Freedom Review 11/22/2008

Just back this morning.

Carnival Freedom 22-30 Nov 2008

We chose this cruise back in March because a 3-4 day cruise over the summer was only slightly less expensive than this 8 day cruise over Thanksgiving. It was a party of 15 from both sides of the family. We agreed well beforehand that no one was going to try to make group plans and we’d each do whatever we wanted. That actually happened and made this cruise a success. This was the 5th cruise for my wife(Trisha) and I. We’ve done 7 day cruises on the Norway, Glory, and Mariner along with a 3 day cruise on the Sovereign.

Pre-cruise: We drove down from Melbourne to Ft Lauderdale and stayed at the LaQuinta Inn on 26th street because they allow free parking while cruising. Nice hotel, mall right next door with shops and restaurants. I recommend it. Took the shuttle the next day to the port for free (plus tip)

Embarkation: We arrived shortly before 11:30, got bags off to porters, and did prescreen before x-rays and metal detectors. Then we waited for around 45 minutes before the screening process occurred. Went quick after that. Screened, checked in, embarkation photo, and we’re onboard just after 12:45.

Bars: They make strong drinks when you slip them some tips!

Shows: great shows. Too bad not one started on time.

Dinner: service and food was excellent!

Sun King supper club: Fabulous and well worth the extra money.

Staff: helpful and friendly except as noted below

Past guest party: Free drinks and a good time. Ask for as many as you can and you’ll get them!

Cabin: #7430 nearly aft balcony was nice but probably our last time in a balcony. Room was large with lots of storage. Felt motion but I liked it, Trisha didn’t.

Casino: dealers at blackjack and three card poker were humorless. At least crack a smile when you 20 and 21 9 out of 10 hands. They were nearly robotic and quite emotionless. I thought this was the fun ship.

Dining room staff and cabin stewards were excellent.

Debarkation: our best yet. Smooth and easy.

Issues:

1. We try to go the gym each morning (and did the first 5 days until I got sick). On the third day the door to the spa was closed. It was 6:40 and we knew the gym was open (you must go through the spa to get into the gym). We head to the pursers’ desk .I ask her what time the gym opens and she says 6. I told her the door to the spa was closed and we couldn’t get in. She said I was wrong because the gym opens at 6. I again told her the door was closed. She again tells me the gym opens at 6. At this point my wife walks away frustrated. I explain AGAIN the spa door is closed and we can’t get in. She finally decides maybe she should call housekeeping to open the door. When we get back to the spa the door is open.

2. Friday the CD says we’re going to watch college football on the big screen Saturday but without sound. Excellent! It is rivalry week and I’m excited to watch the UF-FSU game. Trisha and I find some great seats right near one of our roll call members. AS the very close UGA-GT game is winding down, away goes football to be replaced by bingo. There are plenty of people on the deck in college logo gear READY for the game. We all boo. I wander over to a bingo card seller and ask if they are going to in fact show bingo or football. She says bingo. I asked her how many empty lounges are available for bingo and she told me there are many places to go watch the game. Later I came up with the reply there are also many other cruise lines to spend my money on. They eventually put the UGA=GT game in the corner but it is too small to watch. BOO Carnival.

3. We went to the future cruise desk. There are two people working and we’re the only people there. My wife and I are talking about a possible future cruise. After two minutes, neither person has acknowledged our presence. We leave.

4. People. Pushing, line cutting, blocking paths, not dressing properly, and hogging seats. This is what kills me. Pushing to get people to move in food lines. WE WILL ALL GET TO EAT. THEY WILL NOT RUN OUR OF FOOD!! Add trying to cut in line as well. Also, when your party doesn’t know where the hell you want to go or what the hell you want to do, don’t stand 4-5 wide blocking aisles and stairs while trying to figure it out. Flip flops, shorts or plain white t-shirts at dinner in the dining room (from my own party and they weren’t happy when I said something.) If you can’t dress proper, order room service or do what others did. Come to the lido in your robe and shoeless to get some grub. Not to be outdone by the numerous people in swimsuits without covers or shirts getting food. Chair hogs kill me. Being early risers we saw numerous people come throw their crap over 2-5 chairs and not return for hours. Some lady was harassing another woman over a chair her husband was using. He had just been lying in it and had gone to get something to eat. The harasser, overweight and had Chewbacca stuffed in her bikini bottom, went on and on about how you can’t save chairs to the lady. What a mean hairy creature she was. She failed to notice all the other chairs that no one was actually using. I felt bad for the lady being harassed.

