Freedom Europe 2009 Sailings Cancelled

[SouthernCaribbean]

The press release...so the Caribbean is now the hot spot :)

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/carnival-freedom-to-operate-year-round,423583.shtml

 

 

MIAMI, June 6 FL-caribbean-cruises

 

 

MIAMI, June 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Carnival Cruise Lines'

2,974-passenger Carnival Freedom, which was originally scheduled to operate

six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on a seasonal

basis, will now operate the program year-round, following the conclusion of

its 2008 Mediterranean program in October.

 

 

Carnival Freedom's year-round schedule from Fort Lauderdale begins

November 22, 2008, with six-day cruises departing Sundays and visiting Key

West, Fla., George Town, Grand Cayman; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica, while eight-day

voyages departing Saturdays alternate to the eastern and western Caribbean.

 

 

Eight-day eastern Caribbean voyages visit five ports: San Juan, Puerto

Rico; St. Thomas/St. John, U.S.V.I.; Antigua, Lesser Antilles; Tortola/Virgin

Gorda, B.V.I.; and Nassau, The Bahamas. Western Caribbean cruises include

Cozumel, Mexico; Limon, Costa Rica; and Colon, Panama.

 

 

According to Lynn C. Torrent, Carnival's senior vice president of sales

and guest services, "The Caribbean is, by far, the most popular cruising

region for North Americans. It is easily accessible and affordable, and when

combined with attractive, destination-rich itineraries such as these, a

Caribbean cruise represents the ideal vacation choice for consumers."

 

 

Torrent noted that while the plan had been for Carnival Freedom to return

to Europe in 2009, the strong performance of the line's entire Caribbean fleet

made the new six- and eight-day deployment a compelling choice.

 

 

 

Exciting Six- and Eight-Day Cruises

 

 

On Carnival Freedom's six-day cruises, guests can enjoy three distinctly

different island experiences -- Key West, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios -- each

of which offers excellent shopping and dining opportunities, along with a

variety of "fun in the sun" activities, including magnificent beaches and

watersports.

 

 

Carnival Freedom's eight-day eastern Caribbean cruises feature five ports

-- San Juan, St. Thomas (optional shore excursion to St. John), Antigua,

Tortola (optional shore excursion to Virgin Gorda) and Nassau -- providing

consumers a diversity of landside experiences, along with a variety of

restaurants, shops and boutiques. A wide range of shore excursions are also

offered, including horseback riding, scuba diving, hiking and kayaking.

During an extended evening stay in San Juan, guests can also sample that

city's legendary nightlife.

 

 

In addition to historical sites and attractions, including centuries-old

ruins, the eight-day western Caribbean cruises to Cozumel, Limon and Colon

offer a multitude of dining, shopping and watersports experiences. A number of

"adventure-type" tours, including canoeing, and white-water rafting, are

featured, as well. From Colon, guests can experience all the wonders of the

Panama Canal and even a unique bi-coastal railroad adventure.

 

 

Both of these eight-day cruises offer visits to ports that are usually

available only on cruises of 10 days or longer. In addition, these cruises

depart on Saturdays and return on Sundays, which allow them to fit into the

consumer's traditional one-week vacation pattern.

 

 

 

Variety of 'Fun Ship' Amenities

 

 

Spanning a length of 952 feet, Carnival Freedom offers a variety of

on-board amenities and facilities: a 14,500-square-foot health and wellness

facility, a jogging track, a duty-free shopping mall, full casino gambling,

and 22 lounges and bars, including a multi-level theater showcasing lavish

revues.

 

 

Dining options include two two-level main dining rooms offering extensive

menus and wine lists, a 1,200-seat poolside eatery with full breakfast, lunch

and dinner buffets and a 24-hour pizzeria, and an elegant reservations-only

supper club.

 

 

Family friendly amenities include children's programs for three different

age groups -- "Camp Carnival" for kids ages 2-11, "Circle C" for 'tweens, and

"Club O2" for older teens -- with facilities and activities for each.

 

 

Carnival Freedom also offers a variety of accommodations including a wide

selection of balcony staterooms and suites -- perfect for scenic cruising.

All Carnival Freedom accommodations feature the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep

system with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and

pillows. Carnival Freedom also houses an Internet Cafe, along with ship-wide

Wi-Fi access and cell phone service.

 

 

 

Reservations

 

 

Reservations are currently being accepted for the Carnival Freedom's

year-round six- and eight-day voyages from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Special rates

for third and fourth guests sailing in the same stateroom, along with

round-trip air supplements from a variety of North American gateways and

pre- and post-cruise South Florida land stays, are also available.

[big_duck]

" According to Lynn C. Torrent, Carnival's senior vice president of sales

and guest services, "The Caribbean is, by far, the most popular cruising

region for North Americans. It is easily accessible and affordable, and when

combined with attractive, destination-rich itineraries such as these, a

Caribbean cruise represents the ideal vacation choice for consumers.""

 

Corporate double speak for "Airfare to Europe is too expensive for our target market"

[Pegs222]

The expense of moving a ship the size of the Freedom across the Atlantic might be a factor. Plus, they have to be able to produce a good product at a reasonable cost to the passenger. (IMO)

 

Actually, except for the couple of TransAtlantice cruises they were flying pax into Rome.

