carnival freedom cruise ship reviews

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Carnival Freedom Deck Plans & Reviews

Carnival Freedom

Activities & entertainment

• Art Auction
• Beauty Salon *
• Dance Classes
• Deck Parties
• Evening Kids Programs *
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes *
• Green Eggs n Ham Breakfast *
• Groove For St. Jude *
• Hot Tubs (7)
• Ice Carving Demonstrations
• Jogging Track
• Lip Sync Battle
• Massage Room *
• Monticello Library
• Photo Portraits *
• Seuss-A-Palooza Parade & Storytime
• Spa Carnival® *
• Spa Parties *
• Sports Deck
• Whirlpool Spa
• White Party
• Wine Tasting *
• Waterslides
• The Warehouse *
• Circle "C"®
• Dr. Seuss Bookville
• 70s Dance Club
• Carnival's Seaside Theatre®
• Comedy Shows
• International Aft Lounge
• Live Nightly Music
• Outdoor Movies
• The Centuries Promenade
• Victoriana Main Lounge
• Bar - Pool Bar *
• Dining Room Annex - American
• The Chic Restaurant - American
• The Posh Restaurant - American
• Cherry On Top - Candies *
• Centuries Bar - Casino Bar *
• Freedom Restaurant - Casual
• Coffee Shop - Coffee & Pastries *
• Guy's Burger Joint - Fast Food
• Fish & Chips - Fish & Chips
• Swingtime Bar - Jazz Bar *
• Taste Bar - Light Bites
• Alchemy Bar - Martini Bar
• BlueIguana Cantina - Mexican
• Scott's Piano Bar - Piano Bar *
• Pizza Pirate - Pizza
• BlueIguana Tequila Bar - Pool Bar *
• RedFrog Rum Bar - Pool Bar *
• RedFrog Pub™ - Pub *
• Skybox Sports Bar - Sports Bar *
• Sun King Steakhouse - Steakhouse *
• Excellent 44
• Very Good 17
• Terrible 29
• All languages ( 124 )
• English ( 121 )
• Spanish ( 3 )

Upcoming itineraries

Carnival Freedom

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line |

Find a Cruise on Carnival Freedom

with a cruise advisor

Thanks to a major refurbishment in March 2019, Carnival Freedom features a Bonsai Sushi Express, a rebranded deli, a WaterWorks waterpark (with a 203-foot-long slide), an aerobics room within the gym and a mini-golf course. On top of that, the 2,980-passenger vessel features all of the “Fun Ship 2.0” amenities, including Guy’s Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina. The ship also received some general maintenance work in 2023.

While parents relax at the Serenity adults-only retreat, children ages 2 to 17 can enjoy age-appropriate youth clubs and the Seuss at Sea program, which is aimed at younger patrons. Recent guests note that shows at the Punchliner Comedy Club can be a bit raunchy, so they may not be appropriate for children.  

Food options are also versatile, including two main dining rooms, a steakhouse, and the Lido Deck which offers everything from pizza to the popular Mongolian Wok.

As far as cabins go, cruisers can choose from Interior, Ocean View, Balcony or Suite category rooms, all of which offer flat-screen TVs and 24-hour room service. Recent passengers note that thanks to the 3-to-1 passenger-to-crew ratio, service is above par. 

Carnival Freedom sails from Orlando  and Barcelona, Spain , to destinations in the Caribbean and transatlantic voyages.

Pros & Cons

Numerous family-friendly activities on board

Comedy club can be raunchy

• Expert Rating » 3.5
• Traveler Rating » 4.0
• Health Rating » 4.0

Carnival Freedom ranks # 16 out of 25 Carnival Cruise Line Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 16 in Best Carnival Cruise Line
• # 33 in Best Cruises for Groups
• # 45 in Best Cruises for Families
• # 76 in Best Cruises to the Caribbean
• # 97 in Best Affordable Cruises

Carnival Freedom offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

Carnival Freedom contains 13 decks. Find out which features are available on each Carnival Freedom deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 3076 guests have reviewed Carnival Freedom , giving it a rating of 4 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

Ship Photos

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Carnival Freedom Deck Plans & Reviews

Carnival Freedom

Activities & entertainment

• Art Auction
• Beauty Salon *
• Dance Classes
• Deck Parties
• Evening Kids Programs *
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes *
• Green Eggs n Ham Breakfast *
• Groove For St. Jude *
• Hot Tubs (7)
• Ice Carving Demonstrations
• Jogging Track
• Lip Sync Battle
• Massage Room *
• Monticello Library
• Photo Portraits *
• Seuss-A-Palooza Parade & Storytime
• Spa Carnival® *
• Spa Parties *
• Sports Deck
• Whirlpool Spa
• White Party
• Wine Tasting *
• Waterslides
• The Warehouse *
• Circle "C"®
• Dr. Seuss Bookville
• 70s Dance Club
• Carnival's Seaside Theatre®
• Comedy Shows
• International Aft Lounge
• Live Nightly Music
• Outdoor Movies
• The Centuries Promenade
• Victoriana Main Lounge
• Bar - Pool Bar *
• Dining Room Annex - American
• The Chic Restaurant - American
• The Posh Restaurant - American
• Cherry On Top - Candies *
• Centuries Bar - Casino Bar *
• Freedom Restaurant - Casual
• Coffee Shop - Coffee & Pastries *
• Guy's Burger Joint - Fast Food
• Fish & Chips - Fish & Chips
• Swingtime Bar - Jazz Bar *
• Taste Bar - Light Bites
• Alchemy Bar - Martini Bar
• BlueIguana Cantina - Mexican
• Scott's Piano Bar - Piano Bar *
• Pizza Pirate - Pizza
• BlueIguana Tequila Bar - Pool Bar *
• RedFrog Rum Bar - Pool Bar *
• RedFrog Pub™ - Pub *
• Skybox Sports Bar - Sports Bar *
• Sun King Steakhouse - Steakhouse *
• Excellent 44
• Very Good 17
• Terrible 29
• All languages ( 124 )
• English ( 121 )
• Spanish ( 3 )

Upcoming itineraries

Carnival Freedom Review

Like other carnival ships, the freedom is a big, bustling vessel that will appeal to a fun-loving crowd on a budget..

Updated October 2, 2014

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

Cabin Overview

Our cabin: ocean view, other cabins, cabin amenities, dining overview, the posh restaurant, the chic restaurant, sun king steakhouse, freedom restaurant, fish & chips, pizza & grill, meji sushi bar, chef's table dinner, in-room dining, drinks overview, nouveau wine bar, centuries bar, players sports bar, timeless pool bar, endless pool bar, millenium lobby bar, scott's piano bar, spa and fitness, sun decks & open areas, lounges & public spaces, shows & entertainment, babylon casino, kids programs, services, staff & ship policies, health & safety.

Unveiled in 2007, the Carnival Freedom is one of Carnival's newest ships. Currently based year-round in Fort Lauderdale, the 2,974-passenger vessel was the last of the line's five Conquest Class ships, and it sails a variety of six-, seven- and eight-night itineraries to the Caribbean, including some Southern Caribbean itineraries that include stops in Curacao and Aruba.

The Freedom was the first Carnival ship with an adults-only Serenity deck-top area, something still only available on a handful of Carnival ships. Designed as a quiet zone away from children, the adult-only area, alas, is located very close to the ship's Camp Carnival children's area, so it is not quite as quiet as you may hope.

The Freedom offers two main restaurants, one that provides traditional fixed seatings at two times (early and late) and one that operates on Carnival's more flexible "My Time Dining" system. There also is a buffet eatery situated between the two main pools that is open much of the day, with two sets of grills on either side that run all day and night. For a little extra money and a reservation, you also have the option of dining in the ship's signature restaurant, the Sun King Steakhouse.

In addition to pools, the top areas of the Carnival Freedom feature a Sports Deck with a basketball court and a miniature golf course as well as bars galore. There also are extensive children's programs on this ship, with several areas and activities broken down by age group.

{{ gallery "introphotos" }}

Like other Carnival ships, the Carnival Freedom is a big, bustling vessel that will appeal to a spirited, fun-loving crowd — particularly those on a budget. A luxury ship, it isn’t, but the fifth of Carnival’s Conquest Class series offers a lot of value for the money, with most activities, shows and meals included in the basic fare.

We found the food to be good but not great, although for a few extra greenbacks the ship’s signature, extra-charge Steakhouse proved to be a winner.

Among our biggest complaints about the Freedom was that it felt a bit too crowded at times. The ship’s pools, in particular, were uncomfortably crowded on both sea and port days during our voyage. No one wants to cram into a constantly splashing body of water; there is nothing relaxing about that. In addition, while the ship’s staff was friendly, they sometimes appeared overworked, and we found the service from our room steward and dinner attendants slow at times.

