Freedom from the Mouse! Our first non-Disney cruise, and we LOVED it!

[ssimon]

We are going on our first Disney cruise in February and are reading your comparisons between the two lines. We are going with family, but not our grandson....am very glad to hear Disney isn't just for kids. We have been on 14 Royal cruises and now going to try Disney. Keep the review coming, please?

[SICruiseGirlNYC]

Looking forward to the rest of your reviews!!!! I am also on the disboards and have read some of your reviews there.

Edited August 12, 2013 by SICruiseGirlNYC

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

We are going on our first Disney cruise in February and are reading your comparisons between the two lines. We are going with family, but not our grandson....am very glad to hear Disney isn't just for kids. We have been on 14 Royal cruises and now going to try Disney. Keep the review coming, please?

 

You will love it! No one in our party had any kids and it was the best CRUISE cruise I've ever been on. (I mean, Hawaii was GREAT cuz it's Hawaii! But I can't even remember the name of the RCCL ship I was on and the cruise itself wasn't very memorable, but the ports were all life time trips!) As for an all over magical fun and high caliber experience cruise, my 3 day DCL beats them all! And Castaway Cay was just perfection to us. All you can eat, drink, snorkel, swim, water slide, volleyball, you name it, even hermit crab races and character dance parties and we didn't even get to Serenity, the adult section! There was so much to do.

 

They are putting a lot into the adult areas on the ships and just like the parks, there is plenty to do for the adults! We enjoyed all the shows, but the Believe 'garden' one was a bit juvenile but the musical sequences (Lion King, Peter Pan, Pocahontas woohoo!!!) were all top notch and great. So even if the sub plot was a bit young, you cannot deny the talent! We also laughed our heads off at Villians (he was really bad at being bad, although if Ghosty stuff bothers you like it does us, skip the first 15 min because it goes for creepy underworld and my parents walked out and we almost did but then it changed its tone and was really slapstick after that.) We were thoroughly entertained. My 37 yr old honey never sits through musical shows and he was early to get us seats and stayed through the whole show every night!

 

We LOVE going to WDW parks because we love the rides, attractions, even the electrical parade, and we love cruising. Our service was incredible, we had the best stateroom we have ever had on a ship, and we liked DCL so much, we got the rewards card and continue to use it and have already gotten $165 taken off our deposit for next year due to the reward dollars!

 

There were plenty of kids, (not like there aren't on RCI and CCL either!) but they are supervised much better and to be honest, they were in so much awe of the princesses and looked so cute as pirates or princesses and ruffles and sparkles, I just loved it!

 

It's really a great line for families. (No high kicks in thongs in the dance show, thank you very much! No smokey casino either, again very pleasant for us! There is bingo available but they dont oversell it like other cruise lines do.) Its just REALLY FUN! And you can bring any beverages you want to on board with you. (I do mean ANY kind of beverage in any quantity as long as it comes on your person so no checked luggage and is able to fit through a security scanner. They do not confiscate any kind of liquor fyi like other lines do.) They only had diet coke so I think I'll bring some Coke Zero with me next time.

That is another difference to RCI. You don't have to buy a coke machine card because all the soda machines are included!

 

Have a great cruise!

[CruiseKelly]

Was looking forward to this one...

[kevinsgirl88]

Can't wait to read more!!!! I'm also from Sc!!!! I live in Charleston!!! Please come back!!! I'm loving through you lol :D

 

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[DBNOLEN]

Looking forward to the rest of your review! We sailed Freedom in 2011 and loved it!!

 

We are also in South Carolina!

 

B

[PSCruiser]

Posting to bring this to page 1.

[alaska_planner]

Just back from our first RCI cruise after only sailing DCL.

And the answer is?

The most perfect cruise EVER!!!!

I can't see us ever going back to DCL!!

 

 

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[Donut23]

We find DCL very limiting.....and this is from my CASTMEMBER husband. With 35 years, we get extremely comfortable accommodations for a generous discount.

 

Still, RCI has kept us captive with better service, better itineraries and fewer limitations. For example, between RCI and Celebrity you have FAR better choices in Alaska. We enjoy combining a week on land first and what possible ship could be made better for Alaska than the Radiance with all her glass. Just one easy example.

