Tired ship and crew....
Freedom of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Southern
7 Night Southern Caribbean (San Juan Roundtrip)
Sail date: June 30, 2018
Ship: Freedom of the Seas
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: 9670
Traveled as: Family (older children)
Reviewed: 5 years ago
Review summary
Very disappointed in the overall experience. While I enjoyed my family time and experiences, we had numerous onboard instances where it took away from the overall trip. Too much didn't work or staff didn't care. Long lines for breakfast and both main dining and buffets led to so much wasted time, plus each dining hall seemed to SLOW down the process to make sure you spent 90-120 minutes eating... The buffet was bland food with not real character or direction. Those items that were "special" were devoured almost immediately and a long line formed. Chaos was the order of the day for the buffet with no available sitting if you showed up 20-30 minutes after opening. I could go on. Worst ship and cruise experience I have ever had. Over priced "Carnival" experience...Embarkation
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Main Dining Room
This is a critique of the "my way" dining... LONG LINES and SLOW SERVICE. We did this once and decided not again. Think about that... IF you were not there before it opened, you were left standing in long lines while the dining staff moved slowly to accommodate you. We were at a table for over 5 minutes before we even got something to drink. Yes, we timed it. Overall, it seems not enough staff or staff just didn't care...
Sorrentos Pizza
pizza was decent, but the saving grace for poor food everywhere else. The long and continuous lines should be telling the people who run this ship something is "up" with their other food choices...
Jade Restaurant
To little everything. Sushi is a big hit and this restaurant put out to little and not often. When they did put something decent out, it was so little that few got to experience it...
Windjammer Marketplace
The buffet from hell. Seriously, I am trying to be nice. Food was adequate at best. But how the overall system functioning was atrocious. Stampede and rudeness ruled the day at every meal we ate at this place. When I say the early bird got the worm, I literally mean it. The flow and choices literally pitted people against one another to "GRAB" the best available and leave the rest of the crap to sit.
Sabor Mexican Restaurant
Decent but not good selection or food quality. This is a complaint on the menu and food. This restaurant seemed to be always empty... We ate once hoping to return, but we couldn't get out of there fast enough...
Chop's Grille
The high light of the overall ship. It saved the overall dining experience from being a complete disaster.
Onboard Activities
Casino Royale
About half of the machines did not work properly and each time you sought some explanation or service it was "wait" for the tech... It would also be nice if they "gave" non-smokers a decent consideration with "room". While I understand "smokers" love to gamble, so do "non-smokers". Being forced to move away from a desired slot because some chain smoker decides to watch you is just disgusting...
Center Ice Rink
This was a nice addition to the overall experience. Great show and talent. The only "bad" thing was how unorganized and free for all the timing and execution for kids to be able to utilize the rink.
Entertainment
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
If you are traveling cheap, meaning interior, you will like or maybe love this ship. If you are a seasoned upscale cruiser you will most likely be disappointed.