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lovlos
Cruiser
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Posted: Sun Jun 29th, 2008 02:38 am | 1st Post |
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 Hello Everyone, So here's my story...my hubby and I live in Burlington, Ontario, Canada and for our 15th anniversary next summer we are hoping to do something special...a 14 day cruise in the Caribbean...that is what we did for our honeymoon We've been told that the ship we went on for our honeymoon in 1994 is now considered rather ancient so we are looking at the Carnival Freedom with a back to back itinerary (6 day East followed by 8 day West).
For the past 10 years we have been strictly all inclusives in the Caribbean every summer for our vacation (primarily Cuba, Dominican Republic and Mexico) with the expansive pools and easily bribeable staff for prime pool space
The cruise will set us back a little over $1000 more than the all inclusive and we are just desperately trying to decide if the cruise ship will be our game plan next year or another all inclusive somewhere a bit more high end like Aruba or St. Lucia. ugh...decisions. The Freedom seems to have some great reviews along with some not so great...what to do. 
Anyone out there who has sailed her recently and can give us some guidance on our decision. One of the attractive features is the Serenity adults only area in the aft section....is it as nice as it looks? Free of charge to find peace and quiet up there? After 15 years we are very out of the loop with regards to cruises.
Thank you in advance ten fold for any advice or suggestions regarding the Carnival Freedom....including any hotel advice for staying in Ft. Lauderdale the night before.
Cheers from Ontario
Kelly (lovlos)
Last edited on Sun Jun 29th, 2008 02:41 am by lovlos
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Sun Jun 29th, 2008 02:50 am | 2nd Post |
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Hi Kelly and welcome aboard! I have not sailed on the Freedom, but I may know someone who has. . . . and he usually has pictures!
Ft. Lauderdale has several nice hotels, my favorite being Embassy Suites on 17th, a very nice place with great amenities and a free shuttle to the port.
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lovlos
Cruiser
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Posted: Sun Jun 29th, 2008 02:53 am | 3rd Post |
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| I knew this was the place to go for answers. I welcome any pictures/advice, etc. on this cruise. Let me know if you need my email address to send them to. Thanks a ton for your very quick response!
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Sun Jun 29th, 2008 02:55 am | 4th Post |
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You're quite welcome! Things are usually a little slow on Saturday nights, but I think we might find someone who can answer your questions about the Freedom. Here's a link to the hotel I suggested.
http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/FLLSOES/index.do
The member who I was thinking of is scheduled for a cruise on Freedom later this year, but he may have already done this ship. I just don't know for sure. He should be around sometime and may have done some research that will be useful to you. I'm still looking for his photos.
Last edited on Sun Jun 29th, 2008 03:01 am by hstrybuf
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Deb
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Sun Jun 29th, 2008 03:20 am | 5th Post |
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Webshots has a TON of pictures of the Freedom, over 7,000! Have fun looking!
http://www.webshots.com/search?query=Carnival+freedom&new=1&source=chromeheader
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Deb
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
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goodml
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Posted: Sun Jun 29th, 2008 03:46 am | 6th Post |
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 Hey Kelly, I can't help you with Freedom but just wanted to say welcome. I'm about three hours west of you not far from Windsor. Have family in Oakville.
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kathy32259
Funnel Deck Cruiser
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Posted: Sun Jun 29th, 2008 12:53 pm | 7th Post |
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Hi Kelly and welcome to CCT!! 
I have not sailed the Freedom but I have sailed her older sister ship the Glory. These ships are beautiful and I would not hesitate to sail again in a heartbeat. You can find peace and quiet or tons of fun - the choice is yours. Also, 14 nights is so relaxing. When everyone is packing to leave on the first leg - you know you can sit back and relax cause you are staying!! Plus if you buy alcohol the first leg they will deliver it to your cabin the night before debarkation (for everyone else) and you can keep it for your remaining 8 days!!
One thing about an AI vs. a cruise - not everything is included on a cruise (alcohol, excursions, bingo, specialty coffee, etc) - so you may need to take that into consideration with comparing the cost.
I know cruises aren't for everyone (and AI's are not for me) - but if you enjoyed your first cruise on an older and smaller ship - you will love the Freedom!!