We ranked our cruises today and out of 5 this was #5 for her with the Glory 4th. I was the opposite and had this one 4th and Glory 5th. We both thought our Glory cruise was only good and not great because we didn’t have time to plan for it. This time I spent hours and hours reading and planning and the cruise was still just good. No more Carnival for us. We’re going to go back to RCCL or explore Celebrity or Princess.

If you have any questions, please ask and I’ll try to answer them.

Thanks for you review, going on the Freedom in January. Can you tell me who the Cruise Director is and if you know how long this CD will be on ship. How were the live shows? Thanks.

Glad to read your review since I'm going on the Freedom the end of the month. While I would not have cared if the college games were on the TV - I prefer movies/concerts - I can appreciate how aggrevating that would be to sports lovers watching it. Especially as a game nears end?! How stupid & inconsiderate to not have planned accordingly.

What I do wonder regarding this, is bingo usually played outdoors in the area where the big screen TV is? I hope not! Enough that it is before all the shows but losing outside screen time to it would be over the top (I'm not a bingo hater...just hate the prices they charge...it's not an activity, it is just a money making process).

While things about the ship & food sounded good, I'm hoping the passengers on my cruise are not as poorly behaved as the ones on your cruise. I have never had such experiences any more so on Carnival than I have on RCCL, Princess, etc. As far as wearing shorts & T-shirts to dinner, I'd be disappointed in seeing that too, and think that Carnival should get backbone on that if the rules say not allowed at dinner; but regardless, the men in our group will be wearing tuxes to on elegant night whether dress code has been brought down a notch or not.

I wanted to thank you for your review. I will also be on this ship in January. I would also like to know who the cruise director is. This will be my 6th Carnival Cruise. I have never cruised on another cruise line. This coming up May I will be on the Disney Wonder and can't wait to see what the difference is. The cost for Disney is twice as much so I can't wait to see what you get for the money. I have not been on Carnival since 2006. I was on the Triumph and had a couple of not so good experiences also. I called room service and it rang for 5 minutes then someone answered well, picked up the phone and hung it up. I called back they did the same thing. I called the pursers desk and the said they were busy. Our room steward was rude. Their was a foot round hole about 5 inches deep in our room. Carnival did nothing. Our room steward said I know. This hole was dangerous it was right in front of the bed. I had to walk that way to get out of bed. At this time the ship had just came out of dry dock so I don't know why they did not fix it. I have noticed over the years the passengers are getting more rude also.

I have always loved Carnival but with the economy the way it is I have more of a choice where I spend my money. I don't want to spend my money on an increasingly poor product.

Thanks for the review, I was looking for a hotel with cruise parking.

Thank you for your review.

I, too, am wondering about the Bingo on the Lido Deck. This is the first I have read that and it does not sound good to me either! Do they post the happening on the Big Screen in the Capers??

Hey....sorry our paths did not cross during the cruise. However, Rita did tell me that she ran into y'all.

Your review is pretty spot on. Sadly it will be the clientelle that drives me away from Carnival before the product itself.

This cruise did not have the usual amount of karaoke but since I got to sing with Papa T (solo casino performer)...I got about the same amount of karaoke in.

I did not do the Legends Show this time. I had already done it 3 times this year and there were a lot of newbies on board. They did a great job.

The only down that I can really think of that you did not mention was there was no VIP self assist debark. If Carnival offers this as a benefit than they should follow through.

Noorje (or however you spell her name) ACD is in the wrong profession. The very few interactions we had with her, I was not impressed.

Thanks for the great review!! Did you you feel totally safe in Panama & Costa rica? Was there any shopping at these ports? We will be sailing the freedom in 19 days and I was anxious to hear about our itinerary.

Did you feel the boat moving alot? I read somewhere on CC that the panama has rough waters alot. We have a room on the main deck towards the back of the ship, I hope we don't feel it too much. How was your weather? Was it warm enough for shorts daily on the ship? Was it warm enough to lay out every day with so many sea days?

Thanks in advance for answering all my stupid questions!!

Thanks for you review' date=' going on the Freedom in January. Can you tell me who the Cruise Director is and if you know how long this CD will be on ship. How were the live shows? Thanks.[/quote']

 

CD was Todd Whitmer. I have no idea how long he'll be on the Freedom. I thought he was good. Not too many announcements and none early except debarkation day.

What I do wonder regarding this, is bingo usually played outdoors in the area where the big screen TV is? I hope not! Enough that it is before all the shows but losing outside screen time to it would be over the top (I'm not a bingo hater...just hate the prices they charge...it's not an activity, it is just a money making process).

