Anything You Ever Needed to Know About Carnival FREEDOM

[LizaMM]

Thanks for all the info on the Freedom. We will be sailing in 15 days :) I have heard some good things so we are excited. Has anyone visited panama & Costa Rica? Yes I know there are port folders but haven't found exactly the info I want to read. lol

 

I sailed the Belize- Costa Rica - Panama itinerary on the Legend and will be doing Cozumel - Costa Rica - Panama again on the Freedom in 2/09.

 

I guess I liked it since I am repeating it!!!

 

One of the big pluses is the 4 days at sea and 8 days all together. As far as the ports......what are you interested in finding out more about?? I did a Carnival excursion in Costa Rica last time (train and river ride) and will be doing another one this time *white water rafting). In Panama last time we did not book anything and I am not sure about this time but it will probably be the same.

[Lady of the Lakes]

Hi Everyone-

Well, it seems that there isn't an "everything you ever wanted/needed to know" thread about Carnival Freedom. (at least not that I can find in multiple searches on the forum)

 

So, since I have never sailed on her, can someone else who has, please kick us off?

 

What are the best things about the Freedom?

 

Favorite places to go on board?

 

What is the Sun King supper club like?

 

Is the decor as crazy as I have heard?

 

Please fill the rest of us in. Oh, and anyone who wants to share pics, please post them. I know I would love to see real photos of the ship before I sail on her (aside from the ones I have seen on webshots).

 

Thanks to all who will contribute to this thread!!

 

 

 

 

Just back from the Nov. 22nd Freedom and the ship is great. Not crazy decor' very nice. Did not go to the Sun King Supper club. The food was great. The service excellent. The Shows were fantastic and all in all it was a great time. They have a back section for Adults only that is covered in rain and not when the sun is our. It is quiet and and nice.

 

The games on the ship were cool and everyone had fun.

You will really enjoy the Freedom Happy sailing!

[stlrboo]

Just back from the Nov. 22nd Freedom and the ship is great. Not crazy decor' very nice. Did not go to the Sun King Supper club. The food was great. The service excellent. The Shows were fantastic and all in all it was a great time. They have a back section for Adults only that is covered in rain and not when the sun is our. It is quiet and and nice.

 

The games on the ship were cool and everyone had fun.

You will really enjoy the Freedom Happy sailing!

That is what I like to hear, just 8 days before I depart on a ship! :D Someone who had fun!!!:p

 

Thanks for the reply... The 'Adults Only' area sounds like the Solarium on RCI Jewel of the Seas.. :)

[corkpopr]

just off the 16 day transatlantic on the freedom. loved it and we do not like carnival except the prices. great casino, great cabin, ship very clean, good service. sun king supper club twice (a must), great wine list in the sun king by the way. fish & chips very greasy but cerviche was great. indian food good, great steak sandwich, asian stir fry great but always busy. lido food had enough choices but not great. dining room food fair to poor except always good soups. room service food the worst of any cruise we have ever been on (23). shows terrible but new staff upon return to the U.S. cigar lounge great!

[stlrboo]

From what I've heard, we are getting a new CD for our sailing next week.. Maybe a change of some staff..! :)

We'll hope for the best... Luckily, we aren't fussy food eaters, so we should be able to find something good, somewhere..

 

As long as the service is good, it makes the food that much better..:D

[kiffrig]

Hi Kiffrig, I see you are from STL? I'm right across the river from you. I'll be on the Freedom in March. What are your ports? Can you tell me about your airfare if you dont mind...the prices are crazy right now from Lambert!:(

 

 

Hi Ivy-

We did the 6 day cruise which left out of FLL and hit Key West, Grand Cayman, and Ocho Rios. It was great! We flew into FLL on Southwest, direct, and our flights were roughly $300 roundtrip (per person) but we booked them a while back. SWA has their schedule open for March, so you might want to run out and check if they have any deals going or not. We loved the Freedom and had a great time! I enjoyed the decor of the Liberty much more, but the Freedom was not as ugly as many people on the boards had posted. I guess I feared the worst regarding the decor, but was pleasantly surprised! Let me know if you have any other questions!

