EMBARKATION: Embarkation was relatively smooth. A benefit to taking the shuttle is that they check your luggage onto the ship for you, which helps speed up the process. Our luggage was delivered to our cabin remarkably early, but I have no idea whether or not that was influenced by the bags being checked by the shuttle service.
THE SHIP: Being fans of the Voyager Class, the Freedom was easy to maneuver. It is laid out nearly the same, so it quickly became familiar.
TOWELS: I had read that Freedom placed no pool towels in the cabins, as on other ships. We had pool towels in our cabin upon arrival and our room steward exchanged them nightly for clean ones.
If you don't mind being low in the ship, the center ship/deck 2 is great. We book there to save money, but also because it's quiet. I've been under the casual dining area before and it could be noisy.
Bathroom dark? The light switch is OUTSIDE the room and BEHIND the door. Whose idea was that???