Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Just back from Freedom (May 30-June 5)...

maaaaattt

By maaaaattt,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

Recommended Posts

GhickfromTN

GhickfromTN

Posted
Posted

We are just back also. I will not post a big, huge review- but will state a few observations, certainly answer questions. As far as the norovirus - we were a couple of hours late boarding because they completely sanitized the ship after the last cruise. (Lots of people complaining- but personally I was thankful!)

Our family has been on 8 cruises on 3 different lines. I love ALL cruises because my family is together and we are on vacation. That being said- this one would not be in my favorite top half. The bottom line (FOR ME) being there were just too many people. (3600 is what the director said)

They do a lot of things RIGHT. The food in the dining room was always good. Our dining service was absolutely wonderful. Our steward was great. The ship was sparkling clean. The shows we went to were good- especially the Beatles show.

The not so good- the buffet is engineered wrong. period. Plenty of people have said so. I went at so many different times of the day and there were always lines everywhere. The casino is too small for this many people. SO MUCH SMOKE. Too many people crowded around the tables to walk by. The photo area was also too crowded to even bother with.

So I think I personally want a more mid-sized ship. When you get this many people on one ship- you inevitably get lots of people behaving badly- even if 75% are behaving well! So I saw too much ugliness- to the staff- to each other- that kind of thing. The clientele left a lot to be desired. (Yes, I realize I was one of them!)

I'm not down on Carnival at all. I will just careful look at the itinerary, the passenger maximum, etc. before my next cruise- which I hope is soon!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
GhickfromTN

GhickfromTN

Posted
Posted

Most any fish I got was delicious. The grilled Mahi Mahi was especially good. I didn't get the lobster- but the Prime Rib was good.

I did not particularly care for the fish & chips, though. I guess I am too used to the "fast food" version I get all the time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cruisercw

cruisercw

Posted
Posted

Just returned 6/5/10 from the Freedom 6-day cruise. Not an experienced cruiser by any means (only 2nd) so take all comments with a grain of salt.

 

MDR Meals: DW/DS got the flatiron steaks almost every night (although med/well cooked) and the small piece I tried was excellent. DS got the ribs the last night and they were fall off the bone delicious (get extra sauce) for cruise faire. We both also got the lobster on formal night, which I thought was somewhat small (DS got two) and bland. Chocolate melting cake was the fav dessert at our table.

 

General Freedom comments: The ship's decor looks like a Home Depot exploded. Every public room has multiple materials (ie: stainless steel, copper, metallic ceramic tile, granite, multiple types of wood and painted metals, and fake orange/black woodgrain and snakeskin wallpaper) in every color imaginable. Combine these with the color changing lighting in the main atrium, and the use of random architectural elements and you have a rather "unique" decor. Some might not mind, but not my cup-o-tea.

 

Did not find the ship overly crowded and the buffet lines (although sometimes long) moved fairly rapidly. The MDR wait staff was excellent (hat tip to Imade and Nancy) and the room steward was friendly and efficient. Never a problem finding lounge chairs, the shows were good to ok, was told by DSs that later night activities were fun, although they were VERY disappointed that only one hockey game was shown on the big screen. Agree with others that there was a distinct sewage-type odor at elevators and on the Lido on the last night.

 

One issue we had was with the embarkation process. Everyone was required to cross the major traffic route between recieving SS cards and going through security. Surely there must be a safer process than passengers running across the street between/around busses, cars, taxis and forklifts.

 

General Excursions Observations: Not really an excursion, but don't bother with the FLL/CCL airport transfer (IMHO). By the time we boarded the bus, waited for the bus to fill, drove what seemed to be the long way from the A/P to the port (15 min and you could almost see the port from the A/P), waited for a place for the bus to stage at the port, waited for everyones baggage to be offloaded, claimed our baggage, and tipped both the bus driver and the porters, we could have walked from FLL.... you are better off getting a taxi from FLL to the port.

