Liberty 21 July trip report

[Clarea]

2 minutes ago, hukoli said:

Thank you for all the information you have provided!

 

We have a cruise booked in Feb 20, and it has been hard to find any recent info about cruising from Galveston. I'm trying to make some sort of a guide for our group, since only 3 of us have cruised once before, and no one from Galveston. MDR menus were very helpful in showing that specialty dining is not needed. 

 

The Gulf Coast departure forum has info about Galveston:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/316-gulf-coast-departures/

[HBE4]

7 hours ago, jakecp12 said:

Would love to see a parking post there, I’ve read a few here on CC and think I’m going to go with falstaff in Sept.

 

I used Galveston Park N Cruise. Rates are competitive, have indoor & outdoor parking and you can walk to the cruise terminal.   Go to the Gulf Coast Port thread link that Bob posted above and you can find a wealth of parking information.

Edited August 1, 2019 by HBE4

[TheDMan62]

19 hours ago, Petroplex said:

I loved the suite lounge, and that is one of the principal reasons I book suites. I have a short video of the suite lounge if you want to take a look at it. The short version-- I hate being in lines on vacation. Having access to the concierge helps solve that. The lounge itself was a nice place to get away. They also have an excellent continental breakfast, and each afternoon have a cocktail reception and heavy appetizers.

I just watched your casino video (thanks for posting all of those videos). Its odd that there are mostly $1 slots. I would say most people are opposed to playing $5 a spin. But I guess using bad BJ rules and higher denomination slots shouldnt be a surprise.

[jeanneful]

19 hours ago, Petroplex said:

I loved the suite lounge, and that is one of the principal reasons I book suites. I have a short video of the suite lounge if you want to take a look at it. The short version-- I hate being in lines on vacation. Having access to the concierge helps solve that. The lounge itself was a nice place to get away. They also have an excellent continental breakfast, and each afternoon have a cocktail reception and heavy appetizers.

Do you have a video of the Diamond lounge?

[bighairtexan]

RE PARKING:

I use Lighthouse parking. You can't really walk to the ship from Lighthouse, as you can with Park N Cruise, but I don't want to schlep luggage that far anyway cuz I'm OLD and falling apart. Also the last really bad rain/hurricane/tropical storm in Galveston, Lighthouse was about the only one that stayed above water. It is the highest cruise parking in Galveston (but highest is relative. Maybe 3 feet).  They shuttle you to the terminal... very short ride. If you are completely mobile or don't have much luggage then I second Park N Cruise, but the ground isn't all that smooth so rolling luggage isn't the easiest thing, when you have a torn meniscus. LOL

[jeanneful]

2 hours ago, bighairtexan said:

RE PARKING:

I use Lighthouse parking. You can't really walk to the ship from Lighthouse, as you can with Park N Cruise, but I don't want to schlep luggage that far anyway cuz I'm OLD and falling apart. Also the last really bad rain/hurricane/tropical storm in Galveston, Lighthouse was about the only one that stayed above water. It is the highest cruise parking in Galveston (but highest is relative. Maybe 3 feet).  They shuttle you to the terminal... very short ride. If you are completely mobile or don't have much luggage then I second Park N Cruise, but the ground isn't all that smooth so rolling luggage isn't the easiest thing, when you have a torn meniscus. LOL

We are going to use Cruise Park, it's right across from terminal. Have never use it before but they really have great reviews. It's $59 per week. cruisepark.com 

Edited August 1, 2019 by jeanneful

[bighairtexan]

JEANNE I've also used Cruise Park and have only good things to say.  Actually I've had no issues w/ any of the parking and I swear I've tried them all including some that no longer exist. Or exist under another name anyway.  

 

[Petroplex]

17 hours ago, texhockey said:

Thanks for your review and I love your website.  I'm in the Villa suite in October so reading about it has been nice.  I have also been experiencing the joys of Royal shore side customer service.  We have 8 in the suite and 14 other right by us and I have been worried about dining. I'm glad to hear the concierge is helpful.  One question that is probably weird,  does the pub have a dart board?  We enjoy that the carnival ships have at least a plastic tip board.  Once again I am enjoying your review.

 

 

I don't remember seeing a dart board in there, but the pub usually happened later in the evening. That means that my attention to detail may have been... incomplete. I do remember saying the phrase, "Belvedere martini with an orange twist" several times, repeating myself for clarity, and getting a drink which was altogether something else. That bar has the best bourbon selection on boards, but when I said, "Four Roses Single Barrel rocks" the hostess responded by saying, "Ice?" Anyway, that place may be best for their lovely selection of beers.

 

Since you are in the Villa Suite, the concierge will escort you directly on board before the other suite guests. S/he will take you directly to the room, which means you can drop things off immediately. Enjoy the trip!

[Petroplex]

15 hours ago, jakecp12 said:

Killer post/ review! Also loved your website, commented on your mlife post there...

