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Freedom of the Seas Ship Review

Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas. Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean

The 160,000-ton, 3,634-guest Freedom of the Seas and her two sister ships are essentially beefed-up

versions of Royal Caribbean’s earlier Voyager-class vessels, offering everything those ships are

famous for, plus several additional entertainment, sports, and shopping features.

Like the Voyager ships, they’re busy and bustling, with a huge number of activities, great

entertainment, and a really urban feel—like you’re stepping out of your stateroom into a real city.

The Royal Promenade On Freedom Of The Seas

Freedom’s main drag is the Royal Promenade, a four-story horizontal atrium that stretches 445

feet down the ship’s center and is designed to resemble famous American entertainment streets like

New Orleans’s Bourbon Street or Memphis’s Beale Street. Along its length, there’s an elegant

champagne bar; a Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream shop; a 24-hour cafe; a pizzeria; six different shops; a

comfortable English-style pub with seating inside or on the promenade itself; the cute little Cupcake

Cupboard, serving fresh cupcakes at a la carte prices; and a Napa-style wine bar that offers wine-

appreciation classes, tastings, and a chance to try dozens of vintages. Toward the bow, Pharaoh’s

Palace offers live music, dancing, and entertainment.

Most guests end up spending a lot of time in or passing through the Royal promenade, either passing

through when heading from one part of the vessel to another; hanging out to socialize; popping down

briefly to grab a snack or coffee; catching an evening performance by one of the ship’s bands; or

coming for the parades created in collaboration with DreamWorks Animation, in which stilt

walkers and acrobats mix it up with Dreamworks characters like Shrek, the Madagascar penguins,

and Po the Kung Fu Panda. You can even sleep in the Promenade if you want to, sort of: Up above,

174 cabins face the scene, their windows giving you views of the “street life” below. Curtains and

soundproofing help shut out the light and noise at bedtime.

Staterooms on Freedom of the Seas

One of the Category PR Promenade Staterooms aboard Freedom of the Seas. Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean

Staterooms in general are comfortable and well-designed, though bathrooms are a little on the

small side. Each cabin offers a sitting area, a vanity, TV, and minibar, and about 46% of the rooms

aboard offer private verandas. Suites range from the 297-square-foot Junior Suite up to the 1,358-

square-foot Royal Suite, with its separate bedroom and living room, baby grand piano, whirlpool

bath, and a balcony that’s bigger than an entire Junior Suite.

Public Rooms & Activities On Freedom of the Seas

An expansive fitness centre is part of the many amenities aboard Freedom of the Seas. Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean

Royal’s older Voyager-class ships were already pretty amazing in terms of their sports and pool-deck

facilities, but Freedom and her sister ships go several steps further. Up on Deck 13, there’s the same

rock-climbing wall, basketball court, and miniature-golf course as on the Voyager ships, but there’s

also a FlowRider surfing simulator, where powerful jets spray 30,000 gallons of water per minute up

an inclined, wedge-shaped surface, allowing you to surf in place—or at least try to. Bleachers stand at

the ride’s flank, letting family members and gawkers cheer you on. There’s also a free-standing “surf

shack” bar to provide liquid courage or solace.

Just below, on Decks 11 and 12, the ship’s spa and fitness complex is one of the biggest and best

at sea, with a well-equipped oceanview gym, a huge aerobics studio, individual treatment rooms, and

a 20-by-20-foot boxing ring where guests can train like fighters, using heavy bags, speed bags, and

jump ropes. Outside, on Deck 12, the jogging track has stretch and fitness tips located at intervals

along its length.

Deck 11 offers a number of different fun-in-the-sun experiences. Toward the stern, nearly half the

outdoor pool deck is taken up by the H2O Zone Water Park, where kids can soak each other with

water jets, buckets, and sprays hidden among the cartoon statues. There are also two wading pools

(one for toddlers) and two adult-friendly hot tubs. Farther forward, the enormous, multi-tiered main

pool deck has two semicircular pools bisected by a walkway and platform, several whirlpool tubs, and

scores of deck chairs. A giant, 18½-foot video screen overlooks the pool area, showing movies and

entertainment programs throughout each cruise.

For a more peaceful atmosphere, the adults-only Solarium offers a second swimming pool,

hammocks, and two large hot tubs that extend 12 feet over the edge of the ship to port and starboard,

about 112 feet above the sea.

Down on Deck 3,the Studio B ice-skating rink offers open skating for guests throughout each cruise,

plus excellent ice shows featuring professional skaters from all over the world.

Other notable spaces on board include while the beautiful, three-story Arcadia Theatre; a two-level

disco called The Crypt; the huge Casino Royale; the Boleros Latin-themed lounge and nightclub; the

elegant Viking Crown Lounge; and the cool Olive or Twist jazz club and martini lounge.

For kids, the large Adventure Ocean center on Deck 12 offers activities for different age groups,

while characters from Dreamworks films make appearances at special breakfasts, photo ops, and

other kids’ activities. Next door to the kids’ center, there’s a sizeable arcade, the Fuel teen disco, and

a teen chill-out space called the Living Room. There’s also a nursery for babies and tots 6 through

36 months, offering playgroups and activities developed in partnerships with Fisher Price and

Crayola.

Dining on Freedom of the Seas

The stunning three-story dining room aboard Freedom of the Seas. Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean

Spanning three decks, the gorgeous main dining room is the centerpiece of the ship’s culinary

experience. Designed with classic European grandeur, it’s centered on a large open rotunda with a

huge crystal chandelier, a formal stairway, and a balcony from which a pianist or piano trio plays

mood music.

Dining alternatives include the cozy, Italian Portofino restaurant; the Chops Grille steakhouse;

the Windjammer buffet and Asian-themed Jade buffet; and Johnny Rockets, a Fifties-style diner

out on Deck 12 near the kids’ and teens’ centers, serving a classic menu of burgers, fries, and shakes.