Freedom-just returned-9/17 to 9/24

[cruizinmimi]

I will attempt to do a review of the Ultra-Voyager class - Freedom of the Seas. This review will probably be done in stages so bear with me.

 

Pre-Stay-Holiday Inn Bayside

Left DFW at 9:20 am and arrived in MIA at 1:25pm. Flight was great, but just as we got off the plane it started to pour down rain with thunder and lightening, so the airport shut down. We waited for 2 hrs in the MIA airport for our luggage. All in all not too bad...it could have been worse, we could have been circling in the air for 2 hours:eek: We got checked in to the Holiday Inn and had a great view of the port and our ship the next morning. My take on the Holiday Inn - it's clean and a place to stay. We've stayed there many times. I think this time was our last. It is very convenient to Bayside (which is alot of fun). Breakfast is very mediocre. We were up at 5a.m. 9-17 to see the Freedom pulling into dock. It was something to behold and it was all lit up...beautiful.

 

Day 1 - Embarkation - Jumped in a taxi and got over to the pier around 11:15 a.m. Very smooth. No problems getting on the ship (we are Diamond members), but they will not let you in your cabins until 1pm. They are very strict about this. No worries, we waited on the Promenade Deck until 1pm. Way too crowded in the Windjammer. The ship is beautiful, awesome, but huge...I'm talking huge!!!

 

Cabin - PR-7631 - Very small, but efficient and adequate. You are going to love the new bedding. OMG...I slept like a baby every night. While I'm talking about the cabin, just let me say that the TV system is just okay. I love the new flat screen TV, but you can't access anything. It kept on freezing or it would jump and skip stations. I noted that on the comment card. I love the location of our cabin. The last one on port side, right next to the elevators and stairs. Very convenient and quiet.

 

Elevators - Again, a small problem. Half the time you could not get an elevator. They would not stop on your floor, just pass you by. I never understood how they had them set, but it was not good. So we did a lot of walking, which was okay with us, but some people just can't walk the stairs.

 

So much to do on the ship - there is no way one can do everything. You just have to look at your compass and highlight things that are most important to you and go with it. How anyone could say they're bored is beyond me.:confused:

 

Ken Rush was our CD-he did a fabulous job and Erik Tengelsen was our Captain. Jayne Colella was Loyalty & Cruise Sales Mgr. But the star was Dianna Tonkin in the Diamond Club on Deck 14. Dianna if you are reading this...we miss you and you are the BEST!!!

 

We tried to explore as much as we could the first day and of course, we booked our spa treatments the 1st day also. The ship is just huge (I know I've said that before). The weather was great the entire cruise and the ship handled itself well throughout the cruise. I truly never felt like we were moving. A great cruise.

 

The shows on board were very good (IMO). They were new productions. Day 1 - 7pm (we had late seating) was Comedian Bruce Gold and Jimmy & Anna (acrobats-beautiful performance). Just let me say that the Arcadia Theatre (Decks 3&4) is very elegant and comfortable seats.

 

Sorry, I have to go for now. I'll be back in a few minutes...working from home does have its advantages, but.....

 

Linda

[emmy]

Linda.. was interested to see that Ken Rush is back as CD.. do you know how long?

[cruizinmimi]

DAY 1 - Sea Day

 

Woke up to a beautiful morning and went to the Windjammer for breakfast. Encountered 1st problem - the windjammer is beautiful and has a large selection, but the seating arrangement is not conducive to the traffic. In other words, it was a madhouse:eek: . We did finally manage to find seating and this was around 9:15a.m. We ate in the WJ only 2 other times and that was for lunch. I found it to be way too crowded, but the food selection was very good.

 

From there we went to check out the pool. The H20 zone is way fun. The families were having so much fun. I did too. All pools are fresh water which I know alot of people like, but I prefer salt water. I think they're cleaner and stay cleaner with that many people. There is plenty of room for everyone at the pool areas. The solarium is not covered for those that want to know. Plenty of room in the hot tubs because there are so many hot tubs on the Freedom.

 

Today was the day for our Meet/Mingle at 10:30 a.m. up in Olive or Twist on Deck 14. A pretty good turn out and they gave us all water wallets and had a drawing for the Aqua mouse. A shoot out to all the cruise critic m/m friends. I miss everyone. Also we had a few hors d'oeuvres with water, tea and coffee. I really don't understand why they don't have the bar open so we can purchase drinks. Mimosa and blood marys would have been nice:D

 

Production show - Once Upon a Time - not to be missed. I was so glad to see new shows on the ship. In the Schooner Bar there was Peter Ritz. What little bit I got to stay and listen....he was really good. The smoke was so bad on the ship (allergic to thick smoke) that I ended up with a very bad cold and almost lost my voice. I really think they did a poor job on the ventilation because you walk out of the theatre and have to pass by the Schooner Bar and through the Casino and then onto the Promenade.

