Trip Review: Freedom of the Seas 4/26-5/3/15

[dee1321]

I am going to attempt a review with pictures if I can figure out how to post pictures of our recent 7 day Western Caribbean Cruise on Freedom of the Seas. A little background... it was just my husband and I and we are in our early fifties. This was my husband's fifth cruise and my ninth cruise. Royal Caribbean is our favorite cruise line, however the only other cruise line we have been on is Carnival. We are only Gold members in the Crown and Anchor and usually book a balcony cabin. After this cruise however, we should move up to the next level in the Crown and Anchor membership.

 

This cruise was to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. Since we had been to all the ports before we were not planning on getting off at any of the ports except for Labadee where we hoped to rent a cabana for the day. That was going to be our splurge for the trip. I booked this cruise sometime in January for the April departure. I found a great deal on a Grand Suite so decided to book it since it would just be my husband and I and after all ... we were celebrating 25 years!!!

 

We did fly in the day before to Port Canaveral. Flying makes me nervous and I am always worried there might be a flight delay. This was our first time to leave from Port Canaveral and we loved it! We stayed at the Residence Inn which had a lovely room with kitchenette. Free breakfast the next morning. A nice swimming pool. Port Canaveral is about a 45 minute trip from the airport. I had researched transportation options and decided to go with ACE Luxury Transportation. They were excellent! We were met in the baggage terminal by a driver who helped us collect our luggage and escorted us to a private sedan. I might would have rented a car, but the private transportation service offered a 3 leg transportation option which included pick up from the airport to Port Canaveral, pick up from Port Canaveral to an Orlando hotel (we were going to Universal post cruise), then pick up from hotel back to airport. They were excellent! Plus, we did not have to worry about turning a car in and picking up another car, or paying for parking at Universal hotel, or dealing with toll booths... etc.

 

By staying at the Residence Inn, we were able to walk to several restaurants on Saturday night to watch the ships leave port. We ate at Grills which was very good! They had a porch with live music. The walk was about 1 mile so not bad at all. We took a taxi there as the hotel recommended that (flat fee of $10), but decided to walk back after dinner.

 

[Tripfor8]

Looking forward to your review as we leave June 21.

[LuCruise]

Subscribing as love hearing about others experiences. We are going on the Allure, but the Freedom class would be our next pick.

[dee1321]

Embarkation Day: Woke up had breakfast downstairs at the hotel (included) and had scheduled a taxi pick up for 10:30am with the front desk. The hotel has a shuttle, but it was not leaving until noon and we wanted to be there earlier.

 

We had thought the taxi ride would be $10 as the night before, but instead we were charged $15 flat fee. I guess because they may have an extra add on like at some airports when dropping off at the cruise terminal.

 

The new terminal is very NICE! Pick up was 10:30am. We were unloaded and going into terminal by 10:35am. Went through security quickly and since we were in a grand suite we were taken to the suite check-in. No line at 10:45am, but there was not much of a line in any of the lines at that time.

 

Boarding began at 11:00am and we were one of the first ones on the ship! First stop was to purchase the alcohol premium package. Personally, my husband and I thought this was a great deal. We had an on board credit to pay for one of our packages and so we only had one package that we actually felt like we were paying for. I love frozen drinks by the pool during the day and a cocktail before dinner and wine with dinner. The cost was $404 per person (that included the 18% gratuity). Drinks started at $10 each plus gratuity, I easily got my money's worth and so did my husband. Plus, if I did not like a drink - I did not feel bad not drinking it and ordering another one. Plus, knowing that was all paid for and not worrying about a bar bill at the end of the week was great!

 

Next stop, was the Windjammer. The Windjammer of Freedom is great! Much larger than Oasis and crowds move through it easier. Many seats by the windows. Food was descent, but food in the Main Dining Room is much better! We always did lunch at the Windjammer. After lunch we used the time to explore the ship. Rooms were ready at 1:00pm.

 

We absolutely loved having a grand suite... cabin 1274 on the starboard side of the ship. My husband says now he can never go back to a smaller cabin, however if it means I can go on more cruises I will step back to a balcony if I have too.;);)

 

In a Grand Suite, you have a larger balcony with 2 loungers (no cushions), a table and 2 chairs; a large bathroom with 2 sinks, bathtub and shower, a bedroom area with dressing table and plenty of storage, a living room with sofa and two chairs, a bar area with 3 closets! Absolutely was spoiled!

 

Edited May 7, 2015 by dee1321

[ddebaets]

Wonderful!! Can't wait for the rest :-)

[John&LaLa]

Looking forward to your review as we leave June 21.

 

Wife and I will be on that voy as well

[dee1321]

Edited May 7, 2015 by dee1321

[dee1321]

[dee1321]

[dee1321]

 

No cushions on loungers, but we enjoyed the balcony very much!

[wolfcathorse]

can you remember who the captain was? Was it Capt Ron Holmes or Capt Tor Olsen.

[dee1321]

Our suitcases were delivered by 1:45 or so. First time we have ever had our luggage that quickly. We unpacked and then headed up to the top decks to get a drink and explore the ship some more. The muster drill was held and then we headed to the top decks for sail away.

 

[dee1321]

[dee1321]

 

Sail Away!

 

[dee1321]

Sail Away show with crew members and characters.

 

[wolfcathorse]

oops, you're on-line posting pictures...did you see my question?

[dee1321]

oops, you're on-line posting pictures...did you see my question?

 

No, I am sorry... i missed it.

[dee1321]

No, I am sorry... i missed it.

 

 

Captain Tor Olsen... we actually were selected to have dinner with him at the captain's table one night. Very nice man and easy to talk too!

[jillpra]

So glad to see this view! We are sailing in a GS on Freedom in August after 10 cruises with Carnival! I understand that cushions will be on all suite balconies by middle of May! Looks like a fabulous cruise! It will just be my husband and I celebrating his cancer remission and a belated 50th birthday! Look forward to more posts and pictures!

[LuCruise]

Wow...that's an awesome cabin! Looks very spacious.

Sweet picture of the two of you too. Ship looks great.

[BillOh]

can you remember who the captain was? Was it Capt Ron Holmes or Capt Tor Olsen.

 

It was Tor Olsen.

 

FYI Here is the OP enjoying Barefoot beach :D

 

[wolfcathorse]

ty BillOh, I just posted the same question on your review thread (which is great, love your humor!).

[John&LaLa]

So glad to see this view! We are sailing in a GS on Freedom in August after 10 cruises with Carnival! I understand that cushions will be on all suite balconies by middle of May! Looks like a fabulous cruise! It will just be my husband and I celebrating his cancer remission and a belated 50th birthday! Look forward to more posts and pictures!

 

Those lounge cushions are quite the hot topic on several threads

[jillpra]

I send an email to Royal Caribbean regarding the cushions as my husband's cancer is in his spine. I understand some suites on Freedom got cushions on April 26th with the remaining ones to be on May 10th. We don't cruise until August 9th so we were assured they would be definitely on there then. What type of benefits did you get with the GS. I have seen many inconsistent comments.

[dee1321]

I almost forgot to mention, we did purchase the unlimited internet package for 2 devices. We turned both of our iphones off when we left port so not to accrue any overages, but logged onto internet with our ipads. This was a great way to be able to communicate with our college age kids back home. Email and imessages worked flawlessly through our ipads. Occasionally, I could even check facebook if I wanted too. (bad habit) I felt so much better knowing the kids could email us if there was a problem. We put our phones in the safe and did not turn them back on until we were in Port Canaveral again. With our gold crown and anchor membership discount the internet package for 2 devices was $126.