Just off of the Liberty

[Raider07]

Just got back from the 6/17/07 sailing of the Liberty. The ship is impressive but be prepared to deal with the teenagers that have taken over the ship for the next two months.

 

The teens and even some adults were up and down the hallways yelling and screaming til 4am and slamming the cabin and balcony doors in the process. On the last night a male four doors down got locked out of his cabin and attempted to kick in his door. A housekeeping member finally stopped him and opened his door for him.

 

Security seemed to be absent when this was going on, but they were by the back hot tubs making sure there weren't any kids in there.

 

Embarkation was easy. We arrived at the port at 11:10 am and were onboard by 11:45 am.

 

First stop was Freeport. I have to agree with most CC members about why Carnival stops here. The place is a dump. The taxi drivers insist upon stuffing every part of their vehicles with wouldbe passengers. The cost to Lucya was about $10 a person. It seemed that a lot of people went back to the ship early here.

 

Days at sea were okay. They had the typical pool side activities, but you had to watch out for kids cutting in front of you at every turn.

 

Grand Cayman was hot with very little breeze. This is one of our favorite ports, but heard a lot of people complaining about the prices here. I guess most people don't check the dollar versus other currencies before leaving. We went to the Marriott section of 7 mile beach. Roundtrip was $10 a person, and for an additional $10 at the beach you got a lounge chair and a bottle of water or soda. There were watersports activities here like jet skis, snorkling, and kayaking for nominal fees. Back at the port there is shopping for just about everything. If you purchase duty free liquor, it is shipped directly to your ship and given to you on the last night.

 

Costa Maya. We took the bus into the town area for $3 a person. The bus was a large tour bus that was air conditioned. In town it seemed that all of the ocean side restaurants had the same deal: a table and chairs for four, chips and salsa, and 6 beers in a bucket for $10. The only negative thing about the area seemed to be the wild dogs roaming the beach. Some people were turned off by the fact that the animals are very sickly looking.

The taxi back to the ship was only $2 a person.

 

Back at the port we went to Mamasitas bar. The staff here was very friendly, but you pay more money for drinks and food than in town. Again there is lots of shopping here as well.

 

The ships food is lacking in a lot of areas. The buffets were average in most part. The same breakfast was served every day with an alteration between pancakes and french toast. There are no outside areas that servd breakfast and this causes long lines in the mornings.

For lunch again the buffets are lacking, while there is a variety of food, most of it is just okay. Nothing seemed to jump out and make you want to have it again. The stand out lunch spots seemed to be the Deli, pizza bar, and the hot dog and burger area, and the fish and chips. The deli, fish and chips and pizza areas were very good with the burgers being okay.

 

We ate in the dinning room every night. The food here was also good. Nothing stood out as being fantastic. The beef dishes were cooked to the way you liked them, but they were tough cuts of meat. Even the filet was tough. Some of the sauces lacked seasoning and there were several dishes that did seem to be better then others: The pumpkin soup, lobster bisque, crab cake appetizer, and lobster dinners seemed to be the most popular around us. I spoke to the people sitting around us and they said they were sticking with the shrimp cocktails and the warm chocolate melting cake nightly because they were the safe bets. Our servers in the dining room were excellent, and they bent over backwards in helping us with our young daughter.

 

Overall it was a good cruise and everybody seemed to have a good time. We skipped the shows except for the comedians. They were very funny and highly recommended. The casino seemed to be another camp carnival with all the young kids hanging around and even walking through the casino. While I didn't see any of them gamble, there were a lot in the casino area. As usual, we made more deposits at the casino than withdrawls.

 

The movies on deck at night were nice. The shows we saw were the Guardian, Da Vinci Code, and Cars. They did show some concerts on the screen along with some other movies as well.

 

Hope some of this was helpful to any future Liberty guest, and remember they are only opinions.

 

Next cruise Alaksa May 2008.

[rebeljohn]

The ship is impressive but be prepared to deal with the teenagers that have taken over the ship for the next two months.

