Freedom of the Seas vs Quantum of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas was built in 2006. It was renovated in 2020. It's 8 years older than the Quantum of the Seas, which was built in 2014.

Comparison Overview

Ship Size

The Freedom of the Seas is considered a large size ship. Coming in at 1,112 feet long and 185 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 3.1 football fields, as wide as 3.5 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 14-story building. Compared to the Royal Caribbean Quantum of the Seas, the Freedom of the Seas is 7% smaller in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas holds about the same number of passengers as the Quantum of the Seas based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or tons of ship compared to number of passengers, the Freedom of the Seas has the same amount of space per person as the Quantum of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean
Freedom of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Quantum of the Seas
ClassFreedomQuantum
Gross Tonnage156,271168,666
Length1,1121,141
Beam/Width185136
Passenger Decks1414
Passengers (double occupancy)3,9344,180
Crew1,4471,500
Passenger to Crew Ratio2.72.8
Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)4040


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 Freedom of the Seas has 19 different dining options like Johnny Rockets, Playmakers, and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar. Of those options, 10 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 9 options have an additional fee.

The Quantum of the Seas has 2 more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Vintages Wine Bar, Chef's Table, and Windjammer. 13 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 8 have an additional fee.

The Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas has about the same number of dining options as the Royal Caribbean Quantum of the Seas.

If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Quantum of the Seas might be a better choice then the Freedom of the Seas. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.

Restaurants on Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas & Quantum of the Seas

Royal Caribbean
Freedom of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Quantum of the Seas
Cafe PromenadeLearn More
Chef's TableLearn More
Chops GrilleLearn More
Coastal KitchenLearn More
Cupcake Cupboard
Dog HouseLearn More
El Loco FreshLearn More
Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine BarLearn More
Ice Cream Parlor
IzumiLearn More
Izumi Hibachi & SushiLearn More
Jamie's ItalianLearn More
Johnny RocketsLearn More
La PatisserieLearn More
Main Dining RoomLearn More
PlaymakersLearn More
Solarium BistroLearn More
Sorrento's PizzaLearn More
Splashaway CafeLearn More
Two70 CafeLearn More
Vintages Wine BarLearn More
WindjammerLearn More
WonderlandLearn More

Bars and Drinks

Royal Caribbean's The Lime & Coconut
Royal Caribbean's The Lime & Coconut
Royal Caribbean's Music Hall
Royal Caribbean's Music Hall

The Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas has 3 more bars than the Royal Caribbean Quantum of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean
Freedom of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Quantum of the Seas
Bionic Bar
Boleros
Casino Bar
English Pub
Music Hall
Playmakers
Pool Bar
R Bar
Schooner Bar
Sky Bar
Solarium Bar
Star Lounge
Suite Lounge*
The Lime & Coconut
The Plaza Bar
Viking Crown Lounge
Vintages
* = this bar is exclusive and not open to everyone.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have Coke Freestyle machines where you can make 100 different flavor combinations.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Freedom of the Seas and the Quantum of the Seas below.



Pools and Hot Tubs

The main pool at night with giant movie screen on Royal Caribbeans Freedom of the Seas
The main pool on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas
The main pool and giant movie screen at night on Royal Caribbeans Quantum of the Seas
The main pool on Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas has a total of 3 pools and 5 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.

Royal Caribbean Quantum of the Seas has more pools than the Freedom of the Seas and more hot tubs. There are more exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Quantum of the Seas. If you don't mind paying for exclusive access to areas in order to have less crowds, this might be a better choice.

Royal Caribbean
Freedom of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Quantum of the Seas
Total Pools34
Pools - General Access22
Pools - Adults Only11
Pools - Exclusive01
Total Hot Tubs56
Hot Tubs - General Access34
Hot Tubs - Adults Only22
Hot Tubs - Exclusive00


cruise coloring book

Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids
Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books. These are the Royal Caribbean editions with places like Studio B and Sorrento's featured.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5 - Royal Caribbean Edition

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8 - Royal Caribbean Edition


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. On the Freedom of the Seas, 80% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Quantum of the Seas, only 69% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.

Royal Caribbean
Freedom of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Quantum of the Seas
Adult Only Relaxation Area
Arcade
Basketball
Bionic Bar
Bumper Cars
Casino
Climbing Wall
Escape Room
Fitness Center
FlowRider
Ice Skating
Indoor Sky Diving
Laser Tag
Mini golf
North Star
Pool-side Movies
Shows - musical review
Spa
Splash park
Water slides
Learn moreLearn more

Cruise Costs

Royal Caribbean is 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. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas will likely be cheaper than on Royal Caribbean Quantum of the Seas.

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 understand what you might spend onboard a Royal Caribbean ship.

Royal Caribbean
Base Daily Gratuities*
(Per Person Per Day)
$18.50
Tip added to drinks & services18%
Soda Price$3.50
Domestic Beer Price$8.25
See drink menus
Drink Package Price$70 - $125
Learn more
Internet Plan$17 to $30 per device per day
*Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates.

Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, which means the pricing for many things will vary per sailing. The daily gratuities and tip are consistent across the fleet, but the pricing for the drink package, internet, and excursions will change. The only way to know your price is to consult the Royal Caribbean cruise planner once you're booked.

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