Carnival Freedom Review-As Objective As My Antipathy Allows For

[jimbo5544]

Dutch girl you could not be more off. The correct statement is for those who cruise for entertainment, the timing has never been better. The trend is towards big bold entertainment, and if Carnival can not keep up, they will be left behind.

 

OK, I will bite, what is big bold entertainment?

[drosphot]

The Habana Bar on Deck four is a lovely but unused space. An extra host could have done more than the six hours of karaoke we had the entire cruise. Or trivia. Or something.

 

I am still puzzled by the lack of use of the former cigar bars on the Conquest class ships... They are still decorated as a cigar bar but they do very little with them. :confused:

[Tapi]

what is big bold entertainment?

 

 

I'm thinking something along the lines of Royal's Oasis and Quantum class, NCL's Breakaway, Getaway, and Escape or MSC's new Seaside.

Edited April 20, 2015 by Tapi

[MrMileStoner]

If I want big bold entertainment, I prefer Las Vegas. If I want value in my cruise, I prefer Carnival.

 

Most entertainment and activities on cruise lines generate no direct revenue and someone has to pay for them. Let that fall on the other guy on another cruise line.

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

Well if I wanted to relax and read a book, I certainly would not need to travel across the hemisphere, and pay upwards of thousands of dollars to do it.

 

YES, I want more than sitting by the pool, or reading a book. Entertainment, activities, and food are all important to me on a cruise. That will not change.

 

As far as service... well we have different opinions. I like to be waited on, and do not mind paying for it. I spend long days and nights waiting on my "customers" and never even get a thank you half the time... so when I vacation.. it is my turn to be waited on.

 

If that is what you want then choose a cruiseline where that is the emphasis. Oh darn, no one cruise line offers all of that in a single package. Some of the best lines for "service" have small ships where entertainment is a pianist, the best ships for food offer little enjoyment for families traveling with children, and "activities" aren't limited to trivia contests and lectures....some people would rather have gyms, and hot tubs, and climbing walls, and water slides and ice rinks and jogging tracks, and miniature golf.

 

If you want big entertainment...do Disney. If you want service, try Cunard or Azamara, Celebrity is a big one for foodies, recreational activities is probably RCL, sedentary activities Holland America. The choice is yours.

[jimbo5544]

If I want big bold entertainment, I prefer Las Vegas. If I want value in my cruise, I prefer Carnival.

 

Most entertainment and activities on cruise lines generate no direct revenue and someone has to pay for them. Let that fall on the other guy on another cruise line.

 

Part of the reason I asked the question above is I really think cruising (and the entertainment portion included front and center) is changing. While I might be ion the minority, I really have very little interest in off broadway plays or lazer light shows or even dynamic dining (which by the way even Royal amdits they screwed up on and have issued cruisers who sailed Quantuma credit to try the new and revised DD).

 

I (we actually) enjoy cruising for a relaxed enjoyable and granted (some nice) entertainment. We view that as good bands in different locals around the ship, comedy clubs, paino bars and things of that nature.

[Cruiseathoning]

It's a generational thing. Before long you will see theme parks on cruise ships. The entertainment is only going to expand. Ports are ok, but the trend is cruising for the ship. Some old timers resent that. I embrace it but I am younger. But more and more each cruise, I find my brilliant idea have having "the ship to myself" on port days is shared by half of the ship.

 

Part of this is the growing dangers of these ports. Part of it is the homogeneity of these places, Diamonds Intl, cheap junk t-shirt shops, Senor Frogs..

 

Part of this is that the real port experience is reserved for the upmarket lines, and thus out of the reach of much of the middle class, so they choose to find a ship that offers them a mini Vegas at sea, without hopefully the downfalls of the real Vegas.

 

With the mass market lines you are only nominally on a cruise, in that you may spend more time ice skating than enjoying the sea. It is more of a vacation destination that a relaxation option. I think because I just about split the difference between cruising for the sea and for the fun, Royal fits me best, but am interested in Celebrity, and Princess is nice too. Carnival has lost its fun vibe because of staff cuts. And without the fun, Carnival has no refinement to fall back on.

[MrMileStoner]

It's a generational thing. Before long you will see theme parks on cruise ships. The entertainment is only going to expand.

 

Not without raising cruise prices to match overpriced theme parks. I think Disney just jacked their prices again. No, thank you, I'm fine with Carnival.

[Mikew0805]

If that is what you want then choose a cruiseline where that is the emphasis. Oh darn, no one cruise line offers all of that in a single package. Some of the best lines for "service" have small ships where entertainment is a pianist, the best ships for food offer little enjoyment for families traveling with children, and "activities" aren't limited to trivia contests and lectures....some people would rather have gyms, and hot tubs, and climbing walls, and water slides and ice rinks and jogging tracks, and miniature golf.

