After 50 cruises this one was the most disappointing!

Item: Freedom of the Seas
Rating: 1
Author: cmagill

Freedom of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

cmagill

Contributor Level: Third Mate

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 2

Helpful Votes: 70

Overall rating:

1 out of 5

Verified Review

Eastern Caribbean

Sail date: August 21, 2016

Ship: Freedom of the Seas

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 9634

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

I can't say one thing was good about this particular cruise. We have cruised 5 times on the Freedom. The ship is tired looking. Looks like it needs a makeover. Everything on this ship is dusty. We were supposed to sail to the eastern Caribbean but we went western Caribbean. Didn't find out until the night of day one. I signed a waiver saying its OK to take me to St. Thomas & St. Martin but I did not sign a waiver to say its OK to take me to Cozumel. Understand the captain made the choice for safety reasons and I appreciate that. However, there were so many wonderful ports we could have taken it was an insult to take me to Cozumel and Costa Maya. This is the second time we switched itineraries on the Freedom but the captain last year was different and he made better choices. This captain was not empathetic for all the people first time cruisers, people that planned the cruise over a year ago saving their money. The captain should have done something special he did NOTHING. He didn't burn very much fuel because we didn't go very far. Port fees "may" have been cheaper in Mexico? I find it interesting this ship is leaving Port Canaveral and the new ports are going to be.... Cozumel and Costa Maya. Coincidence? I am not a happy camper. I usually favor RCCL but this has given me pause.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

We are in the Windjammer a lot. The carpets had food everywhere. It was like they never cleaned up between service. I had to wipe my seat before sitting down. DIRTY. The tabletops all had permanent stained rings on them. Probably from glasses sweating. Terrible. By the way the ice cream machine shuts down early on the pool deck. If you want to watch a movie on the outdoor screen you won't be enjoying ice cream. Why now add a popcorn machine?

Onboard Activities

Just OK.

Entertainment

1 out of 5

Worse ever. There was one comedian that was funny and Drew Thomas was good. All the rest were terrible. Jared Wood was not singing in the piano lounge he was screaming. Poor choice.

Children's Programs

N/A

Service and Staff

They gave a lot of mis-information this week. Example I asked why we weren't going into Montego Bay and the answer was... the Allure is in there this week. The Allure wasn't in there. Then I asked where the comment card was always located by the service desk area. Several different answers I got. One it's being put out tomorrow, another answer... we don't use that anymore. Really? The cruise director and the activities director always speak and laugh at the same time so you can't understand them.

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

Wasn't as clean as past cruises and I have been on this ship 5 times.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

It was a nice size cabin. The cabins on this ship are very dusty. The walk in closet the shelves were dirty and I hated placing clothes on the shelves. I didn't pack dust cloths nor should I have to. Balcony was a nice size. No robes, no beach towels and I had to ask for more hangers. TV was small, stations were extremely limited. Only one plug in the cabin. I bring an extension cord. And, no clocks. Shouldn't a jr suite have a clock? I booked this cabin to be close to the concierge lounge for coffee. Machine was broken the ENTIRE WEEK.

Ship tip

Don't book in August. You book August to go to lovely St. Martin & St. Thomas and they end up taking you to dirty Cozumel. I understand we change courses because of weather, however, there were far better choices than MEXICO. Last year, same thing, at least we went to lovely Montego Bay.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Port Canaveral, Florida

3 out of 5

Getting off the ship is longer in this port. Lot of standing and waiting. You go down this long sloped ramp which is terrible. Should have spent the money and put in a moving escalator.

Thumbs Up 0

Cococay (Cruise Line's Private Island)

1 out of 5

Skip this port. Nothing to do except go to the beach. I live near a beach, I can go to the beach any day I want.

Thumbs Up 0

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

1 out of 5

Wish we had gone into this port as scheduled! We also went to Costa Maya another disappointing choice the captain made.

Thumbs Up 0

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

1 out of 5

Wish we had gone into this port as scheduled! We also went to Costa Maya another disappointing choice the captain made.

Thumbs Up 1

10 Comments

2travelbuddies 8 years ago

The most consistant thing about RCI is inconsistency. To have a fabulous cruise and the best cruise ever as I always do is to be flexible.

Thumbs Up 0

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firelynx 8 years ago

The entitlement is strong with this one. So we should have sailed into the Western Carribean and right into a tropical storm??? This goes to show you just can't please everyone

Thumbs Up 4

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fjdini 8 years ago

Don't worry about the FOS, it's moving to Europe in a year or so

Thumbs Up 3

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mstrong2015 8 years ago

Be thankful you made it off the ship alive to write this bad review. If the Captain didn't switch itineraries you'd be complaining about that. I'm going on Freedom in 10 days, and regardless of where we go I choose to have a good attitude and be thankful that I'm on vacation with my husband. Don't cruise during hurricane season.

Thumbs Up 4

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snowbirdcruzer1 8 years ago

Wow. Maybe you shouldn't cruise during hurricane season. Or better yet, start your own cruise line, so you can satisfy 1000s of guests when things have to change

Thumbs Up 5

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twangster 8 years ago

You likely rarely see Oasis and Allure in the same port at the same time. The piers and moorings may not be able to withstand two megaships together. It's actually a lot more complex than I think you are thinking it is. Also, much of the rearranging is done by corporate back in Florida working with the captain's of all their ships impacted. Give them a break. It's not their fault.

Thumbs Up 4

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twangster 8 years ago

Freedom is a relatively large ship, compared to the older and smaller ships still in use. Each port can only accommodate so many ships but size of the ship plays a factor too. A given port may be able to take a Carnival fantasy class ship on short notice but cant take a ship the size of the FOS. It's a logistical nightmare caused by mother nature, not the captain or RC.

Thumbs Up 2

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kknorr0320 8 years ago

Those ports may not have been available this time. They can only hold so many ships. Often the captain has to take what's available.

Thumbs Up 2

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cmagill 8 years ago

Actually I agree with you. I am glad we weren't sailing into storms but there were "many great ports" we could have gone to. Last year, same ship, same week. People were disappointed we weren't going to original ports but people were happier because that captain, same ship, took us to a more desirable ports. His concern and compassion made the difference on that sailing. You know the only saying, "It's how you handle the situation that makes the difference?" That is precisely the situation that applies here.

Thumbs Up 0

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twangster 8 years ago

There were tropical storms involved. Dozens of ships from various lines all rearranging their itinerary. The captain can't just pull up at some port and announce 'we're here!". You're lucky to have alternate ports instead of sea days. All cruise lines had to make changes for weather recently. Maybe cruising during hurricane season isn't your thing.

Thumbs Up 6

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Other reviews of this sailing

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