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Carnival Freedom 2017 7-Day Caribbean Cruise Review
Day 8            July 15, 2017                        Galveston, Texas  &  Debarkation
Scheduled Arrival:    8:00AM                    
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Last Morning Walk Around The Carnival Freedom:
                Since today was our last day of the cruise I had only one more opportunity to walk around the ship. I woke around 5:00am to finish packing and look around the ship. After leaving my stateroom on Deck 6, I walked down one deck to the Promenade Deck (5). 
Carnival Freedom Atrium
Looking Down At The Atrium Lobby From Deck 5
Carnival Freedom Atrium
Atrium Lobby - View From Deck 5
Carnival Freedom
Machine Used To Clean The Floor
                   Just like some of the previous days, the Promenade Deck was void of people. There were a few crew members out in various places cleaning the ship. I stepped into the Skybox Sports Bar to have a look before walking towards the back of the Promenade Deck (5). 
Carnival Freedom Skybox Sports Bar
Counter in the Skybox Sports Bar
Carnival Freedom Skybox Sports Bar
Chairs in the SkyBox Sports Bar
Skybox Sports Bar
Marquee At The Back Of the Skybox Sports Bar
Carnival Freedom Promenade Deck
Walking On The Promenade Deck
Carnival Freedom Promenade Stage
Mini Stage Area Near The Casino Bar
Carnival Freedom
Booths & Chairs In The Promenade
Carnival Freedom Casino Bar
Casino Bar
Carnival Freedom Coffee Bar
Coffee Bar
Carnival Freedom Red Frog Pub
Entrance To The Red Frog Pub
Carnival Freedom Red Frog Pub
In The Red Frog Pub - Barstools Stacked On Tables
Carnival Freedom Red Frog Pub
Red Frog Pub
Carnival Freedom Red Frog Pub
Red Frog Pub
Carnival Freedom
Chairs Stacked In The Promenade
Carnival Freedom Taste Bar
The Taste Bar
Carnival Freedom
Two Chairs Temporarily Moved
                        After reaching the back stairwell & elevator area of Deck 5, I walked down to Deck 4. I cut through the Habana Bar as I headed towards the front of the deck. 
Carnival Freedom Habana Bar
Habana Bar
Carnival Freedom Habana Bar
Habana Bar
Carnival Freedom
Stairwell That Leads Up To Deck 5
                            When I reached the atrium area of Deck 4, I walked down one flight of stairs to Deck 3. I looked around the atrium lobby for a few minutes. A few crowd control barriers were in a corner, but they would not be setup until it was time to begin the debarkation process. 
Carnival Freedom Atrium Elevators
Atrium Elevators
Carnival Freedom Atrium
Very Bottom Of The Atrium
Carnival Freedom Atrium Bar Counter
Atrium Bar Counter
Carnival Freedom Atrium
Atrium
Carnival Freedom Computers
Internet - Atrium Computer Station
                               I continued my walk around the ship by heading up to the Lido Deck (9). It was still very dark outside and taking pictures of the ship at night was much harder than I expected. There were a few guests and crew outside using cell phones, but not too many people were outside. 
Carnival Freedom Lido Deck
Lido Deck
Carnival Freedom
Lido Main Pool - Closed Until The Next Passengers Boarded
Carnival Freedom Red Frog Rum Bar
Red Frog Rum Bar
                            I walked into the buffet to take some pictures since I did not get many during the other days of the cruise. The buffet was empty except for a few crew members. Since it was before 6am all the buffet lines were still closed including the continental breakfast. 
Carnival Freedom Lido Buffet
Lido Buffet
Carnival Freedom Drink Station
One Of The Many Drink Stations
Carnival Freedom Buffet
Statue of Liberty & Continental Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Freedom Buffet
Tables & Chairs In The Buffet
Carnival Freedom Buffet
Buffet - Food Was Not Out Yet
Carnival Freedom Lido Buffet
Section We Ate In Several Times During The Cruise
                         Since the buffet was still closed I walked outside and went up to Deck 10. I was able to see the lights of Galveston & the Bolivar Peninsula in the distance, but we still had a few hours until we docked. The Carnival Valor was sailing several miles in front of us. I would get a better view of the Carnival Valor when we got closer to docking in Galveston. 
                          I walked to the very front area of Deck 10, but did not stay long because I wanted to continue walking around. I left the front area of Deck 10 and headed up to Deck 14. 
