Liberty-Any tips?

[clingkm]

This is my second time on a cruise, the first time I was with my major cruiser parents. This time my BF and I are alone. We are on the Liberty (11-19/11-26) Cozumel, Belize, Roatan & Cayman. We are in our early 30s and need some help from ppl who know what they're doing!

 

Any tips help!!

[trvlqueen]

This is my second time on a cruise, the first time I was with my major cruiser parents. This time my BF and I are alone. We are on the Liberty (11-19/11-26) Cozumel, Belize, Roatan & Cayman. We are in our early 30s and need some help from ppl who know what they're doing!

 

Any tips help!!

 

 

the top 3 things I wish I'd known on my first cruise:

 

1. Don't wait until the time it says you can board on your boarding passes. You can board Liberty by 11am - to be one of the first on board, arrive at port around 10am. (check under the seats in the waiting area - sometimes there are VIP boarding passes velcroed there!)

 

2. Carry as little as possible on board with you if you are boarding before 1pm - this will make your life easier once you get onboard. We usually each carry a tote bag with our sunscreen, camera, book/e-reader so we can eat then grab a lounger and chill or explore the ship without having to worry about extra stuff

 

3. Check the port of call boards for suggestions on what to do in port - you can often find great things to do through independant operators at half the price of what the ship charges. My own personal caveat - if I'm going a great distance away from the ship (ie to tortola from st thomas) for an excursion I book with the ship - I don't want to risk being left behind without the cruise line helping me find my way back to the ship - but for a day at the beach, island tour, etc, save the money if you can - just make sure the operator is reputable - lots of good suggestions on the ports of call board

 

 

Liberty specific - we love Harry's steakhouse! If you go the first night, you get a free bottle of wine. Also, if you do board later, the upstairs level of the buffet area is almost always empty. We like sitting out behind the pool area at the tables that overlook the aft of the ship - it's quiet out there, too and the adult only pool area is right there, along with the ice cream machines, a nice bar, and the pizza -

 

In the mornings, you can skip right past all the big lines in the buffet and head to the aft pool area for a made-to-order omelet - and yes, they have bacon and everything else back there, too - you can do this without lines until close to the end of the cruise.

 

If you have more specific questions, ask them ... it's hard to answer such a general question on the boards. I've sailed Liberty 3 times in the last 2 years - love that ship and now, with the upgrades she's getting, she'll be even better! Enjoy your cruise!

[MSRussell]

If you have a set dining time, 6:15 or 8:15, the dining room is difficult to get to, at first.

You have to take the elevator from deck 5, but, oh, no, not just ANY elevator, but the one that you have to walk by the photographers, after you go through the Casino.

Go past the photographers, which will we on your left, then about 50 ft on your right will be a doorway that has 'Olympian Dining Room' above it. Take that elevator to the 3rd floor. The dining room will be right when you get off the elevator.

Melanie

[Corby114]

The Carnival Liberty returns from a two week drydock on October 22nd. The ship is Carnival's first to have the new Carnival 2.0 changes which were announced earlier this month. I was on the March 19th cruise to the Eastern Caribbean and had a wonderful time. The Western Caribbean trip is also very nice. Cozumel is the place for all of your shopping and has a relatively new shopping complex right at the pier area. There are plenty of shops that sell the usual items such as shirts, jewelry, and alcohol. You can also take a taxi to the downtown area along the water that has alot of the same stores. Some people also take trips to beaches that are not too far away. Theres also an excursion that takes you to the ruins at Tulum which is located on the mainland. It's approximately a six hour trip and people have told me that it gets very hot there visiting the sight. Roatan, Honduras is absolutely beautiful. We took Carnival's Tabayana Beach Break on the Carnival Valor's August 21st sailing. The thirty minute ride takes you along the water to the beach which is located on the western side of the island. Tabayana Beach has a cash bar, restaurant, and a few small stores. The water is crystal clear and the area is well known for snorkeling. Vendors also sell jet ski rides, snorkel equipment, parasailing, and surfboard rentals. We spent three hours at this beautiful location. Belize is the known for cave tubing and some other excursions. It's a thirty minute tender ride from the ship and most people tell me if you don't have a booked excursion it's better to stay on the ship and have the pool area to yourself. Grand Cayman is the second tender port on this cruise. I've been to Grand Cayman numerous times and usually do a little shopping with my wife. In August we did the turtle farm excursion which was really nice. We saw turtles that were just born up to one that was over sixty years old. You get to feed them turtle food and they go crazy climbing on top of one another for the food. The tour also stops at a town called "Hell" and the last stop on this excursion is stringray city where you take a thirty minute boat ride and get to swim with the stingrays. Grand Cayman also has Seven Mile Beach which is absolutely beautiful. You definitely won't go wrong on the Carnival Liberty. It's a beautiful ship with an outstanding crew.