 

I’m going on liberty in September for my 30th bday and booked the drink package, the key, and 3 night specialty dining package. Was hoping to be in Chops for the welcome lunch so hopefully the food is just as good.

 

This will be my first time with RCCL and first solo cruise so all the info you’ve provided is great.

 

Hope to learn more about the mLife benefits soon since I’m gold with MGM. It’s been a hassle so far getting the OBC and it seems they have not read that PDF on the MGM and RCCL websites lol.

 

Edit: Also thank you for the website again, Royal Caribbean Blog and other sites seem to all cater to FL, NY, and Alaska sailings so nice to see info on my home state port. Would love to see a parking post there, I’ve read a few here on CC and think I’m going to go with falstaff in Sept.

Thanks so much! It means a lot to know that what I am doing is helpful. 

 

As for parking, I wrote about Galveston Park n' Cruise after our 2017 trip. We used it again last month. I am cruising again in December (on Carnival), and might well use them then if I drive down there rather than fly. If everyone in your party is physically able, it is an amazing choice since there is no shuttle involved. That is particularly nice when you want to get rolling on the morning you leave. We actually pass Galveston VIP Cruise Parking on our way in, so that is another option. I cannot speak from experience concerning them, however.

If anyone in your party has mobility issues, you may be better served using one of the lots which shuttles you to the pier. We had an adult in our party who walks very slowly as well as an 8 year old who was trying very hard to carry her own bags. They both made it just fine, but might have been better served being driven directly to the pier.

[Petroplex]

11 hours ago, hukoli said:

Thank you for all the information you have provided!

 

We have a cruise booked in Feb 20, and it has been hard to find any recent info about cruising from Galveston. I'm trying to make some sort of a guide for our group, since only 3 of us have cruised once before, and no one from Galveston. MDR menus were very helpful in showing that specialty dining is not needed. 

Thanks very much. What I tried to do here on Cruise Critic is post the things which are most likely to be interesting to the largest audience and then answer questions. Over the next few days I will post the Cruise Compass (daily program) for each day, and sometime next week will post the specialty menus. Sadly, I have to work for a living. It will take me a few months to get everything posted, but well before your cruise in February should post about other hotels and restaurants and such in Galveston. I genuinely enjoy Galveston as part of the vacation.

[Petroplex]

6 hours ago, jeanneful said:

Do you have a video of the Diamond lounge?

Here you go. General observations about the two lounges:

 

• Both are located on Deck 14 aft to the sides of Olive or Twist. That, incidentally, is my favorite indoor bar.
• Each has an identical happy hour menu and appeared to have very similar food offerings.
• The Suite Lounge is physically larger.
• The Suite Lounge seemed to have fewer people going in to it.
• The Diamond Lounge has free beer and sodas in a grab and go fridge. The Suite Lounge does not.
• Both have a private outdoor space which is a lovely place to sit with a book.
• Each has a concierge.

I certainly preferred the physical space of the Suite Lounge. However, the free beer in the Diamond Lounge would be a lovely benefit if one did not have a drink package.

[jeanneful]

12 minutes ago, Petroplex said:

Here you go. General observations about the two lounges:

 

• Both are located on Deck 14 aft to the sides of Olive or Twist. That, incidentally, is my favorite indoor bar.
• Each has an identical happy hour menu and appeared to have very similar food offerings.
• The Suite Lounge is physically larger.
• The Suite Lounge seemed to have fewer people going in to it.
• The Diamond Lounge has free beer and sodas in a grab and go fridge. The Suite Lounge does not.
• Both have a private outdoor space which is a lovely place to sit with a book.
• Each has a concierge.

I certainly preferred the physical space of the Suite Lounge. However, the free beer in the Diamond Lounge would be a lovely benefit if one did not have a drink package.

 

12 minutes ago, Petroplex said:

Here you go. General observations about the two lounges:

 

• Both are located on Deck 14 aft to the sides of Olive or Twist. That, incidentally, is my favorite indoor bar.
• Each has an identical happy hour menu and appeared to have very similar food offerings.
• The Suite Lounge is physically larger.
• The Suite Lounge seemed to have fewer people going in to it.
• The Diamond Lounge has free beer and sodas in a grab and go fridge. The Suite Lounge does not.
• Both have a private outdoor space which is a lovely place to sit with a book.
• Each has a concierge.

I certainly preferred the physical space of the Suite Lounge. However, the free beer in the Diamond Lounge would be a lovely benefit if one did not have a drink package.

Thank sooooooo much for that!!