 

Days at sea were okay. They had the typical pool side activities, but you had to watch out for kids cutting in front of you at every turn.

 

This is why we cruise when school is in...........

 

Thanks for posting your review...............

[Doug&Suzy-Q]

Thank you for your opinion.....I do like to read the good and the bad.....

We cruise in off season.....Sept...when school is in session....we do have to worry about the hurricanes.....but not the kids:D

Thanks for the heads up on the dogs......to me this is heart breaking....

[hshowalter]

My wife & I were on the Liberty in Nov. 2006. We did a 12 night Med. cruise & stayed on for a 16 night trans - Atlantic Cruise. The Med cruise was fine but on the trans-Atlantic 1000 people had the Noro-virus.The lines were long becaude crew members had to serve you in the buffet. The Cruise Director John Head was the worst CD. & I have seen over 50 CD. He was mad because people were E-mailing friends & family about the virus. He actually yelled at the audience & they booed him. The Liberty is a beautiful ship they just do not have enough crew members.

[1BDNANA]

I have not been on the Liberty yet, but I have been on a fue with John.I like him over all of the other CDs that I have cruised with.I can't belive he lost his temper like that.That virus can really make or break a cruise.

[DEL67]

I am sorry that you had an issue with the teenagers. I had the opposite experience during Christmas week. There were many children and teenagers and I thought that in general they were very well behaved. Perhaps it was just the group on your cruise.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Just got back from the 6/17/07 sailing of the Liberty. The ship is impressive but be prepared to deal with the teenagers that have taken over the ship for the next two months.

 

The teens and even some adults were up and down the hallways yelling and screaming til 4am and slamming the cabin and balcony doors in the process. On the last night a male four doors down got locked out of his cabin and attempted to kick in his door. A housekeeping member finally stopped him and opened his door for him.

 

Security seemed to be absent when this was going on, but they were by the back hot tubs making sure there weren't any kids in there.

 

Embarkation was easy. We arrived at the port at 11:10 am and were onboard by 11:45 am.

 

First stop was Freeport. I have to agree with most CC members about why Carnival stops here. The place is a dump. The taxi drivers insist upon stuffing every part of their vehicles with wouldbe passengers. The cost to Lucya was about $10 a person. It seemed that a lot of people went back to the ship early here.

 

Days at sea were okay. They had the typical pool side activities, but you had to watch out for kids cutting in front of you at every turn.

 

Grand Cayman was hot with very little breeze. This is one of our favorite ports, but heard a lot of people complaining about the prices here. I guess most people don't check the dollar versus other currencies before leaving. We went to the Marriott section of 7 mile beach. Roundtrip was $10 a person, and for an additional $10 at the beach you got a lounge chair and a bottle of water or soda. There were watersports activities here like jet skis, snorkling, and kayaking for nominal fees. Back at the port there is shopping for just about everything. If you purchase duty free liquor, it is shipped directly to your ship and given to you on the last night.

 

Costa Maya. We took the bus into the town area for $3 a person. The bus was a large tour bus that was air conditioned. In town it seemed that all of the ocean side restaurants had the same deal: a table and chairs for four, chips and salsa, and 6 beers in a bucket for $10. The only negative thing about the area seemed to be the wild dogs roaming the beach. Some people were turned off by the fact that the animals are very sickly looking.

The taxi back to the ship was only $2 a person.

 

Back at the port we went to Mamasitas bar. The staff here was very friendly, but you pay more money for drinks and food than in town. Again there is lots of shopping here as well.

 

The ships food is lacking in a lot of areas. The buffets were average in most part. The same breakfast was served every day with an alteration between pancakes and french toast. There are no outside areas that servd breakfast and this causes long lines in the mornings.

For lunch again the buffets are lacking, while there is a variety of food, most of it is just okay. Nothing seemed to jump out and make you want to have it again. The stand out lunch spots seemed to be the Deli, pizza bar, and the hot dog and burger area, and the fish and chips. The deli, fish and chips and pizza areas were very good with the burgers being okay.

