Freedom of the Seas - Upgraded & Sailing!
Published Saturday, August 7th 2021 - Updated Saturday, August 23rd 2025In July of 2021, ships began to slowly allow passengers aboard for test cruises. As agents we felt it was important to be a part of this, so that we could more accurately describe the conditions aboard the ships as they returned to service.
- Lots of sanitizer everywhere
- Reminders to wash your hands as you might expect
- Constant cleaning on public areas and frequently touched surfaces
- Changes to dining, such as staff serving you at the buffet (we personally like this)
The ship has been updated and has some new amenities, like the Lime and Coconut, and an updated splash water park area for kids, the Perfect Storm water slide, laser tag, and upgrade to Izumi to include a teppanyaki grill, El Loco Fresh and more. The staff and service were wonderful as usual and were very happy to see guests returning to the seas.
We stopped for a port day in Coco Cay and while we had been there, we had not returned since the reopening. We loved it. Perhaps it was the pent-up desire to pamper ourselves after all the Covid quarantining, but we decided to rent one of the over the water cabanas at the Coco Cay Beach Club. One word. SPECTACULAR.
From the views to the butler service and pampering, to the filet mignon and lobster lunch we certainly didn't want to leave. Each of these style Cabanas accommodates up to 8 guests so they are perfect for a group. They are pricy by themselves and for a couple of people may seem steep, but for a family or a small group they are ideal.