 

Key West: We did our own thing here, but DS took the CCL pubcrawl by himself which he really enjoyed. He also met some folks that he hung with for the rest of the week. We took the KW trolley which stops at 12 stops rather than the "other" train that only stops at 5 locations. It was a good tour and overview of the entire island.

 

Cayman: Took the Snorkel/Stingray adventure with Moby Dick tours. It was excellent!!! Would do it again in a second, and both DSs LOVED it. Guides were great and we got lots of personal help and attention. Must also say that that the Moby Dick recommended post-excursion restaurant (Rackams Waterfront) was great food, big portions, inexpensive drinks (for Cayman) and a great waterfront view. If you ask they will drop you off on the way back from the excursion, and its just walking distance (100 yds) back to the pier. Its also 10% off food if you show you went on the MD excursion.

 

Jamaica: Still kicking myself for not doing an organized tour and going to DRF. Went shopping just outside the port (lots of insistent vendors (legal and otherwise)/cabbies/hair-braiders) then on to Margaritaville. MV was a fun place, but some MV activities were somewhat "suggestive" and maybe not for all audiences. We didn't mind, but just a warning to more sensitive folks. Also a heads-up that my 19/21 y/o sons were required to empty all of their pockets and frisked before re-boarding at the security point leaving Jamaica. Not a problem for us, but just a warning. Everyone I spoke to later that took arranged excursions loved DRF.

 

Debarkation was easy, but the bus trip back to FLL was still way longer than it needed to be.

 

We all very much enjoyed the ship and the cruise and cannot wait for our next one....:D:):rolleyes::cool:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pcrum

pcrum

Posted
Posted

We do this same cruise departing on 6/13/10. Just a couple of questions: where did you dock in Key West? I know sometimes they dock at the Navy Pier and other times it is closer to town. Also in Ochos Rios did you dock right by Margaritaville or at the industrial looking area a bit further down?

 

Did anyone do Bamboo Beach Club in Ochos Rios? We are considering this, but have two 15 year olds who don't drink (obviously!!) and the $60 price tag seems a bit steep for non-drinkers.

 

We are also doing the stingray thing in Grand Cayman.

 

Thanks for the information.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pcrum

pcrum

Posted
Posted
We docked close to town at Key West and next to Margaritaville in Ocho Rios. Don't now about the Bamboo Beach Club.

 

Thanks so much. That's great news.

 

Did you happen to see any production shows? Specifically, I'm wondering how the Beatles and Big Easy shows were?

 

Thanks again.

 

Pam

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ussenterprise

ussenterprise

Posted
Posted
We do this same cruise departing on 6/13/10. Just a couple of questions: where did you dock in Key West? I know sometimes they dock at the Navy Pier and other times it is closer to town. Also in Ochos Rios did you dock right by Margaritaville or at the industrial looking area a bit further down?

 

Did anyone do Bamboo Beach Club in Ochos Rios? We are considering this, but have two 15 year olds who don't drink (obviously!!) and the $60 price tag seems a bit steep for non-drinkers.

 

We are also doing the stingray thing in Grand Cayman.

 

Thanks for the information.

 

DW and I did Bamboo Beach on our 5-16-10 cruise on Freedom. It was nice. The beach is secluded and gated, so nobody walking around trying to sell stuff or braid hair. They do have non-alcoholic drinks for the under 21 crowd.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pcrum

pcrum

Posted
Posted
DW and I did Bamboo Beach on our 5-16-10 cruise on Freedom. It was nice. The beach is secluded and gated, so nobody walking around trying to sell stuff or braid hair. They do have non-alcoholic drinks for the under 21 crowd.

 

Thanks for the information. How was the beach? Is it rocky? We are still very undecided. Living in FL we have great beaches, but I do like the clear Caribbean Sea where you can see all the way to your toes!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • Hurricane Zone 2024
      • Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com June 2024
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...