Freedom Frenzy Begins -- Cruise Critic Will Be On Board, Will You???

[giggster11]

If you're like me you want to soak up as much info and pics as possible on Freedom. I saw this site with photos of Freedom in Southampton.

 

http://www.shipfoto.co.uk/SouthamptonNews.html

 

Probably nothing really new to anybody but it's always fun to look.:D

 

To all those sailing on her soon...I'm very jealous but enjoy your cruises when it's time.

[fuzzywuzzy]

I have to make a comment with regard to the newest largest ship, Freedom of the Seas. I saw on the news that this ship can accommodate over 4000 passengers. I am concerned about the negative impact this will have on the small pristine islands of the Caribbean. The islands are already being inundated with thousand and thousands of tourists per week due to the bigger ships docking at the same islands continually throughout the Caribbean. When is enough enough? When is the biggest and tallest ship, holding the most passengers, too big? What are your views? Now don't get me wrong, I love to cruise but I think that there has to be a cap put on the size of these mega ships in the interest of preserving the beauty and ambiance of the islands that we have come to love and enjoy. They are truly jewels but they can only sustain so much traffic of people, consumption of resources, pollution, etc. before they begin to deteriorate, if they haven't already.

[Schplinky]

Freedom only holds 10-15% more than a Voyager class ship. That said, there are often 6-8 ships in port on a busy day so perhaps if the islands want to remain pristine and marketable, they need to be proactive about limiting dockings in a given day. Most of these islands are foreign countries and they get to decide for themselves when enough is enough.

[fuzzywuzzy]

Schplinky: Yes, I also agree with this as well. But with one ship having over 4000 passengers to descend upon a small tiny island along with other ships that are docked as well,it is going to have a serious negative impact. If the ships were kept within a capacity guideline, this would help as well.

[Schplinky]

Fuzzy: Who would establish this guideline and how would it be done? I doubt the U.S. would like it if the u.n. decided how many people were allowed to visit Hawaii.

[nfused2cruze]

And then which island would say "NO" to all of the tourist money that the people would generate?

[crusinmama06]

Can I just make the suggestion to move the Freedom debate to another thread? This thread is specifically for the questions we have about the ship. Not to debate about the bigger ships in the cruise industry.

[Schplinky]

Good point. I'm done.

 

I'm wondering if there will be a venue for healthy eating. We've seen this on other ships and Freedom is certainly large enough to have a venue serving "spa" fare.

[smrtypnts]

won our way aboard the 6/4/06 sailing, can't wait, I am so excited, we had to pay for flight, taxes and port charges, and upgraded cabin from swimming with the fishes to a balcony, but hey, it was worth it, a lot cheaper than paying for it.

 

Oh, how jealous am i? How did you win this??

I "won" a 1 day from Bayonne on May 15/16, with no option of upgrades, etc. I have no idea if I'll be in an OV or something else.

[rorito]

What nights will be formal?

 

Again, Salt or fresh water pools?

 

At this point they are listing Cozumael as tendering, any change on the peir situation?

 

This is an amazing ship! 55 more days!

[jcanino]

I will be on the two night sailing from Cape Liberty on May 16. My RCCL DSM called today to offer me a cabin. My boss only got a one night sailing outof Boston the following week.

[papakaiser]

What nights will be formal?

 

Again, Salt or fresh water pools?

 

At this point they are listing Cozumael as tendering, any change on the peir situation?

 

This is an amazing ship! 55 more days!

 

Some friends of ours just got off the Grandeur. Part of the dock is rebuilt, and that ship was allowed to dock. They told us there is still a ways to go on the rest of the dock.

 

Right after the hurricane, I had heard that it would take over a year to rebuild as it was beforehand, so it sounds like they may be on schedule.

 

Hope that helps.

[captain bob]

Is FOS the same size as the Voyager class except for the added tonnage [volume] being 100' longer or is it an entire new design being a wider beam and 1 or more decks higher?

[fuzzywuzzy]

Can I just make the suggestion to move the Freedom debate to another thread? This thread is specifically for the questions we have about the ship. Not to debate about the bigger ships in the cruise industry.

