Freedom of the Seas Cruise Ship

http://www.ucruiser.com filmed Freedom of the Seas while it was leaving Port Canaveral for the very first time. The port arranged a Sail-a-Bration event to celebrate the worlds largest cruise ship. MS Freedom of the Seas is a cruise ship owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International. It is the namesake of Royal Caribbean's Freedom Class of cruise ships, and can accommodate over 4,300 passengers and 1,300 crew on fifteen passenger decks. In addition to two sister ships, Freedom of the Seas will keep the title of the largest passenger ships ever built (by gross tonnage) until construction of the Oasis Class ships in 2009, also owned by Royal Caribbean International. The Freedom of the Seas was built at the Aker Yards drydock in Turku, Finland, which also is building the other ships of the Freedom Class. Upon its completion, it became the largest passenger ship ever built, taking that honor from Cunard's RMS Queen Mary 2.

Freedom of the Seas is 2.4 metres narrower than QM2 at the waterline, 6 metres shorter, has 1.5 metres less draft, is 8.3 metres less tall and 10 mph slower. Freedom of the Seas however is the larger ship in terms of gross tonnage. While its gross tonnage was estimated to range from 154,000 GT to 160,000 GT, its official rating by Det Norske Veritas, a Norwegian marine classification society, is 154,407 GT, compared with QM2's 148,528 GT. Freedom of the Seas has the highest gross tonnage of any passenger ship yet built.

The ship features three swimming areas: an interactive water park, a dedicated adult pool and the main pool. There are 2 adults only whirlpools cantilevered out from the ship's sides, the Royal Promenade sports, a coffee shop, Sorrento's Pizzeria, a Ben and Jerry's ice-cream shop, Vintage's winery, the Bull and Bear Irish pub, and many Duty-free shops. The 13th deck of Freedom of the Seas features a sports area with amenities such as a rock climbing wall, the FlowRider (an onboard wave generator for surfing), a miniature golf course and a full size basketball court. Other items include an ice skating rink, a casino, a Johnny Rockets, Wi-Fi capabilities throughout the ship, flat panel televisions in all staterooms, and cell phone connectivity.

Freedom of the Seas was docked at Blohm und Voss in Hamburg, Germany on 17 April 2006 to repair a damaged bearing in one of the three Azipod propulsion units and to put on some of the finishing touches prior to its official handover to Royal Caribbean International on 24 April 2006. It then departed to Oslo, Norway on 25 April for official festivities. Freedom of the Seas then sailed for Southampton, England on 27 April and arrived at 9am on 29 April. The ship sailed on its first transatlantic crossing on 3 May 2006.

Freedom of the Seas arrived in New York Harbor USA for its official naming ceremony on 12 May 2006 which was broadcast live on NBC's The Today Show from Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey (the ship's official New York berth), and thereafter travelled to Boston for the weekend of May 19-22. It began operations out of Miami with its first cruise and maiden voyage on June 4, sailing to western Caribbean locations in Mexico, the Cayman Islands and Jamaica as well as Labadee, in Haiti, one of Royal Caribbean's private resorts.

The added width of the ship is utilized by the interior promenade extending through the upper decks of the ships. This gives all upper level cabins a window, either to the port or starboard side or inwards to the promenade. This design was first used in the cruiseferry M/S Silja Serenade in 1990 and its twin ship, M/S Silja Symphony in 1991.

For America's Next Top Model Cycle 9 casting Freedom of the Seas was used for the setting.

On May 4th, 2009, Freedom of the Seas moved its home port from the Port of Miami-Dade to Port Canaveral, where it replaced Mariner of the Seas.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• freedom of the seas
• port canveral
• royal caribbean

[uCruisercom]

Finally we will be on board Freedom. Leaving on a 4 day cruise tomorrow!

[mcredsox16]

dont go on cruises they suck they are not even fun trust me i been on one.

[uCruisercom]

How can you not like cruises????? I don't think you have been on one.

[Thschulie]

@wiseman396 i just turned 19 and im diamond plus member :)

[j4cko56]

@mcredsox16 they cleeeeearly suck thats why they are so popular!

[Puffthecarrier1]

@mcredsox16 Yeah, airplanes are much more funner. Watching movies and sitting in one seat almost the whole time. How fun

[LovePeaceJemi]

Just got back from a 7 day Freedom cruise in the Eastern Caribbean. Best week of my life. Staff were very friendly, and great service was provided. Lots of perks for families and couples alike. We had the smallest exterior stateroom, with only one window, yet the 4 of us could fit pretty comfortably. A suite certainly wasn't needed. Already planning our next cruise for the Oasis in 2013! :)

[haa74]

Bakwasssss video !!

[Awesomedeersballs]

I MISS THAT SHIP THAT WAS THE BEST VACATION EVER D: best 1 a 9 year old can have

[aligtube]

Great.....

[11TreySimons]

i was on this june 20-27th, 2010. best week of my life. going on the oasis/allure next summer(:

[missesthercool]

in was on this ship on the 29th may 2011

[jdpfu459]

Just returned from 7 day cruise on Freedom. Ship is pretty amazing and if that is what you like, you can have a fantastic time. The family did a beach-type itinerary and I'm sun-sensitive. 3 shore days in 7 - all to beach locations. Yuck. The food was GREAT (gained 11 lbs), the crew was nice, especially our steward. We stayed in the "Ben & Jerry's Sweet", 6305. Nice perks for $0.

I will probably do an Alaska cruise in the future, but prefer more time *at* the destinations. 6 hrs isn't enough.

[et15100]

When you board the cruise in ft lauderdale it looks like a scummy construction site but then you see all the cruise ships