This cruise was my annual mother/daughter cruise with my 25 year old daughter. We choose the Freedom because of the itinerary. We live in Central Florida and went down to Ft. Lauderdale the day prior to the cruise. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn and with the room, we were able to leave our car at the hotel and received free transportation to and from the port. I was very glad they offered this because as usual the parking at this port was a nightmare.

We did check in rather fast as we are VIP members. Our room was a suite on the seventh floor and quite comfortable and our room steward was great. Being I am Diamond, the housekeeping staff went above and beyond and the supervisors stopped by several times to make sure our room was in good order. Being Diamond, the hotel staff, bartenders, casino, wait staff treated me excellent. However, the purser's desk was another story. They were among the rudest bunch of people I have ever encountered on the high seas. However, I did notice that they bent over backwards to accommodate first and second time cruisers. Odd as they did not extend the same courtesy to myself as a Diamond member or Platinum members.

The fellow passengers were the rudest and lowest of the low I have ever cruised with. Manners did no exist in the least. Buffet line was a nightmare and included people putting their hands in food and touching. Dress code was whatever you wanted in the Lido Buffet including bathing suits, bare feet and men with no tops on.I was appalled at the outfits in the dining room. Worst yet, was going to the steakhouse and being subjected to people dressed in jeans, flip flops, visors. This is supposed to be a five star experience. NOT. Add to it, the people who had a screaming infant and another couple with an out of control toddler who actually sat on the bar. Sadly, the staff was catering to this crowd. Other passengers left and complained to the purser. One couple who was only gold did get a meeting with the Hotel Director and reimbursed. I, however, was not given the courtesy of either a meeting with the head of Guest Relations or the Purser. Evidently they were in an emergency meeting for 72 hours but oddly, the Director had time to meet with a Gold couple. Interesting?I was told by one purser too bad, it was for free. This was my ONLY comp as a Diamond member, a one time free dinner at the steakhouse. I told the rude woman NO, it was not free. I cruised 33 times with Carnival so I earned one lousy dinner and it should have been nice. Only due to the persistence of a wonderful maitre'd, Chubby, did I get another steak dinner. This man was an original Carnival man from years gone by where service was great. He could not believe that no one cared in Guest Relations. Read more