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No cruise is a bad cruise. Maybe not alot of fun things to do on board but your off work with a drink in your hand floating at the pool or in a spa with live music and free food. That's much better then traveling to work an sitting in traffic. No such thing as a bad cruise unless it's a medical issue.
I think the Key was worth it. We sailed May 2019 after the $100M upgrades on Navigator of the Seas. I enjoyed the embarkation lunch, 🛜 and skip the line debarkation service.
Since I live a long way from most cruise ports, I need a longer cruise to make the journey worthwhile. Florida residents are lucky because they can take advantage of so many good deals within driving distance!
We did a four night cruise in January. The whole purpose was to drive my hubby’s sister down to her place(from Ontario🇨🇦), and since we were going all that way we decided to stop and visit a cousin in Jacksonville. After the cruise we then went to stay in St Pete Beach for another four days. The only reason I wouldn’t do a short cruise again is it felt like we just unpacked, and had to pack up again. We did Key West, and Nassau and one sea day. I like at least 7 nights, to start to fell like I am getting relaxed.
We live in Arizona, away from most of the cruise ports. We always book "back to back" cruises to reduce the cost of flying to ports and transfers and the like. Sometimes, we stay on the same ship. However, often, we will change cruise lines to get a better itinerary.
@@jlawrence0181 I will think about that for the future. Up till now, I have focused on cruising to places I particularly wanted to go, such as Iceland, transatlantic and (upcoming this fall) transpacific to Australia, without the jet lag!
We booked the Key on our first cruise in 1/2019. We got so much out of it we buy it each time. It's not just the embarkation day lunch, it is the fact that we walk on early, drop our bags, relax at lunch and begin our cruise in leisure. We get great seating at all our shows! We get our internet and we need that because we own a business and need to keep in touch. The last morning it is so nice to have the delicious breakfast served elegantly instead of the last day's mad rush that we see everyone experiencing. Then, the very best part? We walk right past EVERYONE and get right to our luggage. WE walked right past suite guests, Pinnacle and Diamond cruisers. We were on the sidewalk within 10 minutes of leaving our breakfast. We have ever been let down with our purchase of the Key
My first cruise will be on Freedom of the Seas in five months. I have watched so many of your videos I feel like you are my friend giving me information. I have gotten so many great tips and ideas, I can't thank you enough. I am counting down the days, and look forward to your new videos each week. Thanks to your family for all of your work.
I feel the same way, lol. I found this channel last year July , trying to get ready for my first cruise after years, i was a teenager last time i was in one so i thought i was necessary to get updated. Got some great tips and bought few things from her amazon recommendations videos. I hope you have a great time in your cruise.
Same here we took our first cruise last October and after watching her videos we were totally prepared and had everything we needed. Enjoy your cruise you will have an amazing time 😊
I sailed on Freedom of the Seas back in March 2024. I had a great time. It was the 4 day cruise and there was so much to do I was never bored. I would definitely go again!
We always get “the key” it’s only a little bit more than buying fast WiFi ( we also need WiFi to work and stay in touch ) the value for us is the early disembarkation , as we often are ready to go home. The lunch and breakfast on the first and last day are just icing on the cake! We also take advantage of the special times where you can do some of the activities without the massive crowd. It’s a thumbs up for us
My girlfriend and I did the 4 day Caribbean cruise on that same ship 2 weeks ago. It was my first cruise since my parents took me on one as a toddler (I’m 35 now) and we absolutely love the cruise. We felt the ship was the perfect size for us and the 4 day cruise was the perfect length. We didn’t find ourselves bored at all. Loved the food & crew. The deluxe drink package might’ve helped with that tbh lol. Next time I think I’ll stay on the ship in Nassau tho.
An excellent video in every way! I'm so glad you mentioned the cabin and other areas that are showing wear. Most of the time this is not mentioned by other bloggers. Your attention to details makes you one of the best that I truly appreciate. Thank you, Ilana!
We sailed on Freedom of the Seas around 2006ish with our daughter and 2 grandkids. It was a 7 day cruise and we had a blast with them! My grandson is now 30 with a son of his own, my great grandson!, oh where did the time go??? Most of all he remembers the pizza and brownies! We are taking him, his wife and son and our grandaughter on Independence in 2026. It will be so much fun to show his wife what a cruise is all about and to watch our grnadson play in the water. thank you for all your informative videos and all the suggestions!
I just want to say thank you for all of your great, informative videos. We just got off the Grand Princess in Alaska. I used many of your suggestions and even had an Aperol Spritz in your honor.
My first time cruise in August with RC Allure of the Sea. I have been watching a lot of your videos and they are very detailed and helpful to prepare. Thank you. I am looking into "the Key"
Many years ago I booked a Royal Caribbean Cruise…I absolutely hated it. It was my own fault, no one else’s. I had done insufficient homework and had not realised it was a school holiday and I could barely move onboard, there was also far too much happening around me and I felt totally overwhelmed…I would never book again…I would however happily book Royal Caribbean for my Daughter, Son-in-Law and Grandson as they would love the vibe…I have now been on over 50 cruises, so know what I like for me if I am on my own which differs if with the family….lesson learned.. it was NOT RC at fault, it was my ineptitude. Carry on enjoying your cruises everyone.
An internet tip - if you're experiencing slower connection speeds you can often get at least a modest boost by propping open your stateroom door just a few inches. We actually carry our own wedge doorstop when we cruise, "just in case," as we also work on cruises. I know it will never happen, but I'd find it helpful if the online deck plans would indicate where WiFi access points on board are! Proximity to one of those is going to largely determine your connectivity experience.