[Petroplex]

I have uploaded copies of the Cruise Compass from each day of our trip. General observations about on board activities:

 

• We were in a large group. I tended to spend my time doing things which required no advanced planning like having a drink with my buddies or going down the waterslides with my kids.
• I always go to the ice show. It is a highlight.
• There were a couple of kids in our group who loved the open ice skating.
• I was dragged against my will to the In the Air show. It was about 45 minutes. There were some cool acrobatics, but there was no theme. It did not work for my hyper-linear brain.
• I was dragged against my will to Saturday Night Fever. It was more like an hour and a half, and I enjoyed it. However, the show was sufficiently long that I almost sobered up by the end. *Almost.*
• I did not participate, but the Blackjack tournaments were very well attended. $500 first prize and winner take all.

[peacefrogdog]

As suite passengers, were there dedicated venues for breakfast and lunch ?

[Petroplex]

2 hours ago, peacefrogdog said:

As suite passengers, were there dedicated venues for breakfast and lunch ?

Breakfast was in Chops. Nothing for lunch. 

[BLiles1961]

 We took one of our first cruises on Liberty and absolutely loved it. The most fun that we had was listening to Jamie's piano music at the Schooner Bar playing late into the night. You may or may not know, but is he no longer on the ship? I was looking at the Cruise Compasses you posted and didn't see any mention of him. It's a total bummer if he's no longer there.

[HicksRA]

4 hours ago, Petroplex said:

Breakfast was in Chops. Nothing for lunch. 

It was my understanding that lunch was still served to suite guests fluctuating between Chops and Giovanni’s on Liberty. 

So no suite lunch on your recent sailing??

[bighairtexan]

Hmmmmmm last time I was on Liberty (Prior to the key) bkfst as well as lunch on sea days was in Chops, in that front room, including a lunch w/ small buffet and a limited menu. Like salmon, chicken or small steak.  But that was last year.  Now that they use Giovanni's alternating w/ Chops, it's obviously changed.  But , like many things w/in the RCCL family, it's not necessarily a beacon of consistency.  

 

[Petroplex]

On 8/3/2019 at 6:34 PM, HicksRA said:

It was my understanding that lunch was still served to suite guests fluctuating between Chops and Giovanni’s on Liberty. 

So no suite lunch on your recent sailing??

Correct. No suite lunch on my sailing. 

[bighairtexan]

That's annoying. Though the menu was limited, it was still nice to get something cooked to order as well as have a quiet place to sit if I got something from the buffet. It still lists "Private lunch seating for ships without Coastal Kitchen" 😞

[LHARTWICK]

Thanks for this review.  We'll sail on LOTS for the third time on August 18.  Not our favorite ship, but the departure date works with our schedule this time.  I have in my LOTS notes that the mattresses are very firm.  In the past we've requested a mattress topper, but they always run out.  How were the mattresses?  Also, we may try Chops for lunch since the price is not bad.  We've dined there for dinner in the past, and thought it was overpriced compared to other steakhouses on ships.  Food just wasn't great.  But for $22 we may do lunch.  I didn't see dessert listed on their lunch menu - is that omitted for lunch?  I've read other reviews that indicate the food in WJ is greatly improved from the past.  Did you find that to be true?  Thanks again.

[Petroplex]

On 8/8/2019 at 9:59 AM, LHARTWICK said:

Thanks for this review.  We'll sail on LOTS for the third time on August 18.  Not our favorite ship, but the departure date works with our schedule this time.  I have in my LOTS notes that the mattresses are very firm.  In the past we've requested a mattress topper, but they always run out.  How were the mattresses?  Also, we may try Chops for lunch since the price is not bad.  We've dined there for dinner in the past, and thought it was overpriced compared to other steakhouses on ships.  Food just wasn't great.  But for $22 we may do lunch.  I didn't see dessert listed on their lunch menu - is that omitted for lunch?  I've read other reviews that indicate the food in WJ is greatly improved from the past.  Did you find that to be true?  Thanks again.

I thought the mattresses were fine, but I tend to prefer a firmer mattress. You definitely get dessert at Chops for lunch- they offered us the same dessert menu as was offered at dinner. I enjoyed most of these food at the Windjammer, and some (things like curries and stews) I loved. However, routine options like hamburgers weren't great. 

[JupiterTwo]

On 8/1/2019 at 9:38 AM, TheDMan62 said:

I just watched your casino video (thanks for posting all of those videos). Its odd that there are mostly $1 slots. I would say most people are opposed to playing $5 a spin. But I guess using bad BJ rules and higher denomination slots shouldnt be a surprise.

 

I just got off the Liberty. There are plenty of slots with adjustable play ranging from 1 cent to 10 cents, many 25 cent slots, and a few dollar slots. The dollar slots are in the minority. 

 

Steve

[doublej]

Could one "grab and go" a beer or soda from the Diamond Lounge fridge at anytime or just during the evening social time?

[Clarea]

Just now, doublej said:

Could one "grab and go" a beer or soda from the Diamond Lounge fridge at anytime or just during the evening social time?

 

Only during the evening cocktail period.