Big Ship Cruising: Carnival Freedom Live Voyage Report – Day 5 | Travel Research Online

Image
Image

Big Ship Cruising: Carnival Freedom Live Voyage Report – Day 5

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

The strange weather that has followed Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Freedom throughout our Western Caribbean itinerary from Galveston shows no signs of letting up. Last night, guests were advised that our arrival and departure time for our port of call in Cozumel, Mexico today would be changing.

A Tale of Two Carnivals: Carnival Liberty, left, and Carnival Freedom, right, docked in Cozumel, Mexico on Wednesday, February 18, 2015. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
A Tale of Two Carnivals: Carnival Liberty, left, and Carnival Freedom, right, docked in Cozumel, Mexico on Wednesday, February 18, 2015. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders

Rather than arriving at 8:00 a.m. and staying until 4:00 p.m., we would now be arriving at 7:00 a.m. and departing at 3:00 p.m. in order to avoid an expected storm front with high winds later this afternoon. Fortunately, none of the 55 different shore excursions scheduled for today were cancelled, though a few had to be modified ever so slightly to reflect the ship’s earlier departure time.

Carnival Freedom at her berth in Cozumel today. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
Carnival Freedom at her berth in Cozumel today. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders

I’ve been to Cozumel once before, in January of 2009. And it’s an okay little town; if anything, it suffers from a bad case of Touristas: the place is just jam-packed with cruise ship visitors and resort guests. Even today, we’re joined by Carnival Liberty, Carnival Elation, Vision of the Seas, and another Carnival Fantasy-class ship that is too far away to see.

I disembarked Carnival Freedom around ten this morning with every intention of taking a taxi into town…and after taking some photos of the ship, I went back onboard.

There is a small manufactured “port” near the cruise piers…Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
There is a small manufactured “port” near the cruise piers…Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
..that plays to every Mexican stereotype. But, people love it, so who am I to say? Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
..that plays to every Mexican stereotype. But, people love it, so who am I to say? Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
Caribbean Blue. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
Caribbean Blue. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders

The port area was like running the gauntlet; nothing but duty-free beers, cologne, liquor, cigarettes and pills, and thousands of people clambering all over themselves to get to it.

Yet, at the end of the pier is the Carnival Freedom looking all resplendent in the Caribbean sun. Resplendent, and very deserted.

The port area was like running the gauntlet; nothing but duty-free beers, cologne, liquor, cigarettes and pills, and thousands of people clambering all over themselves to get to it. Yet, at the end of the pier is the Carnival Freedom looking all resplendent in the Caribbean sun. Resplendent, and very deserted.
The port area was like running the gauntlet; nothing but duty-free beers, cologne, liquor, cigarettes and pills, and thousands of people clambering all over themselves to get to it.
Yet, at the end of the pier is the Carnival Freedom looking all resplendent in the Caribbean sun. Resplendent, and very deserted.

If you’ve never tried staying onboard during a port of call, it’s worth giving it a whirl. Maybe 100 people stayed onboard, and I found it relaxing and just what the doctor ordered.

Now, obviously don’t stay onboard if you’ve never been to the port before, or if you’re docked somewhere jaw-dropping like Venice. Otherwise…it’s a great day to hit the spa!

Even the lido buffet is wonderfully deserted on port days. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
Even the lido buffet is wonderfully deserted on port days. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders

Since I’m back onboard, this is a great time to talk a little more about the real star of this cruise: the Carnival Freedom. I realize I’ve barely covered my stateroom, so let’s have a peek there first!

My Category 8C Balcony Stateroom. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
My Category 8C Balcony Stateroom. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders

My stateroom is a Category 8C Balcony Stateroom located on a Deck 7. By and large, all the balcony staterooms aboard Carnival Freedom are identical; sub-categories are differentiated only by their physical location on the ship.

These rooms feature a queen-sized bed that can be split into two twins if required, along with a large couch sitting area, a table, a vanity that doubles as a desk, three closets, a mini-bar, flat-panel television, a bathroom and of course a private balcony.

The stateroom is well-designed and laid-out…Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
The stateroom is well-designed and laid-out…Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
…but I’m not a fan of the pink accents. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
…but I’m not a fan of the pink accents. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders

The room is comfortable and well-designed, though I will admit to not being a fan of the pink accents that surround the lighting, or the sorbet-coloured couch.

Just when you do become acclimated to the South Beach Pink, you open the bathroom door and Bam! You’re in a sea of teals and greens.

The bathroom of my Category 8C Balcony Stateroom features a toilet, shower…Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders
The bathroom of my Category 8C Balcony Stateroom features a toilet, shower…Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders

Click here to continue reading!


An avid traveler and an award-winning journalist, Ralph Grizzle produces articles, video and photos that are inspiring and informative, personal and passionate. A journalism graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Ralph has specialized in travel writing for more than two decades. To read more cruise and port reviews by Ralph Grizzle, visit his website at www.avidcruiser.com.

 

Share your thoughts on “Big Ship Cruising: Carnival Freedom Live Voyage Report – Day 5”

You must be a registered user and be logged in to post a comment.