FREEDOM ....Disapointment Jan 7, 2017

[ASBJumper]

If a person enjoys soft drinks, the BP is a bargain. I love Coke....it is my one vice (yeah right).

 

Oddly, I do not care all that much for the taste of regular Coke from the new Coke product machines, but on the ship and, obviously, in the MDR one can get just regular Coke from the wait staff and from the bartenders.

 

That being said, my teenage sons (all string beans) love the variety that they can get from the machines on board and at the local chains (5 Guys, Firehouse Subs, Zaxby's, Wendy's, etc).

 

As stated previously, I LOVE soda... however I cannot have caffeine (wicked withdrawal migraines as soon as i go even one day without), so I stick to caffeine-free Pepsi at home. But again, I have 1 a day. Very, very occasionally I might have 2 in one day, and I feel kinda guilty when I do. No way would I ever exceed 2 sodas in one day - and on a cruise I will definitely be having at least one of them in port on port days, which will negate any savings and then the next day I would have to have.. what.. four..? five? sodas to get my money's worth? No thanks. Now - if we could share, sure. But feeling obligated to get at least 3 sodas a day, EVERY day, the entire cruise, just to be saving a dollar or so a day.. so not worth it. :(

 

But if kids are constantly leaving half their drinks and going back for "fresh" ones an hour later, then i can see how it might be worth it. We have a toddler who has never had soda and we dilute her fruit juice, so her sugar intake is minimal and she doesn't know what she's missing. I intend to keep it that way for as long as I can, LOL. :D

 

Thank you for the tip about bringing wine onboard - hubs & I are wary of bringing something made of glass in our luggage (we have canvas-type suitcases, not carbonite).. How do veteran cruisers/boozers (ha!) pack their wine bottles to ensure they don't shatter?

[shipfriend_max]

Sorry to read you have been disappointed with your Freedom otS experience!! :eek:

 

We noticed some of the same failures on our two RCCL cruises (Liberty, Vision otS).

Whily the food in main dining room always was between accpetable and good, at Windjammer buffet it was very poor - charred and overcooked potatoes and eggs for breakfast, same was true for lunch items the whole 8 days, and it was always hugely crowded at nearly any time.

further also our embarkation and disembarkation in Tampa (Vision otS) have been disastrous. At 11:00 am we arrived for boarding the ship, at 01:30 pm we were onboard and had the opportunity to have some lunch in the overcrowded Windjammer restaurant...

At disembarkation we needed to circumnavigate the whole promenade deck for 1 h 30', very stressful and annoying.

 

At the end we decided for us to avoid RCCL so far, since I do not believe in just having bad breaks on two different cruises.

We had the feel RCCL is not able to organize vacations for many people, while comnpetitors are able to do so...

Edited January 17, 2017 by shipfriend_max

[TheCount]

Well-behaved children are allowed access to the Concierge Lounge or Suite Lounge, even during cocktail hour. We use it as an incentive for good behavior, and it works. Our girls behave like princesses in the "Princess Room" or they do not get to enjoy the experience with us.

 

I appreciate the concierge that enforces the well-behaved" aspect. I'm not a fan of children bouncing off the walls or being noisy. But then I'm also not a fan of adults that do that either.

 

Well said!

We are off to FOS in few weeks and hopes that both lounges are the great places to meet and talk with frequent cruise folks. To date, have not had to experience the "kid factor" too often, but have experienced the over crowded lounge with can be just as troubling experience.

 

As for some of the other comments on this thread, this will be our 5th time on FOS and always had good experience and memories. As for MDR, we have become use to doing specialty dining for most of the week. MDR cafeteria has and is becoming tired.

 

Others commented on Celebrity brand cruise, and we have done this as well, found it to be a slightly older clientele with the quiet time starting way too early? The bars seem to clear out by 10:30? What's with that? Entertainment is not as good, but food in BLU and other specialties is very good (but can be pricey). Not a fan of the music entertainment moving around every two hours, but there are some great venues to catch live musicians actually perform.

 

Hope our upcoming FOS trip is a good one in the next few weeks.

Had enough of this Canadian deep freeze and snow/ice. :D

[rrshinn]

We too were on the sailing of the FOS on 1/07. After the tragedy and disaster of the FLL Airport on 1/06 we found the cruise to be a mixed bag. The only thing I'll say about the airport is we were fortunate but I believe every public venue needs to have a contingency/emergency evacuation plan and what I saw at FLL was a disorganized mess with mob madness trying to board buses with no plan I could see. I've done a lot emergency prep and drill work and if I was in charge of what I saw I would be embarrassed. Weather wasn't our friend for the first few days but overall the weather turned out ok probably the most wind and highest seas we've had on a cruise. All considered the ship rode well. We were in room 1030 (excellent location) with an excellent room steward and ended up with an excellent table (33) and servers. We didn't think the food was bad but we think we'll return to fixed time dining since our last few cruises my time has been their time and we end up making reservations anyway. Royal's my time still seems very disorganized to us. Worst among the lines. Overall an enjoyable cruise and one of our travel partners won the free cruise from the casino. The egg station in the windjammer was crazy and I went to one of stripers and asked him to take charge. Talked to one of the supervisors and he said they have a lot of new people and I think where it shows is in the first line supervisors. Booked Next Cruise onboard with Celebrity it's been a few years. Smooth seas.

