In less than 24 hours Royal Caribbean managed to fit millions of dollars worth of new goodies onboard the world’s former largest ship, Freedom of the Seas.
The ship emerged from a 24-hour dry dock at the Grand Bahama Shipyard earlier this month as the first Freedom-class vessel to undergo Royal Caribbean’s ship revitalisation program that commenced in 2011.
It’s the same revitalisation program that saw the Surf Simulator introduced on Australia’s popular Voyager of the Seas. And on Oasis of the Seas (the world’s current largest ship along with Allure of the Seas) revitalisation meant removing the single dining room in favour of ‘Dynamic Dining’ – a multi-option form of dining where guests can choose from three different venues.
So how has the revitalisation changed the world’s former largest cruise ship Freedom of the Seas?
Freedom of the Seas can now carry more passengers in additional cabins.
Well first off, the ship can now handle more passengers. Good news for anyone wanting to get onboard last minute, because the vessel can now cater to 4,515 passengers – up from 4,375.
Among the new staterooms is a new category of Panoramic Ocean View staterooms located atop the front of the ship. Panoramic Ocean View staterooms feature a floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall window to offer guests expansive, unobstructed vistas of ports and the sea.
Premium dining options onboard were also revamped, with Chops steakhouse receiving a new look and a new menu; Italian restaurant Portofino was replaced with Giovanni’s Table; and a new dining Mexican dining venue was introduced.
New to the ship is Sabor’s – a Mexican restaurant.
Sabor’s Modern Mexican replaced the former two-floor nightclub ‘The Crypt’.
The restaurant is already available on a number of ships, including Navigator of the Seas and serves a contemporary twist on traditional Mexican dishes. For example there’s salsa, tacos, guacamole and a variety of margaritas.
The Champagne Bar was removed and replaced with R Bar – a 60s-era venue. The same change was made on Voyager of the Seas last year.
The R Bar was added in place of the Champagne Bar.
The rest of the vessel received a minor makeover, including the replacement of mattresses and furnishings.
Freedom of the Seas is currently sailing from Port Canaveral on seven-night Caribbean roundtrip itineraries.
Guests can choose an Eastern Caribbean adventure, which calls at St. Thomas, St. Maarten and CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private tropical island in The Bahamas.
On a Western Caribbean sailing, guests call at Falmouth, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico and Labadee – Royal Caribbean’s private beach paradise in northern Haiti.
Meanwhile, earlier this month Royal Caribbean commenced construction on the line’s fourth Oasis-class ship.
The unnamed vessel will be the sister ship to Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and a third vessel also currently in construction.