Life on Liberty 2/21-2/28: Mo'Bay, GC, Cozumel

[JaniceB]

Really enjoying your review. What an awesome treat to see that suite. I am a sunset girl too. I take them all the time at home and on vacation.

[Beachiekeen]

We decided to eat light in the MDR tonight. We were back with our original servers from Day 1. Alicia was not happy to see me only get a crab cake and a salad! I told her I was convinced I had already gained 10 lbs. I did eat about 15 rolls though also--I could not get enough of those rolls. Bread is my weakness! Hubby and I shared the sliders also.

 

 

 

 

This was the night of the BEST dessert I had the whole cruise, the warm chocolate cake. Get this, trust me, just get it, don't even think about it.

 

 

Hubby got the crème brulee, but this was one of the few misses we had in the MDR.

 

 

After dinner, I dragged hubby to the Platinum Theater to see Saturday Night Fever. I told him we were seeing it, it was non-negotiable. BFF escaped but hubby could not.

 

I can't remember when we got there but it was probably about 8:00. We went straight up to the balcony thinking we would have better luck there. We found 2 seats and asked the nice lady if anyone was sitting there and she replied "You are!" They were from Arlington, which is a suburb of Ft. Worth so we had a nice chat. They were really the best seats in the house and I didn't know how we got so lucky!

 

 

Ok...now I know how we got so lucky--this section was for Gold cardholders. We saw the couple from the Royal Suite and part of me did wonder how we scored seats with them but since we didn't see anyone telling us we couldn't, we sat there. And it was AWESOME.

 

If it makes you suiteholders feel better, we tried it again for In the Air and got turned away. However, I don't feel bad because what happens is--when the show gets close, the attendant takes down the rope and leaves and anyone can sit there. The way I know this is I saw the guy do it at the ice show--right before the show, he took down the ropes, let anyone sit there and left. So even though we were sort of in the wrong, we weren't really.

 

Anyway, we loved the show, even hubby enjoyed it. I don't want to spoil it so I'll just leave it at that. The boat was really rocking that night though and a couple of times I turned to hubby and gave him a look that said "What the heck is going on here?!"

 

We ended the night watching Silver Linings Playbook in our room and went to bed at midnight.

[kontraxed]

Thank-you for a wonderful review with pictures! We are booked on the Liberty out of Galveston in "only" eleven months. One question. When you went to Jamaica, did you go to Falmouth or Mahogany Bay?

 

Thanks again!

[Thetrail]

I guess I can take pictures of them and post as images? That's the only way I know how...

 

Yeah I was never a sun worshipper when I was a teenager. I thought laying out was boring. Back then my friends laid out wearing nothing but baby oil! Sure thankful for that now! Thanks for the kind comments. :)

Will enjoy following you guys around!....K.O.:)

[Beachiekeen]

Thank-you for a wonderful review with pictures! We are booked on the Liberty out of Galveston in "only" eleven months. One question. When you went to Jamaica, did you go to Falmouth or Mahogany Bay?

 

Thanks again!

 

We went to Montego Bay. I don't see this itinerary very much and I was wondering why ours was different. It was really beautiful--you'll see it tomorrow! :)

[Beachiekeen]

We were up at 6:30 and this was the view.

 

 

We headed to the MDR for breakfast at 7:30. I really wanted to try the granola bar. You choose your granola and toppings and it was soooo good!

 

 

After breakfast, we all met up on Deck 4 for pictures as the ship came into port.

 

 

 

[Beachiekeen]

So we had all 3 decided that we would stay on the ship in Jamaica. Hubby had already been to Dunn's River Falls and Mo'Bay was too far from it anyway. We had looked at spending the day at the Hilton Rose Hall but it was expensive and we were having two resort days in the remaining ports.

 

So I went down around 9:30 to the Solarium to claim our seats where we would be spending the day. It was pretty deserted still and I found 3 cushy chairs on the pool deck in the shade.

