Currently On Carnival Freedom So Ask Me Anything

[Cruiseathoning]

Observations so far-fun ship with exhausted crew, many on last run of contract. Yes that matters.

 

American Table is an unmitigated disaster. The food is not inedible, it is just not MDR quality in presentation, selection, or execution. That said the lunch variety is spectacular-flavorful, efficient, and fun. Many fellow cruisers agree with me on this point.

 

Entertainment is hit and miss. 80's production is show excellent. Comedians wildly different. Cowboy Bill awesome and a good ol' boy in the best sense of the word. Billy D. Washington uses a disgusting set. To each their own.

 

Karaoke 1 hour first three nights, supposedly will increase.

 

Promenade inundated by smoke, so the best band we have encountered in a while on a ship, Steel City Groove, is hard to enjoy. Great people too.

 

Overall we are feeling that inconsistency is reigning. The crew is visibly worn out, as are parts of this ship's exterior paint. But the interiors are fun and very clean.

 

Will you enjoy your cruise? Of course. We are for the most part. But to say cutbacks and changes are not evident is to ignore the obvious. Guy's Burgers, while terrific, are not going to make up for a lack of inventive exciting menu options at dinner. Or a lack of interactive activities, or energy level, or Carnivalness. I think this is what is maddening-they are not doing what they do well, party, fun, silly, but offering a "family-friendly" watered down version or what Royal does much better. But we did not cruise this time for a Royal type experience, as we often do.

 

We wanted Carnival-raw, fun, energetic, over the top, kitsch, engaging, and memorable.

 

At this point we are trying to ride with the stuff we like and just downplay the stuff not so great. Tonight for example, in the MDR, BBQ Spareribs with cornbread and beans. On Grand Cayman night. Unacceptable. This is a cruise not a rodeo and not a fair. I don't cruise for Dickey's BBQ. Carnival needs to jettison American Table immediately or risk being seen as exclusively a low end cruise line, which it is not.

 

It is at the moment, a very confused one.

 

*Disclaimer-the above is an opinion, not a fact, and yours may vary greatly, so take said opinion in a narrow context and do not be dissuaded from enjoying this cruise ship. There is plenty of enjoyment to be had, we just miss the old Carnival.

[RiotAct]

sorry to hear about the food... on Liberty in October, the spareribs you mentioned were indeed the only entree I didn't care for at all.

 

Any good desserts besides the WCMC so far?

[Cruiseathoning]

tried some sort of weird oatmeal cappuccino cream cookie thing. That worked as poorly as it sounds.

 

Other than that there was bland cherry bread and diet lime coconut cake on the buffet.

 

MDR is blah. Date and fig pudding, nutella tiramisu. Just bizarre to me.

[Texasl8dy]

Is there any daily trivia? There wasn't in February. I am hoping for an increase in trivia and fun!

 

 

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[jsglow]

Not in your signature. You last cruised Carnival when? 7-8 day?

[cmukid87]

Do they offer the Match Play for classic cocktails on the Freedom?

[sailor_jimc]

Anything? What is the square root of 625? :-)

[Cruiseathoning]

25.

 

Don't play the casino, no not sure. I think if you play enough you get drinks. But it is an ashtray, so your experience may be affected.

 

As far as trivia, yes, but like everything else, in bursts. One day with a gaggle full of trivia, then nothing. One day with a bunch of karaoke then nothing. No steady streams, which is what is maddening. No grooves to find.

[hfj17002]

How does the boat ride? I will be on the Freedom at the end of June.

[SMSACE6]

Steel City Groove was on my Freedom cruise last November. I loved them! Wow I just loved their flexibility in music styles and I even got up and danced one evening. I agree that they are wasted on the place outside the casino. Too smoky, too crowded with coming and going. I wish that they would get a club to play in, and bet it would be packed. Loved that group and their music.

[beachfunfam]

How much are drinks? Beer, wine.... Did they really serve BBQ in the MDR!

[benvan2]

What nights are formal nights. And could you please post the fun times when you get back or email them to me. We are going May 9th.

[Cruiseathoning]

$6.75. Most drinks are $8.75-$9.25. Spiked drinking at the coffee bar is a bit cheaper, $5.95. All prices are not including gratuity. Formal nights are nights 2, and 6.

 

I will save and upload the Funtimes when we get back for y'all.

 

The ship feels small, crowded, and has rocked the whole time. I wish I had better news for you.

 

Still fun to be had-crew is loyal and even lovable, it is THE PEOPLE on this cruise, surly, unfriendly, argumentative-(witnessed a near violent security episode that the passenger evoked race about.) I am not sure it was justifiable anger, as it was not my business. We were just listening to Inna and Dymo in the Atrium-(awesome, beautiful couple BTW) and this argument cascaded across deck 3 by Chic.) The security was very patient and non-aggressive, much less so than they may have had a right to be.

 

The argument had to do with, according to what I could understand between F bombs, the man's Wife being ejected from a club or show, perhaps over a theft accusation. Again I witnessed NOBODY on the Carnival team being out of line. Still this has been a very angry cruise, the complete opposite of our happy Princess crowd in January, which is surprising.

Edited April 15, 2015 by Cruiseathoning

[jaycat]

I wonder too how many Carnival cruises has this person taken. The join the forum 2 months prior to cruise.

[sparks1093]

So I'm a bit confused about the American Table, do you get your own servings of what you order or is it brought out family style that you serve yourself from? I've looked at the menus and it looks like there is always something that I'd be interested in ordering even though some of the choices may not shine.

[TexasRon]

I wonder too how many Carnival cruises has this person taken. The join the forum 2 months prior to cruise.

 

I've been a member here for a few years and I am amazed at how some folks take offense every time something negative is written about Carnival. Why not just read the reviews, take what you can from them, and accept that some people don't enjoy Carnival as much as others.

 

It doesn't matter how many cruises one has taken on Carnival.

[Gecko7]

I've been a member here for a few years and I am amazed at how some folks take offense every time something negative is written about Carnival. Why not just read the reviews, take what you can from them, and accept that some people don't enjoy Carnival as much as others.

 

It doesn't matter how many cruises one has taken on Carnival.

 

Well said!:cool:

[luvabargain]

I've been a member here for a few years and I am amazed at how some folks take offense every time something negative is written about Carnival. Why not just read the reviews, take what you can from them, and accept that some people don't enjoy Carnival as much as others.

 

It doesn't matter how many cruises one has taken on Carnival.

 

Agreed!