Just off the Freedom - review to follow

[elliebelle]

So just some background - 4th CCL cruise - traveling just DH & I

 

This trip had some ups & downs ! NOT our overall favorite but still a nice vacation

 

Will download photos & get started this evening !!

 

Freedom is ready for an overhaul for sure !!!

[going2cruz]

So just some background - 4th CCL cruise - traveling just DH & I

 

This trip had some ups & downs ! NOT our overall favorite but still a nice vacation

 

Will download photos & get started this evening !!

 

Freedom is ready for an overhaul for sure !!!

 

 

I've been saying the same thing for three years now and the last one did me in.......consider giving someone else a shot next .... 20k later I'm giving Celebrity a try......

[elliebelle]

Yes we have agreed it is time to try another line - just to "compare" we met some very nice couples one of whom is on week 3 of 5 weeks of cruising with 3 different lines !!!

 

They have 50+ cruises and had some VERY insightful info : )

 

I will elaborate on "OUR" experience in the review -

[elou]

If you have the daily fun times, could you post. Thanks

[cruzkitty]

I will be looking forward to your Review and Pics, Elliebelle!

[elliebelle]

If you have the daily fun times, could you post. Thanks

 

Yes I have them all & will get them posted for sure :)

[navybaby1113]

Looking forward to your review. We leave on the Freedom in 2 weeks.

[Rena921]

So just some background - 4th CCL cruise - traveling just DH & I

 

This trip had some ups & downs ! NOT our overall favorite but still a nice vacation

 

Will download photos & get started this evening !!

 

Freedom is ready for an overhaul for sure !!!

 

Can't wait for your review. I agree that some areas of the ship are worn, especially the auditorium....but this was our favorite cruise hands down and I honestly cannot say anything negative at all. The crew from Pablo the Maître'd, Z & Y the casino hosts, Anna the wine sommelier in the steak house, Inotan and Indah in Bar Neauveau, Virgil in the Swingtime Bar (Virgil, it was dead in there but we ain't mad at ya..... FREEBIRD) to the Captain were nothing but warm, generous, and absolutely fantastic. The atmosphere and food were probably better than any others that we have done before. We had such a great time, we booked her for our daughters wedding in March. We also favor the conquest class ships as we are sailing on Liberty in July.

[evanAction]

Can't wait for you're review! Cruising on Freedom 2/2. Wish we could have gone after the drydock, but not worried. Give us good weather, booze and food and you can't ruin our vacation. :)

 

 

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[livintheshiplife]

So just some background - 4th CCL cruise - traveling just DH & I

 

This trip had some ups & downs ! NOT our overall favorite but still a nice vacation

 

Will download photos & get started this evening !!

 

Freedom is ready for an overhaul for sure !!!

 

Did you hear anything about the drydock?

 

 

Sent from my Carnival Laptop

[ToriB]

I can't wait for your review. I'll be on the Freedom in May!

[goober1102]

looking forward to your review!! We leave on Saturday and was hoping you could answer a couple of quick questions, either here or in the review.

 

1. What movies are playing on the big screen?

2. Who is the Piano Bar entertainer?

3. Who will be in the comedy club?

 

 

Thanks in advance!!!!!

[rdevine10]

Looking forward to the review as well. We are trying the Freedom the last cruise before drydock :eek: :D

 

Cant wait to hear all about it. But I figure its got to be better than the cold winter weather we have now.

[Prphan2]

Anxiously awaiting your review! :p

[elliebelle]

So sorry for the delay. I must honestly blame my crazy job. Without further delay lets give my first shot at a review a go...

 

OK so I will try not to repeat too much but.. just some background... DH and I were cruising together just the two of us !! This was our 4th cruise and all with Carnival. Several years ago I made huge career change and part of that possibility included NO vacation budget for 4 years... as much as I missed and needed vacation it was worth it. See I am already off track....

 

We have always cruised with a group so this was a change for sure. So, as of Friday 1/3 I had not booked a hotel for Friday & Saturday. We originally booked the Embassy Suites but then cancelled that reservation thinking we would stay in Orlando. Well last minute we changed our minds and attempted to make reservations in Ft Lauderdale and everything was booked.

