Wow! Just got back from the Freedom of the Seas and my one and only complaint is....now I'm so spoiled that no other ship will compare!! We flew into Miami around lunchtime and took a quick 10 min cab ride to the port. Don't bother with the transfers unless your traveling with a large crowd that cannot fit into a cab. It was just us and our two teens, and we got there faster and cheaper than if we took the RCI bus. Getting on the ship was quick and hassle free. Don't let the long line bother you, it moves fast and RCI does its best to get everyone on board quickly and efficiently. Do have your online SEAPASS printed out and signed. It does help speed up the process. We were able to go and drop off our carry-on bags in our room before heading up to Windjammers for lunch. This is our second cruise on RCI (Our first was on Navigator..also excellent) and those who are familiar with the Voyager Class of ships from RCI will feel right at home onboard Freedom.
The layout is almost exactly the same, with some additions that are most obvious on the Promenade and on the top deck (11) by the pools. The ship is finely decorated with a nod to modern art, which can be found in the halls, stairwells and most public areas. Even the new H2O zone (not found on Voyager Class ships) is occupied by huge brightly colored sculptures which are reminiscent of Miro or Dali. The much anticipated flowrider occupies the back of the ship. My son got a chance to try it a few times although he did say the wait was fairly long depending on the time of day. It's still a lot of fun just to go and watch. Girls should beware, however, and be sure to bring board shorts if they want to attempt this in a bikini. The cantilevering hot tubs were spacious and a perfect place to go after the shows and dancing, when your winding down for the evening. Even with 4,000 people on board, we were almost always able to get a deck chair either just above the pool (on the deck overlooking) or, if we were early (or late) we could get lucky and find a couple pool side. The Promenade boasted a few extra shops, including a bookshop (where I got an appropriate poolside book "As Told at the Explorer's Club") and a sport shop with workout wear and accessories. The Promenade was also a little wider with more "elbow room" truly giving you the feeling of walking down a street in the middle of the ship. The Cafe was there with a "Starbucks like" Expresso bar featuring Seattle's Best. Regular coffee was also available at the self serve bar. The 3 level dining rooms were beautifully decorated, and the room we had was spacious enough for our needs.
We booked rooms 9401 and 9396, one with a balcony for us, and a connecting "interior type" room for the kids. This worked well because I wanted to hear them when they came in (the major problem with booking teens across the hall, is you never know what they're doing)It also gave us access to two bathrooms and two closets. The beds were sooooo comfortable that I fell asleep the moment I hit the pillow, and slept soundly through until morning (something I don't do at home) I'm ready to write RCI and ask them where they got those beds!!!