[riclop]

Just returned from the Freedom of the seas. I am a diamond plus guests so I think I can speak freely with my experience, As I have always been loyal to royal.

1. Small children allowed in both the concierge lounge and the diamond lounge. I'm pretty sure it says 21 and older. The children were crying, standing on the furniture, one actually fell off the sofa and hit his head on the table. I thought the lounge was for a pre dinner drink to relax?

 

2. Apparently with the inception of the drink package, waitstaff around the pool and in the theater are hard to come by. You might find a random one or two floating around. I remember the day when I was asked by waitstaff nearly every 10 minutes if I need a drink. Not the case any more. If you want a drink, you might as well get in the line at the bar.

 

3. The dining room menus looked like a rat had been chewing on the corners. Very worn and tattered. The napkins were equally worn with snags and picks.

 

4. Our robes and bed sheets were stained.

 

5. The ships of this size and bigger are definitely gearing towards families with children. The Dreamworks sail away, parades and photo ops made it feel like I was on a Disney Ship. Great for families but not for those of us wanting a romantic type of cruise.

 

6. Forget about dress code. Anything goes in the dining room including shorts, tshirts and flip flops.

 

7. Disembarking was a disaster. The lines were winding in several different directions causing the guests to argue over where it started and where to go. When you asked for help by the staff they just pointed in a general direction and said "over there". Why not set up rope with lanes so we know where to line up? It wasn't the line that bothered me but the chaos.

 

I wouldn't want to end this without at least giving kudos to the activities staff. They were energenic and entertaining.

 

That being said, looks like my next cruise might be on the sister ship Celebrity. Perhaps it will be a little more of what I'm use to and looking for. We shall see.

 

RCL has gone downhill and the prices uphill.

[margaret91326]

To each his own. My review was not to come across as uppity but to just share my experiences. Obviously I'm not out to bash rccl just to bash it. I've been on 35 rccl cruises. The point to my review was to share some things I saw changing and to let others with the same concerns know so they were aware.

[Ocean Boy]

The egg station in the windjammer was crazy and I went to one of stripers and asked him to take charge. Talked to one of the supervisors and he said they have a lot of new people and I think where it shows is in the first line supervisors.

 

This is one response that really bothers me. It isn't my job to train the new staff. RCI should have them trained by the time they are put to work on their own. The cruise lines don't give us a break on price in return for training their staffs. This is the same reason I never book a ship pre or post dry docking and I have no interest in an inaugural cruise either.

[villager70]

Hi fellow cruisers: We were on the Freedom for 14 days in December and have sailed her several times before. We stayed in a junior suite on the ninth deck which we had stayed several times before. This is some of our observations:

 

1. Using pier 29 has always been a little more difficult for the last few years. We drove and used Park & go and were taken directly to the ship around 1030. The waiting area for suite ,pinnacle is a little small and also for diamond and above so they started embarkation around 1050.

 

2. Open windjammer at 1115 and we found food the normal first day buffet. We had no problem.

 

3. Common areas of the ship looked very good, and all areas very clean.

 

4. Cabins ready at 100pm and our suite looked like it did last visits. maybe a couple marks on furniture and easy chair just slightly worn. Bath clean and tile also , new grout. Very well pleased.

 

5. New balcony furniture Web strips gone and solid blue fabric. Two lounges,2 chairs and a table. Only trouble lounges about 6 inches larger but turned them and they were okay.

 

6. All crew we passed spoke and the entire two cruises all were very friendly

 

7. Diamond lounge is somewhat small and cappiccino machine was broke, heard from earlier back to back also broken and remained that way for our entire two weeks.Put contact paper on glass wall leading to outside area and locked the door cutting off access to often used overflow area.

 

8. Had my time at 800pm and never a wait and great service entire two weeks using several servers.

 

9Debarkation...This was a nightmare. Pier 29 has limited elevators,escalature etc. Walk offs called early but large numbers were carrying , dragging four or five pieces of luggage and couldn't get down escalator/stairs etc. and started a massive backup all the way up gangway to ship. We were # 4 and at 730 am they called numbers 4 thru 10 and the same time and the stampede began.

