Freedom of the Seas Cruise Reviews - Reviews

We had a very serious situation the Second day of the cruise and we are VERY disappointed on how the staff treated us about the matter. We also felt the staff on the boat were very rude and did not seem to care about serving or helping. I have called Royal Carribean and spoke with them about the matter and they just kind of blew it off.

We really enjoyed this cruise - the Royal personnel were exceptionally nice from the bartenders to the cabin staff.  The food was excellent in the specialty restaurants except for the Mexican - it is not traditional Mexican.  Disappointed in it.  Having my time dining was a little weird - it seemed that servers were always in a rush to serve you and have you leave.  A little hectic.  Didn't experience that on any other cruises I have been on.  We ordered cocktails and didn't get them until after the food was served.  I would suggest that if you want drinks prior to dinner, stop at one of the bars prior to dinner.  All in all I would go on this cruise again.   

They were a little more expensive than Carnival and I did not think it was any better. It seemed to be a lot stuffer than Carnival and had no reason to be because it wasn't any better. They cut corners in entertainment and dining that stood out to me. The ship was quite a bit nicer than what we have been used to on Carnival, but we have never gotten a balcony so not sure how nice the balcony rooms are on Carnival and have not been on any of Carnivals big ships either so can't really compare.

This was a great trip. Freedom of the Seas is a beautiful ship and the Cruise Director Casey and all the staff was so much fun.  There's so much to do everyday. All the shows were great with very talented performers.  Loved the extra shows too, Journey Tribute Bad, magician, and comedians.

My boyfriend came on this cruise together and we were having a great time. Yet, one day my boyfriend had too much motion sickness meals and fell down and they provoked his AND MY alcohol for an entire day when we bought the highest package, we were told we would receive a discount for the days lost- but it was not on the bill!!!! I have been on 17+ Royal cruises and never have been treated this way! I feel cheated for an entire day when we spent this much money for a cruise and not even to be refunded. We were with my parents Daniel and Margie Poole who should of got their money back for that day. Julie at the help desk was AMAZING and the guy at the Poolside Bar was also very good to us indeed. My rating is good because of the trouble we had with that one day. Another thing, One of our shore excursions to Stingray City was  amazing but it needs to be more specific telling u, u basically spend 40 mins actually doing something and the rest is on a bus or on a boat. That was a long waste of time. Tho the stringrays were amazing. PLease advice me on what you can do for my parents on receiving their money back.

I had a great time! Beautiful ship , clean, well maintained. Crew friendly, helpful ,attentive. Wonderful service . Food in the dining room was very delicious .I'm a foodie, I love good food. I enjoyed every dish. Thank you to all those who prepared  these delicious meals. And my special thanks to my  server Christopher Onza  and Angelo Lobo  for the wonderful service and professionalism . A very good impression from the shopping on board  ,especially shop  Regalia - sales associate Odette  and Viktoriya  were  attentive, sensitive, knowledgeable, no pressure. Enjoyed every port of calls . All tours leave an unforgettable impression , everything was organized very well.

My family had an excellent time. The cruise staff were professional and courteous. Loved the scheduled shows. ( Beautiful Ship) Highly Recommended. P.S. Will try to book an ocean view cabin next time.

Nothing was exceedingly special, but the trip did provide me with the much needed break from my regular life. The ocean is always peaceful for me and it is really nice to. Royal Caribbean met all the the fine quality and more that I am used to from my past trips. I have decided that I do prefer the Royal Caribbean line to Carnival and plan to do most my cruising with them, when I decide to go. Cruises Only has been very helpful in getting me where I needed to go.