 

Ok, here is another easy example. After Alaska we are doing a back to back on the Jewell from San Juan. DH is an nut for new islands. With 2 different itineraries and no need to waste days steaming back to the east coast, we will have a 2 week holiday and will need a vacation to rest after.

 

Also, after 35 years and all the drastic changes in the company the last 10 years, we each comment at least once......"this is how Disney USED to be". So we stay with Royal and enjoy the pampering.

 

We have tried both. Royal has kept us Loyal.

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

RCI is a good cruise but they haven't gotten us back since 2002. Nothing wrong but not memorable (except Hawaii!) I honestly wish I could remember what ship it was on...It is still just Vegas style cruising and is just not magical like even my 3 day DC that blew us away. Its true that with only 4 ships in the fleet, the itineraries are a bit limited but I've done repeat ports (cozumel anyone?) on other cruise lines too. We liked it so much, we got the rewards card to add up towards our next one in May.

 

Maybe in 2014 we might try one of the others like Allure and Oasis but I'm kinda struggling with the idea of paying $950 pp (was what I had priced out at the time) and then still having to pay for soda, the up charged food options everywhere (like restaurants or parties with cover charges, I never remember that on RCCL growing up) or even for cupcakes or Rockets etc. I think my honey would be irritated and I know I would. We have never paid yet for food on a cruise. I know they are optional but did the non charged food areas used to be better quality? I also would find it odd to have to make reservations for shows etc. Just different from how my RCCLs were growing up.

 

We enjoy DCs BYOB policies, inclusive soda, no thongs on the stage, incredible attention to detail and excellent service, family activities like karaoke (for once not in a bar) and different included dining rooms etc. We enjoy their great staterooms. We are very happy there is no casino.

 

I guess if you have loads of dough, you could get burned out on Disney cruising. Just like any line, I suppose, they become a bit predictable. I hope that is a "problem" I get on DC! (Nice to have...) Not sure what RCI would have to do to bring us back but for the price, considering its not so tremendously far off from DC, its gonna be a while. Also we have zero kids. A couple married ten yes altho the argument could be made that my honey is like a big kid...

 

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[karajeboo]

Haha! You thought I was gone but no way! Life just got in the way all summer long. Plus, I'm gradually cleaning out my photobucket account to avoid having to PAY to add more pics. Silly, I need my money for more CRUISES!!!!!

 

So after the ice show, it was time to head back to our cabins and relax, warm up a bit, and then get ready for Formal Night! LOVE LOVE LOVE formal nights!

 

For those of you who enjoy country music, "I don't know why he don't take me downtown anymore....." so I guess down to the Promenade will have to suffice?

 

Eh, we clean up okay, huh?

 

 

And my Ally, how grown up she looks!!!! That dress I picked up for her? Dillard's outlet store in Asheville, NC for $5! Yes, $5!!!!

 

 

The band was playing and we were hobnobbing with Captains and fancy people all night long! It was really a very lovely evening (did I just say "lovely?") and as long as the champagne was flowing, it just kept getting lovelier.... Yes, I made up that word. And it works.

 

 

This guy singing, we saw him EVERYWHERE! From the first night cheesefest of "Come Sail Away" to the table next to us at Portofino. He had a Harry Connick, Jr kind of air. And he was one of the reasons I feel that RCI (at least Freedom) had BETTER entertainers (not overall theatrical productions, but true talented entertainers) than DCL.

 

 

The captain then introduced his crew. Ho hum, waiter? More champagne please!

 

 

Actually, it was very..... lovely. Yep, you guessed it! This balcony would lower for different events so it was out of the way during the day for a full view of the Promenade, but when lowered, it made for a great elevated stage for everyone to see!

 

 

[karajeboo]

There were photographers ALL OVER this ship - probably because there were so many..... ahem.... LOVELY places to have photos made! And we tried to take advantage of all of them. Especially in my "downtown" clothes!

 

We stopped in the champagne bar while waiting for Nana and PapPap to have their photos made, and Ally proved that she's still my LITTLE girl! Love it!

 

 

Soon we were off to dinner to see our new friend Glen. I've already requested Glen for our next cruise in April. The first time I've ever requested the same server on a new cruise. Does that tell you anything?

 

We made Glen aware that we were easy to deal with - if he had a difficult situation or difficult table, just let us know, we were willing to just relax and enjoy. As long as his assistant kept this coming....