 

Let's talk Casino - very big area. Again, I did not get to play very often, but we did go in during sea days when the smoke was not so bad. It is a very festive area. I loved the decor.

 

My favorite spots were Cafe Promenade and Sorrento's Pizza. At Sorrento's you could get a whole pizza or just slices and they had pasta salads and greek salads and sandwiches. A great place to eat in the afternoons. In the mornings we would go by the Cafe Promenade and grab coffee, hot tea and danishes or we would order room service. Room service was very efficient and our breakfast was always exactly what we ordered and warm.

 

The Flowrider - very popular spot for people watching. A lot of the time it was not running though. But when it was....it was fun to watch. Plenty of accidents though. I saw many people walking around their arm in a sling :( I'm not sure how popular this is going to be when the newness wears off. Another wasted space (IMO) is the boxing ring. If you're reading this Rcl, please bring back the big mineral jacuzzi spa. I never saw anyone get in the boxing ring.

 

The Ports - Cozumel - we went to Paradise Beach. We had a wonderful day and great service and enjoyed the warm water.

Grand Cayman - we went to Rum Point with some cc friends via a rent car. It took about 45 mins to get there and 45 mins. back. Great trip and Rum Point it like a postcard.....gorgeous place. Very quiet and peaceful. The water was very warm.

Montego Bay We did not get off the ship. We both had spa appointments (massages) and spent a wonderful day on the ship exploring and taking pictures. The ship is truly beautiful.

Labadee We have not been there in about 3 yrs and what a change. It was absolutely the best!! Tendering was very painless and rcl put on a great barbecue and we just layed out and played for 3 hrs. Great day.

 

Overall - This was a great cruise on a beautiful ship. I think the Freedom has a few things they could improve on and hopefully, they will. For my DH & I, we like the Voyager class ships and Vision class. The Freedom was a bit overwhelming to us. Food I'm not a picky eater. If I don't have to catch it, clean it and cook it and then clean the dishes....I'm a happy camper. I thought the food was good. Lots to choose from. I thought the service was good. Our tablemates were very enjoyable and our wait staff was very entertaining. We were in the Issac room - Table 109 - and John was our head waiter. He was the best we've ever had. Thank you John for making our dining experience very enjoyable.

 

I know I've left a bunch of things out, but I'm trying to get this review in before I leave for a conference. So if anyone has questions, I've kept all the compasses and excursion list, etc. I'll try and answer all the questions.

 

For those who have a sailing on the Freedom - you will love the ship. It's big, beautiful and you will never get bored...Happy sailing.

 

Linda

*****

[cruizinmimi]

Emmy,

 

I think he just came back on while James Andrews is on vacation. So I think he'll be on there for at least 6-8 weeks.

 

Linda

[CruiseAwayWithMe]

Emmy,

 

I think he just came back on while James Andrews is on vacation. So I think he'll be on there for at least 6-8 weeks.

 

Linda

When was James Andrews last week? Was it last week? James Andrews was on when I was on the Freedom :D

[emmy]

When was James Andrews last week? Was it last week? James Andrews was on when I was on the Freedom :D

 

That is what I wanted to hear... our Oct 15 group has our reasons:).. thanks for your info...

[cruizinmimi]

When was James Andrews last week? Was it last week? James Andrews was on when I was on the Freedom :D

 

It is my understanding that 9/17 was his last. He left as we were coming on. I could be wrong, but that was my understanding.