If you have a bad connection in your room go to the Voom internet desk on the Royal Promenade and they will install an internet amplifier in your stateroom for you for free. I did that last week on Independence of the Seas and afterwards the internet worked great
We call Carnival the "motel 6" of cruising; complete with a free freak show. We have cruised 30 years, done them all and at this age, I don't want to cook, free drinks in casino and it's a few days getaway...but we are only 1 hour from Tampa. 😊
Yes, for solo traveler “the key” is so worth the cost. This made embarkation day more comfortable than being alone before you become acclimated to the ship, which is always the most difficult adjustment for this solo traveler.
This came across my feed and was a nice reminder of the Mediterranean & Aegean Seas cruise we just took with friends at the end of May. I wanted to let you know how very much I appreciated your videos prior to our trip while I was planning it. We traveled to celebrate our friend’s 60th birthday and our 35th anniversary with 3 days in Venice and a week long cruise out of Ravenna. It was our 4th cruise on RC but we are infrequent cruise travelers (Previously not my husband’s first pick but this cruise changed that!) and your tips and advice for the cruise portion of our trip helped us - and our friends! - enjoy our time on board to the fullest. Sending my most sincere thanks. - Wendy
Don't forget about the new adult's only Hideaway Beach at CoCo Cay. It is an additional charge and where the "party" scene has moved too. It has the DJ and a heated pool. Also in Nassau, you walk the new pier all the way down to Senior Frogs. It is so nice now! Sorrento's is not as good as it was pre-pandemic.
Funny story. @7:51; the guy who was playing the guitar was also singing. He was playing "Zombie" by the Cranberries. The part that goes "In Your Head," he was singing "Wash Your Hands." LOL!
I’m about ready to settle for a short cruise in between waiting for sailing on my longer cruise!!! I can deal with older ships and save some money!! Looking for to checking out the RC KEY video! Thanks for sharing 🛳️🛳️
We sail RCCL and just cruised on Freedom in April. We find the Key is worth the purchase Usually the same or just a few dollars more per day than just getting wifi. We enjoy the early boarding and easy disembarkation features. The Key lunch is nice to just take a breath after boarding. And the fruit plate in the room is appreciated
We have been on it twice. Both 8 to 10 years ago. Loved the ship. It doesn't look like it changed. Loved the main dining and atrium. Service was incredible even back them. Great ship!
A friend of mine and I sailed on sistership liberty twice I believe, and I will say that the state rooms look exactly as a dead back then so perhaps they are needing an upgrade. I love the dining room on these ships. They are so elegant and the Royal promenade.. Perfect Day is the coolest place!!! Thanks for posting this. It’s hard for me to do anything less than seven days because I live in Northern Michigan and our airfares always so expensive but that looks like a real fun cruise and I’m really glad you and your family enjoyed it.
Only 4 days but you can give review on many things and whatever you talk about, you have footage for that. Thanks 👍👍 I used to think 4 day cruise is too short. Now, you make me want to go on 4 day cruise 😅
We went on our very first cruise on Allure of the seas at the end of March. I watched your videos months before in preperation and felt it really helped! Due to weather conditions we could not debark on Nassau but were happy to be able to go to CoCo Cay. It was a time when our whole family was together for our son and daughter in law's wedding on the ship so it was enjoyable but way too short to have missed an island and a few shows due to weather. Food and service was good, staff were very nice and friendly . Never got a survey to fill out....perhaps because they didn't want us complaining about the inability to go to Nassau to provide more entertainment on the extra sea day? Maybe next time longer cruise since we had to fly from the west coast to Florida..appreciate your tips Ilana!!!
We sailed on Freedom last fall. We had an inside cabin and it had been updated. It seems on that ship some cabins have been refreshed and some have not been. We loved the Freedom and would sail on it again!
Our third cruise was on the Freedom, back in 2016, and it was nice to see how it's been updated. The Wonder of the Seas was our first time at Playmakers, and the onion rings are fantastic!!
My husband and I are taking this cruise very soon. Can you tell me what the themed dress nights were? Thanks for your wonderful reviews and other videos helping me get prepared for our first cruise in 12 years! I'm so happy to be back to cruising.
We made that mistake two years ago. Six family members booked a 4 day out of Tampa to Cozumel. After COVID we felt we needed to see how things were going after the shutdown. It was like spending 96 hours in Walmart during a Black Friday sale. Challenging experience to say the least.
We sailed the freedom of the seas April 2024, loved the cruise! Never bored and the staff was phenomenal. It does not look worn at all. We has a balcony and it was comfy.
Enjoyed your video. I am booked on a 3 day cruise with my husband and a week cruise solo. When I booked the three day I realized I needed 4 hotel days prior to my week cruise. So guess what? Turns out staying on the ship for the 4 day cruise was much cheaper than paying for 4 days in a hotel in Fort Lauderdale. First back to back cruise ever and really looking forward to it this fall. Agree with you about Perfect Day at CocoCay. It is the reason for the three day and week long cruise. Just love the Coco Beach Club.
Freedom is one of my favorite ships. I booked a cruise in December just to cruise on this ship again. Love Loco Fresh for a bowl of Nachos in the late morning.
Went on Freedom last April and getting back on her within the next month! I love it, just good enough to decompress. I’ll have to make my way to Playmakers & the Quest game show this time, I always hear good things about them!
We cruised on the Freedom of the Seas on her 9th ever cruise way back when, so we have a bit of a soft spot in our hearts for her. As for 4 night cruises, we haven't done one in years. The shortest we have done in recent memory was 5 nights as part of a back-to-back, and the crowd was a bit different than what we typically see on a 7 night sailing. Even though we're within driving distance of several ports we feel that the effort of getting to the port, paying for a hotel, transportation to and from the pier, etc. isn't justified for a shorter cruise.
