Carnival Freedom - Any tips, Secrets or Hidden Gems?

[Susan in Maine]

I'm going to use the title from another thread!

 

We're on the Freedom in November, and would love some inside infomation!

 

Susan in Maine!

[aml3679]

Been on her twice

 

James Love is a great cruise director

 

Loved Marciella for trivia 

 

The drinks were not watered down

 

Loved the live music and shows

 

Hated the Lido for food

 

Breakfast in MDR great

 

Loved the steakhouse 

[Pellaz]

The Upper, Empress and Panorama decks have a "Secret" area forward where you can go and watch sailaway, etc.   It is usually pretty empty and a great way to escape the crowds if needed.  It CAN be quite windy while the ship is in motion and occasionally the doors leading out to the secret decks will be locked due to winds.  (You can see them at the end of the stateroom corridors on those decks.)   

 

Since the area is kept dark at night so the bridge personnel can see forward, you can also get a great view of the sky if it's clear.   

[mz-s]

The BBQ above the Lido restaurant is a great place to eat away from the crowds of the buffet.

[Bostwick girl]

Just off April 6th. Nice ship, good size. Even tho it was right in the middle of spring break, the kids were very well behaved and most must have participated in the camp carnival programs.  Food in the MDR was good with great service from our wait staff. The casino was busy and bar service was good. Only complaint I had about casino was most of the slots I like to play are in the smoking section. Even then the smoke wasn’t too bad. Our cabin steward Viktor on deck 7 forward was the best ever! Didn’t do any shows or outdoor activities, have seen most of the shows several times. Anything specific you want to know, ask and I’ll try to answer. We’re going on her again in May.

 

[Pellaz]

On 4/12/2023 at 7:02 AM, mz-s said:

The BBQ above the Lido restaurant is a great place to eat away from the crowds of the buffet.

 

So very true, especially on embark day!  

 

Also, if Lido is crowded with no tables available (and that happens often on embark day), the Ol' Fashioned BBQ upstairs is a great backup seating area since it isn't normally crowded on embark.  

[Bostwick girl]

Another thing that was very helpful to me was having USB plugs in the lamps! 
 

[Robpuffdaddy]

On 4/12/2023 at 8:41 AM, Bostwick girl said:

Just off April 6th. Nice ship, good size. Even tho it was right in the middle of spring break, the kids were very well behaved and most must have participated in the camp carnival programs.  Food in the MDR was good with great service from our wait staff. The casino was busy and bar service was good. Only complaint I had about casino was most of the slots I like to play are in the smoking section. Even then the smoke wasn’t too bad. Our cabin steward Viktor on deck 7 forward was the best ever! Didn’t do any shows or outdoor activities, have seen most of the shows several times. Anything specific you want to know, ask and I’ll try to answer. We’re going on her again in May.

 

We had Viktor few weeks before you.  He is the best cabin steward we had ever had.  

[serene56]

if you have anytime dining- use the forward elevators to get there.

if you have traditional dining- use the aft elevators to get there.

any other way will cause you a dead end 

[Bostwick girl]

2 hours ago, Robpuffdaddy said:

We had Viktor few weeks before you.  He is the best cabin steward we had ever had.  

He definitely is that! Talked to Housekeeping Director at the Diamond cocktail party about Viktor, he said only the very best are assigned to the suites! I agreed with that because he was the best! My DH has a chronic illness that gives him issues a lot of times, unfortunately this cruise was one! He either stayed in bed or sat on the balcony the entire 5 days. When I would go out, if Viktor saw me by myself, he told me he would check on him while I was gone. Usually when I came back, he would let me know he had been sleeping when he checked or chatted with him on the balcony. Very compassionate man!

[evandbob]

If there is congestion on the 5th deck aft due to picture taking, etc., a little detour through the 4th deck can bypass the crowds.  So if you're in the aft dining room on deck 3 and want to get to the casino or forward theater, go up to deck 4, walk through the club, exit thru the right hand aisle and when you get to the stairs/elevator, go up one deck to the rear casino entrance on deck 5.

 

Works in reverse as well, of course.