Liberty of the Seas Feb 9-14, 2015 - Labadee & Ocho Rios - Photo Review

[mszmek]

I am loving your review so far and your timing is perfect! We will be on this cruise on Monday!

 

Great review and awesome pictures!

[Madison81]

These pictures were all taken from our balcony on the ship.

 

At the end of the day they towed the float with the jet skis over towards Columbus Cove.

 

Workers from Labadee heading back to their village via water taxi. The smoke in the hillside is from cook fires.

 

Fishermen returning home at the end of the day

 

Village to the west of Labadee

 

Homes in the Haitian hills

 

If you look closely you can see a few people walking on the steep dirt paths.

 

We ended the day with dinner at the Windjammer and then pizza at Sorrentos (because we could, LOL) and then we spent a couple hours in the casino. Tomorrow was Jamaica and we had a tour to the Irie Blue Hole booked so we called it a night and headed for the cabin.

Edited March 3, 2015 by Madison81

[Madison81]

We awoke to another beautiful morning and watched as the ship pulled into Ocho Rios harbor

 

Pilot boat waiting for the Liberty of the Seas

 

Marine Police came out and circled the ship

 

 

The port of Ocho Rios awaits at the end of the long pier

 

Did I mention that it was a long pier?

Edited March 3, 2015 by Madison81

[payitforward]

Thank you SO much for this review and all of the pictures! I'm on this cruise next Monday. I wasn't terribly excited about Labadee, and had contemplated staying on the ship. Thanks to your pics, I'm looking forward to wandering around. Looking forward to your cabin review as well. Based on the pics, I'm thinking you had an aft balcony?

[Madison81]

As we walked down the pier towards Ocho Rios we came upon this sign. After a brief "discussion" about which line we wanted we continued on.

 

For our day in Jamaica we had booked a private tour for 2 with Courtney Taylor Tours. The plan was to go to the Irie Blue Hole, then a bit of shopping and tour of the area, lunch at Scotchies and then an hour and a half at a beach, ending up at Margaritaville. We had met another couple, Stacey & Jason, on our Roll Call who were looking for something to do and so we decided to join up and share the tour. This was no problem at all for Courtney.

 

It was very easy to find where to meet up with our tour thanks to port guides who are standing right there as you come off the ship, just tell them which tour and they let you know where to stand. Before we knew it we were being loaded into a small shuttle bus to take us to a staging area where all the people who had booked with Courtney Taylor Tours would be split into their individual or group tours.

 

We actually went in a 4 door sedan but this is one of the vans that larger groups went in.

 

When I first was looking around for something to do while in Ocho Rios I emailed a number of independent tour operators. Two of them told me that I would have a better time at the Blue Hole then at Dunn's River as it was not as crowded and you could jump into the water and swim under the falls. The pictures I found online looked gorgeous so I decided that is what we would do.

 

Our driver Horace Taylor, Courtney's brother, brought us to the location of the Blue hole and left us in the capable hands of one of the guides, Dante. We left all our belongings except for water cameras and water shoes (not needed but recommended) in the car with Horace and headed off down the path with Dante. What a beautiful place this is! Dante was a great guide, always making sure we were walking in the right places and knew where and how to make each jump. He also entertained us with his own diving abilities, as did all of the guides. I had brought along my water camera so Dante and the other guides used it to take pictures of us and swam under the falls with it on. I put the video clips and photos together into this video.

[YOUTUBE]

[/YOUTUBE]

or if that doesn't work -

 

We spent about an hour at the Blue Hole and had an awesome time! When we first got to the falls Dante told my hubby to sit on a rock and for me to get in his lap...well that water is cold if you haven't been in it yet and he was ready to spring right back up and out of the water LOL! When Stacey sat on Jason's lap at the same spot Dante tells her to lean back, which she does, and water came shooting right up and over them, boy did we all laugh.

 

If you didn't notice we went backwards into the hole in the side of the waterfall and that was a bit disconcerting but easy done and you come out underneath the waterfall - very cool!

 

Back in the parking lot we easily find Horace and after toweling off a bit we head out for lunch at Scotchies.

 

Edited March 3, 2015 by Madison81

[Madison81]

The entrance way at Scotchies. We had jerk chicken, jerk pork and beans & rice. It was all very good!

