Complete Freedom Review, 6-18

[bmweezer]

We arrived in Miami one day early to relax and explore the city, staying at the Miami Intercontinental, which was right across from where the ship docks. Great hotel, wonderful view of Freedom on Sunday morning. On Saturday we saw the Navigator, which compared to Freedom was tiny and it showed!

 

We arrived on the ship at 1:30 p.m. It took us about 10 minutes to get on board; what a breeze.

 

Since we had been on Voyager before, we were interested in seeing what was different on Freedom. What we found is that Royal Caribbean seemed to have taken Voyager and made each area a lot larger, with very positive results. Among the areas that looked and felt larger were the Viking Lounge (called Oliver or Twist on Freedom), the Promenade and of course, the pool area which now contains the H2O Zone for children.

 

On our previous Voyager cruise we avoided the main pool area because of the kids and stuck with the Solarium area. However, thanks to H2O, the main pool area was less crowded with the little ones which was a big plus and allowed us to take park in the many group pool deck activities on Freedom held on the main deck for adults. For those with small children: wait until you see H2O – wonderful.

 

We also noticed that the photo area was enlarged, as was the Casino area. The flow of the ship was exactly the same as on most Voyager ships. For example, the Schooner Bar was in the same location on Freedom as it was on the previous ships, as was Champagne Bar, for example.

 

Now onto service. As many others have pointed out, service in the Dining Room seemed to be lacking for whatever reason. Tables next to you were onto their main course while you were still eating an appetizer, and the like. I didn’t get the personal feel that I have had on past cruises either. Hopefully, this will be worked out for future sailings.

 

As for the itinerary (and we knew this going in), what a snore. They really should try to mix up the Western Caribbean 7-night schedule. I would suggest Key West instead of Jamaica, but who knows.

 

The shows were definitely a big plus, both in the Arcadia Theatre and on Ice. Royal Caribbean has definitely learned a thing or two about producing unique and exciting entertainment and it certainly showed on Freedom.

 

Besides the treatment (or lack thereof) in the DR, the worse part of this cruise was the final few hours. Good rule of thumb: avoid the final meal in the DR and go to Chops or Portofinos. The final meal is just terrible. Cheap, cheap, cheap. It seems to me that after 2 a.m. Royal Caribbean forgets about you and moves onto the new cruise. For us the Arcadia Theatre doors were closed on Sunday morning, when they should have been opened and there wasn’t an employee in sight to do anything about it. Yes, the actual disembarkation itself was quick (were off the ship by 8 a.m.), but the site of poor elderly people sitting on hard steps waiting for their color to be called was unacceptable in my opinion. They should have had Sorrentos or other places opened and serve food, or actually allow you to stay in your state room until your color is called.

 

One last opinion: never book the air travel through Royal Caribbean. We did this and not knowing what to expect, did not use customized travel. When our tickets arrived 30 days prior to sailing we found out that our flight out of Ft. Lauderdale wasn’t until 5 p.m. Nearly eight hours in an airport waiting to go home, not good.

 

Overall, I’d rate this a B- cruise as far as cruises go. The Ship A+, Crew C, Entertainment B+

 

Will answer any questions.

[zoe girl]

did you do any excursions? would they allow nice shorts in the dining room?

[nanfromatlanta]

It is suggested that you NOT wear shorts in the dining room during dinner. They are acceptable for breakfast and lunch.

[tourist]

Bmweezer,

Thanks for the review! I read an article regarding Freedom in the months leading up to the first sail. In this article, I got the impression that the Photo Gallery had computer terminals to view photos and to choose which you'd like printed. Can you share more details about the Photo Gallery. Here is a part of that article...

"Right next to the Bolero´s Bar, on Deck 4, is the Photo Shop and Gallery. The Photo Gallery has direct access through a stairway to the Royal Promenade. There are computer stations set up where you can use your Seapass Card to review and order portraits taken of you. It is presumed that whenever you have portraits taken they link those to your Seapass and will not print them unless you order them at one of those digital stations. Good idea, as not so many pictures will be wasted. Hopefully this would make the photos a little cheaper too. I know not likely."

[bmweezer]

With regard to excursions we snorkeled in Grand Cayman and went to Playa Mia in Cozumel, both well worth it. In Labadee, you gotta try to waverunners if you've never done so.

