Freedom 4/17 cruise in review with photos

[proudpatriot07]

You are so right about the Carnival ships. The newest Carnival ship isn't so bad, but the older ones are just U-G-L-Y (and they don't have an alibi)... I mean I had a great time on my last Carnival cruise on the Fantasy, but it was not a beautiful ship by any means... especially not compared to the Freedom of the Seas!

 

Loving your pictures and review so far. I'm gonna have to get my hubby to check out that Bull and Bear pub, it looks like his kind of place ;). And I never knew Sorrento's did whole pies, that's pretty cool if you have a group together :).

[AeroBaldness]

You are so right about the Carnival ships. The newest Carnival ship isn't so bad, but the older ones are just U-G-L-Y (and they don't have an alibi)... I mean I had a great time on my last Carnival cruise on the Fantasy, but it was not a beautiful ship by any means... especially not compared to the Freedom of the Seas!

 

Loving your pictures and review so far. I'm gonna have to get my hubby to check out that Bull and Bear pub, it looks like his kind of place ;). And I never knew Sorrento's did whole pies, that's pretty cool if you have a group together :).

 

Just back from the same cruise (and anxiously awaiting more photos here to see if we end up in any of them :D ). The Bull and Bear was GREAT. They had a guy that could wail on the guitar and was able to hit just about every request he received. From sing a long stuff, like Sweet Caroline to All Along the Watchtower by Hendrix.

[Ander026]

Here are some more photos.

 

Front of Vintages

 

The car that sits in front of Vintages

 

Another cool pic.

 

 

Next up Laberdee.

[Ander026]

Just back from the same cruise (and anxiously awaiting more photos here to see if we end up in any of them :D ). The Bull and Bear was GREAT. They had a guy that could wail on the guitar and was able to hit just about every request he received. From sing a long stuff, like Sweet Caroline to All Along the Watchtower by Hendrix.

 

I hope that you had a great time. I often went to Bull and Bear to get the Murphy's Irish Stout draft beer from there. The entertainment there was fantastic. I am ready for another cruise.

[Ander026]

Such a pity as we have been on carnival glory when left from port canaveral and it was v good but the carnival ship leaving now looks awful and a bit tacky lol esp compared with freedom and the dream!

 

The sad thing for Port Canaveral is that they are bringing a 3rd Carnival ship and it is the same class as Sensation. I would much rather have a 3rd RCCL ship come instead. Possibly a Radiance or a Voyager class of ship.

[Ander026]

Great pictures :)

 

Thank you. :)

 

I try my hardest to get the best pics that my little camera can take.

[Ander026]

Well now I come to the Laberdee post. This post wont be long because I did not do an activity on land. I was on deck when we arrived and we docked on the left side of the dock as you look from the land. Laberdee I felt was better organized than Coco Cay. It was really nice having not to tender here. I wish they could build a dock at Coc Cay. My Dad and I got off the ship with the rest of the family and we decided to walk around while the rest of them decided to shop. The walking areas around Laberdee were laid out nicely, much better than Coco Cay. We met up with the rest of the family in the open air market. They are very pushy in the open market. We walked all around Laberdee and then returned to the ship by lunchtime.

 

In the afternoon I relaxed again in the Solarium and went swimming on the ship as well.

 

In the evening after visiting the Casino and dinner I went to the 70's Dance Party in the Royal Promanade. Great show.

 

 

The approach to Laberdee

 

We get closer. Look how calm it is before it is invaded by tourist

 

Preparing to dock

 

 

Next up some photos of the Freedom docked at Laberdee.

[Ander026]

Photos of the Freedom while docked at Laberdee. Feel free to use these photos for desktops if you like.

 

 

Freedom docked early in the day

 

Freedom peering over the trees

 

Overlooking the beach goers

 

Going back to the ship 1

 

Going back to the ship 2

 

The size of the Freedom

 

Well next some other photos from the day

[Ander026]

Here are some other phots from the day.

