Freedom Review 10/26 Day 1

Go ahead, get the popcorn, I'll wait...a reminder, these are my experiences and opinions-you don't need to agree with them.

Carnival Cruise #6 for me #4 for my DH. Just us, no kids! YES!!!

Flew into FLL late on Saturday night. Arrived at airport around 10:45 pm. Had called Best Western Plus Dania Beach earlier and was told their free shuttle stopped service at 11 so it would not be available for us to use. So, we grabbed a cab. $22 later, dropped off at BW+. Felt like a pricey ride for only being 4 miles from FLL! Room was nicely updated, comfy bed, quiet. Breakfast buffet was set up well, plenty of options including make your own waffles, fresh fruit, cereals, pastries, yogurt, etc. Not fancy, but clean, plentiful and easy! We took a morning walk trying to find the Catholic Church that BW+ had listed as being close by. It was about a 1 mile walk, but church has moved and is no longer there. So, since we didn't have a car and didn't want to take another taxi, no Mass for us. Stopped by CVS on our walk back to pick up a few things.

We had signed up for the hotel shuttle to port ($10 per person). Some have said cab is cheaper, but based on our airport cab ride, we just decided to pay the $20 and not worry about it. We were on the first shuttle at 10 am. Driver was very pleasant and we left right on time...even after a very nasty women complained about having to get in and out of the shuttle having just had a surgery, blah blah blah. The driver worked very hard to assist her in and out (she was traveling solo) and he was so kind. She was just not nice. She actually told the driver that an older gentleman (also traveling solo) who was seated in the front seat of the shuttle should move to the back. He was also mobility impaired and could not have crawled into the back, plus, HE GOT TO THE SHUTTLE FIRST! Not sure why the woman just didn't call a cab as she made quite the fuss. Good news is, my husband thanked me for not being a whiney woman!! LOL!

Dropped off whiney woman (not on our ship-thank you thank you) and a few others and then pulled up to the Freedom around 10:20. Porters took our bags and we headed inside. Got in line for document check. At this point, only 2 lines open. Well, wouldn't you know it...large group in front of us and one member had no birth cert or passport...thought his license was enough. Waiting, waiting, waiting, we finally jumped lines just to get moving and stop having to listen to this family blame the entire world for the documentation process. Yes, we all know that you have to produce a BC and other documents to get a driver's license, but guess what, it is not accepted as part of this process. Seriously, get a clue and read your paperwork before you show up at the port.

Moved through security and then to the new EBOLA form. Filled that out, got into check in line. Finally, seated in holding stockade around 10:40 am. Then the real waiting begins. Our other cruises have all had much nicer waiting areas, and we've never waited more than 20-30 minutes before boarding. Not sure why Port Everglades takes so long, but even in Boarding group 2, we did not board the ship until about 12:30 (almost 2 hours from our arrival at port). Anyway, finally on board-YAY! Found chairs on Lido. I ordered a Red Frog Ale and my DH had the Funship special. He grabbed a Guy Burger (umm, yes, these really are delicious). I hit the salad bar and tried to keep my lunch light and healthy. We hung out, watched people, enjoyed the sunshine until around 1:30. Headed to our room on Empress deck aft 8442. This is a LARGE room with extended balcony. WE LOVED IT! Great location just one floor below aft pool, bar, Lido food etc. Would totally book this room again in a heartbeat. I got it as an upgrade just 4 days before sailing. I believe it is listed as a category 9?

Anyway, we changed into swimsuits, found chairs on deck and hung out til muster. Quick and painless muster-then sail away which we enjoyed from our own balcony. Unpacked, chilled and then got ready for dinner in the Steakhouse. We do like the Steakhouse option on the ships we've been on and on the first night you get a free bottle of wine. Dinner was fabulous. Relaxed, quiet, really great way to start our week. DH had ribeye, I had Cowboy steak. Delicious. After dinner, we hit the adult comedy show. Both performers were pretty funny-love having this as an entertainment option as I usually think the shows stink. Hit the hay-out at sea! Ahhhhhh!

Thank you for taking the time to write a review. I will be following closely. We sail the Freedom in February out of FLL. I got FTTF I hope this will help with the boarding situation. I am surprised it took so long to get on board. With group #2, I would have thought you would have been on board much earlier.

I love waking up at sea! The smell of the ocean, the sound of the ship passing through the water, the screaming 3 year old in the cabin next door (NOT!!!). DH headed to the fitness center and I hit the walking track. It was a rough, windy 2.5 mile walk but I got 'er done. We met back in the cabin for breakfast and my DH informs me that while he was in the gym shower, someone stole his sweaty shirt. He'd hung it up outside the shower and someone took it. YUCK! He checked with spa/fitness staff, guest services etc thinking that perhaps it was picked up by mistake, but he never got it back. It was an a wicking shirt not just plain old tee. Ugh, not sure why anybody would want a dripping wet, stinky shirt, but apparently they did. If this had happened toward the end of the week I would not have been surprised, but this early into the cruise I had not realized we had boarded with the "cruisin' from the hood" group.

We had breakfast (I did buffet...same old same old) and DH found the Iquana bfast burritos...these would become our go-to-YUMMY and FRESH!!!

