Our "Suite" Liberty Cruise Review-November 10th, 2012

[niksmom630]

Enjoying your review; can't wait for more!

 

Thanks! I was started to wonder if I had put everyone to sleep :D

[Zhane's mum]

Very enjoyable review, thanks

[audome78]

 

If I have one pet peeve with RCL it's the coupon books. Seems they could make this a much easier process. If you are diamond, you get 20% off your internet package and the first 30 minutes are free. Period. Instead you have to buy the package, and then wait in line at Guest Services to get them applied. I would think it would be easy enough to just get this somehow programmed in your seapass card. Could save time Guest Services, as well as the passengers....again, just a pet peeve--the coupons are nice, but in general kindof a hassle to use....

 

I agree. I actually spoke with a friend that's fairly high up in management at RCI regarding this. His response is that the photo service is NOT an RCI service, but rather, one that is contracted out, and the computer systems for each are exclusive to each...making what you and I would think to be a simple fix....actually not simple.

[niksmom630]

 

Interesting----seems there are different methods of turning in these coupons which makes it all the more confusing. On our last cruise, I left the laundry coupon with the bad for our cabin stewars--when we picked it up, he left the coupon. When I went to guest services to turn it in, they told me I had to give it to my cabin steward :rolleyes:

[niksmom630]

Well, sorry for the delay, but I am going to attempt to finish this up today....now where was I--Day 5.....

 

Despite my earlier vow to not visit the Windjammer for breakfast on a sea day, due to the scheduling of our Bridge tour, I wasn't sure we would get room service in time, so we headed to the Windjammer anyway, and decided to take out breakfast from the buffet into Chops. It was crowded as we expected, but there were only two tables occupied in Chops. Nice and peaceful way to start a hectic day....

 

When we returned to our cabin the previous evening, we had the invitations to the bridge and galley tours, from the Diamond Lounge Concierge. I'm guessing that any requests made to the regular Concierge for access tours go up to the Diamond Lounge Concierge (since only Diamond Plus are eligible for this perk), and depending on the number of requests, they may provide this for suite guests.

 

Had to sign a waiver form and head up to deck 10 elevators to meet for our tour. Suggested attire was closed toed shoes, and no swimwear or tank tops. There were several people wearing shorts. After we all checked in (there were about 20 people), we lined up in two security lines (male and female) and and submitted to the metal detector wand and purse checking.

 

The bridge tour was relatively short (maybe 20 minutes tops). I picked up a few interesting details, but because our group was large, it was a bit hard to hear.

 

The "control" panel:

 

Interesting detail #1 - couldn't really tell you what most of this stuff does, because I was in the back when he was pointing out all these controls--but when I snapped a picture, I noticed one that even a person with no nautical experience would recognize....WINDSHIELD WIPERS!!!! Yes, the cruise ship has them....

 

Another shot from from the bridge. Tha atmosphere here is very quiet. Very different than most other areas of the ship where everyone is moving at a speedy pace....

 

 

A view of the helipad from the bridge:

 

 

As I said, it was a bit hard to hear everything our "tour" guide was saying, but a second interesting tidbit was a discussion around the distance to tender in Belize. So here's why--a picture of the barrier reef that prevents ships from getting any closer. Basically, they just can't get any closer. Although a bit hard to see, this indicates the depth of the water in any given area:

[niksmom630]

More bridge photos...the guide also talked about the pilot boat, someone asked if the pilot boat captain parked the ship in port--apparently not--he just boards to advise the captain of the ship if there have been any "changes" to the port he should be aware of. Also heard a few of the men talking about "draft"--nope, not the Miller Genuine "Draft" variety, but basically the lowest part of the ship beneath the waters surface. Learn something new everyday!:cool:

 

 

See what I mean about the relaxed attitude up here???? Maybe this is the job to have....although we were smooth sailing at the time :)

 

the "Chair"

 

 

Final interesting item--while I didn't get a shot of the table, there was a whole area with "paper: maps, which they still use. Guess you have to always have a fall back if technology fails you.....

 

 

So I learned a few things from the bridge tour--although it was a bit short, if you have an opportunity to do this on a cruise, I would definately recommend it..

