Seasoned Cruiser Review Liberty of Seas

[rolloman]

Hi, everyone, just got back yesterday 6/30 so I will give you my assessment.

 

Check in was smooth as always, boarding started at 12 noon. Cookies, coffee and juice while you waited.

 

Ship is beautiful, there is nothing floating that compares as far as ammenities go. Young, old and in between can find activities at any given moment on board this ship.

 

Cabin- I had a forward D2 balcony- quite spacious with a rather large balcony compared to most ships. I heard more than once people say they wanted to take the bedding and mattress home.

 

Food- I rate fair to good. There is not one particular meal I walk away with as memorable. Everyone did enjoy the pizza at Sorrentos, Johnny Rockets is a complete waste of space. I am not a fan of the Royal Caribbean deserts, other lines I give the advantage. My waiter Emilito and Chip the assistant waiter were outstanding.

 

Entertainment- Lets face it, the Ice Show is a must see, each time I see this show it is incredible and quite daring by the participants. With the parades and production shows I rate these close to excellent. Side note- Interesting to see a couple of performers were the same ones I had on NCL a couple of months ago. Boleros had the band Sol Y Arenas, I saw them on Enchantment a couple times and they are simply outstanding.

 

Itinerary- Great ports with San Juan and St. Maarten and Labadee. I think San Juan at 3pm needs an earlier arrival timeas it restricts what you can do. St Maarten is a great place to shop, I went on a complete Island tour and it was kind of boring. Stick to shopping here or if your thing is to see various forms of naked people go to Orient Beach. Labadee is a beautiful beach day.

 

What I really really really liked- The Kids pool area is so nice it actually seperates the kids from the adults. The diamond lounge on deck 14 is awesome. Sea views and even an outside relaxing area.

 

What needs fixed- The Boleros lounge, RCCL you blew it on this one. One of your best venues for a Caribbean cruise and you choked it off into a small corner with no dance space or chairs. People stood on the stairs to try and listen and passageways were blocked. The sooner you give it the same set up as Enchantment the better off things will be.

 

No dance space on Deck 11, it seems the emphasis was on the pools. They have a set up for the band and then a wood platform that runs between two pools, problem with this is the deck is wet from the pools and at tight fit, therefore no one dances here. Its a bad design, really bad actually.

 

Special notes- Gloria Estefan and her family were on board our cruise and it seemed she was able to enjoy the ship just as any passenger. People really seemed to give her space and that was nice. My wife did get a photo with her on the last day, which of course made her cruise.

[Cavatelli430]

Thanks for the quick review. Sounds like we have lots to look forward to in February. Did you eat in either of the specialty restaurants for dinner? Sounds like illness problems on the ship are all cleared up now also.

[kendallison]

Thanks for the review! Can't wait to go!

[piislanders]

We were on the week before you and would have to agree with you on all you comments.

 

Bill

[rolloman]

Thanks for the quick review. Sounds like we have lots to look forward to in February. Did you eat in either of the specialty restaurants for dinner? Sounds like illness problems on the ship are all cleared up now also.

 

The illness thing is history. Funny, the crew, when asked, claim to really not know what you are talking about. I assume they have strict orders. No sign of anything other than normal operations. All the chicken littles can breathe easy.

 

The specialty restaurants are the same on all RCCL ships. Johnny Rockets, Chops and Portofino. Put them in a bag shake them up and it wont matter which one falls out first. IMO save your money. The only caveat I will say is the mud pie in Chops for desert is basically the only desert on RCCL worth bragging about.

[crisndeefromde]

You lucky duck....Gloria is one of my favorite singers and performers. I would have been beside myself to have seen her. I am glad you enjoyed the ship. As you have been on the smaller ships from your review, which do you prefer now?

[AlwaysPlanning]

Thanks, Rolloman, for the review. I am looking forward to our sailing later this month and have been following the comments closely.

[rolloman]

You lucky duck....Gloria is one of my favorite singers and performers. I would have been beside myself to have seen her. I am glad you enjoyed the ship. As you have been on the smaller ships from your review, which do you prefer now?[/quote

 

My wife is the same way, she was overjoyed. I have sailed RCCL quite a bit and I will go on record to state this ship, with all it has to offer is the best out there, regardless of an individuals age. If I were to blind fold you and take you on the ship and then remove the blind fold in the promenade, while you were at sea, I would bet anything you would think you were at a land based 5 star resort Hotel versus a floating ship at sea.