 

 

We shared our spot with a solo cruiser, a very nice man from Wichita, KS. We spent the day pooling and tubbing and the boys went water sliding.

 

 

 

A little note about the slides--hubby was told by the spotter to go and ended up cranking an older man who kept getting stuck 3 times. It was very fortunate that neither of them was hurt.

 

Since it was a port day, the Solarium pool bar didn't open until around 1:00. So we got some drinks at the main pool bar which was open.

 

Hubby photobombed my lava flow picture.

 

 

 

We did the usual get ice cream at Sprinkles and went to WJ for lunch. I found the Wild Greens section and made a beautiful salad to go with my hot dog. This was my favorite section for sure. The dressing wasn't the greatest but all the salad and toppings were very fresh.

 

Around 2:30 we left our chairs and went up to Deck 12 to take some pictures.

 

 

The boys decided to get off the ship and look around the port and I decided to go sit out on the balcony and rest. I ended up forgetting that I planned to go have tea at the WJ at 3:00, boo. We planned to all meet back around 6:00 for sailaway and sunset and then hubby and I had dinner reservations at Chops.

Edited March 2, 2016 by Beachiekeen

[comoceva]

Love your report and also your pictures.

[Funbobby68]

Just looked over all the compasses ...... What no 80's music trivia , that was the only one I've ever won at .

[coast2coast]

We'll be going on Liberty's sister ship Freedom in July. I'll have to ask for a lava flow. We went to Maui for our honeymoon back in '94 where I had my first one. Took several trips back to Maui before I got dear hubby hooked on cruising in '02. Haven't been to Maui/Hawaii since '04, so no lava flows since then. Never thought to ask for one on a cruise! Loving your review... great pix!:)

[Beachiekeen]

We'll be going on Liberty's sister ship Freedom in July. I'll have to ask for a lava flow. We went to Maui for our honeymoon back in '94 where I had my first one. Took several trips back to Maui before I got dear hubby hooked on cruising in '02. Haven't been to Maui/Hawaii since '04, so no lava flows since then. Never thought to ask for one on a cruise! Loving your review... great pix!:)

 

As much as I've enjoyed my two cruises, Maui is my happy place! We went back for our 5-year anniversary and are going back this October. I'd love to do a Hawaiian cruise at some point. The lava flows were good so definitely try one!

[Beachiekeen]

I had a slight moment of panic when DH didn't return to the room for some time after getting off the ship to look around the port. As it turns out, he and BFF had went to Hoof & Claw for a beer and got trapped on the Promenade by the DreamWorks Move it Parade. He videoed it for me and it was really cute. I ended up watching it on the TV the next day also.

 

We all went to Deck 12 for sailaway because I wanted to see the view from up there.

 

 

At 7:00, hubby and I went to Chops for dinner. It was all very good and the service was great. Our poor waiter appeared to have half the restaurant to himself and although he was obviously busy, he acted as though he had all the time in the world for every table. We sat next to a nice couple from Austin.

 

I had the scallops and hubby had the shrimp cocktail which was one of the best things we had the whole cruise.

 

 

 

I had a really yummy salad with crusted goat cheese and hubby had the Caesar which had delicious homemade croutons and shaved parmesan.

 

 

 

I had the 6 oz filet which is the perfect size for me and I'm always really happy when I find one. It doesn't look like anything special but they bring you your choice of sauces to go with it.

 

[Beachiekeen]

Sides were asparagus, mushrooms and these potato croquette things--I probably would get the baked potatoes next time but they were ok.

 

 

For dessert I got the chocolate cake and hubby got the mud pie. It was good but I actually liked the chocolate cake in the dining room better.

 

 

 

We met up with BFF who had had dinner in the MDR and had the lamb chop and cherries jubilee.

 

We went over to Hoof & Claw to see Voytek but it was too crowded so we went down to the R Bar on the Promenade since we had not been there yet. I got a drink called Let's Get Fizzical and it was really good, very light and refreshing. We went up to Olive & Twist but it was completely dead and the waiters barely acknowledged us so we went to bed. I was so excited for Grand Cayman the next day.

