June 4th Freedom of the Seas Inaugural Voyage

Pre-cruise: We flew American out of BWI, direct to Miami the day before departure. Unfortunately, our flight was delayed for mechanical problems, so we missed our pre-cruise dinner with Cruise Critic friends at Lombardi's.

Priceline had been good to us, and we got a room at the Royal Palm on South Beach for $110 a night. When they handed us a key to a "suite by the pool", we thought we were REALLY fortunate. However, the room was in lousy shape, with badly stained carpeting and an iffy lock. There were also college grads partying it up in the pool until the sun came up. Heaven help those who pay the going rate for this room. Yuck! But it sufficed for one night. Read more