We prefer sea days to ports of call, so after a liberally gooping of sunscreen we found chairs at aft pool. It is the adult pool, located by Pizza Pirate. We both read, napped, got into pool, drank some adult beverages (buckets of beer, mango swirl and mocha chocolate getaway). Weather was great, but his area of the deck doesn't get much air so it is very hot. I don't remember what I had for lunch...probably another salad. DH had buffet food and it was fried chicken-he said it was good. A very relaxing afternoon. We don't do bingo or attend art auctions. After cooling off in the cabin, got ready for our first dinner in the dining room (late seating). A note in our mailbox told us our table had been changed. So, we arrived, sat down, met the one other couple at our table and then stared quietly for an hour and a half. Carnival used to do a good job of matching tablemates. Our last 3 cruises have not had good matches...makes for a very uninspiring meal when people can't carry on any conversation, don't want to engage etc. For heaven's sake, get a table for 2 if you just want to be alone! More to come...

Springs 741-FTTF people were onboard maybe 15 minutes before we were. I wouldn't spend the money on it at FLL...they just aren't efficient.

Okay, so after a less than stellar dining experience (food is fine, getting a little boring, but I didn't have to cook it, so there's that) we decided to risk it big by playing the penny slots. Casino was always hopping on this cruise. People seemed to be winning and they were happy. I just play 10 bucks for nothing but fun and don't really care either way. After about an hour of that, we changed into comfy clothes and watched a dive in movie on the Lido deck. We enjoyed just kicking back, munching on the popcorn and seeing a movie on the big screen. I like this new feature very much! Then to bed-tomorrow is Jamaica!

Another lovely morning walk on the track as the ship was pulling into port. Jamaica is so pretty from the sea! Once the ship was docked, the masses exited the Freedom and she was ALL MINE! As previously stated, I love being onboard when everyone else is not. DH and I had a fabulous day...breakfast at Iguana, Lunch at Guys, drinks, drinks, drinks, water slide, hammock, clam shell, every pool, hot tubs etc. If you've never stayed on the ship when she is in port- DO IT! You'll have great service and so much fun with NO LINES ANYWHERE. We've been to Jamaica so we did not feel we were missing anything (expect for Blue Mountain coffee, I would have liked some of that).

A storm was rolling in over the mountains about the time the ship departed and it was so neat to watch the rain, lightening etc from the ship. Really great day!

Another uninspired dinner with no conversation from our tablemates and a little more casino time. I think we were tired from a full day of sun and went to bed by 11pm.

Next up-Grand Cayman!

Thanks for your review! I am going on Freedom next week yay!!!!

Sorry about your tablemates. My Mom and I had a similar experience on our Liberty cruise, it can make things quite awkward. We had a great cruise though. Looking forward to more of your review.:)

Great start! :)

We'll be heading out on the Freedom next week!

Aside from your unpersonable (is that a word?) tablemates, how was the food in the main dining room? I know the menus have changed a bit since my last Carnival cruise over two years ago. Any notably good appetizers or entrees?

Springs 741-FTTF people were onboard maybe 15 minutes before we were. I wouldn't spend the money on it at FLL...they just aren't efficient.

Thanks for your input. But please understand It is not only about getting on the ship faster.

It can be about not having to wait in a long line to check in.

It can be about getting to go to your stateroom upon arrival, without breaking the rules.

It can be about getting your luggage and unpacking before muster drill.

It can be about having to make multiple trips to guest services.

It can be about booking an early excursion with a private vender at a tender port.

It can be about getting an early debark to start the long journey home.

With a toddler and a mobility impaired parent in tow these simple things can make a huge different in my vacation experience.

It doesn't matter to me about when I get on the ship just so I get on her. I was just surprise your boarding time was so late.

Please continue your wonderful review. Sounds like you both had a good trip.

We were on the same sailing and also felt the dining lacked over pas cruises in each venue with the exception of guys burgers n blue iguana which were both amazing. But Mdr was no where near as good as even last year and the buffet was dang well inedible!!!

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It can be about having a personal opinion to share.

Thank you for taking the time to write a review. I will be following closely. We sail the Freedom in February out of FLL. I got FTTF I hope this will help with the boarding situation. I am surprised it took so long to get on board. With group #2, I would have thought you would have been on board much earlier.

We had FTTF last month boarding Freedom and didn't get on till almost 12:30 either!

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Great to have a recent review! We sail in 30 days!

Thanks for review Fly out tomorrow, very excited, think we will hang out at hotel a bit, get in a workout before heading to ship. We love staying on board on port days too. Look forward to the rest of your review.

thanks for taking the time and posting the review. going on freedom for the 2nd time in a few weeks. :D

Great review so far!

We really enjoyed the Freedom, but the port in Ft. Lauderdale for it is a Joke. Don't really know why as, we were on the Oasis in April and were on ship in less than an hour.

We were on the same sailing and also felt the dining lacked over pas cruises in each venue with the exception of guys burgers n blue iguana which were both amazing. But Mdr was no where near as good as even last year and the buffet was dang well inedible!!!

 

 

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Good to know it wasn't just us. The dining on this one was OK, never got the same wait staff (had my time, but on previous we would always get same waitstaff). One night just took forever for them to even acknowledge we were there.

Last night of the cruise, there was a piece of glass in my son's fruit bowl. Luckily my wife caught it before he started eating it. All we got was a "I'm sorry....does he need medical attention??" ..... no, we noticed it before he ate it.