Nice video, like usual 😁 I tend to prefer the shorter 3 to 5 day cruises personally. I've always found plenty to do and the crowd is a younger and lively crew. One of the cruises I went on this year was a spring break cruise and it was nothing but high schoolers, and my friend's birthday cruise was all senior citizens. So it's still hard to figure it out when it's a week lol
I was on that cruise ship during spring break and there was 95% college kids, but they were having such a great time. It was fun for us. I do like it. It’s a great ship for five day cruise.
Love the upgrade inside and out of the design of the cruise ship of Freedom of the seas The Royal Caribbean looks amazing! 🌈💙🛳️🛳️💙🌈🌈💞🌞🌞🌞🌹🌹🌼🩷🩷🌼💜❤️❤️🍄🌺🪻💘❣️❣️💓💓💜🛳️🌞🌞🌞🩷❤️❤️🪻💝💝🪻💖❣️💓💓💚💚💚💗🌹🌈💙💞🛳️🛳️🛳️🛳️
Although I have not sailed on freedom of the seas, I have been on several other short cruises with RC. For us, short trips are an opportunity to get away, relax, and refresh. I think short cruises are perfect for large families because they are affordable for everyone.
I’ve been on Freedom 3 times (once was a B2B). I do really like that ship, despite the rundown furniture in the cabins. I only purchase the Key if the price is within $2-$3 of the wifi (four times out of 20 cruises). I am Diamond and Prime so now I just use the free Diamond day and get the 30% discount for Prime and it works out cheaper than purchasing before hand. Glad you enjoyed the shorter cruise. I love the funnel cake and mozzarella sticks on Coco Cay at the snack shacks.
With respect to The Key, I think it's worth it, IF Royal's dynamic pricing is in your favor. We bought it for a cruise in March aboard Adventure of the Seas for about $23 pp/pd. At that price point I think it was worth the spend. The expedited check in line really helped us. The reserved seating area at the Ice show was also a bonus. We will certainly look at The Key on the cruise planner for our next RCL cruise.
We love Freedom/Voyager class ships. They offer bang for the buck the newer ships don’t (IMO). We have a 5 hr drive to Orlando so though we live in Florida it is a pain. 4 nights isn’t worth it to me, I prefer the longer itineraries and RC is offering some good 5 and 6 night ones on Adventure right now. Good video!
Special request- will you do a video on how to navigate through the carnival app and other cruise line maps. Basics like- maps, activities,how to schedule dining and excursions,where to park etc.
My wife and I paid for "The Key" on our honeymoon cruise on Adventure of the Seas. It was our first cruise, and thought it would be beneficial. We've been on 2 cruises since (Harmony and Wo der), and we chose not to purchase The Key because we felt we didn't really get much out of it for the money. The embarkation lunch and having our carry-on bags delivered were both nice, but that was all we used it for, and it just wasn't worth it for us.
We normally sail on large RC ships...but jumped on a cheaper 4 night cruise last November and had a great time. We had sailed on the Carnival Sunshine years ago and even though the ship is older everything looked great, the food was very good (love burgers and tacos by the pool), and service was excellent.
We have been on the Freedom three times. Love that ship. We are going on two four night cruises, one in September, on Allure and one in October on Utopia. We don't care for less than four nights. I love a seven to fourteen night cruise. 😂
What sailing? I was on Freedom out of Miami May 20-24! Loved it. Saw Matt from Royal Caribbean Blog in the Royal Promenade; he was so nice when I said hello. My first cruise was on Liberty of the Seas last year, so chose Freedom of the Seas this year! (I heart The Key. Think it well worth it).
I took advantage of the Key on a cruise in January of this year and thought it was a great value since I wanted the wi-fi anyway. The difference was only $5 per day for a total of $20 to get all of the other perks. Loved the embarkation lunch and carryon drop off.
Can't wait on Mariner of the Sea this June 2024. Four days departs from Galveston. Thanks for all your help. Need a vacation and traveling with six other women.
So I have been on Independence and Adventures of the Sea in the last year but not Freedom, Freedom seems to have a few extras, I don’t recall El Loco fresh or the lime and Coconut on either of them but I did get the deluxe drink package so I could have missed it !! 😃 As far as Sorentos I mean it’s okay to get you by but definitely not great pizza ! I want to say thank you for all the great videos you produce , I have watch so many of them and have gotten some great tips from you I have only cruised 4 times so still in the early learning stages. I will be on Utopia in November and looking forward to that one! Thanks again, Happy Cruising!!
I sailed on Liberty of the Seas the week before Easter. Same ports of call, 4 days. Food and entertainment was the best I've had on a cruise. My only complaint was TOO many kids. But is was Easter week. I agree, I would have liked a longer cruise.
We’ve always gotten the Key mostly for the internet but we’ve found it was worth it. Our last cruise the disembarkation line was so lonnnng but The Key line let us get right off which was a plus for us since we had to drive 7 hrs home.
My first cruise years ago was on freedom if the seas. It was great. The food in the Windjammer was wonderful as in the small complementary restaurants. We were on a 7 day cruise but i didnt feel safe on some of the islands we visited. Loved the cruise.
I often find it really funny when it's cheaper to take a short cruise instead of just stay in a hotel - absolutely CRAZY considering it includes your entertainment and food onboard! Unfortunately, we don't really see many of these deals leaving from the UK - maybe in the future!
