Carnival Freedom Review- Eastern Caribbean

[PaulMedik]

We made our way down to deck 0 and met up with the Carnival photogs on the gangway;

 

 

 

Since we were on board the Princess earlier, we opted to take a photo outside as well;

 

 

Posing under our cabin;

 

 

The band was playing at the end of the pier;

 

 

[Steve8]

Paul, thanks so much for the awesome review. It is so cool to see a review in pictures. We actually e-mailed a few years ago when your family was following mine in the same cabin on the Liberty. The tables are now turned slightly. We are going on the Freedom next year and I booked cabin 6454 right next to yours this year. I love those aft balconies but I am a little worried about the noise from the lounge. I was told that 6454 is the only aft that sleeps 3 so I took it. Did you hear much noise or happen to talk with your neighbors to see what they thought of the room?

 

Any advice on the room would be appreciated. Thanks again for all of the time you are putting into this review. I know that a lot of us are enjoying it.

 

Steve

[PaulMedik]

 

After a few pics in the pier area we made our way to the taxi dispatch area and were grouped up with a van load going to Orient Beach for $6 per pax;

 

 

The ride to Orient Beach was interesting. It was too cramped for taking pics and the roads we traveled were more suited for horses so I basically sat back and enjoyed the view.

 

After we arrived in Orient Beach we walked to the Tiki section and rented a three chairs and an umbrella for $20;

 

 

 

The boys were immediately drawn to a trampoline with a sign on the side advertising $10 each;

 

 

I paid the $30 for my boys to enjoy the trampoline;

 

[Wennfred]

Paul, you have the greatest pictures !!!!, I'm hanging out with you next time for sure. :)

 

 

 

Fred

[PaulMedik]

Steve,

 

Yes I remember the emails and thanks again for sharing your pics.

 

I didn't speak with the pax in that cabin on our cruise. In fact, I did not see them one single time. Our steward said the cabin was occupied, but they never once went on to their balcony that I'm aware of. I would guess that all of the afts would be similar in sound transmission to our cabin, but that's just a guess.

 

We have a 9A and the 8As on both sides on deck 6 booked for this June on Liberty so I'll be able to test the noise for you then.

 

 

 

 

I had to be careful while taking pics of the boys that I didn't include the parade of mammary glands that passed by every 3 minutes or so;

 

 

 

 

Another poor panorama (but I'm learning);

 

 

 

 

These rocks separate Orient beach from Club Orient which is totally nude;

 

[Steve8]

Thanks Paul. It sounds like you didn't have any problems with noise in 6452 so that is good to know.

 

Steve

[PaulMedik]

Paul, you have the greatest pictures !!!!, I'm hanging out with you next time for sure.

 

 

 

Fred

 

 

Fred,

 

There's a lot from St Martin that I didn't upload to webshots. Those are the ones you'd like!

 

 

Steve8,

 

Nope, no noise other than the ocean when we opened the balcony door and we kept it open most of the time.

 

 

 

 

Karen got a shot of us under the Club Orient sign;

 

 

As we swapped places for me to get a pic of her and the boys, a Club Orient member came over and offered to get a pic of all of us. I accepted his offer and reminded him to aim the camera at us and not at himself (He was butt naked);

 

As you can tell, it was an amusing experience;

 

 

The view from Club Orient back down the beach;

 

 

 

Karen had scoped out a Mexican bar / restuarant to eat lunch (I'm sure she didn't pay attention to the background I had her pose next to);

 

[PaulMedik]

The half buried Harley intrigued the boys;

 

 

 

After a short wait, our cooked to order Mexican food arrived;

 

 

 

Bryson posed by one of the signs lising chair rental prices that we passed on the way to the Tiki section;

 

 

[PaulMedik]

After paying $101 for our light lunch, we took a few last pics then loaded up our gear and headed to the parking area to find a taxi;

 

 

Before we left I amazed my boys by having a conversation with a very well endowed young lady about how to get to Maho where the planes fly over the beach. I didn't suspect at the time that it would have such an amusing affect on them.

 

Our taxi driver offered us a drive and visit to Maho and then a drive back to the pier area for $6 each to Maho and then $5 back to the pier. It was money well spent as he knew the area well and provided much local info;

 

All of these pics were taken from the taxi window at highway speed. The views were amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll try and post more tonight from work. I have to get ready and out the door now.