 

 

View from the ship looking at the mountains

 

View from the hot tub in the Solarium

 

Pic of some of the family before dinner

 

Grahm Seymore the Cruise Director during the 70's Dance Party

 

The Freedom Men performing In The Navy from the Village People

 

Well that is all till tomorrow where I will cover our visit to Faulmouth Jamaca.

[activeac]

Love it!

[LBumb]

great photos

[bambam2972]

Great photos! I'm definitely using one of those for my desktop. :D

[mimi'sgirl]

Great review and great pictures..thank you!

[cruising66]

Zin was the best waitress at the Bull and Bear!! She had told us that she was trying to get on the MOS but we did not find her. This review has me wanting to go right back right now!!

[proudpatriot07]

Will definitely have to check out the Bull and Bear then... that sounds like a beer my hubby would like too.

 

All the Labadee pics are really good... it looks like it's a lot of fun. That's pretty awesome that they have a dock and no tenders, I would much rather dock personally... looks like the shows are good too, and thanks for the pic of the cruise director, have heard lots of great things about him.

[bionicman97]

Another great day in review :)

[bionicman97]

Sorry, double post.

[duncanmaria]

Enjoying your review thus far. Keep it coming!

[Ander026]

Well we were making our way to the new port of Falmouth. I was up in time to see us pull into port. This port is situated in a very narrow channell for the cruise ships to pull into. In fact the captain came straight in and before the channel he turned the Freedom around and backed in. He did a great job but I think they could have better designed the channel.

 

As far as Falmouth is concerned, I think that this port has great potential. The ships need to stay in port longer so that way people who are on Excursions can have time to explore the port. I think that it will be a very nice port once it is complete.

 

When we were pulling in they had the Pullmator Horizon (old Celeberty) already docked. They had a band playing for those guests when we were backing in. Once we docked the band came to our side to perform. I stayed on the balcony and watched. They did a good job. Soon everyone started exiting the ship as all of the shore excursions were leaving right away. They were giving free bags that promoted the new port. They ran out by the time I left the ship.

 

My Sister left the ship right away as she was on a ship excursion in Ocho Rios. The rest of us left after lunch. Once in the port my Mom and Nephew took the free shuttle to the shopping area. This also provided a short tour of Jamaica as well. Dad and I decided to walk around port for a little and get back on the ship. As far a walking around goes it was great. I really didnt feel like I was being pushed to buy something at all. A few Taxi drivers where trying to solisit rides. After walking around Dad and I returned to the ship.

 

Thankfully my Sister was on a ship excursion because she arrived back late. So late that Dad was worried. I noticed alot of guests were returning late from the excursions and had no time to wander around the local area. Well for I went to meet up with the rest of the family at the MDR. I was actually the first one there. My parents wanted to make sure my sister made it back and then joined me a few minutes later. My Sister finaly made as our main courses were being delivered. They were able to serve my Sister the main course and desert. She was so happy. Great job by the service staff.

 

That night was the we all went to the Ice Show and then I enjoyed watching the Love and Marraige game show. For that show I sat in the upper deck front row first section all the way to the left. I happen to be the only one in the section. The CD saw this and picked on me and tried to hook me up with someone sitting in the section on the right side of the stage same level. I had a great laugh about it. The show was fantastic. Grahm did a great job. After that i went to the Casino as I did most nights.

 

 

Coming into Falmouth. We had to back into the port

 

The Pulmatur Horizon which looked to be an old Celeberty ship

 

A look at the port still under construction

 

The local entertainment. They actually blocked streets off for foot traffic

 

One of the buildings

 

A look back at the Freedom

 

Well next up some more photos to post before bed

[Ander026]

Here are some more pics

 

A view of the central walkway

 

A view of the Freedom from the walkway

 

A pic of the Ice Show

 

Another pic of the Ice Show

 

A view of the Arcadia Theater

 

The Love and Marraige Game Show. The view from the balcony.

