Cruise Spotlight
Helping you find cruise ships you'll love
Celebrity Eclipse vs Carnival Freedom
The Celebrity Eclipse was built in 2010. It was renovated in 2025. It's 3 years newer than the Freedom, which was built in 2007 and renovated in 2023.
Comparison Overview
- Ship Size
- Number of Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Ship Size
The Eclipse is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,040 feet long and 121 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.9 football fields, as wide as 2.3 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 13-story building. Compared to the Carnival Freedom, the Eclipse is 11% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Celebrity Eclipse holds about the same number of passengers as the Freedom based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Eclipse has more space per person compared to the Freedom. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.
| Celebrity Eclipse | Carnival Freedom | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Solstice | Conquest |
| Gross Tonnage | 122,000 | 110,000 |
| Length | 1,040 | 952 |
| Beam/Width | 121 | 116 |
| Passenger Decks | 13 | 13 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 2,850 | 2,980 |
| Crew | 1,286 | 1,150 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.2 | 2.6 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 43 | 37 |
Food and Restaurants
Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.
The Eclipse has ten different dining options like AquaSpa Cafe, Le Petit Chef at Qsine, and Oceanview Cafe. Of those options, nine are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other six options have an additional fee.
The Freedom has three more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Blue Iguana Cantina, Mongolian Wok, and Carnival Deli. thirteen of these restaurants are complementary and the other five have an additional fee.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Freedom might be a better choice. It has 30% more dining options than the Eclipse.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Freedom might be a better choice then the Eclipse. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Celebrity Eclipse | Carnival Freedom | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 10 | 13 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 9 | 13 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 6 | 5 |
| % of Included Options | 40% | 62% |
| See the options | See the options |
Bars and Drinks
The Celebrity Eclipse has 3 more bars than the Carnival Freedom. The Eclipse has 16 bars like Cafe al Bacio, Michael's Club and Passport Bar. On Eclipse, you can grab a drink at 13 different bars such as BlueIguana Tequila Bar, International Aft Lounge and RedFrog Rum Bar.
| Celebrity Eclipse | Carnival Freedom |
|---|---|
| •Cafe al Bacio • Casino Bar • Cellar Masters • Ensemble Lounge • Il Secondo Bacio • Martini Bar • Mast Bar • Michael's Club • Oceanview Bar • Passport Bar • Pool Bar • Quasar • Sky Observation Lounge • Sunset bar • The Whiskey and Cigar House • World Class Bar | •70's Night Club • Alchemy Bar • Atrium Bar • BlueIguana Tequila Bar • Casino Bar • Endless Bar • Habana Bar • Heroes Tribute Bar • International Aft Lounge • Java Blue Cafe • RedFrog Rum Bar • Scott's Piano Bar • Swingtime Bar |
In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. The Eclipse serves Coca Cola branded products. That includes drinks like Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. The Freedom serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew.
You can check out recent the bar menus for the Eclipse and the Freedom below.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Celebrity Eclipse has a total of 3 pools and 6 hot tubs.
Carnival Freedom has fewer pools than the Eclipse and fewer hot tubs.
Tired of loud kids and splashing? One of the pools and two of the hot tubs are adults only on Eclipse.| Celebrity Eclipse | Carnival Freedom | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 3 | 2 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 1 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | 0 | |
| Total Hot Tubs | 6 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 4 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 0 |
Ship Features and Activities
Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. You might up paying more while on board the Eclipse. Only 67% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Freedom, 73% of the activities are included at no additional cost.
| Celebrity Eclipse | Carnival Freedom | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✗ | ✓ |
| Arcade | ✗ | ✓ |
| Basketball | ✗ | ✓ |
| Beyond the Podium Talk Series | ✓ | ✗ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Comedy Club | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dr Seuss Breakfast | ✗ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lawn Club | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mini golf | ✗ | ✓ |
| Outdoor movies | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Splash park | ✗ | ✓ |
| Thermal Suites | ✓ | ✗ |
| Water slides | ✗ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Celebrity is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.
Carnival, on the other hand, is considered a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.
Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit the cruise line's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.
Onboard Costs
Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.
Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.
The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.
| Celebrity Eclipse | Carnival Freedom | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $18.00 | $16.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 20% | 18% |
| Soda Price | $4.00 | $3.00 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.00 See drink menus | $8.75 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $55 - $99 Learn more | $83 - $88 Learn more |
| Internet Plan | $19 to $30 per device per day | $18.70 to $23.80 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
Celebrity Cruise Lines offers an "All Included" program. Guests who book a cruise using this promotion will have wifi and alcohol included. Some sailings are available without this program so pay attention when booking. Typically prices are lower if they don't include "Always Included." The wifi and alcohol package are the base levels and can be upgraded for an additional cost.
Want to Stay Up-To-Date on All Things Cruising?
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
Articles Related the These Ships
About Cruise Spotlight
Founded in 2020, Cruise Spotlight's goal is to help people understand every aspect of cruising. Plenty of sites focus on the perfect Instagram pictures and marketing fluff. We focus on what really matters: onboard expenses, tips for cruise ships, detailed cruise reviews, and more. Our goal is to provide helpful, unbiased information to new and established cruisers. Over the years, we've helped millions of people get the most from their cruise vacation.
Learn more about Cruise Spotlight.