 

What thread might you suggest? My point was specifically with regard to this ship.

[Schplinky]

What thread might you suggest? My point was specifically with regard to this ship.

 

Sure, but the hosts started this thread so folks could feed them with questions about the ship for when they get to visit her. I doubt they'll walk right up to Richard Fain and ask him he he thinks he's gone too far in terms of ship size.

 

I would also like to know if you hear anything about tendering. It seems overwhelming to me that even if they get the pier fixed up well enough to accept Freedom in Cozumel that we will still be tendering in three ports. Will they simply put more tenders in the water, owing to the large size of the ship?

[CaptData]

I will be bringing grandchildren, could you check out the kids area and get thedailies for it for the 5 yrs olds and 9 year olds. Thank you for any and all of your efforts.

[jojogo]

Can you believe my luck?? We were contacted a few days ago to join the 2 night sailing out of Boston. We can't go as we will still be on the Galaxy for the TA to Rome:rolleyes: After all these years...I'm so disappointed. And I am not affiliated with any travel business!!! Don't know how we were selected other than many cruises with both Celebrity & Royal. Oh well, maybe next time??

[hxviller]

Be aware, the cabin I have booked for my husband and kids on the Freedom, has been bumped to 7 decks below. When I purposely booked in the year 2005 (when you could first make your reservations for the Freedom). This room is very close to our room. Isn't that a kick in the butt since we paid our final balance as of 6 days ago. I have printed confirmations with this cabin along with my name on it and it just gets taken away with no phone call or explanation. I called and the reservationsist from RC could not help me he put me to customer services. Since its after 10pm they said he could not find the answer for me now, that he will call me back tomorrow afternoon. I won't be able to sleep tonight thats for sure. EVERYONE KEEP CHECKING YOUR RESERVATIONS - YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN!!!!!

[cysyca]

Yes. I am booked on the Freedom for May 13, 2007 and I am holding a reservation for April 19, 2008 on the Liberty of the Seas. This will be my first time on RCI.:D

 

Carnival Valor- May 2004

Carnival Libery- April 2006

[troywest]

Will be sailing May 19th for two day inaugural out of Boston. Let me know what you need to know! I will try to post pictures when we return.

 

 

Does it actually "sail" for two days ? .....Or, do you spend two days on the ship tied to the pier ? Information on this seems conflicting.

[crusinmama06]

What thread might you suggest? My point was specifically with regard to this ship.

 

There have been at least 15 threads about this topic. I'm sure you could find one with the same issues. Or you could always start your own.

[jcanino]

Does it actually "sail" for two days ? .....Or, do you spend two days on the ship tied to the pier ? Information on this seems conflicting.

 

I am on a two nighter out of Cape Liberty on May 16. My RCCL DSM has told me that it is a two night cruise.

 

I will be posting pictures upon my return at my FOTKI picture page.

[Libby7]

We'll be on the 3 day sailing about of Miami over Memorial day. Boarding on the 26 and getting off the 29. A stop at Labadee and two days at sea. I suspect not as many will get off as on a normal cruise, but it will be interesting how they run the tenders.

We were always happy on the Vision Class -- thought the Radiance class would be too big. Then we fell in love the the Brilliance ---- knowing, of course, the Voyager class would be way too big. We've now been on the Explorer twice and the Adventure once. Of course - The Freedom class will be way too big. Time will tell....

[judyjbest]

We'll also be the guests of Royal Caribbean aboard the Freedom of the Seas sailing two nights to nowhere from May 31 - June 2. It's simply an opportunity to get to know this beautiful ship, so I'll also be sending pictures and info either from the ship or immediately upon return. We're so thankful to be included in this ship's inaugural events! Thanks, RCL!

[smrtypnts]

Does it actually "sail" for two days ? .....Or, do you spend two days on the ship tied to the pier ? Information on this seems conflicting.

 

I'm on the one day out of Cape Liberty and the TA told me it would sail far enough out to open the casino, so yes........it sails!