We typically sail out of Galveston for convenience. We had not been to Key West or the Bahamas so this sailing worked perfect. Embarkation was smooth ... disembarkation needs some improvement. The ship was beautiful. Dining staff (Letty, Ron and Jan) were excellent. The Steakhouse was well worth the $35 pp charge. Entertainment was good with the exception of just one of several comedians. We ran out of time to get to all the shows. Service on board was excellent as I never was hungry or thirsty. The ports were average as were the shore excursions but that really didn't have much to do with Carnival. FYI, don't go to Key West for the beaches. There were fewer children on this trip than most and most were well behaved and supervised. We encountered only two in the aft pool area that were discourteous to other passengers and the ship itself. The ship did not feel over-crowded. We were always able to find a place to sit and watch a show or relax on board. We would definitely go aboard the Freedom another time.