Freedom of the Seas may not be Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, but I think it might offer the best value in cruising.
When I go on any cruise ship, I look for things to do onboard to keep me occupied and weigh that against how much it costs. Newer ships may offer the most to do, but they also have a premium price tag.
I've sailed on Freedom of the Seas 8 times, and the more I visit this ship, the more I'm convinced it's the perfect balance of getting the most for what you pay.
The 3,926 passenger ship launched in 2006, and was once the biggest cruise ship in the world. Despite losing that title many times over, it's a big ship with lots for families to enjoy.
I went back on Freedom of the Seas to see what's new and why this is an underrated choice for an affordable cruise vacation.
The upgrades are why I prefer this ship over others
Freedom of the Seas is about 20 years old, but the difference maker are the changes Royal Caribbean has made to the ship.
Cruise ships get refurbishments every few years and occasionally new features. The assortment of changes Royal Caribbean made to Freedom are the perfect collection to improve the ship overall.
Most recently, Vintages wine bar was replaced with a new non-smoking casino.
This is a wonderful change because it expands the casino options while offering a smoke-free environment smack dab in the middle of the Royal Promenade. As a casual gambler, I love the option and the fact it's so convenient.
The biggest changes came with the ship's Royal Amplification that took place in 2020. This is when a number of changes were made, and each has its own reason I enjoy it.
A lot was added, but I think there are three key areas where the ship was radically improved.
New water slides were added with the Perfect Storm slides.
It's amazing for a long time, Royal Caribbean had no water slides on its ships, but they're on nearly every ship now. It's a crowd pleaser. Kids and adults enjoy them, and they're perfect fun on sea days.
Plus, there's also a giant aqua park for kids at Splashaway Bay.
There's no cost to use Splashaway Bay, and it's the perfect spot for kids to get absolutely soaked. There's even a smaller water slide that's perfect for younger kids.
Sticking with the top deck, the pool deck was redesigned to have a "Caribbean resort-style" feel to it.
Marketing aside, I think it's just a nicer pool deck experience over all. Besides the aesthetic of the loungers, a new Lime and Coconut Bar was added to replace the original pool bar. This bar has an expanded drink menu and much more seating.
Plus, there's now an El Loco Fresh on the pool deck for convenient snacks and meals. It's included with your cruise fare, and I ate much more burritos than I care to admit.
Royal Caribbean also added so many new restaurants to the ship:
- Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen
- El Loco Fresh
- Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
- Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
The Playmakers location on deck 4 between the atrium and Casino Royale is the perfect spot, and I love there's an indoor sports bar with so many TV's to catch nearly any game.
Izumi is now the most popular specialty restaurant by volume across the cruise line, and there's no question the hibachi option is something so many families love to try.
Don't overlook Giovanni's, as it has the new menu offerings that you can otherwise only find on the newest ships in the fleet.
The pizza at Giovanni's is underrated, and I think their revamped Italian favorites are fantastic. Try the giant meatball!
Sailing on Freedom of the Seas will probably cost you less than a new ship
I usually save the cost section of my cruise reviews for later in the article, but I think we need to talk about it now.
It's hard to make generalizations about cruise prices because of the dynamic pricing each sailing has, but I'm willing to bet you will find a great deal on Freedom.
While everyone has their own definition of what's a deal, I believe the cost of a Freedom of the Seas cruise sits in the sweet spot of cost and what it includes.
If you pick an older and smaller ship, such as a Radiance or Vision Class ship, it will likely cost less. But those ships compromise greatly on how much there is to do aboard, especially for families.
Freedom of the Seas sails out of Miami, Florida and offers short 4- and 5-night cruises.
It's not unusual to find prices starting as low as $259 per person for a 5-night sailing. The range of prices might go up slightly, but most of the advertised prices are in the $300-$500 per person range for an inside cabin.
That's a significant saving compared to the larger Oasis Class ships that also offer 4- and 5-night cruises, which average between $550-$750 per person as a starting price.