 

Ok, galley tour next....

[niksmom630]

So, we had the ice show scheduled at 2 p.m., but never made it. I really like to relax the last day of the cruise, which means nothing "scheduled", and I like to get a jump on packing in the afternoon, so the evening is care free. With both tours scheduled today, and my daughters flow rider lesson at 5, we decided to skip the ice show.

 

The invitation for the galley tour also arrived the night before, along with the waiver and recommended attire. I was fairly certain I had read on the boards that they would not allow you to do the galley tour without long pants (maybe this is specifically if you are doing the "all access" paid for tour). However, I just stated closed toed shoes, and no tank tops or swimwear.

 

We met at the entrance to the dining room on deck 3, and our tour was conducted by a RCCL sous chef.

 

WHAT a difference from the atmosphere during the bridge tour. This place was HOPPING! Although it was 4 p.m., so dinner in the MDR was just around the corner:

 

A station where salads were being prepared:

 

 

This galley is specific to the MDR. There is a seperate galley in the Windjammer, and also in Chops. Although some items are prepared in this galley for the Windjammer:

 

I've never seen "dessert" cups like these, so I am guessing they were destined for the Windjammer:

 

 

 

Some lucky recipient would be getting this tasty looking dessert tray:

 

This section of the galley was where the desserts were being prepared.

 

These ladies were dipping strawberries in chocolate--I enjoyed a few of these on the cruise :D

 

[Cupcrazy]

Fantastic review! I'm loving the pictures

[niksmom630]

These "recipes" and photos of the desserts were hanging above a prep station. Once a tray is assembled, it is inspected for "uniformity" and when it passes muster, it's sent to the refirdgeration section. Now I know why everyones dessert looks EXACTLY the same......

 

 

Here's a shot of the dishwashing area. Again, once the trays are removed from the dishwashers, they are inspected by hand. Those items that were not cleaned properly during the machine wash, are removed and handwashed. They will serve on average 1100 people in the MDR in the evenings at each seating. That's alot of dishes......

 

There are several of these stations for each "entree" of the evening. They are each "manned" with about 8 staff in each section. Just happened to get a shot of the Mahi Mahi and Tempura Shrimp section.....

 

 

This tour was also about 20 minutes. I really enjoyed it. IThe scale and size of everything is a sight to see. They have a garbarge disposal on board that makes mine look like a doll house version. It's amazing how many people are involved in preparing and serving meals on these ships. Kindof makes me wonder what people are expecting when they complain about the food. I can't think of a restaurant out there that has to prepare meals for 1100 people at one time.

[niksmom630]

Fantastic review! I'm loving the pictures

 

Thanks! I lost a few days because of the holiday, so hoping to wrap it up today!!!

[niksmom630]

The time between the bridge tour and the galley tour flew by. We spent a bit of time at the pool, and got some packing done. The band was playing beneath the big screen:

 

 

I'm not sure how I felt about this "big" screen at the pool. While it was kindof cool to watch some of the football games, and I really liked that is seperates the main pool area from the H20 (kids zone), there's just something wrong about watching TV in the middle of the ocean. In general, I never watch any TV on a cruise (even in the cabin--the Bear's game was a first!). The programming was also a bit odd. Sometimes, there were these "sea/beach" views on the screen while music was playing (either live or piped in), sometimes there were sports, sometimes news, and on our first night at sea, the movie Spiderman was playing in Spanish at the pool. My observation was that some were watching it (particularly the sporting events), but most were not.....

 

My daughter went for her Flow Rider lesson before dinner, and loved it. I think I mentioned earlier that the cost was $60 for an hour session. Well worth it, because they get plenty of personal attention. Note that if you just take your kids to the flowrider, they will get some direction from the staff, but in general the area is pretty crowded, so if they have a real interest in participating throughout the cruise, I would definately recommend the lesson for those with no experience.

 

One other must do for the final sea day...

 

The Walk for Wishes--A $10 donation gets you a t-shirt, and your commitment to do a few laps around deck 12 for a good cause--the Make A Wish Foundation! Because of the bridge tour, we didn't make it, but I did it on my Jewel cruise in February!

