Carnival Liberty 11/24!! Diary and Review

[funinthesun1964]

I enjoyed your review! Nice photos. I am jealous that you are photogenic and I am not :( Seriously, I never look nice in a picture - NEVER! LOL

I became sad at the end when you talk about the last hurrah and going back to pack. It is such a sad feeling, that I feel sad even when reading it from someone else's cruise..I get that same sick feeling - so sad! It never seems fair!!

But anyway, thanks for pointing out your awesome cruise review on Liberty!

[gelo7]

Nice review.

[PathfinderEss]

[SIZE=3][COLOR=darkred][B]Thanks for the great review and the wonderful pictures. Looks like you had a great time.[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]

[Juicermcurran]

Great review, thanks for taking the time. Now I'm even more excited for our cruise on the Liberty and our first Carnival cruise in Dec!!

[Georgie562]

Great review! I was on the sailing right after yours 12/1/12 to 12/8/12 and I will always remember the Liberty as the first ship that took me to my first Caribbean cruise. She's a great ship :) Edited January 28, 2013 by Georgie562

[eng4]

We are going on this cruise in January of 2014. Can you explain more about the free trolly? Where do we pick it up at? Where does it go?

[quote name='Catrin']We really like how they take advantage of the Lido Deck area at night now. Before on many cruises, this area would be dead all week, except for the one night late party. On this cruise, there was entertainment there and always something going on. The 2.0 improvements were most noticable in this area.
[URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/91642930@N05/8323841522/"][IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8075/8323841522_ea3a455111.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/91642930@N05/8323841522/"]IMG_1568[/URL] by [URL="http://www.flickr.com/people/91642930@N05/"]catrin0917[/URL], on Flickr
[URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/91642930@N05/8323841344/"][IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8323841344_d4a92efab5.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/91642930@N05/8323841344/"]IMG_1571[/URL] by [URL="http://www.flickr.com/people/91642930@N05/"]catrin0917[/URL], on Flickr

Everyone had to be back on the ship, and by midnight we had not moved. When we woke up, we did not know if we would be at sea or still in San Juan. It was very early in the morning when I realized we were still docked in San Juan. The ship had been fixed by the crew that had been flown in. We would be spending the day in San Juan as scheduled and would resume the normal schedule.

We had breakfast delivered to the room this morning..... The one thing I brought from home was Craisins.. as I love the in my Special K! Room service arrived right on time! Nothing like eating breakfast out on my deck enjoying the morning in San Juan.

We had a very simple plan for today. We were going to take advantage of the Free Trolley that I had read about during my research. The Trolley offers a free loop from the ship ports to El Morro Fort and Back. There was also a loop that went around the shopping areas in Old San Juan and back. We walked backwards.. to the last stop that is actually BEFORE the cruise ports. We had about a 15 minute wait before the trolley arrived. Good thing we went backwards, because at Stop 1 at the cruise port, the trolley was full and many had to wait for the next trolley.

The trolley had a recoreded video tour included. What a great deal for FREE!! We past the Government Buildings as well as many other sights, including the amazing coastline. Before we knew it, we had arrived at El Morro. The Trolley drove right up to the main entrance!
[URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/91642930@N05/8323841172/"][IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8360/8323841172_2b651bdfda.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/91642930@N05/8323841172/"]IMG_1572[/URL] by [URL="http://www.flickr.com/people/91642930@N05/"]catrin0917[/URL], on Flickr
[URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/91642930@N05/8323841034/"][IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8323841034_cbfd64401d.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/91642930@N05/8323841034/"]IMG_1573[/URL] by [URL="http://www.flickr.com/people/91642930@N05/"]catrin0917[/URL], on Flickr
[URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/91642930@N05/8322781347/"][IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8211/8322781347_3bcba8d6b7.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/91642930@N05/8322781347/"]IMG_1575[/URL] by [URL="http://www.flickr.com/people/91642930@N05/"]catrin0917[/URL], on Flickr
[URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/91642930@N05/8322781089/"][IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8503/8322781089_925aec86f1.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/91642930@N05/8322781089/"]IMG_1576[/URL] by [URL="http://www.flickr.com/people/91642930@N05/"]catrin0917[/URL], on Flickr[/quote]

[lds26]

Awesome review! I finally got to finish reading it. Was great to relive those moments through your words. I was a bum on this trip I was in bed early each night, Daniel was out enjoying the night life. We both had an amazing time. I agree with all your comments. Oh yeah and you booked the same Cabana we had last year on our Destiny trip! She sure is a good cabana!

[trini_ras]

Great Review, I will be doing this same trip in November of this year.
It is my second trip on the Liberty but my first since the 2.0 upgrades.

