I just went to the Freedom website and for some reason it just takes you to the RCCL site.... ? why- there is a Freedom Virtual Ship tour that I can't find..... maybe down for some reason.

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/multimedia/virtualTour/ship.do?shipClassCode=FR

(google is your friend : freedom of the seas virtual tour )

also link on this page(on the left below the picture)

http://www.freedomoftheseas.com/
Which takes you here
http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/ships/class/ship/home.do?br=R&shipClassCode=FR&shipCode=FR

None of those links are the one I was looking for - there was a separate FOS site.

Tuppence- BTW- don't forget to check the price of your cruise regularly. If the price drops RCCL will refund the difference. I have done this before and after final payment. Just make sure the page you're looking at doesn't have a disclaimer that says * for new reservations only. Prices fluctuate a lot, depending on how the rooms are selling.

we fly to orlando and stay in an airport hotel until the next morning when we go to port canaveral to join the ship. what happens to the luggage? do we collect our luggage at orlando and then take it to the ship and take it on ourselves??

Did you buy a package that includes shuttle to the hotel and then to the ship in the am, or will you be arranging your own transport?
You will have to collect your luggage on arrival in Orlando.
The RCCL agents are usually right there in baggage claim.

If you are being shuttled to your hotel by RCCL then the agent will direct you out to the bus. Take your bags with you and the driver will load them.
Then in the am just take your bags down to the shuttle bus- it's about a 45 minute drive to the port from the airport area.

yes transfers are included. what happens when we get to the ship re bags?

If you're on a shuttle bus then the driver will unload them at the Pier, and there will be Porters waiting to load them on big carts, then they take them to the ship. They expect a tip ($1 per bag at least) .... your bus driver will expect one too . Be sure to have your cabin number label on them! If you don't have labels the Porters have plenty of spares.
Since there are over 3000 pax on the Freedom they advise you to take a carry on with items you might need before dinner that evening. I always take my swimsuit and toiletries etc. You can't get into your room until 1pm. WE always head for the Windjammer cafe (casual buffet) and start eating!
You may or may not get all your suitcases delivered before dinnertime, so if you want to change to eat, keep those things with you. It is casual wear for the first night, regardless of where you eat, in case your bags haven't made it up. They will leave them parked outside your door.
It's a fantastic ship, wait till you pull up and see the size of her- so exciting - I was bouncing off the walls
Don't miss the Sailaway party on deck - as you cruise out of Port Canaveral.
Don't miss the Parade on the first night.
Don't miss the Ice Show.
Don't miss The Quest...

What hotel are you staying at pre-cruise?

no idea. just said an airport hotel. RCI said it could be the crowne plaza but wont know for definite until nearer

Just a FYI- If it is Crowne Plaza they have a free airport shuttle 24hrs a day,of their own.

it is crowne plaza and transfers are included

Tuppence, we're doing the first half of your itinerary this coming October, flying US Airways Dublin - Orlando and staying a night in the Florida Hotel and Conference Centre before heading for Port Canaveral.

Hopefully, I'll be able to answer any questions when we get back.

nice one.

cheers

Tuppence,

We're just back from the first leg of your Freedom back to back ( PC, Labade, Ocho Rios, Georgetown, Cozumel) - What a fantastic ship.

Just to address some of the issues you were raising - Slacks and a polo shirt are absolutely fine for the dining room, quite a number of people were wearing T-Shirts. The air conditioning is, as Luci pointed out, very efficient. You pen the door to go out on deck and are hit by a blast of hot air!!! For someone raised in Ireland, that takes some getting used to.

The hotel transfer on Sunday morning was a dream - RCI will send you tags for your check-in bags. Put those on in the hotel on Sunday morning, and once your bags are on the bus, you dont see them until they arrive at your cabin. Our hotel to port trip took about 50 minutes, your hotel is actually slightly closer.

Richard Spacey was our Cruise Director, and he was indeed superb, but he won't be yours. He takes over the Oasis next month!!.

Any questions, I'll be happy to answer them as best can.

Donal.

Richard Spacey was our CD on Freedom too- he was fantastic. Does he still do the Austin Powers routine?
Which ship is he going to- Oasis?

We are doing these B2B cruises on Freedom, leaving the UK on Saturday 28th November 2009, for the stated one night in Orlando and then the two week long cruises. We were on Independence last year so know what the ship is like. We goi a great deal - D1 balcony stateroom, flights with Virgin Alantic, the one night stay in Orlando, transfers etc etc, all for £1480 a head - although we did book it in August 2008!!

Is the CD still going to be Richard Spacey - Oasis has been handed over to RCCL now so if he is taking that one who's on Freedom? (Or has Ken Rush gone to Oasis?)

Sancho, i'm afraid you won't have Richard Spacey. He is currently on his last week on Freedom, and will then go to Oasis. Ken Rush is taking out Oasis, but only for a few weeks, Richard will take over as full CD on Oasis in January, after working with Ken for a few weeks. I'm jealous as hell - Have a ball!!