Freedom Of The Seas

The 2006-built Freedom of the Seas cruise ship is the first Freedom-class Royal Caribbean liner, with sisterships Liberty OTS and Independence OTS.

The vessel (IMO number 9304033) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 309906000) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

Royal Caribbean International (RCI) is a US passenger shipping company, trademarked travel brand, and subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group (RCG/shipowner). RCI was established in 1968 and currently holds over one-fifth of the worldwide cruise market. RCI also has RCG's largest fleet by both vessel count and GT tonnage (ship sizes and capacities).

All RCI liners have names ending with "of the Seas".

The 4,000-passenger Freedom OTS debuted in May 2006 as the world's biggest cruise liner. She introduced a new class for Royal Caribbean, surpassing Cunard's Queen Mary 2 by 7,000 GT and carrying 1,014 more passengers. Beyond her size, Freedom of the Seas also broke ground by being the first to feature a surf simulator, a regulation-size boxing ring, an interactive water park for children, and even a barbershop.

In many ways, Freedom OTS was an evolution of the Voyager class, which made its own headlines with biggest-at-sea status in 1999. The design is similar, and the Royal Promenade returns, as do the rock-climbing wall, ice-skating rink, Johnny Rockets, Promenade Cafe, Ben & Jerry's, and more. It is as if Voyager OTS was super-sized and enhanced with innovative spaces and concepts.

Decks and Cabins

Freedom of the Seas staterooms (2,012 total) include 127 Suites, 768 Balcony, 711 Oceanview, 168 Promenade View, and 642 Inside. Most cabins are 150–190 ft2 (14–18 m2). Most balconies are ~65 ft2 (6 m2). The largest accommodation is the Royal Suite (1,360 ft2 / 126 m2 plus a 315 ft2 / 29 m2 terrace). Wheelchair-accessible cabins total 33.

The ship has 15 decks, of which 14 are passenger-accessible and 9 have cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The three-deck Main Dining Room (Leonardo–Isaac–Galileo) offers assigned-seating dining with two sittings at 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., as well as My Time Dining, in which guests choose a preferred mealtime between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., with the flexibility to change reservations daily. Guests opting for My Time Dining must prepay gratuities.

The Windjammer Cafe/lido buffet offers flexibility and variety—ideal for families with kids. Windjammer features a long self-service line of cold and hot items, plus stations for salads, fresh sandwiches, pizza, carved meats, and petite desserts. An omelet station provides made-to-order eggs in the mornings; in the afternoons, guests can try the Jade area, which specializes in Asian cuisine and rotates dishes, including Vietnamese and Indonesian specialties.

Follows the complete list of Freedom of the Seas restaurants and food bars.

• Leonardo Restaurant (883-seat aft Dining Room)
• Isaac Restaurant (500-seat aft Dining Room)
• Galileo Restaurant (652-seat aft Dining Room)
• Windjammer Cafe lido buffet (744-seat; Early Breakfast from 6:30 a.m., Breakfast 7:00–11:30 a.m., Lunch 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., Dinner 6:30–9:00 p.m.)
• Chops Grille (104-seat specialty restaurant; reservations recommended)
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen (specialty restaurant and wine bar; reservations recommended), popular for hand-tossed, electric oven–baked pizzas and specialties like Holy Cheesus (7-cheese pizza), Muffuletta-Style Grilled Stuffed Flank Steak, and Chocolate Ravioli
• Izumi (Asian/Japanese specialty restaurant)
• Johnny Rockets (84-seat burger venue)
• El Loco Fresh (fast-casual Mexican for made-to-order tacos, burritos, quesadillas, salads, salsas)
• Sorrento's Pizzeria (79-seat complimentary restaurant)
• WipeOut Bar (20-seat complimentary burger bar)

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The tone aboard Freedom of the Seas is set by the Centrum, the social heart of the ship and a hub for daily activities. In the evenings, its Lobby Bar becomes the hottest spot for after-dinner dancing. The lavish Arcadia Theater hosts production shows and games. The ship has a modern feel and incorporates Royal Caribbean signatures. Guests will find classics like Schooner Bar and Windjammer Cafe, as well as a climbing wall up to the smokestack, mini-golf, and a surf simulator.

Additional amenities include complimentary 24-hour room service, a supervised youth program, Internet/Wi-Fi access, and laundry.

