All Things Freedom of the Seas!

[Clarea]

Is RCC okay with taking their beach towels off the ship or should I plan on taking my own?

 

Where is this "secret" door to get to the front bow of the ship to do my "I'm King of the World" impression?

You can take Royal's towels off the ship. As long as you return the towels before the end of the cruise, they don't care.

 

The secret door is on the starboard side of the lounge called Pharaoh's Palace, deck 5 forward.

[DrD]

You can take Royal's towels off the ship. As long as you return the towels before the end of the cruise, they don't care.

 

The secret door is on the starboard side of the lounge called Pharaoh's Palace, deck 5 forward.

 

You can also get there from the promenade, just walk forward until you get to stairs.

 

I'm not sure why it's considered a "secret," I guess not that any people try to walk all the way around the promenade.

[Repeates]

Does anyone have any reviews of the kids clubs/ teen activities? Ages 7, 9, 15

We will be cruising around Spring Break.

Also, which shows did you take the kids to that they really enjoyed?

[stones902]

Has anyone ever done the Mystery Dinner Theater? Is it worth doing? How do you make reservations?

 

I've done it before. Personally didn't care for it because 1) it was too campy and the cast wasn't into it IMHO; and 2) they did it on the first night when I prefer to be exploring different areas of the ship.

 

That being said, there were others at the same show that liked it. The best part was meeting a few others that we were friendly with during the remainder of the cruise.

[Rockswsalt]

Does anyone have any reviews of the kids clubs/ teen activities? Ages 7, 9, 15

We will be cruising around Spring Break.

Also, which shows did you take the kids to that they really enjoyed?

 

I'd love to hear some recent feedback on this as well. My kids are 17 and 10. Thanks!

[soccercrazy]

I am sailing this weekend with DH and 17yr old son and his friend. I will post my reviews along with the boys thoughts when we return.

[Rockswsalt]

I am sailing this weekend with DH and 17yr old son and his friend. I will post my reviews along with the boys thoughts when we return.

 

 

Perfect! Thanks so much, I look forward to it!

[SarahD112]

How much earlier do you need to be at the shows for seats?

 

I read doors open 30 minutes prior to show for those who reserved seats. Those who did not have to wait until 10 minutes to show time and fill in remaining seats. We did tix for everything for everyone, just in case. We're a group of 13 and will want to sit together.

[jndsilver31]

How much earlier do you need to be at the shows for seats?

 

My DW and I were on the Freedom last Sept.(Our very first cruise ever). We were going to sign up for the Mystery Dinner but several posters on here said the show wasnt worth the $50/person, so we didnt go. So I can really answer your question, but ask and you might get 100 different responses.

 

We are going on the Freedom again in Oct but this time doing the West Carib.

 

Jack

[Repeates]

I am sailing this weekend with DH and 17yr old son and his friend. I will post my reviews along with the boys thoughts when we return.

 

Looking forward to that......thank you.

[Bellamiko]

I read doors open 30 minutes prior to show for those who reserved seats. Those who did not have to wait until 10 minutes to show time and fill in remaining seats. We did tix for everything for everyone, just in case. We're a group of 13 and will want to sit together.

 

So does this mean if you have a late dinner seating at 8 pm you would have to reserve for the 7 pm show? There is no way you would be out of the dining room in time for the 9pm show, is this correct?

[cruzeluver]

So does this mean if you have a late dinner seating at 8 pm you would have to reserve for the 7 pm show? There is no way you would be out of the dining room in time for the 9pm show, is this correct?

 

Correct. Dinner in an hour would be tough, and why rush? You're on vacation!

[soccercrazy]

We sailed FOS Feb 3-10/13. Son and friend both 17, had a great time. I asked them for input before posting.

 

I suggested the Teen "Meet and Greet" on the first night, having read that suggestion from other posts. My son and friend met a few other guys their own age and a couple of girls the next day and they all became great friends over the week.

 

They admitted that perhaps I was right - Meet and Greet was a good idea! The trip would have been very different if they hadn't met their new friends.

 

We had walkie talkies with us for content during the day(dinner plans etc), we didn't use them in the evening (shows, casino), we couldn't hear each other. At dinner we discussed each others plans and they called us when they returned to their room at 1am (as per curfew). We eat dinner together every evening but saw very little of them while on the ship as they were having such a great time with their new friends. We caught up on the days activities at dinner and while on excursions.

