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This was our first liveaboard and wow...were we impressed. We opted for the ocean view deluxe cabin (on the bridge deck) and enjoyed having some extra space. It must have been a magic room because every morning the bed was made while we were at breakfast or elsewhere on the ship! Nah...this is just the kind of thing the staff did to make experience "over the top". Everything from pickup at our hotel to drop off was well done. The ship orientation was thorough without being overly long. The dive briefings were clear and concise.
And the food? Oh my Chef Extraordinaire Andre was outstanding. We were on the 7 night option and no meal was repeated. Everyone from the Captain (Tony) on down quickly learned our names and called all the guests by their names...made us all feel like we've known each other for a long time.
The Trip Director Leo seemed to be everywhere... on the ship, under water, etc. There were several passengers (like me) who had arrived without a dive buddy. Before the first dive Leo arrange dive buddies for those in need as well as pairing up relatively new/inexperienced divers with staff. Early in the trip it was evident that one buddy pair was incompatible so an adjustment was made. Leo followed up to ensure that the new pair (actually a trio) worked well...and we did.
Tony, Captain or Master of the vessel, was a very fun, engaging and professional guy. On the last day I asked him for a brief tour of the bridge; he responded, "Have a seat in the pew and we'll have a chat," then gave me a stool to sit on. He gave me a very interesting overview of the navigation and other tools available to him and we had a nice discussion of the various skills required, specifics of the boat, how his job and my former one were similar, etc. He (as well as many of the other staff) also posed for pictures with our traveling companion, Spot.
In summary....we had a blast. The food was great, our accommodation was great, the staff was great and the diving was great. If you've never done a liveaboard and have always wanted to see and dive on the Great Barrier Reef, you need to get on the Spirit of Freedom.
Even though we are seasoned travelers we have never labeled one "the trip of a lifetime"....this one certainly fills the bill. - via 