 

Palmetto wood that they use for cooking the chicken & pork

 

Chicken & pork being prepared

 

and to wash it all down...

 

The bill came to a very inexpensive $1880.00 :eek: (Jamaican, actually about $16.30 US)

[Madison81]

After lunch we got back into the car and Horace took us up a road

 

that went by Shaw Park Gardens

 

and to an overlook over Ocho Rios

 

where we could get a good view of the Liberty in the distance.

 

We then traveled back down the road and came upon all sorts of people selling goods (carved birds, key chains, etc), doing tricks (flame thrower, multiple 1 armed back flips down a steep dirt road, stilt walker dressed like a tree and more) and we stopped for a moment to watch one guy who then came over to the van looking for $$. We call him chicken man because he was crowing like a rooster repeatedly.

 

Here is a video of Chicken man and some of his friends

 

[YOUTUBE]"http://youtu.be/BC_JuIDcf40"[/YOUTUBE]

or if that doesn't work use this link -

Edited March 3, 2015 by Madison81

[Barnaby100]

Loving the review. We are doing this trip in April

[Madison81]

Our driver Horace dropped us off at Mammae Bay Beach (I think that was the name of it) a little bit west of Ocho Rios. The temperature was perfect, the sun was shining, the sand soft and white, and the water was turquoise, what is there not to like?

 

Zoomed in on the Liberty, back in Ocho Rios

 

A little ways to the left of where we were sitting

 

The water in front of where we had laid our towels was beautiful soft sand. I went in and floated around a bit, wishing I'd remembered to bring our snokels & masks (how could I have forgotten them?). Jason decided to go out for a swim and snorkle and he came back with a $5.00 bill he had found floating out under the water!

 

Time for a toes in the sand picture to remind me of how wonderful it was when the cruise is over and I'm sitting at home staring at over 3' of snow out in the yard.

 

Time to head back to Ocho Rios, we don't want to be late!

 

 

 

[Madison81]

The port area at Ocho Rios was very clean. We walked around, took some pictures, and did a bit of quick shopping.

 

 

 

 

Still plenty of time before the 4pm all aboard.

 

 

 

 

 

[Madison81]

The beach outside of Margaritaville

 

 

Then it was time to stand in line to board the ship

 

Some workers on the ship watching us all come back

 

While waiting to board I can get a good view of the life boats

 

[Madison81]

Time to leave Ocho Rios. We had a wonderful day and can't wait to come back again next year!

 

The lines are removed from the cleat and away we go

 

Pushing away from the pier

 

Marine Police keeping us all safe

 

There was a lot of constructions going on around Ocho Rios harbor

 

 

Time for me to go find something to make for dinner. I'll be back in a little while to continue on with more pictures of the ship including our cabin, 9340 a D1 in the center of the hump.

 

[backsbanny]

Can you please post the day compasses for us???

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Madison81]

Can you please post the day compasses for us???

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

I have been trying to get my scanner to play nice and it isn't being cooperative at the moment. I'm going to have to reinstall the software and will do that tonight (I need this computer up & running for work until 9pm so will do it after that). Promise to have them all posted by tomorrow mid-morning if not sooner.

[Madison81]

I always enjoy the 70s Dance Party and this cruise was no exception.

 

 

Everyone was doing the Y - M - C - A

 

We had eaten dinner at Johnny Rockets for the 2nd night in a row and it was very good. After the 70s party and some time in the casino learning to play roulette we once again stopped by Sorrentos for a couple slices of pizza (always hot & fresh) and headed up to change into our bathing suits and enjoy some time in the cantilevered hot tubs...having one of them all to ourselves because it was later at night, about 1am. It was so very peaceful and a perfect way to end the day.

[timxrx]

Thanks for the great review and pictures. Your review brings back some great memories of the ship and ports. Its reviews like this that gets me through the very long and cold winters here in Buffalo NY.

[nanagu]

Love reliving our cruise through your views..We were also on the same sailing and went to Blue Hole too which we loved!! We had great weather and a great time On Liberty..sorry you had a bad experience in the MDR our staff was great and the reason we went back each night for the 2hr dinner..

