Currently on board the FREEDOM

[fwsportsnut]

Please...High Seas Texan is platinum with CCL, so you have to believe he knows what to expect as well as you -- and he's been clear that his disappointments are with changes.

Regardless, he doesn't need to justify his opinion. Or, perhaps, your expectations are lower.

 

I'm enjoying his posts and hope he continues to share them.

 

But sounds like he is expecting a 5 star for a 2 star price. And no, my expectations are not lower, just realistic. But you and he are both entitled to your opinion jut like I am. Could care less if platinum or diamond, still think expectations are too high.

[Midwestern Cruiser]

But sounds like he is expecting a 5 star for a 2 star price. And no, my expectations are not lower, just realistic. But you and he are both entitled to your opinion jut like I am. Could care less if platinum or diamond, still think expectations are too high.

 

Hmm -- I'm not reading it that way -- JMO though :-}

[alreadypacked]

Greetings all.

 

Ship is very quiet this first night. Does not seem or feel crowded, although I understand we are sold out. Some nice music venues with live music. I hope the shows, now being Playlist vs live band will be entertaining. Piano bar a complete bust. No one in there. No one in the Alchemy bar. Very smokie around the casino. Very. Music from the Casino Bar makes cabins on deck 6 anything but peaceful. Plumbing issues with toilets overflowing. Rooms are way too hot. Not cool and not comfortable. New standards for Carnival-keep rooms at 80 degrees. No air circulating out of vents. Told this meets guidelines. Top of guidllines, but meet them. Oh well.....

 

Will be posting here throughout the week. If anyone has questions I will try and find out the desired information.

 

Cheers All.

 

 

Are you saying that the room temperature thermostats cannot be adjusted to lower than 80 degrees?

 

New standards for Carnival. Is this fleet wide?

 

Please say it isn't so.

 

We'll be on Conquest in a few weeks.

 

I live in South Florida and we routinely keep our A/C on 74 degrees, except in Winter. I am always hot--especially while sleeping. Even 74 degrees is a little warm for me at bedtime, but other household members protest if I lower it to 73 or 72.

Edited September 1, 2015 by alreadypacked

[SweetCheeks Cruiser]

Two awesome crew members who are married are on your ship. Pedrita works in the Lido Buffet area keeping the floors, windows etc clean and her husband Allan is a drink server usually in the casino area. If you happen to befriend either one tell them Brad and Bonnie miss them. We cruised on a back to back with them two years ago and keep up on facebook. We like to take time to get to know some of the crew members and give them a smile or conversation to let them know they are doing a good job. It is interesting when they share some of their stories about demanding customers.

 

Anyhow, enjoy your cruise and savor that time out on the seas!

[fuddrules]

Unbelievable.

 

Either I need drugs or Carnival cruisers/CC posters need drugs. Do a lot of you take antidepressants? I don't but maybe I should. It may be me.

 

This Up and Down, Love and Hate, it's a horrible cruise, it's fabulous cruise, never going again well scratch that, I'm going..Schizophrenia in its purest form.

 

This post won't last long but probably a good thing. I need to go see a doctor.

Edited September 1, 2015 by fuddrules

[High Seas Texan]

Good evening. Checking in here after a FABULOUS dinner at he Chef's Table. Eight courses, champagne, wine, lovely. I have done the Chef's Table in the past and this was one of the highlights of the cruise-even though we are early on in the week.

 

To address some comments here about my expectation being "too high", no gentle reader, they are not. My expectations are what I know and have experienced in the past and I am merely voicing some disappointments in the changes/cutbacks. From now ion, I will know what the MDR is like, and IF I select to go there, I will not be surprised. Having reently cruised in March this year, the American Table is nes to me. Although the menus seem to have acceptable choices, it is just not my cup of tea. No problem man (going to be in Jamaica tomorrow) there are options available and I am willing to pay the up-charge to be pleased. And no, I am not ecpecting 5 Stsr service for a 2 Star price.