Carnival Freedom
Deck 10 - View Of The Waterslide
Carnival Freedom Deck 10
View Of The Funnel From Deck 10
Carnival Freedom Deck 10 Pool
Deck 10 Pool
Carnival Freedom Hottub
Looking Down At One Of The Ship's Hottubs
Carnival Freedom
Deck Chairs On Deck 12
Carnival Freedom
Looking Down From Deck 14
Carnival Freedom Deck 14
Deck 14
Carnival Freedom Waterslide
Looking Down At The Waterslide
Carnival Freedom
View Of The Waterslide From Deck 10
Last Breakfast On The Carnival Freedom:
                    Unfortunately, it was our last breakfast on the Carnival Freedom. In just a few hours after eating we would be back to eating normal food on land and not have an unlimited buffet to enjoy. For cruisers that wanted to eat at the Freedom Restaurant (lido buffet) , breakfast was scheduled to begin at 6:00am and end at 9:30am. Continental breakfast (pastries, juices, and fruits) also opened at 6:00am. For cruisers that did not want to eat breakfast in Lido buffet, Breakfast Open Seating was being held in the Posh Dining Room from 6:30am until 8:30am. Since it was the last day of the cruise, breakfast ended much earlier than on other days. Cruisers that normally eat late needed to plan accordingly if they wanted to eat prior to leaving the Carnival Freedom.
                      I arrived at the buffet early and got in line for an omelet. The line was not long and it moved quickly. After eating my omelet I got in line for a pastry and some fruit. 
Carnival Freedom Continental Breakfast
Continental Breakfast - Pastries
Carnival Freedom Continental Breakfast
Continental Breakfast - Pastries
Carnival Freedom Continental Breakfast
Continental Breakfast - Pastries
Carnival Freedom Continental Breakfast
Continental Breakfast - Pastries
Carnival Freedom Continental Breakfast
Continental Breakfast - Yogurt
Carnival Freedom Continental Breakfast
Continental Breakfast - Cereal
Carnival Freedom Continental Breakfast
Continental Breakfast - Milk
Carnival Freedom Continental Breakfast
Continental Breakfast - Meats & Cheeses
Carnival Freedom Continental Breakfast
Continental Breakfast - Fruit
Carnival Freedom Continental Breakfast
Continental Breakfast - Fruit
Carnival Freedom Continental Breakfast
Continental Breakfast - Fruit
Carnival Freedom Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Freedom Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Freedom Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Freedom Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Freedom Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Freedom Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Freedom Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Freedom Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Main Breakfast Buffet Line
Carnival Freedom
Omelet - My Last One Of The Cruise
Carnival Freedom
Pastry & Fruit
Watching Our Galveston Arrival:
                    After eating breakfast I walked up to Deck 10 and went to the front of the ship to watch our arrival in Galveston. There were some dark clouds in the distance, but it did not rain as we arrived in Galveston. 
Galveston
Approaching Galveston
Tanker
Tanker Passing Us By
Galveston
Getting Close To Turning Into Galveston's Harbor
Galveston
Galveston
Tugboat
Tugboat
Carnival Freedom Deck 10
View Of The Sunrise From Deck 10
Galveston
Ferry Landing In Galveston
Galveston
Ship's Front - Carnival Valor In The Distance
Galveston
Sailing Into Galveston
                         The Carnival Valor was still ahead of us and turned around prior to docking. Once the ship turned around, it began sailing backwards to dock at Terminal #2. As the Carnival Freedom got closer to docking we turned around too. 
Carnival Valor
Carnival Valor Turning Around
Pelican Island
Looking At The Pelican Island Side
Carnival Valor
Carnival Valor - Ship Had Turned Around
Galveston
View Of Machinery Sitting On A Pier
Carnival Freedom
View From The Front As We Started Turning Around
Galveston Marina
Marina
                              When we started turning around I moved to the back of Deck 10 since we would be sailing in backwards. A tugboat assisted us in the turnaround and sailing backwards process. I do not know what reason, if any, the tugboat was used. 
Galveston
Galveston
Tugboat
Tugboat
Carnival Freedom
Tug Pulling Us Along
Galveston
Rigs On The Pelican Island Side
Galveston
Galveston
Galveston
Galveston
Carnival Valor
Carnival Valor Getting Close To Docking
Galveston Harbor
View Of The Harbor
Galveston Cruise Terminal
Cruise Terminal #1
                         The tug stayed with us until we got very close to Cruise Terminal #1. As we approached our cruise terminal the Carnival Valor was being tied up at Cruise Terminal #2. 
