CruiseXLife Takes Liberty- Maiden San Juan to Southern Caribbean Photo Review

[Beach_gal]

Absolutely loving your review!

 

Did you by any chance get photos of the dinner menus?

 

Thanks for taking the time to write this!

[cruisexlife]

Great review, taking this trip again in 6 weeks. Since you're on the Barbados page portion of the review, I wanted to mention that you can get your passport stamped in the building at the end of the pier. It is on the right in some offices and the lady was really nice who gave us the stamps. I really only have my passport for making things easier, so other than a couple mexico stamps, I have a few from the islands. Well worth the 3 minutes to seek it out.

 

That was going to be the surprise at the end! :rolleyes: I collect stamps all the time, so I did manage to procure one in Barbados.

[cruisexlife]

What about internet/WiFi? Is it available and do you know the cost?

 

Didn't look into it, sorry. I only picked up wifi in the ports.

[cruisexlife]

Loving your review! I went on this itinerary in February 2014 and had a blast. Can't wait to see more and live in my memories. :)

 

I'm glad I can help you relive memories! Enjoy the review! :D

[cruisexlife]

Great Review

We are doing this cruise in September and wanted to do Magen's I can see $16 pp round trip but what is this other $8pp rental fee?

 

Thanks

 

 

Fair Winds and Following Seas

 

My bad! I meant to type "entrance fee". Don't know why I typed rental! The taxi driver said that it was an $8 ENTRANCE fee per person. Sorry about the confusion!

[SoloSailorII]

Thanks Cruiser, no worries, great review.

[silvercrikhix]

Enjoying your So Caribbean cruise review very much.

Thank you for posting it and all the time it takes.

Bucket listing this itinerary, so I'm taking some mental notes. :D

[cruisingbajan]

After taking the standard "I'm in Barbados so here is the sign and my ship" picture, we headed into the building. When you walk in, you begin going to your left through the shops, follow them out, and then you're outside. Very similar to Nassau. To your right is where people will be boarding, where the immigration is. Here is the first line of shops.

 

 

 

This is us in your photo sitting on the benches.:eek: We were waiting on our bags at the time. Its not a clear picture but that's the 3 of us sitting right there.What are the chances.:D

[cruisexlife]

Enjoying your So Caribbean cruise review very much.

Thank you for posting it and all the time it takes.

Bucket listing this itinerary, so I'm taking some mental notes. :D

 

And it deserves a spot on your bucket list! What a wonderful itinerary it was! I will get around to more posts tomorrow, but I'm glad you're enjoying it!

[cruisexlife]

This is us in your photo sitting on the benches.:eek: We were waiting on our bags at the time. Its not a clear picture but that's the 3 of us sitting right there.What are the chances.:D

 

WOW!! This is actually the coolest thing I've heard all day. :D I always think to myself "I wonder if I am in anyone's vacation photos, and what moment they caught me at". I guess you found yours!

 

If I remember correctly from the roll call, you were debarking right? What was your perspective on the 3 nights you were onboard?

 

(And to address your "up next" section in your review, maybe you could try the Fascination or Victory 3 night from San Juan to Barbados? They have to have them when they start the Southern route from San Juan.)

[TiffyLtheDork]

LOVING so far =) We are headed to Alaska on Legend next month so I'm soaking in the sun from your review hehe.

[cruisexlife]

LOVING so far =) We are headed to Alaska on Legend next month so I'm soaking in the sun from your review hehe.

 

Thanks for following along! I will get some more written tonight, yesterday and today are really busy days. But I hear the Alaska cruise is amazing, you'll have so much fun!

[melodyc7504]

Do you get the Funshops book on the ship?

[Nica Mom]

Loving the review! We did this itinerary a year ago, and now going back again with the kids in August. Did you save the FunTimes? I am especially interested in the first day in San Juan.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cruisexlife]

We were there for about 3 hours, shuffling between our fronts, our backs, the water, and the side that always get the strange tanlines. We got some BAD tanlines on Glory and didn't want to make the same mistake this cruise.