[travel_lover]

A cruise critic log book is a journal that is in the Library.

You can put your name, date of travel and a few words on how you are enjoying your cruise. You can also leave a note for a cruise critic member who will be traveling after you. I found one on Liberty, Miracle and the Legend.

It is put there by a cruise critic member. We are having a roll call meet and greet at the library. Since this is a new ship I will bring one just in case

 

I never heard of this before, this is really cool. Do you know if it's only all Cruise Lines or just Carnival?

[travel_lover]

Don't know if you have seen these:

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/free07/ship/ship.htm

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/free07/ship/ship2.htm

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/free07/ship/ship3.htm

 

Those are some GREAT pictures, just what I was looking for, thank you!! :D

[travel_lover]

Just in case anyone is interested in laundry rooms / laundry facilities on board the Freedom:

 

Deck 1 – Riviera: across from cabin 1359

Deck 2 – Main: across from cabin 2367

Deck 6 – Upper: across from cabin 6387

Deck 7 – Empress: across from cabin 7339

Deck 8 – Verandah: across from cabin 8351

Deck 9 – Lido: across from cabin 9270

 

Thanks to sea_u_onboard for this info (cut and pasted it from another thread).

 

 

 

Thank you, this will come in handy.

[travel_lover]

Tavel Lover - According to another thread, the CC'er on one of the Carnival ships stated that it was announced that as of September this year, they have discontinued the midnight buffets. Also, on one of the other threads with photos, there was a mini-golf course.

 

Thank you, it's been years since i've been on Carnival I need to get as much new information as I can.

[travel_lover]

Besides the Main Dining Rooms & Buffet, can someone tell me what exactly are the other spots offered on the ship? What is served? Which ones have extra charges and what are the charges?

 

Thank you!

[bbiggar]

Don't know if you have seen these:

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/free07/ship/ship.htm

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/free07/ship/ship2.htm

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/free07/ship/ship3.htm

 

Great pictures, but I was wondering what cabin this is?

[mjmiller]

Travel-Lover: Is this not exact enough?? It was only a few posts back... :confused:

 

The last I heard the Asian "window" is now Mexican, because of the new(er) Mongolian barbecue, which is like a made-to-order stir fry.

 

So for free: the Lido/buffet area including typical buffet fare, plus separate sections for made-to-order deli, Mexican, 24/7 pizza, grill, made-to-order Mongolian barbecue, soft-service ice cream. Upstairs from the Lido is the Fish n Chips, which includes other seafood. By the casino is a sushi stand which has limited hours, basically around dinnertime. There are two main dining rooms. Room service is also free of course, but a tip is recommended, and the menu is limited.

 

The pay-per restaurant is $30/pp and is supposed to have great steaks and good seafood. And the cafe, as someone mentioned, has fancy coffees and pastries for a fee - less than you would pay onshore. And as noted, the movie popcorn is $1.

 

My question - I heard rumor of another food area that serves Indian food every day (not part of the Nations section of the buffet). Can anyone confirm that?

This has been confirmed - Indian food out by the grille as part of the free buffet.

[joyce&bob]

Hoping someone who is cruising this week is able to post a review, or their observations of the Freedom!!!:)

 

We are sailing the 6 night on December 14th to Key West, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios..:D

 

Would also like to find out which nights are 'cruise elegant'.. :p As well as who the CD is.. Todd Whittmer, I believe..

 

 

Not sure who is CD but - elegant nights are Tues. at sea - and Thur. Ohio Rios.

[travel_lover]

Travel-Lover: Is this not exact enough?? It was only a few posts back... :confused:

 

This has been confirmed - Indian food out by the grille as part of the free buffet.

 

I was reading through really fast, sorry I just didn't have that much time to read every word. So I missed it.

[stlrboo]

Not sure who is CD but..

Ted Holliday, or something like that.. Taking Todd's place until the 1st of the year! :)

[mjmiller]

I was reading through really fast, sorry I just didn't have that much time to read every word. So I missed it.

 

 

I hear ya on not having time to read every word. It's just that so many things are posted over and over, and the same questions are asked over and over. Many people don't take the time to even try to read or search what is already out there. No worries! :)

 

Was your question answered fully enough?

