*LIVE REVIEW* Solo --- Liberty of the Seas, 5 day -- April 22, 2024

[rrraydon]

1 hour ago, LuCruise said:

What?  We've used the coffee card a few times (If memory is right, including on Liberty).  The only restriction we had was not allowing Frappuccino's, but everything else was allowed. That's ridiculous if not for macchiatos or cappuccinos.  Things like iced coffee were 2 punches and anything over a small was also 2 but otherwise allowed.

I just left the cafe. I spoke with a different guy this time. You CAN get small lattes, macchiatos and cappuccinos for one punch each on your card. It’s Refreshers and Frappuccinos you cannot use your card for. 

[rrraydon]

For breakfast, a peach daiquiri with a Peach Schnapps topper. 😊 

[rrraydon]

Who remembers when they had the really cool, real glass and not plastic, “take home” glasses. This real glass hurricane is ok but not as decorative as the old ones…

[rrraydon]

Suns out and seas are calmer…woohoo! Lots of kids out. 

Edited April 23 by rrraydon

[LuCruise]

16 minutes ago, rrraydon said:

I just left the cafe. I spoke with a different guy this time. You CAN get small lattes, macchiatos and cappuccinos for one punch each on your card. It’s Refreshers and Frappuccinos you cannot use your card for. 

Glad it is straightened out and you can get most items as expected.  That makes sense and more in line with what others have said or followed.  Its shows you to not always trust the crew as they often don't know themselves.  Thanks for reporting back.

[ramja96]

1 hour ago, rrraydon said:

Suns out and seas are calmer…woohoo! Lots of kids out. 

 

I you need a break from the noise (kids), LOTS has my very favorite solarium.  Under the bridge over the pool, there is a small tabletop in the water with stools in the water to relax with your drink. It's a great place to meet people.  We spent many sea days there for most of the day!

[rrraydon]

1 hour ago, ramja96 said:

 

I you need a break from the noise (kids), LOTS has my very favorite solarium.  Under the bridge over the pool, there is a small tabletop in the water with stools in the water to relax with your drink. It's a great place to meet people.  We spent many sea days there for most of the day!

Super packed in the solarium also…

[rrraydon]

The guac class was great. The food was mediocre except for the guac I made myself. The friends I met and socialized with for the hour or so were fantastic. I’m glad I went. 

[rrraydon]

This little guy was in my cabin when I returned from lunch…

[rrraydon]

Tonight is dress your best. I plan to go to the MDR for dinner, they have my favorite, French onion soup on the menu. After this lunch, no way I’ll be able to eat a full dinner but I’m not missing that soup! 

[Cherful59]

10 hours ago, rrraydon said:

Yesterday morning, when I got in line at the port for checkin, there was a young couple in front of me who were very excited to be going on their first cruise. The young lady mentioned how worried she was about sea sickness. I told her she’d be fine not to worry about it, she’d never even feel the ship moving. Well that was a lie! She’s been a rocking and rolling in this wind all night long and still is this morning. That girl is probably not saying nice things about me. 😆 

Oops, hopefully she brought along otc motion sickness meds which work really well, or has a cast iron stomach.  

 

I was on Explorer in one of the panoramic view cabin under the bridge on deck 11 several years ago and it was rocking and rolling for several days on the ship, they had bags out on all of the staircases.  We slept great in that room and as long as we were laying down, we were fine, but every morning we would take turns getting up and showering, laying down to get rid of the motion sickness, get dressed and lay down.  Once we were ready, got up and would run out of the room.  😅 Once we left the room, we were fine on the rest of the ship, but several people used those bags and/or went running from the dining room.😕

8 hours ago, rrraydon said:

I just left the cafe. I spoke with a different guy this time. You CAN get small lattes, macchiatos and cappuccinos for one punch each on your card. It’s Refreshers and Frappuccinos you cannot use your card for. 

I was going to suggest you go back and check with someone else about the Macchiato's and Cappuccino's.  Some are new and give the wrong info.  They should just check.  

 

If you are staying on Liberty you might be ok with using the 2 card for your second cruise, or maybe they will give you the 2nd card after you start your second cruise, but I read somewhere that they were not going to let you carry the card from one cruise to the next, maybe 4 or 6 months ago.  I don't know if they started doing that or not.  

 

On my 1st cruise just after Covid I pushed the issue with one of the crew (and won) because I made him check with someone else.  You were supposed to be able to carry the cards from cruise to cruise at the time and I had bought one on my last cruise before the covid shut down and had a couple of punches left.

8 hours ago, rrraydon said:

Suns out and seas are calmer…woohoo! Lots of kids out. 

Love the pretty blue skies.  Glad the weather has turned around for the better for you.  Thanks for posting.

[rrraydon]

Good morning!🌞 

Sunny skies here at Coco Cay 😁 We just pulled up beside the beautiful Anthem, my favorite ship. 
 

