Disappointed in Reaction to Fire and other Issues
Carnival Freedom Cruise Review to Caribbean - Bahamas
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 1 cruise (first)
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 15
4 Night Bahamas (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)
Sail date: March 21, 2024
Ship: Carnival Freedom
Cabin type: Inside
Cabin number: 2295
Traveled as: Family (young children)
Reviewed: 7 months ago
Review summary
I am frankly surprised by Carnivals lack of empathy and understanding for parities on Carnival Freedom when it caught fire. To have a company this large and impactful disregard their guests and the experience when stuck at sea is beyond my comprehension. If you were not on the ship then you can not speak to the situation or impact for the parties involved, especially with children. I am happy to hear that the future cruisers were treated appropriately but for the individuals that actually were impacted during the event to not be heard is neglectful. Lightning being the cause has not been confirmed and it is fair to say that their are other contributing factors when you have a boat catch on fire in the same area twice in a couple years. It is naive to believe that materials and other manufacturing and safety protocols did not influence the cause. There were multiple leaks in the ceiling and a cruiser falling in the water that is not even discussed. Buckets in the floor filling with water while the ship is on fire can not be covered up by flowing drinks and entertainment. I called to tell my family what was happening and the ceiling in the library started leaking on my head. Individuals with mobility issues were stuck on floors due to not being able to use the elevators. We were told all things were operating to full capacity which was not the case. We arrived home later than expected which disrupted plans and travel. We had no access to eat and the wait said 15 hours when we tried to book in a restaurant. We finally were able to eat after 10:30. I had to order room service at my own cost due to having hungry children and no other options. The cruise chose to have violins plan in the main entertainment area which was just bad form. We had costs on a port due to it not being the expected stop but knowing that we would be there for 12+ hours. We were told to book an excursion by the director because there is nothing to do at the port which was not an expected expense and if we didn't knew that we would have to pay for a taxi, food and for access to a beach. We were delayed on the boat due to a ridiculous and scary fight and then boarded to be delayed in leaving. I understand that protocols and policies must be followed but when this occurs the appropriate action is to then have compassion for the fact that this is a burden to experience guaranteed. I am a single mom who worked very hard to provide this experience to my children and would expect better from Carnival when their experience/itinerary does not meet the standards expected. I booked through RCI because we are platinum members and expected the best experience. This was not the case and now Carnival is not taking accountability for what occurred. They have expressed that they "did their best" but this is not the 5 star experience expected by a member of RCI.Embarkation
We had to go get our own bags when we boarded early.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Long lines but deli, pizza and burgers were good. Same areas were desired by all cruisers. Buffet was crowded and repeated foods. Restaurants were a long wait. At one point our wait said 15 hours. We didn't eat on the night of the fire until 10:30 and our food was awful. We went to bed hungry.
Onboard Activities
The pools were open other times but now able to be used due to the wind and movement of the bus. We weren't able to use any of the activities at the top of the boat for much of the trip due to wind, boat movement and then a FIRE.
Entertainment
Entertainers were up beat and fun. Playing violins while the boat was on fire was not a great choice.
Children's Programs
The programs didn't accommodate my 9 year old. He was too old for the younger activities and wasn't allowed in the room to play video games. My older son didn't go and leave his brother out. They wouldn't let him play even when him brother was with him.
Service and Staff
Our room steward, Jon, was great. The individuals at the bars outside were not upbeat and seemed annoyed. The waiters in the restaurant rushed us and acted bothered when we asked for things after getting our food.
Ship Quality
The layout was fine. The library had a leak in the ceiling. I went in the library to call home when the ship was on fire and started getting water on my head. When I reported the issue to a security guard he was not surprised and acted like it was normal. Another area leaked and a woman fell in the water. Buckets had to be put out to catch the water.
Cabin / Stateroom
Our cabin was hot on top and the temperature would not change. The bathroom smelled and we had to hold our noses when going in to the restroom. It got worse the longer we were on the ship.
Ports of call
This is where we boarded and got off the boat. I feel that the people could have been more pleasant and not assume that individuals know what to do in these situations.
Thumbs Up
0
Princess Cays (Cruise Line Private Island)
We didn't get to go to Princess Cays due to the weather and wind. We were then rerouted to Freeport after being on the boat in a storm for over 24 hours while the ship was on fire. We were told that we should book an excursion due to the port at Freeport which was not coast we planned to endure. We had to pay for a taxi, food for over 12 hours and access to a beach that was not part of the itinerary expected.
Disembarkation
We did nit disenbark at the scheduled time due to the FIRE and a ridiculous and dangerous fight that we had to find shelter from while at the Freeport port. Cruisers were unable to board due to the fight.