[Ivy1908]

Hi Ivy-

We did the 6 day cruise which left out of FLL and hit Key West, Grand Cayman, and Ocho Rios. It was great! We flew into FLL on Southwest, direct, and our flights were roughly $300 roundtrip (per person) but we booked them a while back. SWA has their schedule open for March, so you might want to run out and check if they have any deals going or not. We loved the Freedom and had a great time! I enjoyed the decor of the Liberty much more, but the Freedom was not as ugly as many people on the boards had posted. I guess I feared the worst regarding the decor, but was pleasantly surprised! Let me know if you have any other questions!

 

Sounds great! SW is actually running around $560 rt right now so I was trying to find better deals but may be out of luck there. :( Do you remember what nights were the elegant nights? I wanna make ressies for the supper club for my sis and I birthdays but dont wanna do it on the elegant nights or the first or last nights if possible. Did you try it?

[travel_lover]

I hear ya on not having time to read every word. It's just that so many things are posted over and over, and the same questions are asked over and over. Many people don't take the time to even try to read or search what is already out there. No worries! :)

 

Was your question answered fully enough?

 

Pretty much, I do have one question this may seem silly because usually no cash is dealt on board but when you buy the popcorn for $1 do you have to charge it to your sea card or can you pay cash? Once again I know this may be a silly question but I haven't been on Carnival in years and Cruise Lines work differently.

[MrsBlair]

Sounds great! SW is actually running around $560 rt right now so I was trying to find better deals but may be out of luck there. :( Do you remember what nights were the elegant nights? I wanna make ressies for the supper club for my sis and I birthdays but dont wanna do it on the elegant nights or the first or last nights if possible. Did you try it?

 

Try JetBlue or Virgin America!

[mjmiller]

Pretty much, I do have one question this may seem silly because usually no cash is dealt on board but when you buy the popcorn for $1 do you have to charge it to your sea card or can you pay cash? Once again I know this may be a silly question but I haven't been on Carnival in years and Cruise Lines work differently.

 

travel lover - You know... I've never even thought about that. Not a silly question at all. Perhaps someone else would know? I'm guessing it would be the same as other things like drinks and soda - do you HAVE to put those on your card?? We do as it's more convenient for us, so I never thought about if you HAVE to.

 

and ps - I see you've traveled on NCL alot - I'd love to hear your comparison between NCL and Carnival. I thought about doing NCL over Thanksgiving, there was an incredible deal, but DH vetoed it. We haven't done NCL since 94 so I can't compare that ship, service and food to current Carnival, it wouldn't be fair to either.

[sunnyd2day]

Did someone mention that you can get drink coupons for past Carnival guests on Freedom?

[Ivy1908]

Try JetBlue or Virgin America!

 

Will do...thanks for the tip!:D

[officerswife]

For all you fellow Freedom cruisers, I have a question. We are booked in room 2317 on the main deck. My question is: On the floor diagram, there is a white empty spot showing between us and the next room. Does anyone know what that is?

Thank you.

[travel_lover]

travel lover - You know... I've never even thought about that. Not a silly question at all. Perhaps someone else would know? I'm guessing it would be the same as other things like drinks and soda - do you HAVE to put those on your card?? We do as it's more convenient for us, so I never thought about if you HAVE to.

 

and ps - I see you've traveled on NCL alot - I'd love to hear your comparison between NCL and Carnival. I thought about doing NCL over Thanksgiving, there was an incredible deal, but DH vetoed it. We haven't done NCL since 94 so I can't compare that ship, service and food to current Carnival, it wouldn't be fair to either.

 

I always thought we didn't have a choice but to put it on our cards.

 

Well I must say as a frequent NCL Cruiser they are making a lot of changes each time I Cruise I notice something new/different. I would try it again you just might like it. Try to get him to go the deals are amazing on NCL they seem to give these amazing prices from time to time...what better way to try something without even having to spend a lot? Atleast if something goes wrong you don't have to say "I spent all this money for this?

 

The freestlye concept is nice...I like freestyle and traditional as well.