Little bit older/smaller ship. Easy to learn your way around. Great Carnival FUN SQUAD and stage performers. LOVED my first 14-day cruise. Now...one week will just not be long enough in the future.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Very smooth and quck.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Carnival is what it is....food is good....Not Great but good. I did find service in the MDR (especially at breakfast) was VERY inconsistent most mornings.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Fitness center was nice. Enjoyed the pools but did find they were not always as clean as I would have liked. Played BINGO several times. Cruise Director TJ was absolutely, hands down the BEST on any cruise I have ever been on. Energetic, friendly, enthusiastic....he has a lot of charm and talent. Kept the crowd of considerably "older" travelers going for 2 weeks. No easy task!
Entertainment
3 out of 5
Stage performers were excellent...by this I mean the main production numbers in the Victoriana. DJ? I've experienced better. Violinists were very talented. The Latin music blaring nightly right outside the open casino space was not pleasant to me. The country performers...singer was ...uh...not the best. The comedians on the Freedom this trip were absolutely the worst on any cruise I have ever been on. The Punchliner hose KC from Canada was perfect and professional but the 6 different comedians we "experienced over 14 days got progressively worse as time went on. The comedy shows are typically one of my very favorite experiences on Carnival...and I go nightly to the adult shows. Not at all easily offended. These folks were just not funny and the last two, particularly not. Ajay (female) was pleasant....just painful to watch as there was no laughter and she really struggled to find ANYTHING to say. She did say it was her first time performing on a cruise ship so...yeah - just not funny. Mr. Washington? Complete gratuitous rudeness. He did not have a chip on his shoulder....he had a boulder. Absolutely NOTHING humorous about him. He was hateful and rude. I spoke with no one who enjoyed his "performance". KC even asked me the last day at Grove for St Jude if I was coming to the show that last night, as she had seen me in Punchliner the entire cruise. I gave her "the look" and told her no. She nodded and said "no offense, I understand". I have no doubt poor gal received a lot of negative feedback about Washington. He should NEVER be back on a Carnival ship. He said "I've been fired from Carnival twice before and I don't care. If you think I'm not funny, It's YOU. There are 200 people wanting this job and I have it so yeah...I'm funny". No Mr. Washington...you are NOT. If every I were to find out he was the scheduled comedian for a cruise, I would NOT book that trip! Think I've made my point. (The Production Troup would get 5/5 stars from me).
Children's Programs
No kids with me this trip. Actually, no kids on the boat....well...like a dozen or so. I am schedule to be back on the Freedom in a few months with my grandkids.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Room steward ART was awesome. Met every request with smile. The FUN SQUAD did just that....made it fun. MDR staff was hit or miss...most very good...a few, not so much.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Starting to show some wear. Rusty stairs on the Lido. Very foul sewer odor in many areas throughout the cruise.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Met expectations overall. Shower did not drain properly. Needs a dose of Drain X. I found the bed/linens exceedingly comfortable. Slept very well. Cabin Stewart Art was excellent.
Ship tip
Be aware...if you happen to travel with debit cards and go to Guest Services during the cruise to "change" a debit card for another, know that Carnival will place a HOLD on BOTH debit cards!!! I was NOT informed of this at the time. As for the Freedom specifically, GO TO THE PRODUCTION SHOWS. The Troup is fantastic. You will experience the BEST Cruise Director CCL has with TJ. If he is hosting an activity....GO. You'll have a good time. He keeps the crowd going!!
No excursion appealed to me...pretty limited. Just got off the boat to walk around. Afterward, I did hear from others that there is a very nice beach. Next time, I will visit there.
I was excited about going to Cartagena but in reality....just a large city with a lot of impoverished people begging tourists. I will do this cruise itinerary again but will stay on the ship when in Cartagena. Best part was the aviary we were funneled into at the end of our city tour. The birds were beautiful.
I will be going on the 14 day in the Freedom in a couple of months. I have a question about the “elegant/special nights in the MDRs. Are there 2 or 3 of these nights? Glad you had a good time on your cruise.
Thanks in advance 🛳
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