Carnival Freedom
Tug At The Back Of The Carnival Freedom
Galveston Cruise Terminal #1
Cruise Terminal #1 Gangway
Carnival Valor
Carnival Valor
Galveston Cruise Terminal
Galveston - Approaching The Cruise Terminal
Galveston Cruise Terminal
Galveston
 Once we were docked I left Deck 10 and went down to our stateroom on Deck 6.                           
Carnival Valor
Carnival Valor
Carnival Freedom Deck 10
Deck 10 AFT
Carnival Freedom Deck 10
Chairs Along Deck 10
Galveston
View Of Galveston
Galveston
View Of Galveston
Galveston
View Of Galveston
Our stateroom steward had already started cleaning our room even though our luggage was still on the bed. It looked like he changed the bed sheets, but still needed to clean the floor and bathroom. He did a great job this cruise!
Carnival Freedom Stateroom
Last View Of Our Stateroom
Carnival Freedom
Dirty Sheets Already On The Ground
                       Before leaving Deck 6 I went to have a look out my family members' balcony. They saw a person being taken off the ship in handcuffs. When I looked out I saw some crew disembarking Deck 0. Here is the view from their balcony:
Carnival Freedom
View Of Cruise Terminal
Galveston
Looking Out
Carnival Freedom
Crew Walking Down The Deck 0 Gangway
                           In order to give our stateroom steward time to clean the stateroom we left early to go find a place to wait to get off. Since we were doing self assist we were carrying all of our luggage. Here are some final pictures taken onboard the ship: 
Carnival Freedom Atrium
View Of The Atrium From Deck 4
Carnival Freedom Atrium Lobby
Atrium Lobby - Sitting Areas Were Closed
Carnival Freedom Faster to the Fun
Faster to the Fun Meeting Point Sign
Disembarking The Carnival Freedom:
            Since we docked before 8:00am, the ship was cleared to begin the debark process around 8:00am. VIFP Platinum & Diamond guests were allowed to go first. These people had a letter sent to their stateroom explaining the debarkation process since it differed from regular guests. Following these guests was Faster to the Fun. Faster to the Fun guests were also given special instructions and told to meet in the Victoriana Theater. After these guests, self assist disembarkation by deck began. For a cruiser to get off as self assist, he or she must carry off all luggage and bags. All self assist guests would be allowed off before the general disembarkation guests. The general disembarkation (checked luggage) guests would be ones that put luggage outside their door. These people would be allowed to disembark after the self assist guests because the pier workers needed time to unload all of the luggage. 
Carnival Freedom
View As We Crossed The Gangway
Carnival Freedom
View As We Crossed The Gangway
Carnival Freedom
View As We Crossed The Gangway
                         ​    After getting our Sail & Sign Cards scanned we exited the ship and went down the gangway. Walking into the cruise terminal meant we were one step closer to having to be back in the "real world". Customs & Immigration was a slow process compared to my cruise on the Carnival Valor two weeks prior. Although almost all of the customs stations were in use, we had a long wait. While we waited in line some people got yelled at by a customs agent for using their phones (phones are not allowed). Essentially, the customs agent looked at our passports and declaration form. Once she scanned our passports we were free to continue the process of leaving the terminal. Before we could walk outside we were asked if we made any alcoholic beverage purchases that needed to be declared. Since we did not, we were able to bypass the TABC station. 
Carnival Valor
Looking Towards The Carnival Valor
EZ Cruise Parking
Shuttle To EZ Cruise Parking
Carnival Freedom
Carnival Freedom's Front
                               Once we were out of the cruise terminal we walked back to EZ Cruise Parking. Since we did a park & walk special we had to walk back to get our vehicle. The cruise was now officially over and it was time to head home. Getting off the cruise was not fun, but I was excited about the upcoming review that I was going to be writing.
                               Overall, the cruise was fun, enjoyable, and I hope to sail on the Carnival Freedom again. The food, service, entertainment, and friendliness of the crew made this a great ship! I hope you enjoyed this cruise review as much as I have enjoyed writing it! 
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RyG's Cruise Guide is not affiliated with any cruise line or travel organization. Any information is subject to change at any time given that the cruise industry is always changing. Due to the Covid pandemic, crew staffing shortages, and supply chain issues information could change without updates being made here. I always recommend checking with your cruise line for the latest information related to onboard amenities and Covid protocols. 

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