We usually stayed near the adult pool to avoid all the noise and crowds. They were many kids on the cruise and kids will be kids. I have no objection at all to kids making noise and having fun as long as it's not in the adult area. We did venture to the main pool area many times every day and the only time I remember anything other than videos/movies on the big screen was when I was expecting football and bingo happened. I loved the big wave surfing videos!

Thanks for the great review!! Did you you feel totally safe in Panama & Costa rica? Was there any shopping at these ports? We will be sailing the freedom in 19 days and I was anxious to hear about our itinerary.

 

Did you feel the boat moving alot? I read somewhere on CC that the panama has rough waters alot. We have a room on the main deck towards the back of the ship, I hope we don't feel it too much. How was your weather? Was it warm enough for shorts daily on the ship? Was it warm enough to lay out every day with so many sea days?

 

Thanks in advance for answering all my stupid questions!!

Costa Rica was fine. We walked all over downtown without an issue. There is LOTS of shopping. I even found a karaoke bar....(go figure) :D

Colon has several shops (including a good size grocery store ) INSIDE the fence. As long as you stay INSIDE THE FENCE...you will be fine. Do not go outside the fence walking for any reason.

We left all the expensive jewerly in the safe and had a great time at each port.

Thanks for you review' date=' going on the Freedom in January. Can you tell me who the Cruise Director is and if you know how long this CD will be on ship. How were the live shows? Thanks.[/quote']

 

I forgot to answer about the shows. We saw two comedians and three shows. The comedians were R rated and both were funny. Dianne Ford was one and I can't remeber the name of the other. Dainne was absolutely hilarious while the guy was pretty funny. Trisha said his PG show was funnier but I was in bed sick :(

 

We saw the broadway show, the juggler/comedian and the Beatles show. I can't remember the names of any of the shows but they were great. We had front row seats for two shows and I was part of the juggler/comedian's routine. He rode a unicycle right up to the edge of the stage while juggling a bowling ball, egg, and an apple. It was pretty scary being right there. Then he pulls the lady next to me out of the audience, gets her on his shoulders and rides the unicycle. Again, front row was a bit intense because the lady was starting to fall and i thought they'd end up in our laps. He later climbed and balanced on an 8 ft ladder and juggled knives. he was good. Had front row for the broadway show and I wouldn't recommend these seats. You can't get a prespective view of the show. I'd sit back a few rows. Beatles show was great!

Wayne,

wrote you on the Dream Roll call. Just read why you did not enjoy this cruise. Hope that this is not the status quo now. we haven't cruise since last January. Is there a way you can e-mail me?

Kathie and Dan

I have always loved Carnival but with the economy the way it is I have more of a choice where I spend my money. I don't want to spend my money on an increasingly poor product.

For us both times it has been our fellow passengers that have made a great cruise just good. The bingo/football issue was irritating and it really wouldn't have been a big deal if the CD hadn't said the day before that we'd see the games but without sound while the other activities around the pool happened. The purser that morning solved our problem. Not sure if she just didn't understand me but it was quickly resolved. Every other Carnival employee we encountered throughout the 9 days was smiling, saying hello, and iwshing us a great day. We haven't experienced the people issues on our other three cruises. The Norway was our first cruise back in 1996 and we had no clue what cruising was about but we could follow a simple dress code and be polite. Our two cruises on RCCl, the Mariner and the Sovereign, we didn't have any experiences like this.

Wayne,

wrote you on the Dream Roll call. Just read why you did not enjoy this cruise. Hope that this is not the status quo now. we haven't cruise since last January. Is there a way you can e-mail me?

 

Kathie and Dan

I emailed you.

Glad to read your review since I'm going on the Freedom the end of the month. While I would not have cared if the college games were on the TV - I prefer movies/concerts - I can appreciate how aggrevating that would be to sports lovers watching it. Especially as a game nears end?! How stupid & inconsiderate to not have planned accordingly.

 

What I do wonder regarding this, is bingo usually played outdoors in the area where the big screen TV is? I hope not! Enough that it is before all the shows but losing outside screen time to it would be over the top (I'm not a bingo hater...just hate the prices they charge...it's not an activity, it is just a money making process).

 

While things about the ship & food sounded good, I'm hoping the passengers on my cruise are not as poorly behaved as the ones on your cruise. I have never had such experiences any more so on Carnival than I have on RCCL, Princess, etc. As far as wearing shorts & T-shirts to dinner, I'd be disappointed in seeing that too, and think that Carnival should get backbone on that if the rules say not allowed at dinner; but regardless, the men in our group will be wearing tuxes to on elegant night whether dress code has been brought down a notch or not.

