New to Royal, torn between 2 cruises

[CMW21]

Hello! I have cruised a couple times in the past on Carnival and have had a blast. We want to take a cruise this Christmas but their itineraries weren't great. I found 2 on royal that I really like but I'm torn. The first is 8 days on the Independence of the Seas. The 2nd is only 7 days on the Freedom of the Seas. The only difference is missing St. Kitts - but the Freedom of the Seas seems to be a nicer ship from the reviews and you also get the Dreamworks Experience (I have 2 little ones). So what would you do? One more port on a perhaps not as nice ship or nicer ship with the characters for the kids? I would usually do the longer cruise but the reviews are swaying me to the other ship. The price difference is only $100 total so that wouldn't be a factor. Thanks so much in advance!

[Clarea]

Hello! I have cruised a couple times in the past on Carnival and have had a blast. We want to take a cruise this Christmas but their itineraries weren't great. I found 2 on royal that I really like but I'm torn. The first is 8 days on the Independence of the Seas. The 2nd is only 7 days on the Freedom of the Seas. The only difference is missing St. Kitts - but the Freedom of the Seas seems to be a nicer ship from the reviews and you also get the Dreamworks Experience (I have 2 little ones). So what would you do? One more port on a perhaps not as nice ship or nicer ship with the characters for the kids? I would usually do the longer cruise but the reviews are swaying me to the other ship. The price difference is only $100 total so that wouldn't be a factor. Thanks so much in advance!

Freedom and Indy are almost identical. I would pick Indy for the longer itinerary, but I don't have young kids. If you want Dreamworks, pick Freedom.

[Mac303]

You have basically answered your own question, "It's for the kids".

[CMW21]

Thanks for the info so far. I would hate to miss a whole day/port just to have the dreamwork experience especially if the ships are similar. How would you rate the dreamwork experience?

[Marie51]

I have been on Indy a couple months ago and on Freedom last year. They are both beautiful ships so you cannot go wrong with either. There is plenty for the kids to do without Dreamworks so I would do the cruise with the extra day.

Welcome to RC.

[UCF_Knight]

Independence and Freedom are the same class of ship. Independence is actually the newest Freedom class ship. As built they were almost identical to each other.

 

Freedom did have a few more changes to it than Independence when they went in for drydock:

 

 

FREEDOM OF THE SEAS:

DreamWorks Experience

3D movie theater

Outdoor movie screen

Updated Vintages

wine bar

Cupcake Cupboard

Digital Signage

Pervasive Wi-Fi

Interactive TVs

Nursery

ImaginOcean! puppet shows

 

 

INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEAS:

Outdoor movie screen

Cupcake Cupboard

Giovanni’s Table

Digital Signage

Pervasive Wi-Fi

Nusery

 

 

 

Other than the changes Freedom got compared with the changes Independence got, the ships are identical. Independence is both a newer ship and has been in drydock for refurb more recently:

Freedom: Built 2006, refurb in 2011

Independence: Built 2008, refurb in 2013

 

If your kids are REALLY into meeting Kung-Fu Panda or Alex the Lion, go for Freedom. Otherwise, I'd take the extra day on Independence.

[FLACRUISER99]

Hello! I have cruised a couple times in the past on Carnival and have had a blast. We want to take a cruise this Christmas but their itineraries weren't great. I found 2 on royal that I really like but I'm torn. The first is 8 days on the Independence of the Seas. The 2nd is only 7 days on the Freedom of the Seas. The only difference is missing St. Kitts - but the Freedom of the Seas seems to be a nicer ship from the reviews and you also get the Dreamworks Experience (I have 2 little ones). So what would you do? One more port on a perhaps not as nice ship or nicer ship with the characters for the kids? I would usually do the longer cruise but the reviews are swaying me to the other ship. The price difference is only $100 total so that wouldn't be a factor. Thanks so much in advance!

I would go for Freedom she is a great ship with a wonderful crew.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

I would pick the Independence. One extra day and we liked St. Kitts..Loved our island tour a few years ago. However, we are not familiar with the Dreamworks, but even if you choose the Indy, there would be so many other things going on to occupy the kids.