Carnival Freedom
Carnival Freedom Overview
Tonnage: 110,000
Length: 952 ft
Passengers: 2,974
Crew: 1,150
Registry: Panama
Features Scott's Piano Bar, 70's dance Club, Adult-only Serenity Retreat, Waterslides, Nouveau Bar
Best For People Who WantExciting and ritzy nightlife; numerous singles; alternative dining venues; one of the largest ships in the Carnival fleet; spacious cabins for three and four passengers; cabins with balconies; excellent fitness and spa facilities; high-energy atmosphere with varied daytime activities, including abundant children's programs.
Should Be Avoided By People Who PreferAn elegant, quiet and relaxing cruise; private areas away from the public, especially children.
Onboard ExperienceCarnival Freedom, as well as Carnival Conquest, Carnival Glory, Carnival Valor, and Carnival Liberty are the big sisters of Carnival's Destiny class. Freedom weighs over 110,000 tons. Expanded children's facilities, comprising a separate children's pool, a mini-movie theatre, and an indoor playground, account for some of the extra footage on the ship, as does the trendy supper club "The Point", serving gourmet cuisine, and the best U.S.D.A. prime beef.
There are 22 bars and lounges throughout the 13 passenger decks. Other amenities include an Internet café, four swimming pools, and a 15,000-square-foot health club. The ship has no lack of entertainment of all varieties, featuring the Cinn-A-Bar sing-along piano bar and White Heat disco, along with gorgeous production shows and side-splitting comics in the main theater called Amber Palace.
DecorCarnival's ship designer, the renowned Joe Farcus, chose "Decades through the Centuries" as the theme for Freedom. Each of the rooms is dedicated to a period of history, especially "decades" that have gained renown, such as the "Roaring 20's". The atrium is the 2010 with hard angles, and geometric figures of neon-like paint and constantly changing lights.
Public RoomsAs the Millennium Lobby atrium has elongated figures that have been descibed as "giant worms". In the center is a small stage for non-imposing background music; behind the musicians glass elevators rise to the top deck.These elevators are the best way to view the digital light effects. The "Promenade" on Deck 5 includes the Bar Nouveau (wine bar), a kid's area called Action Alley Video Game Room, The Babylon Casino, Scott's sing-along piano bar, The Swingtime Jazz Bar for combo music and the 70's Dance Club disco. The Habana Cigar Bar is like being in a cigar box, wrap a lebel around yourself and lie down. There are labels from real cigar boxes reproduced as posters on the walls, and table bases and stools in the shape of cigars complete with cigar bands. It features jazz music and dancing before dinner
On the opposite end of Freedom is the three-deck high Victoriana Show Lounge inspired by 1880's London West End theaters ; aim for the lower balcony seats, a little off-center, for the best view. For sports fanatics, there is a Sports Bar with satellite ESPN on seven large-screen televisions, in addition to video poker machines built into the bar.
Other diversions include the small Black & White Library open for several hours each day and various boutiques selling a wide range of duty-free jewelry, perfume, and alcohol along with the usual cruise items.
CuisineFreedom offers attractive breakfast and lunch buffets ,including an excellent salad bar and made-to-order dishes. For those with a sophisticated palate, the new menus feature chateaubriand, rack of lamb, and lobster, along with chocolate desserts. On the other end of the scale, delicious pizza and Caesar salad are available 24 hours a day. Delightful specialties can be found near the Prometheus Lido including the Sur Mer seafood station and an Asian food station that regularly rotates its dishes. There's a complimentary sushi bar on the Promenade Deck in the evenings, and vegetarian and low-salt items on every menu and at all stations.
RestaurantsCarnival's Total Choice Dining provides for four seating times for a table in the main dining rooms at 5:45 or 6:15p.m.m and 8 or 8:30p.m.m. Of the two main dining rooms, the Posh, located aft, is framed by three walls of windows so it boasts better views. The Chic Restaurant is located mid-ships with windows only on two sides. The best tables are on the balcony, the middle lower section being a bit noisy. The friendly atmosphere is encouraged by the tables seating between four and six people, although there are quite a few tables for only two diners.
