Non-stop Activity With Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas Resources
Non-stop Activity With Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas
RC’s Freedom of the Seas – Massive Family Fun
If not for immense size, you’d swear that Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas was just another addition to the precedent Voyager class; but fortunately, it is safe to say that seasoned cruisers who are familiar with Royal Caribbean should let themselves be taken in with first impressions. Freedom is massive, with a capacity for accommodating 3,634 passengers, and the sea days feel less like a drag and more of an onshore excursion in itself with the many diversions you can involve yourself in. The cruise line surely made every inch of the 15-deck ship count; with water parks, solariums, skating rinks and unobstructed panoramic views of the ocean, the Freedom is a veritable floating activity park.
You’d naturally expect that a ship this size would have problems with the boarding and dining procedures. You will inevitably experience long lines at the embarkation port with so many late boarders, so be sure to show up early to get a good head start. But while the slight inefficiency may be blamed on passengers at embarkation, the set meal times were a bit of a letdown for a breakthrough cruise ship; it still accommodates passengers in two shifts (per meal) when round-the-clock dining is becoming the norm. You won’t be disappointed with the meals, though; from Italian (Portofino) to Asian (Jade) to all-American dishes (Johnny Rockets), you won’t lack for variety. Basic fare is also offered, especially for 30-minute room service, and buffets with tolerable lines are available.
The staterooms offer more options for traveling couples or families, with twin beds convertible to queens, extra showers, and even a receiving room. A relatively new addition is the Presidential Family Suite (more than 2,000 square feet, including the balcony area), which can take in fourteen guests, with two master bedrooms, two rooms with Pullman beds, and two queen-convertible twin beds. Elsewhere on deck, you can walk down the main thoroughfare which runs through the entire length of the ship and shop for trifles and souvenirs, grab a quick bite, browse through a competent collection of books at the library, or browse the internet at Royal Caribbean Online.
You won’t lack for entertainment and diversions, but one of the main attractions of the ship is the surf park – a 42-foot long wave generator which lures even the unlikely ones due to its user-friendliness. The pools are also a treat for the kids, with geysers and waterfalls to boot. The Solarium pool ‘bleeds’ or drops into the sea for a seamless, panoramic view of the ocean – a soothing escape from an active trip. There’s a skating rink and even a boxing ring, though you’ll have to shell out more than eighty dollars for a private one-hour match. The staples are all here – casinos, arcades, separate activity areas for all ages (diversion opportunities for minors are broken down into age groups), and even a rock climbing wall. Nighttime onstage or on-ice extravaganzas comparable to Carnival’s offerings are topnotch; just make sure you book in advance to get sure seats. It seems that Freedom of the Seas has it all, but knowing Royal Caribbean and its reputation for breaking set standards, you never know what they’d think of next.