My View: Freedom (and the verdict on 1700 vs. 7408)

[APDMOM]

The Connoisseur Club: This is just outside the Star Lounge on deck 5:

 

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

The Main Dining Room - 3 levels:

 

Of all the ships we have cruised, the Freedom class MDR's are the most beautiful:

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

Schooner Bar:

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

A few more of my favorite ship views:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 6, 2015 by APDMOM
Typo

[APDMOM]

Posting my favorites from our previous cruise:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

[SIZE="3"]I think that is it for now :)

Later, I will post the Adventure Ocean and Teen programs.

If there is any interest, I can post the Compass also. I know there was a recent thread that posted some of the days. [COLOR="Red"]If anyone is interested, just ask. I will gladly post them.[/COLOR]

[/SIZE]

[APDMOM]

[SIZE="3"][B]Adventure Ocean Programs and Handouts:[/B]

Babies and Toddlers:[/SIZE]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0048_zpsy1usfuqb.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0048_zpsy1usfuqb.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0049_zpsqaldqkmr.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0049_zpsqaldqkmr.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[SIZE="3"]Young children:[/SIZE]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0034_zpsvikluwj4.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0034_zpsvikluwj4.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0035_zpsrfwtogri.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0035_zpsrfwtogri.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0036_zpso4rizvef.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0036_zpso4rizvef.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0037_zpspnbqnez4.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0037_zpspnbqnez4.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[APDMOM]

[B][SIZE="3"]Dailies for ages 3-11:

Day 1:

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0032_zpsndzboq8d.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0032_zpsndzboq8d.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0033_zpsct1qeje3.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0033_zpsct1qeje3.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

Day 2:

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0030_zpsv9prsvdj.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0030_zpsv9prsvdj.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0031_zpsqeqsismy.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0031_zpsqeqsismy.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

Day 3:

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0028_zpsr5qh7s1t.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0028_zpsr5qh7s1t.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0029_zpsdp2rrb3k.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0029_zpsdp2rrb3k.jpeg[/IMG][/URL][/SIZE][/B]

[APDMOM]

[B][SIZE="3"]Ages 3-11 Continued:

Day 4:

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0026_zpsighoocuc.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0026_zpsighoocuc.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0027_zpsvposwlfo.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0027_zpsvposwlfo.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

Day 5:
[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0024_zpsmqqlocxz.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0024_zpsmqqlocxz.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0025_zps7lmeorto.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0025_zps7lmeorto.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[/SIZE][/B]

[APDMOM]

[SIZE="3"][B]Ages 3-11 Continued:

Day6:

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0021_zpszsx1dp0s.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0021_zpszsx1dp0s.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0022_zpsphz3pcuc.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0022_zpsphz3pcuc.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

Day 7:

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0019_zpsi7ubabuo.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0019_zpsi7ubabuo.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0020_zpsnzjorcn2.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0020_zpsnzjorcn2.jpeg[/IMG][/URL][/B][/SIZE]

[APDMOM]

[B][SIZE="3"]Teens Ages 12-14:

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0038_zpsddh1pwlg.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0038_zpsddh1pwlg.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0039_zpst1sqxfpe.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0039_zpst1sqxfpe.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0040_zps4diuygec.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0040_zps4diuygec.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0041_zpstkrlujuq.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0041_zpstkrlujuq.jpeg[/IMG][/URL][/SIZE][/B]

[APDMOM]

[SIZE="3"][B]Teens Ages 15-17:

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0042_zpsy0pdounh.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0042_zpsy0pdounh.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0043_zpskv2n7oeu.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0043_zpskv2n7oeu.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0044_zpsajiboycc.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0044_zpsajiboycc.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0045_zpsnghqkaqv.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Adventure%20Ocean/DSCN0045_zpsnghqkaqv.jpeg[/IMG][/URL][/B][/SIZE]

[cruiselvr04]

Thanks for your review and aft comparisons.

We have stayed in both 7408 and 1700. Although the balcony is better in 7408 the room size wins out for us in 1700. Also more privacy on the balcony in 1700. 7408 balcony is awesome but the crew deck is below it and the lights there are on all night. Hinders star watching and you can sometimes hear the crew talking.

1700 balcony can get stuffy but is very private and having all that room in the room is great. There is a small cost factor there too however as a D1 will cost a little more. We nabbed 1704 for a future cruise. Love the afts and the walk is good for us.

[tlatrice]

This was a wonderful review! Totally took me back! Thanks for sharing! I hate we didn't actually meet but you were an awesome roll call buddy!:D

Take care and happy cruising!

[APDMOM]

[quote name='cruiselvr04']Thanks for your review and aft comparisons.

We have stayed in both 7408 and 1700. Although the balcony is better in 7408 the room size wins out for us in 1700. Also more privacy on the balcony in 1700. 7408 balcony is awesome but the crew deck is below it and the lights there are on all night. Hinders star watching and you can sometimes hear the crew talking.

