Debbie, Diane and John sailed on Freedom of the Seas for it's inaugural sailing in May 2006. It is truly an amazing ship! A great choice for active people of all ages, and really fun for families.
This ship shares some of the features of the Voyager Class ships, such as the interior staterooms with a view (inside staterooms with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the indoor Promenade), the full-size sports/basketball court, ice skating rink, mini-golf, and Royal Caribbean's signature Viking Crown Lounge and rock-climbing wall.
There are many features that Freedom has that set it apart from any ship on any cruise line! For example, the Flowrider surf park. This is very entertaining, both for participants and spectators! The water in the Flowrider flows upwards, so you surf on your belly, your knees, or if you are really daring or an experienced surfer, on your feet! We did not try it, but had just as much fun watching! There are stadium-style benches all around the Flowrider for spectators.
The cantilevered whirlpools are another unique feature of this ship. Because of the design of the ship, the whirlpools are literally over the water! You can totally relax with an unspoiled view of the ocean! At night, there are twinkly lights all around the whirlpools! Romantic!
H2O Zone is a cool, colorful waterpark! This is designed so that even the littlest cruisers can splash and play, and of course there are lots of kids and families. See our pictures at the end of this article!
The Boxing Ring is the most unconventional thing I have ever seen on a cruise ship. Yes … a boxing ring! We watched a boxing demonstration, and they have boxing fitness sessions onboard. The boxing ring is in the fitness center, which is otherwise well-equipped with the latest fitness machines and free weights. The fitness center is adjacent to the Spa, which is very large and innovative! We always tour the spa on new ships, and what is amazing to me is the menu of spa services and treatments they offer!
The food onboard is very good no matter where you eat. You can eat in the main dining rooms (traditional early or late seating), or in the buffet-style Windjammer Cafe, or at Johnny Rockets (burgers & malts) or at one of the many cafes that line the Promenade if you just want a snack or cup of coffee.
Royal Caribbean's entertainment is excellent! The shows were always good, and the ice show was spectacular! The performers are very professional, and the special effects are fun! If you like to dance, you'll find something that appeals to you! A piano sing-along bar, a theme dance like 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's, line-dancing, ballroom dancing? Or maybe you'd enjoy The Crypt! This place looks innocent enough during the day, but at night it comes alive and becomes a packed rock 'n roll nightclub!
The staterooms on this ship are average size in the cruise industry, and are decorated beautifully. Mostly sea hues, blues and greens, blended nicely. The Presidential Suite is the largest on this ship, with 1250 square feet in the stateroom and another 810 square feet on the private balcony, which has a whirlpool hot tub and your very own bar. This suite can accommodate up to 16 people!
While Freedom of the Seas is a great choice for couples, singles and families, it is also an excellent choice for companies who want to host a business meeting, convention or training seminar on a cruise ship, or a team-building workshop! The ship has meeting space, conference facilities, A/V equipment, and can accommodate 10 people to 3000 people!
FREEDOM OF THE SEAS