Review: Carnival Liberty Southern Caribbean January 17-24, 2016

[clj7181]

I will try to post more as I get my pictures edited! For now - here is an introduction.

 

I am in my 30s and a single female with no kids who loves to travel and mainly go with my mom who is in her late 50s (my dad hates to travel).

 

A few key things to know about us:

1. I am a bit of an OCD planner, I create itineraries and research every vacation and book everything months in advance for every trip I take. I have a degree in Industrial Engineer, so you will see that come out throughout this review.

2. We both enjoy photography so there will be lots of pictures, and none with us in them, since I like taking the pictures not having them taken of me. I actually did not take as many pictures as I had planned, as I have advanced I have gotten more picky of what I shoot.

3. My mom has zero directional sense and leaves 100% of the planning up to me. The day we got to San Juan someone asked what ship we were on and she couldn’t tell them, she just knew it was Carnival. Her only two requests were jewelry shopping in St. Thomas (when have stayed here before and she had a little too much fun shopping, so much so that the credit card company called twice confirming it was her) and snorkeling somewhere.

4. I am of Scandinavian heritage (dad’s side) therefore I burn. This did have an impact on my battle plan for the cruise. Water and sand are reflective surface therefore can be disastrous for us fair skinned people if great care is not taken.

 

The planning process:

I am a pretty avid traveler and go on several trip each year, but I have never cruised before and was amused by the concept. So we decided to pull the trigger and go on our first cruise in 2016.

 

1st Question: When to go? Living in Illinois, winter was a given (it’s cold, so why would I cruise in the summer when it is hot here?) and I don’t have kids so I generally try and avoid traveling during school holidays (I like kids, but in moderation and it is also cheaper and generally less crowded when they are in school).

 

So from that, here were our cruise must haves:

1. 7-Day Cruise

2. Minimum of four ports of call (As photographers we wanted to experience as many ports as possible)

3. No Mexico - My dad hates Mexico (he thinks it is too dangerous) and has banned it. My dad is my dog sitter, so I go with it.

4. Over the week of MLK Jr day was picked to save a vacation day since we get that Monday off and like to maximize our time.

 

1st stop – Disney’s website. Being a Disney fanatic this was the obvious choice for me. I immediately found a 7-Night, Southern Caribbean (no Mexico), out of San Juan with 5 ports of call on the Wonder leaving January 17 - Perfect! Then came the price…ouch! My mother determined it was too much so back to the drawing board, now which cruise line.

 

I decided to look at Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Norwegian since those are the lines I had heard about the most. Norwegian and Princess did not meet my four must haves, and were eliminated leaving my two finalist.

 

Carnival came out on top for the following reasons: Bigger rooms (ocean view was 220 vs 161 sq ft), price, and I read good things about the 2.0 upgrades.

 

So I pulled the trigger and booked an ocean view cabin on deck 1 in the middle for $529 per person. A few months later, Carnival had a 36-hour sale where I could get a guaranteed balcony for $629 per person (vs $719 if I picked an 8A). The guaranteed room part made me a bit nervous, but for $90 less per person then a 8A I went ahead and did it figuring worst case scenario is 6-Aft above the club, and if that happened I would just pack earplugs. In the end I ended up with cabin 7446 with is an Aft Extended Balcony cabin.

 

I also spent a lot of time reading articles and reviews which covered what to pack, excursions and so forth. All that helped me know what to expect, so this review is returning the favor.

 

I will start with the extra stuff people recommended packing and if I actually used it.

•1st Aid kit and medications such as Tums, Pepto Bismol, pain reliever, Allegra, Aleve cold and sinus, and bandages. We used most of it, but what I forgot was NyQuil/DayQuil which I paid for dearly since what I brought didn't help chest congestion.

•Motion Sickness: Bonine & Sea Bands. On a boat…enough said. I was actually surprised how well the sea bands worked.

•Tide Travel Sink Packs: I did use one of the tide travel sink packs and it seemed to work pretty well when I spilled on my light gray capris on night one.

•Power Strip: With cameras, phone and other electronic devices, need all the power outlets I can get. The one lone outlet is kind of crazy, there isn’t even an outlet in the bathroom.

•Shoe Organizer: Instead I used my Vera Bradley Handing Travel Organizer: I love mine and liked it so much, my mom and sister have one now. I got 3 oz. bottles for all my liquids for the bottom compartment so I don’t have to pack big bottle. I just hang it up and keeps counters less cluttered. I will say that I used my own shampoo and body wash, I tried theirs but it is awful (We are not that fussy) so switched back to mine.

•Magnets for the walls: Never used them, I just kept my fun times in a neat pile on the long desk. Not really sure what I would have hung up so I would skip this next time.

•Highlighter: Never used it. I didn’t find it that hard to keep track of what I wanted to do.

•WITZ Waterproof Case - Never used it, I ended up getting a $2 lanyard for my sign & sail card that came already hole punched. I did have a cross body camera bag I carried every day in port with plenty of zipped pockets for my passport and sign and sail card. This may be different if you do beach/water stuff.

 

I will work on posting more over the next couple days!

[lilmizz]

I will try to post more as I get my pictures edited! For now - here is an introduction.

 

I am in my 30s and a single female with no kids who loves to travel and mainly go with my mom who is in her late 50s (my dad hates to travel).

 

A few key things to know about us:

1. I am a bit of an OCD planner, I create itineraries and research every vacation and book everything months in advance for every trip I take. I have a degree in Industrial Engineer, so you will see that come out throughout this review.

2. We both enjoy photography so there will be lots of pictures, and none with us in them, since I like taking the pictures not having them taken of me. I actually did not take as many pictures as I had planned, as I have advanced I have gotten more picky of what I shoot.

