Back-to-Back on The Freedom of the Seas

Item: Freedom of the Seas
Rating: 4.7
Author: antelope

Freedom of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean

antelope

Contributor Level: Second Mate

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 4

Helpful Votes: 58

Overall rating:

4.7 out of 5

Eastern Caribbean

Sail date: February 03, 2018

Ship: Freedom of the Seas

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 1578

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 6 years ago

Review summary

Great ship, great crew, great service, good entertainment, decent food.

Embarkation

5 out of 5

No problems at the terminal. Smooth check in.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5

Frankly we have been unhappy with specialty dining on ships smaller than Oasis ever since the menus in Chops and Giovanni's and the likes were slashed, offering fewer choices. The food quality is good, and the service is great, but the lack of choice, particularly over a two-week period, is the problem. We made the mistake of buying the ultimate dining package for both weeks, meaning we were to have the evening meals inChops, Giovannis or Sabor every night for 14 nights in a row. We tried everything of interest to us, and then we began to repeat. It got old quickly. We became so bored, we actually did My Time the last two nights just to have something different. We had lunch in Chops on most sea days. Our mistake and will not be doing that again.

Chop's Grille

4 out of 5

see previous remarks. The food was good but what made the evenings enjoyable was the service. Waiters Dwaine Maclean and Andrew Stewart are bright and friendly and anxious to please - none better anywhere, and they earned the tips we left after each meal. But the food became tiresome over the two weeks we were present. No more ultimate dining packages for us.

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

Used the reserved sunbathing section for suite guests. Use the hot tub once. Got a massage. Usedf the steam room and sauna. All good

Entertainment

4 out of 5

Always worth the time and effort.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Our room steward Jose Rodriquez was excellent. Very anxious to please, never forgetting anything we may have asked about, anticipating our wants and needs. Chops waiters Dwaine and Andrew were outstanding. Megan in Sabor was also excellent.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

We thought it looked great. No issues for us.

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Big Grand Suite, very nice balcony, Clean, well kept by Jose. AC worked well - too well at times. Lots of storage. Refrigerator worked well. Shower water was hot and plentysome.

Ship tip

Re the Ultimate Beverage Package. I enjoy a drink once in a while and although I was getting plenty of guidance from a friend who has a greater capacity than I, there was no way I was getting my money's worth. My wife does NOT drink alcohol and has not had a drop for 25 years. We had purchased a soft drink package for her on line before sailing but I held off on the Ultimate Beverage package until I got on the ship, having heard that I would get my best deal then with my Diamond Plus discount. But was first told that with two people in the room, both must have the Ultimate package. I steadfastly refused to do it and stuck to my guns. Eventually RCCL will relent if the second person in the room is a non-drinker for religious reasons or for health reasons. Call it what you like, I said, but my wife is not a drinker, we are not liars or crooks (and we are Diamond Plus with over 500 points) and I am not paying hundreds of dollars for a second package just because there are others who are lying and abusing an otherwise workable program. This is a stupid and insulting program and RCCL needs to rethink it. Bottom line - refuse to buy a second package if your spouse or companion is a legitimate non-drinker. Get them a soft drink package or better yet, the Refreshment package which gets everything but alcohol, and do not allow yourself to be bullied.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

5 out of 5

Love the town. No excursion.

Thumbs Up 1

Basseterre, St. Kitts

5 out of 5

No excursion - just shopping.

Thumbs Up 1

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

5 out of 5

Some hurricane damage still visible on some buildings but looked good to us. Beach was still good. Shops were open.

Thumbs Up 11

San Juan, Puerto Rico

5 out of 5

again, some hurricane damages visible here and there but no problems for us.

Thumbs Up 14

Labadee (Cruise Line Private Island)

5 out of 5

All good. Did Barefoot Beach (suite guest) and the waverunner. Water was rough so we were last group out.

Thumbs Up 2

Disembarkation

5 out of 5

Did a back to back so had to do the exit and re-entry but it was painless except for the poor old lady who took a slip on the gankway with her stroller. Did a face plant and suffered a nasty cut over her eye. Got to be careful.

4 Comments

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