Cruise Ships
Cruise Ship/Cruise Line:
Carnival Cruise Line/Carnival Freedom
Destination/Date of Cruise:
Western Caribbean/ September 4-10, 2011
My Review
If you must drive on I-95, what better time than 11:00am on a Saturday morning. All the anxious days South Florida spent watching hurricane Irene meander up the east coast of the US were over for Florida --- but not for the rest of the country. Irene dropped record rain on everywhere in the Eastern US, but not in South Florida, where it was badly needed. Yet, here we were boarding the Carnival Freedom on a cruise we thought might never happen, since we waited a long time for a wheelchair accessible cabin with balcony.
The Freedom was built by Fincantieri Shipyards in Italy, and she is a cookie cutter replica of most other recent Carnival ships. Once you have sailed on one, the physical layout is the same on all the others. This makes it easy for repeaters to get around the ship. It is only the Joe Farcas (ship architect) decorations which differ. Color schemes are mainly black and reds, with the “Farcasian” penchant for repetition. If he likes something, it will be repeated ad infinitum. The Freedom has some truly lovely rooms like the Jeffersonian style Monticello Library, with classic furniture and book cabinets, and the impressive Millennium Atrium and Cafe`. Very nice!
We made several new friends on board including the very interesting Captain Antonio Marchetti, Staff Captain Francesco Borgogna, Chief Engineer Ferdinando Ruocco and Maitre d' Jogi, who all added zest to our cruise.
Cruise Ship Cabins
Some features inadequate to disabled passengers; nice amenities; excellent service; very comfortable bed and bedding; location all the way forward, windy balcony when ship travels fast.
Cruise Ship Dining and Cuisine
Delicious cuisine in dining room and specialty restaurant (steakhouse). Much improved from other Carnival cruises.
Cruise Onboard Experience
Nice water temperatures in pools and spas. Great comedy shows. Excellent service in cabin and dining rooms.
Cruise Ship Destinations
We love Key West, but we did not care for Grand Cayman or Ocho Rios.