It's never a deal when you get your final onboard spending statement,they are not telling you about the add ons...and if you are a drinker,forget about it....I remember when you could have gotten a 3 night cruise for $69.00/person out of Florida,but ended up with a $500.00 liquor bill,and that's why the cruise lines can build these massive billion dollar ships every year..
It is so interesting to me that people want to stay on ships with entire simulated streets, pubs, dance floors, shows, water parks, movie nights, and whatnot. _Every_ possible distraction to lead the thoughts away from the fact that you are out sailing 🙂
We have cruised on Freedom many times. In fact it was our first RC cruise. I like it. Not as big as the Oasis class but still has great entertainment and the food is great. I am like you still not sure it's worth it for just a 4 day. Cruising is cruising I just love it! 4 days or 40 days! Thanks for all of your tips.
Great review and wonderful content as always. We just got back from a 7 day sailing on the Carnival Liberty out of NOLA and it was great. The service and food were phenomenal (we did the steakhouse, the "chefs table" experience, and the MDR, and all were good. My wife did say at the steakhouse that one of her lobster tails was a bit overcooked, but she did not send it back. The MDR service was amazing, the waiter had a glass of milk waiting for me each night and the food was good. We had an interior cabin and the cabin stayed cool and dark and my wife and i slept very well (I have a CPAP machine as well). Casino was fun, did not lose a lot but did win a Carnival promtion and my wife won TWICE! Also won a "ship on a stick" for trivia. Downsides: Embarkation was HORRIBLE, took nearly 2 hours to get on the ship, due to other passengers getting there way early before they were supposed to. My wife wanted more things to do, our last cruise years ago they had dancing lessons, this one did not. We have a 10 day Alaskan cruise coming up after Labor Day and i told her it should have a different "vibe" then the one we were just on. Thank you for your awesome channel and tips!
Cruising was fun for us in our younger years(started in the 70's)but it's just too hectic now..we only go on River and Alaska cruises...although we live 40 mins away from Port Canaveral.Will be on The Luminosa next week out of Seattle,that 6 hours flight is something i am not looking forward to ...but taking three of the youngest grand kids,so should be fun..The food look good,my last RCI was disappointing where food is concern 4 years ago..We watch our diet now,so very picky and seldom eat at the main dining room...Thanks for the videos..
We getThe Key for the WiFi and early boarding. Our last cruise had a huuuge line at embarkation (due to hiding passengers) but the Key line was so quick and got us into the AC and out of the sun.
Planning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page printable cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limited time). Here are the details: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner
😂when you keep saying 20 years ago and my mind goes to the 80’s and you say 2006, it hurts everywhere.
That’s a meme 😂
😂 right LOL
A cruise being cheaper than a hotel is always worth it😍
My thought too 😂
@@LifeWellCruised I should be so lucky!!!
No cruise is a bad cruise. Maybe not alot of fun things to do on board but your off work with a drink in your hand floating at the pool or in a spa with live music and free food. That's much better then traveling to work an sitting in traffic. No such thing as a bad cruise unless it's a medical issue.
Absolutely! We’ve always found this to be true as well 😊
NOT FREE FOOD LOL. YOU PAID FOR IT,
Not for me… I don’t like old ships… a 20 yr old ship?? Nope no thanks… JMO
So true ❤
I think the Key was worth it. We sailed May 2019 after the $100M upgrades on Navigator of the Seas. I enjoyed the embarkation lunch, 🛜 and skip the line debarkation service.
Since I live a long way from most cruise ports, I need a longer cruise to make the journey worthwhile. Florida residents are lucky because they can take advantage of so many good deals within driving distance!
They definitely are! We just came off a 7 day cruise and decided to delay going home by a few days & hop on a short cruise
We did a four night cruise in January. The whole purpose was to drive my hubby’s sister down to her place(from Ontario🇨🇦), and since we were going all that way we decided to stop and visit a cousin in Jacksonville. After the cruise we then went to stay in St Pete Beach for another four days. The only reason I wouldn’t do a short cruise again is it felt like we just unpacked, and had to pack up again. We did Key West, and Nassau and one sea day. I like at least 7 nights, to start to fell like I am getting relaxed.
You can always opt for a back to back (b2b) on this ship and enjoy an 8 day cruise!
We live in Arizona, away from most of the cruise ports. We always book "back to back" cruises to reduce the cost of flying to ports and transfers and the like. Sometimes, we stay on the same ship. However, often, we will change cruise lines to get a better itinerary.
@@jlawrence0181 I will think about that for the future. Up till now, I have focused on cruising to places I particularly wanted to go, such as Iceland, transatlantic and (upcoming this fall) transpacific to Australia, without the jet lag!
We booked the Key on our first cruise in 1/2019.
We got so much out of it we buy it each time.
It's not just the embarkation day lunch, it is the fact that we walk on early, drop our bags, relax at lunch and begin our cruise in leisure.
We get great seating at all our shows!
We get our internet and we need that because we own a business and need to keep in touch.
The last morning it is so nice to have the delicious breakfast served elegantly instead of the last day's mad rush that we see everyone experiencing.
Then, the very best part?
We walk right past EVERYONE and get right to our luggage.
WE walked right past suite guests, Pinnacle and Diamond cruisers.
We were on the sidewalk within 10 minutes of leaving our breakfast.
We have ever been let down with our purchase of the Key
My first cruise will be on Freedom of the Seas in five months. I have watched so many of your videos I feel like you are my friend giving me information. I have gotten so many great tips and ideas, I can't thank you enough. I am counting down the days, and look forward to your new videos each week. Thanks to your family for all of your work.
