Freedom News Finally??

[RCH1234]

I'm trying to decide between the Breeze and Freedom on June 21st-22nd weekend. I've been on both ships and enjoyed both cruises. The Breeze was hands down a nicer ship but still loved the Freedom cruise because of the ports and crew. I have a tough decision now with the Freedom having better ports (IMO) and Breeze being the better ship. I'm waiting until the Freedom drydock news comes out tomorrow. If the Freedom is going to get all the 2.0 upgrades and maybe a little more then my decision gets very hard. lol

Edited March 25, 2014 by RCH1234

[MackenzieRose]

I would go Breeze any day over freedom. But I'm biased because I've never even been on the Freedom! :P

 

 

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[EZ4]

I'm trying to decide between the Breeze and Freedom on June 21st-22nd weekend. I've been on both ships and enjoyed both cruises. The Breeze was hands down a nicer ship but still loved the Freedom cruise because of the ports and crew. I have a tough decision now with the Freedom having better ports (IMO) and Breeze being the better ship. I'm waiting until the Freedom drydock news comes out tomorrow. If the Freedom is going to get all the 2.0 upgrades and maybe a little more then my decision gets very hard. lol

 

Don't sit around hitting F5 all day. These things have a way of not happening when they say they will. If news breaks, there will be a dozen new threads about it within minutes. Just saying. :)

[RCH1234]

I would go Breeze any day over freedom. But I'm biased because I've never even been on the Freedom! :P

 

 

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I know, if it were between the two ships I would pick the Breeze for sure! Aruba and Curacao are on my cruise bucket list and the Freedom is cruising there that week. I'm sure you'll enjoy the Freedom with the upgrades and amazingly friendly crew. :)

[RCH1234]

Don't sit around hitting F5 all day. These things have a way of not happening when they say they will. If news breaks, there will be a dozen new threads about it within minutes. Just saying. :)

 

I'm not holding my breath but can wait until tomorrow. If there's not an announcement my decision is easy. I have until Saturday to book but am very anxious to get another cruise officially booked. :)

[BenjiRodney]

Liberty is already available for bookings out of Canaveral.

[Lulu01]

On the Freedom June 1st , so keen to hear the news at long last .

 

 

 

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[EZ4]

You'll know something for sure on May 5th

[Pine Bluff]

Did I miss todays announcement?

[belkin]

Did I miss todays announcement?

 

John said on his FB page yesterday that the Freedom news would be released Wednesday!

[pauleydm]

What I am most curious about is why the Freedom's upgrades are such a well guarded secret? All of the other ships that have been upgraded have been announced in a timely fashion. Is it possible that the Freedom will be getting something that no other ships have received besides the Dr. Suess upgrade?:)

[riclop]

John Heald is saying on his FB page today that he will finally have news of Freedom's upgrades on Wednesday. Dare we believe him? He's currently meeting with the beards. John said:

 

"See you back here early tomorrow morning with more news and on Wednesday, finally we will have news on Carnival Freedom’s upgrades."

Hes said that 3 times already i guess he struck out.

[EZ4]

Look at what Conquest and Glory have, and Freedom will probably get the same things, plus maybe some other stuff that is newer since those two drydocks. Oh, and the good Dr. Goes To Sea.

 

https://www.goccl.com/~/media/GOCCL/content/pdf/DryDockSchedule2012-2014.ashx

[Topo Gigio]

Looks like she will get a Blue Iguana Cantina as well.

[lvetocruise2012]

Hopefully today is the day!!!!!!!!!!!:D

Waiting on John to post on his facebook page.

[Disconnections]

The brand ambassador just posted on Facebook. Honestly, nothing special. New Suess at Sea expansion, Fun Ship 2.0 and two new 5 day itineraries.

 

Edit: Freedom is also staying in Fort Lauderdale.

Edited March 26, 2014 by Disconnections

[Niquein99]

This is what was just posted on John Heald's Facebook:

 

FIRST-EVER DR. SEUSS BOOKVILLE FACILITY,

VARIETY OF FUN SHIP 2.0 DINING, BAR AND ENTERTAINMENT INNOVATIONS TO BE ADDED TO CARNIVAL FREEDOM DURING DRY DOCK THIS SPRING

MIAMI (March 26, 2014) – Carnival Freedom will undergo an extensive multi-million-dollar makeover this spring that will add the first-ever Bookville family reading venue– part of the recently launched Seuss at Sea program in partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises – along with a variety of dining, bar and entertainment innovations that are part of the line’s Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancement initiative.

The majority of these exciting new features will be incorporated during a dry dock that will take place in Freeport, The Bahamas, from April 19 to May 3, 2014.

Following the dry dock, Carnival Freedom will resume its popular six- to eight-day Caribbean schedule from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and introduce two new five-day Caribbean options, marking the first time that a Fun Ship 2.0-equipped ship will operate a short cruise itinerary from South Florida.

“With the debut of the first-ever Dr. Seuss Bookville, along with an array of exciting dining, bar and entertainment concepts, we’re making a terrific ‘Fun Ship’ even better and creating a lifetime of wonderful vacation memories for guests of all ages,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO. “Incorporating these fantastic new spaces on Carnival Freedom also provides travel agents with yet another attractive ‘Fun Ship’ vacation option to market to their clients,” he added.

Debut of Bookville

As part of the new Seuss at Sea program, Carnival Freedom will be the first ship to feature Bookville, a dedicated Seuss-themed play space featuring iconic décor, colors, shapes and funky furniture inspired by the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss. The perfect place for families to relax and unwind, guests can read beloved Dr. Seuss books or stretch their imagination through family-fun activities such as arts and crafts, toys and Dr. Seuss-inspired games.