[crusinpsychRN]

Those night pictures are so beautiful. What a great way to document your trip. You have a lovely family.

[gail811]

As soon as I saw you went to Orient Beach I had to laugh! Our first trip to St. Maarten we were very innocent! We rented a jeep, drove around the island and thought it would be a great place to stop. As I was putting sunscreen on my then 13 year old sons back, a topless woman strolled toward us. I tried not to react, and thankfully he could not see my face.....I could only imagine the look on his! Unfortunately for him, she was my age :D

Love the pictures and can't wait to go back there next year!

I keep checking back several times a day for your review....again, you give the best review out there! Love the picture of you guys taken in front of the sign to the nude beach, knowing a nude guy took it! Not sure I would have been looking at the camera!:eek: How did your boys and Karen react?

[mitchpam]

TY...TY...TY....TY very nice photos and captions.... fun....fun.....fun

[dec2007w3boys]

Wow Paul - Thank you so much for doing all this. I have three boys myself and can so easily picture us doing everything you did. I told my dh last week that we would be going to Orient Beach with the naked people, he couldn't believe that I would let the kids go there (trust me, he has no problem with it) Well, your boys looked like they "survived" just fine. :D I also loved your pictures of San Juan. I didn't think that would be a place I would like to go to, but wow, how neat!

 

BTW - I am dying of curiousity to know what you spent on Carnival pictures?? They are great.

[newlu]

Hi,

 

Great review, am trying to decide between the Carnival Freedom or the Independence of the Seas (Royal) for our March break 2009, my son will be almost 13 at that time. Cant wait to hear about the activities for the 12-14 age group. We have only cruised with Royal, and the bigger ships are amazing sports wise for my son. How was the entertainment at night for them? Like you, in the daytime he will be on the islands with us, but he does like to play sports with others and hang out at night.

Thanks for any info regarding that. Thanks for the amazing pictures, I just checked, I can book your cabin if we decide with this one!!

newlu

[PaulMedik]

How did your boys and Karen react?

 

 

 

Gail,

 

The boys laughed quite a bit and Karen said she didn't look at him. It looked to me like she was at least facing the camera....:)

 

 

 

crusinpsychRN, mitchpam,

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

dec2007w3boys,

 

Yeah the boys survived fine. They really didn't pay much attention. In the past they have been totally oblivious when topless sun bathers are around (And no their Mom doesn't go topless). I think it depends on whether you point it out to them at the time. We let them know ahead of time and it didn't seem to make them look for them.

 

The boys definately enjoyed San Juan and are looking forward to returning. Like you I was wondering if we'd be able to keep them occupied, but the easy access of the forts made it simple.

 

I'm not sure what we paid on this trip. I know it was less than previous trips, or at least I think it was. I'll check the bill in the next few days and post the talley here.

[dec2007w3boys]

dec2007w3boys,

 

Yeah the boys survived fine. They really didn't pay much attention. In the past they have been totally oblivious when topless sun bathers e around (And no their Mom doesn't go topless). I think it depends on whether you point it out to them at the time. We let them know ahead of time and it didn't seem to make them look for them.

 

The boys definately enjoyed San Juan and are looking forward to returning. Like you I was wondering if we'd be able to keep them occupied, but the easy access of the forts made it simple.

 

I'm not sure what we paid on this trip. I know it was less than previous trips, or at least I think it was. I'll check the bill in the next few days and post the talley here.

 

We told the boys to expect dental floss and feathers for the vegas review show on the Valor - they were fine during the show, but when it was over my oldest, age 10, still was wondering where the dental floss was. I am excited to be going to Orient Beach - just beautiful.

 

I just showed dh some of you photos and he is still chuckling about the guy from Orient Club taking your picture.

 

Thanks again and I look forward to reading/seeing more.

 

Lisa

[PaulMedik]

Hi,

 

Great review, am trying to decide between the Carnival Freedom or the Independence of the Seas (Royal) for our March break 2009, my son will be almost 13 at that time. Cant wait to hear about the activities for the 12-14 age group. We have only cruised with Royal, and the bigger ships are amazing sports wise for my son. How was the entertainment at night for them? Like you, in the daytime he will be on the islands with us, but he does like to play sports with others and hang out at night.