Hope I have as much fun as you seem to have on your trip :D
I am looking into the FTTF program seems to be worth the money ;)

THANK YOU for taking the time to do this!! *clap, clap

[Catrin]

[quote name='eng4']We are going on this cruise in January of 2014. Can you explain more about the free trolly? Where do we pick it up at? Where does it go?[/QUOTE]


This was a great alternative for us in San Juan.. and made a very inexpensive day! There are two stops at the cruise port. Stop #1 is right in front of where the ship is. We had read to actually walk to the left, and go to stop 14, which is down the street a bit. This worked out great for us, as we got right on at Stop 18, and by the time we got to Stop 1, the trolley was full.

Here is the official link, with the map, etc.
[url]http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/free-trolley-old-san-juan/[/url]

I hope that helps!
Catrin Edited February 1, 2013 by Catrin

[Catrin]

[quote name='lds26']Awesome review! I finally got to finish reading it. Was great to relive those moments through your words. I was a bum on this trip I was in bed early each night, Daniel was out enjoying the night life. We both had an amazing time. I agree with all your comments. Oh yeah and you booked the same Cabana we had last year on our Destiny trip! She sure is a good cabana![/QUOTE]

Linda.. where is your review.. looking for it!!

Thanks to everyone for the kind words. When I know others can learn from it, or just enjoy it, it is worth writing.

Catrin

[eng4]

Thank you!

[quote name='Catrin']This was a great alternative for us in San Juan.. and made a very inexpensive day! There are two stops at the cruise port. Stop #1 is right in front of where the ship is. We had read to actually walk to the left, and go to stop 14, which is down the street a bit. This worked out great for us, as we got right on at Stop 18, and by the time we got to Stop 1, the trolley was full.

Here is the official link, with the map, etc.
[URL]http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/free-trolley-old-san-juan/[/URL]

I hope that helps!
Catrin[/quote]

[bandnurse]

WOW!

Thanks for your AWESOME review! My hubby and I are booked in the exact same room this summer and our kids have the adjoining side balcony (we intend to have the divider flaps opened between them for a super balcony :)). I thought I was excited to go until I read your review ... now I am SUPER STOKED! June just cannot get here soon enough!:D

[NCteacherlovescruising]

Thanks for the great review and pictures! I really enjoyed reading it. We will be on the Liberty in 53 days~can't wait!! We have a balcony, but after reading your review and seeing the pictures of your balcony I would love to upgrade. I mentioned it to dh, but he grumbled at the extra money...maybe another time, when it's just the two of us.

[commspec1]

I really enjoyed her review and can't wait til Sept when we take our next cruise, when reading it it was like being there along aside her. Love the review:cool:

[pyroguy]

[quote name='Catrin']The Taste Bar was set up on the Promenade where the Sushi used to be. Each night there was a tiny cup of soup, or a small plate of something.. each day highlighting a different area - from the Burrito Bar to the Steakhouse, etc. [/QUOTE]

Great review! My wife and I were on this same cruise exactly a year prior (just after the 2.0 upgrades were completed).

My question is about sushi. Is it gone completely from the ship?

We really enjoyed grabbing sushi and an alchemy drink and people watching there on the promenade before our late seating dinner.

[michelle1836]

Thanks for posting your review! sailing on the Liberty in July :D

[2 cruzen]

[quote name='Catrin']This was a great alternative for us in San Juan.. and made a very inexpensive day! There are two stops at the cruise port. Stop #1 is right in front of where the ship is. We had read to actually walk to the left, and go to stop 14, which is down the street a bit. This worked out great for us, as we got right on at Stop 18, and by the time we got to Stop 1, the trolley was full.

Here is the official link, with the map, etc.
[url]http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/free-trolley-old-san-juan/[/url]

I hope that helps!
Catrin[/QUOTE]

Wow, just spent the better part of the afternoon reading your WHOLE review! Nothing better to do when it is snowing outside, but to read cruise reviews and dream of our next one. Which is on Liberty in 398 days :eek: but the exact itinerary as the when you just wrote about. Just off the Breeze last Saturday....was it really just 7 days ago :confused::rolleyes: and booked the Liberty while on board for the OBC incentive since FCC on no longer available :(

I was just going to ask about the SJ Trolley so glad someone beat me to it and you responded already. I seem to lose threads!

Have to agree with you about making the most (or least) of a cruise. I love "do nothing" sea days and days like HMC. I do hope we make St. Thomas though as our first time there was our first cruise (pre-Cruise Critic knowledge). Thanks so much for all the info and pictures. Well done!

[poundcake09]

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=3]Great review! Liberty is one of my favorites. I see you had my Favorite Desert also....:D[/SIZE][/FONT]

[ucfjag]

Great review, thanks! My boyfriend and I are probably going to tempt fate and do this same itinerary in September! He went on his first cruise with me last Summer (Western Caribbean on the Liberty as well) and loved it!

We're so excited for our second one! :)



-Paul

[Engineerstar]

Hello catrin. Was the area surrounding the cabin quiet?