The sunny and spacious Grand Buffet restaurant, which features amazing views of the sea, offers breakfast and lunch buffets. Alternatively, you can enjoy a meal served alfresco poolside in the Freedom Lido area just behind the Grand Buffet. For those who prefer to dine when the mood strikes them, this poolside Lido restaurants offer buffet dinner between 6:00 and 9:00p.m.m without reservations. Breakfast is also available in the Chic dining room. For those looking for a quick snack, the hamburger and hot dog stand, located in the Azure Lido near the stern pool, serves food throughout the afternoon. There are self-serve frozen yogurt and ice cream machines, and multiple lemonade, coffee, and iced tea stations. The Freedom's pizzeria has a great variety of pizza types on offer in addition to Caesar salad, both served 24 hours a day. There is also a deli for lighter lunch choices and new to Freedom is the Tandoori Grill. The room service menu features sandwiches, desserts and breakfast fare.
There is a Coffe Café; on the Promenade Deck serving delectable sweets and a range of coffees. The Sushi Bar, adjacent to the coffe bar is open evenings only and serves sushi.
For a cover charge of $30, guests can sample fine wines and dine on the excellent menu choices at Sun King Supper Club . There is a small combo playing behind a tiny dance floor, which proves to be ample for those couples obviously celebrating a special date together.
ServiceThe staff on Freedom is prompt, well-organized, and prone to showing off, as when balancing trays on their heads while serving dessert. The maitre'd makes a point of learning the names of all couples celebrating an anniversary.
TippingAll Carnival cruises have a $10.00 per person per day (excluding children under two years of age) gratuity comprising $5.50 for the Dining Room service, $3.60 for the stateroom steward, and $.90 for the alternative dining rooms. This charge can be either automatically added to the Sail & Sign card or it can be prepaid (prepayment is mandatory on the Cruises-to-Nowhere). The purser's desk can decrease or increase this amount throughout the cruise. Tip room service, the maitre d', casino, spa, or other staff as you deem fit. The bar and beverage tabs all include a 15 percent gratuity to the bill.
EntertainmentThe main theater, the Victoriana Show Lounge, presents outstanding production shows featuring beautiful costumes and Vegas-quality light shows, but even the smaller venues have great acts and music, particularly the sing-along Scott's piano bar. There is a Caribbean band on the pool deck. More interactive activities include numerous bingo games, ballroom dancing, karaoke, and "game show mania".
CabinsWhile the décor in the cabins is somewhat reserved, they are some of the largest available on any cruise ship, and many are fitted with lovely private balconies. The suites and ocean view staterooms come with complimentary bathrobes and a mini bar. The cabins located on the outside are 220 sq. feet and include a coffee table and plush leather sofa. The inside cabins are 195 sq. feet in area and are great for families or large groups of singles due to their pull-down berths that provide extra sleeping space. Families might prefer the 230 sq. feet cabins located next to the children's center. All the large bathrooms include a shower (the suites are the only cabins with tubs), basket of toiletries, and hair dryer. The cabins come standard with a color TV that includes ESPN, CNN, and movies. There is plentiful storage space, with three closets and a several drawers. for those of special needs are available.
Fitness/SpaThe gym's 15,000 sq. feet is full of treadmills, stationary bikes, stairmasters, rowing and hydraulic weight machines, and of course free weights. The strategically placed equipment allows you to enjoy the lovely panoramic views offered by the floor-to-ceiling windows. For runners, a lap on the jogging deck, which surrounds the smokestack, is equivalent to 1/11 of a mile.
AttireCasual wear is standard during the day. For the two formal nights, men can rent a tuxedo, though most men opt for dark suits. The ship has men's and women's accessories available to rent for these formal nights. No jeans in the dining room ever, no shorts after dark.
User Reviews
by belgique
3 Reviews
Publication Date: November 3, 2012
Pros and Cons of the Freedom: Having been on over 35 cruises, this was without question the fastest and easiest embarkation process I've ever seen. We arrived earlier than our 1:30 scheduled time, yet walked through the terminal and never had to wait for anything. They had at least 20 agents open to process people and the whole thing took less than 15 minutes.
PRO: We had an Aft Extended Balcony Cabin (7445) and it was wonderful! There are 3 windows for great viewing, a HUGE balcony with 2 lounge chairs, 3 chairs and a table. Spent a lot of time out there!
PRO: Great food in the Posh Restaurant (Traditional seating). All beef was excellent, which isn't always the case on ships, seafood, fish, pasta and appetizers wonderful and the Chocolate Melting Cake a delight.