 

Linda

*****

[MeowMom]

Hi cruizinmimi-

Thank you for the wonderful review. My question is in regards to your day in Grand Cayman. I had read a post where someone said they felt very rushed when they had rented a car and drove to Rum Point. They wrote that driving was confusing and it wasn't worth the trouble to do on your own:cool: We were thinking of renting and driving on our own also but have never driven in Grand Cayman before. What are your thoughts on a first timer renting a car versus a jeep tour with a private operator:confused: Last time we were in Cayman, we just went on a catamaran to the sting rays. Thanks in advance for your help:)

Pam

[spammie]

Linda, thank you for sharing your thoughts and your trip. My husband and I were getting off the ship as you were getting on. I shared a lot of your observations. We had a wonderful time but I just didn't get that "WOW" feeling with all the hype about this ship. The Windjammer was a nightmare every time we went there for breakfast and lunch trying to find a seat. If you didn't get to the theater 20- 30 minutes before any show started, you were out of luck. I also do not like the "fresh water" pools. The water was so cloudy and gross. The pool area is definitely to small for the amount of people the ship holds. The boxing ring is a complete waste of space and I also missed the "mineral spa" that the Voyager class ships have. I normally don't sleep well when I am away from home but the new beds are awesome! I also slept like a baby every night. We like to walk and take the stairs but witnessed a lot of people in wheelchairs complaining loudly about the elevators. My husband and I also commented on the comment cards about the very poor ventilation in the casino. It was really tough to breathe in there at times with the cigarette smoke and no to little ventilation. I would cruise again on a Freedom class ship if the price is right but I still like the Voyager class. Again thank you for taking the time to post a review. Wanda

[cruizinmimi]

Pam,

 

We did not drive the rent car ourselves. We went with another couple, who have done that before. So he was able to get navigate his way fairly well. We walked down to the Blue Iguana and the shuttle picked us up and took us to the airport to pick up the car rental. We then took off fromt he airport. Then the shuttle took us back into town to the ship. It went smooth. But if my DH & I had to do it on our own, I'm not sure that we would have done it. But Rum Point is so worth it....very pretty and peaceful.

 

Linda

[bilyclub]

Linda, thank you for sharing your thoughts and your trip. My husband and I were getting off the ship as you were getting on. I shared a lot of your observations. We had a wonderful time but I just didn't get that "WOW" feeling with all the hype about this ship. The Windjammer was a nightmare every time we went there for breakfast and lunch trying to find a seat. If you didn't get to the theater 20- 30 minutes before any show started, you were out of luck. I also do not like the "fresh water" pools. The water was so cloudy and gross. The pool area is definitely to small for the amount of people the ship holds. The boxing ring is a complete waste of space and I also missed the "mineral spa" that the Voyager class ships have. I normally don't sleep well when I am away from home but the new beds are awesome! I also slept like a baby every night. We like to walk and take the stairs but witnessed a lot of people in wheelchairs complaining loudly about the elevators. My husband and I also commented on the comment cards about the very poor ventilation in the casino. It was really tough to breathe in there at times with the cigarette smoke and no to little ventilation. I would cruise again on a Freedom class ship if the price is right but I still like the Voyager class. Again thank you for taking the time to post a review. Wanda

 

 

We did the early dinner, so went to the late shows and there were always seats. Perhaps because there was only 3100 paying customers on board.

[leighj]

My Dad, Aunt, and I did room service for breakfast several of the days and hit the Windjammer early (7:30-8 a.m.) several mornings and had no problems. We had lunch in the Windjammer each day as well and went at about 1 p.m. and also had no problems finding a seat. The setup lends itself to chaos and people get pretty aggressive.

 

Probably my biggest complaint was the sewage smell which was in the hallways particularly in the morning (I could tell that the attendants had been spraying Febreeze or something, but it was still pretty bad) and as our tender was next to the ship in Grand Cayman. They need to look at that issue.

 

Other than that, it's a fabulous ship and I wish I were still on board! :D

[FRANKM]

Thanks for the great review Linda. I was on the 8/20 sailing and had

pretty much the same experiences. Elevators were terrible and

the Windjammer layout needs some work. That boxing ring is a total

waste of space. Now I do remember seeing a few people in slings.

Thought at the time how terrible to be on vacation like that. No doubt it could have been the flowrider. Iam still sporting a stiff neck from the thing.

Dumb of me to try it in the first place.

 

Glad you had positive experiences on her. A great ship.

Thanks for sharing.

[The Grumpus]

Hi Linda, it was great meeting you and Arthur on the cruise and thanks for putting you thoughts down in writing. I too had a wonderful time on the ship, so much so we only got off the ship for a couple hours in Cozumel to buy some gifts and get those Hard Rock shirts. I agree with you that Labadee has really changed since our last visit and that was by far our favorite port-of-call. It's very relaxing and has that tropical island feel to it. Labadee is a very nice "reality" escape.