3. My mom has zero directional sense and leaves 100% of the planning up to me. The day we got to San Juan someone asked what ship we were on and she couldn’t tell them, she just knew it was Carnival. Her only two requests were jewelry shopping in St. Thomas (when have stayed here before and she had a little too much fun shopping, so much so that the credit card company called twice confirming it was her) and snorkeling somewhere.

4. I am of Scandinavian heritage (dad’s side) therefore I burn. This did have an impact on my battle plan for the cruise. Water and sand are reflective surface therefore can be disastrous for us fair skinned people if great care is not taken.

 

The planning process:

I am a pretty avid traveler and go on several trip each year, but I have never cruised before and was amused by the concept. So we decided to pull the trigger and go on our first cruise in 2016.

 

1st Question: When to go? Living in Illinois, winter was a given (it’s cold, so why would I cruise in the summer when it is hot here?) and I don’t have kids so I generally try and avoid traveling during school holidays (I like kids, but in moderation and it is also cheaper and generally less crowded when they are in school).

 

So from that, here were our cruise must haves:

1. 7-Day Cruise

2. Minimum of four ports of call (As photographers we wanted to experience as many ports as possible)

3. No Mexico - My dad hates Mexico (he thinks it is too dangerous) and has banned it. My dad is my dog sitter, so I go with it.

4. Over the week of MLK Jr day was picked to save a vacation day since we get that Monday off and like to maximize our time.

 

1st stop – Disney’s website. Being a Disney fanatic this was the obvious choice for me. I immediately found a 7-Night, Southern Caribbean (no Mexico), out of San Juan with 5 ports of call on the Wonder leaving January 17 - Perfect! Then came the price…ouch! My mother determined it was too much so back to the drawing board, now which cruise line.

 

I decided to look at Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Norwegian since those are the lines I had heard about the most. Norwegian and Princess did not meet my four must haves, and were eliminated leaving my two finalist.

 

Carnival came out on top for the following reasons: Bigger rooms (ocean view was 220 vs 161 sq ft), price, and I read good things about the 2.0 upgrades.

 

So I pulled the trigger and booked an ocean view cabin on deck 1 in the middle for $529 per person. A few months later, Carnival had a 36-hour sale where I could get a guaranteed balcony for $629 per person (vs $719 if I picked an 8A). The guaranteed room part made me a bit nervous, but for $90 less per person then a 8A I went ahead and did it figuring worst case scenario is 6-Aft above the club, and if that happened I would just pack earplugs. In the end I ended up with cabin 7446 with is an Aft Extended Balcony cabin.

 

I also spent a lot of time reading articles and reviews which covered what to pack, excursions and so forth. All that helped me know what to expect, so this review is returning the favor.

 

I will start with the extra stuff people recommended packing and if I actually used it.

•1st Aid kit and medications such as Tums, Pepto Bismol, pain reliever, Allegra, Aleve cold and sinus, and bandages. We used most of it, but what I forgot was NyQuil/DayQuil which I paid for dearly since what I brought didn't help chest congestion.

•Motion Sickness: Bonine & Sea Bands. On a boat…enough said. I was actually surprised how well the sea bands worked.

•Tide Travel Sink Packs: I did use one of the tide travel sink packs and it seemed to work pretty well when I spilled on my light gray capris on night one.

•Power Strip: With cameras, phone and other electronic devices, need all the power outlets I can get. The one lone outlet is kind of crazy, there isn’t even an outlet in the bathroom.

•Shoe Organizer: Instead I used my Vera Bradley Handing Travel Organizer: I love mine and liked it so much, my mom and sister have one now. I got 3 oz. bottles for all my liquids for the bottom compartment so I don’t have to pack big bottle. I just hang it up and keeps counters less cluttered. I will say that I used my own shampoo and body wash, I tried theirs but it is awful (We are not that fussy) so switched back to mine.

•Magnets for the walls: Never used them, I just kept my fun times in a neat pile on the long desk. Not really sure what I would have hung up so I would skip this next time.

•Highlighter: Never used it. I didn’t find it that hard to keep track of what I wanted to do.

•WITZ Waterproof Case - Never used it, I ended up getting a $2 lanyard for my sign & sail card that came already hole punched. I did have a cross body camera bag I carried every day in port with plenty of zipped pockets for my passport and sign and sail card. This may be different if you do beach/water stuff.

 

I will work on posting more over the next couple days!

 

Great review so far!!

Excited to hear more about liberty and ports as we will be on her in 9 days!

[cincicruisers]

Enjoying your review. Looking forward to the rest.

[DanishJourney]

 

.....

 

1. I am a bit of an OCD planner, I create itineraries and research every vacation and book everything months in advance for every trip I take.

 

4. I am of Scandinavian heritage (dad’s side) therefore I burn. This did have an impact on my battle plan for the cruise. Water and sand are reflective surface therefore can be disastrous for us fair skinned people if great care is not taken.

 

.....

 

 

You had me at OCD planner :D I'm totally the same way

 

I'm Scandinavian from Denmark and we normally do not burn that easily even if we do have the blond hair and fair skin. I've heard it has something to do with our development of melanin. So I'm thinking you might also have some British or Irish in your blood as well? Those guys normally burn where the Scandinavian people are lucky to be able to get a decent tan.

 

Can't wait to read about your trip and see some photos. I do hope we at least get one of you. I really like getting a face of the storyteller :)

Edited January 28, 2016 by DanishJourney

[firespud]

Looking forward to your review. 10 of us leaving Feb.28th for our annual friends cruise. Would love it if you would include some information about the music on board in your review. Anxious to see if you are hooked on cruising now!

[Keith1010]

Enjoyed your review and look forward to your photos.

 

Keith

[lauraodonnell86]

Excited to see what you thought of all the ports! We just got back from a B2B with Royal in the southern Caribbean! LOVED it as always!