Crowded at times, but not problematic
Crowds on a mainstream cruise line are to be expected, but I think Freedom of the Seas handles crowd flow pretty well overall.
The ship maxes out at 4,500 passengers if every bed is sold, but it didn't feel crowded when I've sailed on it. You won't confuse Freedom for a small ship or yacht by any means, but I doubt you will consider to be akin to be "packed like a sardine can."
You'll encounter lines and crowds at certain times, like in the Windjammer buffet for breakfast, or waiting to get back on the ship while docked in port. If the sun is shining on a pool day, expect all the loungers to be taken up by mid-morning too.
Nonetheless, there are areas of the ship you can find refuge from other people. The outside deck on deck 4 is my favorite spot to seek a place to sit with a view of the ocean and barely anyone else around. There's also a lot of extra seating on the upper pool deck, within the card room, or during the day time in the Olive or Twist bar at the very top of the ship.
It felt like the flow of guests was good, but there are always pain points. Elevators can be easily inundated and the Royal Promenade can get packed when there's a special event, such as a dance party. These are not issues unique to Freedom, as most cruise ships experience this.
Good assortment of included food, but a better variety of extra cost restaurants
You will not go hungry on Freedom of the Seas, and I think the food included with your cruise fare to range between "good" and "very good", with some options standing out.
The included restaurants on Freedom of the Seas include:
| Included Restaurant |
|---|
| Main Dining Room |
| Windjammer |
| El Loco Fresh |
| Sorrento's |
| Cafe Promenade |
My dining strategy on Freedom is to rely on the complimentary spots and sprinkle in specialty dining options.
The Windjammer Marketplace has the widest variety of food, so it's the crowd pleaser option. Picky eaters, adventurous eaters, eaters on a diet, eaters wanting a second dinner, they have it all.
The best thing about the Windjammer is the assortment of international foods to go along with the American staples. This is especially true at dinner.
In the Main Dining Room, I found the service to be quite speedy. Royal Caribbean made changes to address speed of service while updating their menus in order to address consistency concerns.
I think the result has been hotter food that comes out in a reasonable time. I've sailed enough with Royal Caribbean to have my favorite dishes, but I love how flexible the waiters are to make sure they can find something you love.
I'm also a self-admitted El Loco Fresh addict. I love making a taco salad or grabbing a burrito any chance I get.
There are also a few specialty restaurants that cost extra, and this is where you can enjoy different cuisines that go beyond what's included. Plus, the quality of the choices is usually better.
| Specialty Restaurant | Type / Cuisine |
|---|---|
| Chef's Table | Gourmet / wine-pairing dinner |
| Chops Grille | Steakhouse / American |
| Giovanni's Italian Kitchen | Family style / Italian |
| Izumi Hibachi & Sushi | Sushi & teppanyaki / Japanese |
| Johnny Rockets | American diner |
| Room service | Food delivery / American |
| Sprinkles Ice Cream | Ice cream cups and cones |
The best thing about paying for specialty dining is you get to indulge more. It's not cheap, so I'd recommend buying a dining package or pre-booking individual reservations before the cruise begins because Royal Caribbean offers discounts.
The cabin decor is what I like least about this cruise ship
If I had to pick something about Freedom of the Seas that is lacking, it's the look and feel of its staterooms.
Royal Caribbean as a rule doesn't update its cabin aesthetics over the years. That means when you step inside your room, this is when you're most likely to feel like you're on a 20 year old cruise ship.
That means a peach and teal color scheme, chipped paint or wood, and tube-like bathroom showers. It's all functional, but hardly what you'd consider to be modern or up to date.
Truthfully, the look of the cabin is less important than it sounds. You'll notice it, but you'll also likely get over it quickly. And the room is functional and clean. Plus, you're likely going to spend little time in the cabin because of all the things to do around the ship.
Freedom of the Seas has a mix of staterooms of varying sizes and amenities. There are 1,963 staterooms spread across the 13 passenger decks. Nearly half of those are balcony rooms.