 

If you want big entertainment...do Disney. If you want service, try Cunard or Azamara, Celebrity is a big one for foodies, recreational activities is probably RCL, sedentary activities Holland America. The choice is yours.

 

I am not the OP, I was responding to YOU! I do not need your "recommendations." I didn't say these lines (CCL, RCI, NCL, MSC) didn't provide what I am looking for.. yet. I'm sorry that you think CCL only provides what is good enough for your taste. The shows, bands etc., are still good enough for my expectations on a cruise.

[legion3]

OK, I will bite, what is big bold entertainment?

 

MSC is supposed to have really kick ___ shows.

 

NCL's way off broadway musicals and the Blue man group would be in the same Big Bold range I would imagine.

[glassman352]

whew...

 

so did you like your cruise?

 

I'm not sure if he liked it either. I am sure that he was mad about some baseball game in the 90's :confused:

[BenjiRodney]

Thanks for your thoughts on your experience. Can't say that I have had that same experience, we are doing our 8th and 9th cruises on Carnival in 5 years and have yet to find any major flaws. Tried Royal twice and were we so very disappointed in what we got for double/triple the price of a Carnival Cruise.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[jakeT]

Thank you for your review. I understand what you are saying and I agree with you 100%. Carnival cut backs are there you can't help noticing them. Getting very under staff all over. Just the other cruise lines are cutting back also. I just don't know, (kinder just can't figure it out) is RCCL and NCL are better but are they $1000 better per cruise. If it $100 or $200 then yes they are worth it. $1000????

[jaylinks]

For people who cruise to be entertained, those days are in the past. Many of us could care less about the shows, or the bands, or trivia, or lectures, or hairy chest contests. But to each their own. We cruise to relax, get together with friends, visit ports, and enjoy some sunshine, read that book we bought months ago when it was a best-seller and an occasional visit to the casino. If I want to go to shows I visit Las Vegas.

 

Buffets are buffets...no gourmet would eat at one if they could avoid it. I don't particular like food kept warm in steam tables at any time...but thousands do. Though I can find plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, enjoy a cup of soup, make myself a sandwich with the cold cuts.

 

As far as fellow passengers...I never evaluate my enjoyment level by the actions of others, in fact when I am "relaxing" or "reading" or playing my favorite slot machine I don't feel up to carrying on a conversation with someone I don't know. And some people will always be rude or self-centered no matter where you run into them. Manners flew out the window a long time ago so I just ignore them to the best of my ability.

 

As far as the little niceties (mints on my pillow, etc.) if they are provided its great, but if they aren't I don't "miss" them...and my arm isn't broken I can pour my own water and get a full glass at exactly the time I want it and if I want a drink while sunbathing the short walk to the bar is a good reason to stretch so I don't care if waiters aren't hovering at my elbow.

 

Now back to your regular scheduled program.....

Ouch!!! Couldn't have said it better myself.

[BLTMA]

We cruised the Freedom in September and agree wholeheartedly! The smoke everywhere, the lack of activities, the cutbacks in the dining room, dull and uninspired decor. STILL, we will look back fondly because we were all together!

[momof3cruisers]

Dutch girl you could not be more off. The correct statement is for those who cruise for entertainment, the timing has never been better. The trend is towards big bold entertainment, and if Carnival can not keep up, they will be left behind.

 

I'm not sure that that is the trend for every ship and every line. We tend to like quieter get aways where we can really feel like we are on the ocean. Lots of ocean views and outside options. For many people, life is loud and busy these days. For them, a book and a frozen drink while laying in the sun are what vacation is all about. Waking up in the morning in a different place is a huge bonus that cruising provides over a resort vacation.

[Texasl8dy]

I've been on the Freedom twice this year and I totally agree with the OP. My biggest complaint was the lack of entertainment during the day. Sea days are usually so much fun on other Carnival ships. No so on the Freedom. The Freedom is one of the ships that has both an Entertainment Director and a Cruise Director. Someone is clearly NOT doing their job!

 

 

.

[ryanpatricksmom]

We cruised the Freedom before the upgrades, and I can't believe that they still haven't found a better place for the live band....good grief! We were on a VIP casino cruise, so a lot of our time was occupied by activities reserved for our group, so I can't speak to a lack thereof. I can say that in all of my Carnival cruises, I have never felt so crowded on any ship, ever. It was a continuous struggle to get around the ship, on and off the ship, and forget the whole restroom situation. There are twice the bathrooms with more room to move around on the Spirit class ships that are much smaller. While I enjoyed the casino and the fish n chips, and would love to see the refurbishments, I'm hesitant to sail the Freedom again. I think anytime that you make a group of people feel that squeezed together for any period of time they will become less likely to bond and more likely to become unfriendly.