1700 balcony can get stuffy but is very private and having all that room in the room is great. There is a small cost factor there too however as a D1 will cost a little more. We nabbed 1704 for a future cruise. Love the afts and the walk is good for us.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for weighing in on the verdict. Good point about the crew area! I forgot to mention that. I am definitely glad we experienced both so we could find our favorite... and it is also a good thing it is not everyone's favorite. :)

[APDMOM]

[quote name='tlatrice']This was a wonderful review! Totally took me back! Thanks for sharing! I hate we didn't actually meet but you were an awesome roll call buddy!:D

Take care and happy cruising![/QUOTE]

Thanks, Tamara! Maybe we will meet on a future cruise... you never know :)

[workathome]

[quote name='APDMOM'][SIZE="3"][B]The Verdict on the balconies:[/B]

In order to explain our verdict, I will share some comparisons:

Measurements of balconies (roughly, using DH's shoes)
7408 and 7708 = about 196 square feet
1400 and 1700 = about 175 square feet

Inside measurements:
7408 and 7708 = (standard for E1)
1400 and 1700 = about the size of a junior suite, but with regular bathroom

Having experienced both of these, [COLOR="Red"][B]the E1's win with flying colors[/B][/COLOR] (7408 and 7708), and here are the reasons we came to that verdict:

1. Although the surface of the balconies are very similar, the corner of 1700 and 1400 is very crammed, as the roof slants down with a sharp angle. This really limits the useable area. (DH is 6'4")

You can see it pretty clearly in this picture:
[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS%202015%20Review/Cabin%20compare/DSCN3899_zpsoxgzijp1.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS%202015%20Review/Cabin%20compare/DSCN3899_zpsoxgzijp1.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]


2. Most days, 1700 was too hot to use in port, especially when no breeze came from the aft of the ship. There is no draft that can cut through, like there is on 7408 and 7708 (as it has the large opening to the side).

Opening seen clearly in this picture:
[URL=http://s834.photobucket.com/user/APDMOM/media/FOS7408/efcf88014631b17bdd46060fada612b8_zpsab31754d.jpg.html][IMG]http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz269/APDMOM/FOS7408/efcf88014631b17bdd46060fada612b8_zpsab31754d.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

3. We spend a lot of time on the balcony itself, and therefore do not mind the smaller rooms. Our cabin hacks (coming up shortly) make up for the decreased storage.

4. The view from 7408 and 7708 encompass a lot more of the side of the ship, whereas the view from 1700 is more confined to the aft of the ship.

5. We like climbing stairs! There was only one flight of stairs up to the Windjammer, and we prefer deck 7 for the additional exercise before breakfast :D (and to avoid climbing 7 flights of stairs after dinner :eek: )
[/SIZE][/QUOTE]

I agree completely with your comparison. We had 1400 on Liberty two years ago and absolutely loved the room and the balcony. We were also on this cruise with you this Thanksgiving and had room 7408. The room size was fine, but that balcony can not be beat! I also spend a lot of time on the balcony and even hung our hammock. I am spoiled now by both of these cabins.

[jtdlmc]

Awesome review! Thanks!!! We are in 7408 in February - can't wait :)

[APDMOM]

[quote name='workathome']I agree completely with your comparison. We had 1400 on Liberty two years ago and absolutely loved the room and the balcony. We were also on this cruise with you this Thanksgiving and had room 7408. The room size was fine, but that balcony can not be beat! I also spend a lot of time on the balcony and even hung our hammock. I am spoiled now by both of these cabins.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for your input! I so wish Oasis had a similar "secret" large balcony at an affordable price. That is our favorite ship, but the balconies are so expensive...

[APDMOM]

[quote name='jtdlmc']Awesome review! Thanks!!! We are in 7408 in February - can't wait :)[/QUOTE]

Glad you enjoyed it. Take good care of "our" balcony :D You are in for a treat!

[APDMOM]

[COLOR="Red"]Final offer for the Compass... If anyone is interested, I will post them. Otherwise they will be tossed this weekend.[/COLOR] Sniff-sniff... that will mean the cruise and post cleanup are officially over...:(

[Cruzinbabe06]

Thank you so much for posting!

I enjoyed reading.:)

[APDMOM]

[quote name='Cruzinbabe06']Thank you so much for posting!

I enjoyed reading.:)[/QUOTE]

You are welcome!

I am going to side-track my own thread for a moment here... I see you have done an MSC cruise and also try a variety of cruiselines. Would you mind sharing your opinion on the pros and cons of MSC? Would you recommend MSC based upon your experience? The prices are very tempting :)

[racerxspeedy]

Thanks for the great review. We are looking forward to our deck 7 aft corner next spring even more now. You can't go wrong with either room. We had the deck 10 aft corner this year - those cannot be beat for value or space. If you have more than two in that cabin the extra space and seating space is a blessing

[Sergio11]

Thanks for the great tips!