Freedom of the Seas: Royal Caribbean Cruise Guide & Review
Freedom of the Seas is a family cruise ship with unbelievable amenities, outdoor activities, and entertainment galore. Cruising with Royal Caribbean is a dream come true and I'm so excited to share our cruise experience.
Our first family cruise vacation was a great success, and I could not have asked for a better way to celebrate summer with my stepkids than on a beautiful Royal Caribbean cruise aboard the Freedom of The Seas!
We did a 4-night Perfect Day Cruise that docked at Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay and the beautiful Nassau, Bahamas! Check out my Royal Caribbean cruise guide for my full cruise experience along with some tips & tricks to make your next family getaway one to remember!
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Guide to Planning Your Cruise
No matter when you choose to take your cruise, you're in for a memorable vacation. That said, we were really happy with the time of year we took our cruise! We also flew in the same day we disembarked, but it would be easy to come earlier and enjoy South Beach before you leave for your Caribbean adventure.
When to Plan Your Royal Caribbean Cruise
Going in July, I was definitely worried that the weather would be too uncomfortable to enjoy. However, the weather throughout the trip was not as bad as I had imagined.
Before leaving Miami, the humidity was high, but the heat wasn't at all unbearable. I do recommend bringing a hand fan (link to my favorite one here) as well as plenty of sunscreen!
Temperatures during this time of year vary from 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit, but I found the weather to be much cooler than that when the ship was on the move versus when it’s docked at a port.
Make sure to also pack a light sweater for the inside of the ship. They keep things cool within the ship, and there were times I was happy to be wrapped up in a sweater aboard Royal Caribbean.
Getting to the Port in Miami
Parking is available at the port, so if you need it, that's the easiest option. We flew in on the day of embarkation and left the same day as disembarkation, so we didn't need accommodations in Miami.
We also decided to take an Uber back and forth from the airport and had no issues with accessibility or getting to the port on time.
There are designated times for check-in, but we were able to drop off our bags beforehand so we could enjoy South Beach Miami for a few hours before we boarded Freedom of the Seas.
Accommodations Aboard the Cruise Ship
View from Ocean View State Room
We had two rooms during our sail, and I highly recommend them both! Having two teenagers with us, it was great to have two rooms to spread out during our trip. If you have bigger kids, definitely consider booking a separate room for them unless you’re planning on booking a suite.
Both rooms had PLENTY of storage for everyone’s things. There was also a mini fridge in each room, where I recommend ordering a case of water to stock up the fridge – you’ll need it!
Balcony StateRoom (Room #7228)
The room Gary and I shared was a balcony room, and it was very spacious. The bed was incredibly comfortable, and we had a large couch to enjoy. I loved that there was a large vanity as well, where I was able to do some work and also use it to get ready. The bathroom was spacious considering we were on a ship, which was a huge plus for me.
I do want to give a special mention to the shower. The water pressure was amazing and the water would get warm very quickly!
Ocean View StateRoom (Room #9202)
My stepsons stayed in the Ocean View State Room and enjoyed every bit of it! They slept like babies on the comfortable bed. They also had a couch and a vanity that gave them plenty of room to hang out. Their room was located at the Forward of the ship, and they enjoyed peeking out their room to see the ocean views and the helipad!
Destinations & Shore Excursions During Your Cruise
Whether it's a day at sea or a shore excursion day, you're guaranteed to have an amazing time aboard Freedom of the Seas. However, Royal Caribbean is famous for its destinations, so here are some insider tips for making the most of your shore excursions!
Coco Cay
One of the things that Royal Caribbean is most famous for is its private island in the Bahamas called Coco Cay. From an overall perspective, Coco Cay is worth all the hype. When booking a trip in the Caribbean, most of the Royal Caribbean trips port at Coco Cay for at least 1 day, and I cannot express enough how much fun this waterpark is.
There is something to do here for everyone in your party, whether you are looking for thrill rides or relaxing by the ocean all day long. Be aware that certain areas, including the Thrill Park, have entrance fees and you must book ahead of time, which you can easily do right on the app.
I love that Royal Caribbean’s Coco Cay includes amazing food options all throughout the island that are already included in your visit. If you get a drink package, that also transfers over to the island, so there is no need to bring anything extra with you aside from your boarding passes, another reason I'd recommend the drink packages.
Lockers are also free of charge which is truly amazing especially because that is not the case at most waterparks!
Nassau
Nassau, Bahamas is the other port we stopped at during our Royal Caribbean 4-night itinerary. As someone who has been to Nassau a few times, I recommend doing an excursion here but unless you are interested in shopping for their famous straw souvenirs, there isn’t much to do if you don’t book an excursion ahead of time.
Things To Do on your Royal Caribbean Cruise
The number of entertainment offerings on the ship were endless! I truly wished we had one more day of sailing to enjoy all the activities.
