Just got back from the RC 'Freedom Of The Seas',a seven night cruise,it was a wonderful experience.This was my sixth cruise,second with RC,and I had my daughter with me,her fourth cruise and first with RC.The ship was indeed large,however I must say that it did not dwarf the Carnival 'Valor' which was next to us the entire cruise,a ship I was on last year.It was a first for me to experience the rock climbing wall,the ice skating on ship and the flowrider,it was a thrill for my daughter.It was nice to have the 9 hole mini golf course,we enjoyed that and it offers something for those who want something not so physical.Also available were a ping pong table on top and shuffle boards on deck four outside.One thing that stands out is that this ship has divided the pool deck in three sections for sun bathing and swimming:children,family(all),and adults,this is an excellent concept I thought.And despite the huge ship and many passengers there was always a lounge chair available somewhere on deck,perhaps not next to the pool but nonetheless available.There were plenty of servers on deck for your beverage desires so no need for concern if that is an issue.They had a band playing Jamaican music,that put the spirit in the air.This was the first ship I have been on where you can go to the front point of the ship as was in the move 'Titanic'.The cabin was appropriate in size,we had an inside cabin,it was clean at all times so the cabin service was up to expectation.For breakfast and lunch we always ate in the Windjammer(buffet)on deck 11.I like the fact they had wipes for your hands as you entered the dining area for cleanliness and to counter the norwalk virus,however although we always used them not everybody did.On Norwegian they had hand gel which you had to use before entering the buffet,this I think is one better.The food was very good,I enjoyed it very much.However(I don't want this to sound like a complaint because it is not)if I were to compare it to Carnival I would have to say Carnival is one step better.Carnival had different sections in addition to their buffet:fish and chips,deli,oriental,even a sushi bar.With that said,do not let this deter you,there was plenty of food selections and it was delicious.I do wish however that RC and Norwegian would use trays as Carnival does,you have to do a balancing act with your silverware,plate of food and drink.For dessert you had to go back,with two hands you could only carry so much.The dining room at night was a wonderful experience.We had the early seating,we were always greeted with a smile,had the chairs pushed in for us and cloth napkins placed on our laps.The service,food and cocktails were equal to Carnival so there was no difference there.This is where Norwegian failed in my eyes,with the 'freestyling' they boast about we had a different waiter every night,they did not know us nor cared,they cannot compete to Carnival and RC.The 'Freedom' did offer pizza and a few other small items throughout the night,I think they could offer more as Carnival does but after eating all day don't make this an issue.One thing they do have that the others don't is Johnny Rocket's and Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream,that was a nice addition.We enjoyed the lounges in the evening,it was nice to relax,have a cocktail,listen to music or musicians,especially after a busy day.The shows on this ship were wonderful as was the ice show,a treat you cannot get on any other cruise line.As always they have activities all day long as does Carnival and Norwegian so they are equal there.We did two excursions,the blue helmet dive in St. Thomas and the butterfly farm/beach in St.Maarten.The blue helmet dive was quite an experience,not so much the scenery but the experience to breath underwater with only a helmet took a little adjusting but fun I must say.The butterfly excursion was a nice slow alternative and the beach was beautiful,ocean like bathwater and pretty decent waves which I did not expect.In Puerto Rico we went off on our own as did many passengers and this is what I suggest.There is a large fortress where the Spanish-American War was started,it is in walking distance from the port,no directions are needed because you can see it from the ship.The price was inexpensive too,$3 for me and free for my daughter who is 13.We spent 2 nights in the Port of Miami where we sailed and that was a nice prelude to our cruise.You can do it before or after the cruise(for those with late flights),we did the air boat ride in the Everglades,another treat for us.I think if there is anything negative I can say about our cruise was the gratuities.You could either pay with your sail and sign card(after filling out a form and dropping it off on deck 5)or you could put money in an envelope.If you prepaid then you got vouchers and instead of putting money in an envelope you put the voucher inside then gave it to the appropriate server,four total(cabin steward,head waiter,assistant waiter,and waiter).Why they don't do it like Carnival I do not understand,it is all prepaid,no paperwork,no vouchers,no envelopes,no problems,no time wasted and if you wanted to adjust your gratuity then just go to the desk.Oh well,maybe I will write RC a letter.The 'Freedom' is a great ship and I highly recommend it,anyone who does not enjoy themselves then it is their own fault.Have a nice cruise!