I made it to the MDR last night for my French onion soup. I emailed a few weeks prior to the sailing requesting a solo table, that did not happen. The reason I requested solo is only that I don’t like to spend a lot of time waiting for courses. I’d prefer to have my soup or salad and main at the same time, no dessert. That’s not the case if you’re dining with others. When I arrived and was shown to our table I was the first to arrive. I ordered a glass of wine and the cheese plate. The couple who sat with me at the table ran a tad bit late. They were a younger couple from Tennessee. During introductions they said it was their first cruise and it was their honeymoon! Great couple, I enjoyed dining with them. They stayed for dessert and I went to the casino for a bit. 
I went to bed early, at about 9pm.

 

I woke up to room service coffee and continental. I’m currently up on deck. For the first time it’s darn near empty and I’m tempted to stay onboard until about noon and then head over to Hideaway.
Ken and family (they’re on Anthem) are doing an excursion and probably won’t get to Hideaway until in the later part of the day anyway, and I’ll be back here again on X in a couple of weeks. I’ll be solo on Reflection and it’ll be my first X cruise. I’ll do a live on that one, too. In 2 weeks I’m on Magnifica again for my 2nd solo on her. I had such a great time on that ship last month. Then the following week it’s X. Both cruises are shorties as I have to get back and work the weekend in between cruises. 

I stayed on the ship last month when we ported in Nassau (MSC Magnifica) and it was sooooo nice, like having the ship all to myself!! We’ll see, I’m in no rush. 

 

Edited April 24 by rrraydon

[rrraydon]

Change of plans that quick! 😆 

 

Kens’s getting to Hideaway early. In that case, I’m coming back here early for time on deck when it’s not as full. 
Usually when I come up on deck in the morning there’s waiters walking around so I get a morning mimosa or two. Not the case here, not a one waiter and the pool bars are closed…weird. 

[wolfcathorse]

3 hours ago, rrraydon said:

Change of plans that quick! 😆 

 

Kens’s getting to Hideaway early. In that case, I’m coming back here early for time on deck when it’s not as full. 
Usually when I come up on deck in the morning there’s waiters walking around so I get a morning mimosa or two. Not the case here, not a one waiter and the pool bars are closed…weird. 

that's because they're all shipped over to CocoCay to work there. They go before guests to set up and be ready.

[rrraydon]

1 hour ago, wolfcathorse said:

that's because they're all shipped over to CocoCay to work there. They go before guests to set up and be ready.

I was wrong. Apparently I must be an alcoholic, they came out at 9am. 8a was too early. 😂 

[rrraydon]

I’m glad I did not stay on the ship and I went to Hideaway. I had a fantastic time and met a lot of fun people. Plus, the coconut shrimp, mozzarella sticks and funnel cakes are soooo good!!

 

Plus, I finally got to meet my TA, Ken. He is very knowledgeable about all things RC, as many of you already know, since he’s a member here in CC. It was great chatting with him. 😊 

 

Photo dump of Hideaway and some videos…don’t get me started 😝 😂 😆:

 

 

 

[rrraydon]

Back on ship, I finally got a cone ( no line) and finally got some time in an empty hot tub. Fun times!! Some ship photo dump: 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 24 by rrraydon

[Cherful59]

My sister and I love the cantilever hot tubs in the solarium.

[rrraydon]

5 hours ago, Cherful59 said:

My sister and I love the cantilever hot tubs in the solarium.

Me too! All day yesterday there was like 15 or more people in them at all times. But this afternoon, when I came back early, maybe two. 😊 

Edited April 25 by rrraydon

[rrraydon]

The honeymoon couple had a fun time at Coco Cay today. They said they enjoy the ship more than the ports and plan to just get off in Nassau tomorrow for maybe about an hour. They attend all of the entertainment on ship and like that better. 
 

After dinner I went to the casino for a few hours and now I’m back at the cabin to read for a bit. I’m still tossing around what I’m going to do tomorrow, I may stay on the ship, we’ll see. 

[cincicruisers]

Enjoying your review.  Thanks for sharing with us.

[rrraydon]

1 hour ago, cincicruisers said:

Enjoying your review.  Thanks for sharing with us.

Thank you, and you’re welcome. ☺️ 

[perfect match]

Thank you for the great pictures and videos from Hideaway! 

[rrraydon]

57 minutes ago, perfect match said:

Thank you for the great pictures and videos from Hideaway! 

You’re welcome! I do enjoy Hideaway, today was my 2nd time there. I don’t think it’s worth more than $25pp. 

[rrraydon]

Pulling in to Nassau now, Anthem and Independence are already here. MSC is pulling in behind us.
 

I sailed MSC Magnifica last month (I may have already mentioned that, I’m old and senile) I can’t wait to get back on her in 2 weeks….absolutely beautiful ship!