[bmweezer]

I don't recall the computer stations for photos, but they might have been there and we just missed them. The area is huge though.

[Firefighterhoop]

1) How was the windjammer as far as crowds go? very long lines?

 

2) how was the mini golf course?

[GMoney]

I don't recall the computer stations for photos, but they might have been there and we just missed them. The area is huge though.

 

The stations are there. on the port side. The terminals say you can download your digital photos there. It also says you can purchase photos. When I swiped my SeaPass, the computer recognized me, and presented thumbnails of generic Freedom photos for me to buy. Needless to say, I passed...

[Jimbo]

 

 

 

 

Besides the treatment (or lack thereof) in the DR, the worse part of this cruise was the final few hours. It seems to me that after 2 a.m. Royal Caribbean forgets about you and moves onto the new cruise. For us the Arcadia Theatre doors were closed on Sunday morning, when they should have been opened and there wasn’t an employee in sight to do anything about it. Yes, the actual disembarkation itself was quick (were off the ship by 8 a.m.), but the site of poor elderly people sitting on hard steps waiting for their color to be called was unacceptable in my opinion. They should have had Sorrentos or other places opened and serve food, or actually allow you to stay in your state room until your color is called.

 

 

Even though Royal Caribbean suggest you leave your cabin by 8am on the last day to disembark and wait in one of the public places on the ships until your color is called, I have never seen anyone from Royal Caribbean actually throw anyone out of their cabins on the last morning.

You CAN wait in your cabin if you like until your color is called. WE do most times with no problems.

 

Jimbo:)

[sdear]

Who did you snorkel with in Grand Cayman, and was it a good experience?

 

Thanks,

Sue

[sherin65]

Are there pool tables onboard?

[GMoney]

Are there pool tables onboard?

Only Radiance class has pool tables.

[bug18]

bmweezer or anyone else - did you book the excursion to Playa Mia or go on your own. If you went on your own, what was the cost and did you have any problems.

[SRQfireman]

How the photos actually work is this.....when you go to get your Pix taken, they swipe your sea pass card..when you go to the Kiosk, you swipe your card, and Viola...only your personal pictures pop up....I was told by the photographer that they have photo editing software in the kiosk, so you can crop your pictures,etc....pretty neat....then of course you order what you want right from the screen

Hope this helps

[penguin6969]

How much do the photo's cost (for each size) and can you get the 8x10 photo album with a picture of the ship and the picture you want on the other side. amd how much do these cost? Can you overlay different designs on them then ask them to print those pictures (like when you get off the ship at one of the ports and the photographer takes you picture)?

 

Thank you in advance

[tourist]

How the photos actually work is this.....when you go to get your Pix taken, they swipe your sea pass card..when you go to the Kiosk, you swipe your card, and Viola...only your personal pictures pop up....I was told by the photographer that they have photo editing software in the kiosk, so you can crop your pictures,etc....pretty neat....then of course you order what you want right from the screen

Hope this helps

 

This helps alot! Thank you!

[abridalmaven]

Bmweezer,

 

Thanks for the review! I read an article regarding Freedom in the months leading up to the first sail. In this article, I got the impression that the Photo Gallery had computer terminals to view photos and to choose which you'd like printed. Can you share more details about the Photo Gallery. Here is a part of that article...

 

"Right next to the Bolero´s Bar, on Deck 4, is the Photo Shop and Gallery. The Photo Gallery has direct access through a stairway to the Royal Promenade. There are computer stations set up where you can use your Seapass Card to review and order portraits taken of you. It is presumed that whenever you have portraits taken they link those to your Seapass and will not print them unless you order them at one of those digital stations. Good idea, as not so many pictures will be wasted. Hopefully this would make the photos a little cheaper too. I know not likely."

 

We saw that waiting for our color to be called the last morning. I wish I had realized it as there were pics we could not find in the gallery.

[bocacruiser]

My DH and DD did the stingray city excursion in Grand Cayman and loved it! We didn't get off the ship in Cozumel and we did the waverunner excursion in Labadee and also loved it. In Jamaica we just watched the Shaggy concert and stayed around the ship.

 

We never encountered lines in the windjammer, it handled crowds very well from our experience. At times we searched for a table but always found one.

 

Didn't mean to hijack the thread, just giving our exprerience. Loved the ship, came home and booked Liberty for next year!

[denred04]

Just a quick hello to a fellow PSU fan!!