[Beachiekeen]

Unfortunately, this was all I would see of Grand Cayman.

 

 

Apparently, a front was on its way in and the port was closing to tenders at noon so there was no way we could stop there. I had read enough to know it happens frequently but I was still really disappointed. Even though I told hubby I would be through with cruising from Galveston after this cruise (I want to do the Virgin Islands from Florida), I now want to do this same itinerary again first so we can get off the ship in Jamaica and hopefully see Grand Cayman.

 

We went down to breakfast in the MDR and I got my omelet again. The MDR was having a menu where lots of the items featured were made with chocolate (what some people call the chocolate breakfast I think). This was the first time we had been sat with other people and not at our own table.

 

Hubby got the chocolate waffles.

 

 

Since I knew the Solarium would be packed, I raced down there at 9:00 a.m. and got literally the last 3 chairs in the shade. These were off to the side of the pool deck on the same side as the hot tubs. (Whereas the Solarium was packed, I walked around the pool deck and it was pretty much deserted.)

 

 

It was much cooler once the aforementioned front came in. Hubby said the pool was heated on this day but I never went in and just stuck to the hot tubs.

 

We sat and talked about dinner as this was the second formal night. The boys went to the gym and when hubby came back, he said our choices were 5:30 and 8:30. I told him we needed to do 5:30 because I wanted to see the In the Air show at 8:30.

 

I had the Compass with me and saw that the drink punch card was being offered and we decided since we could all 3 share it, it would be a good deal. You had to purchase it at Café Promenade which I thought was weird, so hubby went down and got it.

 

So we settled in for another day of relaxing and tubbing. I wanted a lighter drink this time so I started with a Bahama Papa which was rum, banana liquor, orange and pineapple juice. It was yummy.

 

 

Later the front did indeed pass by us. It got windy and cold and everyone started shutting the windows in the Solarium.

 

 

The Solarium hot tubs were so windy, the spray was blowing in our face, so hubby and I decided to try the hot tubs on the pool deck. They were better and much hotter also.

 

Later in the afternoon, I got a Miami Vice. I didn't like it as much as the Lava Flow.

 

 

Around 2:45, we gave up our chairs and I decided the steam and sauna would feel good since it was so cool so I spent about 20 minutes in there and went up to the room to get ready for formal night.

[Wilson]

Thx for the continued pics and information. Did you happen to catch Derek Lewis? I think he plays nightly in the Hoof & Claw around 9:30.

[Beachiekeen]

While I was getting ready for dinner, I watched the previous night's Love and Marriage show on TV. It was pretty funny.

 

Like last year, I had brought my LBD for the second formal night, and like last year, I didn't feel like wearing it. So I wore a long maxi dress and dressy jewelry. I did do my hair and everything though.

 

 

Hubby and I are not cruise picture people. However, I did want to take pictures on the staircase and see how they came out. So hubby obliged me and we went to have our pictures taken after dinner. I thought they would snap a picture or two and send us on our way but it was quite the production. And as it turns out, the first guy wouldn't even take them on the staircase, instead posing us in front of it. And the poses were the cheesy ones I hadn't done since my high school prom. So then I say, can't we have one on the staircase and he sends us to the guy on the other side. *sigh*

 

So we do the whole thing again over there. BFF snapped a few on his iPhone at the same time in case we didn't want to buy one.

 

In the end, when we went to look at them, we found out one single digital image is $25. Seriously? So we didn't buy any of them although I would have if the price had been say in the $10-$15 range. So I will just make do with the ones BFF took.

 

 

Ok, back to dinner. Tonight was the infamous lobster night. Which means nothing to me because I don't really like lobster. I know, I'm weird.

 

Hubby does like lobster and he ended up eating 3 of them which didn't bode well for later.

 

 

We started with a mushroom appetizer over puff pastry.