Hi Lynne, have a great time on the Freedom. I hope to book it next year sometime. Also, "Music Boardwalk" is suppose to be on the ship by then. If they are there, please go see them. They are fabulous and of course my favorite Lounge Band. Look forward to your review. Happy Cruizin. Mary49

Just curious if you noticed what was playingon the big screen outside in the evenings......

Thanks for the great review!! Did you you feel totally safe in Panama & Costa rica? Was there any shopping at these ports? We will be sailing the freedom in 19 days and I was anxious to hear about our itinerary.

 

Did you feel the boat moving alot? I read somewhere on CC that the panama has rough waters alot. We have a room on the main deck towards the back of the ship, I hope we don't feel it too much. How was your weather? Was it warm enough for shorts daily on the ship? Was it warm enough to lay out every day with so many sea days?

 

Thanks in advance for answering all my stupid questions!!

Not stupid questions at all. In Costa Rica, we didn't go outside the little flea market in the port because when we got back from our excursion it was raining. I wanted to go and we would have if the rain would have stopped or at least slowed some. We definitely want to go back to Costa Rica and explore more. Panama, what can I say. You see some pretty buildings inside the secured fence area and everything else looks grey, dirty, industrial, and dangerous. There's a Subway restaurant, a super 99 grocery store that was really big and had lots of liquor at good prices along with the typical touristy shops. I felt safe in this area until I saw the armored truck and the guard, finger on the trigger of his shotgun, standing there. That is when I knew it was time to make me way back to the ship. I thought the area was fenced off but it isn't. There are plenty of security people in the area though. Don't take jewelry and you should be fine. Many tours were late getting back to the ship so we were delayed leaving. Not sure how normal this is for Panama but I know if we ever end up there again, we're probably going to make it a day on the ship. I have no interest in seeing the country and one day I'll cruise through the canal and i can see it then.

We were in #7430. One cabin between us and the aft cabins. I felt plenty of motion but I don't get seasick so it doesn't bother me at all. Trisha and my son Joshua get motion sick. Trisha was fine as long as she didn't see or at times hear the ocean. There was some white caps but I didn't think it was bad at all. Nothing puts me to sleep faster than a nicely rocking ship.

Weather, 4 days of rain, YEAH! Actually it was probably in the 80s everyday so definitely warm enough for shorts. Evenings were be a bit cooler but a sweater or otehr cover for the upper body should be sufficient. We laid out as much as we could and the sun was plenty warm.

Thanks for the review! Looks like a good part of the cruise was positive. I am frequently annoyed at the clientele too, but I have learned (thankfully) how to tune them out.

My questions - so was Todd the main CD and Noortje was the assistant? Definitely liked Todd on my last cruise and wanted to see him again.

Also, was the broadway show a revue of different broadway songs?

Last, can you elaborate on the dining room experience? Any good entrees or appetizers to recommend? What nights were best? I am trying to sign up for reservations at the supper club for my xmas cruise and wouldn't mind missing the poorer nights in the dining room.

We did the same intineary on the Liberty. Cannot remember if the safes were opened with a card of some type or do you us a code?? We are going on Freedom in Feb.

On the Liberty we too had people who would be in the windjammer with no shirt, bare feet, etc. Also big chair hogs. We just got off a RC cruise and yes there were families, etc. blocking ways trying to decide what to do, etc. but I have to say RC was on top of dress code by the food and also after 30 mins. they would pick things up off of chairs. The last 2 RC cruises we have been on they were great in enforcing their rules!!

Maryhou In Costa Rica we had the best tour ever with Charlie Soto. You can go to that board and do research. Cannot believe they only charged 20 pp. We had 20 of us from our ship that arranged it on our roll call. We all could not have been happier.

We did the canal ship excursion where you take the ferry in the canal. Again, we had a wonderful experience. Bus ride was not as long as I had read. We had no traffic into the canal because it was a holy day. Got back in plenty of time to do a little shopping.

Going into Panama and leaving we had rough waters. We were in an aft balcony facing the back. I tend to get seasick. I took ginger and I felt the movement but did not get sick. A lot of people had a tough time and the bags came out all over the ship. Don't know if it is like that all the time around there, but we had the rough waters!!!

Thanks for the review! Looks like a good part of the cruise was positive. I am frequently annoyed at the clientele too, but I have learned (thankfully) how to tune them out.

