Inside Royal Caribbean's revamped Freedom of the Seas
Industry giant Royal Caribbean recently unveiled some major changes to an icon of its 22-ship fleet, the 3,782-passenger Freedom of the Seas.
As can be seen in our latest Cruise Ship Tour, in the carousel above, the nine-year-old vessel now boasts 67 additional cabins, a new Royal Babies & Tots nursery for children under three years of age, a new outdoor poolside movie screen and a new 3D movie theater.
Also new on the 154,407-ton ship is a retro-chic nightspot called the R bar and new specialty dining options including Sabor, a modern Mexican restaurant; Chops Grille: The New American Steakhouse; and Giovanni's Table, which serves Italian favorites, family style.
Originally unveiled in 2006, Freedom of the Seas was the world's largest cruise ship until the late 2009 debut of Royal Caribbean's 225,282-ton Oasis of the Seas, and it remains one of the biggest megaresorts at sea (only four other cruise vessels are bigger). It was the first cruise ship ever built with a surfing pool and also introduced such concepts as whirlpools cantilevered over the side of a vessel to the cruise industry. At the time of its launch, it also was the first cruise ship with a Ben & Jerry's ice cream parlor.
The changes to Freedom of the Seas were made during a 24-day dry dock in January at the Grand Bahama Shipyard.
Designed as a research tool for vacationers considering a voyage, the Freedom of the Seas photo tour is the 120th in our ongoing series of ship galleries. For previous photo tours, click on the links below.
Click HERE to see the Freedom of the Seas photos above in larger format.
Alaska Marine Highway System (ferries):Kennicott
Alaskan Dream Cruises:Admiralty Dream
American Cruise Lines:Queen of the Mississippi
American Queen Steamboat Company: American Queen; American Empress
Azamara Club Cruises:Azamara Journey; Azamara Quest
Avalon Waterways:Avalon Panorama; Avalon Expression; Avalon Angkor
Celebrity Cruises:Celebrity Eclipse; Celebrity Constellation; Celebrity Century; Celebrity Reflection; Celebrity Solstice;Celebrity Silhouette
Carnival Cruise Lines:Carnival Magic; Carnival Breeze; Carnival Sunshine; Carnival Breeze, Magic compared; Carnival Destiny; Carnival Ecstasy; Carnival Splendor; Carnival Inspiration; Carnival Liberty; Carnival Valor; Carnival Dream; Carnival Imagination; early icons of the Carnival fleet
Celebration Cruise Line:Bahamas Celebration (out of service)
Costa Cruises:Costa Favolosa; Costa Deliziosa
Cruise & Maritime Voyages:Marco Polo; Discovery
Crystal Cruises:Crystal Symphony
Cunard Line:Queen Mary 2; Queen Elizabeth; Queen Victoria; Queen Mary (retired)
Disney Cruise Line:Disney Wonder; Disney Fantasy and Dream compared; Disney Fantasy; Disney Dream
Emerald Waterways:Emerald Sky
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines:Braemar
Hapag-Lloyd:Europa; Europa 2
Holland America Line:Nieuw Amsterdam; Westerdam; Eurodam; Oosterdam; Statendam; Veendam
Hurtigruten:Midnatsol; Lofoten
Lindblad Expeditions:National Geographic Sea Lion
Louis Cruises:Louis Majesty; Louis Olympia; Orient Queen; Cristal
MSC Cruises:MSC Fantasia; MSC Divina; MSC Preziosa
Norwegian Cruise Line:Norwegian Jade; Norwegian Breakaway; Norwegian Sky; Norwegian Epic; Norwegian Gem;Norwegian Getaway
Oceania Cruises:Riviera; Marina
Paul Gauguin Cruises:Paul Gauguin
Ponant:Le Boreal; Le Soleal
Princess Cruises:Ruby Princess; Crown Princess; Grand Princess; Emerald Princess; last look at the 'Love Boat'; Royal Princess under construction; Royal Princess; Sapphire Princess; Regal Princess; Diamond Princess
Regent Seven Seas Cruises:Seven Seas Mariner (after 2014 makeover); Seven Seas Mariner (before 2014 makeover)
Royal Caribbean International:Oasis of the Seas; Voyager of the Seas; Grandeur of the Seas; Jewel of the Seas; Allure of the Seas; Quantum of the Seas
Scenic Cruises:Scenic Gem
Seabourn Cruise Line:Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Odyssey; Seabourn Quest
SeaDream Yacht Club:SeaDream I
Silversea:Silver Spirit; Silver Shadow; Silver Galapagos; Silver Cloud
Star Clippers:Star Flyer
Un-Cruise Adventures:Safari Explorer; Safari Endeavour (in Mexico's Sea of Cortes); Safari Endeavour (in Alaska); Wilderness Discoverer; S.S. Legacy
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection:S.S. Catherine
Vantage Deluxe World Travel:River Discovery II; River Splendor
Viking River Cruises:Viking Odin; Viking Bragi; Viking Heimdal
Voyages to Antiquity:Aegean Odyssey
Windstar Cruises:Wind Surf; Wind Star; Wind Spirit; Star Pride
Yachts available by charter:Christina O
Retired ocean liners:United States
Theme galleries:The seven most spectacular suites at sea; the last of the great ocean liners