Live From The Carnival Freedom: Crossing the Atlantic for a New Whale Tail

[jam19872016]

1 minute ago, chryso said:

I am surprised there is that much wait so early.

Very typical on a journey cruise where most people are in bed by 9pm 😆.  I don't think it's going to be that long though it's already down to 10-20.

[jam19872016]

Table ready at 612.

 

 

 

[chryso]

I'll have the Caesar salad, the pork chop and the melting chocolate cake, please.

[jam19872016]

2 minutes ago, chryso said:

I'll have the Caesar salad, the pork chop and the melting chocolate cake, please.

 

I will put it in. It may be cold by the time it reaches you. 

[MeganGC1983]

48 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

Is the Freedom ready for prime time?

 

 

Short answer: No.

 

To be fair though, this is not prime time. This is a very inexpensive repositioning cruise that most paid almost nothing for or were comped entirely by the casino. 

 

What follows is a long and negative post. If that doesn't sound like your cup of tea feel free to skip this one 🙂 

 

First let me say my experience has been great and most of these have not impacted me, but there are some problems with the ship that in the interest of being fair, I want to discuss.

 

Some of the complaints I've seen on our FB group are ridiculous. There are quite a few people upset about us sailing in circles off the coast of Spain on the way to Malaga. One said she even went to guest services to ask how we could have a captain who didn't know what he was doing. My goodness. Please sit down.

 

Some are legitimate, somewhat, but at some point you need to move on. Embarkation was a mess. Some try to say it was people not showing up at their correct time causing the problem. I can't speak for later in the day, but at 12:30 they were checking times. They only allowed me through because my mom needed assistance. If it had been just me, I would have been waiting another 30 minutes. 

There was seating inside, there was no reason why the early people could not be allowed in until the terminal was at capacity. We were fortunate that we were able to sit since we were so early. There were not many places to sit outside, the rest had to stand and were not even allowed to stand in the shaded part. Once check in did begin, they had to take our pictures, and collect our passports, and give us a receipt for them. It was a slow process and so it took a very long time to process people. It had nothing to do with people coming early.

 

I did see Carnival passing out water to those in the line later in the day when I went through duty free. They did the best they could and I think a lot of the problem was with the port authority and the fact that Carnival does not have priority in Barcelona. 

 

Speaking of priority, a lot of diamonds were upset they did not get priority. While I think they could have done so with 319 diamonds, they didn't and stated the wouldn't from the start. Don't act surprised now.

 

It was not a perfect situation by any means. But at some point, let's move on and stop complaining about it constantly to anyone who will listen. The mood onboard is pretty sour and is contributing to the feeling that the cruise is a little off.

 

The next issue is the smells onboard. On day 1 I noticed in the hall by my room on deck 7 a smell I would describe as a chemical cleaner smell lingering in the air. Nothing unpleasant, but I suppose if you have breathing problems it may effect you negatively. I heard others describing a smell of cat urine. One man boasting of yelling at the crew who said she didn't smell it to "go love yourself". He didn't say love. He wonders why he didn't get any further help on the matter. Me, I would have helped by packing his bags and giving him the boot at the next port. They have the right per the cruise contract.

 

After a day or two the smell dissipated, and I noticed the smell that remained did begin to smell more and more like cat urine. It obviously wasn't but that was what it smelled like as it got more faint. It is nearly gone now, thankfully, and the crew have been spraying, but it is a little unplesant.

 

Other reported smells include the poop smells that are common on cruise ships. I have not noticed that but I have noticed A LOT of closed off public bathrooms. I personally witnessed a bathroom that was in need of being closed off that hadn't been yet. It would remain closed for the next two days. 

I've heard of many instances of showers not draining, toilets not flushing, and no hot water. My own hot water issue was fixed pretty quick.

 

There is only one working laundry room for the entire ship.

 

I've heard of many flooded areas around this ship and seen sections blocked off with the blowers out.

 

The plumbing issues seem strange coming out of dry dock but they are widespread and I am sure inconvenient to those impacted. Also not great when your in public and need to use a bathroom only to discover it is out of order. Even worse when the next one is also out of order.

 

Many areas that were in disrepair are still in disrepair. Things like cracked glass, damage to the fixtures. Mostly minor cosmetic issues, but strange to see fresh out of dry dock.

 

A lot are complaining to John Heald and there are some merits to some of the issues, especially the plumbing problems, but I do feel like you are taking a risk when booking a cruise right out of dry dock. Hopefully they will get most of the kinks worked out before Port Canaveral but as of right now, yes this ship is having some problems and needs some more repairs done to it to be ready for service again.

 

Knowing this, I would not hesitate to book another trip like this. I've already been checking out both Valor and Mardi Gras in 2025. The thing I'm most concerned about would be as bad as embarking 3k on here was, how are they going to handle a ship the size or Mardi Gras?
 

I’m hearing the same thing. My BIL’s cabin has flooding issues. 
Also, Aris said he met you! 
Glad you are taking it all in stride. 