 

The seas are a little rough tonight so they have changed out the show in the lounge, as the scheduled 88 KEYS will not be safe for the dancers to perform. Much activity going on out and about, which I am headed "out and about" to enjoy.

 

No chocolates being left at turn down, at least in my cabin. For me, not a big deal at all as I never ate them. I did take them home, where I have a bag in the freezer from previous cruises. Towel animals still appearing on the bed each night. Cabin still on the warm side and I have the thermostat set to the coolest setting. Have heard from other pax the same comment. NOT A COMPLAINT, just a comment if anyone cares to bring along a small fan.

 

I will check in tomorrow and continue with some comments and look for questions. Oh, many live bands performing all over tonight, including a great country/western one in the lobby bar. For this cruise, the lobby bar seems to be the center of entertainment.

[bain888]

We are going to be on the Freedom in October. Concerned about location of our room. My husband is handicapped so we have a balcony room on the upper deck all the way in the front. Could you tell me how rough it is and noise level please. Room 6208

[High Seas Texan]

We are going to be on the Freedom in October. Concerned about location of our room. My husband is handicapped so we have a balcony room on the upper deck all the way in the front. Could you tell me how rough it is and noise level please. Room 6208

 

I will make a point of going to that deck by that cabin and seeing how the ride feels, any noise in the hallway. A friend of mine is in a cabin in deck 6, mid ships. She hears quite audibly the music from the casino, but it stops around 11 PM.

[sid_9169]

Thanks for the report, High Seas Texan... I am sailing in a few weeks and trying to find the current price for a shot of Patron Silver... It used to be $9.95 (Just below the limit for Cheers!) but I heard that it was now $11.95? Thanks in advance, and have a great rest of your cruise...

[Denisomo]

My husband sailed on the Freedom the middle of June and the air conditioning was great, made my husband get up each morning to turn it down before I got up. The dining room was great , service was wonderful, food was really good, and the workers on the ship were awesome. We always enjoy ourselves and have learned to be patient and let the crazies alone., they won't ruin our good time. Carnival has been a great cruise line for us.

[Denisomo]

I meant to say, my husband and I sailed on the Freedom together

[HollandAvery]

Keep it coming. I'm doing a back-to-back-to-back on Freedom starting Nov 28.

 

I hate warm cabins. The first thing I do in the cabin is crank the thermostat all the way down. What catagory is your cabin?

 

I'm glad we selected early seating. I agree that the shows have gone down hill recently, but they should schedule the shows so both seatings can go.

 

My SO and I will be on the Freedom with you for your first half of your back-to-back!

 

I'm worried about the cabins being warm /:

I don't sleep well AT ALL when I'm hot...so I'm hoping this won't really be an issue...fingers crossed!

I'm bummed about possibly missing shows as well, since we always do late dining.

Edited September 2, 2015 by HollandAvery

[High Seas Texan]

Thanks for the report, High Seas Texan... I am sailing in a few weeks and trying to find the current price for a shot of Patron Silver... It used to be $9.95 (Just below the limit for Cheers!) but I heard that it was now $11.95? Thanks in advance, and have a great rest of your cruise...

 

I priced a shot of Petron Silver tonight in the Red Frog Pup and it was $11.40. We enjoyed the live band playing in this club. Not many people out and about late on the ship, or during cocktail hour. Probably just the make up of passengers, which you never know what they will be like. Have chatted with many delightful people and heard a gambit of opinions. We are having a fantastic time, and really, REALLY enjoyed Montego Bay, Jamaica today. We did the Rose Hall tour, then just shopped all day. Again, met some really great people. The shops at Rose Hall were very nice. As we were pricing, and buying some jewelry items, the owners treated us to lunch-authentic and traditional JAmaican food. They drove us back to the ship as well, and we geel we have new friends here on the island.

 

Dinner tonight in the Steakhouse was up to par fantastic. We are working our way through the menu.

 

Some excitement on this cruise, the unexpected. The first sea day the ship came across an abandoned refugee catamaran...looked somewhat home-made. No one was on board, but we stopped for about 45 min. Later that night, announcements made in the early morning hours...asking for specific passengers to contact a special number. We suspect there was a possible overboard. No one we have talked to though haas had any concrete information.