I feel the same way, lol. I found this channel last year July , trying to get ready for my first cruise after years, i was a teenager last time i was in one so i thought i was necessary to get updated. Got some great tips and bought few things from her amazon recommendations videos. I hope you have a great time in your cruise.
Same here we took our first cruise last October and after watching her videos we were totally prepared and had everything we needed. Enjoy your cruise you will have an amazing time 😊
Have a fabulous time!
I’m so glad that it worked out that this will be your first cruise! Awe, your words are the nicest compliment
Ditto. My friend in my head.
I sailed on Freedom of the Seas back in March 2024. I had a great time. It was the 4 day cruise and there was so much to do I was never bored. I would definitely go again!
My wife and I did that exact same cruise with another couple. Your thoughts were spot on. We would do it again!
We always get “the key” it’s only a little bit more than buying fast WiFi ( we also need WiFi to work and stay in touch ) the value for us is the early disembarkation , as we often are ready to go home. The lunch and breakfast on the first and last day are just icing on the cake! We also take advantage of the special times where you can do some of the activities without the massive crowd. It’s a thumbs up for us
My girlfriend and I did the 4 day Caribbean cruise on that same ship 2 weeks ago. It was my first cruise since my parents took me on one as a toddler (I’m 35 now) and we absolutely love the cruise. We felt the ship was the perfect size for us and the 4 day cruise was the perfect length. We didn’t find ourselves bored at all. Loved the food & crew. The deluxe drink package might’ve helped with that tbh lol. Next time I think I’ll stay on the ship in Nassau tho.
That’s awesome & I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed it so much!
An excellent video in every way! I'm so glad you mentioned the cabin and other areas that are showing wear. Most of the time this is not mentioned by other bloggers. Your attention to details makes you one of the best that I truly appreciate. Thank you, Ilana!
Glad you enjoyed it & I appreciate your comments. My intention always is to share the info I’d share with a friend at home :)
We sailed on Freedom of the Seas around 2006ish with our daughter and 2 grandkids. It was a 7 day cruise and we had a blast with them! My grandson is now 30 with a son of his own, my great grandson!, oh where did the time go??? Most of all he remembers the pizza and brownies! We are taking him, his wife and son and our grandaughter on Independence in 2026. It will be so much fun to show his wife what a cruise is all about and to watch our grnadson play in the water. thank you for all your informative videos and all the suggestions!
Just booked this cruise with my bestie for July! So excited!
I just want to say thank you for all of your great, informative videos. We just got off the Grand Princess in Alaska. I used many of your suggestions and even had an Aperol Spritz in your honor.
My first time cruise in August with RC Allure of the Sea. I have been watching a lot of your videos and they are very detailed and helpful to prepare. Thank you. I am looking into "the Key"
Many years ago I booked a Royal Caribbean Cruise…I absolutely hated it. It was my own fault, no one else’s. I had done insufficient homework and had not realised it was a school holiday and I could barely move onboard, there was also far too much happening around me and I felt totally overwhelmed…I would never book again…I would however happily book Royal Caribbean for my Daughter, Son-in-Law and Grandson as they would love the vibe…I have now been on over 50 cruises, so know what I like for me if I am on my own which differs if with the family….lesson learned.. it was NOT RC at fault, it was my ineptitude. Carry on enjoying your cruises everyone.
Love this!! You know what you like
Rc is flowrider🏄🏻♂️ cunard is 🫖
An internet tip - if you're experiencing slower connection speeds you can often get at least a modest boost by propping open your stateroom door just a few inches. We actually carry our own wedge doorstop when we cruise, "just in case," as we also work on cruises. I know it will never happen, but I'd find it helpful if the online deck plans would indicate where WiFi access points on board are! Proximity to one of those is going to largely determine your connectivity experience.
Good one! We did prop our door open, but since we’re having private conversations it’s not always ideal
We had to do this on Radiance.... It improved the speed from abysmal to infuriating... 🤣
If you have a bad connection in your room go to the Voom internet desk on the Royal Promenade and they will install an internet amplifier in your stateroom for you for free. I did that last week on Independence of the Seas and afterwards the internet worked great
We took the poor man’s 4 day cruise on Carnival, inside lower deck cabin cruise with the rats for $177/pp last October and still loved it!
Haha I’ve never heard it put that way 😂
Lol, I’ve heard of Carnival referred to as the Walmart of cruises. Judging by the prices and fights that happen on Carnival, they may be right.
@@robd7934 , certainly true for the shorter booze cruises. The new modern ships are totally different though.
@@robd7934no - I own Walmart stock and have made a ton of $. Carnival is fun!
We call Carnival the "motel 6" of cruising; complete with a free freak show. We have cruised 30 years, done them all and at this age, I don't want to cook, free drinks in casino and it's a few days getaway...but we are only 1 hour from Tampa. 😊
Very useful video. We are cruising on this ship in August, it's our first cruise so found this information about the ship super hepful.
Glad it was helpful! Hope you have a fantastic cruise
I sailed on Freedom of the Seas many years ago and it was nice. Your video brought back those memories
I’m so glad! Thanks for sharing
Really good video Ilana…..looks like a fun time….
Many thanks!!
Yes, for solo traveler “the key” is so worth the cost. This made embarkation day more comfortable than being alone before you become acclimated to the ship, which is always the most difficult adjustment for this solo traveler.
Freedom is my favorite RCL ship! I love the art along the staircases. Very polished ship
Thank you for the Great review, it’s much appreciated!
We have been on Freedom OTS twice and we enjoyed it both times! Great ship and very fun to sail on!