 

 

When Glen came to take our orders, we began our nightly ritual:

 

Kara: I'd like to begin with the escargot

Glen (big grin on his face): I'm sorry maam but due to a worldwide shortage, we do not have any escargot

 

Every single night we played our Abbott and Costello act, much to the head shaking of a certain 12 year old......

 

And each night, Glen brought me something comparable to escargot. This night it was scallops prepared the same way....

 

 

Was he precious or what????

 

In addition, I tried the Lobster Bisque....

 

 

Eh, I've had better, but I don't cruise solely for the food.

 

For my entree I ordered the Filet of Beef which was VERY good!

 

 

Even Jeff commented on this and he is a meat eater!

 

He had the Roasted Duck and really enjoyed it too!

 

 

[karajeboo]

Now Ally scooted out before dessert the night before because she was dreading the birthday celebration. Well.

 

Does this child not know me??? I will not be denied HER birthday!

 

 

Oh yeah, kiddo, it's coming, just a day late, that's all!

 

 

And since she had already ordered TWO desserts, the creme brulee and chocolate souffle, she now had THREE to eat! And she almost completed that task!!!

 

 

I had the Bittersweet Chocolate Souffle and sorry, but Palo on the Disney Magic kicks butt on this one! It may have helped if the vanilla sauce had been warm here...

 

 

But who's complaining? Ally had more than enough to share!!!!

 

Someone at our table ordered the Double Strawberry Cheesecake and it was very yummy!

 

 

Isn't this the most beautiful dining room? This was taken from the entrance looking toward the staircase. We were just to the left of the steps, an absolutely PERFECT table!

 

[karajeboo]

Ally scooted out soon after dessert, I mean dessertSSSSSS, and changed so she could meet up with her friends. Nana and PapPap went to their cabin and Jeff and I decided to have a nightcap.... or two.

 

First stop.

 

 

Boleros would sometimes have a Latin band playing, but we found a little couch and just grabbed a couple drinks to sit and talk about the day.

 

 

Then Jeff ran up to the room to change while I headed to Vintages. I had my own private wine tasting when I asked the bartender for something "new." She really tripped me up with a couple of different wines, actually giving me a Riesling that was DRY! What? Then she poured this....

 

 

To which I freaked out, "NO! I don't like white zin, waaaay to sweet!" She ordered me to try it, and it was VERY DRY! And quickly became my new wine! It was a dry French Rose and I made a point of stopping in nightly for this!

 

 

Oh, and the cheese plate. Cause we just didn't get enough to eat at dinner....:rolleyes:

 

 

[karajeboo]

Thanks for the fun review! I can't wait for the next installment.

 

It was slow coming but I'm back now!

 

are the hot tubs/pool open in the middle of the night?

 

I think at least one is open, while the others are cleaned... At least that's what I saw when I went up on deck....

[karajeboo]

Thank you so much! Our cruise isn't booked yet but we've decided on September 7th's 7 nighter Eastern Caribbean on Freedom...in 2014. If we're lucky, some of friends of ours will be joining us too. This would be our second cruise and I'm such a planner that I had to start now to figure it all out.

 

We booked on board and I feel like I'm behind because our excursions aren't booked for April! lol

 

Just found your review. I started reading and thought, 'hmm this writing style is familiar'. Saw the pic of your daughter and thought 'hmm she looks familiar'. Checked your user name and thought 'hmm that name is familiar'. Then it hit me, the McSparklesons!

 

I love the reviews you've done over on the DIS boards and this one is awesome per usual. I'm going on Freedom in August so I'm studying the reviews very carefully... :D

 

Thank you!!!! We McSparklesons do get around. Not in the Miley Cyrus kinda way, but you know.... ;)

[karajeboo]

She's not kidding.

 

I'm a runner, I run 20-25 miles a week at 5000 feet elevation, I start off going up a big long hill. I run 12 months a year, in all weather. Even when it's snowing hard.

 

I tried to run on that Monday on deck and it was too windy.

 

I never would have thought I could be defeated like that but I was. First time in 10 years that I quit a run.

 

It was so windy it was much harder than running up a hill at elevation.

 

Wow!!!

 

I think that's it's a combo of windy weather, and the itinerary. To get to Labadee in 1 day the ship has to really go fast.

 

It was only ever that windy again on the last day when we had to go fast again, although it wasn't as bad as that first day.