CON: The SunKing Steakhouse was disappointing. Having had the best meal ever on the Legend a few years ago, we were not as excited this time. We both ordered Surf and Turf and later talked to each other and found that our lobster was undercooked. We should have commented on it at the time. The service for
a specialty restaurant was not the best - things forgotten, served to the wrong person, etc. Not really worth the $35.00.CON: The pools are all VERY small and are really "dunking" pools, not swimming pools. One cannot swim more than 4 or 5 strokes and are at a wall. They are also salt water, which is fine with me, but others seemed to mind that. I must say I haven't seen a saltwater pool since the Norway in the early 90's.
CON: The entire ship's decor seems to be 1970's orange, brown, gold, yellow, with no variations in color. It was a difficult ship to figure out as there are "blind spots" and no real visual changes to orient oneself. It seems to be "cut up" with walls,mirrors, turns, no "landmarks" in your head to orient yourself. That in itself might prevent me from sailing that class of ship again.
CON: The entire ship seems "dark" inside. We were in the sunny, bright Caribbean and the decor did not lend itself to that airy, light feeling.
PRO: The staff and crew were helpful, cheerful, accommodating in every area. Room service in the a.m. was prompt and every order correct. Room steward was efficient and gracious. Dining room staff was excellent.
THE PORTS: We called on St. Thomas, Tortola, Antigua and Nassau. Each port has it's own charm and flavor and we enjoyed them all. Bought some jewelry in St. Thomas, local things on the other islands, and each island is what one makes of it. If you go outside of the terminals and into the towns and beaches, your experience will be greater.
We did go to the hypnotist show which was as predictable as they all are, albeit entertaining. The passenger talent show was fun - always one woman who HAS to sing "Crazy". Cruise Director, Brad Calabrese, must have been a student of Johnny Carson as his timing and quick witted replies are refreshing.
PRO: Debarkation: Casual morning as you don't have to be out of your cabin until 8:30. You can also get room service on the last morning, which doesn't happen on all ships. Nice breakfast on the Lido Deck, waited for number to be called. No lines to speak of onboard, small area to look for luggage, a bit of a wait for customs and immigration, but all in all, quite efficient. We were at our hotel by 10:15 a.m.
Again, there's no such thing as a "bad cruise" and we had a ball. Just wanted to put those things out to you.
by Annette Brady
1 Review
Publication Date: February 19, 2012
The cruise it self was nice we have cruised 3 other times on RCCL and wanted to try Carnival. The ship was laid out nice and a bit confusing at the beginning as they all are the first day. The staff was wonderfull and the ports were fantastic. Our only issue was the staff of Carnival not keeping the teens and children out of the adult only section at any time of the cruise. And Maria at Carnival Customer Service saved the day allowing us to connect withe ship in Key West.
by JOSEPH NASUTI
1 Review
Publication Date: January 22, 2012
WARNING...THE RETURN OF ROTO VIRUS CARNIVAL STYLE!
PLEASE BE ADVISED THE FOLLOWING WAS SENT TO WEST PALM BEACH LOCAL NBC-TV STATION INVESTIGATIVE REPORTED...PLEASE CLEAN UP YOUR ACT...AND KEEP DOING IT!!!!!!!!!
We went on the Carnival Freedom on Sunday 1/22 to Saturday 1/28/...I could not help notice the total lack of sanitation and sterilization aboard. First of all this was my 25 cruise...last year I cruised 4 times...so I know what I am talking about!
After the major stomach viruses a few years ago...at night the ships were pressured cleaned every night about 2 am...passengers had to spray their hands with sanitizers...or they were spray. Sunday night...ed by the crew! This trip you could not find the hand sanitizers and there was no overnight sanitization.
Again we returned on Saturday 1/28...the baby Daniela started getting sick on Monday...her mom Rosalie got sick on Tuesday...I got sick on Wednesday and her dad got sick on Friday...that is 4 of the 6 on the cruise.
I contacted Carnival...who said they would document it...otherwise "Feel Better"...now two other of their ships have be effected do to their lack of proper sanitation...This I feel is another epidemic about to explode!!!!
FYI...can't
not eat anything...constant Diarrhea (every 1/2 hour)...the good news is I lost 7 pounds and the Bad News is I am still going 5 days later...same with everybody else...SO:GO GET THEM...Joe Nasuti...BOOKING # 330RD8