This came across my feed and was a nice reminder of the Mediterranean & Aegean Seas cruise we just took with friends at the end of May. I wanted to let you know how very much I appreciated your videos prior to our trip while I was planning it. We traveled to celebrate our friend’s 60th birthday and our 35th anniversary with 3 days in Venice and a week long cruise out of Ravenna. It was our 4th cruise on RC but we are infrequent cruise travelers (Previously not my husband’s first pick but this cruise changed that!) and your tips and advice for the cruise portion of our trip helped us - and our friends! - enjoy our time on board to the fullest. Sending my most sincere thanks. - Wendy
Don't forget about the new adult's only Hideaway Beach at CoCo Cay. It is an additional charge and where the "party" scene has moved too. It has the DJ and a heated pool. Also in Nassau, you walk the new pier all the way down to Senior Frogs. It is so nice now! Sorrento's is not as good as it was pre-pandemic.
Fabulous! Ya I wish they’d revisit the Sorrentos pizza dough recipe
I cruised this ship in 2008 out of Galveston Texas. I didn’t realize it was so new when I was cruising on it. I had the best experience vacation ever
We went on the Freedom last October for a weekend cruise and it was nice. Heading back for a 7-day this July. Looking forward to it.
Funny story. @7:51; the guy who was playing the guitar was also singing. He was playing "Zombie" by the Cranberries. The part that goes "In Your Head," he was singing "Wash Your Hands." LOL!
Haha too funny
@@LifeWellCruised I agree
I’m about ready to settle for a short cruise in between waiting for sailing on my longer cruise!!! I can deal with older ships and save some money!! Looking for to checking out the RC KEY video! Thanks for sharing 🛳️🛳️
Have fun! 🛳️🎉
We sail RCCL and just cruised on Freedom in April.
We find the Key is worth the purchase
Usually the same or just a few dollars more per day than just getting wifi.
We enjoy the early boarding and easy disembarkation features. The Key lunch is nice to just take a breath after boarding. And the fruit plate in the room is appreciated
I love Giovanni’s Table!
So good 😋
We had a fabulous meal at Giovanni's on Adventure. Some on our cruise thought the filet mignon at Giovanni's was better than Chops!
We live in Florida so we love the short cruises.A great weekend get away.
We have been on it twice. Both 8 to 10 years ago. Loved the ship. It doesn't look like it changed. Loved the main dining and atrium. Service was incredible even back them. Great ship!
Thank you for this video! We are boarding this ship next month. Did you think The Key was worth it on this ship?
My first cruise ever was on freedom of the seas back in 2006. Had a great time!
I agree, Nassau has made Great efforts fixing up the port $$$$$. Looks great.
A friend of mine and I sailed on sistership liberty twice I believe, and I will say that the state rooms look exactly as a dead back then so perhaps they are needing an upgrade. I love the dining room on these ships. They are so elegant and the Royal promenade.. Perfect Day is the coolest place!!! Thanks for posting this. It’s hard for me to do anything less than seven days because I live in Northern Michigan and our airfares always so expensive but that looks like a real fun cruise and I’m really glad you and your family enjoyed it.
Thank You for the information
Only 4 days but you can give review on many things and whatever you talk about, you have footage for that. Thanks 👍👍
I used to think 4 day cruise is too short. Now, you make me want to go on 4 day cruise 😅
Haha, I still prefer longer cruises, but in the right circumstances I’d do it again
We went on our very first cruise on Allure of the seas at the end of March. I watched your videos months before in preperation and felt it really helped! Due to weather conditions we could not debark on Nassau but were happy to be able to go to CoCo Cay. It was a time when our whole family was together for our son and daughter in law's wedding on the ship so it was enjoyable but way too short to have missed an island and a few shows due to weather. Food and service was good, staff were very nice and friendly . Never got a survey to fill out....perhaps because they didn't want us complaining about the inability to go to Nassau to provide more entertainment on the extra sea day? Maybe next time longer cruise since we had to fly from the west coast to Florida..appreciate your tips Ilana!!!
Good choice for your first cruise. We loved the Allure of the Seas. Sorry you couldn’t go to all of your ports…safety first.
The oldest cruise ship I have cruised is liberty and independence. Both are very nice cruising icon in October 2024! Yayyy
Thank you posting this! It’ll be my first cruise with my family
I really like Playmakers, great food and atmosphere.
freedom and independence are the 2 ships I've been on the most!! love them
We sailed on Freedom last fall. We had an inside cabin and it had been updated. It seems on that ship some cabins have been refreshed and some have not been. We loved the Freedom and would sail on it again!
Lucky you 😂
Our third cruise was on the Freedom, back in 2016, and it was nice to see how it's been updated. The Wonder of the Seas was our first time at Playmakers, and the onion rings are fantastic!!
My husband and I are taking this cruise very soon. Can you tell me what the themed dress nights were? Thanks for your wonderful reviews and other videos helping me get prepared for our first cruise in 12 years! I'm so happy to be back to cruising.
We made that mistake two years ago. Six family members booked a 4 day out of Tampa to Cozumel. After COVID we felt we needed to see how things were going after the shutdown. It was like spending 96 hours in Walmart during a Black Friday sale. Challenging experience to say the least.
kislux versace bag is so cute
We sailed the freedom of the seas April 2024, loved the cruise! Never bored and the staff was phenomenal. It does not look worn at all. We has a balcony and it was comfy.
We booked a 3 day cruise on NCL Joy to the Bahamas. We’re looking forward to it! ❤
Have an amazing time!