[rolloman]

I forgot to mention the cruise director James Andrews. He did a fine job. I didnt find him to be as visible as others usually are but when he was on the stage he did a great job.

 

Quest was a really watered down version, yet still fun. I remember a few years back it was borderline XXX. So its probably a good thing as several kids seem to sneak in somehow.

 

I also wanted to say I talked to the Captain about the Mariner of the Seas leaving Florida. He said RCCL knows Port Canaveral is a lucrative port so even though she is leaving he is quite sure she will be replaced by another ship, just not the Liberty or Freedom as some on here have suspected. So it shall be interesting.

 

I also agree with another poster, the bar staff and photo staff are quite aggressive, but again that is not specific to RCCL, all lines do it and they all do it the same way.

[SlimBeau]

:cool: Hello Everyone, My name is Beau..and we are booked on the LOS in April....Just a great review, Rolloman....We just can't wait!!!! I would like to second.....Chris's comments about Gloria, she is one of my wife's and mine's favorites...It would be just too much to meet her!!!!!....:D Lucky Duck indeed!!!! This will be our first time with RCCL...and thanks to your Review...It looks like a great, great time...I also agree, that the 3PM arrive at San Juan, really makes it hard to see anything...Our last cruise here was the same way....:mad: To all cruiser's going before us....Let us know what not to miss and of course what to avoid....Bon Voyage to everyone!!!!!:D

[Langley Cruisers]

Gloria Estefan and her family were on board our cruise...my wife did get a photo with her on the last day, which of course made her cruise.

 

Cool - any way to post that pic?

 

Thanks for the review - looking forward to her next month.

[cruisinfanatic]

Hey Rolloman,

What time did colors start getting called the last day? Thanks

[rolloman]

They started express people at 630 AM. There was a nationwide computer glitch which made for on and off delays the whole morning. I got off about 930. I was trapped for about 20 minutes in no mans land (the area off ship but not past customs) I was afraid I was going to end up like Tom Hanks in that airport movie.

 

One other item, the casino 25 cent slots were extremely tight but the dollar slots (wheel of fortune, king cash) payed off nicely.

 

Sorry, langly,

I dont like posting my personal pictures or information on this board as it is equivalent to hanging it on a bathroom stall for all to view. You can come by and look at our scrap book anytime though :-)

[cruisinmom1]

Great review!! Thanks so much. We're on July 21. Is there an extra charge to use our laptop form the room or is it the same as the RCCL online?

Did you get any perks on frozen drinks being diamond?

Which day do you recommend going to Chops?

What time were the shows?

[kerrydee]

do you remember which nite had the island deck party? it ptobably would have been the caribbean nite in the dining room. maybe i'll be lucky and you brought the compasses home with you.

also did they have a toga nite. or any other themes?

thanx in advance,;)

[minnie00]

 

I also wanted to say I talked to the Captain about the Mariner of the Seas leaving Florida. He said RCCL knows Port Canaveral is a lucrative port so even though she is leaving he is quite sure she will be replaced by another ship, just not the Liberty or Freedom as some on here have suspected. So it shall be interesting.

 

I was playing on RCCL.com today and it shows the INDEPENDENCE sailing from Pt Canaveral in the end of 2008 and during 2009 :)

OOPS.....its sailing from Ft Lauderdal.....OOPS

[kittymom65]

Thanks for the review!:)

[rolloman]

Great review!! Thanks so much. We're on July 21. Is there an extra charge to use our laptop form the room or is it the same as the RCCL online?

Did you get any perks on frozen drinks being diamond?

Which day do you recommend going to Chops?

What time were the shows?

 

Yes there is a charge for laptop use. I dont recommend Chops but if I were to, it would be on Wednesday which is a sea day.

 

Diamond members get 1 free drink of their choice in a coupon booklet. The Diamond lounge does not serve frozen drinks.

Shows usually run at 7 and 9 pm. 9pm for main seating guests.