 

But, around 1:15 we began getting hungry. The prices at Copacabana seemed a little high, so we decided to look through the FunFinds book and see what we found. We found a place called Harbour Lights, just down the beach. We could've gotten two free chairs and an umbrella if we went sooner, darn :rolleyes:

 

We got to Harbour Lights and found the menu

 

 

The money in Barbados is worth 2-1 American, so the prices listed here are in American, where at Copacabana, they were not. So if you see a hamburger for sale at $22, just know you can pay with $11 American. We soon realized that the prices here were the same as they were at Copacabana. So, it made no sense not to just eat here.

 

 

Mom got jerk chicken and apple slaw, with a bottle of water. I got chicken fingers and apple slaw, with sweet tea. Don't really know what the apple slaw was, but it tasted like vegetables with oil and salt on it. It was great to try something cultural when I tried to be a basic American ;) Harbour Lights had amazing sweet tea! It tasted just like home, any southerners would be satisfied!

 

 

 

After finishing up our meal, we began our nice walk along the beach again back to our comfy loungers back at Copacabana. Carlisle Bay is such a beautiful beachfront!

[cruisexlife]

Do you get the Funshops book on the ship?

 

Melody,

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic, I feel slightly honored that your first post was a question placed on my review! :D

 

Yes, we did buy it on the ship. You can see the FunFinds shopping expert on Deck 5 to get it. If you are coming from the glass elevators, walk towards the casino and swing a hard left when you pass under the sign, his/her desk is in the corner. :p

[cruisexlife]

Loving the review! We did this itinerary a year ago, and now going back again with the kids in August. Did you save the FunTimes? I am especially interested in the first day in San Juan.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Thanks so much! You will have an amazing time onboard the ship! Make sure you report back to my review so we can compare notes!

 

No, I am sorry, I did not save any FunTimes. I didn't get onboard until 6PM anyway so I don't really remember much. I do remember the Shopping Show for Saint Thomas at 7:15 and the sailaway party at 10, however.

 

Sorry I can't be of much help! :o

[fozzy]

Thanks for all of the compliments! I'm glad I can be of help! ;)

 

I'm not stopping, just pausing for questions! I'll post more tonight from my day in Barbados. Thanks for following along! :)

 

Thanks so much for the link, it will totally come in handy on my next cruise to St.Thomas. I wonder if it will accommodate the ships that come in at 11, like the Carnival ships from Florida. And what kinds of tours I can do while over there. All valuable stuff to research! Thanks again, I'll get some more pics tonight!!!!

 

Thanks for getting back to me. I'm just getting back to the review now.

[cruisexlife]

We found our chairs and sat back down. No one stole anything from us, which was good. Nice safe beach. I tanned for a little longer. Do you know that line between the chocolate and vanilla icecream in those big gallon tubs? Well that's what it looked like when I folded back my bathing suit. :D

 

After getting hot again I went for a swim. Carnival Liberty and Celebrity Equinox docked in Barbados from the water.

 

 

Tranquility. It was a very quiet beach. Other than the occasional vendors, no one bothered us all day. If you are in the market for a water tour, the vendors are selling that, so here would also be a nice place to scout out some cheaper tours. I would place this beach at the top of any beach I've ever been to, from Daydream Island in Australia to Ocean City in Maryland. It really was beautiful.

 

 

 

Thought this pic was kinda cool.

 

 

See? It really is pink! It looks even pinker when you're coming out of the water, but yes the sand is slightly pink. It's gorgeous!

 

[cruisexlife]

I got out of the water and tanned for a little more. We both used the wifi for about 15 minutes to post our pictures and see what was going on at home. Here is a Virgin Atlantic 777 arriving in Grantley Adams International from London Gatwick.

 

 

After finishing with the wifi, we went back out into the parking lot and there was a shuttle right there waiting for us. I got on wishing that it was taking me to a resort, where I would have another day here, but it was taking me to my floating resort where I had another day in paradise, just not this paradise. I really enjoyed Copacabana and I recommend it to anyone who is making a stop here on Liberty, or any of the Carnival Journey's cruises. You will not regret it, I promise. Ask any questions if you want more information!