I just returned from a seven day cruise on Freedom of the Seas.  I find it hard to describe what an incredible ship and cruise!!  The ship itself was simply beautiful..actually elegant..., and the staff far exceeded whatever was expected of them.  Every port that we visited was unique in its own way.  I would definitely recommend taking the tours that are offered on the ship.  That is the best money you will spend if you want to sightsee on the islands!   The food was simply delicious and the service in the dining room was excellent!  Our cabin was nicely decorated and was roomier than on any other cruise ship I've traveled.  I liked the larger closet and drawer space.  Our room steward was always there when we needed him, but obviously watched to see when we left the cabin because he was always in and out before we knew it!!  And the folded towels made into various animals left a smile on our face each day!!  The food and service in the Windjammer was also excellent!!  I can truthfully say that you never go hungry or even get hungry for that matter.  There was always delicious food available any time!!  The activities on the ship were great, and there was always something to do!!  The entertainment was equal to any you could find anywhere!!  There were three other ladies traveling with me, and we all came away with the same thought....we would never want to cruise with any other cruise line than Royal Caribbean!!!  I have personally taken at least 24 cruises, most on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and I would tell anyone to pay the little extra money and sail with RCCL!!!  You won't be disappointed!!!  Freedom of the Seas is a fabulous ship that goes above and beyond to insure you a wonderful and relaxing vacation!!  I'm ready to go again already!!!

Normally we cruise on the smaller ships of Royal Caribbean out of Tampa, but we decided to check out a larger ship. We were not disappointed. The Freedom was great, although we still prefer the smaller ships. 

Check in was very smooth as was debarkation. We were concerned about the number of passengers but it turned out not to be an issue.

The ship was clean and the crew friendly.  Our cabin was a little small but who spends much time in the cabin? So no complaints there. 

We decided to eat all out meals at the Windjammer rather than the main dining room. This gave us the flexibility pick the activity we wanted to do, which most of the time was to find music and dancing. Almost perfect relates to this issue. If you like dancing or even like to listen to music, at times it was nonexistent. There were good bands on board but they either played for very short time or did not start playing until late, Some nights the bands didn't start until 10 PM or latter.  Might be Ok for the younger cruisers but maybe not for the older ones. It would have been a perfect cruise if there was dancing earlier each night. When there was dancing earlier it was on the 4th deck in a very small bar. The dance floor was so small 3 couples made it crowded. Our only disappointment.

The food was good, not great, but there was plenty of choices. The Windjammer was clean and the crew great to deal with. 

We had been to all the ports before so the only comment is, the ship offered a variety of tours and you'd have to pick the one that suits you. Just remember it very hot an humid in the summer at these places.

We rated this cruise a 5 even though we would have liked have more dancing. Maybe RC will read this and make some changes in the future.

Everything was perfect, staff took very good care of us. This was me and my wife first cruise and we would love to do this cruise again. The food was out of this world, I never ate do much, it seems the more food we tried the better everything was. The room was fresh and clean everyday and the bed was really comfortable, honestly the best sleep I had in years.

RCI Freedom of the Seas Cruise - 08-23-15 to 08-30-15

John & Brenda Guze - Cabin 6615

john_guze@msn.com

09-05-15

 

In response to your repeated request for our comments regarding our recent cruise

we respectfully submit the following:

 

EMBARKATION - Both being severally arthritic and in our mid 70's had requested wheel chair assistance for boarding. We checked-in at the Handicapped Desk and after waiting almost 40 minutes for service. Only 1 of the 2 chairs requested was available. This was offered to my wife who can neither walk or stand for long periods. After another 15 minute wait, the 2nd chair had still not arrived, so I choose to walk alongside, explaining to the attendant that I use a cane and can not stand or walk for long. Off we went on "Homer's Odessy". Traveling for some unknown reason to the farthest, aft, boarding ramp about 1000 feet down a seemingly unending hallway. Once boarded the ship, we turned left and walked another 800-900ft, back tracking to the other, fwd, boarding ramp area, where people were also entering the ship. Once inside we took the elevator up to the spa -solarium area on deck 11. Then proceeded the length of deck 11 to the Windjammer Cafe. Another 700 to 800 ft. Needless to say – I was exhausted. When asked why we took the long “Scenic” route. The attendant explained to avoid the wait at the elevator bank. Had I know he was taking me on a nearly 3000 ft journey I would have waited for the 2nd chair. A little communication from the attendant was lacking, especially after I explained to him that I can not walk or stand for very long and was visibly using a cane.