Shows
Royal Caribbean offers a variety of shows for the duration of the trip, most of which are offered during the time when the ship is sailing. Every show differs from the next, and there is availability for different age groups.
Sports Deck
The Sports Deck on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas is filled with family-friendly fun including a sports court that is sometimes used as a basketball court, volleyball court, and even as a dodgeball arena. The sports court is also where most sports tournaments are held for your enjoyment.
Right next to the Sports Court, you can find the Rock-Climbing Wall. Although Royal Caribbean provides climbing shoes for all climbers, you do have to bring your own pair of socks to use this amenity.
On the Sports Deck, you will also be able to find 2 sets of water slides as well as the FlowRider, which is a surf simulator. The slides and the FlowRider are available most of the time but be sure to check your schedule on the app to allocate a certain time to enjoy them. The FlowRider is available for most sailors, just be sure to check on the app for specific sessions depending on your skill level.
Arcade
The Arcade aboard Freedom of the Seas is a decent size and is always fun for the family. The kids had a blast playing a series of games both inside the Arcade room and at the Arcade inside PlayMakers. You do not need an extra card for the arcade. All gameplay is charged directly when using your boarding pass.
Laser Tag & Ice Skating
Studio B on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas turns into an ice-skating rink, where sailors can enjoy some time ice skating as well as enjoy shows on the ice. On the last 2 days of sailing, Studio B also turned into a Laser Tag Arena which was an awesome experience that my stepsons cannot stop talking about.
**You do need to have closed-toe shoes to play Laser Tag, so please keep that in mind.
Mini Golf
Mini-Golf is available on the top deck and was a great and fun course for being on a cruise ship. Mini-Golf is available 24 hours; however, they do not have lighting in the evening, so you can see that as a no-go or an extra challenge! We played as a family in the evening since it was too warm to be up there during the day, and we absolutely loved it.
Pool + Movies
Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of The Seas has a great size pool for everyone to enjoy, but be aware that it does get packed very quickly. There is also a pool for sailors 18+, just a couple of feet away for those who like to be in a more relaxed environment.
I personally loved the movies by the pool offered every evening. They are playing a different movie at 8 pm and at 10 pm so you and the family can stay there all night if you’d like!
Guide to Dining Venues Aboard the Cruise Ship
Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas offered some of the best cruise dining I have ever had! There were plenty of dining options throughout the ship, some of which are included in your trip while others cost a little extra to enjoy.
Complimentary Restaurants
Windjammer Café, Main Dining Room, Sorrento, Café Promenade, El Loco Fresh, and Room Service were the complimentary dining options, all of which offered great food.
El Loco Fresh would have to be my favorite of all those options, so be sure to try it on your next trip.
Drink Packages
Gary and I had the Deluxe Drink Package which included unlimited cocktails using top-shelf alcohol. The boys had the Refreshment Package, a soda package that included unlimited non-alcoholic drinks. The packages were definitely worth every penny, so I'd recommend them for your next trip!
Specialty Dining Restaurants
You can't go wrong with the complimentary restaurants, but if you want to kick your experience up a notch, book a reservation at one of the specialty restaurants.
Chops Grille
Chops Grille is one of the most famous Royal Caribbean restaurants and if I’m not mistaken, is available on all Royal Caribbean ships. This Chicago-style signature steakhouse was delicious and offered incredible steak options, delicious sides, and so much more.
For a heartier meal, I do recommend making a reservation here! The whole family enjoyed this entire experience of a higher-end meal on the cruise.
Giovanni’s
Giovanni’s was an amazing addition to the Royal Caribbean Freedom of The Seas. I cannot express how much we loved our service and food during our visit to Giovanni’s. Everything was authentic Italian food, and every bite was memorable.
This restaurant had, in my opinion, the most stunning restaurant views on board as well.
Izumi Hibachi
You can never be wrong with Hibachi, and the entire experience was one for the books! The food was beyond incredible and seeing big smiles and laughter all around the restaurant truly warmed my heart. The staff was very friendly and super sweet.
As with most Hibachi dinners, make sure to bring your appetite as you will get plenty of food to enjoy!
PlayMakers
I must give a very special mention to PlayMakers. We played pool for a while one of the evenings and I got hungry and ordered a burger from here, and I must be honest, I am still dreaming about it today.
Tips & Tricks for Cruise Ship Packing
I am adding a small list of things I recommend packing aside from your standard necessities simply because I wish someone had created a list like this before we left:
Lotion (Rooms did not come with lotion)
Cash for gratuity
Multiple bathing suits
Socks and shoes, including closed-toed shoes for laser tag
Flip-flops
PLENTY of sunscreen
Bug spray
Shop more of my vacation favorites here.
Overall
Our entire family had an incredible time on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of The Seas on a 4-night Perfect Day Cruise. I definitely wish we had stayed a couple of nights longer and I cannot wait to go again!
Sincerely,
Reneze
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