Had a blast on the Carnival Freedom 12/26-1/01

[Detroitcruiser23]

Our first cruise since the pandemic. Of course, I was nervous, but let me tell you, housekeeping was on duty all day and all night! None stop! (Like before, but a bit extra!) I had to leave an extra tip this time because they earned it! They made sure the railings, elevators, floors, chairs (in the casino, hallways, and lounge chairs) tables were wiped down. People wore their mask for the most part,  except the lido deck (swimming and drinking was happening there). The NYE deck party was risky ..  Folks were excited and drinking, ready to bring in the New Year! Overall, I would go again! Can’t wait to book another! Keep your hands clean! Wear your mask! And stay out of people face while you are drinking.. lol (some people was forgetting the rule about the social distance, I quickly reminded them, wink!)  I will add photos in a few. 

Edited January 1, 2022 by Detroitcruiser23

[cellfree]

Thank you for encouragement. We plan/hope to embark on Freedom January 23 for a B2B. We were on Pride after Thanksgiving and also found housekeeping, really all staff, very diligent. 

[linga]

Thanks for Posting.  I'm also on the January 23rd sailing and looking forward to it!! 🙂

[jetsfan58]

Same great service and attention to details provided on our recent Carnival Cruise. They get 5 stars for their efforts to keep everyone safe. We also witnessed many passengers reminding people who entered the elevators without their mask and/or wearing them below their noses to "fully mask up"!

[Susie]

Were the buffets self-serve or did the crew serve? We're hoping they serve like they did on our Princess transatlantic in November. No one tested positive at the end of that cruise. The crew was outstanding.

Thanks!

Edited January 1, 2022 by Susie
Additional info added

[jetsfan58]

Our buffet was all self serve with the exception of the infamous "Bacon"

[Guest BasicSailor]

31 minutes ago, jetsfan58 said:

Our buffet was all self serve with the exception of the infamous "Bacon"

Same here, there was a staff member cutting the chunk of meat they serve. Turkey, roast beef, etc

[Encore37]

4 hours ago, Detroitcruiser23 said:

Our first cruise since the pandemic. Of course, I was nervous, but let me tell you, housekeeping was on duty all day and all night! None stop! (Like before, but a bit extra!) I had to leave an extra tip this time because they earned it! They made sure the railings, elevators, floors, chairs (in the casino, hallways, and lounge chairs) tables were wiped down. People wore their mask for the most part,  except the lido deck (swimming and drinking was happening there). The NYE deck party was risky ..  Folks were excited and drinking, ready to bring in the New Year! Overall, I would go again! Can’t wait to book another! Keep your hands clean! Wear your mask! And stay out of people face while you are drinking.. lol (some people was forgetting the rule about the social distance, I quickly reminded them, wink!)  I will add photos in a few. 

Sorry but there’s no rule for social distancing if you’re vaccinated on Carnival.  

[valandemmy]

1 hour ago, jetsfan58 said:

We also witnessed many passengers reminding people who entered the elevators without their mask and/or wearing them below their noses to "fully mask up"!

 

Pretty fantastic...but I wonder how many people turned into A$$holes when asked to mask up

[ninjacat123]

What ports on your cruise? TIA!

[mondello]

1 hour ago, Susie said:

Were the buffets self-serve or did the crew serve? We're hoping they serve like they did on our Princess transatlantic in November. No one tested positive at the end of that cruise. The crew was outstanding.

Thanks!

Carnival buffets have been self serve since the restart. They do carve and serve the meat each day. The roast pork, roast beef and whole turkey all looked great. Also, they cut and serve at the dessert station, to keep everybody from making a mess.

[jetsfan58]

1 hour ago, valandemmy said:

 

Pretty fantastic...but I wonder how many people turned into A$$holes when asked to mask up

Unfortunately you will always have a few who just refuse to obey authority. Some passengers just exited the elevators and took the stairs. We mainly used the stairs for exercise and added safety. 

[Susie]

5 hours ago, Encore37 said:

Sorry but there’s no rule for social distancing if you’re vaccinated on Carnival.  

Actually, Social Distancing is still part of the onboard CDC Cruise Travel staying healthy protocol.

