Just off Freedom of the Seas - random comments

[brichar499]

This was our second RCI cruise. Previously we were on Voyager of the Seas several years ago and have sailed with other lines since-mostly Holland America. My impressions:

1. Food in MDR was remarkably good as I remember on the Voyager ten years ago.

2. RCI is clearly the top line for onboard entertainment with wonderful main showroom performances and the ice show. The DreamWorks characters only add to the appeal.

3. 4,000+ passengers does create a few problems with crowding in the Windjammer (buffet) restaurant and some shows but the masses are otherwise well handled.

4. The crew were well-motivated and trained and were among the friendliest we've seen.

5. Express departure was amazing. We were off the ship at 6:08am and in our car by 6:40.

6. I found beer and drink prices to be painfully high.

7. On other lines, there is no problem purchasing a bottle of liquor for the cabin. We like a private drink on the veranda before dinner. Why no such option on RCL?

[north29]

1. Service, overall, was, maybe the best we have had on any RC cruise.

2. Food was very good, and close to the best Lobster I have ever eaten, and this comes from a man who has had all the lobster he ever cared to eat.

3. Diamonds in December was a great perk.

4. Older crowd on this cruise, which made for more chair hogs LOL, but not a real problem, they just spent most of the days in the chairs, especially in the solarium. Good to see the older/less mobile people on the cruise, instead of setting at home, Wait that sort of describes me. LOL

 

5. Eco walking tour in St Thomas/St Johns was worth the money, and the Mountain bike tour on the French side in St. Martin was, well, a mountain bike ride, along with cow dung, but lots of good memories about it and worth the money.

6. Most important, met some really nice people from Toronto , Texas, Atlanta and Florida. Also a few I never want to see again LOL, but what would a trip be without some strange people, LOL, heck they might say that about me LOL.

7. Not a real coffee drinker, but it was OK to well, awful, Funny my wife, the coffee lover, found out our diamond status for this trip(december) she could get free lattes etc. in the Consigners lounge on the last day.

 

As usual a great cruise, but not long enough LOL

[LBumb]

nice posts

[Gilgo Surfer]

I'm also just off the Freedom (Nov. 27th sailing). I had a great cruise however, I did find the ship to feel very crowded. Elevators, pools/tubs, WJ were the most crowded of any cruise I have been on. I was also a little disappointed about not being able to go ashore in Grand Caymen.

 

What I liked about the cruise:

 

The Flowrider was lots of fun. I wish I had more time to do it but DW got bored waiting for me to keep getting in line and go again.:D

 

The food in MDR was above average. The lobster tail was very good compared to other cruises where it was a bit chewy.

 

THE CRYPT night club!!!! The best night life of any cruise I have been on by far!!!! Awesome DJ, Awesome crowd, Rockin party every night!

 

Cozumel! Great excursion (12m. sailboat regatta race)....A MUST DO!!!!

Great island. I love this place and want to fly in for a longer stay.

 

I'm still not totally convinced that bigger is better as I loved the Jewel of the Seas and is probably my favorite ship so far. I will most likely use my next cruise credit to book the Allure for Nov, 2012. I just hope it doesn't have that overcrowded feel like the Freedom (Except in the nightclub:D).

[gelo7]

Glad that you had a good trip.

[NINo1]

1. Service, overall, was, maybe the best we have had on any RC cruise.

2. Food was very good, and close to the best Lobster I have ever eaten, and this comes from a man who has had all the lobster he ever cared to eat.

3. Diamonds in December was a great perk.

4. Older crowd on this cruise, which made for more chair hogs LOL, but not a real problem, they just spent most of the days in the chairs, especially in the solarium. Good to see the older/less mobile people on the cruise, instead of setting at home, Wait that sort of describes me. LOL

 

5. Eco walking tour in St Thomas/St Johns was worth the money, and the Mountain bike tour on the French side in St. Martin was, well, a mountain bike ride, along with cow dung, but lots of good memories about it and worth the money.

6. Most important, met some really nice people from Toronto , Texas, Atlanta and Florida. Also a few I never want to see again LOL, but what would a trip be without some strange people, LOL, heck they might say that about me LOL.

7. Not a real coffee drinker, but it was OK to well, awful, Funny my wife, the coffee lover, found out our diamond status for this trip(december) she could get free lattes etc. in the Consigners lounge on the last day.

 

As usual a great cruise, but not long enough LOL

 

Speaking of strange people, 14 April NOTS, im on that cruise. :D

[KristenFMR920]

Would any of you have compasses to share? We are going in April and I would love to see them

[groverdmg]

Me too....going on FOS April 8th!!!!! :):):)

[north29]

Speaking of strange people, 14 April NOTS, im on that cruise. :D

 

 

Thanks for the warning >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>LOL

 

Are signed up for the M and M

[Desertbelle]

We just finished a B2B on the Freedom and had a few thoughts also:

 

 

1. Service was great.
   
2. Food was OK to good in the MDR and Windjammer (which is what we expect), excellent in Portifino and Chops.
   
3. Our first time on a ship larger than the Radiance class and have never had a Promenade before.....LOVED IT!
   
4. Loved that we could get hot tea and food and snacks around the clock at the Promenade Cafe.
   
5. The Freedom is a beautiful ship. We never felt crowded. Completely impressed at how getting off and on the ship in ports was easy peasy, no lines at all.
   
6. I was worried that the Dreamworks stuff would be in our face...it wasn't in the least intrusive.
   
7. I was sad that the Solarium wasn't covered like on other RCI ships....I love the quiet, covered Solariums on other ships.
   