 

Finished up a bit of packing after dinner, and met our group for a few drinks before heading to the casino, where I met my CC friend "waterbugohio" at the three card poker table. I can't comment on the slot or vide poker machines because I don't play them, but the tables were fairly kind to me over the course of our cruise--meaning, I came home with what I budgeted to lose, and a little bit more. In my book, that makes me a winner.....

 

Finally, with great sadness, I move on to debarkation day, and the end of our cruise.....

[Aurora2143]

I am so grateful I found your review.

I booked a GS last year for our upcoming Med Cruise on LOS. Just like you, I am a cabin hopper. Last week noticed that the RFS and OS were the same price as what I paid for the GS. Thinking the AFT would be great, I switched to deck 8 RFS. After reading horrible reviews, I called this morning and changed to deck 9 RFS. I've wanted to do the OS, but read terrible things about the bathroom noise from someone that stayed in 1334.

Then I saw a couple of comments that it shouldn't be the same problem in 1340 and called 20 minutes later to switch to this cabin.

 

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

Your review has given me reassurance. Plus, had I switched to the OS several months ago when I was first considering it, it would have been $1500 more per person ($3000 more for us).

 

We're celebrating my hubby's 50th birthday and I just want everything to be awesome for him.

[niksmom630]

I am so grateful I found your review.

I booked a GS last year for our upcoming Med Cruise on LOS. Just like you, I am a cabin hopper. Last week noticed that the RFS and OS were the same price as what I paid for the GS. Thinking the AFT would be great, I switched to deck 8 RFS. After reading horrible reviews, I called this morning and changed to deck 9 RFS. I've wanted to do the OS, but read terrible things about the bathroom noise from someone that stayed in 1334.

Then I saw a couple of comments that it shouldn't be the same problem in 1340 and called 20 minutes later to switch to this cabin.

 

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

Your review has given me reassurance. Plus, had I switched to the OS several months ago when I was first considering it, it would have been $1500 more per person ($3000 more for us).

 

We're celebrating my hubby's 50th birthday and I just want everything to be awesome for him.

 

 

You will absolutely LOVE this owners suite. As soon as we entered our cabin, we wished the cruise was longer than 5 days.....:) And, our friends were in 1334, and they didn't really notice the bathroom noise. Enjoy your cruise--a Med cruise is still on my bucket list, would love it to be on Liberty in 1340! I don't know if I will ever be as fortunately as to get that kind of an upgrade deal again, but here's hoping.....

[Aurora2143]

You will absolutely LOVE this owners suite. As soon as we entered our cabin, we wished the cruise was longer than 5 days.....:) And, our friends were in 1334, and they didn't really notice the bathroom noise. Enjoy your cruise--a Med cruise is still on my bucket list, would love it to be on Liberty in 1340! I don't know if I will ever be as fortunately as to get that kind of an upgrade deal again, but here's hoping.....

 

Thank you!! 47 more days and we're off! :)

[Aurora2143]

One question, does that television swivel around, or is there no television viewing when you're in bed?

[niksmom630]

One question, does that television swivel around, or is there no television viewing when you're in bed?

 

It swivels. You can either watch it in the living area, or the bedroom area.

[Aurora2143]

It swivels. You can either watch it in the living area, or the bedroom area.

 

Great!!! Thanks a bunch!!! :)

[cruiseclues]

Great Information and photos on the Adagio Owner's Suite...Thanks for the very fine photo review. :):):):)

[cookmg40]

Thanks for the great review! I just booked this room for my upcoming Bermuda cruise. Your photos don't show anymore. Do you have another link? (I know this is an old review but I wanted to check)

[niksmom630]

Thanks for the great review! I just booked this room for my upcoming Bermuda cruise. Your photos don't show anymore. Do you have another link? (I know this is an old review but I wanted to check)

 

Hmmm, I think I was copying these from a Facebook album instead of using Photobucket.....if you are looking for pictures of the cabin, I still have them, and can send them to you. :) You can e-mail me at chotten98 at att dot net if you are interested!

[cookmg40]

Wow, thank you. You will see an email from mg2162. 😄