That said, there was a lot to like about the Carnival Freedom. One thing that really grabbed our attention was how spacious the rooms were for a mass-market cruise ship. Usually we expect to be rolled into a sardine can-like space when aboard a ship, but there was space to breathe in the Freedom’s cabins. Even the inside cabins exceeded our expectations.

The Carnival Freedom can be really fun and lively. It’s a great ship for solo travelers, even though there are — surprisingly to us — not many singles events. The bar culture and layout make the situation optimal for meeting other adventure seeking voyagers.

The Freedom also is an ideal ship for families. Kid clubs such as Camp Carnival and Club O2, and activities such as the grand water slide, will keep children of all ages happy, while the adult-only Serenity deck will give their parents a chance to actually relax while on vacation.

All together, we enjoyed our stay aboard the Freedom with a few caveats. The rooms were well worth the price, the bar culture was hopping, but the food was not as gourmet as Carnival claims, and you may be fighting for space at some of the topside activities.

The Carnival Freedom offers relatively large standard cabins for a mass-market ship. Inside cabins (those without windows) measure 195 square feet, which is several dozen square feet more than the inside cabins on the ships of some competing lines, and ocean view and balcony cabins also are relatively large.

The Freedom also offers several classes of suites, although in general there are fewer suites on the vessel than on the ships of such competing lines as Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. The typical suite is 350 square feet (including a 65-square-foot balcony), and there also is one 430-square-foot penthouse suite.

The ship also offers 18 “family staterooms” that have floor-to-ceiling windows but no balcony and measures 230 square feet.

The entrance hallway has three closets off to the right, and a door on the left opens to the bathroom. Just down the hall is the bedroom, a small living area, and the view through a sizable porthole.

One sits inside a relatively large bedroom for an Ocean View cabin, which is equipped with a king sized bed, that can be converted to two twin beds. Besides the bed, there is a small sofa that is more than suitable as an extra bed. There is enough space in this one room for the sofa, a coffee table, and one extra chair making a reasonable living area in a budget room.

The bathroom is large for what you expect on a cruise ship. Though two people can be using the mirror at the same time, some of this extra space encroaches on the shower which is a little cramped. Plenty of counter space will hold all the toiletries you can bring with you.

Don’t you hate it when you go on vacation, you have brought a few nice outfits, but when you get to your room there are not enough hangers and you have to double up your clothes and they get all bunched and wrinkly? Well Carnival has anticipated this traveling woe and supplied you with three closets and plenty of hangers. Also, there are some shelving units to the left of the closets for extra storage. The desk in the room is another storage area, with five drawers to keep all the little knick-knacks organized.

{{photo_gallery "Cabin 1 Bedroom Photos", "Cabin 1 Bathroom Photos"}}

We've not yet stayed in these cabin, but here's what the cruise line has to say:

Two twin beds (convert to king). Chair and coffee table. Full bathroom with shower. Three closets. – Carnival Cruise Lines

Two twin beds (convert to king) and one upper. Sofa and coffee table. Full bathroom with shower. Three closets. Private balcony with patio chairs and table. – Carnival Cruise Lines

Premium Balcony

Two twin beds (convert to king) and one upper. Sofa and coffee table. Full bathroom with shower. Three closets. Private aft-facing extended balcony with patio chairs and table. – Carnival Cruise Lines

One of America’s most iconic brands is making energy efficiency a focus.

Ocean Suite

Two twin beds (convert to king) and single sofa bed. Sofa, armchair, and coffee table. Full bathroom with shower/whirlpool tub/double sinks. 2 large closets. Walk in dressing area with vanity table and chair. Private large balcony with patio chairs and table. – Carnival Cruise Lines

Grand Suite

{{photo_gallery "Cabin Amenities Photos"}}

Every room comes with a television, wireless internet access, a mini bar, soft carpeting, indirect lighting, air conditioning and plenty of closet space. Carnival also provides a safe in every room to lock up your valuables. Each cabin bathroom has a hair dryer built into the wall, and each bedroom has air conditioning that you can control.

In the bathroom on the first day of the cruise you will find a small amenity package that includes complimentary shower get, two disposable razors, hand soap, toothpaste, and shampoo.

In the Mini Bar, you will find soda, water, beer, and spirits, but they come at a cost: $5.50-$7 for spirits; $4.94 per beer; and $1.95 for a soda. A big bottle of water will lighten your wallet by $3.95.

The televisions in standard cabins are relatively small at 18 inches and, as is common on cruise ships, only get a handful of channels. There are three channels that play movies (alas, we couldn't find any information on the television or in the room as to which movies would play and when) and 10 other channels such as CNN that come in over a satellite and as a result don't always work. You als can order movies through the television on a pay-per-view basis for $8.99.

Wireless internet runs throughout the ship. You can purchase minutes according to the following payment plans:

Longer Cruises (6 days and longer) * 250 minutes for $100.00 * 100 minutes for $55.00 * Pay As You Go: $0.75/min

Shorter Cruises (5 days and shorter) * 60 minutes for $24.00 * 30 minutes for $16.50 * Pay As You Go: $0.75/min

The internet connects via satellite, which is very different than on shore high-speed connections, and is not guaranteed at all times since satellite connections are very sensitive to weather.

Printing is available in the Internet Café at $0.50/page

You can make and receive calls and text messages on your cell phone too. Be aware though, international roaming rates apply and will be billed by your home carrier.

The phone in your room can be used for international calls too at $6.99 per minute to the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean islands, it is $9.99 for international calls.

There are two main dining rooms on the Freedom: the Posh Restaurant, where passengers can dine for early seating at 6 pm and late seating at 8:15 pm, and the Chic Restaurant, where dinner is done on “My Time Dining” and guests can eat any time between 5:45 pm and 9:30 pm. The menus at both of the main dining rooms include items that change daily as well as some standard items that appear every day.

On the Lido deck, between the ship’s two pools, you also will find the Freedom Restaurant, where an extensive buffet is served all day in the most casual of settings (i.e. you won’t be out of place if you show up in your bathing suit). Food ranging from Indian, Mongolian Grill, Seafood, and Sushi is offered here, but also other international cuisine, like Italian, Jamaican, English, and of course American. There is also a deli station, where guests can put together their own hot or cold sandwiches.

Outside the Freedom Restaurant, on the Lido deck, are two grill stations with burgers and hot dogs, as well as the Tandoor station and a 24-hour pizza bar. On the upper level of the Freedom Restaurant Carnival offers everything seafood: Fish & Chips, Nigiri, Bouillabaisse, and different seafood salads.

The Carnival Freedom has one extra-charge specialty restaurant, the Sun King Steakhouse. Reservations for the Sun King are necessary and a cover charge of $20 applies. The dress code is smart casual. The extensive menu includes some French and Italian dishes, and as one would expect for a steakhouse a number of different cuts of beef, pork, and lamb.

Note: In June 2012, Carnival increased the surcharge on all its steakhouses, to $35 per person.

The Posh Restaurant occupies two decks with a large staircase between. Tables are done up in classic style in gold and black tones, dark wood, and white tablecloths. Given these dark hues and low lighting at dinner, it can be hard to see at times.

And if that's not enough, the wait staff performs a song and dance every night. That is, they literally sing and dance, not just work really hard to serve a meal for thousands of people, something they also do every night.

Breakfast was concise; egg dishes, french toast and pancakes with a few fillings. Five words: Banana pancakes with fried banana; one of the best meals we had on board.

The Posh Restaurant only serves lunch on sea days. The menu is highly diverse, with dishes from around the globe. Alas, the result is spotty. The California sushi roll wasn't high quality; too much rice, not enough vinegar. Spaghetti with meatballs was decent, but needed seasoning. We did like the avocado soup though, which was well prepared.

Dinner was tasty, but not the gourmet food Carnival claims to serve. We understand chefs must accommodate many people’s tastes with a single menu, but dishes were often bland, and the jerked pork had no kick at all, lacking all that makes it jerked.

Some items on the dinner menu stood out as spectacular however. Alligator fritters, though too few in number, were delicious. The prime rib was cooked perfectly, and savory to the last bite. We were more than satisfied with the mango cream and the frogs legs in herb butter. As a main dish, our favorite was the salmon with artichokes, sun ripened tomatoes, and kernel corn medley, perfectly made and oh so tasty.

A good selection of desserts are offered at every meal, including melting chocolate cake with ice cream, a heavy dish that is the gold standard of mouthwatering.