 

I really can't pinpoint what the difference was, because we never felt that way on the Destiny or Sunshine. We've sailed many Spirit class ships, and are getting ready to sail on the Magic....but I felt like part of a cattle herd almost continuously for the first time ever.

Edited September 25, 2015 by ryanpatricksmom

[QTPieTrader]

I appreciate the time and clarity of the review. It sounds like I was like riding a roller-coaster, up/down, good/bad, acceptable/unacceptable. And that is often the way it is.

 

I still plan on eating the evening meals at the MDR but will certainly try Guy's Burgers as often as I can.

 

QTPie :cool:

[Havingfun2010]

I thought your review was an excellent review that touched on many of the things that a Carnival ship lacks.

 

I still find it somewhat humorous that the best food you found, and what so many people rave about is the hamburger stand. I eat a big juicy hamburger at least once a week, and have no issues with it, but on a cruise, if the number one item people rave about is a simple hamburger, that says much about the quality of food on the ship. (the small gooey brownie thing also but that's another story). The other ironic thing is the pouring of your water. Even the most basic quick serve restaurant will pour your water but yet, Carnival no longer will.

[Oppalopa]

6 out of 10. But so much missed potential.

Thank you for sharing your honest opinion.

[ldlewis45]

OP, I agree with your overall thoughts about Carnival. Even in the relatively short time that I've been cruising (5 years), the downturn in both entertainment and food is obvious. One cruise seeing the Playlist Productions on the Breeze was too much. I've avoided them since, and have no intentions of going to see any of the shows on future cruises until they revamp the entertainment and get rid of that horrid LCD screen.

 

The buffet is 90% terrible, especially at lunch. I am not a "casserole" eater (or hotdogs/hamburgers), and that's primarily the offerings at lunch. I still can't understand how people can actually eat the Mongolian Wok crap. It truly is the worst "Asian" food that I've ever had, and I've had some terrible stuff. I got better stir-fry from my high school cafeteria. Dinner is slightly better, since they serve some of the same items from the MDR, but the bright spots in the buffet remain the desserts and the custom omelet station at breakfast.

 

The only upside to Carnival's foods that I've found are the Pizza Pirate (2.0 version, not the old doughy stuff), the Indian food, and the steakhouse. Otherwise, I'd lose weight at sea on a Carnival cruise.

 

Even so, I still cruise on Carnival. I just go into it knowing what to expect and what not to expect. I use them for cheapo cruises, because quite frankly, the product isn't worth thousands of dollars to me, especially when I can find comparable cruises on other lines with better food/entertainment for cheaper.

[Jana60]

The Habana Bar on Deck four is a lovely but unused space. An extra host could have done more than the six hours of karaoke we had the entire cruise.

The Freedom with just the SLIGHTEST of adjustments could have been spectacular. No smoking on the promenade, a bit better food, more entertainment staff allowing us activities during the day, and this is a different story. We still had memorable moments, and had smiles brought to our faces.

 

I'm also worried about the lack of entertainment as we are leaving on our freedom cruise October 3rd. Do you have the fun times for your cruise? If so could you post them?

Edited September 26, 2015 by Jana60

[nydney1]

Thank you for the review, I appreciate your opinion.

 

I agree with you about lost potential. The small cutbacks are showing in the overall experience for guests.

 

While I am still a fan of Carnival our cruising habits have changed, where the ship was once considered a destination itself, now it is more of a means of transportation between ports. Yes there is the Sunshine and soon the Vista but the passanger to space ratios are too high for me.

 

We sail in two weeks and I am looking forward to our trip. While I don't miss the white envelopes, I will miss the mints at night and our shipmates are bummed about no lobster.

[aflyingbuttress]

Well if I wanted to relax and read a book, I certainly would not need to travel across the hemisphere, and pay upwards of thousands of dollars to do it.

 

YES, I want more than sitting by the pool, or reading a book. Entertainment, activities, and food are all important to me on a cruise. That will not change.

 

As far as service... well we have different opinions. I like to be waited on, and do not mind paying for it. I spend long days and nights waiting on my "customers" and never even get a thank you half the time... so when I vacation.. it is my turn to be waited on.

 

I don't cuise or go on any other type of vacation for entertainment or organized activities. I cruise/vacation to relax and read a book. I pay upwards of thousands of dollars to do it because that means I can do it in the Caribbean sunshine, next to a pool or beach, with a drink in my hand, calypso music in the background for mood, and a short walk to a variety of food.

 

I don't care much for the evening entertainment, live music, or organized entertainment. I'll watch it if it's in front of me but I don't tend to seek it out. What I DO like is a lively and friendly group of fellow travelers because that lends to the mood as well.

 

But in any case, vacationing to relax and read a book is just as legitimate of a reason to vacation as doing to for entertainment and activities. I also don't care if someone pours my water for me or waits on me. But that's me.