Back from the 4/8 Freedom of The Seas! Awesome~!

[PizzieDuster]

Out of our 5 cruises, this was by far the best! The ship was amazing! The Flowrider was a huge hit for my DS14 and DS17! My DD8 loved the H20 Zone as did her father and I! :thumbsup2 We didn't even get to the family pool :rotfl: The last day at sea we finally relaxed at the adult pool and the jucuzzis. My DD8 loved the club. Last year she wouldn't step foot in it on the Explorer. This ship, all clubs were hopping. Loved the casino. Loved the food. Loved everything!

I will be writing more. My husband is coming home with pictures on a disc for me so I can add pictures!

If you are thinking of this ship or the Liberty - I'd do it in a heartbeat! Our favorite port was Jamaica! :) :hippie:

[goscudder]

We'll be sailing on the Freedom next Easter and can't wait! We loved the Wonder, but DCL is getting too pricey for us, especially since we can only sail during the kids' school breaks. I couldn't believe how much cheaper the Freedom was during Easter week as compared to the Magic.

How do you think the kids' club on the Freedom compared to DCL? How do you think the Freedom handled all the people onboard?

[professorandmom]

How was the sleeping - my kids have REALLY complained when they heard about the pull out couch and that it really is cushions on the floor?
Barb

[PizzieDuster]

We'll be sailing on the Freedom next Easter and can't wait! We loved the Wonder, but DCL is getting too pricey for us, especially since we can only sail during the kids' school breaks. I couldn't believe how much cheaper the Freedom was during Easter week as compared to the Magic.

How do you think the kids' club on the Freedom compared to DCL? How do you think the Freedom handled all the people onboard?

Goscudder:

The kids club was much better than on the Explorer. It was more active like DCL. My daughter wanted to go there all the time. We only used a babysitter once, when after a very long excursion, she was asleep - out - at about 8pm. My DH went to guest services and we had a babysitter within 20 minutes, they usually require a 24 hour notice, but I suspect this was not necessary as the clubs were more active with more activities. They were also more broken down. We missed our dining one night because DD8 was in a "circus" parade and show in the promenade. We ate at the buffet, which was always just as nice.

With three pool areas and the Flowrider, the ship never felt crowded. With the except of reboarding lines. All other ship's had very short lines. The Freedom had lines that looked like a Disneyland ride! But, they moved very fast, their tenderes fit 300 and had two going at all times with one waiting in the water. It went very fast! But the tenders hold 300...takes awhile to get off them but it never felt that much different then Disney.

The worse the crowd was - Labadee. My usually patient husband just had it! He actually lectured with the comparison of Disney's Castaway Cay thrown in for punctuation point.

#1. The slide they show.... you have to pay for it. Stand in line once you are there to sign a release. The only good thing, it was an all day long pass and our DD8 just loved this! She was out of her mind! She kept going on it again and again...luckilly we set up camp right next to it.

#2. The water park you see.... you have to pay for it. Worse, you are only allowed a one hour time slot. Worse, the line for this was so bad we actually witness a full on witch slap fight between two woman! Actually hitting each other and screaming. We were all so shocked...it was UGLY! One of the woman went to go get her husband and I got my kids the heck out of there! DD8 says "gosh, don't they know we are on an island?" Anyway, stand in line...sign yet another release.

#3. Book the wave runners as soon as you can. They looked fantastic and everyone I talked to said it was awesome! We tried to get DS17 who has his license a timeslot, they were all booked. Duh.

#4. My DH got applause when he complained - you can't put a water park out there and not let everyone play on it......have your certain allowment of kids, but make it available at no cost like Disney! They were blowing whistles all day long to get the kids out who snuck in or were too rough.

The Flowrider was the best asset on the ship. It was fun watching everyone try it. If your kids were in line, it went fast, the atmospher was just new, lively, exciting, entertaining, incredible view, wondeful warm breeze, music, with a bar right next to it :) They would have a microphone and would have the pros come out and do fancy tricks, it was a blast! The instructors really did help each and every one person. They put a divider down the middle on sea days. Girls, wear a tshirt! :) You did have to sign a release every day... My favorite memory is watching my sons get more comfortable with it and started doing tricks and laughing with their friends. The ship's photographer got great pictures ... awesome!

They did block out certain times for certain ages. Which was nice! They actually carded my DS17 - to be sure he could join the "teen time". The amount of dads was so much fun! I saw one dad who probably went on the Flowrider more than I went in the Casino.... and that's alot! ;)

[becca_n_wa]

Where is DH? Come home already - we want PICTURES!:yay:

[PizzieDuster]

How was the sleeping - my kids have REALLY complained when they heard about the pull out couch and that it really is cushions on the floor?
Barb

Barb:

We had a couch in our Junior Suite. It doesn't pull out, but they brought in a roll a way bed. I believe there ARE some couches that pull out. Not sure on this. We did this last year. My teens had an inside that was able to have two beds pull down from the ceiling. They just had the queen separated into two twins.

