Freedom of the Seas is the flagship of the Freedom class of ships and is owned by the Royal Caribbean International. Freedom's maiden voyage was in June 2006, and Freedom was built in the STX Europe - Aker shipyard in Turku, Finland. At 158,000 gross tons, this ship hosts 3634 guests and 1360 crew. The ship's Royal Promenade has shops and eateries on each side, and many interior staterooms have windows offering a view of the Royal Promenade. The Royal Promenade has, a coffee shop, Sorrento's Pizzeria, a Ben and Jerry's ice-cream shop, Vintage's winery, the Bull and Bear Irish pub, and several Duty-free stores. The ship has an interactive water park, a dedicated adult pool and a main pool. The 13th deck has a sports area with a rock climbing wall, a FlowRider surfing pool as well as a miniature golf course and a full size basketball court. Other items include an ice skating rink, a casino, a Johnny Rockets restaurant and there is Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the ship. more

Nestled between Resurrection Bay and the Kenai Mountains, Seward is a primary cruise ship hub for glacier cruises in Alaska. It is a scenic, two-and-a-half hour drive south of Anchorage, a tiny village with quaint restaurants and shops catering to the tourist crowd. Even if your cruise doesn't depart from Seward, it's worth the trip to visit. And if you feel like you're being watched, you probably are: Bald eagles peer down at visitors from their aerie perches. Seward's highlights include: The Alaska SeaLife Center, a nonprofit marine science center which offers world-class displays of Alaskan wildlife, Kenai Fjords National Park which has glacier tours and wildlife cruises, you can learn about the Iditarod dog race during an hour and a half tour, go fishing, or visit Exit Glacier, perhaps the most accessible glacier in Alaska, just 9 miles from town. Hikers will enjoy the trails that bring them to stunning overlooks of the Harding Ice Field. more