Carnival Freedom - March 7th review

[serene56]

All that planning and counting---and look at it now---Its over:eek:

 

Didnt look at the calender and we booked one of the first weeks of Spring Break. :(

 

Heard while waiting for our flight about the spring break cruise on the Navigator where they had to keep emptying the pools because the breakers were "diving" in there. One night one of the breakers dove into the pool and there was no water- Needless to say he got very hurt.

 

We didnt encounter anything like that-- thank god.

 

 

Weather was good. We felt the cutbacks.

 

Just getting back so I will set down tomorrow and type away.

[reno3]

We leave in 5 weeks:D

Looking forward to your review.

[Mary49]

All that planning and counting---and look at it now---Its over:eek:

 

Didnt look at the calender and we booked one of the first weeks of Spring Break. :(

 

Heard while waiting for our flight about the spring break cruise on the Navigator where they had to keep emptying the pools because the breakers were "diving" in there. One night one of the breakers dove into the pool and there was no water- Needless to say he got very hurt.

 

We didnt encounter anything like that-- thank god.

 

 

Weather was good. We felt the cutbacks.

 

Just getting back so I will set down tomorrow and type away.

 

Welcome back. What a disaster for that guy. Can't wait to hear more. How did you make it with your flight? Mary49

[serene56]

Welcome back. What a disaster for that guy. Can't wait to hear more. How did you make it with your flight? Mary49

 

Our flight was delayed 1 1/2 hours since Philadelphia was wet and windy. Instead of arriving at the home airport at 4:00 we arrived at close to 6:30 because they wouldnt let us land---sigh

[tweety33]

I'm looking forward to your review.

[Mary49]

Serene56 - How did you do flying in the same day as the cruise itself? Did you get there in plenty of time? Is the ship close to the airport in Fort Lauderdale? Thanks Mary49

[um5xno1]

Serene56 - How did you do flying in the same day as the cruise itself? Did you get there in plenty of time? Is the ship close to the airport in Fort Lauderdale? Thanks Mary49

 

The port and airport are very close-less than two miles as the crow flies.

 

We leave in 50 or so days....looking forward to your review.

[serene56]

Serene56 - How did you do flying in the same day as the cruise itself? Did you get there in plenty of time? Is the ship close to the airport in Fort Lauderdale? Thanks Mary49

 

 

AIRPORT IS Very close to the cruiseport- 14.00 cab ride. Less then 15 minutes. You can see the cruiseport from the airport.

 

This is only the 2nd time out of 13 cruises we flew in the same day, First time was rather scarey and made the ship with 5 minutes to spare. This cruise the flights the day before were quite expensive so we opted to take the first flight out on Sunday.

 

Our plane left on time and we landed at 10:38. Went and waited for our luggage at the carousel. and got to the pier where we checked in in a very short line and received zone 7. We were onboard, on the lido deck buffet-got our seats and the time was 12:15. Fastest embarkation I ever experienced. We always went to the pier about 10:30 and waited and waited- Not this time.

The lines really were building up by 11:30 so you want to arrive before that time.

 

 

Cant get to your cabin until 1:30 so pack those carry ons as light as possible. We saw many people with those rolling bags trying to balance a tray of food and carry around the luggage- why they didnt get a table and stow the stuff there then went to eat is beyond me-- oh thats right-- it was the first week of spring break :cool: The fire doors are closed and cabins are not secured until the posted time.

 

We had our first lunch at the Mongolian Grill. The one reason I booked this cruise-- this place is really yummy. And the First day there is hardly any lines. The line does rum from both directions and there are two guys stir frying your selection. They are cooking 3 people at one time so even if the line is long it does move quickly.

 

Each day at the Mongolian Grill the meats change.

Sunday: Beef, chicken and shrimp

Monday: Chicken, mussels, pork

Tuesday, chicken, beef, SQUID

Wednesday: Chicken, shrimp, beef

Thursday: Chicken, mussels, pork

Friday: chicken, beef, squid.

 

(the chinese station window is not opened any longer.)

[serene56]

Someone asked me to check out the Pantry across the hall from 7371. I would avoid that room and the cabins on either side. THis is the drop off station of the dirty dishes, glasses etc. It was very noisy every time we passed it.

 

 

Washer and dryers are now 3.00 each per load.

 

 

Past guest party was 5pm on Thursday. I didnt make it here so I cant tell you about it.

The first day onboard they do Spa tours and give you raffle tickets. You must be present to win. We headed up there about 4:45 and filled out two tickets then waited for the raffle. They really do give out some great prizes.