8. There were lots of activities and lots of quiet places to enjoy a drink and watch the ocean.
   
9. The shows were the best we have ever seem on any cruise line or any RCI ship. Apparently they keep the good stuff on the new, big ships because we have stopped going to the shows on the other ships because they are so awful. We weren't going to go to those on the Freedom except we were cruising with other people and went with them...all I can say is WOW, very impressive. Better singers, dancers, larger stage, better effects...everything better. We are from Vegas and they actually came darn close to a real Vegas show. Well done!
   
10. Poker, as usual, in the casino, was pathetic. The poker pro machine is OK, but the casino floor men and managers still haven't a clue how to run a poker tournament. Poker is all but ignored. And the rake is ridiculous. Seriously!!! 10% up to $10 is crazy high, and rakes on uncalled bets??? Just greedy. For none poker players this is what it means....say the pot is $20, and someone goes all in for $200 and everyone folds, the rake is taken on $220 ($10) instead of $20 ($2), so it costs you $8 to make a beat that no one calls. So terrible.
    
11. Nachi Cocom in Cozumel was great, I highly recommend it.
    
12. Labadee was wonderful, our first time there and very impressed.
    
13. I look forward to the time when the Freedom does something other than a 7 day Eastern/Western itinerary. I would love a 12 day Southern Caribbean on her....would book it in a minute. But, we are done with the 7 day Caribbean cruises. We have done it too many times and want something new.
    

All in all, a great 14 days on the Freedom. I would be happy to answer any questions if I can.

[Dett]

We just finished a B2B on the Freedom and had a few thoughts also:

 

 

1. Service was great.
   
2. Food was OK to good in the MDR and Windjammer (which is what we expect), excellent in Portifino and Chops.
   
3. Our first time on a ship larger than the Radiance class and have never had a Promenade before.....LOVED IT!
   
4. Loved that we could get hot tea and food and snacks around the clock at the Promenade Cafe.
   
5. The Freedom is a beautiful ship. We never felt crowded. Completely impressed at how getting off and on the ship in ports was easy peasy, no lines at all.
   
6. I was worried that the Dreamworks stuff would be in our face...it wasn't in the least intrusive.
   
7. I was sad that the Solarium wasn't covered like on other RCI ships....I love the quiet, covered Solariums on other ships.
   
8. There were lots of activities and lots of quiet places to enjoy a drink and watch the ocean.
   
9. The shows were the best we have ever seem on any cruise line or any RCI ship. Apparently they keep the good stuff on the new, big ships because we have stopped going to the shows on the other ships because they are so awful. We weren't going to go to those on the Freedom except we were cruising with other people and went with them...all I can say is WOW, very impressive. Better singers, dancers, larger stage, better effects...everything better. We are from Vegas and they actually came darn close to a real Vegas show. Well done!
   
10. Poker, as usual, in the casino, was pathetic. The poker pro machine is OK, but the casino floor men and managers still haven't a clue how to run a poker tournament. Poker is all but ignored. And the rake is ridiculous. Seriously!!! 10% up to $10 is crazy high, and rakes on uncalled bets??? Just greedy. For none poker players this is what it means....say the pot is $20, and someone goes all in for $200 and everyone folds, the rake is taken on $220 ($10) instead of $20 ($2), so it costs you $8 to make a beat that no one calls. So terrible.
    
11. Nachi Cocom in Cozumel was great, I highly recommend it.
    
12. Labadee was wonderful, our first time there and very impressed.
    
13. I look forward to the time when the Freedom does something other than a 7 day Eastern/Western itinerary. I would love a 12 day Southern Caribbean on her....would book it in a minute. But, we are done with the 7 day Caribbean cruises. We have done it too many times and want something new.
    

All in all, a great 14 days on the Freedom. I would be happy to answer any questions if I can.

 

We are doing a B2B on Freedom in January. How did they handle the turnaround between weeks? Did you have to get off the ship to get new sea pass card?

[Desertbelle]

We are doing a B2B on Freedom in January. How did they handle the turnaround between weeks? Did you have to get off the ship to get new sea pass card?

We were given instructions to meet, I think it was in Pharaoh's Palace Lounge on turnaround day and to bring our passports, sea pass cards and customs form. They took us as a group off the ship, through customs, handed us our new sea pass cards, took our pictures and let us back on the ship. Took about 45 minutes. There were maybe 50-60 of us. They gave us an invitation to a lunch in the MDR, which was very nice. We stayed in the same room so we didn't have to do any cabin changing, but they gave instructions to those who were moving and they helped them make the move. They put a colored plastic band on our wrists that allowed us total access to our rooms before 1 pm. It was our first time on a B2B and it was very easy, not a hassle at all.

[ST-UK]

Hi , thanks for the info. We go in two weeks for our Honeymoon and this is my first cruise in 15 years. So a lot has changed!

[mdd3145]

Thanks for all the comments. We leave in 10 days and I can't wait. I need a vacation!!!!!!!!!

[Dett]

We were given instructions to meet, I think it was in Pharaoh's Palace Lounge on turnaround day and to bring our passports, sea pass cards and customs form. They took us as a group off the ship, through customs, handed us our new sea pass cards, took our pictures and let us back on the ship. Took about 45 minutes. There were maybe 50-60 of us. They gave us an invitation to a lunch in the MDR, which was very nice. We stayed in the same room so we didn't have to do any cabin changing, but they gave instructions to those who were moving and they helped them make the move. They put a colored plastic band on our wrists that allowed us total access to our rooms before 1 pm. It was our first time on a B2B and it was very easy, not a hassle at all.

 

Thanks so much. Now we know what to expect.