 

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/covid-4/coronavirus-cruise-ship

Edited January 2, 2022 by Susie

[Encore37]

1 hour ago, Susie said:

Actually, Social Distancing is still part of the onboard CDC Cruise Travel staying healthy protocol.

 

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/covid-4/coronavirus-cruise-ship

And you’re  sailing on Carnival.  They clearly state in their health and safety protocols that vaccinated guests don’t need to social distance.  

“Vaccinated guests ARE NOT required to maintain physical distance on board the ship”.  Quoted directly from Carnivals website.

[Denverdonkeys]

7 hours ago, Susie said:

Were the buffets self-serve or did the crew serve? We're hoping they serve like they did on our Princess transatlantic in November. No one tested positive at the end of that cruise. The crew was outstanding.

Thanks!

 Employee served is a red herring of a health procedure for COVID. Positive for some other things though.

 

On your princess cruise did everyone test upon debarking? I don’t know the transatlantic rules, but if they didn’t (like most other cruises these days), then you really have no way of saying nobody tested positive at the end. They might have been asymptomatic or tested on their own and not reported all the way back to princess.

[Susie]

 Yes, we’re sailing on Carnival.

 

I didn’t catch that on the Carnival  site. I will take another look tomorrow. 

[Susie]

We were tested late in the day, the day before disembarking in Ft. Lauderdale.
 

You’re right, there is always a chance that there could have been asymptomatic passengers or crew that might have tested positive days later. There are always going to be those possible variables. 

[Susie]

I appreciated not having to handle tongs and utensils that had been handled by other people ahead of me or for someone to handle after me if I was asymptomatic. It works both ways. 

[Susie]

56 minutes ago, Encore37 said:

And you’re  sailing on Carnival.  They clearly state in their health and safety protocols that vaccinated guests don’t need to social distance.  

“Vaccinated guests ARE NOT required to maintain physical distance on board the ship”.  Quoted directly from Carnivals website.

Found it. Thanks!

[cruisingguy007]

Glad to hear you had a great fun cruise! Awesome! I can't wait to cruise again. 

[Detroitcruiser23]

17 hours ago, Susie said:

Were the buffets self-serve or did the crew serve? We're hoping they serve like they did on our Princess transatlantic in November. No one tested positive at the end of that cruise. The crew was outstanding.

Thanks!

The buffets were self-served, life before. Like someone mentioned, meat carving and dessert table was handled by the servers.

[Detroitcruiser23]

16 hours ago, Encore37 said:

Sorry but there’s no rule for social distancing if you’re vaccinated on Carnival.  

SAYS WHO!??   MY RULES ARE: GIVE ME SPACE! and STAY OUT MY DARN FACE!! (unless you are a HOTTIE! LOL!) I may risk it all if you are fine! LOLOLOL 

[Detroitcruiser23]

15 hours ago, valandemmy said:

 

Pretty fantastic...but I wonder how many people turned into A$$holes when asked to mask up

The people I witnessed who were asked to cover up were fine with it. They knew the rules. When you walked into the dining area on Lido.. they have workers there to remind you to mask up! If you forget your mask on your lounger chair, they will give you one (they have a bag pack filled of them). When you are sitting eating, of course, you take your mask off to eat! simple! I enjoyed my cruise! I hope you will too! 

[Detroitcruiser23]

15 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

What ports on your cruise? TIA!

Hi, We left out from Port of Miami. We went to Princess Cay, Grand Turk, and Amber Cove. 

[Detroitcruiser23]

11 hours ago, Susie said:

Actually, Social Distancing is still part of the onboard CDC Cruise Travel staying healthy protocol.

 

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/covid-4/coronavirus-cruise-ship

HIGH FIVE, Susie!! -smile! Thank you!  I was "my" CDC while cruising. "Give Me Space please, thank you!" lol. Seriously tho,  if we were masked up,  of course, we can snuggle together (wink!). But on the Lido deck, near the bars.. and you don't have your mask on....  (all on my BUTTOCK, smh, waiting on the bartender) ..."Excuse me, mask on, or give me space, please!" - I did NOT play with folks!  I was hoping someone would get out of line with me! But, they respected my space, and move to someone else's BUTT! lol.