{{photo_gallery "Restaurant 1 Overview Photos", "Restaurant 1 Breakfast Photos", "Restaurant 1 Lunch / Dinner Photos", "Restaurant 1 Dessert Photos"}}

The Chic Restaurant is a sister restaurant to the Posh Restaurant, and it sports the same interior design and menu. The only difference between the two is that the Chic Restaurant offers “My Time Dining” where passengers can arrive for dinner at their leisure, any time between the hours of 5:45 pm and 9:30 pm.

{{photo_gallery "Restaurant 2 Overview Photos"}}

A Manhattan-chic steakhouse decorated with pictures of its namesake, the French King Louis XIV, and a whole lot of gold. White cloth and imitation candles top the tables. You pay an extra $20 for the privilege of dining at Sun King, but it's well worth the price.*

The menu focuses on gourmet steaks and seafood. The Sun King is great for those looking for a romantic night out, and also for those who are red meat lovers.

The culinary experience starts immediately after seating, as a waiter brings focaccia with butter, eggplant tapenade and tomato confit bordering on the divine. After this pre-appetizer comes an amuse bouche, one of the chef creations of the night. Our miniature tomato soup with croutons and Parmesan was excellent.

For the rest, we highly recommend the thinly cut beef carpaccio. It's a perfect appetizer, light, piquant and the beef melts in your mouth. The beef tomatoes with Gorgonzola crumbles is superb as well, both fruity and savory at the same time.

The main feature, steaks, are cooked precisely to order. The lamb was our favorite here. Two chops are served with three small pieces of lamb tenderloin. The chops almost fell off the bone, with taste to match the perfect texture.

Desserts were especially rich at the Sun King. The desserts sampler was our favorite, with tastes of bittersweet chocolate cake, banana panna cotta, tiramisu, and chocolate marquise with raspberry and mint. The marquise stood out most, both for its flavor and because, after a large steak dinner, it was the lightest of all the samples.

The wine list at the Sun King is certainly extensive, including white, red, sparkling, and reserve wines from all over the world. You can have a glass poured for as little as $7, or a whole bottle of Opus One Reserve for $225, and anything in between.

• Note: In June 2012, Carnival increased the surcharge at all steakhouses to $35/person.

{{photo_gallery "Restaurant 3 Overview Photos", "Restaurant 3 Lunch / Dinner Photos", "Restaurant 3 Dessert Photos"}}

Located on the Lido deck, between the two main pools, the Freedom Restaurant is the ship’s buffet option. Like many buffets on large cruise ships, it's cavernous and feels like a canteen. There are four buffet areas: Two in front and two in back, though the selection is the same at all four.

Drink stations with juices, coffee, water and tea are located all over the restaurant.

At breakfast the Freedom Restaurant offers pancakes, waffles, french toast, made-to-order omelets, bread, various breakfast meats, cheeses and pastries. There's a cereal bar next to fresh fruit for the health-minded. Scrambled eggs and bacon were often made an hour or so before arrival, and can be less than appetizing. Omelets and pastries were our go to options, and didn't disappoint.

The salad bar seems to stretch forever with tasty options aplenty. The Mongolian grill lets you choose vegetables, meats, noodles, and sauces for the chef to stir-fry together for you. We appreciated how healthy and satisfying this could be.

The buffet changes regularly according to the “Taste of the Nations”, implying recipes from Italian, French, American, and Caribbean influences. The spread usually includes a carving station where you can find roast beef or other large slabs of well cooked animal.

Don’t forget the dessert station! Different desserts every day en masse line this buffet, some highlights being a hazelnut chocolate cake, cheesecakes, tarts and fruits.

{{photo_gallery "Restaurant 4 Overview Photos", "Restaurant 4 Breakfast Photos", "Restaurant 4 Lunch / Dinner Photos", "Restaurant 4 Dessert Photos"}}

Offering only seafood, Fish & Chips is part of the Freedom Restaurant. Just above the main buffet, it's a separate area that's smaller and more specialized, with less of a buffet style, since the food is served from a separate, small galley.

As one would hope for a place called Fish & Chips, the fish and chips here are great, both crispy and tasty, with bottles of malt vinegar for seasoning found on the tables. Other menu options include bouillabaisse, fish soup, octopus salad, shrimp salad and other seafood salads.

{{photo_gallery "Restaurant 5 Overview Photos", "Restaurant 5 Lunch / Dinner Photos"}}

Just to either side of the Freedom Restaurant are several grill stations, as well as a pizza bar that operates day and night, similar to a college campus all-night grill. By the Timeless pool, there is a grill serving burgers, hot dogs and fries, as well as a Indian station with tandoor oven-cooked dishes and other specialties. By the Endless pool lies the pizza bar and another grill station.

At the pizza bar, you'll find slices of cheese, pepperoni, vegetarian and Margherita pizzas. Ring a little bell, and a staff member will come out to serve you a slice of your choice. For buffet pizza, it's really not bad.

At the grill, burgers and dogs are made to order, which is a nice touch (they are not laying around all day in the sun, and taste really great for what they are).

The Tandoor is the most exciting and delicious venue here, in our opinion, even though the selection isn't large. You can grab a curry, a few rice dishes and several sauces to go with it all. We say yum.

{{photo_gallery "Restaurant 6 Overview Photos", "Restaurant 6 Lunch / Dinner Photos"}}

As part of the Promenade deck 5, right behind the casino, the Meji Sushi Bar lacks any dedicated tables, but there is a small seating area. Sushi is displayed behind glass, and decoration is sparse, with some bamboo and a few fake flowers.

We found the sushi here not as good as what we ate on our visit to Carnival’s newest ship, the Carnival Magic. The rolls are a little too thick, and the Freedom specializes in California and vegetable rolls, but don't get into anything too challenging, like eel.

{{photo_gallery "Restaurant 7 Overview Photos", "Restaurant 7 Lunch / Dinner Photos"}}

Carnival has hosted the Chef’s Table experience on several ships for about two years. For an surcharge, it’s an elaborate, gourmet meal, accompanied by a thorough galley tour hosted by the executive chef, offered once per voyage for up to 14 people. During the tour, appetizers are served, and we are then escorted to the Card Room. All seven courses are assembled here for the guest’s viewing pleasure.

The meal itself was entertaining and the food was good, but not mind-blowing.

A basket of breads with olive brioche, focaccia, and baguettes came with salted butter and pumpkin butter. After this came three small tastings, starting with ahi tuna tartare with a wasabi crisp in a bite-sized amuse bouche; sweet, savory, and tangy all at the same time (very satisfying). Next, a duck pot sticker, roasted duck in flaky dough with a slight dusting of something sugary. This was followed by a steak taco that was just okay, and not very special.

When we finished, we were blitzed by no less than six main courses. First, a delectable Norwegian salmon tartare with avocado mousse and salmon caviar. Second, fire roasted tomato and poblano chili bisque, with grilled corn and a cilantro drizzle, the best of the warm appetizers. Rock shrimps and apple beignets with a tapioca crunch and garlic lemon aioli followed. The tapioca chip pulled this dish together, melding the apple's sweetness and the seafood's flavor miraculously. Next came a Mediterranean salad with shaved pumpkin and crumbled feta, basically Greek salad with a less than inventive twist. Chilean sea bass was cooked to perfection, with wine-stewed shallots and chive vinaigrette, leek emulsion, and pea risotto. Dinner ended with filet mignon; the meat was a perfect medium rare, and the bell pepper seed mustard was an interesting and welcome addition. The side of steamed broccoli seemed a little tacked on, we'd hoped for a bit more of a surprise with the final side.

We were, of course, served the signature melting chocolate cake that we saw the pastry chef prepare. But there was a second surprise dessert of a white cake with cream filling, berry sherbet, and a coconut gelatine strip which was a wonderful cap to a flavor packed evening.

The chef chose wines to pair with each of the courses, one Sauvignon Blanc and a Shiraz to go with the filet.

{{photo_gallery "Restaurant 8 Overview Photos", "Restaurant 8 Lunch / Dinner Photos", "Restaurant 8 Dessert Photos"}}

Room service takes between 30 and 45 minutes to be delivered to your room. The menu is brief, featuring a short list of cold sandwiches (tuna, ham and cheese, BLT, shrimp salad, roasted NY strip loin and cheddar) and a few hot items as well (grilled cheese, hot Ruben, chicken fajita, hot pastrami). Supplementing the sandwiches, there are two salads and a crudité plate of veggie sticks and blue cheese for dipping. For your sweeter side, there is a dessert menu with two cakes and fruit.

Breakfast items on the room service menu are limited to cereals, yogurt, breads, pastries, and hot and cold beverages. Do not get your hopes up for more robust options such as eggs, meats and cheeses, or you will be disappointed. You can get breakfast until 11 am, and order it in advance by 5 am or by phone the same day.