 

Ultimately I had to go against every fiber in my body and use Priceline name your price option. Well for $99 a night we ended up at the Westin Beach Resort. It was very nice, the staff were helpful and friendly. The room was very clean and comfortable. Here is the view from our room

 

[elliebelle]

The weather in Ft Lauderdale was not great. When we got in Friday night it was rainy and it rained all day Saturday. We didn't really care we were winding down and getting into vacation mode. By the time Sunday morning came we were rested and ready to get on the Freedom.

 

I purchased FTTF and for us it was the best $50 I have ever spent. We checked out of the hotel at 11:15 on Sunday morning and got to the pier at 12 noon. Once we stepped foot in the terminal we just kept walking from check in right on board we were in our room with our luggage at 12:35 it was the easiest and best check in EVER.

 

So we had balcony cabin 1105 which is the Spa Deck

 

Pretty standard balcony room

 

Now you will notice in the above picture some of the reasons I say the Freedom is overdue for a facelift. If you check out the balcony drape, several of the hangers are broken - did it effect my cruise NO but the ship is showing some wear and tear.

 

We were not overly impressed with being on the " top" deck of cabins. Our balcony had NO privacy. Folks on deck were directly above us and there was no cover to the balcony so when it rained you could not go out and there was no shade at all. Again did it ruin our trip NO. We still enjoyed both the room and the balcony.

[elliebelle]

Celebrity Silhouette was in port with us :

 

We enjoyed a lovely sunset from the balcony of our cabin

 

 

Once we were settled in we decided not to go to the dining room for dinner. We had chosen any time dining but honestly were so curious to explore that we decided to explore the ship a little and hit the lido.

 

So for all you food porn lovers.. sorry we had a slight mishap with a memory card so the pictures of food and a some interior pix of the ship were lost but we have plenty of others to show.

 

So the lido food was in my opinion blah.... for some reason we did not love the food on this cruise. The deli was consistent and good and always had yummy sandwiches and thanks to friends on here we knew we could make any sandwich grilled ect.. we did eat there several times. The 2 crew members working the deli were another story. We honestly always saw the same 2 people working there & found that there was not only a serious language barrier but they were very short with some of the guests. They were not with us but we both witnessed some exchanges between them and frustrated guests because the crew members could not understand them.

 

Pizza.. I don't know I feel like such a Debby downer but we did not like the pizza at all.. and hate to start a trend but again found the crew member who worked there to be .. well .. unpleasant.. he was not the usual friendly crew member we are so used to encountering.

 

Some of the theme stations were better. The Mongolian Wok was great as was the salad bar. We were not impressed with the nightly buffet at all. The food was very bland and just was not our favorite ship for food :(

 

On a much more positive note the Fish & Chips were FABULOUS. I will admit to sneaking a snack there more than once. Yummo and probably my favorite food the whole cruise...

 

We ended Day 1 with smiles on our faces and excited to have nice weather in the forecast for Key West the next day. More to follow...

[hammsz]

looking great, looking forward to more pics

[michelle1836]

thanks for posting. cant wait to read the rest!

[navybaby1113]

Looking forward to more of your review and pictures!

[dahlin43]

I was on this cruise! The FTTF was the best thing we bought as well. It helped with getting on the ship really quickly. It's funny how each person cruise could be different. I didn't do the deli or pizza. I don't like how there is only one person on for pizza and honestly, we rarely made it back to the aft pool, so we always forgot about the pizza. We were always at the grill for hamburgers.

 

I don't want to hijack! Can't wait to relive this cruise. Thanks for writing a review :D

[Vitality08]

Can't wait for you're review! Cruising on Freedom 2/2. Wish we could have gone after the drydock, but not worried. Give us good weather, booze and food and you can't ruin our vacation. :)

 

 

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I'm also on the 2/2 sailing. Can't wait!

[Joie]

We are going in March.....can not wait for the rest of your review.

thank you

[evanAction]

Going in 17 days! Can't wait for the rest of the review!

 

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[Jimmy Geegitz]

We are on Freedom in 30 days. looking forward to your review. I figured it would show some wear knowing its going to drydock. But we got a great deal on this so no worries. Also don't like the upper deck balconies. They say that is an upgrade but I prefer deck 6 & 7. Quiet and private. 8 gets all the noise from the lido.