 

Next up will be our visit to Grand Cayman

[Ander026]

We have come to one of my favorite ports in Georgetown, Grand Cayman This is one place where I would move to and live. This is also a tender port. They would bring about 4-5 tenders to service the Freedom out of 2 openings of the ship. One nice thing about the Freedom over other ships like HAL Ryndam, and Carnival is that there is no stairs to navigate between the Freedom and getting on the tender. Just the ramp. At this port I decided that I was just going to walk around and do some shopping myself to get something for the house. I ended up walking around alot and just getting one thing to hang in the house. There was a total of 5 ships in port this day. 2 Carnival ships (same class) The Pullmatur ship that was with us at Falmouth, 2 RCCL ships, us and the Grandeur (Vision Class). All of the ships used the local tenders. Even Pullmatur use a local tender to accompany their Tenders. One note is that all of the ships with the exception of the Pullmatur Horizon used their Anchors to stay in place.

 

 

I have lots of photos from here so it may take a couple of posts to post them all

 

The Grandeur

 

One of the Carnival ships

 

The flags that Freedom was flying

 

A shot of one of the Tenders

 

A view of the Freedom from the Tender

 

Another view of the Grandeur. I love to take pics of ships

 

Next up is more photos

[Ander026]

Here are some more photos (last post of today before bed)

 

The amphibius Bus, I will be taking this on the next cruise

 

Another pic of the Freedom

 

A building Pic (The Library)

 

Another building pic (The Peace Memorial)

 

Yet another building pic (a Goverment Building I think)

 

A pic of a rooster. Not even phased by the tourists that were around

 

Well that is all for tonight. I do have a few more pics to share from this day that I will post tomorrow before I move on to Cozemel Mexico.

[AeroBaldness]

HEY, You got me in one of your photos and I didn't sign a model release, GIVE ME $20. Oh, wait, this isn't one of the Falmouth/All of Jamaica bashing threads ;) Pretty sure that is my bald noggin in the center of your shot of the Love & Marriage Show (front row of first upper level, gold chairs).

 

Thanks again for these shots. We took tons of close up family shots, and some landscape shots in port, but have few shots like you took inside Freedom. Looking forward to Cozumel and the day at sea. AND, these shots are keeping the conversation alive between my wife and I about when our next one will be!

[Ander026]

Here are some more pics from Georgetown Grand Cayman.

 

 

 

The many Country flags

 

A building in Georgetown

 

This logo was on the tenders

 

A pic of the Freedom sign taken from the tender

 

A pic of the Pullmatur Horizon, Notice that it is using its own tenders along with the hired tenders

 

A shot of the 4 other ships in port as we are leaving. Notice that one of the Carnival ships are leaving as well.

 

 

Well that is all pics from Grand Caymen. Next up is Cozemel Mexico. This is where I did my one excursion with my Dad.

[Ander026]

Well we are now heading to Cozemel Mexico.

 

This was the one port where I had an excursion planned. My Dad and I are heading to the Cozemel Golf and Country Club for a round of golf. As the Freedom was pulling in the Voyager of the Seas was already in port. The Voyager was the first of the Voyager class and is designed as Generation 1. The next generation of Voyager class of ships has balconies like ours. We also had 2 Carnival ships and one NCL ship in port today. It was very busy at the port as our tour went to get the taxi to the golf course. My Dad and I were the only one off the Freedom playing golf with 5 others from Voyager.

 

It took us about 20-30 minutes to reach the course. Once there Dad and I both rented clubs. After hitting the range we were off as we played with a couple from the Voyager. I played not great on the front side but not totally bad. I turned my game up on the back side of the course and wound up shooting at 95. This was one of my better rounds of golf that I have had in the last 6 years.

 

After we finished the round we made our way back to the ship and I went to the solarium to relax again. I rested till dinner time. After dinner 4 of us went to the Olive or Twist for an after dinner drinks. Soon after that I made my way to Studio B for the 80's Dance Party. After the Dance party was the Quest and I was with team 1. They way they do the quest is that everyone in Studio B participates. They divide the areana into to sections and name them team 1 - whatever they have. Then they have team captains 1 male and 1 female. I declined this cruise. I am working on getting the nerve to be a team captain soon.

 

After that i went to the Casino to finish the evening.

 

I am going to post this whithout photos because of the Maintanace on the site set to start soon. Next post from me will be some pics of Cozemel.