Thanks for any info regarding that. Thanks for the amazing pictures, I just checked, I can book your cabin if we decide with this one!!

newlu

 

 

newlu,

 

Carnival does not have a flowrider, rock climbing wall, nor ice rink. The basketball court on Carnival is not a full court. Carnival does have a well balanced Circle C program for the tween age group that provides activities and also allows for ample 'hang out' time as well. Most tend to congregate on deck five near the teen & tween clubs and arcade. Camp Carnival / Circle C also have organized late night activities that last until 3:00AM and they really enjoy those.

 

In our case, we live in an area of WV that has ice rinks, rock climbing, and white water rafting so we tend to associate those activities with cooler climates as opposed to the Caribbean so those advantages of RCCL are moot for us.

 

I do have to warn you that if you book our cabin, your cruise will not be like the typical Carnival Cruise that we have enjoyed in the past. That cabin / balcony causes you to spend more time there than you ever imagined you would. It's kind of interesting to venture out of deck and see throngs of people and then return to your own private retreat. :)

[PaulMedik]

We told the boys to expect dental floss and feathers for the vegas review show on the Valor - they were fine during the show, but when it was over my oldest, age 10, still was wondering where the dental floss was. I am excited to be going to Orient Beach - just beautiful.

 

I just showed dh some of you photos and he is still chuckling about the guy from Orient Club taking your picture.

 

Thanks again and I look forward to reading/seeing more.

 

Lisa

 

 

Lisa,

 

You can promise him that he'll be saying 'wow' quite a few times while he's there and chuckling quite a bit too. Some are impressive, some are better left covered, and others are just plain ol' odd. :D

[CRUZ-AHOLIC]

Hi Paul! I'm so sorry I didn't get to meet up with you! Me and DH (aka Mr. Clean) couldn't find the meet-up place :(

 

I just posted a lengthy written review, but I need to add a pic review too. I love your review so far!!!

 

Cindy

[Jeffy294]

Hey paul, great review. I just wondered, do you have any pics from the intercontinental miami? I think that is where you said you stayed post cruise. We are staying there in July before we go on the Liberty, I just wondered how that hotel was?

[PaulMedik]

Hey paul, great review. I just wondered, do you have any pics from the intercontinental miami? I think that is where you said you stayed post cruise. We are staying there in July before we go on the Liberty, I just wondered how that hotel was?

 

 

 

Jeffy294,

 

Yes I do have pics of the Intercontinental, but I haven't uploaded them yet due to work. I'll get them online in the next few days.

 

It's a nice hotel.

 

 

 

 

Cindy,

 

I'm lovin' your review!

[PaulMedik]

The ride to Maho from Orient Beach encompasses a lot of beautiful contryside along with some breathtaking views of the ocean and various bays;

 

 

And an occasional sunken ship;

 

 

Just befor arriving at Maho we passed a tropical golf course (Having three boys I'll have a built in foursome for future golf excursions);

 

 

When we arrived at Maho we were in time to see a jet lining up on the end of the run way. As the jet took off, it looked like it was flying straight into the hill. The pic shows a lot more space between the plane and the hill than it looks like there is;

 

 

It wasn't too long before a plane came into view on approach and gracefully swept over top of the beach and the roadway;

 

 

The beach at Maho isn't very wide and drops off quickly to the water;

 

[PaulMedik]

I trekked down the sandy beach slope to check out the water;

 

 

As I posed for this picture my shoes were swept off the beach into the ocean;

 

 

 

 

 

The Sunset Beach Bar where plane / beach enthusiests hang out to watch the planes land;

 

[PaulMedik]

This sign isn't just another sign;

 

 

We couldn't stay long at Maho due to the fact we got there late in the day so we loaded up and headed back toward the port. We had our driver let us off at Phillipsburg where we picked Britt up a pair of black dress shoes.

 

The welcome to Phillipsburg plane;

 

 

As we walked back to the pier area, we got a good look at just how big the Princess ship docked beside us was in comparison to Freedom;

 

 

 

After a long day exploring and soaking in the sun and sights, it's good to be arriving back home on Freedom;

 

 

 

After we were back on board the balconies of the Princess ship were full of pax waving to us as we untied and thrusted away from the dock;

 

 

[PaulMedik]

It was awesome watching our shadow slide along the side of the Princess ship;

 

 

 

 

 

The aft section of the Caribbean Princess has some great balconies as well;