FOOD – For the most part very good, with varied selections, interesting presentations, pleasing tastes. However there were 2 outstanding negative meals to comment on. 1st was our initial evening dinner on Sunday night. Our waiter raved about the beef which is wonderfully “like fillet mignon”.. Well it was the farthest thing from it. Too much gristle, fat, and very tough. My wife could not cut hers and asked me to help. I also had trouble cutting mine even with a steak knife. When our waiter saw we were struggling, he offered to cut my wife's meat. And he also had difficulty. Fillet mignon, eh? Afraid NOT! More like a suspicious sales hype to clear tough beef out of the galley. 2nd was the Cordon Blu – coating was very hard, dry, difficult to cut. The chicken was dry and tough. The cheese and ham filling usually abundant was very sparse.

DINNING ROOM SERVICE – Hostess Arty was fabulous. Very pleasant, cooperative with all of our requests, extremely accommodating. We appreciated her professional attention to detail. Area Captain, Peter was most gracious, charmingly remembered my wife's birthday and gave an impressive dissertation on life and marriage values. Waiter Rodson was inconsistent with his attentiveness and attitude. Service ranged from warm and anticipatory to cool to inattentive. He appeared to be very annoyed with our wanting to remove the shrimp tails before applying the cocktail sauce as if these few seconds were disrupting his maintaining a predetermined service schedule. He would often walk and stand about 10 feet away with his back turned to us and made us wait for his return with the cocktail sauce. I took it as a pout. Connie the assistant waiter was extremely attentive and greatly anticipatory to our dinner needs. He quickly and very professionally, in a timely manner, carried out his service duties cheerfully, unobtrusively. He made our meals pleasant and memorable. You should clone and promote him.

ENTERTAINMENT – Production Company was awesome. Ice show fabulous. Assorted acts, musician solos, groups around the ship very enjoyable. Stage game shows too limited in number and VERY disappointing over replaying of SAME Love & Marriage episode on RCTV. Need to show more of previous production show, acts on RCTV for guests who for a variety of reasons or circumstances either missed the initial episode and or would like to see it again. Not everyone is sitting in a bar and drinking the night away. Especial ailing seniors who's multiple cruises over the past few decades have funded your business success. Pay attention to us.

RCTV - 1st volume control levels channel to channel variations sucks. Either it is a whispering level and must be cranked to max to hear or when you change channels it wakes the couple 3 cabins down the hall. In this day of technological brilliance, we find it inexcusable to suffer such primitive audio neglect. My God, you are in total control of what you put on the local ship network---are you not.? Hello! Is any body home? Any body listening? Does any body care? 2nd Why in the world do we see only ONE version of the Love and Marriage game ALL week? Boring. 3rd Need more weather information on your TV network. One report in the morning on CNN or HLN just does NOT cut it, especially during hurricane season. 4th For people who for health age, personal reasons did not make the initial Production show, or other talent acts, it would be nice to catch it on RCTV later that night or next day or night. 5th The RCTV staff maybe hooked on JAZZ music, but believe me not every one IS, especially 24-7. How about be merciful to our minds and ears and have a variety of softer – elevator music. The youth have their “head banging” musical videos...what about the “quieter” folks.? Believe me, all Jazz is not very producing a very romantic atmosphere either!! 6th What's with all the Spanish audio stations. More English please. Thank you.

