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

The first travelers to the Orient were searching for jewels and silks, spices and ivory. What they found was a great civilization, already ancient when Christianity was born. Asia is just as much a land of superlatives in current times: the largest continent, the tallest mountains, the longest coastline, and three-fifth's the world's population. The riches of Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei still defy description. Today, you can gaze into a Buddha's venerable eyes in Vietnam. There is so much to see that is both foreign and exotic to outsiders in this part of the world. The island nation of Japan has entertained visitors only since the 19th century. Only a handful of cruise lines sail seasonally between October and May to the Orient, Asia and the Far East. Cruises range from 14 days to 21 days depending upon the ship, sailing date, and itinerary. Because of the variety of destinations that make up this area, it is very rare that you'll begin and end your cruise in the same port city. more