Again welcome!!
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Catnip
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Posted: Tue Jul 1st, 2008 08:23 pm | 8th Post |
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Welcome to CTT! 
Look around a bit and then join in the fun! We're a friendly bunch of cruisers & we love to chat! We like newbies and look forward to getting to know you!
Feel free to post any information/tips/suggestions that you may have from previous cruises or tours. Post a cruise review or even start a roll-call!
You are welcome to post in any forum you want to. If you click on the "recent" tab on the homepage, that will show you all the new posts in all our forums.
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Cpt_Guavaberry
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Posted: Tue Sep 30th, 2008 05:08 am | 9th Post |
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We were on the Freedom in early June. We were in the Western Med though, not the Caribbean. I'm sure it will be much more of a party ship than when we sailed on her. She's a very nice ship. I must admit though, Carnival is my least favorite cruise lines. But others swear by them.
The adult area in the aft is very nice. Fairly quiet with no kids running through. This allows for great relaxation in the pool or one of the two hot tubs. Geat area for reading.
Don't miss the fish 'n chips near there. Fantastic for lunch. Another favorite lunch spot was across from the head of the buffet line where there was a wok station. You simply pick out you ingredients, including the meat(s) and sauces. Then they throw it in the wok for you and cook it up for you. It was so good that I had this for lunch three or four days out of the ten.
I wasn't overly impressed with the over all service, the dining room food nor the cruise director.
John Heald (Carnivals best CD who organizes all newly commissioned vessels for them) was removed from the Freedom just a few sailings prior to ours and the new guy had only been on Carnival in the party atmosphere of the Caribbean. He apologized many times over during the cruise, saying he was having a tough time adjusting.
But, if you decide to sail on her, I'm sure you'll have a great time. Cruising has changed just in the past eight years since our first.
If you do sail her, a nice quiet spot that very few people use day or night, is up on the bow, directly below the bridge. There are actually two decks that passengers can use up there. For our Med cruise, to save a few bucks, we booked an inside guarantee cabin. On our prior cruises I became very comfortable capping off each day on the balcony. So I'd take my tall glass of Captain Morgan and Coke to the bow of the Freedom and while the sea air gently blew across my face, I would completely relax before turning in for the night.
However you choose, enjoy your cruise.
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seawitches
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Posted: Tue Sep 30th, 2008 06:32 pm | 10th Post |
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| Hmm for your anniversary? I would say, fly to Vancouver and take an Alaskan cruise. Do a seven day inside passage. Then post cruise rent a car take the ferry to the island and stay 4 days at Aerie Resort in Malahat. Dump the rental in Victoria and fly back to Pearson.
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lovlos
Cruiser
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Posted: Thu Oct 2nd, 2008 02:10 am | 11th Post |
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Thanks for the many really great responses....so much time left to go before the sailing date...ugh. For the time being we are on a back to back Caribbean (two weeks total) with the Freedom...we have a deposit holding the booking. Thanks again, we'll certainly keep in touch for more tips.
Cheers,
Kelly
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Fri Oct 3rd, 2008 01:00 am | 12th Post |
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lovlos wrote: Thanks for the many really great responses....so much time left to go before the sailing date...ugh. For the time being we are on a back to back Caribbean (two weeks total) with the Freedom...we have a deposit holding the booking. Thanks again, we'll certainly keep in touch for more tips.
Cheers,
Kelly
Two weeks sounds so wonderful! Have a great time and please let us know what you liked/disliked about the whole experience.
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Deb
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
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kathy32259
Funnel Deck Cruiser
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Posted: Fri Oct 3rd, 2008 11:42 am | 13th Post |
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hstrybuf wrote: lovlos wrote: Thanks for the many really great responses....so much time left to go before the sailing date...ugh. For the time being we are on a back to back Caribbean (two weeks total) with the Freedom...we have a deposit holding the booking. Thanks again, we'll certainly keep in touch for more tips.
Cheers,
Kelly
Two weeks sounds so wonderful! Have a great time and please let us know what you liked/disliked about the whole experience.
You will love that b-t-b!! Now you will be spoiled (like me) - 7 days will never be enough again!! Let me know if you need information about a back to back. So far it was the best cruise I have ever taken!!
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