Day 8 Getting Off The Carnival Freedom

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).

Looking Down At The Atrium Lobby From Deck 5

Atrium Lobby - View From Deck 5

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).

Counter in the Skybox Sports Bar

Chairs in the SkyBox Sports Bar

Marquee At The Back Of the Skybox Sports Bar

Walking On The Promenade Deck

Mini Stage Area Near The Casino Bar

Booths & Chairs In The Promenade

Casino Bar

Coffee Bar

Entrance To The Red Frog Pub

In The Red Frog Pub - Barstools Stacked On Tables

Red Frog Pub

Chairs Stacked In The Promenade

The Taste Bar

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.

Habana Bar

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.

Atrium Elevators

Very Bottom Of The Atrium

Atrium Bar Counter

Atrium

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.

Lido Deck

Lido Main Pool - Closed Until The Next Passengers Boarded

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.

Lido Buffet

One Of The Many Drink Stations

Statue of Liberty & Continental Breakfast Buffet Line

Tables & Chairs In The Buffet

Buffet - Food Was Not Out Yet

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.

Deck 10 - View Of The Waterslide

View Of The Funnel From Deck 10

Deck 10 Pool

Looking Down At One Of The Ship's Hottubs

Deck Chairs On Deck 12

Looking Down From Deck 14

Deck 14

Looking Down At The Waterslide

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.

Continental Breakfast - Pastries

Continental Breakfast - Yogurt

Continental Breakfast - Cereal

Continental Breakfast - Milk

Continental Breakfast - Meats & Cheeses

Continental Breakfast - Fruit

Main Breakfast Buffet Line

Omelet - My Last One Of The Cruise

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.

Approaching Galveston

Tanker Passing Us By

Getting Close To Turning Into Galveston's Harbor

Galveston

Tugboat

View Of The Sunrise From Deck 10

Ferry Landing In Galveston

Ship's Front - Carnival Valor In The Distance

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 Turning Around

Looking At The Pelican Island Side

Carnival Valor - Ship Had Turned Around

View Of Machinery Sitting On A Pier

View From The Front As We Started Turning Around

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

Tugboat

Tug Pulling Us Along

Rigs On The Pelican Island Side

Galveston

Carnival Valor Getting Close To Docking

View Of The Harbor

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.

Tug At The Back Of The Carnival Freedom

Cruise Terminal #1 Gangway

Carnival Valor

Galveston - Approaching The Cruise Terminal

Galveston

Once we were docked I left Deck 10 and went down to our stateroom on Deck 6.

Carnival Valor

Deck 10 AFT

Chairs Along Deck 10

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!

Last View Of Our Stateroom

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:

View Of Cruise Terminal

Looking Out

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:

View Of The Atrium From Deck 4

Atrium Lobby - Sitting Areas Were Closed

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.

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.

Looking Towards The Carnival Valor

Shuttle To EZ Cruise Parking

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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