 

Plus, every time I checked the TV channel, it showed us heading directly INTO the wind, and it was a strong wind coming at us. Combined with everything above.

 

I am enjoying the HECK out of this report. Love your sense of humor...it's a must for trip reports IMHO.

 

We've cruised on Freedom's sister ship, Liberty, and we're having a girls birthday bash next April on Liberty again. Keep it coming - A+++ for effort! :)

 

I'm back!!!! Thank you! Jeff is so hooked on Freedom that he'd go to the same ports over and over and over again..... I think I could actually drop to Explorer class and still love it!

[karajeboo]

Earlier on in your review you had mentioned an app for counting down, would you mind sharing what app that is? Thanks and I love your review!

 

I have an app on my phone royal caribbean ship mate it has a countdown clock to your cruise and ship information. I love it.

 

I use shipmate but I also use Big Day Lite. You can set your departure date and add your own photo. Since we have 4 families going on our next cruise, I have a pic of all the ladies for my background on the app.

[karajeboo]

Okay I'm back! Great cabin you had! I have to say, our cabin on Liberty was very nice - and our cabin steward was fantastic! We loved having a king sized bed right next to the balcony. Cute cupcakes! What a fun addition to the Promenade area. How did you like the "Sidewalk Sales" every night? I had to laugh at your photo of all the guys in the hot tub! You are so funny. We loved that cantilevered tub, but it was hard to use, because it was always so crowded - same with the teeny tiny ones on DCL though. You are right, they really did pools right on these ships! We loved the ice show, too - it is amazing they can do so much with such little space! Looking forward to reading more from my fav author!!! (hey, if I butter you up, will you come back and write some more??):p

 

TAMMIE!!!! I had no idea you were over here, too!

 

We LOVE the FOS also. Lots of WOW factor on her. Last year we decided to try the Oasis (very apprehensive due to the sheer volume of people :eek:) I had read many reviews on cc about how the OOS didn't feel as crowded as the FOS, and they were right! But the thing that made us book OOS again this year is the eating venues. On FOS we ate most breakfasts and lunches in the WJ which to me is like eating at a Golden Corral (or any other buffet) and to me that gets boring. On OOS there are so many places to eat we never ate in the WJ all week. If you wanted to try the OOS there is a great deal for Oct 27, 2014. Interior rooms are $609 pp and all the other categories are deeply discounted. It is only a 5 night (straightening out the schedule after a transatlantic voyage from England). The ship is the destination to me. Enjoying your review.

 

I think every ship has her very own Golden Corral! lol I do like the looks of the dining venues on the larger ships. I wonder how Quantum will compare? I totally agree that the ship is the destination!

[karajeboo]

 

I am so in love with DCL after that, it was my first DC after growing up on RCCL and cruising CCL for the last 10 yrs. I know that sometimes Disney gets old, but one 3 day cruise is JUST getting me started with them. I am over the moon for the service and food we had. We had the best day at Castaway. Saw hundreds and hundreds of fish. Maybe the most I have seen. Loved the food and picnics and water slides and ship detective games and hiliarous and fun family entertainment, no smokey casino, Aquaduck, and incredible live shows with very high level (like Lion King broadway segments) acting and singing. I was blown away.

 

I realize that repeat DCers are prob a lil ready to move on, and I do get that, but main, I had the BEST stateroom I've ever had (as OP describes the bathtub- i have never had a bathtub on a cruise or a separated commode and shower) I had the best service I'd had in years, the best dinner show at Animator's with amazing technology, the best shows we have ever seen on a cruise ship (even my attention def husband was there early and stayed through all of them!) and great family karaoke and dance parties not to mention fireworks, live action deck shows, and the nicest CMs I've met in years. I want to spend my next $$ on DCL as soon as I can (prob next spring again) and from what I read, with the incidentals that the other lines add (got borderline food poisoning on the Dream, oh yeah forgot to mention that, the Indian buffet on the 3rd day, maybe they kept the food for 3 days since I hit it every day and loved it but that was an AWFUL night for me!) and I ordered a coke to try and help my stomach and I got a can for just less than $2.50 and they added a tip to my can of coke... Basically I think I would rather cruise a day or two less (like a 5 day next) for a similar price of a 7 day and be able to bring whatever drinks I want with me and enjoy the incredible family atmosphere and pleasant people everywhere. Those 3 days were THE best cruise I've ever been on (and I've cruised Hawaii, which of course was great, but I couldn't tell you anything about the ship which was RCCL and my honey complained because the soups were broth with a few chives in it, that's like all I remember..)

