Carnival Freedom Funship 2.0 upgrades - my thoughts

[caribsun]

Thanks for the warning on the Playlist shows, I will stop at the Alchemy Bar first and order order a couple of martini's before attending the shows.

[RetesGirl3]

Take care of the Freedom for us. Will be getting on her when you get off. :)

I'm sailing on Freedom next Saturday. Just off the Splendor repo two weeks ago today.

 

I honestly don't get what the big deal is with the hatred of the Playlist shows. I don't expect Broadway and think the "high school" comments are just a tad harsh. I quit going to the shows about 10 years ago (after only a couple of cruises) because I thought the singing was so bad. I've actually started going to shows again. I very much enjoyed both The Brits and whatever the Motown show was a couple of years ago. I could not care less about a live band and think the use of the "special effects" is pretty clever.

 

I don't know if I'll go to any shows next week. I'm solo and part of the Premier Casino cruise, so I may be spending most of my evenings in the casino (never done one so don't know what sort of activities to expect).

 

I still primarily cruise for the ports (and will get three new ones next week; had 3 new ones on Splendor). Any comments about your ports?

 

I'm looking forward to Guy's Burgers again (have only had them on Conquest last year). And I love the Fish & Chips.

 

I don't typically drink hard liquor but when I do, it's usually a margarita. I may have to try that concoction at the Alchemy Bar. Sounds intriguing!

 

I suspect I'm going to like Freedom more than Splendor (which was good, but only good; not great).

[Rh2458]

We saw most of the shows a few weeks ago. We walked out in the middle of the 80's show when the blond male singer came out with a guitar and started playing Jessie's Girl. The show was very cheesy and that part just put it over the top in it's cheesiness. Heart of Soul was OK, and the 88 Keys, with the darker-haired male performer as lead was much, much better, and was quite enjoyable. It really is like a high school musical type of show, but as I said some was good, and one was just down right cheesy.

[shukapaw]

I was surprised to see this thread revived after being dormant for 5 months.

 

As I stated in the original post, These are just my thoughts. I'm not trying to dissuade anybody from sailing Carnival. However, a big part of what my wife and I look forward to in a cruise is being entertained. For that reason, the removal of the original shows and implementation of the Playlist Production shows impacts the quality of our vacation. If you are not one who attends the shows, then the other improvements should make your trip more enjoyable.

 

@kakennedy@me, sorry the Alchemy staff on your ship was subpar. What did you not like about Guy's burgers? They seem to be pretty much universally liked.

 

@NCTribeFan, maybe comparing the shows to a high school production might be a bit harsh but it is accurate IMO. The shows really were a disappointment, especially since entertainment is something we look for in a cruise. As you stated, you'll spend the lion's share of your time in the Casino so the performances should have little or no bearing on your enjoyment of your trip. Like you, I'm mainly a margarita guy but you should take some of your winnings (think positive) and try one of the Fiery Tropical Passion Martinis at the Alchemy bar.

 

Brian

[NCTribeFan]

I didn't even notice the original date. Sorry! I was just happy to see something about Freedom.

 

But, one question - when did you arrive at the port? I sailed from FLL twice, back in 2007 & 2009. My 2009 cruise was my first Platinum. At that time, when we showed our FunPass, the (one) scanning line was stopped and we were put through, then upstairs to the VIP check-in.

 

That was before the days of dozens of FTTF people on every sailing. And it was on Miracle, so not as many passengers as Freedom.

 

Just wondering if there's a dedicated security line for Plat/Diamond/VIP/FTTF? And how long it might all take.

 

Going to take a cab from the hotel but have no idea what time I should request it. I know it's a quick ride to the port (staying at the Hyatt Place Convention Center). But, of course, I'd like to beat the crowds and board as early as possible.

[Rh2458]

I didn't even notice the original date. Sorry! I was just happy to see something about Freedom.

 

But, one question - when did you arrive at the port? I sailed from FLL twice, back in 2007 & 2009. My 2009 cruise was my first Platinum. At that time, when we showed our FunPass, the (one) scanning line was stopped and we were put through, then upstairs to the VIP check-in.

