We are so done with Carnival after this. Between the horrible sewage smell and the loud metal banging, it was enough for us to decide to stick with another line in the future since we’ve only had these issues on Carnival. They really need to fix their issues and stop pretending like they don’t exist when guests complain about them.
Embarkation
2 out of 5
Had everyone arrive several hours early because of the scheduled shuttle launch, then packed us inside the terminal until the normal boarding time. Your appointment time didn’t matter, you just got in line.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
It was better than I expected considering the ship smelled so bad. The coffee shop was always great. The dining room food was good, as was the pizza, Guy’s Burgers, and Blue Iguana.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
Really not a lot going on. I was surprised. Karaoke was fun.
Entertainment
1 out of 5
Went to the 80’s show and OMG. Little Millie was cute but she should never have been allowed to sing Whitney Houston’s songs. It was disrespectful how bad it was. There was one dancer who was great, but the rest of the cast was shockingly bad. We didn’t attend any more shows after that.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Staff was top-notch, as always. From the room attendant, coffee bar, dining staff, bar staff… everyone was great.
Ship Quality
1 out of 5
Terrible layout. Multiple levels you couldn’t walk through, you’d have to go up over and then back down. The staff were always cleaning. But, the sewage smell that permeated the ship was overwhelming. Several people complained to guest services who said they sent someone but they didn’t smell anything. It’s bad enough that Carnival has let this go on so long, but to pretend it doesn’t exist is insulting.
Cabin / Stateroom
1 out of 5
Oceanview cabin was clean and a good size, but that was overshadowed by the sewage smell and the constant metal banging sounds. Literally all hours of the day and night, you could hear metal banging. It was like sleeping above a hammer testing factory. The AC ran full blast the entire time, and if you turned it down at all the cabin would become stiflingly hot. We kept the curtains closed to keep the sun from heating up the cabin. If you left them open at all, it would get super
Hot.
Ship tip
Stay away. The ship smells absolutely horrible. The AC doesn’t work everywhere and September in the Caribbean can get a little warm.
Went through Margaritaville, which looked nice. Ended up at Jack’s Shack. We rented chairs but really didn’t use them as we stayed in the ocean the entire time. Water and beach were absolutely beautiful.
The beach is rocky, so bring water shoes. The water was clear and warm though, and we spent most of the time in our hammock floats. The tender over was quick and the view was beautiful.
Got to port over an hour early but weren’t allowed to disembark until the normal time. If you carry your own luggage, you can just walk off and it doesn’t take long once they’ve made the announcement to begin.
I hate you had a bad experience on your cruise. I'll just have to see how things go when we board her in February. I'll be celebrating a birthday so I'm sure I'll find something to like.
Need to stay on land. Find another lines...a few weeks ago we on her. 11th floor and threw out the ship was excellent.. Man people.sure do like to criticize. Pick on the Freedom...a great ship
I hate the layout of every Carnival ship I've been on and completely agree with your frustration at not being able to just go from one end of the ship to the other without accessing multiple floors. Royal Caribbean for the win on ship layout!
Sailed the Freedom in August. Actually thought it was a beautiful ship. I didn’t see all the issues that some seem to have with it. It is older but nice in my opinion. Feel like future cruisers need to hear all opinions.
Thank you for taking the time to share your review. We are looking forward to our upcoming cruise on the Freedom and will compare it to our great May cruise on the Magic. We will be on a higher floor so I can only hope that will help reduce any odor issues. I hope your next cruise is more enjoyable for you.
😎🚢☀️🩴🏝🪸🐠🌺
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