Photo Essay
FREEDOM OF
THE SEAS
CALLING IN
ST. THOMAS
Since entering service in 2006,
Freedom of the Seas has become
almost as much of a fixture of the
Caribbean and the Bahamas as the
islands.
One port of call that knows this
popular ship well is Charlotte
Amalie in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin
Islands. This essay follows her
through one such call in 2010.
Cruise ship photo essay - Royal Caribbean - Freedom of the Seas
For a photo tour of the
interior of Freedom of the Seas
CLICK HERE
Above: Freedom arrives fashionably
late after the other cruise ships
calling in St. Thomas that day have
docked and parallel parks at a berth
in the Havensight Cruise Terminal.
This terminal, one of two in St.
Thomas, is across the harbor from
Charlotte Amalie's main business
district (foreground).
Left: The waters between
Havensight and downtown Charlotte
Amalie are crowded with small
boats. Some belong to the residents
while others are yachts touring the
Virgin Islands.
Still one of the largest passenger
ships is service, Freedom is
essentially a longer version of Royal
Caribbean's Voyager class ships.
However, Freedom's elongated lines
make her look sleek rather than
cumbersome.
Freedom has a nicely-shaped bow,
reminiscent of ships of the past.
Her massive size can be seen by
looking at the table standing on
the pavement next to her.
There is no cruise terminal building
at Havensight. Rather, the passengers
exit out of the ship onto a paved area
through a gangway on one of the
lower decks. Tour buses and taxis
wait in the parking lot that is outside
of the secure area.
There are also dozens of shops and a
post office in a modern shopping
center at Havensight.
In the afternoon, some storm clouds move across the island
resulting in areas where there are tropical downpours and
areas where there is bright sunlight. At Havensight,
Freedom is bathed in a clear bright light as the other cruise
ships begin to take their leave of the island.
Above: Not to be left behind, Freedom
prepares to head to sea.
Left: Freedom back in her element, heading
for yet another port.