 

The Captain joined us at our table in the steakhouse night before last qhich was a highlight and a delight, Very charming man. Just a chance encounter. We ran across him at the bar, chatted, and asked him if he might join us, AND HE DID.

 

Tomorrow we are in Grand Cayman. (to be continued...)

[Hawaiifrank]

My SO and I will be on the Freedom with you for your first half of your back-to-back!

 

I'm worried about the cabins being warm /:

I don't sleep well AT ALL when I'm hot...so I'm hoping this won't really be an issue...fingers crossed!

I'm bummed about possibly missing shows as well, since we always do late dining.

 

I have never taken a fan on a cruise, though if I keep hearing about warm cabins, I'll consider it. We were on the Magic in March this year in an aft Vista Balcony. The room didn't feel comfortable to me until I turned the thermostat all the way down.

 

I have heard that opening the balcony door will turn off the A/C and it will stay off as long as the door is ajar. That can affect the room temperature adversely if the door isn't fully closed for long periods.

 

I wouldn't feel too bad about the entertainment--you're not missing much. The comedians were the best part of the show schedule and there are 3 or 4 shows most nights. You might miss the family early shows but adult shows are later.

 

We had Early Dining on Magic and missed the first night show, the only one, because there were no seats, none, when we got there just after it started. We had to skip desert to make it, and we did get in, but every seat was full.

[pe4all]

We were on the Liberty (sister ship) on June 28th sailing. I just have to comment - I couldn't get my balcony cabin cooled off either. I always ask for one of the brown "cot" blankets, as the quilts are always too heavy for me. DH and DD are always cold, and even they were too warm this time. Our steward kept our curtains closed each time he made up our cabin, and it barely helped. If they are raising the temps throughout the fleet, that explains it!

Also, I was not too thrilled with the American Table menu. This was our 19th CCL cruise, and I was looking forward to experiencing something new in the food dept. We never went hungry, but there were times we went to scavage at the buffet or Guys Burgers after! We had a wonderful cruise overall, but did notice other cutbacks, such as no chocolates at turn-down.

Edited September 2, 2015 by pe4all

[macsandy1957]

thank you so much for continuing to post! I'm enjoying reading it!

 

I am wondering how you got to Rose Hall. Did you do Carnival's tour? And I'm assuming you mean the Rose Hall Plantation House. My friend and I want to tour the plantation house and do some shopping and a beach. So I was very interested to know that there was good shopping at Rose Hall. Thanks for any other details you can give me on this!

[High Seas Texan]

thank you so much for continuing to post! I'm enjoying reading it!

 

I am wondering how you got to Rose Hall. Did you do Carnival's tour? And I'm assuming you mean the Rose Hall Plantation House. My friend and I want to tour the plantation house and do some shopping and a beach. So I was very interested to know that there was good shopping at Rose Hall. Thanks for any other details you can give me on this!

 

Regarding Rose Hall: Yes, it was a Carnival excursion. The tour took us to the plantation and we went through the house and grounds and learned of the most interesting and wicked history of the evil voodoo trained mistress of the house and how she murdered her three husbands before the slaves murdered her. There apparently is quite a bit to do in and around the house, I guess it must be connected now to a resort, as there is talk of golf and such there. Across the main road are the Shops Of Rose Hall..a very nice outdoor mall featuring a variety of stores, from trinket shops to high end jewelry and couture fashion. After a 40 min stop here, the tour returns you to the ship, BUT-for an extra charge-the bus will take you back out to a market area and let you shop, lunch,shop and bring you back to the ship, OR, take you and you are on your own. The allotted time at the Rose Hall shops passed quite quickly, and the one store owner invited us to leave the tour, have lunch (on him which he had catered into the store) and then he would drive us back to the ship when we were ready. We decided to do this and had a FANTASTIC shopping experience. Options present themselves.