Of the sandwiches, the BLT is one of the better choices we found though it does not have that much B compared to L and T. The chicken fajita was the most satisfying with lots of chicken and guacamole in a tasty jalapeño and tomato wrap. The salads — a Caesar and a mixed greens — were underwhelming.

Dessert is a standard list of cheesecake, chocolate cake, cookies, fruit, and one odd outlier: strawberry yogurt.

You can order juices, coffee, tea and milk for free any time you like. At regular bar prices, the staff will deliver soda and beer as well.

{{photo_gallery "In-Room Dining Breakfast Photos", "In-Room Dining Lunch / Dinner Photos", "In-Room Dining Dessert Photos"}}

Though you can find a number of different beers and mixed drinks on menus, there are no drink packages for beer and spirits. Each drink must be purchased at the listed bar prices.

Wine, however, can be bought in bulk several bottles at a time at a 25% discount, to be drunken over the course of your cruise.

Beer & Wine

The wine lists in the various restaurants on the Carnival Freedom pull from all over the world, featuring Champagne, Burgundy, and Beaujolais from France; Prosecco, Chianti, and Pinot Grigio from Italy; and Korbel, Chardonnay, and Merlot from California. Most of the wines are sold by the bottle rather than the glass. There are a number of fairly pricey wines on the wine lists, including a Chateauneuf-Du-Pape from the Rhone region in France for $110, or a Grand Cru from St. Emilion in France for $115. The Sun King Steakhouse offers a few additional reserve wines, like a Cabernet Sauvignon for $180 or an Opus One for $225, both from the Napa Valley.

At bars across the ship, there is Champagne, various wines, Port, cognac, and brandy by the glass starting at $5.25. You also can find domestic beers like Blue Moon and Budweiser as well as some imported selections.

{{photo_gallery "Beer & Wine Photos"}}

Mixed Drinks

The bars will serve you pretty much any mixed drink you can think of, including a number of specialty martinis such as a pomtini, appletini, bluemoon and tiramisu martinis for $8.95. The Carnival signature cocktail is “The Fun Ship” that comes with a souvenir glass and is made with amaretto, rum, vodka, apricot brandy, and some juice. If you keep the glass, refills are $6.75. Standard cocktails range between $5.50 and $7.50.

The Carnival Freedom also offers a number of unusually-named frozen drinks designed to tap into that sunny cruise vacation vibe, like Kiss on the Lips, Mocha Chocolate Getaway, and Hurricane Waves. Bars also serve up more standard frozen daiquiris, all for $7.25. Each of these drinks can be done without the alcohol for $4.75.

Champagne, wine, port, cognac and brandy by the glass will set you back $5.25. Drinks straight up or on the rocks range from $4.95 to $7.50 depending on which specific brand of liquor you want to be included.

The drink menus are basically the same throughout the ship with a few variations found at the bars by the pools, and there also are drink specials that change daily.

{{photo_gallery "Mixed Drinks Photos"}}

Drink Packages

Liquor cannot be purchased in bulk for a discount (we know, it’s vacation, how dare they?), but wine can be clustered into a package to get 25% off the regular list price. There is also the Bottomless Bubbles soda card that allows for endless soda throughout your stay on the Carnival Freedom. Kids pay $4.50 per day for such a card; adults $6 per day.

{{photo_gallery "Drink Packages Photos"}}

Non-alcoholic Options

Soda, juices and smoothies are all offered on board at most bars. In addition, all frozen alcoholic drinks also can be made in a non-alcoholic version.

{{photo_gallery "Non-alcoholic Options Photos"}}

The Havana Bar’s name and appearance confused us into thinking it was a place to buy and smoke cigars, but oddly enough, it is not. Leather couches and chairs are set around tables with legs designed to look like the nipped ends of a cigar, and there are lots of pictures of Cuban cigar brands. The bar area itself is expansive, with stools that also look like cigars (you can understand our confusion by this point). There also is a dance floor in the center of the Havana Bar, and they play rock music here (a bit incongruously, we think, given that the Cuban-themed decor would seem to call for a more Latin vibe). This place is fun, but in our opinion suffers from a bit of an identity crisis.

The Havana Bar is often alive with music. Both DJs and live piano players perform here into the night. There are also event nights including family and adults-only karaoke nights as well as an adults-only “Grown up Game Night,” which at times can get a little saucy.

{{photo_gallery "Bar / Club 1 Overview Photos"}}

Swingtime is a small bar located next to the International lounge. It is one of the few areas on the interior of the Carnival Freedom that allows smoking and, as a result, has become somewhat of a haven for smokers (and fairly smoky; if you’re not a smoker, you may want to stay away).

There is a small stage and dance floor at Swingtime where music keeps the evening lively. There also are benches scattered throughout this club where you can ensconce for a view of the action on stage.

There is live music almost every night at Swingtime, but no other events are hosted here.

{{photo_gallery "Bar / Club 2 Overview Photos"}}

Nouveau offers a large list of wines and champagnes from all over the world. Cocktails and beer that are available on the rest of the ship also are offered at this bar.

The occasional wine and martini tastings are hosted by trained Carnival staff. This also is the bar where “Friends of Dorothy” gay and lesbian passenger meet-ups are held, and singles congregate here for a fine wine and welcoming camaraderie.

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As the name suggests, 70s is a bar and dance club that focuses in on the Disco era of the 1970s. The 1970s-themed decor brings passengers back to the days of disco using a palate heavy in bright reds and blues.

There are regular Disco nights at 70s as well as dance competitions, and it’s not exclusively for adults. There also is an evening for “teen disco” where you’ll see youngsters born long after the Disco era taking to the floor to give it a try.

{{photo_gallery "Bar / Club 4 Overview Photos"}}

The Centuries Bar is the bar at the ship’s Casino. Smoking is allowed at one half of it.

Centuries offers a few drink specials that make it unique. Flavored margaritas, Bellinis and flavored martinis can be had for a special price.

There’s usually a solo guitarist playing at night in the Centuries Bar. On our cruise, the guitarist who performed regularly in the space seemed to focus on Country tunes, and he was pretty darn good.

{{photo_gallery "Bar / Club 5 Overview Photos"}}

Just off the Casino, the Players Sports Bar is packed with TV screens showing all sorts of live sporting events.

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On either side of the Timeless pool, there is a bar. The starboard bar is non-smoking, the port side is a smoking venue, and never the twain shall meet. Both sections of the bar are adjacent to the Tandoor and Grill. These bars open in the morning to ensure you fill your quota of holiday day drinking.

The drinks menu is nearly the same here as at other bars on the ship, although some specialty drinks are only available poolside. At the pools you can grab a Mango Swirl, a Shadeade, or a Twilight Zone for $7.25. On some sea days you can get a drink made in a plastic coconut or an actual fresh pineapple for $12.95.

Every now and again there are live bands at this pool and, this being a Carnival ship, a "Hairy Chest Contest."

{{photo_gallery "Bar / Club 7 Overview Photos"}}

Located nearby the ship's outdoor pizzeria and grill, adjacent to the Endless pool, this is a small bar where you can grab all sorts of cocktails and specialty drinks starting in the late morning.

{{photo_gallery "Bar / Club 8 Overview Photos"}}

Even the lobby has a bar on the Carnival Freedom, and not just a bar but a dance floor.

There is generally some live music to dance to, but the real excitement is the beginning of a ship-wide scavenger hunt that begins at the Millennium Lobby bar.

{{photo_gallery "Bar / Club 9 Overview Photos"}}

Stuck right in the middle of the room is a large piano, operated by a series of talented piano men and women. Decorations for this bar are in line with the theme, piano keys are all over the walls and the ceiling here.

Bar trivia is one of a handful of events held each cruise at Scott's Piano Bar. There also are sing-a-long events, including some designed for singles to meet up.

{{photo_gallery "Bar / Club 10 Overview Photos"}}

Spa Carnival

Spa Carnival on the Freedom is not very big as compared to the spas on some other mass-market ships. That said, there are several different types of treatment rooms, from an inside (windowless) treatment room to one with an ocean view and one for couples. All spa rooms are swathed in relaxing, muted colors, and some rooms have showers used in certain treatments. There is a small salon accessible from the main entrance, and a spa pool connected to the complimentary locker rooms.

Several types of facial and massage treatments are available, at varying lengths and prices. Among the facial treatment choices is a Hydralift facial for $107, an Oxydermi facial for $152, a Collagen facial for $131, and a Skin Specific facial for $107. Massage treatments include a 75 minute Herbal Poultice massage ($176), an Aroma Stone Therapy massage ($135 for 55 minutes and $176 for 75 minutes), an Aroma Stone Therapy massage, ($135 and $175), a Bamboo massage ($143 and $179), as well as the standard Deep Tissue, Swedish, and Reflexology massages, available in single or couples massages for $107 and $242 respectively.