CAPTAIN'S HURRICANE UPDATE VIDEOS – We were very grateful and appreciative of the initial efforts taken by our Captain, Ron Holmes, to video tape a status report on Hurricane Danny and his evasive plan options. We saw it initially on Sunday afternoon – evening 08-23. However, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday airing of the same was obsolete out dated info and very disturbing. Coupled with the lack of weather info on the RCTV via CNN and or HLN we felt like mushrooms – In the dark. The 2nd Captain's report of a dissipating Danny but emerging threatening Ericka was a refreshing and much needed update. However while the CNN & HLN where talking of a Category 1 in Miami about Saturday and a Category 2 in mid Florida on Sunday our day of return, the bridge kept feeding us the outdated 2nd video . WHY? Think we couldn't handle the TRUTH? Please be more timely with future weather conditions facing us at sea. Thank you.

SOLARIUM SNACK BAR – Very disappointed that it was closed.

CONDITION OF SHIP – Impressed with cleanliness, decor, and condition of ship.

STAFF – Very friendly, all levels of uniformed personnel, maintenance, room stewards, servers, Customer Service Desk, Officers cheerfully greeted us with smiles and hellos, Made us fell genuinely welcomed. Our room steward, Mark, was pleasantly playful, attentive and quickly responsive to our requests, he made our voyage enjoyable. The abundant visibility of the ship's Captain was impressive. Saw him in often in the dinning rooms. Promenade, Windjammer, on stage, and hallways. Very down to earth. Did not Lord it above anyone. Impressed by his getting in line with others at the dinning room buffet rather than special treatment because of his rank. Very likable man. His videos on the weather came across as sincere, concerned, genuine. But just need more of them and timelier ones.

ANNOUNCEMENTS – Volume control for room speaker worked for emergency fire drill but nothing else.

DECK SPEAKERS – DEAFENING VOLUME LEVEL – Sitting in a deck chair, close to unfortunately the over head speaker horn, and was nearly scared to death when it blasted out an announcement. Understand emergency info MUST be communicated, but why are normal announcements as well?

DECK CHAIRS: Plastic strap lounge and upright chairs on deck are extremely difficult to get in and out of and offer little relaxing comfort. Need more lounge chairs and up right wicker chairs similar to those found around the Solarium pool area.

DISEMBARKATION - 1st We could NOT hear the priority Numbers being called in our room. 2nd We were given INSTRUCTION SHEETS in our cabin which stated that for our Code 9 we were to assemble in the STAR LOUNGE which was FWD about ¾ of the ship or nearly 750 ft away from our cabin 6615. We obediently complied laboring the trek to the STAR LOUNGE. As we arrived at the entrance to the lounge our Disembarkation Number 9 was in the process of disembarking. Great, but we NEVER heard the word, either in our cabin or in the hallway. Why???? 3rd Here we go back to “HOMER's Odessy” We descended to deck 4 and went out on deck to the nearest ramp to the terminal. Surprise! At the end of the ramp in the Terminal we entered a seemingly endless 1000 ft hallway. My God. We had to BACK TRACK our path out. There where only 2 occupied chairs about midway. Heaven help us. Laboring with canes and the grace of God we got to the end of the terminal hallway. An approximate 2000 ft journey. Deleted expletives flew from my mouth like bats out of a cave when we discovered that the OTHER disembarkation ramp was in use in the AFT of the ship. That ramp was about 150 ft from our cabin 6615. But we were directed in the other direction. Why? Poor communications. Needs improvement. We asked someone in uniform RCI personnel in the very long hallway why there were not chairs along the way. We were told "The Fire Marshall feels that they would create a restriction for exiting passengers in the event of an emergency. Let's see if I understand this logic. Oh so a few chairs with people resting on the 1000 ft journey would create an obstruction and be a safety hazard. But stepping over passed out, collapsed, exhausted, perhaps dead passengers would not? Hmm!

