Review - Carnival Liberty - Feb 18-21, 2022

[wgeddings]

This was our first time on the Liberty so we were a little apprehensive.  Since it was a short cruise, off terminal parking was going to be $45 but parking in the terminal was $68 so we decided to give it a try.  It was nice to not have to deal with shuttles but conflicting instructions made it harder than it should have been.  That was a theme on this trip I think.  When we arrived at the parking garage, it is one big parking garage for several Carnival ships that use that terminal.  On the Elation, we were in a different terminal with different parking.  There were no real directions once inside and a few people motioning and yelling to go this way or that way or stop here all amid other drivers who were getting conflicting instructions.  We figured it out and left our bags with the porters then proceeded up where you had to pay before entering the parking area.  I have no idea how they handle it if several ships are leaving at the same time with different lengths.  Of course the credit card did not work but there was a guy moving back and forth to the automated terminals helping people so that was good.  There was a walkway from floor 3 to the embarkation terminal.  We went there but were told we had to go to floor 1.  Went to floor 1 and were told to now climb the stairs/ramp to get back to the 3rd floor walkway which we could have just walked across to.  Our check in time was 11:00-11:30 but we were running late and got there at noon.  Anyway, got inside and there was very little line but lots of the back and forth "cattle corridors".  I tried to just unhook one to step forward since no one else was in line but nasty glares from security and a desire not to have a cavity search convinced me to just walk through the cattle corridor. 

 

2 women checked my wife and I for passport, vaccination card, proof of test.  Lady took my wife's photo but did not take mine.  I asked about it and she said it would be no problem.  Yeah, right.  Went through security scan easily enough and headed for the ship.  Of course, right before the ship they had us look into a camera to confirm who were were and, as mentioned before, I had not had my picture taken.  I was all ready to storm back to the start of the process and be angry but the nice lady said it was no problem and she took my photo.  I told her that a woman at the front had not taken my picture even after I asked and asked why.  The lady smiled and just said "she was too damned lazy" so I laughed and it turned out fine.  We boarded the ship and a fellow at the entrance told us our cabin was one floor up.  Here is the next conflicting instruction.  Our cabin was on Deck 2.  We entered on Deck 3 into the lobby.  So our cabin was one deck DOWN, not up.  I finally convinced my wife that the crewman was wrong and we went down and found our cabin.  It was an outside view and very nice.  We had a sofa and having somewhere to sit other than the bed or a stool makes a huge difference!   Called housekeeping since I could not find out cabin steward and got my extra pillows, extension cord and fan with no problem.  

 

The ship was okay.  I still prefer the Horizon but it was much better than the Elation.  Very similar to the Sunshine.  The food was better than the Elation and Horizon although it was of course the same food.  I had the Bottomless Bubbles because I like soda and one complaint is that if you are in the Lido Buffet and want a soda with your meal, you have to go in search of a bar.  A bar IN the buffet area or at least a soda bar would be a pleasant addition.  MSC Divina had that and I appreciated it.  Speaking of getting sodas, it is a pain in the patoot.  The bartenders are not very nice or friendly and seldom pay attention so it takes a while to catch one.  Then they have to scan your card, get the receipt for you to sign and get your drink.  The good ones give you a glass of ice and a can of soda.  others, just pour soda from several open cans into the glass.  I do not like that because I do not know how long that soda has been open or what might have flown in it but those are their rules.  I dread trying to get a drink because the bartenders are so unfriendly mostly.   As you can guess, I certainly do not leave any additional tip since I already had the tip added in when I bought the Bottomless Bubbles.  

 

First night we were seated at a 4 person table with another couple.  No problem except they spent their time talking mainly to one another in Spanish and we do not speak that.  There were tons of empty tables around us and given the COVID protocols, it was odd that they would pair non-traveling companion couples at the same table.  The second night we requested a different table and got a 2 person table with very attentive wait staff so things were fine but still it was surprising how many empty tables were in the main dining room.  Again, the food was pretty good and service was very good (even the sodas).  