 

That was before the days of dozens of FTTF people on every sailing. And it was on Miracle, so not as many passengers as Freedom.

 

Just wondering if there's a dedicated security line for Plat/Diamond/VIP/FTTF? And how long it might all take.

 

Going to take a cab from the hotel but have no idea what time I should request it. I know it's a quick ride to the port (staying at the Hyatt Place Convention Center). But, of course, I'd like to beat the crowds and board as early as possible.

 

Yes, there's a dedicated line to the far left as you enter with no line (at least when we were there about 10:15 I believe). There's also a separate smaller group of chairs for the FTTF and truthfully I don't know where the rest of the groups that have priority were waiting as I just saw them walk the group first to the door and then we followed the end of the line of priority members that board before the FTTF.

[NCTribeFan]

Thanks. I don't want to get there so early that I end up sitting around for hours but, of course, would like to board as early as possible. :D

 

I have also read a few reviews where people arrived at 10:30 and didn't board until 12:30. Don't think those were the priority folks, but still! I'm sure that if there are wedding parties it slows things down. Hope no one is getting married over Thanksgiving weekend. :p

[cruizinisthebest]

Thanks. I don't want to get there so early that I end up sitting around for hours but, of course, would like to board as early as possible. :D

 

I have also read a few reviews where people arrived at 10:30 and didn't board until 12:30. Don't think those were the priority folks, but still! I'm sure that if there are wedding parties it slows things down. Hope no one is getting married over Thanksgiving weekend. :p

 

That would be me and my family back in August. This was only the second time we left from Ft. Lauderdale. The first time was many years prior to FTTF. Anyway, I had received the email about arriving after 12:30. Ignored it like 99% of everyone else that got it. We arrived at Port Everglades around 10:30 and were all checked in ready to be by 10:45/10:50. We had FTTF and were put with the rest of the FTTF folks. Well long story short, embarkation was delayed. By the time everyone gathered in the port, there was no separation between FTTF and regular passengers. People were all over the place!

 

Once boarding started around 12:30, the priority folks in the lounge went first. Then FTTF and so forth.

 

That may have not been the norm, but it taught me a lesson. From now on I will get to the port around noon. Kids fell asleep waiting, and a lot of people were flipping out arguing with port staff. I have to say, there were a few folks who had FTTF that behaved the worst. :rolleyes:

[steph7021]

We are sailing on the Freedom in May out of Galveston. When does the ship move? I imagine the question of when to get to the port differs on location? I think we've always arrived to board in Galveston around 11. Cruising out of Florida seemed lots busier and different than Texas.

[NCTribeFan]

Ah. I've never gotten the "don't arrive until xx:xx" email. I've always said in the threads people start that they should ignore it if they choose, but to know that they may have a long wait once they arrive.

 

Most people tend to just arrive when they want - early.

 

My first FLL sailing (Dec 2007), our shuttle got stuck while dropping someone off for Princess. We were blocked in by trucks delivering supplies. By the time we got to the Carnival pier it was about 12:30. We didn't get on the ship until 2:30. I was about to pass out from hunger. I had no idea it would be the way it was. Now I make sure I have a snack in my carry-on, just in case!

 

Just one of the reasons why someone on my Roll Call and I are just going to share a taxi (shuttle from hotel to pier is no longer free). Like I said, don't want to be super early but would sure like to avoid most of the crowd.

 

Thanks for all the input folks. Didn't mean to hijack the thread!

[springs741]

Steph, Freedom leaves Fort Lauderdale on February 2,2015 and arrives in Galveston on February 14th,2015. Her first sail date is February 15, 2015.

 

Since Galveston is our home port we sail out of there most of the time. In the past if we have had FTTF we try to get to port by 10:30 but when we have regular embark we go later to avoid the line. If the ship coming back from Belize we go even later. Last September we waited until after 1:00 to arrive at port. Lines we long but moving well and we were able to go straight to our stateroom.