dinosaurdem

My wife and I just returned from two weeks in the Caribbean on Freedom of the Seas. We are Elite Plus on Celebrity and this was our first cruise on Royal. I would like to share a few observations. First, if I ever take my grand children on a cruise this will be the ship. I've never seen a happier group of kids. As an adult I would not choose her for me and my wife. Secondly, on twenty cruises I have seldom seen a more pleasant and helpful staff. That being said, the ship is huge and most of the public areas show evidence of last year's drydock, except the décor is dated looking a lot like a jazzed up version of Princess' 70s in Miami. The Promenade is spectacular, but not useful for us. Our first stateroom was an inside, which was both small and poorly laid out. Access to the bed was impossible on one side and difficult on the other. If you get one, don't put the beds together. Decor was worse than the public areas. Bed and shower were good and pillows hard as a rock. Room and layout in a verandah cabin were fine. The stewards were a little less visible and sometimes missed a daytime visit.

Restaurants were important to us so here goes. The MDR had lines for breakfast and a buffet. The two times we ate breakfast in the MDR the eggs benedict were stone cold. While we usually eat most sea day breakfasts in the MDR we avoided it. The same held true for lunch. In the evening, the good news is that the food was as good as Princess and a little less creative than Celebrity. Service was very good. The My Time Dining was not very flexible, but we managed to game the system. The buffet was adequate but repetitive with less variety than Celebrity. The salad bar was limited. There was no sandwich bar or Benedict bar. Service beat Celebrity badly, way more helpful. The reservation of space in Giovanni's for Diamond members was pleasant. The Promenade Café was okay. Princess wins here. There was no pain au chocolat or almond croissant to be found anywhere on the ship. Sorrento's served mediocre pizza, advantage Celebrity, but Princess best.

Chops was a very positive experience. Food and ambience were not quite as good as Celebrity, but the price was much less. The Chef's Table also benefitted from its $55 price, but it was held in the buffet, and again, the menu was less imaginative. Our reservation got lost. Giovanni's Table was a disaster. Bread was dried out Cake could be picked up and pounded on the plate. Seafood pasta was dry and without seafood, and my wife's veal dish was not as advertised. The manager came to the table while I was away, and insulted my wife. I had a fifteen minute conversation with him about how to treat customers and never got through. A half dozen dining staff told us that they would never work for him. I had a 20 to 30 minute positive conversation with his boss about remediation.

As to Crown and Anchor, in two weeks we never saw the hostess. The concierge was both present and helpful. The evening drink system is better than Celebrity's in that the range of drinks is broader and the evening munchies are repetitive, but of better quality than Celebrity. The room is small and sterile, but for the windows. The espresso based coffee machine is always available, but as Elite Plus I prefer the barista prepared product. The continental breakfast location, food and coffee is better.

There was no handy ship map, paper or pen in the room. Toiletries only come at the Diamond level. The breakfast room service menu was more limited. Embarkation and disembarkation were great. All in all a good experience, but I would rate Celebrity first followed by Princess, and RCI, unless I brought the grandkids.

How did this thread get to be about Mariner?

Where can we avoid the crowds in Windjammer on Embarkation day?

Clarea, you are very helpful.

Yes or no?

Is there a salad bar at lunch?

How is the salad bar?

Thanks.

Where do you go to request a time change on Freedom?

It must be an American thing! I don't know of any Brit who would take pictures of their breakfast.

We just want to eat it! :D

In "American" taking pictures of a menu means something different from taking pictures of your breakfast.

And how does black jeans become White Nights?

Interesting how eggs benedict becomes room service.

We were there four days in 2011. We snorkeled on the Great Barrier Reef, went into the Daintree to Cape Tribulation, took a boat ride to see crocodiles (and did we ever!), took a walk with an Aboriginal guide in Mossman Gorge and drove up to the Atherton Tablelands and Kuranda.

I agree with this person and would put the reef first, and I'm a poor swimmer.

Thanks for trying Bonnie.

Picture?

Please ignore. I meant pictures of the breakfast menu, not the eggs.

Pictures?

Yes or No.

Picture?

At the buffet, in the MDR or both?

Is the Park Café open for lunch on embarkation day on the Serenade? If not, what is?

Thank you all.

Are there no dishes anyone likes on Serenade?

We have never been on RCI, let alone Serenade. Are there exceptional dishes which you would recommend in any of the restaurants?

What is available for breakfast, and in the evening. Is it open at other times and, if so, what is available?