[rolloman]

do you remember which nite had the island deck party? it ptobably would have been the caribbean nite in the dining room. maybe i'll be lucky and you brought the compasses home with you.

also did they have a toga nite. or any other themes?

thanx in advance,;)

 

No Toga night, but Soca Liscious Parade in the Promenade was on Day 1, Day 2 Bar Manager Glow Party in the Catacombs Day 3 was a Puerto Rico Sail away by the pool Day 4 was the Dancing under the stars party by the pool, Day 5 70's dance party in the Promenade, Day 6 was quest in studio B followed by 80's dance party. Day 7 farewell show.

[kerrydee]

do you by any chance remember (or can look) what night was caribbean night in the dining room?

and i understand that labadee was lobster night but that it wasn't formal night...is this correct or not.

thanx again,:)

[rolloman]

do you by any chance remember (or can look) what night was caribbean night in the dining room?

and i understand that labadee was lobster night but that it wasn't formal night...is this correct or not.

thanx again,:)

 

1st Formal was Sunday or day 2, 2cnd Formal was Wed Day 5, Lobster night was Thursday Day 6. There is no Caribbean dinner as you are stating.

Day

1. Bon Voyage Dinner

2. Captains gala Dinner

3. Surf Dinner (maybe this is what you are speaking of) I ate in Puerto Rico

4. Crown and Anchor DInner

5. Venetian Feast Dinner

6. Chefs Dinner

7. Feast of Nations Dinner

8. Cambells soup Dinner in my kitchen

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

I so agree with Rolloman about the Boleros Lounge. The same design limitation is on Freedom of the Seas also. The lounge is actually split in two with one side on one side of the stairs and the bandstand, dance floor and bar on the other side of the stairs.

 

The other part of the lounge has a dance floor too, but it isn't wooden, it is a mosaic tile floor. What we discovered is that part farther away from the bandstand and dance floor is the non-smoking area. So I see what RCI was thinking,--split the non-smokers far from the smokers so they won't be bothered by the smoke. Trouble is, the smokers get the BEST of Boleros and the non-smokers, sitting at a great distance, feel as if they aren't a part of the fun. One reason is that people in the non-smoking area can't really see what is going on at the bar, dance area and bandstand.

 

The Boleros is so much better on Enchanment. It is all one room, large and spacious, with a large dance floor in the center and the bar on one end and the bandstand facing the bar on the other end. It is an area that many people pass through on the way to the theater. Many of them see the fun and decide to linger.

 

On the other hand on Majesty of the Seas Boleros had its own large, well-designed room, but it was in an isolated area. Also the band wasn't very good. It always sounded as if they were rehearsing. Needless to say, Boleros on Majesty wasn't a big hit, at least on the cruise we were on.

 

Sol y Arena Band on Liberty were a huge hit and so popular. I loved watching the people dance who really knew what they were doing and had a real feel for the music. We sat in the smoking section, though we don't smoke, because the true vibe of Boleros was in that area, but it got so crowded with people standing in every spare inch, we eventually left because it was no longer comfortable.

 

What Liberty and Freedom have (and I presume Independence) is three areas that I classify as "walk through" lounges, Boleros, Schooner Lounge and the Champagne Lounge which are sited where passengers walk by on their way to somewhere else and pause awhile if they are attracted by the vibe, the music or the crowd.

[big al]

Yes there is a charge for laptop use. I dont recommend Chops but if I were to, it would be on Wednesday which is a sea day.

 

Diamond members get 1 free drink of their choice in a coupon booklet. The Diamond lounge does not serve frozen drinks.

Shows usually run at 7 and 9 pm. 9pm for main seating guests.

 

Rolloman-How can you not recommend Chops?We've eaten there 6 times on 3 ships and ALL 6 meals were A+...Portifinos was also A+..what a difference between the main dining room and Chops/Portifinos...it's like the dfifference between a Holiday Inn & Ritz Carlton..Filet Mignon was perfect,and the side dishes even better.......

[cruisinmom1]

I loved the lamb chops that they use to have. Is the lamb loin the same?

How long did it take to dine there?

[rolloman]

Rolloman-How can you not recommend Chops?We've eaten there 6 times on 3 ships and ALL 6 meals were A+...Portifinos was also A+..what a difference between the main dining room and Chops/Portifinos...it's like the dfifference between a Holiday Inn & Ritz Carlton..Filet Mignon was perfect,and the side dishes even better.......

 

I have eaten there 3 times. The service was horrible everytime and the steak was not the caliber I would expect for the extra dollars. I will save my steak night for Smith and Wolinsky or Ruth Chris.