Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Dream
- Cruises
- 12
- From
- $367
Ship comparison
Carnival Dream vs Freedom of the Seas
Royal Caribbean
Freedom of the Seas
- Cruises
- 71
- From
- $299
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Carnival Dream is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 3,646 passengers, in service since 2009. Freedom of the Seas is a large Royal Caribbean ship carrying 3,634 passengers, in service since 2006.
Choose Carnival Dream if you want more culture or more of a party: it outscores Freedom of the Seas for cultural (8.0 vs 6.0) and party (8.0 vs 7.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Choose Freedom of the Seas if you want a more romantic trip, more adventure and nature or a more family-friendly ship: it outscores Carnival Dream for romantic (6.0 vs 2.0), adventure & nature (4.0 vs 2.0) and family friendly (10.0 vs 9.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Carnival Dream | Freedom of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Carnival Cruise Line | Royal Caribbean |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2009 (better) | 2006 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2015 | 2018 (better) |
| Gross tonnage | 130,000 | 154,407 |
| Passengers | 3,646 | 3,634 |
| Crew | 1,367 | 1,360 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.7 | 2.7 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 35.7 | 42.5 (better) |
| Decks | 15 | 18 |
| Length | 1,004 ft | 1,112 ft |
| Beam | 122 ft | 184 ft |
| Speed | 26 mph | 25 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 12 | 71 |
| Upcoming sailings | 179 | 113 |
| Cruise lengths | 4 to 14 nights | 2 to 15 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $367 | $299 (better) |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Carnival Dream leads on 3 of the ten, Freedom of the Seas on 4, with 3 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Dream
Carnival Dream, the first of Carnival's Dream class ships (followed by Carnival Magic and Carnival Breeze), features two dual-level dining rooms, a gourmet steakhouse and the Lido Restaurant. It also features Ocean Plaza, which combines tasty treats with entertainment.
Highlights
- Waterslides at Carnival WaterWorks
- Carnival's house brew at RedFrog Rum Bar
- Thalassotherapy pool at the Cloud 9 Spa
Sailing now
12 cruises on sale, from $367.
Royal Caribbean
Freedom of the Seas
Freedom of the Seas features several maritime innovations to stir your imagination. Share a high five with Shrek as part of the DreamWorks Experience. Catch a first-run movie in the 3D theater or poolside under the stars on the outdoor movie screen.
Highlights
- Meeting Shrek as part of the DreamWorks Experience
- Shopping on the Royal Promenade
- Ice skating in the onboard ice skating rink
- Sipping delicious wines at Vintages wine bar
Sailing now
71 cruises on sale, from $299.
About Freedom of the Seas Plan my cruise on Freedom of the Seas
Questions
Carnival Dream or Freedom of the Seas?
Which is bigger, Carnival Dream or Freedom of the Seas?
Freedom of the Seas is bigger at 154,407 gross tons, against 130,000 gross tons for Carnival Dream. Carnival Dream carries 3,646 passengers and Freedom of the Seas carries 3,634.
Which ship is newer, Carnival Dream or Freedom of the Seas?
Carnival Dream is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2009 against 2006 for Freedom of the Seas.
Which has more space per passenger?
Freedom of the Seas, with 42.5 gross tons per passenger against 35.7 on Carnival Dream. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
They are level, with one crew member for every 2.7 passengers.
Which is better for families?
Freedom of the Seas scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 10.0 out of 10, against 9.0 for Carnival Dream.
Still deciding?
Tell us what matters and we will match the sailing
Send your dates, budget and who is travelling, and our partner travel agency will come back to you about Carnival Dream, Freedom of the Seas or a ship that suits you better.