Liberty of the Seas

[waterbugohio]

OK, sailing on the Liberty in 17 days.

 

Everything I read on the Liberty is old and I thought I would start a new thread to get some new information. Plus I need something to do so I don't go stir crazy the next week!!

 

One thing that worries me on the Liberty is that I have seen several people refer to disembark being a nightmare?? Can anyone give me any experiences??

 

I have considered doing self disembark. But then someones says because it is a shorter cruise (we are doing the five night) that because so many people do the self disembark that it is even more of a nightmare. Thoughts??

 

And then just give me some tips and pointers and things not to miss. Have sailed 6 times, but this is the first time on Freedom class.

 

Please, please help me get thru the time till we leave!!

[BillOh]

Hello fellow Buckeye! I'll defer to others on the embarkation woes, but I do know the threads you were talking about. I suspect (but not based on fact) that there were early issues that have been resolved0 I'm considering Liberty out of Port Everglades for a future trip. I hope you love the Freedom class as much as we did.

[mskaufman]

We were on Liberty this summer and disembark was not a problem. However, that was in Barcelona not Florida.

[Yuridog]

We'll have to see on this one. Most of the complaints about the horrible disembarkation date back to the spring.

I've seen the same comments myself.

 

Liberty has been in the Mediterranean for the past few months, so it will be interesting to see if things are more smoother next month in Ft Lauderdale.

[waterbugohio]

Yes, and we are on the first sailing once back from the Mediterranean. So we will have nothing to compare it to.

 

Also will run into the TA going thru all of customs before we will be able to board. Have also heard nightmare stories on that topic.

 

We have always gone to the port around 11, and hope to the same this time. While I know we may have to stand and wait in line, I have heard of people waiting an extra hour or two and then having to stand in a line a mile long!!

[waterbugohio]

wow, just realized this is an ALL ohio thread!!

 

GO BUCKS

[jebl]

We sailed the Liberty last Apr and loved it. Never even left the ship. We are Diamond and spent each evening in the Diamond Lounge. Great views and same folks so you get to know each other.

 

The Viking Crown lounge on all ships is one of the best views.

 

Had some very good (surprise) pizza at Sorrentos. Would sail Liberty again in a heartbeat.

 

I seem to remember there was a delay getting off the ship. We were much later than scheduled.

 

Since DH has to use a mobility scooter we were escorted through customs by one of the port greeters. Made it much easier for us.

 

Getting to the gangway was a nightmare though. We have to use the elevator and when the doors opened we faced a wall of people. I was tempted to go back up but the family in front of us said not to worry.. They did not consider us as cutting the line and made room for us in the mob. I apologized for getting in the middle but they said no problem. Small sacrafice for being young and able bodied.

 

How nice was that??

 

That is the only real problem I can remember. Sometimes the delays are not RCI's fault but Customs. They know which ships are coming in but don't have enough agents to process everyone.

 

If I had realized there was a jam up at the gangway I would have stayed upstairs and just read my book. But we were told to go down to disembark.

[Yuridog]

Yeah, us Ohio folks need a vacation bad.

Indians fared poorly this baseball season, Reds out in the first round of the playoffs. We won't even discuss the Bengals and Browns.

Go Ohio State Buckeyes :)

[Host Faith]

Loved the Liberty. We did the 4-night in March. :D I have a photo review link in my signature.

 

Disembarkation took a while. I think it took us about an hour.

[Yuridog]

If it only took hostfaith an hour to disembark in March, I don't consider that horrible. We've had a longer wait before.

I never want to get off the ship anyway--too sad.

[waterbugohio]

Loved the Liberty. We did the 4-night in March. :D I have a photo review link in my signature.

 

Disembarkation took a while. I think it took us about an hour.

 

Chrystal, loved your review. I read it over more than once I think. Loved looking at all the photos. Now I just need more to read until its time to leave.

 

I knew you said that disembarkation took you awhile. So what is the holdup? And why just with this ship?

[missemo12345]

Hello we did LOS 3/2012 was our best cruise!! The ship is beautiful we loved her so much going back in 3/2013 with my daughter and her husband..Have a great cruise!!! (No complaints here)

[Host Faith]

Chrystal, loved your review. I read it over more than once I think. Loved looking at all the photos. Now I just need more to read until its time to leave.

 

I knew you said that disembarkation took you awhile. So what is the holdup? And why just with this ship?

 

Thank you!

 

I'm not sure why it took so long. Our flights were for the early evening, so we weren't really in that much of a rush. We got off the ship around 9 or so (I think), so maybe it was just the normal crowd that built up by that time. It didn't feel like an inconvenience, but then again we didn't have a plane to catch within the next few hours.

[waterbugohio]

so was the Liberty doing the same sailings last year?

 

Any chance anyone has a compass for the 5 day which includes Belize and Cozumel??

[cpa2be]

Another Buckeye weighing in!

 

We were on the 5 day Liberty in February and did the self debarkation. On that dreaded morning, we went to the Windjammer for a bite to eat, then walked off the ship around 7:15 - 7:30 am. There was a 10-15 minute lineup to go through customs. I think we were at the airport before 8:00 am.

 

We are doing this sailing again next February. Love the Valentine's week cruises! :D

[seafish]

Need some advise please. We are "re-trying" RCCL after many years. We will be disembarking Liberty 3/2/13. We have an 1130AM Delta flight out of FLL. Based on issues we have read on CC - if we have checked luggage (no self-disembarkation) - do you think we will we have any problems making our 1130AM departing FLL flight - given that we (LOS) arrives FLL on/before our scheduled port time of 800AM? SeaFish

[waterbugohio]

Another Buckeye weighing in!