 

I found first seating to be a much better on this cruise b/c all though we had to rush for dinner at 5:00, we always had all the best seats at the bars on the Promenade, Bolero's and the Schooner Bar from 8:00 to 10:00 before second seating people showed up. It really helped us get to know all the bartenders and they always had fresh drinks for us before we would need to ask.:) I never have given so many extra tips to the bartenders before but they deserved it. Word-up!! to my buddy Zibbi and the Bull & Bear and Jimmy Blakemore was tons of fun.

 

Yep, the elevators did suck and if I had a complaint that would be it but to me it was no big deal. There are elevator hassles on every ship I've been on from time to time.

 

I finally did the flowrider on day 7 at the last minute and have the digital video to prove it.:D Man was that a blast! I ended up riding the boogie-board and not stand-up surfing because like you, I saw many people look injured as well. I felt I didn't need another dislocated shoulder while on vacation so I wussed out on surfing. The boogie-boarding is totally safe; you don't land on your head when you wipe-out. To those thinking of riding the Flowrider, do it early in the cruise because it's not open all the time and the cruise will be over before you know it, I almost missed my chance.

 

Anyway, the best part of my cruise was meeting so many friends from our roll-call, everywhere we turned around we would run into you all and have some laughs. You all were so friendly and open to just hanging out and having fun. Thanks to you all that made this cruise great everyday and night!!!!!

 

Thanks again Linda for your review of the cruise and hope to see you all on another ship someday.

 

Good Night Owls ;)

Fred

[chubbycheeks]

Hi Linda!!

 

I agree with most of what you said. I didn't really have many problems with the Windjammer because I tended to go at "off" times. I did end up losing my voice and it's still gone. I really think it was the smoke from hanging out at the Schooner Bar all the time. I know that on Thursday I was at the bar and my throat was burning.

 

I do have some complaints but overall I loved the cruise and the ship. I had so much fun that it outweighed the negatives. But I'll list them anyways:

 

-The sewage smell was bad in several areas. Sometimes in my room but definitely near Studio B and sometimes in random places.

-I was staying in cabin 7237 and apparently there is a water pipe next to my room. The whooshing noise could be heard all day and all night. I had horrible sleep the first two nights. I went to guest relations about it and there was nothing they could do. They were going to reimburse me for ear plugs but I was able to get them for free in the Dr office. After that I slept like a baby the rest of the week.

-It was really smokey in the Schooner Bar and the Casino. I really hate it when the smoke is so strong that it makes my clothes smell.

-The elevators were really hard to get on. I learned to just get on one and it will eventually get to where I want to go.

 

I enjoyed so much about the ship. The staff was absolutely wonderful. I can't say enough about them. I did hear negative things about the loyalty embassador working in the business center. All the staff and crew I encountered were great. I had the best waiter and assistant waiter on this cruise. If anyone has Emil and Eunice tell them Morna says hi! Emil was great and he really went out of his way for us. I told him about my love for the RCI chocolate chip cookies and he brought me some to take with me every night at dinner. He also delivered 2 bowls full when he was working room service one day. I didn't even ask...he just said he was going to do it and did. The flowrider was great. I only went on twice but I had so much fun. The DJ in the Crypt was great. He played really good music (IMO). I spent the majority of my nights there and in the Schooner Bar. The shows were really great as well. I had seen the Temptations tribute last year on the Explorer and it was still a good show. The majic show is not to be missed.

 

I also ate at Portofino's for the first time and it was awesome. The steak dinner that I order was about as good as a Ruth's Chris steak if not better. Well worth the extra $20. Johnny Rockets was pretty good as well but our onion rings were overcooked. The food in the dining room was really good. I have to say that this is the first cruise where I have seen the Head Waiter everyday.

 

That's all I can think of for the moment.

[peteukmcr]

Linda

 

I'm so jealous that you experienced Freedom before us! Great review though, thanks for that. Your pointers re Windjammer and elevators really help.

 

If you have time, could you possibly recommend the best days to skip dinner in the dining room as we want to visit both Portofinos and Chops but don't know the best days to book for when we board?

 

Hope you enjoyed it and I'll post my report in early Nov when we return to the UK after we spend a few days in Orlando post cruise - anything to prevent the return to the UK and work!

[cruizinmimi]

Good Morning Pete,

 

You guys will love the Freedom. It is truly a beautiful ship and the art work is really outstanding. We went to Chops on Wednesday night and our friends went to Portofinos on Thursday. I really think those nights worked out well for both of us. Out of all the cruises we've been on this was the first time we've been in Chops. OMG...it was so good. Well worth the $20pp to eat there. I had the 7oz filet cooked medium and it truly melted in your mouth. And all the veggies were outstanding. For dessert I had the mudslide cake with a scoop of ice cream.