 

Today we were in Grand Cayman, a tender port. We thought we wanted to do some shopping, but also were interested in a beach experience. We departed the ship about 10AM, got right on a tender. Once ashore, we looked for a taxi and found a man organizing a group to go to Royal Palms Resort, on the famed 7 Mile Beach. The cost: $4.00. We took this. Admssion to Royal Palms was another $2.00, BUT, if you wanted a chair and umbrella, extra, a cabanna, extra.Royal Palms did not really look like what we wanted, and we had heard of day passes at some of the hotel resorts. We caught a city bus for $2.50 each and continued down 7 Mile beach to the Westin Resort. THIS was perfect for us. We got a good rate on a "day room", with access to all the amenities: Private, beautiful beach, lounge chairs, umbrella, swimming pool, waited service to the chairs, towels, luncheon options, nice shops. Had a wonderful time. When it was time to depart to catch the LAST tender back to the ship, we got on another public bus for $2.50 per person and were taken direct to the tender loading area. They have some trinket shops there where we did some more shopping before getting on the boat to return to the ship. Tonight: Second and last "Cruise Elegant" night. The show 88Keys is playing and we are going to try and castch that prior to going to the Steakhouse once again. More later.

Cheers

[SMSACE6]

Thanks High seas Texan for weathering the storm here on CC, and coming back to give updates.

 

Freedom is one of my favorite ships. I appreciate your review and info regardless of the info being positive or not. You are certainly entitled to voice your opinion here. I am enjoying following along with your updates.:)

[macsandy1957]

Thank you so much. I'm really enjoying your review!!

[Stallion]

What's Up High Seas?

 

Obviously, the quiet nite life is because Stallion and the Cruise Brothers aren't on the ship this time. You should have scheduled accordingly. I'm ashamed to admit that I hit my cheers limit on 4 nites on my cruise out of New Orleans but all perfectly timed for closing the Club down. Anybody else from our usual group make it this year?

Edited September 3, 2015 by Stallion
I'm Wondering if my Name Came Up with the Chicks!?!?!?

[High Seas Texan]

What's Up High Seas?

 

Obviously, the quiet nite life is because Stallion and the Cruise Brothers aren't on the ship this time. You should have scheduled accordingly. I'm ashamed to admit that I hit my cheers limit on 4 nites on my cruise out of New Orleans but all perfectly timed for closing the Club down. Anybody else from our usual group make it this year?

 

Ah Stallion, AKA Richard, Little Richard, perhaps indeed you are correct regarding the nightlife and you schedule. Please do escape prison soon as it is always fun to have you onboard. Many of the core group are here, Astird and MArk joined us late, booked just 3 (three) weeks prior to sailing. Of course the Spankies, with the third more elusive member joining in, a ll as some others. We have entertained Astrid and Mark for bubbles, saw the show 88KEYS with them tonight and the Spankies, much like the Maidenform Woman. show up anywhere, anytime. Richard, you would be enchanted with my sailing partner, the delightful, vivacious and lovely Miss Lori if you were here, but you re not, so I am her escort/walker this season.

 

For all of you gentle readers not familiar with our core group: There is a group of people who have been sailing the last weekend of August now for ten (10) plus years. You know if you book this week, you will know someone on board. Of course they will know sail of your secrets too.....kind of sibling like "squeal on me and I squeal on youi!"

 

Now, to get serious: Tonight was fun, entertaining and "peaceful" as this cruise just does not have the nightlife others do. Happens. No reflection on the cruise line, ship, etc. Still delightful.

 

After a wonderful day in Grand Cayman, we re boarded the ship and relaxed until time to get ready for our second "cruise elegant" night. I have noticed on Carnival, and other lines, that the second formal night is more lackadaisical than the first. Still ,we dressed, as did some others, and enjoyed the experience and attention from those who appreciate propriety. I have no problem however with people being more casual, as it is their vacatin and you should do what feels good for you We even noticed men in "flip flops" in the steakhouse where we have selected to dine. This by no means affected our experience or enjoyment. On the subject of the Sun Kin Steakhouse, it was, as always MAGNIFICENT! I really cannot say enough about the offerings, service, atmosphere, attention to detail, AND, I for one, do not mind paying a little extra for the experience. In fairnness, I have not taken dinner in the MDR so I personally cannot comment on the quality, level of execution, presentation, enjoyment of the food. I will say that from the comments of the people we know on board, and ones that have cruised many time with Carnival, the feedback is not good. Enough there. Other options are available. I do hear great things from the Lido buffet, and it smell and looks quite inviting and attractive at dinner as I walk through.