CRUISE DIRECTOR – Casey Pefter was tremendous. Entertaining, enthusiastic, exciting fun to listen to, and be around. Liked the way he injected himself into many of the acts and skits. Really enjoyed his morning show on RCTV THANK YOU – To the entire ship for an overall, very enjoyable cruise. This was our 40th cruise over the last 30 years and our 10th RCI cruise. We regret we did not switch to RCI earlier. We will, God willing, be back ! – In fact, April 16th on the Navigator of the Seas for our 53rd wedding anniversary celebration. We hope that our feedback will not be taken as complaining but a sincere conscientious effort to share with you the cruise provider some information that in some small way may improve upon subsequent cruise experiences. Thank you for asking for our feedback. Use it wisely. Thanks to our Travel Agent, Kathy Green, for her pleasant, efficient, effective, professional service. Always available, resolves issues quickly without hesitation or questioning. Appreciated her managing to get us a handicap  room, along with decolonized water and extension cords for our 2 CPAC breathing devices. Thank you again. Looking forward to working with you on any of our up coming cruises. You were a treasure. Wishing you all Bonn Voyage! & Calm seas.

As always they have done an outstanding job, they meet and exceeded our expectations my wife has a food allergy and they more then went out of their way to accommodate her.  We have already. Booked out next one

Best Crew Ever!! Loved this Cruise and Itinerary! We are planning to go on this trip again next year with the entire family. there is plenty for kids and teens to do to keep them busy. 

The ship was big and had many activities to make your cruise a memorable one.

The crew members were friendly and eager to help you when you approach them.

St Thomas was the only stop I did not care about. The other two was fine.

 

Everyone loves the islands and their splendid beaches and that I did enjoy. When it comes to my voyage I wasn't mention to bring my groceries, water,cokes,snacks etc. Yet they forgot I was going to be eating the same food at the buffet. For that there's one place and we know where to go everynight. Bring your best charge card cause they'll charge your service fee per guest and bring extra just in case your generous to leave more then that . By the way charge me 1000 per person but also 150 so I can drink Coke products that's a rip off.No thank you

first 7 day cruise, was very enjoyable. We had some teenagers that hung out on our floor  between the two side, that was being very rowdy. Moving plants in elevator, and being loud, wish the crew had said something more to them.

 

I personally am not fond of huge ships, but considering its size and the number of people, lines, etc., were not too bad.  Going from one place to another a chore.  Crew, especially maitre d's in third and fifth floor restaurants, extremely attentive.  The orange juice served in the restaurant is orange water.  There's a charge for the real thing, or pineapple juice.  The cabin steward was fine but did not check the shampoo container before we boarded.  There I am soaking wet in the shower and NO SHAMPOO.  All requests were otherwise promptly met.  Amazingly, we always found chairs by the adult pool in a shady spot.  Plenty of towels but pools too crowded--god just for soaking.

This was my first time on a cruise and it will definitely not be my last with Royal Caribbean.  They had an abundance of activities as well as so many shows to try and make.  Whether you love activity or you want a laid back, comfortable cruise; this one covers the whole spectrum.  Look to the top deck for swimming, volleyball, soccer, the infamous flow-rider, the rock wall, and much more.  You can stay active in the day and still have plenty of time for an afternoon nap, and then go on to make 2-3 shows in a row.  It's all very well coordinated and hosted.  The service was impeccable, that alone would bring me back no matter what the rest of the cruise was like.  The food was awesome and it was so nice to be waited on hand and foot.  What a great treat. I would say that even with all the awesome choices for excursions, you barely need them with such great activities, great staff, and great food :)

Disappointed in this cruise, not the usual good service in the dining rooms.  The server and asst server we slow and sometimes not available.  The head waiter ended up up taking care of us.  There were 11 family members in our group and although were made our reservations several months ahead, our group was spread out in the dining room.  Had to wait almost 2 hours after we boarded to get a table together abd get insistant DISAPPOINTED.  The music in the theater was so loud I stopped going to the shows and my grand daughters has to leave because it hurt their ears.  You added more rooms to a ship built for a fewer number, the result was over crowding.  We are Emerald  Members but our perks are fewer and I believe you raised the number of nights to get to the next level.  On board signing up for drink packages you did not show the cheaper packages.  Quit going to the casino ALWAYS LOSING!  May have to look at a different line,