All about the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas cruise ship
Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas was built in 2006. It was renovated in 2020. It's considered a large size ship. Coming in at 1,112 ft long and 185 ft 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.

Freedom of the Seas Overview

Freedom of the Seas Size and Passengers

The Freedom of the Seas can hold 3,934 based on double occupancy (two people per room) and more when you take into account 3rd and 4th passengers. When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Freedom of the Seas has a space ratio of 40. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 (with a bigger number meaning more space per person) so this ship's space-to-person ratio is about average.



Royal Caribbean
Freedom of the Seas
ClassFreedom
Gross Tonnage156,271
Length1,112
Beam/Width185
Passenger Decks14
Passengers (double occupancy)3,934
Crew1,447
Passenger to Crew Ratio2.7
Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)40
Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas Space Ratio
30 40 52

The Freedom of the Seas is one of three Freedom-class ships currently sailing with Royal Caribbean. The Freedom-class ships were the first to have the FlowRider surf simulator, which is now available across the entire fleet. They are known for their multiple pools and whirlpool options, some cantilevered off the side of the ship. The Freedom of the Seas is very similar to its sister-ships; Liberty of the Seas and Independence of the Seas, although each ship may have some differences.


Freedom of the Seas Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and there will plenty on the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas. You have 14 different dining options to choose from. Of those options, 5 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 9 options have an additional fee. Some of those options are a set price and some have a la cart menu pricing. Only 36% of the dining options are included meaning you might spend more while on the ship due to the additional fees.

RestaurantRestaurant TypeCostType of Food
Cafe PromenadeQuick serveIncludedCafe
Chef's TableSit downFlat FeeFoodie
Chops GrilleSit downFlat feeSteakhouse
Cupcake CupboardQuick serveA la cartDessert
El Loco FreshQuick serveIncludedMexican
Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine BarSit downFlat feeItalian
Ice Cream ParlorQuick serveA la cartDessert
Izumi Hibachi & SushiSit downFlat feeAsian
Johnny RocketsSit downFlat feeAmerican
Main Dining RoomSit downIncludedMain dining room
PlaymakersSit downA la cartBar food
Sorrento's PizzaQuick serveIncludedPizza
Vintages Wine BarQuick serveA la cartBar food
WindjammerQuick serveIncludedBuffet

Freedom of the Seas Bars and Drinks

Boleros on the Freedom of the Seas
Boleros on the Freedom of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas has 12 different bars and lounges where you can enjoy a beer or cocktail. It also has 1 other bars that are available for select guests.

BarLocation
BolerosDeck 4 Aft
Casino BarDeck 4 Mid
English PubDeck 5 MidSee Menu
PlaymakersDeck 4 MidSee Menu
R BarDeck 5 AftSee Menu
Schooner BarDeck 4 ForwardSee Menu
Solarium BarDeck 11 ForwardSee Menu
Star LoungeDeck 5 Forward
Suite Lounge*Deck 14 Forward
The Lime & CoconutDeck 11 MidSee Menu
The Plaza BarDeck 11 Aft
Viking Crown LoungeDeck 14 Forward
VintagesDeck 5 Mid
* = this bar is exclusive and not open to everyone.

Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.

Royal Caribbean also serves 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.

Pools and Hot Tubs on Freedom of the Seas

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

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 in a pool, a cruise might not be the right choice. 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
Freedom of the Seas
Total Pools3
- Pools - General Access2
- Pools - Adults Only1
- Pools - Exclusive0
Total Hot Tubs5
- Hot Tubs - General Access3
- Hot Tubs - Adults Only2
- Hot Tubs - Exclusive0


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

Freedom of the Seas Features and Activities

There are quite a few things to do on the Freedom of the Seas. These are the main amenities that are available. Some are included in the cost of the cruise, while others have an additional charge.

Royal Caribbean
Freedom of the Seas
Adult Only Relaxation AreaIncluded
ArcadeA la cart
BasketballIncluded
CasinoA la cart
Climbing WallIncluded
Fitness CenterIncluded
FlowRiderIncluded
Ice SkatingIncluded
Laser TagIncluded
Mini golfIncluded
Pool-side MoviesIncluded
Shows - musical reviewIncluded
SpaA la cart
Splash parkIncluded
Water slidesIncluded

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.

Freedom 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.

Want to Stay Up-To-Date on All Things Cruising?

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.


Compare the Freedom of the Seas to Another Ship

First ship:

Second ship:



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.