[Wildcatfish]

Thank you so much for the Liberty review! Your pictures are great. We really appreciate the pics in your Explorer/Bermuda review as well.

 

As we sit here this evening with snow, sleet, and freezing rain your reviews remind us of our upcoming Liberty cruise to Bermuda and the Caribbean where it will be warm and sunny!

[Tankminder]

 

I'll be back in a little while to continue on with more pictures of the ship including our cabin, 9340 a D1 in the center of the hump.

 

 

No kidding! We're on in 3 weeks - same itinerary, and in room 9338 - right next door to yours! Would LOVE to see the Cruise Compass's if you post them! Thanks so much for the pictures and for the review!

[backsbanny]

Thanks for the pics looking forward to the compasses!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Madison81]

Oh no, all of a sudden it is our last day at sea! We went up to the pool deck before 8am and were able to find 2 chairs next to the pool. Most chair hogging we had seen seemed to start around 7:30 and by the time we had found these 2 chairs most around the pool had already been "claimed". We stayed right there watching people show up and claim the chairs that were left...or return to a towel covered chair at 11am for the first time in at least 3 hours. I had never actually watched chair hogs, it was interesting how some actually had a whole system for "reserving" them with 2 towels per chair, fold top of chair down, put flip flops under chair like they had just been stepped out of and a big paperback book on each chair (I actually watched a guy pull flip flops & books out of a bag and place them there, LOL).

 

We got to the pool so early the Sky bar & Pool bar weren't even open yet

 

No one using the pools yet, just some joggers & walkers up on Deck 12

 

My spot for the day, never sat at the pool this early but it was very relaxing

 

Around lunchtime Shrek & Fiona came down to the Pool Deck to entertain us. They must have been hot in those costumes!

 

We had great seats to watch the crew vs passengers pool volleyball games. The crew won each game and it was mentioned that they had neer lost a game.

 

The H2O Zone was busy. It was fun to stop and watch the children play, they all looked to be having a great time!

[Madison81]

One last look at the pool deck

 

For our cabin we have always chosen a balcony on the "hump". We like the location near to the elevator and stairs and also the great views from the balcony since it bumps out slightly further then the other balconys. You can see the view in some of my previous pictures from our balcony. Our cabin was 9340, a D1 right in the center of the hump on deck 9. In this picture you can see how these cabins bump out a bit. Deck 10 is the top row of balconys so we were 1 row down right in the middle. There is a larger Junior Suite balcony to the right of our balcony.

 

For our upcoming cruise in September to Bermuda on the Liberty we will be in cabin 9638, a Junior Suite right next door to our D1 cabin, but on the other side of the ship. When we first got into our cabin I peaked around and took this quick picture of the Junior Suite balcony next door (9338) so I could compare the size without learing around the partition. Our D1 cabin actually had just the 2 chairs and little table but it was certainly adequate and we have always loved having the balcony.

 

Our previous cabins on the Explorer had been E2s, this was a D1 and it had a bit more room through the width but was otherwise almost exactly the same as our past cabins on the Explorer.

 

[Madison81]

There was plenty of space in the closet, especially with the cubby hole to put the life jackets and extra linens. There were also to pull down "shelves"

 

There were also several shelves and a safe on the other side of the closet.

 

Excuse the poor exposure on the bathroom pictures, it was actually white & cream colored.

 

There is storage behind the mirror in the corner and also shelves on the other side (out of picture)

 

We only received 2 towel animals but had never had these on past trips

 

We didn't see a towel animal on the bed and since we hadn't had one the night before I thought nothing of it...and then I turned around and was completely surprised to see this guy hanging out on the couch. Don't know what he is but he was cute!

 

Scanner is finally working - Hooray!!

 

Up next: Cruise Compasses and most of the little flyers contained within or placed on the bed.

 

[Madison81]

No kidding! We're on in 3 weeks - same itinerary, and in room 9338 - right next door to yours! Would LOVE to see the Cruise Compass's if you post them! Thanks so much for the pictures and for the review!

 

Small world...I just posted a picture of the balcony of 9338 that I had peaked around the partition and taken :)

[allthatjazz]

We are going to be in room 9342 in August for the Canada/New England cruise. This has always been a D1 balcony room, now it's considered a D2 balcony. Does anyone know why it changed? Thanks so much.