 

We were on the 5 day Liberty in February and did the self debarkation. On that dreaded morning, we went to the Windjammer for a bite to eat, then walked off the ship around 7:15 - 7:30 am. There was a 10-15 minute lineup to go through customs. I think we were at the airport before 8:00 am.

 

We are doing this sailing again next February. Love the Valentine's week cruises! :D

 

CPA, that's what I like to hear. Positive stories. Do you remember what deck you disembarked from? I just remember one year doing it leaving the navigator (I think). The worst part of the whole process was trying to get an elevator to the right deck. Would rather leave the room early, get breakfast and go to the right deck and just hang out. That time we ended up carrying luggage down two flits of stairs because the line to the elevators were so backed up. And it was a girls only cruise so we didn't have the hubby's with us to help.

 

So how far north are you? We are mid state, all the way to the Indiana border

[gotitright]

We went to Belize and Cozumel on LOS this past March. (Mind you, it was my first cruise.) We LOVED it! The "tendering" process at Belize was not what I expected, but it was VERY well organized. Cozumel seemed so very easy to disembark, and we generally LOVED the area around the port. (We decided not to venture out very far.) For final disembarkation, we were not in a hurry (a late flight home) so we left at the appointed time. We didn't experience any "issues" with it, but that may have been we paid attention to what the staff was informing other cruisers (ok, so call me nosy). Good luck!

[waterbugohio]

Gotitright, any chance you kept the compasses?

[Sunkissed Mommy]

We're on the same sailing as you. Last time I was on the Liberty the problem wasn't Royal or the ship, but the Port of Miami. they wouldn't let anyone on until 1pm because of a Coast Guard inspection (can't blame them for that part). Getting off in Miami is never is pleasant experience for me. It always seems to be understaffed when it comes to the number of customs agents.

 

Thankfully the Liberty is now sailing to and from FLL, a much more pleasant experience. I've never had an issue in all the 5 or 6 cruises I have taken out of FLL. I'm hoping disembarking is easy, I have to be at work that morning. I work 30 minutes from the port, but I still worry that I'll be late!

[workathome]

Another Buckeye here! I am on this cruise, but I have to wait until Nov 2013!!!! Yep another winter for me before the cruise! I am glad to hear everyone loved the 5 day Belize Cozumel cruise. Op I know how you feel, a lot of the LOS stuff is a little dated because she has been in the Mediteranean, so I am going to ask you a big favor and check back with us and let us know how your trip was. These next few weeks must be killing you! Have fun and safe travels!

[waterbugohio]

Another Buckeye here! I am on this cruise, but I have to wait until Nov 2013!!!! Yep another winter for me before the cruise! I am glad to hear everyone loved the 5 day Belize Cozumel cruise. Op I know how you feel, a lot of the LOS stuff is a little dated because she has been in the Mediteranean, so I am going to ask you a big favor and check back with us and let us know how your trip was. These next few weeks must be killing you! Have fun and safe travels!

 

Workathome

Don't worry, I will be back after the cruise. As so many others I am addicted to this site. Even when I don't have a cruise planned. If there is anything you want to know, just let me know.

 

Will also save the compasses, but will need to find a way to post them. So time consuming to scan each page and post.

 

Anyone from any of e other weeks have anything different planned for Belize? We are looking at Taste of Belize thru coral breezes tours. Need to get a few more people interested so they do the tour.

[lori450]

OK, sailing on the Liberty in 17 days.

 

Everything I read on the Liberty is old and I thought I would start a new thread to get some new information. Plus I need something to do so I don't go stir crazy the next week!!

 

One thing that worries me on the Liberty is that I have seen several people refer to disembark being a nightmare?? Can anyone give me any experiences??

 

I have considered doing self disembark. But then someones says because it is a shorter cruise (we are doing the five night) that because so many people do the self disembark that it is even more of a nightmare. Thoughts??

 

And then just give me some tips and pointers and things not to miss. Have sailed 6 times, but this is the first time on Freedom class.

 

Please, please help me get thru the time till we leave!!

 

I love the Liberty. Even if the debarkation is unpleasant, it's only a brief time. Why not wait someplace quiet and be one of the last ones off. Or, go for early debarkation before the crowds. Either way, if you are psychologically ready to stay chill about it, it won' be a big issue. Have a great trip.

[nivek82]

On these shorter cruises if you can wait a bit then do that. You can still take your own luggage but on short cruises there can be TONS of people doing early self departure so they can be back at work that day.

 

We did this cruise last year and the 4 night after it as a b2b. We liked it so much we are doing it again (same week in Dec) with the same rooms. Sorry don't have the compasses anymore and traveled with our newborn last year so didn't do any ports. Still was a great return to crushing for us after our DD was born (and old enough to cruise).

 

Have a great time.

[PhoenixCruiser]

so was the Liberty doing the same sailings last year?

 

Any chance anyone has a compass for the 5 day which includes Belize and Cozumel??

 

We did the Same sailing last December and disembarkation was delayed due to our stop in Belize.

 

Getting off in Belize was also delayed a bit, those were some long lines and then our tender blew an engine.

 

Overall we had a great cruise. The ship is beautiful!

 

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