Freedom of the Seas-- 3 -- review

It was a one day benefit trip hosted by united ways, it was before the official maiden't voyage.

First Impressions
===========
Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas is HUGE. It can carries 1014 more passengers (total 4xxx) than Cunard's Queen Mary 2. (which used to be the #1, and I heard that the owner lives on the ship all year long).

Also heard that there are more new ship will debut in 2007 and 2008.  Isn't that a wonderful because we lives
1 1/2 hours away from the port of Miami?  This ship is not the same class compare with the last one
 "the Majestic of the Seas" I was on.  Hope I could find the travle agent's deal again.

The promenade is huge, as is the rock-climbing wall (11 roles), the ice-skating rink, Johnny Rockets, the Promenade Cafe, Ben & Jerry's and Portofino.
The exciting about Freedom of the Seas is the first at sea with the FlowRider surf park, the magical H2O Zone water park(it was fresh water, which was a big change), a children's sundeck(spa next to the H2O), solarium whirlpools that is my first destenation after on board, it is designed for the peaceful time for me;  a boxing ring (most of the machine there  had their own tv screen and they had flat screens throughout - as if the ocean view was not enough!)
and even a men's barber shop!

On this ship there's something of interest for everyone -- it's also the best ship ever for families.




Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream shop
=======================

At the indoor promenade, there is a Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop. Guess what? there is a suite cabin at the upstairs of the store. Because the Ben & Jerry's cows displayed on top of the ice cream parlor's signs extend beyond this stateroom's window (you get a view of their backsides), anyone who books this cabin gets free ice cream for the duration of the cruise! So, Qing, make sure you book this one if you plan your trip.

Acturally, the ice cream machines are everywhere. Miaomiao had her first ice cream because I cannot hide the
machine since it was right there next to the H2O pool, also she had her very first chocolate bar.  Don't mention
about our family's Mr. Chocolate (Daddy).



the bed
==========
It is truly comfortable, the thicker mattresses, nicer cotton bedding and superior amenities.
 We asked them to make a one queen size bed and there is no middle
gap and Miaomiao sleeps safe and sound. They also offer the pack'n play but the
walking space will run out and it will CROWED.


promenade-view cabin
-----------------------
I heard th promenade-view cabin is the same price as the inside room and cannot believe it.
Do people afraid of the noise from the outside?  Next time, a promenade-view cabin is a must.

3-deck high main restaurant
-----------------------------
The dinner is at deck 5 (at 8:00pm)as I found out it is a restaurant with 3 -deck high. The dinner only
have 1 appetiser, 1 soup, 2 main course, fish or duck, (choose 1) and 1 dessert. It was super---
a iron chief's touch !!! I bought an ice-cream machine one month ago and had made my
 own ice- cream. after this trip, I will try to make the ice cream cake later. My sister
said that "I cannot believe that you want to stay home seriously." That might be true,
but so far, I enjoy to make the ice cream. 

Johnny Rockets is near the children's areas and server the children's dinner at 5-6pm.

Lunch menu
============
Windjammer, the ship's lunch buffet venue. It is so easy to find an ocean view seat, but the high-chair
doesn't have a wheel on it. (I will write a review to RCCL)
I have to get help with the food when carried Miaomiao on my arm. She
really want to glue Mom with her for every single seconds. Located at the entrance to Windjammer,
it features Asian/Indian cuisine. The food throughout the Windjammer was consistently excellent,
which was a pleasant surprise, perhaps an indication that Royal Caribbean has improved its food
quality. Lobster is on the buffet table!!! 

Chops Grille and Portofino are adjacent to Windjammer.  Didn't try it since Lobester is enough for me.


Coffee and bars
==============
Down on the Promenade, if there is not 20, there must be 19 bars, coffee shop, cafe,
ice cream shop. It was always packed.
I am not a coffee drinker, therefore, didn't care to know that regular coffee (w/hot water)
 is free of charge. What a passenger friendly feature!! If you have been to European trip,
you will know what I mean. They charge everything including napkins!!!


Last time favorite site at night, didn't get chance to go because we have a baby now.
=========================================================
Our favorite place to "hang" on site at night, was the Viking Crown Lounge. Lovely
 room, expansive views, jazz at night, looking at the starts w/o city lights... ... fabulous.
only in the memory. 

Unless, we can do as what others did, bring baby with them till the midnight, which
we did not and didn't want to.


H2O pool
=========
The children's water park, "H20 Zone," was such a wonderful place for kids,
it cannot be true for a "the more adult areas". Miaomiao hold on my hand
and try to "taste" every single spot there. She is not afraid of the water, no
matter it is soft or hard, it comes from down or up. What can I say, if I am
not afraid of the sun-burn, I REALLY want Miaomiao to play at there all day long.


However, our friends found out one crappy rules... no child with diaper(even
the swimming diaper) is allowed, have to be potty trained. She has written
the letters to cruise critic's forum and it was a big fight there. The RCCL
agent will say everyone is welcome in every corner of the ship to you at
the time you make the reservation. However, this is only a marketing strategy,
when your baby is in the pool, they will kick her/him out and regardless how hard
the little one cries. I  was shocked after heard the experence from the friend.
How can RCCL do this to passenger w/babies?


I cannot believe that I wrote this much for a one day & one night cruise trip.
I am not finished yet, it is a HUGE ship. Tomorrow... later