This backup was not the fault of customs as once in terminal both Mobil and regular lines moved great.

 

10. This was our 56 cruise and we always way the bad and good and the good always comes out on top. This was no exception but some adjustments on debarkations can be made

[Ocean Boy]

 

7. Diamond lounge is somewhat small and cappiccino machine was broke, heard from earlier back to back also broken and remained that way for our entire two weeks.Put contact paper on glass wall leading to outside area and locked the door cutting off access to often used overflow area.

 

 

Not happy with what I am reading here at all. Why was the outside area closed off?

 

Did they let people get get specialty coffee at the Cafe Promenade for no charge as has been my experience on other ships when the diamond machine has been broken?

[clarky213]

There are Sugar Free Soda options available from the Bars, and even more choice from the Machines if they are on Freedom.

[grand isle joe]

...........they have male strippers in the Windjammer now?..........I guess all the old ladies gut to bring a boat load of singles in the future....

:D

[Ocean Boy]

...........they have male strippers in the Windjammer now?..........I guess all the old ladies gut to bring a boat load of singles in the future....

:D

 

If they look anything like what is walking around on Orient Beach in St. Maarten there won't be anyone in the Windjammer.

[grand isle joe]

If they look anything like what is walking around on Orient Beach in St. Maarten there won't be anyone in the Windjammer.

 

........O God make it stop!!!!!............AGHHHHH I can't get that picture out of my head now!:eek::eek::eek:

[rrshinn]

Also we used luggage valet which was the best money spent on the cruise. Put the bags out the night before entering port and didn't see them again until we landed in Boston. We met our travel companions at 0730 for breakfast in the dining room and proceeded off ~0815 with just our carry on. Luggage valet let's you leave whenever you want no longer have to Sherpa all the bags. Cruised through the terminal and customs and was in the Uber XL by 0900 heading for FLL. Very smooth.

[Havin'fun]

I was also on the 1/7 cruise. I had a great time, everyone was very friendly. All I will add is the coffee machine in the DL worked everyday! :D

[troykahack]

I was also on the 1/7 cruise. I had a great time' date=' everyone was very friendly. All I will add is the coffee machine in the DL worked everyday! :D[/quote']

 

 

Hum... either it worked or it didn't work. ????

 

 

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[docd]

A five star experience for a three star price. Not going to happen.

[sgregel]

I sailed Freedom the second week in November. It was the first sailing out of Ft Lauderdale. I've sailed Freedom several times out of Port Canaveral and love the ship and staff. I'm sailing Freedom again in September out of Barcelona. The Nov. sailing was a mixed bag, but I still love the Freedom.

 

Negatives:

- Embarkation was delayed a couple of hours. Fortunately, we were inside and not out in the heat. My biggest complaint was there was no communication about the delay. The escalator was broken and they only had 2 elevators.

-Food in Windjammer - Somewhat of a decline, but okay for a buffet. The scrambled eggs were terrible. The fried egg station was awesome.

- Food in MDR - There have been some cut backs and a bit of a decline in quality. I was disappointed at the beginning of the week, but the food got better as the week progressed. I ordered the Chops Filet, $20 with the surcharge, and it was very good. I think they are pushing people to the specialty restaurants.

 

Positives:

- Service in Dining Room - We did MTD at 5:30 and requested the same table and wait staff every night. Best waiter and assistant ever! Excellent table by the window. Our waiter always brought an extra appetizer, entree, dessert for us to try. Excellent service.

- Disembarkation -Very organized and on time. Luggage was very easy to find. The line through customs took about 20 minutes.

- Cabin Steward - One of the best. Made up the cabin as soon as we left for breakfast and again at dinner. Very friendly and went out of his way to make sure everything was ok. Excellent service.

 

There were a lot of positives. I'm just focusing on what matters to most people. It wasn't my best time on Freedom, but it was a great cruise.

Sandy

[goldgirl2]

Maybe all the people that are so disappointed in RCI should find another cruise line or go on a land vacation. I've never felt disembarkation was disastrous. As in "A sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe, that causes great damage or loss of life". I've never seen rat chewed menus on a cruise. And I have never really closely inspected my napkin for snags and picks, it's usually on my lap. We have been planning this cruise for over a year. I plan on enjoying every minute of it. I don't care if I drink less then the package is worth. I don't care if the food isn't perfect. Heck I'm ok if they don't have pepper grinders[emoji33]. Yes I went there. There is so much negativity on these boards lately. Let's all just have fun!