The bedding is blissful! :cloud9: There is no creaking, no banging, it's just beautiful!

[ColoradoMom!!]

popcorn::

[BCV02]

subscribing to this thread. We are going on the FOS in July. Can't wait! :goodvibes This ship sounds like a lot of fun!

[FreeTime]

I have been debating about cancelling our 4 day Wonder because we can get Liberty for the same price. I am trying to get DH to go for it. So tell me, how much does it cost to use the water slide and water park?

[lornak]

Thanks so much for posting! I leave on the FREEDOM this Sunday! I'm going for a work seminar so I'm not bringing my kids with me. We've done 5 Disney cruises which WE LOVE---so I'm so curious to experience the FOS.

I'm anxiously awaiting any more info (and pics!) that you may have!

[Jerseylicious]

Awesome review, Pizzie! :) So happy you had a good time!!!! :banana: Can't wait to see the pics!!!

[Nik's Mom]

Glad you had a great time. We are looking at cruising that ship for next year! I can't wait to see pictures!

[goscudder]

Thanks so much for the great information!! Can't wait to see the pictures!

[Jerseylicious]

Just to hold you guys over, check out this site: http://www.thepreismans.com/Freedom.htm (http://www.thepreismans.com/Freedom.htm)

That's what I lived on before I boarded Freedom myself. They are GREAT pictures!!! :)

I can't wait to see Pizzie's, though!!! :dance3:

[ejw]

We were on Freedom the week before - april 1st. Agree with PizzieDuster that this was a fantastic cruise. Loved the H2O zone, rock climbing, flowrider, family pools, cantilevered hot tubs in the adult zone. Have to say that the cruise director, richard spacey was extremely entertaining and funny. He was a highlight on this cruise. It's a beautiful ship. The promenade is impressive with it's parades. My DD only spent a couple of hours in the club, there was just so much else to do. So many bars and clubs with tons of different music for the adults. For the adults, the love and marriage show and the quest were so funny. The main entertainment was very good, coming close to disney quality. the ice show was amazing. Enjoyed all the ports. Have to agree with PizzieDuster about Labadee and the water park. We did it and were very disappointed with it. It's $15 a person, only get an hour and had a lot of trouble climbing the icebergs. My DH tried twice and couldn't do it. Not worth it at all. The rest of Labadee is nice. One other area that was a little disappointing was the food in the main restaurant. It was good but I wouldn't rave about it. A couple of nights had trouble finding a dish that looked good. With disney, never have trouble finding a dish and usually will find more that one. Quality of food is better on disney. I think having to feed so many people takes away from the quality. Overall a great time, but DH and DD still give the edge to disney but we would definitely cruise freedom again.

ellen

[mom2my3kids]

This looks like a beautiful ship.

[Jerseylicious]

This looks like a beautiful ship.

It definitely is! It's beautiful, fun, classy, AND has sooo many activities. That's why it's my favorite! :thumbsup2

[livvysmom]

Would a single mom with a 5 yr old daughter feel safe on this ship? I am debating chaning my mind on the DCL Mexican Riveria next summer or the Freedom. I already have the Magic booked. But... I could ALWAYS book the Freedom the next summer. See, I have that Oprah addiction.:lmao:

[Jerseylicious]

Would a single mom with a 5 yr old daughter feel safe on this ship?

I think you would be fine, as long as you follow common sense direction like any other female would. Even when I am traveling with a group, I never go out on the decks alone...that is something that would just freak me out personally, lol. Would you be traveling with your DD only, or other people as well?

[livvysmom]

I would just be traveling with my daughter. That is what I like about DCL. I think it is safe. We are getting ready for our first cruise. The Freedom looks really nice. I just wondered how safe it would be for a single person with a young child.

[Jerseylicious]

I would just be traveling with my daughter. That is what I like about DCL. I think it is safe. We are getting ready for our first cruise. The Freedom looks really nice. I just wondered how safe it would be for a single person with a young child.

I think you will be just fine. It's a VERY family-oriented ship, with the big draw being the H20 Zone, so you both will have plenty of company. :)

[PizzieDuster]

Thanks so much for posting! I leave on the FREEDOM this Sunday! I'm going for a work seminar so I'm not bringing my kids with me. We've done 5 Disney cruises which WE LOVE---so I'm so curious to experience the FOS.

I'm anxiously awaiting any more info (and pics!) that you may have!

lornak:

You are going to have a blast! I am going to watch you sail out!

If you go to Sorrento's, get the beef appetizer! My DH went and was able to get me this twice as a snack instead of room service's cheese plate! Yum. :banana: Chops was great! The filet melted in my mouth! Another yum. We never made ressies .. we were always able to call the day before or the day of and get in ;) They would call and that day and ask if we wanted sooner or later, etc. It was always no problem.