 

My questions - so was Todd the main CD and Noortje was the assistant? Definitely liked Todd on my last cruise and wanted to see him again.

 

Also, was the broadway show a revue of different broadway songs?

 

Last, can you elaborate on the dining room experience? Any good entrees or appetizers to recommend? What nights were best? I am trying to sign up for reservations at the supper club for my xmas cruise and wouldn't mind missing the poorer nights in the dining room.

Yes, Todd was the CD and Noortje was the ACD. She really did not impress me all that much. I found her "smile" was an act for the passengers since I saw her true colors several times when folks were not around. Considering the number of Entertainment Staff that we know....you are bound to run into one or two that don't cut the mustard.

All the other staff and crew were wonderful. Saw many folks we had sailed with before. A bartender remembered me singing with Melvin on the Imagination and called me by name. I was amazed. They took fabulous care of our son with Autism. Todd did a great job at the past cruisers party by adding some new stuff we had not seen before.

We ate at the buffet several times at dinner (which we have not done in the past) and found a lot of the foods to be the same that were being served in the formal dining room. Now they are not going to have Chateaubriand or Filet on Lido...but some of the other selections were there.

I heard everyone raving about the Supper Club. Since I still have gallbladder issues and could not eat a lot....we did not indulge...but everyone we spoke to loved it.

Hi Lynne, have a great time on the Freedom. I hope to book it next year sometime. Also, "Music Boardwalk" is suppose to be on the ship by then. If they are there, please go see them. They are fabulous and of course my favorite Lounge Band. Look forward to your review. Happy Cruizin. Mary49

Thanks Mary - I'm so looking forward to this. First New Year's Eve ever on a ship! Plus my kids, a few of their friends & long-time friends of ours joining us so should be a nice way to celebrate. I've jotted down the bands name & will look for them. Will fill you in when we get back!

Good Morning Linda,

Glad to see you made it home safe and sound!!! Did you drive straight through?

I agree with you about Todd and Nortje. Todd was great!!!

We really enjoyed the cruise. I am going to post some reviews a little later.

Yes, Todd was the CD and Noortje was the ACD. She really did not impress me all that much. I found her "smile" was an act for the passengers since I saw her true colors several times when folks were not around. Considering the number of Entertainment Staff that we know....you are bound to run into one or two that don't cut the mustard.

 

All the other staff and crew were wonderful. Saw many folks we had sailed with before. A bartender remembered me singing with Melvin on the Imagination and called me by name. I was amazed. They took fabulous care of our son with Autism. Todd did a great job at the past cruisers party by adding some new stuff we had not seen before.

 

We ate at the buffet several times at dinner (which we have not done in the past) and found a lot of the foods to be the same that were being served in the formal dining room. Now they are not going to have Chateaubriand or Filet on Lido...but some of the other selections were there.

 

I heard everyone raving about the Supper Club. Since I still have gallbladder issues and could not eat a lot....we did not indulge...but everyone we spoke to loved it.

Good Morning Linda,

 

Glad to see you made it home safe and sound!!! Did you drive straight through?

 

I agree with you about Todd and Nortje. Todd was great!!!

 

We really enjoyed the cruise. I am going to post some reviews a little later.

Yes, we need our heads examined.

We drove the 999.7 miles straight through. 16 1/2 hours!!!

We got home around midnight .... I am currently doing my 9,000th load of laundry.

Thanks for the review! Looks like a good part of the cruise was positive. I am frequently annoyed at the clientele too, but I have learned (thankfully) how to tune them out.

 

My questions - so was Todd the main CD and Noortje was the assistant? Definitely liked Todd on my last cruise and wanted to see him again.

 

Also, was the broadway show a revue of different broadway songs?

 

Last, can you elaborate on the dining room experience? Any good entrees or appetizers to recommend? What nights were best? I am trying to sign up for reservations at the supper club for my xmas cruise and wouldn't mind missing the poorer nights in the dining room.

Todd was the CD and Noortje the asst CD.

The show was a revue show.

Supper club was fantastic! food and service were great.

Dining room experience was great. We went 6 of 8 nights. I ordered shrimp cocktail every night usually with anotehr appetizer. I usually had beef or seafood. Everyone was very happy with everything they ordered. Desserts were also well liked. I'm not a bid dessert eater. I didn't even try the chocolate melting cake. I can't tell you what might be considered a poor night. The food ship-wide was excellent except for a conch fritter ball thing at fish and chips which was a nasty greasy thing. YUCK!