 

They continue to text, skype and facebook their new friends and say the "Meet and Greet" is a MUST!

 

They took full advantage of the Soda card, well worth the extra cost and loved Sorrentos for late night pizza.

 

 

 

They participated in some of the organized teen acivities but mostly made there own entertainment. They played mini golf, basketball, swam

[MrsPete]

1. I have a quad interior connecting room on Deck 9 (category K). Do these rooms have a chair or couch in addition to the beds? Does anyone happen to have pictures of these rooms?

 

2. Do all staterooms have safes and fridges?

 

3. Do we need tickets/reservations for any of the shows onboard? Can any of these be booked before we leave?

 

4. Are kids allowed in the cantilevered hot tubs? Are there any hours during which kids are allowed in the Solarium?

 

5. Does the Sorrento's pizza taste like frozen pizza? Or is it actually good?

 

6. Does the Tutti salad bar appear in the Main Dining Room only on sea days? Or every day?

 

7. Does the Johnny Rockets offer breakfast?

 

8. I'm doing the Western itinerary. Which ports have docks and which are tendered?

 

9. Are the DECT phones still in practice? What are the requirements to get them?

 

10. Do they still hand out free lanyards at Adventure Ocean?

 

11. Can kids get spa treatments (like a pedicure) with me?

 

12. Has anyone had recent success taking a case of bottled water onto the ship?

 

13. For express checkout, when can you realistically expect to leave the ship pier (with luggage in hand - on a shuttle).

 

Sorry so many questions! Sometimes reading through these boards just gives me ideas for more questions! I'm an obsessive planner!

I've not stayed in an interior room, but I think they're extremely minimal. I wouldn't expect a chair. It might also depend upon whether you have a connecting room (because that requires a door and takes up more space).

 

All rooms will have a safe.

No rooms have refrigerators; they have devices that look like refrigerators, but are really just coolers. They will keep cold things cool but will not bring room-temperature things down to cool.

 

Tickets are not really needed. We've never had any trouble getting seats, but we also don't wait 'til five minutes 'til showtime and expect to find a dozen seats together.

 

16 is the minimum age for the Solarium, which includes the cant. hot tubs.

 

Sorrentos' pizza tastes like frozen stuff -- but the good quality frozen stuff. We do eat that at home, but on the ship we can find plenty of better choices; noteably, the small sandwiches in the Promenade Cafe. Our kids, however, snarfed up the pizza.

 

The main dining room is only open on at-sea days, and the Tutti Salad will always be offered. It is absolutely as good as everyone says it is.

 

Johnny Rockets is open only for lunch and dinner (breakfast is available on the Oasis and Allure?).

 

Western . . . is that Labadee, Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel? Expect to tender only in Grand Cayman.

 

Who cares about phones? It isn't hard to keep up with your family.

 

No, my kids have never had Ocean Adventure lanyards.

 

Ships are iffy on whether kids can go to the spa. IF they allow it, it's likely going to be during prime island-stop time only. Regardless, get your pedicure before you leave home. It'll only cost half as much.

 

You'll have no problem bringing water onboard; however, there's no need to do so. Glasses of ice water are readily available in the buffet for free, and the water is good quality.

 

What you're asking about is Self-disembarkation. If you pack lightly, this is the way to go. You must be able to carry (or roll) your own luggage off the ship without assistance. You don't need to put your stuff out in the hallway the night before, and you don't have to search for it in the terminal the next morning -- big time savings. Disembarking from Liberty, we were up before the sun and ate an early breakfast. Went back to our rooms to grab our suitcases, walked straight off the ship -- no lines yet. We were through Customs, loaded into our van and out of the parking deck minutes after 7:00 am. With a 14-hour drive, we felt it was necessary to hit the road quickly.

Disclaimer: You cannot count on this happening again. If the ship is delayed in any way, you might not be able to disembark as early as we did -- even if you're up and ready at an early hour. I would never recommend an early plane flight.

No clocks, digital or otherwise in the cabins. Also no IPod dock

I haven't been on Freedom (yet, but I have sailed its sister ship Liberty), but other Royal ships have a TV channel that displays the time 24 hours a day -- it's just a black background with white numbers. We've found it to be an ideal nightlight. Edited February 18, 2013 by MrsPete

[Repeates]

We sailed FOS Feb 3-10/13. Son and friend both 17, had a great time. I asked them for input before posting.

