Liberty vs Allure vs Harmony vs Symphony - which one to choose?

[CruisingJoe09]

Narrowed down options for a July 2019 cruise to these 4 ships.

I haven't sailed Freedom Class since 2012 and have been exclusively Oasis and Quantum Class since 2014. I have reservations about each and positives about each. Haven't sailed Liberty ever before, Symphony was this year, Harmony was also recent (2016/17). Allure wasn't as recent (2015), but still have sailed her.

Which one should I choose?

[Ourusualbeach]

I wouldn’t sail Liberty because Galveston can be a pain as far as ports go.

 

Allure is just one year away from drydock.

 

Pick based on shows and restaurants on board.

[CruisingJoe09]

17 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

I wouldn’t sail Liberty because Galveston can be a pain as far as ports go.

  

Allure is just one year away from drydock.

  

Pick based on shows and restaurants on board.

By that, Symphony would win but we just did her this year. And as far as entertainment goes, she has the best production shows but shows such as Quest and L&M are also important. If Abe Hughes is still there, I'm in. 

Edited November 11, 2018 by CruisingJoe09

[Ourusualbeach]

4 minutes ago, CruisingJoe09 said:

By that, Symphony would win but we just did her this year. And as far as entertainment goes, she has the best production shows but shows such as Quest and L&M are also important. If Abe Hughes is still there, I'm in. 

 

Booking this far out there’s no way to predict the CD so you can’t use that as a factor.  We’ve done multiple cruises on the same ship year after year and it’s not a factor for us.  With our family it is more about the sail date..Saturday  vs Sunday and the cost.  

[HBE4]

On 11/11/2018 at 7:20 AM, CruisingJoe09 said:

By that, Symphony would win but we just did her this year. And as far as entertainment goes, she has the best production shows but shows such as Quest and L&M are also important. If Abe Hughes is still there, I'm in. 

 

If I recall from an earlier thread, you are celebrating an event (b-day or graduation) so pick your favorite ship which seems to be the Symphony. I’m sure you can find things to do the 2^nd time around that you may not have gotten to experience the first time.

 

Also, I believe Texas was an option as members of your traveling party wanted to go there. I just got off Liberty yesterday. Having most recently sailed the Oasis-class ships 3 times and Anthem once, I thought the older, “smaller” Liberty would lack the WOW factor of the newer ships. I was wrong. Never got bored, loved all but one of the shows (the juggling comedians were a bit dull), ate and drank to excess. One dinner in the MDR was a miss but most were very good and a few excellent. Giovanni’s was excellent. Never made it to Sabor but heard good things about it. Staff was excellent all around. Averaged 4-5 hours of sleep a night and still did not get to do all I wanted to do! L&M show was excellent and much longer than usual. Quest was the same old Quest – nothing new but always fun. Full disclosure: LOS was our first cruise in 2008 so she is a sentimental favorite of ours. Also, it was my DD first cruise so it was nice to see her experience the joy thru her eyes.

 

 

First time sailing out of Galveston.  Maybe slightly more inconvenient than the Florida ports but not so horrible as to deter me from sailing from there again.

[CruisingJoe09]

On 12 November 2018 at 9:04 PM, HBE4 said:

 

If I recall from an earlier thread, you are celebrating an event (b-day or graduation) so pick your favorite ship which seems to be the Symphony. I’m sure you can find things to do the 2^nd time around that you may not have gotten to experience the first time.

 

Also, I believe Texas was an option as members of your traveling party wanted to go there. I just got off Liberty yesterday. Having most recently sailed the Oasis-class ships 3 times and Anthem once, I thought the older, “smaller” Liberty would lack the WOW factor of the newer ships. I was wrong. Never got bored, loved all but one of the shows (the juggling comedians were a bit dull), ate and drank to excess. One dinner in the MDR was a miss but most were very good and a few excellent. Giovanni’s was excellent. Never made it to Sabor but heard good things about it. Staff was excellent all around. Averaged 4-5 hours of sleep a night and still did not get to do all I wanted to do! L&M show was excellent and much longer than usual. Quest was the same old Quest – nothing new but always fun. Full disclosure: LOS was our first cruise in 2008 so she is a sentimental favorite of ours. Also, it was my DD first cruise so it was nice to see her experience the joy thru her eyes.

It is my graduation. Symphony was my favourite, although she ain't cheap and that is the issue, alongside the possibility of missing Abe as the July 6th sailing is the most likely.

 

With regards to Liberty, it seems as if there is plenty to do in the evening, but what about during the day? Even on Oasis Class, I have times where I don't have much to do so just wander around the ship. Probably because I am under 21 so can't drink or go to the casino.

Edited December 1, 2018 by CruisingJoe09