I won a seaweed wrap and a full head to toe well being body massage it was for 100 minutes This sells onboard for 259.00. Since we werent going into port at ocho rios that is when I decided to make my appointment for. That is the reason we missed the past guest party

Edited March 16, 2010 by serene56

[Mary49]

What was you take on "Music Boardwalk"? I gather they don't play in a lounge and that it's in a walk way. They also do the Ticket to Ride show. Did you get a chance to talk to Enrique? They are all very talented guys. Mary49

[diathoney]

Someone asked me to check out the Pantry across the hall from 7371. I would avoid that room and the cabins on either side. THis is the drop off station of the dirty dishes, glasses etc. It was very noisy every time we passed it.

Bummer! I'm in 7373. :(

[serene56]

Muster Drill was a scarey kind of joke. You no longer wear your life jacket to the drill. The cruise line people standing in the front of everyone are supposed to show you what to do. There is a lot of new people working onboard during our week and the two young girls working our station looked scared to death. Remember this was the first week of Sping Break and there was an awful lot of young, rowdy young adults here. (first I always thought that when you go to muster drill you are to leave your food nd drinks behind. No one enforced this rule and beer was flying as we were listening to the directions in English, Spanish and French (I think it was French)

 

It seemed to last forever---lol

 

Remember I said there is a lot of new people onboard- The Cruise Director staff--- I saw two people most of the week and saw the girl Liz two times only. Lee is being touted as the oldest AND the youngest crew staff onboard--he is over 25 and this was only his second week making him the youngest member. Before he became a cruise host he was the trombone player but carnival cut a lot of their musicians and Lee wanted to stay on a ship--so he became a host. Levy is from Austraila and very hard to understand--but by the end of the week he was getting better.

 

The Cruise Director we had is one that is filling in for the regular guy. We hardly ever saw him and his Asst. Cruise Director Little John filled that position most of the week. (we also had Little John filling in on our last Liberty cruise- he will make a good cruise director one day but still gotta tone down some. I found his cursing offensive (IMHO -he was trying to keep up wih the spring breakers. I feel he should have kept to his professionalism and things woulda been better.)

 

I guess the cruise director can make or break a cruise. For this cruise I felt there were huge amounts of time with nothing to do.

For example: Friday is a sea day: the line up looked like this

6am - gym opens

7:00 - stretch and relax

8:00-Yoga (fees applied)

9:30- good morning freedom

(which if you saw this on Friday you wold know it was a rerun

10:00 towel folding demonstration

library opens

11:00 Debarkation talks

texas hold em tournament

heal em with chinese therapy (fees applied)

12:00 skin care solutions

golf clinic

12:15 Bridge players meet

12:30 ice carving demo

comedy trivia

slot tournament

golf lessons

 

(maybe this weekend I will upload my Fun Times.

 

Gone are the Capers.

[serene56]

What was you take on "Music Boardwalk"? I gather they don't play in a lounge and that it's in a walk way. They also do the Ticket to Ride show. Did you get a chance to talk to Enrique? They are all very talented guys. Mary49

 

 

They played in the Swingtime Lounge in the aft on the promanade deck from 8-12:30am. Every lounge, EVery bar was full most nights til the wee hours.

 

We did see Ticket to Ride and it was the second time we saw it since it was on the Miracle a few years ago. This one on the Freedom is done much better.

Edited March 16, 2010 by serene56

[serene56]

Bummer! I'm in 7373. :(

 

 

if you have a small noise machine it might help-- or stick a towel under the door--better yet use one of those bathrobes as they are heavier

[S.E.]

Someone asked me to check out the Pantry across the hall from 7371. I would avoid that room and the cabins on either side. THis is the drop off station of the dirty dishes, glasses etc. It was very noisy every time we passed it.

 

Serene you are AWESOME!!! Thanks for checking that out for me. We booked another area on the same deck. So glad we did. Congrats on winning that massage. Can't wait to read more about your cruise.

[Elaine515]

Did you go into the Casino? How was it in there? Was Serenity crowded? Which dining room were you in? Were the kids really out-of-control or just lots of them?

 

Any and all info I'm looking forward to as I leave in 11 days 3 hours 48 minutes 12 seconds...but who's counting!!!

 

Thnx...

[Mary49]

How did you like the ports of call? Any favorite one? Mary49

[serene56]

Did you go into the Casino? How was it in there? Was Serenity crowded? Which dining room were you in? Were the kids really out-of-control or just lots of them?

 

Any and all info I'm looking forward to as I leave in 11 days 3 hours 48 minutes 12 seconds...but who's counting!!!

 

Thnx...

 

casino- VERY tight. No matter what time we would go in this cruise we didnt see any winners.--Im not talking jackpot--just something to make it at least seem like you are winning. Casino is cashless. In other words the machines take your money--but if you do win a buck you gotta cash it out using your sign and sail card.

 

The machines we were playing --example-- play 40 cents and win 10 cents.

