The Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas is a popular floating resort. The waters are crowded with sea-worthy vessels, so to make planning easier, we've done all the prep work for a cruise vacation. As part of a Huffington Post Travel series on cruise ships, here is a tip sheet offering all the key information one could ever need to know about the Freedom of the Seas.
Destination
Trips on the
begin from Port Canaveral, Fla. Destination points include the Bahamas and the eastern and western Caribbean. Five- to nine-day trips run year-round.
Grand Ship
Freedom of the Seas was built at the Aker Yards in Turku, Finland. A wide variety of innovative and adventurous features make it both family-friendly and perfect for individuals or couples.
Special Features
Freedom of the Seas features a unique surf simulator, a regulation-sized boxing ring and an interactive water park for kids, as well as a rock-climbing wall and ice-skating rinks. The ship's Casino Royal is designed for all levels of ability, from gambling lessons for beginners to tournaments for more advanced players.
Accommodations
Staterooms vary from deluxe suites at 1,188 square feet plus a 170 square-foot balcony, to an oceanview room with 173 square feet plus a 47-square-foot balcony.
Cost
Prices start from $599 per person for a seven-night western Caribbean cruise to a $1,349 seven-night eastern Caribbean holiday cruise departing in late December. Deals can be found for as low as $399 per passenger when booked early and with a group.
Excursions
Visit a tropical paradise on a Freedom of the Seas Caribbean cruise. The
includes an island tour that receives rave reviews from participants. An air-conditioned bus takes visitors around the island with a knowledgable tour guide who offers unique facts about various sights.
Dining Experience
A large number of restaurants aboard the Freedom of the Seas allow passengers to customize their dining experience, from upscale, reservations-only restaurants to familiar places such as Johnny Rockets and Ben & Jerry's. The ship's steakhouse and British-style pub offer more choices, and the Freedom also has a room service menu available around the clock.
Maiden Voyage
Freedom of the Seas arrived in New York harbor for its naming ceremony on May 12, 2006. It then traveled to Boston on the weekend of May 19-22. Its official maiden voyage took place out of Florida on June 4, sailing to the western Caribbean.
In The News
Freedom of the Seas received some negative publicity on
in January 2010 for continuing to bring passengers to Haiti after the earthquake disaster. The ship's docking point was 85 miles away from Port-au-Prince, the main area hit.
WATCH:
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A tour of the Freedom of the Seas.
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