Though relatively small, the salon is full service, offering mani-pedis, waxing, hair cuts and do-styling, coloring and highlights. Men as well as women are welcome, and there are pampering and grooming services for men that include facial cleansing, shaves, beard trims and men’s hair styling. Prices for men start at $15 for a trim and up to $116 for a facial cleanse.

The Spa pool is a complimentary edition to Spa Carnival and you are free to use it whenever you would like. It overlooks the fitness studio which can be a little strange for people on both sides of the glass.

{{photo_gallery "Treatment Rooms Photos", "Massages & Treatments Photos", "Hair Salon Photos", "Spa Pools Photos"}}

The Carnival Freedom’s fitness center is rather compact for a ship of its size, but it comes well equipped with treadmills, free weights and other circuit machines. A handful of basic classes focused on such things as an abdominal workout and stretching are free for anyone. More advanced instructional classes in yoga and Pilates can be attended for $12 per person. There also is a three-class “boot camp” available for $120 per person, personal training sessions for $85, and a nutritional consultant available as well.

Outside on deck 12, right at mid ship, you will find a nine-hole miniature golf course titled Putterific Mini-Golf that circles the ship’s funnel. The grass may be fake, but the view is spectacular. Pick up your putter and your colorful ball at the first hole, accessible through the sports deck on deck 11.

The Sports Deck on deck 11 has a half-size basketball court and a volleyball net. Shuffleboard courts are located on both sides of deck 3, and on deck 12 behind the funnel. Forward on deck 12, just before Camp Carnival, is one of America’s and China’s favorite pastimes: Ping Pong. Running around the Sports Deck on deck 11 is the jogging track. It’s a bit like a hamster wheel, but passengers seem to have fun with it.

Not far from the Stressless pool is an man-sized chess board.

{{photo_gallery "Fitness Center Photos", "Sports Activity 1 Photos", "Sports Activity 2 Photos", "Sports Activity 3 Photos", "Sports Activity 4 Photos", "Sports Activity 5 Photos", "Sports Activity 6 Photos"}}

Timeless Pool

The Timeless pool is the main pool on the Carnival Freedom, and it's part of a deck area that also includes two whirlpools and a smattering of sun chairs all around. A statue of a woman in a bathing suit sits at one end.

The Timeless pool is not very long, but it is deep enough (4'9'') to do a few laps if you can make the space for yourself. There is a shallow area to the pool as well for wading and sipping specialty cocktails from one of the two bars flanking each side. There also is a smoking area on the port side of the pool, where there are plenty of tables and chairs.

The Timeless pool area is where you will find the ship's massive 12- by 22-foot screen where Carnival shows feature films in the afternoon and night. It is hard to see the screen through the glare of the sun in the afternoon, but at night it can be quite enjoyable to sit out and watch a show. Other entertainment you may see at the Timeless pool area includes live bands and the occasional hairy chest contest.

{{photo_gallery "Pool Area 1 Photos"}}

Endless Pool

On Deck 9 aft of the Freedom is the Endless pool, which features a statue that is a counterpart to the lady in bathing suit found at the Timeless pool. There also is a bar here with sitting areas where you can eat food from the Freedom Restaurant. Between the bar on one end of this area, a beverage station at the other end of the area, and its pizza station, grills and two whirlpool tubs, you could spend the whole day at the Endless pool. On rainy days, the Carnival crew will retract the glass ceiling and the fun continues rain or shine.

{{photo_gallery "Pool Area 2 Photos"}}

Stressless Pool

The Stressless pool is located on deck 10, which is connected to other decks and the Timeless pool by a series of terraces. There is a single whirlpool at the Stressless pool from which you will find the best view of the ship and the gargantuan screen by the Timeless pool.

{{photo_gallery "Pool Area 3 Photos"}}

Twister Waterslide *

The water slide entrance is on deck 14 and the ride will spiral you three floors down to deck 10, where you will emerge at the Stressless pool.

{{photo_gallery "Pool Area 4 Photos"}}

While it doesn't circumnavigate the entire ship, deck 3 serves the purpose of a promenade and also features sun lounges, shuffle board and a port side smoking area.

{{photo_gallery "Promenade Photos"}}

The Carnival Freedom was the first Carnival ship to have an adults-only Serenity Deck, where cushioned sun chairs, beach chairs, hammocks and whirlpools await passengers who want to get away from children. It is definitely more quiet here, though a bit crowded on sea days. Be aware that the lower front part of this deck is right next to Camp Carnival, where the thing you are trying to avoid most, the grating noise of children’s laughter, wafts from the depths below.

Deck 10 overlooks both of the main pools and offers a great view of the ship’s monstrous LED screen and the ocean. This deck can be a bit overpopulated on sea days, likely due to its good location.

{{photo_gallery "Deck Area 2 Photos"}}

Deck 11 is the sporty deck, connecting the jogging track and the sports area. It even has some shuffle board, if you count that as a sport. One drawback to this area is it can be loud as it is located right next to one of the ship’s noisy funnel towers. As a result, it seems that many people avoid this area, making it a place where you can find some privacy in one of the sun loungers.

{{photo_gallery "Deck Area 3 Photos"}}

You will find a nine-hole miniature golf course on deck 12 and a small sun deck with loungers. You can get here only by going through the sports deck.

{{photo_gallery "Deck Area 4 Photos"}}

On deck 5 are arm chairs, massage chairs and tables, and it connects venues like the casino, the sushi bar, the 70’s disco, and the wine bar.

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Viennese Café

The Viennese Café offers great tasting coffee drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos, espresso, and americanos, available in large and small sizes. You will find it on the deck 5 Promenade where you can accompany your caffeine intake with cakes and pastries. It opens by 7 am and closes at 1 am. On port days, the Viennese is closed between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm.

{{photo_gallery "Lounge / Café 1 Photos"}}

International Lounge

The International Lounge features the secondary stage on the Freedom and is home to regular comedy acts, karaoke, live music, and art auctions. The stage is small, making for an intimate setting where you can see and hear performances from anywhere you sit.

{{photo_gallery "Lounge / Café 2 Photos"}}

The Web Internet Café

Located on Deck 4 behind the Habana bar you will find the small Web Internet Café, where you can access the Internet (for a charge).

{{photo_gallery "Lounge / Café 3 Photos"}}

Conference Rooms

The Dynasty Conference room on deck 4 can be reserved for all your business needs. The room is 1,310 square feet and can be divided into two smaller rooms, each with a 8’ screen and projector, with an overall maximum capacity of 125 people.

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The ship’s library, dubbed the Monticello after Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia home, is quite small. There are just three book shelves and a few sets of board games. You will find it right next to the photo gallery.

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Movie Theater

While there is no formal movie theater on board the Carnival Freedom, the giant 12′ × 22′ exterior LED screen near the Timeless pool serves as a show place for the broadcast of movies, videotaped concerts, news programs and live sporting events. The picture is clear from all around the Timeless pool deck, and the 70,000-watt speakers make it pretty easy to hear. You can also catch first-run feature films at the Victoriana Theater according to schedule.

{{photo_gallery "Shows & Performances Photos"}}

Victoriana Lounge

The main stage on the Freedom is the Victoriana Lounge, featuring a revolving orchestra pit and a recessed speaker system. All shows are produced by Carnival Cruise Lines. Most of the shows are musicals, but there are also comedians. Other events include featured movie showings and a Bingo night. The theater itself is enormous, filling up more than two deck levels.

{{photo_gallery "Movie Theater Photos"}}

The arcade is relatively small. You can buy tokens for the various games with your sign and sail card.

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The Babylon Casino offers all of the table games and slot machine offerings you would expect from a fairly large size casino. Smoking is allowed in the casino but only if you are playing a game or at the one half of the bar where it is allowed; otherwise lighting up is forbidden. The bar at the Babylon Casino often has a live guitarist playing Country tunes.

The Babylon Casino offers hundreds of slot machines that start at a nickel per play. A standard selection of casino table games are available here including black jack and several varieties of poker, including Texas Hold ’em. There are two roulette tables and two craps tables to set the gaming foundation at the Freedom Casino.

Instead of continuously plugging machines with coins, you can sign up for the Player’s Club and use the Sail & Sign card to work the slots. With this card you earn points, 1000 points equivalent to $10 cash back. If you earn 1500 points on slots with your card, your drinks are free!