Love to watch your videos!!! We love to cruise 🚢 not as much as you but we do love it!! A lot cheaper than going town to town on your own!
Enjoyed your video. I am booked on a 3 day cruise with my husband and a week cruise solo. When I booked the three day I realized I needed 4 hotel days prior to my week cruise. So guess what? Turns out staying on the ship for the 4 day cruise was much cheaper than paying for 4 days in a hotel in Fort Lauderdale. First back to back cruise ever and really looking forward to it this fall. Agree with you about Perfect Day at CocoCay. It is the reason for the three day and week long cruise. Just love the Coco Beach Club.
Have an amazing time!
Freedom is one of my favorite ships. I booked a cruise in December just to cruise on this ship again. Love Loco Fresh for a bowl of Nachos in the late morning.
Went on Freedom last April and getting back on her within the next month! I love it, just good enough to decompress. I’ll have to make my way to Playmakers & the Quest game show this time, I always hear good things about them!
Great to hear!! Enjoy 🛳️
We cruised on the Freedom of the Seas on her 9th ever cruise way back when, so we have a bit of a soft spot in our hearts for her. As for 4 night cruises, we haven't done one in years. The shortest we have done in recent memory was 5 nights as part of a back-to-back, and the crowd was a bit different than what we typically see on a 7 night sailing. Even though we're within driving distance of several ports we feel that the effort of getting to the port, paying for a hotel, transportation to and from the pier, etc. isn't justified for a shorter cruise.
Totally get that
Nice video, like usual 😁
I tend to prefer the shorter 3 to 5 day cruises personally. I've always found plenty to do and the crowd is a younger and lively crew. One of the cruises I went on this year was a spring break cruise and it was nothing but high schoolers, and my friend's birthday cruise was all senior citizens. So it's still hard to figure it out when it's a week lol
Haha so true the crowd definitely varies
🎉🎉❤❤❤ went of FTS. FIRST time cruising and loved it❤
We have always cruised with carnival and during the pandemic on the freedom of the seas and enjoyed it very much.
I was on that cruise ship during spring break and there was 95% college kids, but they were having such a great time. It was fun for us. I do like it. It’s a great ship for five day cruise.
Love the upgrade inside and out of the design of the cruise ship of Freedom of the seas The Royal Caribbean looks amazing! 🌈💙🛳️🛳️💙🌈🌈💞🌞🌞🌞🌹🌹🌼🩷🩷🌼💜❤️❤️🍄🌺🪻💘❣️❣️💓💓💜🛳️🌞🌞🌞🩷❤️❤️🪻💝💝🪻💖❣️💓💓💚💚💚💗🌹🌈💙💞🛳️🛳️🛳️🛳️
Although I have not sailed on freedom of the seas, I have been on several other short cruises with RC. For us, short trips are an opportunity to get away, relax, and refresh. I think short cruises are perfect for large families because they are affordable for everyone.
I’ve been on Freedom 3 times (once was a B2B). I do really like that ship, despite the rundown furniture in the cabins. I only purchase the Key if the price is within $2-$3 of the wifi (four times out of 20 cruises). I am Diamond and Prime so now I just use the free Diamond day and get the 30% discount for Prime and it works out cheaper than purchasing before hand. Glad you enjoyed the shorter cruise. I love the funnel cake and mozzarella sticks on Coco Cay at the snack shacks.
We have sailed in Freedom several times in the past. Love that ship.
With respect to The Key, I think it's worth it, IF Royal's dynamic pricing is in your favor. We bought it for a cruise in March aboard Adventure of the Seas for about $23 pp/pd. At that price point I think it was worth the spend. The expedited check in line really helped us. The reserved seating area at the Ice show was also a bonus. We will certainly look at The Key on the cruise planner for our next RCL cruise.
We love Freedom/Voyager class ships. They offer bang for the buck the newer ships don’t (IMO). We have a 5 hr drive to Orlando so though we live in Florida it is a pain. 4 nights isn’t worth it to me, I prefer the longer itineraries and RC is offering some good 5 and 6 night ones on Adventure right now. Good video!
Special request- will you do a video on how to navigate through the carnival app and other cruise line maps.
Basics like- maps, activities,how to schedule dining and excursions,where to park etc.
My wife and I paid for "The Key" on our honeymoon cruise on Adventure of the Seas. It was our first cruise, and thought it would be beneficial. We've been on 2 cruises since (Harmony and Wo der), and we chose not to purchase The Key because we felt we didn't really get much out of it for the money. The embarkation lunch and having our carry-on bags delivered were both nice, but that was all we used it for, and it just wasn't worth it for us.
We normally sail on large RC ships...but jumped on a cheaper 4 night cruise last November and had a great time. We had sailed on the Carnival Sunshine years ago and even though the ship is older everything looked great, the food was very good (love burgers and tacos by the pool), and service was excellent.
We always do the key, early on, early off, the lunch helps get you out of the business of embarkation day, reserved seating etc.
WiFi is also a plus!
We have been on the Freedom three times. Love that ship. We are going on two four night cruises, one in September, on Allure and one in October on Utopia. We don't care for less than four nights. I love a seven to fourteen night cruise. 😂
What sailing? I was on Freedom out of Miami May 20-24! Loved it. Saw Matt from Royal Caribbean Blog in the Royal Promenade; he was so nice when I said hello. My first cruise was on Liberty of the Seas last year, so chose Freedom of the Seas this year! (I heart The Key. Think it well worth it).
That’s awesome! Matt is a great guy & fantastic creator! 👏 We were there in late January
I took advantage of the Key on a cruise in January of this year and thought it was a great value since I wanted the wi-fi anyway. The difference was only $5 per day for a total of $20 to get all of the other perks. Loved the embarkation lunch and carryon drop off.
