Our Carnival Freedom awesome vacation, May 20-27th!!!!

[swodog94]

Great review! Unfortunately I can't see the pictures...I'm at work so it might the crappy govt system we have (NMCI). I'll go back tonight at home and try again.

[perfect match]

No problem seeing your pictures for me. :D

 

The last day of any vacation is always sad for me. Then again, I'm usually so tired by the last day that I'm ready to go home and get some rest.

 

Two of our suitcases got some badly needed repairs today, so we are ready to go on another trip. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen until the end of October. I'm FINALLY going to get to dive in Bonaire after almost 40 years of wanting to go there.

[ABQrobin]

No problem seeing your pictures for me. :D

 

The last day of any vacation is always sad for me. Then again, I'm usually so tired by the last day that I'm ready to go home and get some rest.

 

Two of our suitcases got some badly needed repairs today, so we are ready to go on another trip. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen until the end of October. I'm FINALLY going to get to dive in Bonaire after almost 40 years of wanting to go there.

 

Bonaire --- you are going to love it! It is fantastic diving. Have fun! Not sure where we are going - probably Scuba Club Cozumel since it is like our second home, and the least expensive option = best value for us. We'll definitely try to get back to Bonaire though, its like diving in an aquarium.

 

Debark day finale coming up later today.

robin

[ABQrobin]

Saturday, May 27th

 

Debarkation day

Let me start this off by saying.....EVERYONE HATES DEBARK DAY.

 

As always, the Lido buffet was busier than normal since everyone needed to eat one last meal before getting off. At 7am, people had luggage out in all the hallways next to every chair and couch. Everyone was out in the hallways on 3-4-5 and the walkway on Deck 5 was a clogged nightmare. We got seats in the Casino, but within an hour the walkway was jammed with people standing with luggage. This is a HUGE fire hazzard and I can't understand why Carnival allows this. It took F-O-R-E-V-E-R for the groups to get called. By the time we got down the ramps to pick up luggage, the lines at Customs were insanely long. The guy there directing which line to get in seemed to be confused which line was next, so he kept skipping our line. People were getting irrate, so of course he intentionally skipped us then.

 

It was the worst experience we have ever had on debarkation. The worst part was that we had a flight to catch, and had to get outside to get the Carnival shuttle to Hobby airport. T The shuttles only run every hour and we were sure that we were missing the last one to get our flight. Finally we got through and ran outside like maniacs waving our arms at the buses. The shuttle driver was there, and said come on and get on, we leave in 5 minutes. Holy S^&@#, we just made it.

 

We got onboard, sat down and started chatting with the porter's helper who was a high school kid who worked there on weekends to make money for college. What a great kid. Soon enough, we pulled out of the port parking zoo. We made it to the airport in plenty of time, well, about an hour before our flight, so we had time to grab lunch.

 

Southwest doesn't serve food, just pretzels and nuts, so we had to eat before our 3 hour flight. We ate at the Greek place at Hobbby which was expensive but delicous. We'll definitely eat there again if we have time before a flight.

 

We made it home in time to pick up our dog at the kennel, bonus points.

 

 

NOTES:

 

This was probably our FAVORITE cruise we have done other than Alaska last summer. It was relaxing all week. We came home relaxed. And we got to DIVE.

 

The FREEDOM is definitely a funky ship, as far as decor goes. The wild wallpapers and mosaic floors, colorful sculptures... not exactly calming or sophisticated. Okay, it is almost ugly..but in a funky, fun kind of way.

 

The FREEDOM is a GREAT ship however, the staff and crew are excellent. We didn't find any place that looked worn or in need of repair. Everything seemed to work perfectly the whole trip. Our room, 6217 balcony, was great, and we never once heard music from below us, the Victoriana Theatre. Even with the shows every night, and we went to bed by 10pm, never a peep of noise.

 

The entertainment was always great, including the FUN crew and Cruise Director, Malcolm "woohoo" Burns. He is outgoing without being in your face obnoxious, like a few CDs are. I think he is my favorite now.

 

Would we book this itinerary again? ABSOLUTELY! This is actually our 3rd cruise doing these ports (twice on purpose, once when ship got diverted due to hurricane). Still love it, still would do it again and again.

 

Will we book the FREEDOM again? ABSOLUTELY!

 

Galveston is our favorite port of departure for a couple of reasons...it is an easy 2 hour direct flight from Albuquerque for us, so we can fly in the morning of the cruise. Less stress and hassles that way. It is also just easier to get on the shuttle at airport and let them fight with Houston traffic, drop you at the door, and walk in.

 

Another thing we have found...Galveston cruises have majority of people from Texas and Oklahoma.. and they have manners! You hear "please" and "excuse me" and "thank you" from adults AND kids. Our two cruises out of Florida we noticed this difference. The Florida cruises had people from all over the country and some foreign guests. Cultural differences for sure. It just seems the Texas and OK people are more outgoing and friendly. More "hi, how are you today" and less pushing and shoving and rudeness.