 

I want to hear from you guys when you return....wishing you smooth sailing.

 

Linda

[Elizanessie]

Linda

 

Great review...thanks so much :D

 

Could you please tell us a bit more about the Diamond Club and Dianna :D

 

Thanks

[cruizinmimi]

Linda

 

Great review...thanks so much :D

 

Could you please tell us a bit more about the Diamond Club and Dianna :D

 

Thanks

 

Liz,

 

I can't say enough good things about Dianna. I took the time yesterday to write a letter to rcl about all the kudos. The Diamond Club is on Deck 14 on starboard side. If you're familiar with the Voyager class ships, it's where the 19th hole bar used to be. It's all closed in now and the view is breathtaking. They have several couches with tub chairs and then there is about five small tables set up with 4 chairs around them. Dianna is the best loyalty ambassador we've ever had. She is a beautiful young woman, very energetic, and very helpful. She will remember your name after the first time and believe me that wasn't easy because it was always full every night. She had our Diamond Key waiting in our cabin as we arrived the first day along with a letter and your Diamond coupon book.

 

Also she will give you your ice show tickets up in the lounge, just ask for them. There are 2 computer screens up in the lounge for accessing the internet. Dianna would make your future cruise ressies for you, if you would like for her to. Of course, she would make dinner ressies and spa ressies as well. I can't say enough about her. Of course, the lounge is only open during certain hours and she had a helper so she could keep the liquor stocked and bar items, etc.

 

I hope this has helped and it was our favorite spot to go to before dinner each night. We met so many nice people in the lounge and ended up sharing email addresses. I miss the Freedom already.

 

Linda

http://*****

[cruizinmimi]

Oh I forgot to mention for those who are wanting to know about Margaritaville in GC. It is now open. We stopped by there while in Grand Cayman...it had just opened. Margaritaville looks like it's going to be a fun place. Lots of shopping stores inside and the bar is upstairs along with the pool slide (which is very small). Of course, the workers were all new and the staff seemed a little slow and unorganized. We only got drinks and they were good, so I can't respond about the food. I do believe once they get rolling, it will be a fun place.

 

Linda

[Elizanessie]

Thanks Linda for your quick reply :D

 

This will be my first Diamond cruise....and I am very excited about the Diamond Club....and delighted to read Dianna is a good Ambassador.

 

Thanks also for the info on Margaritaville....we are planning to drop in there.:D

 

5 weeks tomorrow we leave here to head off to Miami....me and two 17yr old lads (son and his friend).....and I am more excited than ever now after reading your review.

 

Thanks again

[peteukmcr]

Good Morning Pete,

 

You guys will love the Freedom. It is truly a beautiful ship and the art work is really outstanding. We went to Chops on Wednesday night and our friends went to Portofinos on Thursday. I really think those nights worked out well for both of us. Out of all the cruises we've been on this was the first time we've been in Chops. OMG...it was so good. Well worth the $20pp to eat there. I had the 7oz filet cooked medium and it truly melted in your mouth. And all the veggies were outstanding. For dessert I had the mudslide cake with a scoop of ice cream.

 

I want to hear from you guys when you return....wishing you smooth sailing.

 

Linda

 

Linda

 

Thanks for the recommendations, not sure whether we'll go to Chops or Portofinos on the Weds as it's my birthday and there's been an addition to our invoice referring to 'special requests'. I vaguely remember the booking agent at RCI asking if there was any special celebrations during our cruise and I advised them it was by birthday, and various threads on this forum imply that I may get a 'slice of cake' delivered to the main dining room. I'll also be celebrating (or commiserating) yet another year and would like to share that with my table companions.

 

We've dined at Portofinos on Mariner & Navigator and tried Chops last year for the first time and totally agree with you that the steaks just melt in your mouth - mmmm, well worth that $20 and I can't wait.

 

Hope you don't get too much of the 'post cruise blues', there's always more to try!

[BillyMetz]

cruzinmimi, please share your thoughts about debarkation. I read the reviews after each cruise of the FOS and have found a wide range of opinions about the speed and efficiency of debarkation. I (we) plan to use the self debarkation method where we carry off our luggage.

[krystall]

Great review!

Looking forward to FOS on 10/22/06. :D

Thanks

[peteukmcr]

Krystall

 

See you onboard on 22nd!