Liberty of the Seas - Royal Suite Review - Aug 21 2016 Sailing

[Kcjarvis]

Hello again everybody on Cruise Critic and those watching the replay on Periscope – http://www.periscope.tv/kcjarvis or @kcjarvis

 

It’s Ken and Paulette. We are Diamond Plus cruise addicts from NYC, ready for our summer cruise on board the Liberty of the Seas. This would be our 46th cruise, our 8th time on Lady Liberty, but our 1st time sailing out of Galveston.

 

Itinerary:

 

 

This would also be our 1st time flying on Southwest. As an Executive Platinum American Airlines frequent flyer, I wasn’t thrilled taking Southwest, but it was direct to Hobby, so we went with it. Let’s just say LGA was a mad house.

 

 

But we made it safely with our luggage. We rented a car for the week and headed to Galveston. In 53 minutes, we arrived at the Hilton Galveston Island.

 

 

We cleaned up and headed to Saltgrass for some steaks and sangria margaritas, then off to bed…

 

 

 

Woke up to make sure our ride was en route.

 

[Yorkvillain]

Yes! RKSister........BOOOOOOM

[rubrrick]

We no longer book RS's on the Voyager class or the Freedom class. There is a flaw in the bedroom that we can not believe has been corrected. My DW cannot sit at her make up table, even with the blinds closed, because of the heat that is generated in the bedroom when the RS side of the ship is in the sun.

 

We have had parties where officers have been invited, and they cannot believe the heat issue, yet nothing has been done to help the issue.

 

We love OS's and GS's, but we no longer splurge on the largest cabin, because of this problem.:)

 

Rick

[Kcjarvis]

Cruise Day has arrived with a beautiful sunrise.

 

 

A quick breakfast trip to IHOP, then we dropped the bags off at the ship, and headed to EZ Cruise Parking.

 

 

 

WHY DON'T PEOPLE DROP OFF THEIR BAGS AT THE SHIP BEFORE PARKING????

 

 

The new terminal is not Term 18 or Port Liberty quality, but it's ok - 40 mins door to ding at 11:45 am

 

 

At 1pm we were able to enter our cabin

 

[tokyotea]

I am so glad you are posting this review!! We board this Sunday and will be using EZ Cruise Parking. Where do we go to drop bags off and will they charge us to drive into the cruise loading area to drop them off before parking the car? Thank you so much!

[Kcjarvis]

even with the blinds closed, because of the heat that is generated in the bedroom when the RS side of the ship is in the sun.

 

Rick

 

The lighter colored curtains have been replaced with dark insulated heavy curtains which do a better job keeping the heat out. We didn't have a problem, and I like a cold room

 

[Kcjarvis]

Yes! RKSister........BOOOOOOM

 

We need Rat Pack T-shirts!!!!

[Kcjarvis]

I am so glad you are posting this review!! We board this Sunday and will be using EZ Cruise Parking. Where do we go to drop bags off and will they charge us to drive into the cruise loading area to drop them off before parking the car? Thank you so much!

 

Enter on 22nd st. Drive past terminal 1 to the Liberty dropoff - No charge

[tokyotea]

Enter on 22nd st. Drive past terminal 1 to the Liberty dropoff - No charge

 

Got it. Thank you!

[ssb]

Cruise Day has arrived with a beautiful sunrise.

 

 

A quick breakfast trip to IHOP, then we dropped the bags off at the ship, and headed to EZ Cruise Parking.

 

 

 

WHY DON'T PEOPLE DROP OFF THEIR BAGS AT THE SHIP BEFORE PARKING????

 

 

The new terminal is not Term 18 or Port Liberty quality, but it's ok - 40 mins door to ding at 11:45 am

 

 

At 1pm we were able to enter our cabin

 

 

What wrong with 40 minutes?

At Port Liberty there was disability line and everyone else stood in same line.

No priority line for other levels. We are diamond plus. And it took about 40 minutes to ding also at Port Liberty last go around.,

[Kcjarvis]

 

 

 

 

 

[ssb]

Cruise Day has arrived with a beautiful sunrise.

 

 

A quick breakfast trip to IHOP, then we dropped the bags off at the ship, and headed to EZ Cruise Parking.

 

 

 

WHY DON'T PEOPLE DROP OFF THEIR BAGS AT THE SHIP BEFORE PARKING????