 

We loved our cruise on the Freedom, all of it...except the debark mess. So I would give this cruise a 98 out of 100 score.

 

 

[happy cruzer]

So glad you had a relaxing cruise as well as lots of fun. Also appreciate the kind words about Texans. There can be bad apples but in general it is a very polite group.

 

Your pictures were all so crisp, lovely to view. thanks.

[vhataylot1]

thanks for the review, I enjoyed reading it...

[perfect match]

Do you have a dive op that you would recommend in Bonaire? It seems like there is a lot of shore diving there which is fine if it does not require a climb over ironshore to enter the water. I have replacement knees and hips, and I'm not as steady on my feet as I was when I was younger, had all original parts, and those parts were functioning properly. I'm actually a lot better now that I've had the replacement parts installed, but a slip and fall on ironshore would be a really bad thing. I'd love to be able to book the ship's excursion since they do offer boat dives, but they have an upper age limit and unfortunately for me, I will be just over that limit. Bottom line is that I'm looking for someone who will offer boat diving, or at least beach dives with an entry point that does not involve ironshore. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

I'm also looking to dive in either Curacao or Aruba, so if you have any suggestions for either of those ports I'd appreciate that as well. I will probably just dive one of these two ports since I think trying to do all three days in a row would be a bit too much for me. Besides, I do want to spend some time with my wonderful, but non diving DH. :D

[ABQrobin]

Do you have a dive op that you would recommend in Bonaire? It seems like there is a lot of shore diving there which is fine if it does not require a climb over ironshore to enter the water. I have replacement knees and hips, and I'm not as steady on my feet as I was when I was younger, had all original parts, and those parts were functioning properly. I'm actually a lot better now that I've had the replacement parts installed, but a slip and fall on ironshore would be a really bad thing. I'd love to be able to book the ship's excursion since they do offer boat dives, but they have an upper age limit and unfortunately for me, I will be just over that limit. Bottom line is that I'm looking for someone who will offer boat diving, or at least beach dives with an entry point that does not involve ironshore. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

I'm also looking to dive in either Curacao or Aruba, so if you have any suggestions for either of those ports I'd appreciate that as well. I will probably just dive one of these two ports since I think trying to do all three days in a row would be a bit too much for me. Besides, I do want to spend some time with my wonderful, but non diving DH. :D

 

Bonaire is the Shore Diving capital of the World...mainly because all the reefs are just steps from the shoreline. However, that doesn't mean they are all easy access in and out of water. Ironshore is definitely an issue at many sites. Our favorite dive op is Buddy Dive, but we have only used them for week-long land vacations. They have a fantastic shore dive which is easy access by metal stairs. You could take a taxi there, rent gear, do a shore dive, and then have lunch at their restaurant.

Or you could ask them about boat dives. Their boats do fill up fast, so I wouldn't wait until you get there to ask about them.

 

robin

[perfect match]

Bonaire is the Shore Diving capital of the World...mainly because all the reefs are just steps from the shoreline. However, that doesn't mean they are all easy access in and out of water. Ironshore is definitely an issue at many sites. Our favorite dive op is Buddy Dive, but we have only used them for week-long land vacations. They have a fantastic shore dive which is easy access by metal stairs. You could take a taxi there, rent gear, do a shore dive, and then have lunch at their restaurant.

Or you could ask them about boat dives. Their boats do fill up fast, so I wouldn't wait until you get there to ask about them.

 

robin

 

Thanks for the suggestion, Robin. I haven't contacted Buddy Dive yet. I'm about to follow up with the people I've already been in communication with, so I will add Buddy Dive to my contact list.

[ultrafighter]

Thanks for this review! We're sailing on the Freedom in October but on the other itinerary (Montego Bay/Grand Cayman/Cozumel). I really appreciate your pictures of the ship. That's what gets me the most pumped is seeing where I'm going to be!

[ABQrobin]

Thanks for this review! We're sailing on the Freedom in October but on the other itinerary (Montego Bay/Grand Cayman/Cozumel). I really appreciate your pictures of the ship. That's what gets me the most pumped is seeing where I'm going to be!

 

We did that itinerary our first time on the Freedom, back in 2015. Check out my trip report under my signature if you are interested. We had a blast...our first time to Jamaica and Grand Cayman.

 

robin

[ABQrobin]

HAHAHAHA>................. so excited. I got my new GoPro 5 Black, underwater housing, and filter. And we have booked a land vacation in Oct for a full week of diving. ~~happy dance~~~

 

robin

[watermelonqueen99]

 

 

That's Anna! She was one of our absolute favorite bartenders on the Freedom in February! Great review!