Royal Caribbean Blog contributor Michael Poole is on Freedom of the Seas this week reporting all about his cruise experience.

Pre Cruise

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. 

Hotel

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. 

Embarkation  

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. 

Cabin

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. 

Pre Dinner

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. 

Dinner

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. 

Internet Package

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

• Premium cocktails (up to $12 value)
• Frozen cocktails
• Beer
• Premium wines by the glass (up to $12 value)
• Non-alcoholic cocktails
• Bottled water: sparking (375ml) or Still (500ml)
• Fresh squeezed juice
• Fountain soda with Coca-Cola souvenir cup

The Royal Replenish package ordinarilly costs $19 per person, per day and includes

• Premium coffee
• Premium tea
• Bottled water: sparking (375ml) or Still (500ml)
• Fresh squeezed juice
• Non-alcoholic cocktails
• Fountain soda with Coca-Cola souvenir cup

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

• 5 nights or less
  • $50 onboard credit (per stateroom) & 50% reduced deposit
• 6-9 nights
  • $100 onboard credit (per stateroom) & 50% reduced deposit
• 10 nights or longer
  • $200 onboard credit (per stateroom) & 50% reduced deposit

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.

Description

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.

Comments

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.

A MERS outbreak in South Korea has prompted Royal Caribbean to cancel planned cruise ship stops until the health situation improves.

Royal Caribbean canceled stops in South Korea for Mariner of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean replaced the stops with an alternate port or a sea day.

Royal Caribbean commented on the change to TravelPulse, "We’ve been closely monitoring all developments regarding the increase in the number of cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome, also referred to as MERS in South Korea.  Health authorities from a variety of nations are investigating the situation and we remain keenly attuned to their progress."

Royal Caribbean has also taken preventative measures to screen its passengers that are sailing in the area. Anyone onboard who shows symptoms can be isolated and treated with anti-viral medications that are stocked on all ships.

Royal Caribbean is also issuing letters about MERS to its passengers that describe the symptoms and suggestions on ways to prevent the spread of MERS.  Additionally, Royal Caribbean is asking passengers to wash hands with hot water and soap.

Royal Caribbean has released new photos that show off the construction progress of its third Oasis class cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas.

The photos were taken earlier this month at the STX shipyard in France.  All photos are copyright Royal Caribbean International.

One of the biggest issues cruising Royal Caribbean from Galveston is simply getting from Houston's airports to the cruise port. To help readers out, we've asked an expert -- our friend from GalvestonCruiseTips.com -- to share some details on what travelers should know about getting to and from the port.

Let's put it up front: Unless you have a really good friend in Houston, there just isn't a cheap way for cruisers to get to Galveston from the airports. Every option is going to cost at least $150 round trip (for two passengers) and take at least an hour.

You can save some money, however, if you pick the appropriate mode of transportation for the number of people in your group. We usually suggest one of three ways: a cruise line shuttle, an independent shuttle, or a private car service.

Cruise lines shuttles offer the most convenience. You can buy a ticket when you book your cruise and don't have to get a ride from a third party. However, you will pay for that convenience.

Royal Caribbean charges $77 round trip per person from Hobby and $92 per person from Bush Intercontinental (IAH). If you're traveling solo or as a couple, you aren't likely to beat these prices. Larger groups, however, may wish to find a cheaper option.

A number of independent shuttles have popped up in recent years, usually offering a less expensive way to the port if traveling with a larger group. These shuttles almost always charge a higher cost for the first passenger, but a much smaller fee for each additional person.

For example, Cool Tours in Galveston offers a shuttle from Hobby Airport for $180 round trip for the first passenger, but only $30 for another rider. If you're traveling in a large group, the savings per person add up quickly.

Finally, there are a number of private car services that can provide a ride. A quick Google search will bring up dozens of options. Prices can range from $150 to several hundred dollars, depending on which you go with and what sort of car you'd like to pick you up.

One tip -- be sure to always get an "out the door" price on the car service before you book so there are no surprises. We suggest private car services for those wanting a little more privacy and comfort than riding in a shuttle van or charter bus.

As we said, no matter how you plan to get there, expect to pay a decent sum to get to your cruise. We have more details about all your options for getting from the Houston airports to the Galveston port (including taxis, car rentals, and ride-share services) on GalvestonCruiseTips.com.

Hey everyone! Episode 97 of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available for your listening pleasure.

This week, Matt talks about a fan favorite class of Royal Caribbean ships, the Radiance class.  Radiance class ships may be smaller than many of their siblings, but they offer a lot of great onboard activities and can go to ports of call around the world that larger ships may not be able to.

Matt looks at what makes the Radiance class special and why you shouldn't judge a cruise ship by size alone.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 97. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS or on iTunes!

Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think! Please rate and review the podcast on iTunes and leave your comments below!