We like the Conquest class ships. I particularly like Freedom over the Conquest because it has an actual Red Frog Pub on the promenade deck. It's a fun place to hang, play games, have a drink. We have YTD and the hostesses were very good about honoring our seating requests.
As mentioned earlier, this cruise had lots of trivia during the day and every night had karaoke, both my favorite activities. (This hasn't been the case on other cruises).
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Perhaps because we had priority access, embarkation was smooth and immediate. Worse part was manuevering through the gridlock to drop luggage off at terminal 2 and exiting to offsite parking was a mess.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
We took advantage of sea day brunches where we could get delicious steak(filet) and eggs as well as on the only place on the ship to get lox and bagels at no additional charge. Some of the seafood dishes in the MDR seemed to have similar sauces but overall we were pleased with selection and service. The only problem with the deli is when they only have one person working behind the counter. Waits are terribly long, especially when you have passengers asking a bizillion questions when it's their turn to order. Ditto with wait times at Mongolian Wok. To me, not worth it. We didn't have dinner on Lido but lunches were fine. Tried the BBQ once but brisket far too overcooked for my taste. At the steakhouse husband had the cowboy ribeye- huge steak - too much to finish. I had lamb chops that were perfectly cooked. Dessert options at steakhouse leave much to be desired - safest bet is the cheesecake. I'd avoid art at the table - we did that on one cruise and never again. Guy's Burgers and fries are always great and so are the breakfast and lunch burritos/salads at the Blue Iguana cantina. We questioned if there was alcohol in any of the chocolate martinis and some of the specialty drinks but overall we were satisfied which is why we keep coming back.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Lots of trivia and karaoke! The fitness center seemed to have many out of service treadmills and for some reason they kept the blinds closed when facing away from the sun, thoroughly blocking any view.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We appreciate all the musicians. Wish they would have rotated The Latin Boys into the atrium or Red Frog Pub rather than keeping them in the smokey casino area where we could only briefly enjoy them while quickly passing through.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Literally EVERY crew member we encountered greeted us with a smile and a big hello.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Ship was clean and well maintained. Alas, they promenade reeked of cigarette smoke from the casino.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
We've done three 4J cabins on the Breeze where we had a full size cabin plus that super perk of a window that looked out over the bow of the ship. Unfortunately this cabin category on the Freedom was significantly smaller. We had to take turns letting each other pass to get to the vanity, bathroom, or closets. On of the closets jutted out a bit and we got bruises walking into it at night. I honestly don't know how two heavyset people would be able to maneuver around such a tight cabin space. Also, the "view" was more obstucted than on the Breeze. They added some high steel over the railing making it impossible to see anything unless standing next to it. Bed was comfy.
Ship tip
We've sailed on her before on a balcony and will be back on her again in a much larger Grand Scenic Ocean View cabin.
Best port of call!! Great beach (no seaweed!) with tons and tons of chairs. One can rent a floating mat for $20 for the day. Fun activities and they did an excellent job with many serving stations for the BBQ lunch - burgers, hot dogs, chicken, salads, etc.
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