Just back from Liberty cruise....random thoughts...

[RuthlessBoss]

I know I posted about my Dec 3-10 "smoking" cruise, must have been on a nother thread.

The weather was absolutely horrible one evening. I was soooo p....d that I went to guest relations, requested a complaint form. I was informed they had none! I was told I could go onto deck 3. I did, or tried. Couldn't even get the door open between the wind and rain.

I came home with negative feelings, not just because of that one night. I never put my Funship dollars in my account to spend, I still have it. I have come home with ALL drink coupons intact, first cruise I never drank a drop! (Maybe a few drinks in me WOULD have helped).

Going with "an attitude" likely didn't help, but my overall feeling is I wasted my vacation dollars on Liberty, I tended to pick up all the negative things about the ship that I never would have done before. I've yet to tell anyone my cruise was great, I've yet to recommend this ship to anyone.

It's a sad day Carnival took away our area and treated us like trash.

I got a survey after I got home. Not one person representing Carnival has acknowledged my comments...No "I'm sorry" No "We are working to rectify anything" NOTHING!!

[mimxmom]

Maumaekim.....LOVED your review! Could you please tell me what island you took the very last picture?

[excruisestaff]

Came on this to see the reviews as we almost had taken this cruise (we went with another line instead though). However, would like to weigh in about the smoking policy. For years now, smoking has only been allowed on one side of an open deck on other lines (and not on all open decks either), so it's surprising to read that this is something new on Carnival. In fact, on some other lines, smoking areas are now practically non-existant. Some don't even allow it on your balcony, and one more cruise line is adding that rule in January as well.

 

As far as those lines who still allow smoking on your balcony, as long as you are following the rules, you actually have paid to have the right to do so. Carnival tried a complete non-smoking ship, which wound up a bust. Another line tried port cabins non-smoking/starboard cabins smoking, but that didn't work out for either. Maybe they could try birthing cabins like they used to assign dining tables when smoking was allowed in the dining room? Ask us in advance if we're smokers or non-smokers, and try to birth us according to that, as best as they can. JMO.

[AuntJ0718]

Maybe they could try birthing cabins like they used to assign dining tables when smoking was allowed in the dining room? Ask us in advance if we're smokers or non-smokers, and try to birth us according to that, as best as they can. JMO.

 

Holy smokes! I thought you were suggesting something like only allowing pregnant women in certain cabins if they were about to give birth. Then I realized you meant "berth"! I've gotta say...it certainly made me laugh. :D

 

Since I'm going on the Liberty in May, I'll voice my 2 cents. I'm a non-smoker who can smell a cigarette a mile away. On the previous Carnival cruises, I did NOT stay in my cabin the whole time and frankly, smelling cigarette smoke was NOT something I remember as being obnoxious. When I go into a bar, I expect to smell cigarette smoke. Don't most people? If I want a non-smoking experience, I find one. There are plenty of options. And yet, it seems that for people who smoke (even though they all know they shouldn't so why keep rubbing this in their faces??), there are many fewer choices. I think it comes down to consideration. It's no different than hogging chairs for people who are running about on the ship with no intentions of sitting down in them, and yet, towels draped all over them.

 

So, now for my question to all of you...... Excluding the smoking debate, what did you like the best about Liberty? And what did you like the least? (and you can't say "Lack of Smoking Areas?" agreed?)

[pe4all]

Just back from Liberty today. A few observations: we definitely saw a few cut-backs in the buffet selections. Still plenty to eat, though. Our wait staff in the dining room was fantastic. Greeted us by our names BEFORE we sat down - that was a first for us. Dining room menus seemed less exciting - even with the new "didja's," which we had experienced in August on Miracle. Loved Guy's Burgers! Tried about 3 different kinds of them. I actually liked the sauteed onions and mushrooms more than the burgers! Fries were a bit too spicy for me, though. There are no chicken strips available anywhere on Lido deck! Missed those. They are only available as an appetizer one night in the dining room. Had fish and chips a few times, as well as Mongolian wok. DH had deli sandwiches everyday, and dd had hotdogs from there a few times. (no more grill in aft Lido - in fact, it is an empty station except for breakfast time.) Had mexican breakfast wraps a few times - very good.

The new sports bar was nice - they had free hotdogs there each afternoon. Casino started tight, and really loosened up the last 3 days. Eva (casino host) was very, very attentive and nice. Walked away with some of their money, which is always good. Went to 2 adult comedy shows. One (Jerry Goodspeed - who we saw many times on the "main" CCL stage, but who now headlines in Punchliner) was very funny. I was very happy to be able to go into the piano bar and be able to breathe, and actually stay for a while without being smoked out.

I was also pleased to see they replaced all the slippery tiles that Liberty had with wooden "planks" - no one slipped, even on wet decks. That is a huge improvement. My only real complaint is the balcony door slamming that went on all around us day and night. I don't understand why people don't just hold the door as it shuts. Common courtesy warrents that. All in all, we had a wonderful cruise, great weather, and probably the friendliest crew we have ever experienced on any cruise. Would recommend this ship to all. Happy New Year, everyone!

[popsec]

So, now for my question to all of you...... Excluding the smoking debate, what did you like the best about Liberty? And what did you like the least? (and you can't say "Lack of Smoking Areas?" agreed?)

 

Funny thing for me was liking the Guys burgers so much (especially since hamburgers are usually no big deal to me except perhaps the first ones of the summer bar-b-qed out by the pool ;))

 

Least favorite....hmmm, lack of smoking areas for our friends (I didn't say I'd agree to your rule) :p

[tattoos]

I believe Carnival and all other major cruiselines are headed towards 100% non-smoking vessels again. Many years have passed since they made the Paradise a non-smoking ship, it eventually failed but I don't believe it will fail in the future. So many businesses that cater to the public have banned smoking, taken the immediate hit from the smoking public and came back stronger and more successful than before. Through massive education programs on the dangers of smoking, more and more people are choosing not to smoke. The next area they will ban smoking will be the balconies and try to confine the smokers to a smaller and smaller plot of deck space then they will eliminate smoking areas completely, poof. They are prepared to deal with disgruntled smokers and absorb the quick monetary hit that will be built into their business plan but they will easily re-coup their losses and market their product differently. Smokers who cruise would be wise to plan other vacations in the future because it's coming and I believe it will be sooner rather than later.