Follows the complete list of Freedom of the Seas lounges, clubs, and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Arcadia Theater (1,320-seat; grand production shows with dance, acrobatics, comedy, and games)
• Studio B Lounge (indoor ice-skating rink; also used for ice shows, cooking demos, and game parties)
• Focus Photo Gallery and Shop; Art Gallery
• On Air Club (140-seat karaoke and sports bar); The Centrum (seven-deck social hub with aerial acrobatics); Observation Lounge; Star Lounge; Next Cruise Lounge; Concierge Club (suite and past guests only); Seven Hearts (33-seat card room); Crown Lounge (fka Diamond Club Lounge & Bar for past guests only); Viking Crown Lounge and Bar
• Schooner Bar (112-seat piano bar); Boleros Lounge and Bar (77-seat Latin bar); Connoisseur Cigar Club and Bar; Bull and Bear English Pub; Ben & Jerry's Bar (ice cream parlor); Cupcake Cupboard Shop (bakery); Cafe Promenade (24-hour; snacks and drinks, plus Starbucks specialty coffee); R Bar; Squeeze Bar; Sky Bar; The Plaza Bar; Olive or Twist Lounge and Martini Bar; Cloud 9 (24-seat sports bar)
• Casino Royale (447-seat)
• Royal Caribbean Online Center (24-hour Internet computers room)
• Royal Promenade Boutiques (perfumes, jewelry, duty-free alcohol, general store, logo/souvenirs); SeaTrek (diving equipment shop)
• Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center; 7 jacuzzis (2 cantilevered); 3 swimming pools
• Solarium lounge (includes cafe bar, pool bar, and adults-only pool area)
• Outdoor movie screen
• Challengers Video Games Arcade; Fuel Teen Disco; The Living Room; Royal Babies and Tots Nursery
• H2O Zone Water Park; Adventure Beach; Adventure Ocean kids lounge area
• Sports Court (golf simulator, table tennis, basketball court); Jogging Track; Rock-Climbing Wall; Freedom Fairways Mini-Golf Course; FlowRider (surf simulator, complimentary)
• Skylight Wedding Chapel (40-seat; also used for religious services)

During drydock 2020 (January–March), Freedom OTS received The Perfect Storm (dual-racing waterslide complex) positioned aft on Deck 13 (between the FlowRider and the Sports Court).

During drydock 2025 (January), Vintages (the wine bar) was replaced with Casino Royale Non-Smoking (on Deck 5, above Casino Royale).

The Perfect Storm is complimentary and includes two racer slides (“Cyclone” and “Typhoon”). Both spiraling slides are positioned portside and accessed via a three-deck-high, glass-enclosed swirling staircase. There are no age restrictions, but height and weight requirements apply—minimum 48 inches (122 cm) and maximum 300 lbs (136 kg).

Itineraries

Freedom of the Seas’ itinerary program is based on mini-cruises (3-night and 4-night) from homeport Miami, Florida, to the Bahamas (Nassau and CocoCay). In May 2018, the ship was repositioned from Florida (Fort Lauderdale) to Puerto Rico, homeporting in San Juan between May 2018 and March 2019.

Following the Coronavirus crisis, in 2021 (July through October) Freedom OTS had scheduled cruises to Bermuda (overnight in Kings Wharf) leaving roundtrip from NYC New York (Port Cape Liberty NJ).

Freedom is Royal Caribbean's first Freedom-class liner, with sisterships Independence and Liberty. She was built in 2006 at Aker Finnyards Shipyard (Turku, Finland). Aker Finnyards was later acquired by STX Europe (a subsidiary of the multinational STX Holding, South Korea). Freedom OTS became the world's largest passenger liner in 2006, taking the title from Cunard Line's RMS Queen Mary 2.

The ship's godmother was Katherine Louise Calder, who won a contest among 171,000 viewers of the "Today" show (USA), focused on charity and social responsibility. Katherine, a foster mother to more than 400 children, christened the vessel at the naming ceremony held in New York Harbour on May 12, 2006. The inaugural cruise departed on May 19 with a weekend mini-cruise from NYC to Boston MA.

In 2022, RCI scheduled Freedom OTS to host the 10th "Monsters of Rock Cruise 2022" (MORC 2022). The 5-night Caribbean voyage (February 9-14) was a PortMiami roundtrip visiting the Bahamas (Coco Cay) and Haiti (Labadee).

• The music-themed cruise featured live performances by Alice Cooper (1948-born American singer, songwriter, and actor) and more than 35 other artists.
• MORC 2022's lineup included rock and metal bands such as Queensryche, Cinderella (Tom Keifer), Skid Row, Lit, LA Guns, HEAT, Kix, Winger, Great White, Loudness, Y&T (Yesterday & Today), Vixen, Rose Tattoo, Black 'N Blue, Lillian Axe, Faster Pussycat, Dangerous Toys, Beasto Blanco, Little Caesar, XYZ, Roxanne, Signal 13, as well as KiLLeR DWaRfS (Canada), Pink Cream 69 (Germany), Eclipse (Sweden), Electric Boys (Sweden), Crazy Lixx (Sweden), and Firewind (Greece).
• Solo performers included Mike Monroe (Finland), Patrick Henry Travers, Christopher John Holmes, Joel Hoekstra (guitarist), and John Corabi (MORC's Mayor).

