Carnival Freedom was our very first cruise. We did not know what to expect, but we were VERY pleasantly surprised. We had such an enjoyable time that we did not want to come home, and we are currently planning our next cruise. For anyone hesitant about cruising, don't be...just book one!
Embarkation
5 out of 5
The Freedom had experience weather issues the night before our cruise causing it to come into port late. We were notified via email that our embarkation would be late. We were first time cruisers so we didn't know what to expect. It did seem a little hectic at the port since passengers from the prior cruise were still disembarking, but overall the process was very easy and everyone was friendly and helpful.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The main dinning room was wonderful! We enjoyed meeting new people and getting to know them over the course of the cruise. Our waiters Luis and Sabeur were AMAZING. The variety of meals offered were excellent! We tried foods we had never eaten before but will eat again.
For our anniversary dinner, we ate at the Sun King Steakhouse. It was superb!
The buffets were wonderful! There were so many options. There really was something for everyone.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
The fitness center was very nice. We did a couples massage in the spa. WOW! It was amazing and the ladies who did our massage were very kind and professional.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We went to all the stage shows. It was amazing how the entertainers gave such quality shows and a different show each night. The comedians at The Punchliner were good and the different musicians throughout the ship were great.
Children's Programs
We did not have children with us.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Our waiters Luis and Sabeur were OUTSTANDING. They were so friendly and made us feel right at home. Our room steward Surasti was OUTSTANDING as well. She called us by name every time we saw her and she kept our room immaculate. Guest Services was always helpful and very professional.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
It was amazing how clean the ship was with nearly 4,000 people onboard. We saw crew members cleaning and tidying all the time but they were never in the way or obtrusive.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Considering we were rarely in our cabin. It was perfect for our needs. There was plenty of storage in the closets, drawers and under the bed. It was always clean and the bed was super comfy.
Ship tip
If you've never been on a cruise, book one now! It is AMAZING and we will be sailing again.
We did a catamaran and power snorkeling excursion. The catamaran and it's crew were superb! We did not get to snorkel because a storm the night before had churned up the ocean floor making visibility poor and the ocean itself was a bit choppy. The crew did their best to make the best of our excursion. It was the #1 Party Boat in Jamaica!
What we did not enjoy was the several blocks we had to walk to Margaritaville. From the moment we stepped off the catamaran people were trying to sell us weed. We couldn't walk 10 steps without being approached by someone else. The crew was great in that they told us not to buy anything from anyone and to just keep going and they spaced themselves out amongst us to keep us safe. I would have been worried if we had kids with us. If we were to do Jamaica again, we would choose a resort excursion that would be safer or an excursion that did not go to Margaritaville. However, we did have the BEST margaritas ever at Margaritaville.
Grand Cayman was beautiful! We had originally signed up for a Discover Scuba excursion but bad currents caused it to be cancelled. We ended up going to the Cayman Turtle Center. This excursion was pleasantly wonderful. We had to take a bus to the center because we were not able to port in Georgetown. This was not a problem though. Our bus driver was very informative and gave us great information and history about the island. The Turtle Center was great and we got to snorkel with the sea turtles...definitely a highlight of the trip.
We did the Amazing Secret River Excursion in Playa del Carmen so we were not in Cozumel long. Rio Secreto was beyond words! I would recommend this excursion to everyone!
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