Love freedom. Sailed in April had an amazing time
I have sailed on the Freedom of the Seas twice, once out of Miami and once out of Puerto Rico. I really enjoyed this ship.
Can't wait on Mariner of the Sea this June 2024. Four days departs from Galveston. Thanks for all your help. Need a vacation and traveling with six other women.
Have fun! I think it will be a great time 🎉
I love your dress! where did you find something so cute and comfy?
So I have been on Independence and Adventures of the Sea in the last year but not Freedom, Freedom seems to have a few extras, I don’t recall El Loco fresh or the lime and Coconut on either of them but I did get the deluxe drink package so I could have missed it !! 😃
As far as Sorentos I mean it’s okay to get you by but definitely not great pizza !
I want to say thank you for all the great videos you produce , I have watch so many of them and have gotten some great tips from you I have only cruised 4 times so still in the early learning stages. I will be on Utopia in November and looking forward to that one! Thanks again, Happy Cruising!!
Another great video. Sailing on MSC Seashore on Aug 1st with my grandsons!
That’s awesome!! Should be a lot of fun
I sailed on Liberty of the Seas the week before Easter. Same ports of call, 4 days. Food and entertainment was the best I've had on a cruise. My only complaint was TOO many kids. But is was Easter week. I agree, I would have liked a longer cruise.
We’ve always gotten the Key mostly for the internet but we’ve found it was worth it. Our last cruise the disembarkation line was so lonnnng but The Key line let us get right off which was a plus for us since we had to drive 7 hrs home.
My first cruise years ago was on freedom if the seas. It was great. The food in the Windjammer was wonderful as in the small complementary restaurants. We were on a 7 day cruise but i didnt feel safe on some of the islands we visited. Loved the cruise.
Thanks for sharing your experience 😊
it was so great meeting you on the ship and you were right. the food was so good on the ship. that's why I gained a couple pounds
Awesome to meet you too! Lol we didn’t starve either 😂
I did a four-day cruise a number of years back, and I did it because I was looking for a lower cost quick getaway. It was perfect.
The Snack Shacks are terrific
Agree 👏
We did a three day royal carribean on Liberty of the Seas for our wedding this year! I loved it! (Looks very similar to this ship)
We are going on Freedom of The Seas in September. We have only cruised Royal. Just me and my husband. 7 day to Coco Cay, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas!
Did this ship in 2014 for our anniversary. It's crazy to see how updated it is now!
I often find it really funny when it's cheaper to take a short cruise instead of just stay in a hotel - absolutely CRAZY considering it includes your entertainment and food onboard! Unfortunately, we don't really see many of these deals leaving from the UK - maybe in the future!
It's never a deal when you get your final onboard spending statement,they are not telling you about the add ons...and if you are a drinker,forget about it....I remember when you could have gotten a 3 night cruise for $69.00/person out of Florida,but ended up with a $500.00 liquor bill,and that's why the cruise lines can build these massive billion dollar ships every year..
It is so interesting to me that people want to stay on ships with entire simulated streets, pubs, dance floors, shows, water parks, movie nights, and whatnot. _Every_ possible distraction to lead the thoughts away from the fact that you are out sailing 🙂
I had the key and it was worth it to me, especially the reserved seating for the skating show and disembarkation process. The internet was nice too.
We have cruised on Freedom many times. In fact it was our first RC cruise. I like it. Not as big as the Oasis class but still has great entertainment and the food is great. I am like you still not sure it's worth it for just a 4 day. Cruising is cruising I just love it! 4 days or 40 days! Thanks for all of your tips.
Great review and wonderful content as always. We just got back from a 7 day sailing on the Carnival Liberty out of NOLA and it was great. The service and food were phenomenal (we did the steakhouse, the "chefs table" experience, and the MDR, and all were good. My wife did say at the steakhouse that one of her lobster tails was a bit overcooked, but she did not send it back. The MDR service was amazing, the waiter had a glass of milk waiting for me each night and the food was good. We had an interior cabin and the cabin stayed cool and dark and my wife and i slept very well (I have a CPAP machine as well). Casino was fun, did not lose a lot but did win a Carnival promtion and my wife won TWICE! Also won a "ship on a stick" for trivia.
Downsides: Embarkation was HORRIBLE, took nearly 2 hours to get on the ship, due to other passengers getting there way early before they were supposed to. My wife wanted more things to do, our last cruise years ago they had dancing lessons, this one did not.
We have a 10 day Alaskan cruise coming up after Labor Day and i told her it should have a different "vibe" then the one we were just on. Thank you for your awesome channel and tips!
Thanks for sharing so much of your experience! Hope you love your Alaska cruise
Cruising was fun for us in our younger years(started in the 70's)but it's just too hectic now..we only go on River and Alaska cruises...although we live 40 mins away from Port Canaveral.Will be on The Luminosa next week out of Seattle,that 6 hours flight is something i am not looking forward to ...but taking three of the youngest grand kids,so should be fun..The food look good,my last RCI was disappointing where food is concern 4 years ago..We watch our diet now,so very picky and seldom eat at the main dining room...Thanks for the videos..
We getThe Key for the WiFi and early boarding. Our last cruise had a huuuge line at embarkation (due to hiding passengers) but the Key line was so quick and got us into the AC and out of the sun.
Definitely a good perk then
Love the Freedom class ships. 😀🛳
I've sailed twice 2016 and 2016. I'm booked again this September. It was a great ship when I sailed it.