 

 

Nothing on the menu really appealed to me so I ended up with the strip steak which is one of the things that they have every night and it wasn't that great. (Prime rib was also on the menu but it's not my favorite either. BFF got it and said it was ok.)

 

Edited March 2, 2016 by Beachiekeen

[Beachiekeen]

Thx for the continued pics and information. Did you happen to catch Derek Lewis? I think he plays nightly in the Hoof & Claw around 9:30.

 

No, we had planned on going over to see him but we ended up being too tired. :(

[Beachiekeen]

Dessert was very exciting as we had the grand mariner soufflé and baked Alaska to choose from. We got both of course.

 

 

 

After dinner, we decided to go see Voytek at Boleros until it was time for the In the Air show. It was really busy and I had to go to the bar to get my drink, which was a wine cocktail, sort of like Sangria (they were out of my first choice, the Proseco). This was really good and I liked it as you can see.

 

Cheers!

 

 

We went down to the theater around 7:45 because I was afraid we wouldn't get a good seat. I have seen many Cirque de Soleil shows, many from the second or third row so we went down almost to the very front. In the end, I wish I had been slightly further back--probably more like 7th or 8th row would have been better.

 

While we were waiting, the boat started really rocking again (if you have seasickness, it's best to avoid the Platinum Theater). And after 3 lobster tails and being hot in his suit, hubby started to fade and ended up bailing from the show. I didn't mind though, I was happy to watch it by myself. It ended up being my favorite of the 3 major productions. And I am pretty sure I have seen the final act in an actual CDS show.

 

I was back in the room at 10:00 and hubby was feeling better but BFF was already asleep so we called it a night.

 

Just to back up a little, BFF just sent me our sunset picture from Jamaica. :)

 

 

Tomorrow, it's Cozumel!

Edited March 2, 2016 by Beachiekeen

[widallas]

Thanks for sharing such a great review -- love the pictures! (Especially the drink pictures and suggestions for things to try....adding to my list.)

[BecciBoo]

No, we ended up not doing it and I never found how much it was either. On Carnival, it was $15 so maybe somewhere in that range. The boys would rather just pay that much and get the drink they want. *sigh*

 

Oh so their bad....one of our favorite activities...soo much fun! And you learn all the tips of how to make them!! You'll have to put your foot down next time!!;)

 

Thx for the review...lovin it!

[WomanRN]

We went to Montego Bay. I don't see this itinerary very much and I was wondering why ours was different. It was really beautiful--you'll see it tomorrow! :)

 

Now I'm confused and we leave Sunday!!!:confused:

Did you really dock in Montego Bay or was it Falmouth?? Because our itinerary says Falmouth??

If it really was Montego Bay, that will definitely change our plans!!

[BecciBoo]

Your sunset pic is absolutely breathtaking!

 

I suggest you take the other itinerary though and visit Roatan and Belize, definitely our favorite, way better than Jamaica and Cayman. Some don't care for Belize, but if you do Goff's Caye, your very own tropical island, you may like it if you snorkel. But love love love Roatan and West Bay Beach.

[BillOh]

I will be watching for your experiences/thoughts with MO bay. My first trip to Jamaica was on Freedom at Ocho Rios. I had a good time. Sometime around then it seemed like less cruises had trips to Mo Bay so I have no personal experience and then when Fallmouth was built Ocho Rios went away. I made another trip on Freedom in 15 and went there. I didn't go outside the port area. I look forward to heading what you did in Mo Bay.

[BillOh]

We didn't have luggage yet of course so after checking out our digs, we continued our tour of the ship, seeing the casino next.

 

 

I thought you said you were 46? This photo questions your integrity! ;) Enjoying the pics of Liberty. They are sized about how I like them.

[vaborn2cruise]

Love your pictures and review. Looking forward to what you did in Cozumel. We are there in November. Done Senor Frogs and Paradise Beach on previous cruise so looking for something else this trip.