Liberty cruise report | 032016-032716 | Falmouth, George Town, Cozumel

[gambler]

Still here, Thank-you

[jes Scott]

Following! Just booked this for 2018

[cccjenn]

After lunch, we walked thru the shops and took in all the inside opportunities. The winds were still howling and the wind chill had many people inside. The Platinum theatre showed Kung Fu Panda 3 and it was packed.

 

I liked having music available during the day, and not just at night time.

 

 

As Tuesday was the first formal night, we headed back to the room to get dressed. It took me about five minutes to get my tuxedo and boots on, another two minutes to tie the bow tie. The wife took a bit longer...

 

We skipped the photo barrage and entered the MDR punctually at 5:30 PM. Kevin was at our table, as was another couple. They were also from Oklahoma and were cordial. We would only see them one more evening as they also ate at other locations.

 

The Monday menu was Saffron. I ordered shrimp cocktail again, as I would every night. Our assistant waiter automatically brought me fresh horseradish, too. That was a nice touch. I don't recall what my better half had, and had no pictures to reference!

 

For dinner I ordered the Premium Angus beef sliders. They were just fair. The meat was tough and the buns were retired hockey pucks. Dale, the male from the second couple, appeared to like my order and requested them as his second entree. Lunch was definitely better than dinner! Sorrento's, here we come later!

 

After dinner, we visited the Hoof and Claw pub. We had a couple take a couple of pictures for us. That just saved me $100!

 

 

 

 

I procured a Heineken and the misses had a strawberry daiquiri.

 

The Promenade was hopping, with formal pictures everywhere and a live band. It was quite enjoyable.

 

 

 

Tell your wife I think her dress is beautiful! All that sleeping in did her good, too, because she has a wonderful smile on her face. :)

 

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

[hogwildcruzers]

Great pics, great review, I'm still waiting for the remainder of it, one of the best reviews I have read!.....we sail her in Oct.

[cruiser fanatic]

Great job on your review so far. Do you have to get tender stickers in Grand Cayman? I know on some Carnival ships you do. We are going on the Liberty this Sunday! It has been 11 years since we have cruised Royal Caribbean.

[M_BA]

Tell your wife I think her dress is beautiful! All that sleeping in did her good, too, because she has a wonderful smile on her face. :)

 

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

 

Thanks, I let her know.

[M_BA]

Great job on your review so far. Do you have to get tender stickers in Grand Cayman? I know on some Carnival ships you do. We are going on the Liberty this Sunday! It has been 11 years since we have cruised Royal Caribbean.

 

We didn't have tender tickets for Grand Cayman. The large charter tenders were moving 150+ people per tender trip. There were two to three behind the loading tender waiting to pick up additional people.

 

Getting back on the ship was another story, very long lines if you weren't in a suite, D+, Pinnacle, etc.

[M_BA]

As our tender pulled away, another docked alongside Liberty of the Seas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Self portrait:

 

[M_BA]

While I generally prefer to dock, tenders do offer a view of the ship(s) that the docks lack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[M_BA]

This sail boat was anchored about 400 meters away from Liberty. I wonder what their daily harbor fee is.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the Princess ship that sailed into the harbor alongside Liberty.

 

 

 

 

 

Liberty in the background of our picture.

 

[M_BA]

Tender dock; George Town, Grand Cayman. to the left is Princess, to the right is Liberty and NCL.

 

 

Just past the dock were groups assembling for excursions. We didn't book one on board, but planned to directly. We began looking for the helicopter tour excursion.

 

We found Cayman Island Helicopters and booked a 12:30 PM tour.

 

On board the ship, there is one tour through them, offered for $199/PP. It is a 15-20 mnute island tour, that includes Stingray City, dive spots and Seven Mile Island. We booked this tour directly for $135/PP, saving us $128.

 

They also offer a $75/PP tour for 8-10 minutes, and a 40-45 minute whole island tour for $340/PP.

 

We then headed to the nearest George Town Post Office to mail post cards to our children and Ellie Walton.

 

Along the way, we noticed several wandering chickens.

 

 

The George Town Post Office on the left:

 

 

View from the Post Office steps:

 

[M_BA]

We spent the next two hours shopping in George Town, mainly for our six children. The misses found a couple items for herself and I ended up acquiring a George Town t-shirt.

 

 

This ship caught my attention at the pier. Notice how high the life boat is? It's on a sled system to launch in high seas. Interesting to see in person.

 

 

More shopping along Harbour Dr.

 

 

For lunch, we decided to eat at Margaritaville on Harbour Dr. It's an open air restaurant with a beautiful view of the harbor. The menu looked enticing and our taste buds were well rewarded.

 

One land shark, about to consume another Landshark.

 

 

Lisa showing off her sun burn.

 

[M_BA]

Lisa had a Cuban sandwich, along with onion rings. I was allowed a nibble...full flavor and tender!

 

 

I ordered a Mexican salad, with chicken. It was good, though I'm not a huge fan of iceberg lettuce.

 

 

We finished up our early lunch and headed back to the pier. We were to meet the Cayman Islands Helicopters van at 12:15 to take us to the helipad.

 

While waiting for the van, we introduced ourselves to the man and teenage son also waiting for the van. They were from Norway and were also on Liberty of the Seas. They were both looking forward to the tour. Our ride to the helipad was short, just 2-3 minutes. We went inside and paid, then waited for the helicopter. As we waited, we were offered complimentary coffee, bottled water or sodas.

 

The helicopter arrived just before 12:30 PM.

 

[ukintheus]

Still following along and enjoying your report. It makes me wish we didn't have a year to wait!:)

[gambler]

I think M BA is stuck on the helicopter.

[ramja96]

Still following along and enjoying your report. It makes me wish we didn't have a year to wait!:)

 

UGH!! I was just thinking the same thing. This is terrible, I have THREE trips to the beach planned for this summer, and a trip to Vegas in October, and all I can think about is the two cruises I have in 1 year and 2 YEARS!! :rolleyes:

[M_BA]

I think M BA is stuck on the helicopter.

 

I'll be landing shortly. :D

[M_BA]

Our pilot was from France, he held a brief pre-flight meeting and then the seven of us boarded the helicopter.

 

 

There were four passengers in the back, and two in the front alongside the pilot. I sat directly behind the pilot.

 

 

 

We started out flying slow and low. The views were simply magnificent.

 

[M_BA]

I filmed a short 0:20 video of us just after take-off. We headed into the harbor and flew in between Liberty of the Seas and the NCL ship.

 

 

We then headed back over George Town.

 

 

 

 

"Up there is the sky."

 

 

 

 

[M_BA]

We were now back over water, headed towards Stingray City.

 

Some of my pictures out of the side window are blurred by the plexiglass window. Sorry!

 

 

 

There were sailboats everywhere in between the island and Stingray City.

 

 

 

Our pilot liked to talk using hand gestures.

 

 

 

More boats enjoying a casual Thursday.

 

[ramja96]

That water looks AMAZING!

[M_BA]

That water looks AMAZING!

 

It is, especially when one is in the water! Nothing like CONUS beaches back home.

[M_BA]

Our pilot banked us hard left and then hard right to give us better views from our side windows. Unfortunately, no forward dives through the windscreen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We then flew back over George Town and Seven Mile Beach.

 

 

 

[M_BA]

We next toured the Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[raprice18]

Amazing. The blueness of the water looks surreal