 

Now, regarding the shows: Tonight we attended the showroom presentation 88 KEYS. This was my first exposure to one of the playlist productions. Readers on this forum I am sure have read good and bad things regarding these shows. Although not of the quality or genre of the past show with the live show band, this was still enjoyable, albeit with some flaws.

video screens are an integral part now of the presentation, and there is a problem with the center, main screen. I heard this occurred earlier in the voyage too with other show.

Clearly NOT fixed as of now, but I am sure it can, and will be. It did not stop the energy or entertainment of the show. The dancers are talented. The music brings back fond memories for a broad spectrum of ages and gets ones toes tapping. The piano player, from the piano lounge, opens the shoe.

He and I are not "clicking", I personally do not fine him with sense of showmanship or audience appeal. My opinion. Does not matter who might agree or disagree with me. I have seen better. I have seen worse. IMHO, this show would be better without his warmup and without his post show "encore", but other entertainers might make it really work. Bottom line here: IF you like shows, give it a try and go. At most, you have loast an hour of your evening. I enjoyed it and the "playlist" factor is not a big deal to me. Music good, recognizable, and the dancers are energetic and pleasant to watch. Playlist is here folks, give it a try. There are live bands playing throughout the ship and on the Lido deck so that is still an option at selected times.

 

Steakhouse dinner was a treat. We are working our way though the menu and now have established a relationship were we can request some deviation to the norman offerings. The **** is once again really quiet tonight. After midnight, not much going on. This too happens sometimes, just depends on the makeup of the passengers. Tomorrow we are in Cozumel.

 

Cabin still too warm. I have called on it again as I really think it needs to be adjusted, somehow. Visitors have even commented on it as being more uncomfortable than their own warm cabins. however, at 1:40 AM, having waited an hour and ten minutes for someone to show up, I am canceling the call for service and trying to get some sleep. In the future, and theer will be future cruises, I will be bringing on a fan to circulate the air. This is uncomfortable.

 

Will recap after a day in port.

 

Cheers

[onyx007]

Hi there

 

my brother-in-law is the steel drummer in the duo. Could you

make a picture for me and post it ?

(Don't tell him, as it is a surprise)

[High Seas Texan]

Hi there

 

my brother-in-law is the steel drummer in the duo. Could you

make a picture for me and post it ?

(Don't tell him, as it is a surprise)

 

Greetings! I will be glad to take a picture, but I do not know how to get a photo posted here....anyone walk me through it? I can take a picture with either a cellular telephone or an IPAD.

 

Thanking in advance.

[macsandy1957]

I thought of another question, if you don't mind.

 

We have an aft-facing balcony on deck 7 in December. Where is that, or how far is that, from the door of the ship (perhaps it is called something more ship-y, but I mean where you get off to go onto the pier in Cozumel or Montego Bay)? Thank you again for your informative posts!!! We have decided to go to Rose Hall based on your experience. See? You are making friends and influencing people!!

[SouthernLadie]

I was on the maiden voyage of the Freedom was 8 years ago :eek:. Its a log walk to the elevators, but the steps were closer, I had just had a knee replacement and stairs were not an option on may days. I am shocked to hear the changes, this was my second cruise and everything was so new and sparkly. We had an extended aft balcony and only spent a few days on it since we went on March and in Europe it was cooler. I guess I will have to pack a little fan since, as being older now they seem to keep the rooms warmer.

 

Just remember, you're not at home and have a blast.

 

Alice Faye who really needs to feel the roll of the ocean under her feet really soon.:D