So busy with "back to real life business" I'm almost done loading my pictures.

I have a huge favor to ask. You can say no. No worries. :love: But I collect magnets from EVERYWHERE! I got a magnet at every port but did not get a "Freedom" magnet on the ship! Can you believe it! Can you pm and I'll send you $$ asap! You don't know how heartsick I was when I realized this after unpacking all 8 :scared1: suitcases. We are still putting things away :lmao:

My next trips are to Vegas and the Magic, out of California 6/08 if you need any return favors ;) Oh, or anything to do with USC? ;) :laughing:

Oh, when and if you buy a portrait, there is a fantastic portrait of the ship that they'll put next to the formal picture. It is taken from above and you can see all 3 pools and the Flowrider and it's a wonderful memory! Great shot!

:hug:

[ColoradoMom!!]

So busy with "back to real life business" I'm almost done loading my pictures.

:hug:

Oh my goodness, I can't wait!! :woohoo: I am looking so forward to hearing about the ports too! Sorry about Labadee. That type of info. really helps as I may just tell my DS (9 -- will be 10 then) before we get there, that we may just stick to the slide!

Thanks for doing all this -- wow, you are a night owl!

[janets]

Thanks for this report.

We're booked on LOS for NJ Teachers Convention week this year (11/3-11/10) and I'm very excited. It's really too bad about the water park and slide situation at Labadee. If it's going to cost that much pp, I'm going to probably skip it. I hate to have to explain to my 9.5 yo that we won't be doing it since it's only an hour of time and there are huge lines (I'm expecting a large crowd for that week) but I'm sure if he has the guts to try the Flowrider, he might be okay.

Then again, I'll have to play it by ear and see what it looks like when we go. I don't understand having something like that offered on your private island and then making people already paying a good sum pay extra for it when you stop there. It must be close to impossible to make younger kids understand when you don't do it.

[PizzieDuster]

I finally finished uploading our pictures. I had problems putting them order, with my DS17's camera and ours, I couldn't figure it out. I hope the captions help.

4/8 - Sun - Departed
4/9 - Mon - At Sea
4/10 - Tues - Cozumel, Catamaran Snorkel & Beach Break - then shopping
4/11 - Wed - Grand Cayman, Stingray City & 7 Mile Beach
4/12 - Thur - Montego Bay, Jamaica - DH, DS17, DS14 - Canopy Tour, zip line
DD8 and I - Catamaran Cruise, Beach and Fun, Margaritaville
4/13 - Fri - Labadee, Haiti - all day waterslide, aqua park (one hour)
4/14 - Sat - At Sea
4/15 - Sun - home



http://community.webshots.com/slideshow/558715086XWpSAX?mediaPosition=1&track_pagetag=/page/photo/goodtimes/friendsfun&track_action=/Owner/ActionsBox/Slideshow

[ColoradoMom!!]

I've been checking back and soooooo happy to see your post! Thanks!! LOVED the pictures -- awesome -- beautiful family! :goodvibes
Bonus on the USC pic's!! :)

Will you have time to write more about the ports and everything??? Why was Jamaica your favorite?? Dying for more ..........................

[goscudder]

Thanks for the pictures, I loved them! Can't wait for next March!

[LITTLEKID58]

Great Report TFS

[Jerseylicious]

Why was Jamaica your favorite?? Dying for more ..........................

I would like to know that too! I had been to Jamaica before, but only Ocho Rios, not Montego Bay. So before we went, we were basically told that MoBay was "the Bronx with water". :scared: But on the contrary, it was SOOO BEAUTIFUL! We took a short taxi ride to Doctors Cave (http://www.doctorscavebathingclub.com/). It was a GORGEOUS private beach, inexpensive and with food/drink service. And a beautiful view of Freedom! :)

[Lindy Loo]

Thanks for the information and all the photos. Im soooo excited now !


What was your experience of trying to eat at the special resturants that you pay for?

Also what was the prices like for the drinks?

Did they have live Texas Hold em at the casino or was it computer linked?

thanks

[Jerseylicious]

Thanks for the information and all the photos. Im soooo excited now !


What was your experience of trying to eat at the special resturants that you pay for?

Also what was the prices like for the drinks?

Did they have live Texas Hold em at the casino or was it computer linked?

thanks

I've only been to Portofino, and I've been there twice. Both times have been phenominal!!! The food, the drinks, the service....everything was BEYOND outstanding! I could never imagine having an entire meal taste beyond extraordinary, but each time it sure did at Portofino. I have never been to Chops, as we're not really 'steak people'. :)

The drinks on average were about $6.00 or $7.00 if I remember correctly.

Not sure about the Texas Hold Em or Casino question, sorry!