Royal Caribbean International has spent millions of dollars hyping its
newest ship, the 160,000-ton Freedom of the Seas, promising an amazing
number of firsts. On the ship's first cruise, a two-night pre-inaugural
voyage, I marveled at some of the much-touted "firsts" aboard the
brand-new, 4,375-passenger ship, including the most colorful, fun-filled
children's pool I've ever seen; a boxing ring; two enormous whirlpools
that stretch out over the side of the ship; a the FlowRider "surfing"
machine -- and even a barber shop!
Whirlpools - click for pic
Close Shave - click for pic
I also discovered that Freedom, all her novelties notwithstanding, is
virtually identical in many ways to RCI's Voyager of the Seas and her
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Voyager-Class sister ships -- including the overall layout, color scheme,
decor, public rooms, restaurants and cabins. If you've been aboard
Voyager, Adventurer, Mariner or Explorer of the Seas, you won't need a
deck plan to navigate the newest addition to Royal Caribbean's fleet.
H2O Water Park - click for pic
Royal Caribbean president Adam Goldstein told me that fleet-wide, the average age of RCI's passengers is 42, and I?m certain that families, couples and groups will flock to the new Freedom of the Seas, which is scheduled to sail year-round from Miami on one-week cruises to the Western Caribbean. Personally, I'd rather stay aboard this ship than trek ashore in hurricane-damaged Cozumel or less-than-friendly Jamaica. While I don't think Freedom of the Seas is necessarily a better ship than the already popular Voyager-class ships, my hat is off to Royal Caribbean for delivering a another beautiful vessel that is sure to be a people pleaser.
Pool Areas
The H20 Zone is the best children's pool I've ever seen on a ship. It has
several large, colorful statues spraying water into several pools, and was
for me the ship's star attraction. Like many adults, I watched with envy
as the kids had a blast, running through the spray and tossing large beach
balls. Freedom's much-publicized "FlowRider" surfing attraction seems
more like snowboarding up a waterfall, and it's only recommended for
young, very fit passengers. While the adult pool area wasn't as
attractive as others I've seen on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships, the
two large, cantilevered whirlpools that jut out over the side of the ship
are very inviting and beautiful. You'll also find four hammocks there --
a nice touch, but they are grabbed early; you have to be very lucky to
find one empty.
Flowrider Surfing Machine - click for pic
Fitness and Spa
In the gym, I checked out the boxing ring and was told there would be no
contact boxing, only practice. I was more impressed with other fitness
programs offered in the gym, including the computerized body analysis to
discover your overall fitness, muscular and nutritional levels. Follow
that up by hiring one of the personal trainers for several sessions and
you'll return home with a custom-made program to get in shape.
Surprisingly, the ship's spa (operated by the ubiquitous Steiner's) doesn't
offer much more than is found on any other vessel, like a thallasotherapy
pool (although acupuncture and teeth-whitening are now among their pricey
treatments). A 50-minute Swedish massage is $120, while an hour of
acupuncture is $150, and you're urged to book multiple treatments during
your cruise.
Spa Boxing Ring - click for pic
Should You Sail?
I recommend Freedom of the Seas for families with children in all age groups including teens, first-time cruisers, active passengers and groups consisting of a wide range of ages. However, this ship isn't for all cruisers, including those who get enjoyment from being at sea. Freedom of the Seas is an enormous resort that, by coincidence, is at sea. If you don't have a balcony cabin you'll only see the ocean from Deck 11 and a few lounges on Deck 4. Those who have difficulty walking or are handicapped may find the distances from one area to another are too great to handle.