 

We got into the shuttle and began driving back to the ship. Here is a local enjoying the shade with the Bridgetown Marina in the back, I thought the marina in the middle of the city was cool. This happened to be the only picture that I go of it.

 

 

The obligatory license picture.

 

 

We returned to the port area, and paid another $10 to the driver. We got out f the shuttle to this view.

 

 

They have some unregulated shops outside of the terminal. Mostly handmade goods by locals. Make sure you stop by there and at least check it out, as all of the stores inside the terminal are regulated by the port, and believe it or not, have higher prices than the stuff outside.

 

Liberty poking her head over the terminal building.

 

 

Coming Up: Some Port Shopping and Sailaway

[cruisexlife]

Thanks for getting back to me. I'm just getting back to the review now.

 

Anytime, take you time reading! Hope you enjoy reading as much as I am writing! ;)

[Buffettfan 225]

We were up by the waterslide for sailaway. I like being on top of the party, but not having a speaker in my ear. The thing that is different about this cruise is that the Blue Iguana Party is on the first night. Usually, they are throughout the cruise, and there is just a generic sailaway party, but due to the late departure, they have the Blue Iguana party on the first night.

 

Here is a (blurry) shot of the dock that I got.

 

 

Someone was setting off fireworks in the distance!

 

 

This is one of the forts near El Morro. I'd love to visit it someday, does anyone know the name? Thank you!

 

 

A night skyline photo of the city of San Juan. Lovely place.

 

 

If you have not been, you are really missing out. San Juan is also a great place for land vacations, and I would totally recommend it to anyone. Even though there wasn't much that I did in San Juan, I can help you with anything from my past experiences, just ask away!

 

After leaving the open decks, mom and I went and got some ice cream and watched the small lights slowly fade from a table by the aft pool. After that, we went to the Fun Shops. I got this picture for anyone who is a model collector!

 

 

I did not buy the model, but I did buy a postcard for one of my close friends, who lives in Norway. We send each other postcards when we travel, and I knew I would forget to get one. He loves postcards with the ships on it! But other than San Juan and St.Thomas, they didn't have any postcards for our other ports. Just letting you guys know in case you buy them onboard. It was the ship's first cruise to these ports so I'll give Carnival a little slack.

 

After some shopping, we were pretty worn out. We wanted to be up early the next morning, so we headed back to our room, showered, and turned in for the night.

 

Next: St.Thomas, USVI

From our experience the guest services used to have free postcards of the ship. They also sold postcard stamps & take the mail.

Second the fort besides El Morrow is Castillo de San Cristóbal - the one closer and less of a hill to walk.

[Buffettfan 225]

 

 

 

 

Around 6:30 we headed to Lido for our dinner tonight. Some were dressed up, but I had on a polo and sandals. Here was the menu tonight. We had checked after leaving Tea Time and it was very similar to what was offered in the MDR, just without Lobster. The Prime Rib, Buttered Broccoli, and Baked Potato with Bacon Bits were delicious, with the Tiramisu Crème with a few watermelon slices for desert. We really liked the Lido dinner, It was a nice alternative. We had some coffee and talked for a few minutes afterwards.

 

 

It was now 7:30, and we were ready for the night. I get chills remembering the beautiful atrium at night. ;)

 

 

Next: Night Fun

Do you recall on Lido first elegant night seeing Creme Brulee? Thanks following your review.

[Buffettfan 225]

You mentioned a shopping book your mom bought. Can you describe what sort of freebies you searched out please? Also what you got for scavenger hunt initials. We love walking around like you describe and having things to look for would add to the fun.

- I still recall old days when you'd go in stores looking for lucky cabin number and won a prize.

- also the st.Thomas team - how many stairs to climb to get on?

[cruisexlife]

From our experience the guest services used to have free postcards of the ship. They also sold postcard stamps & take the mail.

Second the fort besides El Morrow is Castillo de San Cristóbal - the one closer and less of a hill to walk.

 

Nope, this time you had to pay for postage from the ship, and the postcard were sold for $.99 in the gift shop. Wish they would change it back, postcards aren't as popular as they used to be!