 

I suggested the Teen "Meet and Greet" on the first night, having read that suggestion from other posts. My son and friend met a few other guys their own age and a couple of girls the next day and they all became great friends over the week.

 

They admitted that perhaps I was right - Meet and Greet was a good idea! The trip would have been very different if they hadn't met their new friends.

 

We had walkie talkies with us for content during the day(dinner plans etc), we didn't use them in the evening (shows, casino), we couldn't hear each other. At dinner we discussed each others plans and they called us when they returned to their room at 1am (as per curfew). We eat dinner together every evening but saw very little of them while on the ship as they were having such a great time with their new friends. We caught up on the days activities at dinner and while on excursions.

 

They continue to text, skype and facebook their new friends and say the "Meet and Greet" is a MUST!

 

They took full advantage of the Soda card, well worth the extra cost and loved Sorrentos for late night pizza.

 

 

 

They participated in some of the organized teen acivities but mostly made there own entertainment. They played mini golf, basketball, swam

 

Thank you for the information! Did they go to the shows with you, and if so, which ones did they enjoy? Were there some nights that you didn't care for the food/menu in the MDR and would have preferred specialty dining? Any special excursions that you really enjoyed?

[soccercrazy]

Thank you for the information! Did they go to the shows with you, and if so, which ones did they enjoy? Were there some nights that you didn't care for the food/menu in the MDR and would have preferred specialty dining? Any special excursions that you really enjoyed?

 

 

Well funny you should mentions the shows :). DH and I thought they would go to every show with us :rolleyes:. They lasted 10 mins into the first musical show, fortunately we were on the back row so they made a quiet exit. The thought the magician/illusionist show was really good, they sat with their new friends not us. The Ice Show they found good as well, we sat very close to the ice and since both boys enjoy hockey they now have a new appreciation of figure skaters and what they do. The other musical shows they didn't go to.

 

In the MDR there was on night my son didn't care for the menu so he ordered the beef sliders and fries from the "Classics Menu " which is the same every night.

 

We did the Western Itinerary and would recommend the Seaworld Observatory (GC14) which is a glass bottom, semi sub-merged submarine in Grand Cayman.

[cruising to paradise]

Just booked Freedom for Jan. 2014, can't wait.

[murfturf]

What are the theme nights and dress code for the Eastern itinerary?

 

This is what I have based on an old Compass:

 

1st: Casual

2nd: Formal

3rd: Smart Casual and also later 70's Dance Party

4th: Tropical Night (says "Ugly Tropical Shirt" contest in Schooner bar)

5th: Casual

6th: Formal

7th: Casual

 

I also see that there is a Pirate Parade for the kids on the 4th day.

 

Can anyone confirm if these are still correct - or even have an Eastern compass to share! Thanks :)

[Repeates]

Would this be about the same on the Western with theme nights?

[MLW070]

I need to get to reading most of this thread. Our Freedom cruise is getting closer. Can't wait until May 19th!!

[dirvin0500]

Has anyone been contacted by e-mail by the Concierge on Freedom. We are leaving in 5 days and still no word. We normally receive an e-mail 1-2 weeks prior but this trip - nothing. Does anyone know or have an e-mail address for the concierge?

[Clarea]

Has anyone been contacted by e-mail by the Concierge on Freedom. We are leaving in 5 days and still no word. We normally receive an e-mail 1-2 weeks prior but this trip - nothing. Does anyone know or have an e-mail address for the concierge?

[NOPARSE]FR_Concierge@rccl.com[/NOPARSE]

[NorbertsNiece]

Someone has posted a heads up to a live review this coming Sunday..... :D

[RichardE954]

[noparse]FR_Concierge@rccl.com[/noparse]

I used this email address for my May 5 cruise and the response I got back was basically "inquire once you are onboard". :mad:

[jndsilver31]

Pre-booking shows is an option on FOS but certainly not necessary except for maybe the ice show. I pre-booked everything and didn't have my card scanned once--but I missed the ice show so maybe they were scanning there?

 

Yes, they scan the SeaPass card at the Ice Show