Other Seuss at Sea activities include the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with the Cat in the Hat and Friends, an interactive reading event called Seuss-a-palooza Story Time, and the Seuss-a-palooza Character Parade along the ship’s promenade. Bookville and other Seuss at Sea activities are scheduled to be available by the departure of May 24.

Exciting Fun Ship 2.0 Innovations

A wide range of popular Fun Ship 2.0 features will be added to Carnival Freedom this spring, as well. Here’s a look at the many new offerings:

• Guy’s Burger Joint, a free-of-charge poolside venue developed in partnership with Food Network personality Guy Fieri serving hand-crafted burgers and fresh hand-cut fries in an atmosphere that celebrates the chef’s California roots and love of car culture

• BlueIguana Cantina, a complimentary poolside Mexican eatery where guests can enjoy authentic, freshly made burritos and tacos on homemade tortillas that can be personalized with a variety of salsas and toppings

• EA SPORTS Bar, a sports and video game lovers’ paradise where guests can catch live sporting events, check out scores on the real-time 24/7 sports ticker, and play the latest EA SPORTS games on a 16-screen video wall

• BlueIguana Tequila Bar, a fun and festive outdoor watering hole offering a laid-back Mexican-themed atmosphere and tequila-based frozen drinks and beers, perfect for chillin’ by the pool

• Alchemy Bar, a vintage-themed cocktail “pharmacy” that’s the go-to spot for guests seeking a unique experience with mixologists who “prescribe” concoctions from different elixirs and ingredients or guests’ own custom-created cocktails

• RedFrog Rum Bar, a poolside adaptation of the RedFrog Pub offering the quintessential Caribbean vacation vibe with refreshing Caribbean rum-based frozen drinks and beers, including Carnival’s own private label draft brew, ThirstyFrog Red

• Hasbro, The Game Show, where guests are part of the show through a series of larger-than-life productions and entertainment activities based on the company’s iconic and popular games

• Playlist Productions, which builds upon Carnival’s reputation for high quality entertainment by combining captivating live performances and spectacular staging and special effects to create enthralling music revues produced by the top directors and choreographers in the industry

• Cherry on Top, which celebrates the joys of simple indulgences with bins of bulk candy, fun fanciful gifts and novelties, custom apparel and more

• RedFrog Pub, where guests can enjoy the Caribbean’s best rums and beers – including, of course, Carnival’s own ThirstyFrog Red – while soaking up the distinct British-West-Indies-meets-Key-West ambiance (scheduled to be completed by the departure of May 18)

• The Warehouse, a family-friendly entertainment center where the young – and the young at heart – can play a wide variety of video and arcade games and win tickets that can be redeemed for fun prizes (scheduled to be completed by the departure of June 14)

Attractive Caribbean Itineraries from Fort Lauderdale

Carnival Freedom’s schedule from Fort Lauderdale encompasses two new five-day itineraries – one visiting Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman or Cozumel and the other calling at Grand Turk, Nassau and the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay.

These new choices complement the ship’s six-day cruises that call at Key West, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel or Ocho Rios; and three different eight-day voyages including four-port eastern and southern Caribbean departures. These unique eight-day cruises visit a variety of exciting destinations including Grand Turk, St. Thomas, Antigua, St. Maarten, Aruba and Curacao.

[InTheWASide]

I'm all for the ships going 2.0. I've been on Breeze and I loved it. But the huge delays were to say it's going 2.0 and the kid space will be Seuss themed? That's it? I guess I'm just surprised that the beards put john through all that hell and grief just to really make an announcement about the kids area onboard.

 

 

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[lovestocruise19]

Huh. Guess she is staying in Fort Lauderdale. The rumor of her moving to Galveston must have been just that: a rumor.

[EZ4]

After all that speculation, delays and drama, the announcement finally comes and it's typically anti-climactic.

[De-Luxe08]

Looks like no Waterworks. That's what I've been waiting to find out.

 

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[EZ4]

Why do they feel the need to make every ship have the same attractions? If each ship had different venues and attractions, I would think it would give folks more of an incentive to try each ship for a new experience.

[lvetocruise2012]

Looks like no Waterworks. That's what I've been waiting to find out.

 

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:(:(That's what I was hoping for also.:(:(

[cruizinisthebest]

Why do they feel the need to make every ship have the same attractions? If each ship had different venues and attractions, I would think it would give folks more of an incentive to try each ship for a new experience.

 

Well the Freedom is getting that new Warehouse family place. lol. I personally was hoping they would convert the Lido 4Js and add the scenic oceanviews. Oh well. I agree. Very anticlimactic.

[sailor_jimc]

Not so fast on the move from Fort Lauderdale. John also posted that there would be more news on the Freedom later 9mostly about the upcoming Blogger's Cruise on her) Typically the blogger's cruise is done on a new ship or new itinerary. So that could happen as well.

 

I love all the people claiming the announcement is anti climatic. People on here have been discussing this for months and most of the updates where guessed outright. John was beat up for not being able to say anything and then when he finally is able to provide the information... it's labeled anti-climatic. Like anything that has been speculated to death could ever be otherwise. Either it was going to be exactly what was predicted or grossly underwhelming.

 

I do agree with the poster that lamented that they should stop giving every ship the exact same amenities. They need to provide some different features so that people will want to sail the different ships...