 

For the non smokers there is a huge section of no smoking machines and we saw that the no smoking at these machines were enforced,. The machines are all around the entrances around the promanade

 

The Serenity area is not what I was expecting. (i guess after seeing one of these places you gotta pay for on Princess that is what I was expecting. Chair saving is not allowed. You can save it for 30 minutes and they take your stuff. I wondered many times this week---will the person be charged for those blue towels. (if you dont turn them in you will be charged 22.00 each towel)

There is two hamocks back there that was always being used. Its big enough for lots of people.

 

kids? these were young adults---21 through 25. As the week wore on it quieted down some. The kids next door to us I swore that one was gonna go overboard some night. but they too calmed down as the week wore on. ( we saw them on the grand cayman morning and boy did they look beat)

 

One of my pet peeves this cruise---people who ae blasting their music from their balconies. to the left was rock, to the right was country and above was the rap. I think they were trying to out do one another

 

Dining room- We took anytime dining. Anytime dining is done in the mid ship dining room - the upper level deck 4.

We tried one night for dinner. Went at 7:15 and had to wait 30 minutes. there were 10 people ahead of us- Got a beeper that works anywhere on the ship except your cabin and the casino. We requested a table for two.

What the tables of two are--- is a table of six that is seperated by a mere few inches on either side. We were given the middle section. Two couples on either side that were in various stages of the dinner. I didn feel comfortable therre--- people request a table for two for a variety of reasons---one being they dont want to talk with strangers and they want aloe time.. but when you are sitting this close to other people its kinda hard not to hear their conversations and trying to keep your conversation to yourselves was hard. We asked for a booth but was told that there are too many people waiting and the booths are for 3 or 4 passengers.

 

I was impressed with the buffet food- was equally surprised that dinner at the buffet is the same stuff that is being served in the dining rooms. (i always thought the buffet was different foods) I copied ou Zydecruisers menu and figured out what night was what--- and marked my copies of what was on the menu at the buffet--- no there was no lobster tail. :eek:

 

(we do prefer the food at the buffet on Princess)

Yes, the bacon is policed-- bacon and ham are given to people by a crew member--anything else you help yourself to. The omlet station was not crowded at all all week- Here is were you can get your eggs over easy.

 

For lunch---check ALL the buffets- They each have a different menu. Lunch time there is 4 different buffets happening- most people head to the first line they see thinking its all the same. Check outside too by the pool area- this is where they also set up the Tandoori station. Lunch is done being served by 2:30 and it will all be cleaned up by 3pm.

 

Coming in from a port day its hard to find something to eat between 2:30 and 4:30. Your options are the Grill for hot dogs, burgers, chicken and nacho chips. Pizza and room service. These two places at this time have huge lines and room service can take over an hour.

 

Dinner buffet starts at 5:00 and is done by 9:30 with everything cleaned by 10. Gone is the midnight buffet. There is midnight bites on the promanade where they serve the sushi. (between the Disco and the Cafe that sells those specialty slices of cakes for under 3.00.

 

Choc strawberries-- 4 of those for 5.00 they were huge too. Milkshakes were close to 5.00 too. very small but very good.

 

I do have the menus from each day--marked what is available on the buffet that I will try to get posted this weekend.

 

Dinner there is only one buffet

Edited March 17, 2010 by serene56

[serene56]

TVS in the cabin are flat screen Zeniths. Some people ask about taking DVD players or their video games. There are no hook ups in the front and we tried to see behind the tv but couldnt move it far enough to see any hook ups. I can imagine a person fitting a hand back there to hook it up.

 

Stations are from Denver--so if you are on the east coast you progams will be shown an hour later-- instead of 8pm they will be on at 9.

[serene56]

We didnt see or meet our cabin steward until sometime on Wednesday. I know this will pi$$ some people off but as long as he was doing his job and my room was clean twice a day with fresh towels--I was happy. I dont cruise to become friends with the crew members.

 

The kids on either side of us kept their balcony light on until We spoke to the steward-- we asked that he turn them off. Wow what a difference those lights being off made. We turned the lights off in the cabin--closed the curtains and sat outside int he dark checking out the stars. Felt like we were the only two people in the whole wide world.

 

So if you get a chance---spend at least an hour at night in the dark and jsut take it all in. Its very relaxing.

[serene56]

Bingo now costs $20.00 for3 cards. No more specials like 1 card for 10 or 3 for 20. its 20.00 across the board.

--

the shows--

The Big Easy is the first show this week--Tuesday. 8:30 and 10:30

Very good show but very loud. (i felt sorry for the people trying to sleep below since it is an early port day the next day. We sat on the main floor and felt the floor vibrate all during the show.

 

Ticket to Ride is Thursday 8:30 - 10:30 Again a very good show.

especially if you like the beatles.. but a good show for anyone.