[jam19872016]

2 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

I’m hearing the same thing. My BIL’s cabin has flooding issues. 
Also, Aris said he met you! 
Glad you are taking it all in stride. 

If I had flooding issues I would probably be taking it a little worse. I'm hearing a number of people are having these issues.

 

Aris was wonderful, such an expressive face and he lit up like a Christmas tree when I mentioned you 😃

[MeganGC1983]

4 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

If I had flooding issues I would probably be taking it a little worse. I'm hearing a number of people are having these issues.

 

Aris was wonderful, such an expressive face and he lit up like a Christmas tree when I mentioned you 😃

He’s the best. As he gets closer to the US, I’m having a hard time working because now that we have closer time zones, we are chatting all day. 🤦🏼‍♀️ 
my BIL asked for a different cabin and guest services said no. He also sent me a video of what sounds like a jackhammer from his cabin. I don’t know what’s going on there. But I do agree, it was a cheaply priced TA. 😬 Their next cruise is on Virgin. So they can compare. 

[jam19872016]

1 minute ago, MeganGC1983 said:

He’s the best. As he gets closer to the US, I’m having a hard time working because now that we have closer time zones, we are chatting all day. 🤦🏼‍♀️ 
my BIL asked for a different cabin and guest services said no. He also sent me a video of what sounds like a jackhammer from his cabin. I don’t know what’s going on there. But I do agree, it was a cheaply priced TA. 😬 Their next cruise is on Virgin. So they can compare. 

Is he on deck 2? I heard a lot of complaints from deck 2 on the way over and could hear them working outside on deck 4 but none so far on the way back. 

[jam19872016]

Fried mozzarella 653

 

[exlondoner]

3 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

Fried mozzarella 653

 

They do seem to like to cover things with bread crumbs.

[chryso]

5 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

They do seem to like to cover things with bread crumbs.

 

It is the American way.  I believe fried breading is on the new food pyramid.

[NE John]

2 hours ago, jam19872016 said:

Hope they don’t chop the spaghetti up!!

[jam19872016]

Not sure where things went wrong especially with such a simple pleasure as fried hunks of cheese.

 

Too greasy, stuck together, dried out, sauce was pretty much a tomato water. Usually great but took a wrong turn somewhere.

 

Showtime

 

[MeganGC1983]

15 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

Is he on deck 2? I heard a lot of complaints from deck 2 on the way over and could hear them working outside on deck 4 but none so far on the way back. 

Yes! 🤦🏼‍♀️

[jam19872016]

3 minutes ago, NE John said:

Hope they don’t chop the spaghetti up!!

We'll find out I ordered it

 

5 minutes ago, chryso said:

 

It is the American way.  I believe fried breading is on the new food pyramid.

You don't have fried foods and bacon wrapped food on your pyramid?

[exlondoner]

1 minute ago, jam19872016 said:

Not sure where things went wrong especially with such a simple pleasure as fried hunks of cheese.

 

Too greasy, stuck together, dried out, sauce was pretty much a tomato water. Usually great but took a wrong turn somewhere.

 

Showtime

 

Now that’s something they don’t do on Cunard…Fortunately.

[chryso]

1 minute ago, jam19872016 said:

You don't have fried foods and bacon wrapped food on your pyramid?

I am an American so yes, yes I do.  Along with high fructose corn syrup and yellow #5

Edited October 27, 2023 by chryso

[jam19872016]

Linguine with Italian sausage and salmon cake 713

 

 

[chryso]

I see your spaghetti is cut up.  Just wondering, do you have the appearance of a toddler?

No offense if so.

[jam19872016]

13 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

Yes! 🤦🏼‍♀️

Oh crap!

 

Used with permission 😆 

 

11 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Now that’s something they don’t do on Cunard…Fortunately.

It definitely would be out of place in Cunard's formal atmosphere but it's all part of the "fun" brand On Carnival. The party follows you everywhere even the dining room.

[jam19872016]

12 minutes ago, chryso said:

I am an American so yes, yes I do.  Along with high fructose corn syrup and yellow #5

My favorite of all the yellows.

 

8 minutes ago, chryso said:

I see your spaghetti is cut up.  Just wondering, do you have the appearance of a toddler?

No offense if so.

I wish. More like the appearance of an old man with trouble chewing. 

[exlondoner]

10 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

Linguine with Italian sausage and salmon cake 713

 

 

More breadcrumbs.

[jam19872016]

Just now, exlondoner said:

More breadcrumbs.

Very light breading at least on this one.

[NE John]

13 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Now that’s something they don’t do on Cunard…Fortunately.

I like the party costumes on them. The servers on Cunard sometimes are so quiet and “uncenter of attention-like” that they are often invisible, but they are there. 
But this is part of Carnival’s Fun theme and I’m sure dancing waiters put smiles on many faces. I hope the wait staff is having a good time too. 

[jam19872016]

The noodles were indeed chopped up. Maybe they cook faster that way? Idk, it was very good either way.

 

The salmon cakes were good as well although I will admit I've had better interpretations of this dish.

 

For dessert I got bitter and blanc and double roasted pineapple 732