 

Ok sorry for hijacking the thread. I wouldn't ever in good conscience tell someone who has cruised DCL to get on the CCL Dream. That's like a horrific joke...

 

Also I should add, NONE of us have Kids, so the clubs etc never factored. This is just comparing the cruise experience one Dream to another. We were all 31 or older.

 

No hijack at all! I love reading other opinions too! My biggest issue with DCL is price and pools. I pretty much love everything else. But I can't stomach a 3 night for that price when I can go for nearly a week on a very comparable ship. And when I did a 4 night on the DCL Dream, I think it made Castaway Cay VERY crowded, as opposed to Labadee with even more people, and it seemed like our own private (well, not quite! lol) oasis. More on that soon!

 

Please come back and finish this great trip report. :(

 

I'm here!!!!

[karajeboo]

Maybe they meant "overgrown greenhouse"...

 

:D:D:D

 

We went on FOS in 2011. My son was 11 at the time! He is 13 now. I am enjoying your review!

I was so excited to see that you got the infamous "pole" AFT room on deck 8. We were just a few cabins down from you in 8412. The "pole" cabin can be tough to book but you managed!

My son LOVED H2O Zone too! 1st day, we ate at the WJ, then I found my deck chair right by the H2O Zone and let my son play. I loved the waterfall wall and that far pool. A bit scary for parents with tiny ones though. That pool is deep. Grateful that I didnt hve to keep my eyes so peeled on my son.

I will keep reading

 

We also scored the same cabin for NEXT year!!!!

[karajeboo]

OMGoodness!!!!! We were one of the groups that looked like, well? Not good at the MDR the 1st night! I was very embrrassed!:o We did NOT have a luggage by dinner time! Bless the Stewards hearts though, they were working HARD. We would walk by and see our luggage but were not able to take it.

Next cruise, I will pack shampoo/extra clothes, etc OR......Just go to the WJ for dinner. We had pool hair (cant miss the pool!!!!!) sweaty clothes from all day. I did pack our swimsuits, but more clothes need to be packed in the day bag

Thanks for not judging our "No lugges by dinner time" group:)

 

For the most part, it seemed it was only the first night, right? I mean, most other nights I felt people dressed for dinner. Not judging at all, I would've had to wear shorts to dinner if my luggage wasn't there - I didn't plan at all for that!

 

Enjoying your review (am at page 10). We cruised with our Only daughter from the time she was 15 so can relate to your family. We have done Freedom about 8 or 9 times and are booked 3 more times.

 

She's awesome, right?

[karajeboo]

PLEASE finish this review!! We will be sailing on the Freedom next spring for the first time and I am loving your review. Please don't stop writing !

 

When next spring? We are on the April 6 sailing.

 

Yoo HOOOO! Karajeboo!! Where are you?!!!! Please come back! Pretty please????

 

I stumbled across your review/thread and spent the last several hours reveling. Come to find: You're. Not. Finished.

 

Please? Come back? And finish your review? I'm LOVING IT!

 

I heard you!!!!

[karajeboo]

Love your review. Reminded me of my first non Celebrity cruise and it was also interested the FOS.

 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on Celebrity! Jeff is thinking of trying Celebrity for just the two of us....

 

Thanks for sharing your review on FOS... I can't wait to read more when you finish it...

 

And, i'm glad that you were finally able to get off the Disney hamster wheel :-)

 

Hamster wheel! lol

[karajeboo]

Loved Freedom!! My Best friend took his family on it in leiu of a Disney cruise and not only the kids but the adults are glad they did!! you posted a great update/review!!

 

I just want to be honest with people who truly think that DCL is the ONLY way to go with kids. It really is great, I love anything Disney, but there is life on the other side.....

 

You crack me up.....we are cruising on sister ship liberty in Nov. So looking forward to that WOW myself...taking our four daughters....they all love cruising too, we live close to Disney here in FL...come on down.

 

Hope your review gets posted/published somewhere...you are a great writer

Dawn

 

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Living close to Disney, when we were in Jacksonville, was very dangerous. I spent a total of 34 days there one year. Yes, 34.