the Newlywed game.  It was our second formal night.  I wore my turquoise shirt, with my turquoise and blue skirt, and black sweater. For dinner I had the Bing cherry soup, the Chateaubriand with mashed potatoes, and the baked Alaska.  We saw the comedians, Mike Lucas and Christine Stedman.  We had a monkey towel animal.  Dad went and saw the Carnival Legends show.  







Saturday, we docked in Nassau, Bahamas.  We were there from 1 pm to 7 pm.  We were in port with Enchantment Of The Seas, Carnival Fascination, and Carnival Imagination.  We went and played 50/50 trivia. We went and got some shirts in the gift shop.  Dad went on Catamaran Sail and Snorkel for three hours.  Mom and I just stayed on the ship.  I finished reading, Fire with Fire by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian, which is the second book in Burn for Burn Trilogy.  Mom and I sat on the balcony, watching the Fascination sail away.  For dinner, I had the Mango Cream, the Fettuccine with chicken, and the Grand Marnier Souffle.  The main show was the Big Easy, a tribute to the music of New Orleans.  







Sunday, we disembarked the ship.  We stayed at the Weston Courtyard Marriott again.    We went to the Sawgrass Mills Mall and ate lunch in the food court.  I bought some books and DVDs.  We ate dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp in Ft Lauderdale and I had the shrimp Po Boy. It was very windy and rainy on the beach.  I finished reading Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare, the final book in the Infernal Devices series.  






Today, we flew home, with a layover in Denver.   I watched Jurassic Park: The Lost World while on the plane.  We picked up the cats from their boarding place.