Review Carnival Freedom Sept 2-8 2012

[needabreakcanada]

Hubby is being checked every 4 months for cancer possibility.

 

Could not go in piano bar due to the smoke.

 

The habana bar was fine though.

[needabreakcanada]

I have some pictures of the bamboo beach club. But I have no clue how to post them.

[Yvonne]

Could not go in piano bar due to the smoke.

 

The habana bar was fine though.

 

Smoke in the piano bar?

 

We were on the Freedom in January, nobody was smoking as it's a non-smoking bar now. I believe they might have even had those little "no smoking" signs on the tables.

 

I'm sorry you weren't able to enjoy your balcony. Your neighbor was outside smoking every single time you wanted to go out there?

 

I don't care to smell smoke on the balcony either but there were still times I was out there when the neighbors weren't smoking. One afternoon in Nassau I went out to the balcony to read (we didn't get off the ship that day) and they (an older couple) smoked the entire time I was out there. I'm not a confrontational person so of course I never said a word to them. I didn't want to end up causing more problems so I stayed quiet. No coughing, no door slamming, etc. But it was less enjoyable to be out there having to smell it. :(

 

I do think eventually Carnival and other lines will ban smoking on the balconies, as I think Celebrity already does that. Especially now that they've banned smoking inside the staterooms, smokers will be out on the balconies smoking more and more. And the more the non-smokers complain about it the more Carnival is going to listen. There are more non-smokers than there are smokers. As long as there is one lounge (I think Freedom uses the jazz club, across from the piano bar) and half of an open deck that is enough.

 

We have an balcony stateroom for our next cruise in January, and I'm wondering if we might smell less smoke since we're in the center of the ship, and not on the outside. Time will tell if we like it better or not.

 

I enjoyed your review though, glad you had a good first cruise. :)

[diamondgirl54]

I have been on the Freedom twice in the past year and there is no smoking in the piano bar. Its a great ship and we are going again in 39 days. :)

 

Mary

[needabreakcanada]

They are pretty close together. I know the 70's club was smoking and the casino was brutal. Thanks for the correction.

 

I just looked on the deck plan - it was the swingtime that was smoking - but very close to scotts' so that may be where our confusion was.

 

Yes everytime we went out it was cigar smoke on our balcony. I think there was once I got out there for a few minutes when there wasn't but we were getting ready to go into port so couldn't really stay.

 

No matter we had a great time anyway.

[SonyaB]

Awesome review "needabrakecanada" on your first cruise. Sounds like you had a great trip! I like how you broke down your review into sections - made it easy and quick to the point. We "the country hicks" :D are taking a break from Canada on the Sept 30th sailing on the Freedom.

Last year our cruise stopped at Key West and we really enjoyed the cityview trolley tour and I never did get some of that Key Lime Pie on a stick. So, thanks for the tip of Kermits and I'll look for those candies too! We had a balcony last year and had the occasional cigar and "twisty" smokers as well. :eek:

My cruise tip is bring a big magnetic paper clip to keep all your important papers and the Fun Times hanging on the wall so they don't get buried in the sea of papers/flyers you get each day. Bring some sticky notes to leave notes for travelling companions of where you have gone as there is nothing worse than wasting time looking for one another. :cool:

Did you watch any movies out on the sun deck?

[needabreakcanada]

One night we tried to get into the comedy club but the first show was packed. So we took a stroll and came across a movie just starting. So we found a couple of loungers and watched spiderman 2. We have seen it before - but it was so nice and relaxing we opted not to go to the second comedy show.

 

Who would have thought watching a movie outdoors on a cruise ship would bring back fond memories of drive in movie theatres?

 

It was great - definately on my list of "to do" next time.

 

Thanks

[dapaddo]

I was hoping we would hear from you! You had so many questions before you left, I really hoped your cruise would be wonderful for you and your family...thanks for coming back to share your experiences. We sail on her November 3rd and I am really looking forward to hearing your take on the ship.

I am on the same cruise are you on the role call?

[Smiling Cruiser]

We are on the Nov 3 cruise too.

[FreezingInMichigan]

Thank you for posting your review. :) We spent a week on the Freedom last year and really enjoyed it. We're heading down to Key West in a few weeks for a land vacation. I know, no cruise... what was I thinking?!? lol We'll tell Kermit you said hello!

 

~ Sheryl

[jaydubya]

Carnival's smoking policy on the Freedom only allows cigar smoking in three locations: the Habana Cigar Bar, open decks on the starboard side, and cabin balconies. As long as we smoke in these designated places, we are being both considerate and in compliance with ship's policy. Non-smokers have all the rest of the ship.