[themnms]

well this really bums me out!!! I was scheduled June 9th 2009...not sure what I am gonna do now..

[wrp96]

well this really bums me out!!! I was scheduled June 9th 2009...not sure what I am gonna do now..

 

Don't know how flexible you are but you might look at HAL Noordam leaving out of Rome on June 8, 2009

[emerald777]

Aw man! This really svcks..... We were booked for the May 21st sailing. It was by far the best itinerary and price of all the Med sailings....... I'm really sad now....... :( Wonder when they will let us know we've been cancelled.....

[themnms]

hmnn i just went onto the website and it still shows the sailing...

[CSIMelissa]

I was wondering about the Dream too.... I can't imagine them cutting back so much on Eurpoe because it's so popular unless it does have to do with fuel prices. I have re-booked my two Freedom cruises on the Liberty now BUT I'm sure glad that I didn't buy airfare or anything else!!

[Jrabbit128]

OMG!!!!!!! I can't believe this!!! We were booked for October 2009 sailing and it is canceled! I am about to cry! I can't believe it! They are so lucky I am at work right now because I would just start crying right now! They need to make this up to us!

[Captain Rhone]

At one point, after they originally said Oct 2009 for Dream and June 2011 for Magic, I saw somewhere that Dream would be June 09 and Magic Oct 2011 which I thought was to squeeze in Ventura's sister in March 2010 and the Queen Elizabeth in Oct 2010 at the same yard. Maybe with all the recent early deliveries scheduled, they might be able to bring the Dream out earlier?

[old sole]

But they've already announced Dream will be home ported at Port Canaveral. What would be the point of bringing Freedom to Florida and putting Dream in Europe, instead of just leaving Freedom there and bringing Dream over as planned?

[mafiadon]

We are booked for the October 12, 2009 sailing with a group of 12 couples. My TA is trying to see what she can come up with. I wonder if the Liberty will be doing this for that time of year.

[SunFunCruiser]

I'm beyond upset and I don't see how those cruises out of London are a good alternative! They gave no reason.

I have 32 people on my June 26, 2009 sailing.

Any ideas?

[SunFunCruiser]

If the Dream was to be completed earlier and to set sail in Rome, wouldn't they have offered it to us?

[bp traveler]

I was offered $50 to keep my same booking number on the Freedom and move to another cruise - anyone else offered anything?

[GlendaleCruiser]

This really bums me out!!

 

We were set for next June!!

 

Now what???

 

My friends and I are booked for next May. One is contacting the travel agent right now.

Thanks for the update, people. Will let you know what she says.

[Flip2cruise]

At one point, after they originally said Oct 2009 for Dream and June 2011 for Magic, I saw somewhere that Dream would be June 09 and Magic Oct 2011 which I thought was to squeeze in Ventura's sister in March 2010 and the Queen Elizabeth in Oct 2010 at the same yard. Maybe with all the recent early deliveries scheduled, they might be able to bring the Dream out earlier?

 

Where did you see that, all the latest info has been saying Oct 09 for Dream June 2011 for Magic.

[*Mach*]

I'm LOVIN' this change! I just booked a six day for next December!!

:D

[SunFunCruiser]

I'm LOVIN' this change! I just booked a six day for next December!!

:D

 

Would you have loved it if you were on one of the Europe sailings??

[SunFunCruiser]

I was offered $50 to keep my same booking number on the Freedom and move to another cruise - anyone else offered anything?

 

I didn't get that far because I don't see any similar cruises from CCL.

[bp traveler]

You can move your booking to ANY CCL cruise - they just want you to spend your $$ with them somwhere else.

 

How long before the Liberty bags Europe?

[faeriechick]

Where did you see that, all the latest info has been saying Oct 09 for Dream June 2011 for Magic.

 

The last info I got, Dream is only going to be scheduled to do 3 Europe sailings in 2009, one of which will most likely be a transatlantic. As far as I can tell, there aren't any plans to move her up any.

[*Mach*]

Would you have loved it if you were on one of the Europe sailings??

 

 

Probably not but that doesn't mean that there won't be options for the European market. I'd wait for things to shake out a bit first...

I'm glad to see the Freedom doing the Caribbean. It may seem selfish on my part but that's the way it the itinerary worked out. I've had itineraries changed on me in the past, as well, and we (in one case several hundreds 'we's...) had to make the best of it.

For Carnival it's an economic decision. Like any other company, they're in the business of making money for their share holders...

[SouthernCaribbean]

The last info I got, Dream is only going to be scheduled to do 3 Europe sailings in 2009, one of which will most likely be a transatlantic. As far as I can tell, there aren't any plans to move her up any.

 

Yes, Im actually thinking about doing the Dream TA cruise, just waiting for details.

[CSIMelissa]

Originally when I booked my 2 Freedom cruises I got a past guest special with $200 OBC, now I've gotten the $50 OBC for the change to the Liberty. On top of the shareholder OBC I will be getting too, I'm sitting pretty! I'll now have $500 OBC for the TA in April and $$350 for the Med I had to move to September.

 

Still somewhat sore about the change, but hey, at least we're still going!

 

Anyway, my point is, if any of you got the $200 OBC when you originally booked the Freedom, make sure it's moved over to your rescheduled Liberty sailing or whatever else you do.