 

 

The new terminal is not Term 18 or Port Liberty quality, but it's ok - 40 mins door to ding at 11:45 am

 

 

At 1pm we were able to enter our cabin

 

 

What wrong with 40 minutes?

At Port Liberty there was disability line and everyone else stood in same line.

No priority line for all other levels. Only priority stations for check in. We are diamond plus. And it took about 40 minutes to ding also at Port Liberty last go around.,

[MichaelCMTX]

WHY DON'T PEOPLE DROP OFF THEIR BAGS AT THE SHIP BEFORE PARKING????

 

Can I get an Amen? If we've got our own transportation there's no other way.

 

Besides, if we've got our own transportation it meant no checked bags so that meant if we thought about bringing it... we brought it. I don't want to try to schlep all that around the Parking Shuttle

 

Will be watching this thread, we get the Royal Suite on Liberty... in about another 500 days - maybe this'll fire DW up a little?

[Kcjarvis]

 

 

 

 

 

[Kcjarvis]

And it took about 40 minutes to ding also at Port Liberty last go around.,

 

Was that on Anthem or Quantum? My average time at Bayonne was 10 mins door to ding on 3 cruises. 40 mins is ok, but if you compare it to the other "new" terminals it's significantly slower...

[molsonschooner]

Your trip reminds me of the time we cruised out of Galveston. We flew Southwest, stayed at the Galveston Beach Hotel. We had dinner at the Saltgrass and breakfast on Sunday at Ihop. Our trip was a couple of years ago on Navigator. It was a very nice trip.

[ssb]

Was that on Anthem or Quantum? My average time at Bayonne was 10 mins door to ding on 3 cruises. 40 mins is ok, but if you compare it to the other "new" terminals it's significantly slower...

 

Good review by the way! Thanks Kcjarvis!

 

It must be good there then, we must have hit a slow day!

Circumstances on the departure day are everything!

 

We were on Liberty Repo to Galveston last fall.

Doing Vision B2B Quebec City to Jersey to Galveston 2017.

[3happykids!]

great review. i just got off the LOS but not the royal suite. It is an amazing cabin......i can only dream. Please keep posting

[cruising grandma]

Hi, Ken and Paulette!

 

John and I were in Freedom last week, and I'm going on Liberty Sunday.....for three weeks. Just missing y'all again! Y'all come on down to Miami 12/9 and get on Navigator for our Pinnacle cruise!:D

Edited August 31, 2016 by cruising grandma

[Wilson]

Enjoying the review Ken. Look forward to more.

 

We are on Liberty in 75 days and will be in our first GS.

 

And like York said: RKSister...BOOM!

Edited August 31, 2016 by Wilson

[Kcjarvis]

Hi, Ken and Paulette!

 

John and I were in Freedom last week, and I'm going on Liberty Sunday.....for three weeks. Just missing y'all again! Y'all come on down to Miami 12/9 and get on Navigator for our Pinnacle cruise!:D

 

 

Congrats!!!!!!! We are on Freedom on 12/10.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[cruising grandma]

Congrats!!!!!!! We are on Freedom on 12/10.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Ok...say hi to Mario from me!:)

[jaspercat]

Hello Mr. Jarvis (to quote Chris and Andrew:)). OMG -- your suite is amazing. Thanks for posting your periscope link -- will definitely be checking the 'scopes out. Look forward to the rest of the review.

[JaniceB]

Can't wait to read more of your review.

 

How much was the EZ cruise parking? Still trying to decide if I want a rental car and drop off ($100) or just pay the parking and keep the car.

 

 

What did you think of Southwest? I am flying to HOU on the them twice in the next few months from the DC area. I picked them for the non-stop flight. I use them to FL quite often because my sister lives in West Palm and they fly direct to there also.

 

Love the pictures of your room.

[Kcjarvis]

After settling in and exploring the ship, we signed up for Voom to get ready to periscope sail away. The 30% pre cruise discount is much cheaper than the DP discount on board.

 

 

and then reality set in!!!!! Periscope doesn't work SCREAM!!!!!!! haha

 

 

Then we realized - THIS ISN'T O3B VOOM!!!!!!!!!!! And this is the stream package. .75 megs UGH!!!!!!!! Stay tuned for more details from my meal with the IT Manager

 

 

A steaming hot muster, and it was sail away time!!!! Tugboat in port with us.

 

 

 

Good bye Galveston