{{photo_gallery "Casino Overview Photos", "Slot Machines Photos", "Card Games Photos", "Tables Photos"}}

The Carnival Freedom offers three different areas for children broken down by age group, making it a great choice for families.

Club O2 is for teenagers 15-17 with parties, video games, movies and other clean cruising fun on deck 5.

Circle “C” on deck 4 is for the tweens in your family (ages 12-14) with appropriate video games, dances, karaoke and late night movies to make them think they are being mischievous.

Camp Carnival is for the young ones, with activities designed for ages 2-11 on deck 14. Activities are supervised and separated into three groups for more age appropriate fun.

{{photo_gallery "Children's Areas Photos"}}

The Fun Shops

The Fun Shops sell a variety of goods including jewelery, watches, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, perfume, accessories, clothing, knickknacks, and other souvenirs. When you reach international waters, all items become duty free. Look for frequent jewelery and watch sales (up to 40% off).

{{photo_gallery "Retail Outlet 1 Photos"}}

Photo Store

Like other mass-market ships, the Carnival Freedom is awash in photographers who roam the vessel taking pictures of passengers. The thousands of photos they take during each voyage are posted along the walls of the Photo Store, and you can purchase them for a fee. It can be hard at times to pick out the photos in which you appear, given the large numbers posted here, but you also can search for your photos on the computers located in this area.

{{photo_gallery "Retail Outlet 2 Photos"}}

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The Carnival Staff are generally very friendly, although we did feel like service was a little slow in the ship’s main restaurants, which is perhaps understandable given the sheer number of guests.

Though we never saw our room steward, the room was always magically clean and neat. Our only complaint with the service we received at our cabin was the high amounts we were charged for laundry service, which obviously isn’t the room steward’s fault (and note that there are laundry specials during the voyage as well as a coin operated launderette on some decks.

One nice service touch on the Carnival Freedom is the availability of Luggage Express, a program that allows passengers to check into their flights in advance from the ship and have their luggage sent directly to their airline (you don’t have to worry about the luggage again until you land at your final destination). You must be flying on one of the following airlines to participate in Luggage Express: Delta, JetBlue, Continental, Southwest, American Airlines, AirTran, or US Airways.

The staff aboard the Freedom were extremely friendly. That said, we found the room stewards could be a little inflexible at times. They require your room service to be left outside the room for pickup, and they needed repeated encouragement to remove the towel animals they left in the room.

The service in the main dining room left us wanting more. There were two sets of silverware, but when we ordered two appetizers no replacement was offered for the third course. When we changed our minds about a dish because it was just not to our liking, the staff did not appreciate the confusion. If you order an appetizer, you might see it with the rest of the entrees.

Carnival automatically adds a gratuity to your bill at the end of the trip, and at the time we traveled the fee was $10 per person per day. Any drink you order also has an additional 15% gratuity added to the base charge.

Dress Codes

When visiting the main dining room and the ship’s interior bars, Carnival asks that you observe a “smart casual” dress code — i.e. no bathing suits or flip flops. The Sun King Steakhouse is a more formal affair, with men asked to wear jackets to dinner. The buffet, by contrast, is very casual; you can slip in and out of there with whatever you threw on to go to the pool. There is one Captain’s Night where formal attire is recommended for dinner.

Loyalty Programs

After your first Carnival cruise, you are added to the loyalty program. After 10 cruises with Carnival, you become a Silver Member with some decent rewards and priority boarding.

General Safety

Like any good ship, the Carnival Freedom has all sorts of safety equipment, from easily accessible life boats to fire extinguishers. There is a mandatory safety drill for all passengers on the first day of each cruise, and the crew also holds occasional drills on other days.

There is a medical clinic on deck 0, open a few hours in the morning and the afternoon. There are charges for medical attention.

Smoking Regulations

There are a few designated smoking areas on the open-air decks of the ship as well as two places on the interior ship where smoking is allowed: The Swingline bar and at one side of the Casino Bar. There is no smoking allowed in cabins, but you can smoke on a cabin balcony if you have one. Those who are caught smoking in their cabins will incur a $250 cleaning and refreshing fee on their Sail & Sign card account.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

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• Cruise Ships
• Carnival Freedom

Carnival Freedom ®

• Dining & Activities
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Carnival Freedom has a message for you, and its "feel free to have fun!" Explore the ship and you'll find food options galore, starting with two dining rooms, but definitely extending outdoors — there's mouth-watering Guy Fieri burgers at Guy's Burger Joint ™ , plus the greatest tacos and burritos this side of the pier at BlueIguana Cantina ™ . For delicious, but quick and easy, selections from the sea, get your chopsticks around all the good stuff at Bonsai Sushi Express ™ . For every great food spot, there's a great place to enjoy drinks, too, from the toe-tapping Scott's Piano Bar to the always-hoppin' 70's Nightclub. For the thirsty, libation hotspots include Alchemy Bar ® and the place we all gather to raise very important toasts: Heroes Tribute ™ Bar & Lounge. Everybody's favorite outdoor seaside bar is here... whether yours is the RedFrog Rum Bar ® or BlueIguana Tequila Bar ™ . (Or hey, make it both!) The rum bar's older brother, RedFrog Pub ® , features drinks, live music and traditional pub games. Topping off adult-time is Serenity — adult-only, of course — the retreat where total relaxation is not only encouraged, but pretty much required. If you're a kid, Carnival Freedom means you're in for a treat. Not only will you find new friends at one of three youth spaces — like Camp Ocean ® — but you can splash around with them in one of our many pools, speed down a waterslide at Carnival WaterWorks ™ , or once you dry off, challenge them to a round of mini-golf. Oh, and adults — don't get jealous; your inner kid gets to do all this stuff too! Up on stage is Playlist Productions ™ , featuring songs you know... and dance moves you'll soon be using. And for the cherry on top... it's actually called Cherry On Top ™ . It's the spot for something special, whether that something's a little something sweet — or simply a little something to sweeten a special occasion.

• 110,000 Gross Tonnage
• 2980 Guest Capacity
• 952 Length In Feet
• 1150 Onboard Crew

INSIDE THIS SHIP

Just like a delicious cake, your ship is made of layers. Find out which fun ingredients — staterooms, dining, activities — go into each deck.

YOUR STATEROOM

Interior with picture window (walkway view).

Every room includes:

• Dedicated stateroom attendant
• Soft, cozy linens
• Plenty of closet and drawer space
• In-room safe for valuables
• Stateroom climate control

Interior Upper/Lower (Porthole)

Interior upper/lower, scenic ocean view.

Your Scenic Ocean View stateroom aboard Carnival Freedom provides the best view of the sea that lies ahead of the ship, with views unlike any on land. And you'll get more of them, too, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing plenty of looking-glass for gazing at the natural wonders of the sea... and let's not forget sunrise and sunset.

Ocean View (Obstructed View)

Premium vista balcony.

Premium Vista Balcony staterooms were designed to wrap around the aft corners of Carnival Freedom, giving you a unique vantage point from which to enjoy luxuriously panoramic views of the sky and the sea — and yes, take in even more of that sunshine.

Premium Balcony

Step into a Premium Balcony stateroom aboard Carnival Freedom and it’s easy to see exactly what you're getting: one seriously spacious stateroom. It's about more than just the room itself, you'll find... step onto your oversized balcony and you'll find that when there's a sea breeze in your hair, there's no limit to the relaxation you can have.

Aft-View Extended Balcony

Aft-View Extended Balcony staterooms feature a larger balcony for more lounge-around room, more kick-back space... not to even mention some of the best stern-side views you'll find anywhere. Get ready to relax as you gaze upon Carnival Freedom's gentle wake from your spacious balcony.

Balcony staterooms were designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views, so look to a balcony if you're looking to cruise aboard Carnival Freedom. Any time you're in your room, you're just steps away from your own personal outdoor oasis, featuring the sort of sea view you can also feel.

Captain's Suite

This is the best room you can get… without bunking up with the guy himself. A Captain’s Suite aboard Carnival Freedom features tons of indoor space, and a huge balcony when you need a little more. Back inside you’ll find a king-size bed, two full bathrooms (one with whirlpool tub), plus a separate living room that sleeps another three. And VIP check-in? Naturally.

Amenities exclusive to suites:

• Priority check-in and boarding
• Priority Main Dining Room time assignment
• Priority debarkation at homeport, and ports of call requiring a water shuttle or with arrival times later than 9:30 Am
• Two large bottles of water
• Pillow-top mattress

Plus, every room includes:

Grand Suite

A Grand Suite aboard Carnival Freedom features even more space than the standard suite — plenty of room in your room! This stateroom is loaded for an unparalleled experience: VIP check-in, a huge balcony, and even a convenient dressing area with vanity.