Planned onboard interactive events included Q&A sessions, Gong Show Karaoke, Cooking and Painting With Rock Stars, Rock Stars vs Average Joe Basketball, Beach Volleyball, and themed nights.

Freedom OTS refurbishment 2020 review

The ship’s most recent drydocking was in January 2025 (Jan 16–Feb 6) at Navantia Shipyard, Cadiz. The project included routine maintenance, classification works, machinery overhaul, hull cleaning/repainting, and general hotel upgrades. During the 3-week refit, the Vintages wine bar was replaced with Casino Royale Non-Smoking (Deck 5, above the main Casino Royale).

The 2020 drydock refurbishment (Jan 12–Mar 7) was a USD 116 million "Royal Amplified" project with the following deck plan changes:

• (Deck 2) Conference Center replaced by 25 Inside cabins
• (Deck 3) Arcadia Theatre renamed "Royal Theater"
• (Deck 3) Leonardo Dining Room renamed "Main Dining Room"
• (Deck 3) On Air Club replaced with 12 Inside cabins
• (Deck 4) SABOR (Mexican restaurant) replaced by "Izumi Hibachi and Sushi" (Japanese restaurant)
• (Deck 4) Focus (photo gallery) redesigned into "Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade"
• (Deck 4) Isaak Dining Room renamed "Main Dining Room"
• (Deck 6) Loyalty Desk replaced with 4 Inside cabins. The aft VS-Suite (4-Bedroom Presidential Family Suite, cabin 6714) replaced with 4 Balcony cabins
• (Deck 13) Waterslides "Cyclone" and "Typhoon" (Perfect Storm aqua park) were added next to the FlowRider surfing simulator (also a new facility)
• (Deck 12 aft) "Splashaway Bay" kids aqua park was added, replacing the former Outdoor Youth Area ("back deck")
• (Deck 11) Pool areas received more shaded seating, including daybeds, hammocks, swing seats, and casitas (small wooden cabins). The fore-located Solarium (adults-only area) was fully refurbished.
• All staterooms were upgraded. Many public venues were redesigned and renovated.

Following the refit, the liner introduced several new facilities:

• In addition to "Perfect Storm," two more waterslides were added: the water coaster "The Blaster" (244 m/800 ft, the longest at sea 2-person raft slide) and the headfirst mat racing slide "Riptide" with a transparent tube. Both names were trademarked by RCI in September 2018.
• "To Dry For" – a new blow-dry bar specializing in quick hairstyling and also serving champagne and wines by the glass.

Other new venues and activities include:

• Lime and Coconut (2-level bar lounge with live music)
• Bamboo Room (bar lounge)
• Johnny Rockets Express
• Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade (with "Owner's Box" VIP room)
• Starbucks Bar (specialty drinks and pastries)
• New restaurants: El Loco Fresh, Giovanni’s Italian, Izumi
• The Observatorium (Royal Escape Room)
• Battle for Planet Z (laser tag at Studio B) with the "Clash for the Crystal City" experience
• Redesigned Mini-Golf Course and Chops Grille (steakhouse)
• Upgraded Adventure Ocean (youth complex) and Social033 Hangout (formerly Living Room, teen lounge)

Freedom OTS refurbishment 2015 review

The January 2015 drydock brought the following upgrades:

• All accommodations were renovated.
• Cupcake Cupboard (bakery) was added on Promenade Deck 5.
• "DreamWorks Experience" (Walt Disney-themed entertainment program) was introduced.
• The RCI Nursery was added on Deck 12.
• A 3D Cinema was added on Deck 2.
• On Decks 3 and 4, "The Crypt" nightclub was replaced by new Inside cabins (Deck 3) and Sabor Mexican Restaurant (Deck 4/upper level).
• On Lido Deck 11 (main pool area), a large outdoor movie screen was installed.
• Vintages (wine bar) was upgraded.
• BRITTO Art Gallery was added on Promenade Deck 5.
• R-Bar (1960s-themed lounge) was added on Promenade Deck 5.
• Two restaurants were added: "Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen" (Deck 11) and "Sabor Modern Mexican" (Deck 4).

A cluster of 44 new Spa cabins was added on Deck 12 forward, in categories Q-Interior, Spa Oceanview (PF-Family Panoramic, P1-Larger, P2-Panoramic), and E3-Spa Balcony.