 

We had asked our cabin steward to service the stateroom in the evening but both mornings he saw us leaving so went ahead and serviced it in the morning.  It was okay but again a difference between instructions and reality.   Muster drill was the new "how to use a life preserver" thing but we had a problem because we were in Muster Station A.  The sign for Muster Station A had an A on the side we saw coming out of the door but a C on the other side.  We saw two crew groups doing the demonstration so went to the one with fewer people.  Turned out it was Station C but looked like A from our angle.  So we got to do it twice.  In addition to the other times recently we have been shown  how to put on a life jacket.  At least I am well prepared I think.  

 

There were no Playlist Productions and I was surprised by that.  Second night was a solo woman singer who sounded a lot like Aretha Franklin or Gladys Knight and my wife liked her a lot.  I prefer the singing and dancing but she was a good singer.  The third night was a comedy magician and he was pretty good.  Not incredible but, again, I prefer the big production shows but that is personal preference I guess.  

 

Use of masks - they were not as strict about it as on the Elation and many people just did not wear them.  I did.  Smoking in the casino was awful as usual.  i came out $16 ahead on the casino though so although not great, its not bad I figure.  Anxious for casinos to go smoke free.  Fellow passengers were overall pretty rude and seldom followed instructions given by the crew or common sense.  I was looking forward to the Mongolian Wok (LOVED it on the Horizon) but here it was more like on the Sunshine.  They had a section of the Lido Buffet set aside and you filled a bowl with what you wanted (not the meat) and then gave it to the cook.  The problem is that it was about a 45 minute wait in line.  Everyone complained about it and many people wanted to eat it but simply could not tolerate the slow moving line.  Obviously it is very popular and I have to hope Carnival finds a better way to accommodate it.  On Horizon, you sit down and fill out a piece of paper with your selections.  Server takes it to the kitchen and then a little bit later brings your food out.  That would be much better.   

 

Last night I happened to check my account again before going to bed and after packing.  I saw that an incorrect charge had been placed on my account.  Of course no one answered the guest services phone so I had to go to guest services and wait in a long line.  Finally got it taken off but there should be a better way to contest a charge (guest services person said probably a server entered an incorrect folio number).   Most of the people in line had questions that could have easily been handled if they read the instructions or used the automated terminals.  They should put contesting a charge on the automated terminal or app.  

 

Disembarking was pretty easy but tons of people had the hallways clogged and the lobby clogged because "wait for your muster station to be called" is secret code to them to "rush forward and get off when you want".  The crew was trying to keep a path open but it was hard.  We carried out luggage off so had no other problems but again the lack of people to follow instructions continued to amaze me almost as much as the inability of people to provide clear instructions.   

[FloridaMomKW]

Thank you or your review- we are on the Liberty for the 3 night this summer, and I wanted to see how the shorter cruises go. ~Karil

[wgeddings]

If any questions I can help with, please let me know. 

 

[Knights on the Beach]

Thank you for posting your experience!  Liberty shares Terminal 3 and the parking garage only with Mardi Gras. Liberty goes out on Fridays & Mondays and MG goes out on Saturdays - only one ship there at a time.

[peteandpris]

Thank you for your review.

[wgeddings]

1 hour ago, cruisemom2 said:

Thank you for posting your experience!  Liberty shares Terminal 3 and the parking garage only with Mardi Gras. Liberty goes out on Fridays & Mondays and MG goes out on Saturdays - only one ship there at a time.

That makes sense.  When we left on the Elation in December, Mardi Gras was going from the terminal and Liberty was not in port.  Since it is an either/or situation, I guess it is easier for them to keep track of the parking cost when entering.  

[cgladin]

We are booked on the Liberty soon. Since it is a short cruise, it made sense to us to just park at the parking garage. Thanks for the information about the floors in the garage and where to go.