Ocean Suite

A Carnival Freedom suite is the ultimate way to cruise. With more space for stretching out indoors, plus a large balcony for kicking back outdoors, try an Ocean Suite to experience private, luxurious relaxation. Ocean Suites also include VIP check-in, walk-in closet and full bathroom.

ONBOARD ACTIVITIES

Onboard dining, where to for you.

This ship is always visiting great vacation spots. Where will your next vacation take you?

* Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional per person.

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Carnival Freedom

Cruise line Carnival Cruise Line

• Port Canaveral (Orlando, Florida)

Carnival Freedom current position

Carnival Freedom current location is at North West Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 25.70181 N / -76.84789 W) cruising en route to USPCV>BSNAS. The AIS position was reported 16 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Carnival Freedom

Carnival Freedom current cruise is 4 days, round-trip The Bahamas . Prices start from USD 309 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 02 May, 2024 and ends on 06 May, 2024 .

Specifications of Carnival Freedom

•   Itineraries
•   Review
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Carnival Freedom Itineraries

Carnival freedom review, review of carnival freedom.

The 2007-built Carnival Freedom cruise ship is the 5th/last of Carnival's Conquest-class liners, with sisterships Conquest , Glory , Valor , Liberty .

The vessel (IMO number 9333149) is currently Panama- flagged (MMSI 371154000) and registered in Colon .

History - construction and ownership

Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) is a US shipping company, trademarked brand and subsidiary of Carnival Corporation (shipowner). CCL was founded in 1972 as an independent company by Ted Arison (1924-1999, co-founder of NCL Norwegian ).

CCL has the Corporation's largest fleet as number of vessels and GT-tonnage (ship sizes/volumes and passenger capacities). In 2023, CCL had ~9% (by revenue) and ~19% (passengers) share of the cruise industry's worldwide market. In 2024, the parent company (Carnival Corporation) had ~51% stake in the US$64+ billion industry.

The 3000-passenger ship Carnival Freedom was refurbished in 2014 for USD 70 million. Vessel's main architecture is a standard sandwich with most public rooms on Decks three through five; most fitness, spa and casual dining rooms on Deck 9 and above; and most cruisers cabins in among or below the public room decks. This main design has been a pattern for CCL newbuild construction since the introduction of Carnival Destiny in 1996.

There have been made few changes and enhancements in attributes and conveniences since the class was pushed in 2002, most especially, the addition of Seaside Theater (huge outdoor screen above swimming pool on Lido Deck). However, the Carnival ship Freedom suffers from the same cruisers-flow bugaboos as do the other vessels in this class. It is impossible to get from the Posh Dining Room (aft end of the liner) to the Victoriana Lounge (basic showroom) all the way forward without having to climb or descend 1 or 2 decks. And even then, one has to pass either go through the other dining room or the cigar bar.

Decks and Cabins

Carnival Freedom staterooms (1492 total, in 27 grades) include 52 Suites, 504 Balcony, 330 Oceanview and 587 Inside cabins, including 29 wheelchair-accessible (in all cabin categories). The ship has no "family cabins" but instead offers connecting rooms in various categories. Most cabins are sized 170-185 ft2 (16-17 m2). Cabin balconies are sized 35-75 ft2 (3-7 m2). The ship has 3 types of suites - Captain's, Grand, Ocean. The largest are Captain's Suites (500 ft2 / 46 m2 plus 150 ft2 / 14 m2 terrace).

The boat has 13 passenger decks , of which 8 are with cabins. Over 50% of all staterooms are outside, 60% of those are with balconies.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Two formal restaurants onboard Carnival Freedom serve open seating breakfast and lunch. Dinner is served in an open seating option or two assigned seatings. The casual Lido buffet offers a number of food stations with a variety of choices, including a salad bar, deli, dessert station, daily regional cuisines. The ship also boasts an upscale supper club which assesses a cover charge and requires reservations. You'll also find outdoor poolside grills, specialty coffee bar, complimentary sushi bar, pizzeria and 24-hour room service that provides a limited selection of items.

Onboard dining has remained mainly free of charge onboard Carnival Freedom. Apart from the main dining room and the buffet, there are burritos and burgers with enough toppings to experience something different every day of your voyage. Even the buffet themed counters seem like tiny, specialized eateries.

Follows the complete list of Carnival Freedom restaurants and food bars.

• Chic Restaurant (744-seat forward Dining Room, with two fixed dinner seatings and “Your Time Dining”; offers “Seuss At Sea” themed breakfast for $5)
• The Posh Restaurant (1122-seat aft Dining Room, with two fixed dinner seatings and open seating for Breakfast and Lunch)
• Freedom Lido Buffet Restaurant (1396-seat, self-service buffet restaurant with various food stations; operates as a bistro in the evenings)
• Sun King Steakhouse (108-seat, reservations only specialty restaurant for steaks and seafood, with dance floor and live music)
• Carnival Deli (complimentary) offers hot/cold sandwiches, side dishes, paninis, and has a draft beer dispenser (for ThirstyFrog Red and Bud Light).
• (refurb 2019) Bonsai Sushi Express (Deck 9 starboard) is a new outdoor food bar offering a variety of rolls, sushi, sashimi.
• Meiji Sushi (sushi bar, complimentary)
• Bluelguana Cantina (complimentary fast food Mexican bar - burritos, tacos)
• Guy’s Burger Joint (complimentary fast food bar by Guy Fieri).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

In 2012 Conquest-class ships first received the newly branded Carnival bars and comedy club. Deck parties are a staple highlighted by new musical performances and poolside bars. Carnival Freedom boasts 22 bars and lounges, giant disco, as well as a piano bar, sports bar, wood-paneled lounge with leather chairs and smoking section. The three-level theater is the special venue for Vegas-style productions accompanied by live orchestras.

Freedom is the first Carnival ship with Camp Ocean, which replaced Camp Carnival as children's program. Carnival Freedom is also the first ship to feature Bookville, a play space and reading room that anchors Seuss at Sea onboard experience. She's also the first ship to boast 4 full PlayList Productions shows at 30 minutes each, rotating throughout the cruise. A number of other Carnival branded experiences enhance onboard life. EA Sports Bar offers action on every wall with video games, sports games, and sports memorabilia. "Hasbro, the Game Show" plays the board games everyone knows out on the stage together with members of the audience. Apart from the "commercial breaks" showcasing Hasbro advertisements, the action is infectious.

Follows the complete list of Carnival Freedom lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Victoriana Theatre (1400-seat, 3-level show lounge for grand shows and musical productions; also used for daily trivia game shows, movies, bingo sessions).
• Freedom Atrium The Millennium Lobby (9-deck high open floor area with Millennium Lobby Bar for live performances)
• Chic Card Room; Art Room Gallery; The Dynasty Conference Room
• The Fun Shops (offer “Bon Voyage” items, duty-free liquor, jewelry, fashion boutiques, souvenirs, logo items), Carnival Adventures Shop (refurb 2019)
• Cherry on Top (candy shop)
• Club O2 (teens' club lounge for video games, movies, karaoke, and themed parties)
• Players’ Bar (55-seat sports bar); Nouveau Bar (30-seat wine bar); Alchemy Bar; Scott’s Bar (100-seat piano bar); Swingtime Bar (88-seat jazz bar); Habana Bar (147-seat cigar bar with live music and a faux fireplace)
• Babylon Casino (484-seat, served by Centuries Bar); Centuries Promenade Bar (23-seat)
• Viennese Cafe (specialty coffee bar)
• Video Games Arcade
• 70’s Disco and Nightclub (211-seat)
• International Lounge (425-seat, with dance floor; hosts Punchliner Comedy Club)
• Blue Iguana Tequila Bar (Mexican beer, tequila, margaritas)
• RedFrog Rum Bar (Caribbean rums selection, ThirstyFrog Red draught beer, burgers, and fries)
• Spa Carnival complex (with steam rooms, saunas, massage room, Spa Pool, Beauty Salon, and Gymnasium)
• Sports Deck (multi-sports court, Tennis Tables, Shuffleboard)
• 9-hole Mini-Golf Course, Jogging Track
• Circle C (kids' club lounge, complimentary)
• Internet Cafe (24-hour Internet computers room)
• Timeless Pool area (with 2 Timeless Bars, 2 Grille Bars, and 2 Whirlpools).
• Endless Pool area (with SkyDome glass roof; two Whirlpools are served by Endless Bar, Grille and Pizzeria)
• (refurb 2019) WaterWorks aqua park (Deck 10) features a 62-m / 203-ft long AquaTunnel (waterslide), Carnival’s signature 65-m / 212-ft long Twister slide, a 75-gallon / 285-liter PowerDrencher (tipping bucket) and the kids-only SplashZone.
• Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge
• Dreams Studio (photo sessions studio)
• Carnival Seaside Theatre (poolside LED screen / outdoor cinema)
• Serenity (adult-only sundeck with Serenity Bar, two Whirlpools, padded lounges)
• Camp Ocean (kids' club lounge hosting complementary programs with supervised activities, an outdoor playground). Camp Carnival's wading/paddling pool for kids is no longer available.