Edited January 19, 2017 by goldgirl2

[troykahack]

Maybe all the people that are so disappointed in RCI should find another cruise line or go on a land vacation. I've never felt disembarkation was disastrous. As in "A sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe, that causes great damage or loss of life". I've never seen rat chewed menus on a cruise. And I have never really closely inspected my napkin for snags and picks, it's usually on my lap. We have been planning this cruise for over a year. I plan on enjoying every minute of it. I don't care if I drink less then the package is worth. I don't care if the food isn't perfect. Heck I'm ok if they don't have pepper grinders[emoji33]. Yes I went there. There is so much negativity on these boards lately. Let's all just have fun!

 

 

Pepper Grinders on Royal

 

 

 

 

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[grand isle joe]

Pepper Grinders on Royal

 

 

 

 

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..........why the discrimination? What about a salt grinder for the table?;)

[Ocean Boy]

..........why the discrimination? What about a salt grinder for the table?;)

 

Bad for your blood pressure.

[baileybrad]

Maybe all the people that are so disappointed in RCI should find another cruise line or go on a land vacation. I've never felt disembarkation was disastrous. As in "A sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe, that causes great damage or loss of life". I've never seen rat chewed menus on a cruise. And I have never really closely inspected my napkin for snags and picks, it's usually on my lap. We have been planning this cruise for over a year. I plan on enjoying every minute of it. I don't care if I drink less then the package is worth. I don't care if the food isn't perfect. Heck I'm ok if they don't have pepper grinders[emoji33]. Yes I went there. There is so much negativity on these boards lately. Let's all just have fun!

 

We were on the FOS 12/18/16 (3rd time on the ship) and had a great time even with a few bumps in the road. Only real negative is leaving out of Terminal 29 at Port Everglades can be a pain on return day if you are driving.

 

No ratty menus or snagged napkins were observed by our family. We were offered freshly ground pepper every night in the MDR. Friendly and courteous bartenders, room steward, MDR wait staff and employees in the WJ were our experience.

 

Hope you have a blast on your trip.

[goldgirl2]

We were on the FOS 12/18/16 (3rd time on the ship) and had a great time even with a few bumps in the road. Only real negative is leaving out of Terminal 29 at Port Everglades can be a pain on return day if you are driving.

 

 

 

No ratty menus or snagged napkins were observed by our family. We were offered freshly ground pepper every night in the MDR. Friendly and courteous bartenders, room steward, MDR wait staff and employees in the WJ were our experience.

 

 

 

Hope you have a blast on your trip.

 

 

Thank you for sharing your great experience!

[Lobudugas]

Just returned from the Freedom of the seas. I am a diamond plus guests so I think I can speak freely with my experience, As I have always been loyal to royal.

1. Small children allowed in both the concierge lounge and the diamond lounge. I'm pretty sure it says 21 and older. The children were crying, standing on the furniture, one actually fell off the sofa and hit his head on the table. I thought the lounge was for a pre dinner drink to relax?

 

2. Apparently with the inception of the drink package, waitstaff around the pool and in the theater are hard to come by. You might find a random one or two floating around. I remember the day when I was asked by waitstaff nearly every 10 minutes if I need a drink. Not the case any more. If you want a drink, you might as well get in the line at the bar.

 

3. The dining room menus looked like a rat had been chewing on the corners. Very worn and tattered. The napkins were equally worn with snags and picks.

 

4. Our robes and bed sheets were stained.

 

5. The ships of this size and bigger are definitely gearing towards families with children. The Dreamworks sail away, parades and photo ops made it feel like I was on a Disney Ship. Great for families but not for those of us wanting a romantic type of cruise.

 

6. Forget about dress code. Anything goes in the dining room including shorts, tshirts and flip flops.

 

7. Disembarking was a disaster. The lines were winding in several different directions causing the guests to argue over where it started and where to go. When you asked for help by the staff they just pointed in a general direction and said "over there". Why not set up rope with lanes so we know where to line up? It wasn't the line that bothered me but the chaos.

 

I wouldn't want to end this without at least giving kudos to the activities staff. They were energenic and entertaining.

 

That being said, looks like my next cruise might be on the sister ship Celebrity. Perhaps it will be a little more of what I'm use to and looking for. We shall see.

 

I was on the same cruise and I must express some disappointment as well. Not only were we disrupted by the FLL incident and the weather causing us to miss a port of call but I had the following

 

1. Room steward (superior balcony) was very late cleaning our room during the day. One day she didn't clean our room because she had training in the morning

 

2. Fridge in room is no longer stocked,you need to request the items you want and then they will stock

 

3. I booked Chops online before the cruise and then verified the day before while on the ship, when we arrived at restaurant the day of reservation there was no reservation and the restaurant was full

 

4. Menu in the dining room were worn out, the presentation of the meals have lost their lustre.

 

5. Disembarkation was a disaster. I have never seen this before. Almost two hours to get off ship, pick up luggage and get through customs good thing our flight was delayed!

 

These things will not deter me to not go on RCCL again but I must admit I was a bit disappointed.