[Colorado Kat]

You're very lucky to be on Liberty. She will be fresh out of dry-dock, with all sorts of new amenities freshly added. Even some ocean-view rooms turned into balconies.

 

Several new restaurants, new menus, ramped up comedy club. Lots of fun new things. You can search for "Carnival 2.0".

 

Have fun!

[momonthego17]

In Grand Cayman we booked a catamaran cruise out to Stingray City. I believe it was with Capt Marvin (independent co,) and we had a blast!

 

In Cozumel, we swam with the dolphins at Chankannaub Park. Clean, beautiful park and the time with the 2 dolphins was priceless! Check out Dolphin Discovery.

 

Have a great cruise!

[williamson_ja]

If you have a set dining time, 6:15 or 8:15, the dining room is difficult to get to, at first.

You have to take the elevator from deck 5, but, oh, no, not just ANY elevator, but the one that you have to walk by the photographers, after you go through the Casino.

Go past the photographers, which will we on your left, then about 50 ft on your right will be a doorway that has 'Olympian Dining Room' above it. Take that elevator to the 3rd floor. The dining room will be right when you get off the elevator.

Melanie

Do you have to do this to get to the dining room from the lower decks as well? We're clear down on deck 1. So, do you have to go up to deck 5 and then back down to deck 3? Or is there a direct elevator from the lower decks?

[MSRussell]

It depends on where your room is, fore or aft.

I was on the 10th deck, almost in the middle. You can look on the deck plans they will give you.

There are also deck plans by each elevator.

Melanie

[CanWeGoYet?]

Check out the fish & chips bar, it is up the stairs from the lido buffet area. If I had not read about it on Cruise Critic I don't think I would have found it. I never did eat the fish & chips because I loved the bouillabaisse & ceviche so much. But I hear the fish & chips are good too. It was my favorite place for lunch every day.

 

I hope this will stay & not be changed to something else in the refurb of the ship.

[marshalltp]

Ship

 

Fish and Chips Upstairs of Main buffet floor

Harry's Steakhouse is a Must

Serenity Area will be awesome

Piano Man bar

Punchliners Comedy

Look for the Secret Doors, in forward hallways on Upper floors

 

Ports

 

Roatan.....islands tour with Victor Bodden.....takes your whereever you want to go.....Mahogany Beach is ok but you have to go to West side beaches to get real feel for area

 

Grand Cayman.....Moby Dick's Stingray City tour.....great company and outing and then will drop you off at 7 Mile Beach for a while before ship sail

 

Belize....Caye Caulker, or Goff's Cay or a snorkelling adventure, or go to Blue Hole for diving

 

Cozumel.....defintely Nachi Cocum beach day resort....all inclusive, secluded and relaxing....great way to spend the day.

 

Have fun and take care of the Liberty for me, we will be aboard March 31 (Eastern Itn.)

[serene56]

If you have a set dining time, 6:15 or 8:15, the dining room is difficult to get to, at first.

You have to take the elevator from deck 5, but, oh, no, not just ANY elevator, but the one that you have to walk by the photographers, after you go through the Casino.

Go past the photographers, which will we on your left, then about 50 ft on your right will be a doorway that has 'Olympian Dining Room' above it. Take that elevator to the 3rd floor. The dining room will be right when you get off the elevator.

Melanie

 

 

IF you have the aft dining room=- the midship dining room can be reached by the forward elevators or the midship elevator.

 

ONLY the aft dining room can be reached by the aft elevators. (any aft elevator from any deck will get you there

[cdubya62]

This is my second time on a cruise, the first time I was with my major cruiser parents. This time my BF and I are alone. We are on the Liberty (11-19/11-26) Cozumel, Belize, Roatan & Cayman. We are in our early 30s and need some help from ppl who know what they're doing!

 

Any tips help!!

 

Thanks for your post clingkm. This is our first cruise and we appreciate your post and the advice being given.

[serene56]

opps

[elcuchio24]

This is my second time on a cruise, the first time I was with my major cruiser parents. This time my BF and I are alone. We are on the Liberty (11-19/11-26) Cozumel, Belize, Roatan & Cayman. We are in our early 30s and need some help from ppl who know what they're doing!

 

Any tips help!!

 

Don't miss fish and chips on deck 10, and sushi on the Prom.

 

Go to the Steakhouse at least one night.

 

Farewell party on the last day at sea in the Victoria lounge--all you can drink for an hour for free!

 

Go to Nachi Cocum in Coz, the Cays in Belize, Tabanaya Beach in Roatan, snorkel Eden Rock and GC.