During drydock refurbishment in 2023 (October) were added the Heroes Tribute Bar (deck 5/replacing the Skybox Sports Bar) and the Dreams Studio (deck 3, in the Lobby), while the Babylon Casino was expanded.

CCL's Heroes Tribute Bar & Lounge (forward-portside/adjacent to the Casino) is the first-at-sea venue dedicated to active and retired US military personnel. The bar lounge features a distinctive decor with the logos of the USA's 5 armed forces (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard), military memorabilia throughout, walls lined with photos and messages themed "America’s Heroes", "Welcome Home" and "Thank You for Your Service". Specialty cocktails are served in custom-made pint glasses. A portion of each beverage sale benefits Operation Homefront (nonprofit organization). The special glasses can also be purchased as souvenirs.

Itineraries

Carnival Freedom itinerary program is based on departures from Galveston TX with 7-day roundtrip cruises to Eastern and Western Caribbean. Feature port destinations include Nassau , Key West , Cozumel , Belize , Roatan .

Starting April 27, 2021, Carnival Freedom had planned cruises in Alaska leaving on roundtrips from homeport Seattle WA . The 7-day "Glacier Route" itinerary visits Skagway , Juneau , Ketchikan , Victoria (BC Canada) , Tracy Arm Fjord (scenic cruising). The ship also had an 8-day itinerary to Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point/Hoonah , Victoria BC, Tracy Arm Fjord. Freedom's Seattle departures were on Tuesdays.

In 2021, in Alaska Carnival Freedom had to join Carnival Miracle (10-11-day roundtrips from San Francisco ). After Alaska, Freedom was to be relocated from Seattle to homeport Fort Lauderdale Florida with a 17-day Panama Canal itinerary (September 22, 2021) for 6- and 8-day Eastern and Southern Caribbean roundtrips. However, due to the Coronavirus crisis and Canada's extended (through 2022) ban on cruise ships, CCL's entire Alaska 2021 program was canceled and CCL's Freedom ship restartded operations on October 9, 2021, out of Miami .

In 2023, to Carnival Freedom's schedule were added two Transatlantic crossings (RepositionCruises.com) between Florida USA and Europe. The special voyages were due to the drydock (in Cadiz Spain ) scheduled for 2023 October (4-23). The first/eastbound Transatlantic voyage (Sept 21-Oct 4) is a 13-night itinerary from Port Canaveral to Barcelona . The second/westbound Transatlantic voyage (Oct 23-Nov 6) is a 14-night reverse itinerary from Barcelona to Port Canaveral.

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Carnival Freedom Wiki

Fun Ship 2.0 upgrade was done in 2014. Freedom is the first Carnival ship with a reservations-only/specialty restaurant (Sun King Steakhouse) and the adults-only "Serenity" (resort deck area). Freedom is also Carnival's last Conquest-class liner ( Fincantieri Monfalcone -built), with sisterships Conquest , Glory , Liberty , Valor . The inaugural cruise (maiden voyage) started on March 5, 2007 (Mediterranean itinerary from Civitavecchia-Rome ).

Carnival Freedom refurbishments review

Carnival Freedom's drydock refurbishment in 2024 (March 26-April 4) was at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport (Bahamas) . The project was for routine maintenance, technical overhauls, classification works/safety inspections, and some steelworks (including on the funnel that was shorted).

Drydocking 2023 (October 6-21) was conducted at Navantia shipyard in Cadiz Spain . The drydocking project included the replacement of the funnel, superstructure and hull cleaning/repainting, exterior refurbishments (new decking installation, adding CCL's new red-white-blue hull livery), adding the Heroes Tribute Bar (deck 5), Dreams Studio (deck 3). The Casino was expanded, and all staterooms and public areas were renovated/upgraded. Curiously, the funnel was designed and manufactured by Navantia.

The ship's 2019 drydock refit and refurbishment (February 14 - March 8) was done at Grand Bahama Shipyard (Freeport) and resulted in the following deckplan changes:

WaterWorks Aqua Park (Deck 10) replaced the Stressless Pool area (with a waterslide). The new aquapark features a 62-m / 203-ft long AquaTunnel (waterslide), Carnival's signature 65-m / 212-ft long Twister slide, a 75-gallon / 285-liter PowerDrencher (tipping bucket) and the kids-only SplashZone.

Bonsai Sushi Express (Deck 9 starboard) is a new outdoor food bar offering a variety of rolls, sushi, sashimi.

The Deli (Deck 9 portside / outdoor food bar) now offers an expanded menu with sandwiches, traditional side dishes, paninis.

The 9-hole Mini-Golf Course was relocated from Deck 12 to Deck 11.

Retail shopping areas (Promenade Deck 5) were expanded and redesigned (as mall-style space) with outlets selling watches, perfumes, jewelry, Carnival-branded merchandise (including at the new Carnival Adventures Shop / next to the Internet Cafe / midship-starboard).

The ship was also drydocked in 2021 (January-February) for routine maintenance and classification works.

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Carnival Freedom Deck Plans & Reviews

Carnival Freedom

Activities & entertainment

• Art Auction
• Beauty Salon *
• Dance Classes
• Deck Parties
• Evening Kids Programs *
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes *
• Green Eggs n Ham Breakfast *
• Groove For St. Jude *
• Hot Tubs (7)
• Ice Carving Demonstrations
• Jogging Track
• Lip Sync Battle
• Massage Room *
• Monticello Library
• Photo Portraits *
• Seuss-A-Palooza Parade & Storytime
• Spa Carnival® *
• Spa Parties *
• Sports Deck
• Whirlpool Spa
• White Party
• Wine Tasting *
• Waterslides
• The Warehouse *
• Circle "C"®
• Dr. Seuss Bookville
• 70s Dance Club
• Carnival's Seaside Theatre®
• Comedy Shows
• International Aft Lounge
• Live Nightly Music
• Outdoor Movies
• The Centuries Promenade
• Victoriana Main Lounge
• Bar - Pool Bar *
• Dining Room Annex - American
• The Chic Restaurant - American
• The Posh Restaurant - American
• Cherry On Top - Candies *
• Centuries Bar - Casino Bar *
• Freedom Restaurant - Casual
• Coffee Shop - Coffee & Pastries *
• Guy's Burger Joint - Fast Food
• Fish & Chips - Fish & Chips
• Swingtime Bar - Jazz Bar *
• Taste Bar - Light Bites
• Alchemy Bar - Martini Bar
• BlueIguana Cantina - Mexican
• Scott's Piano Bar - Piano Bar *
• Pizza Pirate - Pizza
• BlueIguana Tequila Bar - Pool Bar *
• RedFrog Rum Bar - Pool Bar *
• RedFrog Pub™ - Pub *
• Skybox Sports Bar - Sports Bar *
• Sun King Steakhouse - Steakhouse *

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Carnival Freedom cruise ship catches fire near Bahamas

TAMPA, Fla. ( WFLA ) — A Carnival Cruise ship’s funnel caught on fire during their voyage near the Bahamas on Saturday.

Carnival said that at 3:15 p.m., the Carnival Freedom reported a fire on the port side from the ship’s exhaust funnel.

In a statement from Carnival, the team said, “The ship’s fire response team was quickly activated, and the ship’s captain also turned the vessel towards the heavy rain in the area to maximize the efforts to put out the flames. Eyewitnesses reported the possibility of a lightning strike and that is being investigated but cannot yet be confirmed.”

A portion of the funnel on the port side fell onto Deck 10.

Crews were able to extinguish the fire at 5:20 p.m. All aboard were asked to stay away from balconies and open decks for their safety.

Two crew members fighting the fire were treat for minor smoke inhalation, according to Carnival. As of this report, there are no reported injuries for guests.

The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted and has activated their response team. The cruise is expected to continue sailing to Freeport and arrive on Sunday morning.

The ship was around 20 miles from Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas, heading to Freeport. The ship departed from Port Canaveral on Thursday for a four-day trip.

On May 26, 2022, the same ship caught on fire while docked in Grand Turk . The inside of the Freedom’s funnel erupted in smoke and flames. The trip that was scheduled following the voyage had to be canceled.

The cruise does not expect the fire to impact the next voyage scheduled for Monday.

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