 

But be warned this is not a G rated show. The girls have flimsy custumes and some are thongs. The dancing can be provocative. This holds true for both shows..so just go with an opened mind and enjoy.

 

There was a commedian show on Tuesday at 10:30 and midnight held at the international lounge which is located on the promanade deck aft.

We tried showing up for the first show about 9:30 there was not a seat to be had and there were many many people standing around the perimeter of the lounge.

 

There is a different commedian on Thursday---same times. We went to the midnight show about an hour before time-- the show lasted 30 minutes. ( I wasted an hour of my cruise doing nothing but wait for a 30 minute show I will have to reconsider that the next time.

 

Because the commedian is so well attended why dont they have this show in the main show lounge. Doesnt make much sense to me as a passenger.

[S.E.]

Very informative.

 

Do they play movies at night? If so, what time? I am wondering if I could still catch a movie having late dining.

 

Thanks. :cool:

[NewHampshire2010]

thanks for all of the advice, Selene - very helpful

 

my husband and I are going on the freedom for our first cruise in May. we are still deciding on rooms. we're doing an interior but cannot decide whether to stay in the middle or front of the riviera deck, front (15 cabins in) or rear of the Empress deck, front of the veranda deck (lido is above but it's rooms directly above), front of the panorama deck (spa/gym is above it but it looks like the hair salon or massage room are directly above these rooms), or the very front rooms on the upper deck (6201 or 6204).

 

Any suggestions/recommendations from anyone?

[frazzledrazzle16]

Muster Drill was a scarey kind of joke. You no longer wear your life jacket to the drill. The cruise line people standing in the front of everyone are supposed to show you what to do. There is a lot of new people working onboard during our week and the two young girls working our station looked scared to death. Remember this was the first week of Sping Break and there was an awful lot of young, rowdy young adults here. (first I always thought that when you go to muster drill you are to leave your food nd drinks behind. No one enforced this rule and beer was flying as we were listening to the directions in English, Spanish and French (I think it was French)

 

It seemed to last forever---lol

 

Remember I said there is a lot of new people onboard- The Cruise Director staff--- I saw two people most of the week and saw the girl Liz two times only. Lee is being touted as the oldest AND the youngest crew staff onboard--he is over 25 and this was only his second week making him the youngest member. Before he became a cruise host he was the trombone player but carnival cut a lot of their musicians and Lee wanted to stay on a ship--so he became a host. Levy is from Austraila and very hard to understand--but by the end of the week he was getting better.

 

The Cruise Director we had is one that is filling in for the regular guy. We hardly ever saw him and his Asst. Cruise Director Little John filled that position most of the week. (we also had Little John filling in on our last Liberty cruise- he will make a good cruise director one day but still gotta tone down some. I found his cursing offensive (IMHO -he was trying to keep up wih the spring breakers. I feel he should have kept to his professionalism and things woulda been better.)

 

I guess the cruise director can make or break a cruise. For this cruise I felt there were huge amounts of time with nothing to do.

For example: Friday is a sea day: the line up looked like this

6am - gym opens

7:00 - stretch and relax

8:00-Yoga (fees applied)

9:30- good morning freedom

(which if you saw this on Friday you wold know it was a rerun

10:00 towel folding demonstration

library opens

11:00 Debarkation talks

texas hold em tournament

heal em with chinese therapy (fees applied)

12:00 skin care solutions

golf clinic

12:15 Bridge players meet

12:30 ice carving demo

comedy trivia

slot tournament

golf lessons

 

(maybe this weekend I will upload my Fun Times.

 

Gone are the Capers.

 

We were on the ship last month and I have to agree with all of this!!! Muster drill was a DISASTER! My grandma is in a wheelchair, and we had called numerous times to see if there was a place for special assistance to go to (like all of our other cruises). They told us just to go to the muster station and from there they would direct us where to go. We got there and they just told us to stand off to the side while the muster drill was going on outside. There were two other people in wheelchairs and their families with us, and none of the staff came by to demonstrate anything.

 

The entertainment staff too.... we hardly saw any of them. Liz was more invested in socializing with other staff members than doing her job. We did think that Little John did a great job and will definately be a future cruise director.

 

We were also disappointed with the lack of activities. The capers (we didn't have the funtimes yet) were fairly bare compared to our previous cruises.

 

TVS in the cabin are flat screen Zeniths. Some people ask about taking DVD players or their video games. There are no hook ups in the front and we tried to see behind the tv but couldnt move it far enough to see any hook ups. I can imagine a person fitting a hand back there to hook it up.

 

Haha I did this too... I attempted to hook up my portible DVD player, but the space to get behind the TV was so small and I ended up accidently unplugging the power cord. It was definately a challenge to try and get that plugged back in!

[Ykgorbie]

Did you say there are no more "Capers" left in your cabin each evening ????