Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	431
Accommodation	200	165
Food	400	221
Service	400	269
Entertainment	100	84
Cruise	400	287

How this score is created

Carnival Freedom is the 24th new ship ordered by this incredibly successful cruise line that bases its success on the “Fun Ship” concept. It shares the same generally balanced profile as sisters Carnival Conquest, Carnival Destiny, Carnival Glory, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Triumph, Carnival Valor, and Carnival Victory. Being a non-Panamax ship, it is unable to transit the Panama Canal, due to its size. Immediately recognizable is the ship’s swept-back, red, white and blue wingtip funnel – the trademark of all Carnival’s ships.

The ship’s interior decor is a kaleidoscopic blend of colors that stimulate and excite the senses, and is dedicated to time, and the decades. The deck and public room layout is logical, and finding your way around is quite easy. Most of the public rooms are located on one deck off a main interior boulevard, above a deck which contains the two main dining rooms. The public rooms include a large casino (gaming includes blackjack, craps, roulette, three-card poker, Caribbean Stud poker, Face Up, Let it Ride, Bonus, and Wheel of Madness, and more than 300 slot machines).

If you like movies on big screens in the open air (remember drive-in movie theaters?), Carnival’s Seaside Theatre for movies on deck should do it for you (seating is in tiered rows and the movie screen faces forward). The ship has bow-to-stern wi-fi internet access (including all passenger cabins).

Youngsters are provided with their own Camp Carnival children’s club (with its own small outdoor pool), and are well cared for with the line’s extensive children’s program. Camp Carnival is located on Sun Deck (out of the way of older passengers).

Minor niggles include the fact that many pillars obstruct passenger flow (particularly in the dining room, where they make it difficult for the waiters to serve food properly).

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008