Freedom of the Seas: 10th Anniversary Adventure- Part Three

BOARDING and SAIL AWAY

There we were, on the ship, wondering what to do first. All the months of planning came to this moment, and I vowed not to forget my excitement. Hungry as usual, Paul insisted that we find something to eat. The ship’s buffet, The Windjammer, was open to passengers awaiting entry to their rooms. We found a table right away, and before long Mike and Kelly joined us for lunch. This restaurant has a beautiful 180 degree view of the city.

This eatery was what I had expected. There was an impressive amount of food, yet the quality was mediocre. There was a nice selection of fruit and salad, yet we were especially disgusted by the heaps of hamburger patties and hot dogs on heated rollers offered as a main course for lunch. The service was prompt, especially for a buffet. Dana was able to sign up for the wine and dine package right from the table, which saved her some money when selecting her wine from a limited wine list throughout the week. The best part about eating at the Windjammer is that your meal is immediate and everyone finds something they can eat. It is also very close to the pool deck, which proved convenient throughout the week to grab a lemonaide or iced tea on my way to the solarium.

Regardless of our first dining experience, little could abate my excitement about being onboard. After a cocktail, I had nothing to complain about. I was on my vacation.










We found our suite, #1590 on deck 10, early that afternoon. I was immediately surprised by the "Happy Anniversary" decor. Dana had arranged for this, as well as a bottle of my favorite wine and a bouquet of tropical flowers.

Paul wasted no time in trying out the bed for a well earned nap. In the meantime, I changed into my swimsuit (1 of 5 I had brought) and made my way to the Solarium, an adults only area on the pool deck. This area was a daily respite for me with the comfortable loungers and quiet company. Before long, I was joined by all my travel friends as we shared laughs and cocktails in the warm sun.

Our suite steward met with us shortly before the muster, and opened the sliding door that separated our patio from Dana and Brian’s. This allowed us to have a large shared space. As a group, the six of us waved good bye to Miami. It was interesting the see the number of people parked near the channel, seemingly there to admire the ships leaving port. Before long, the shoreline disappeared and we were on our way to Haiti.