 

We ate in the dinning room every night. The food here was also good. Nothing stood out as being fantastic. The beef dishes were cooked to the way you liked them, but they were tough cuts of meat. Even the filet was tough. Some of the sauces lacked seasoning and there were several dishes that did seem to be better then others: The pumpkin soup, lobster bisque, crab cake appetizer, and lobster dinners seemed to be the most popular around us. I spoke to the people sitting around us and they said they were sticking with the shrimp cocktails and the warm chocolate melting cake nightly because they were the safe bets. Our servers in the dining room were excellent, and they bent over backwards in helping us with our young daughter.

 

Overall it was a good cruise and everybody seemed to have a good time. We skipped the shows except for the comedians. They were very funny and highly recommended. The casino seemed to be another camp carnival with all the young kids hanging around and even walking through the casino. While I didn't see any of them gamble, there were a lot in the casino area. As usual, we made more deposits at the casino than withdrawls.

 

The movies on deck at night were nice. The shows we saw were the Guardian, Da Vinci Code, and Cars. They did show some concerts on the screen along with some other movies as well.

 

Hope some of this was helpful to any future Liberty guest, and remember they are only opinions.

 

Next cruise Alaksa May 2008.

 

I was on this cruise as well. The kids weren't too bad wherever I was except for a few that made you wonder where their parents were.

 

I was in the casino most nights and didn't see many kids in there. The kids club is right by the casino though so I'm sure some wandered through.

 

The buffets were typical run of the mill buffets but I'm not picky so I didn't mind the same thing every day. I usually go to town on pizza but only got it twice the whole cruise as I opted for the burgers.

 

We paid $5pp to go to Lucaya and used the beach behind the Sheraton. We enjoyed it just fine. We had to be back on the ship by 2:30pm though so it was a short day. They have the taxis very well organized there.

 

In Costa Maya there were many dogs. The first one I saw you could see his ribs. It was sad. There was a black dog at Pez Quadro that was out in the water with us fetching a plastic bottle. The dog was very friendly and got a good workout from everybody playing with him.

 

I missed the cheap spots. Pez Quadro wasn't one of them. $3 beers, $6 mixed drinks, and $10 for nachos.

 

I agree the movies were nice at night. I watched the same movies except for Cars as I saw that on Disney last August.

 

At sea days it was a bear to find a chair. Any chair at any location. Chair hogging was in full force.

 

On formal night my son and I dressed in tuxes. The guy next to me was in in jeans, a polo shirt, and beach sandals. We were really over dressed comaparitively speaking.

 

Just another view of the June 17th cruise.:)

 

Bill

[zaandam_2]

I have not been on the Liberty yet, but I have been on a fue with John.I like him over all of the other CDs that I have cruised with.I can't belive he lost his temper like that.That virus can really make or break a cruise.

 

believe it. i was on the same cruise.

[cupcake330]

How was the entertainment staff and the cruise Director:)

[mar5762]

Is the virus still on the ship? I cruise in 3 weeks and like anyone that would be the last thing I'd want to deal with after spending this money and waiting for this trip.

 

Thanks!

 

Marrianne

[lfresa]

We opted for an inside cabin main deck to save money on this cruise. Cabins size was adequate for my husband and two teenage boys. I would never get a room under the Venetian Palace again. I did the room guarantee and that is where we ended up. Oh well, it did not damper our cruise tho.

 

I thought the food was fine. Steaks alittle tough but hey for the number of people they are serving I could not complain. Food out on the Lido deck was good.

 

Casino paid off for me on the slots. I would take my money money when I was up 50.00 or so. You need to know when to cash out. I thought all the shows were great. I thought the teenagers were very well behaved. I expected alot of running around etc. but I did not see any of that. They mostly hung out outside of their club , Club O2. The best thing to do is if you don't want alot of kids go off season. I enjoy seeing them have a good time. There is limited things for them to do in the evening.

 

Ports> Freeport we always take a cab to Port Lucaya 5.00 a person we paid and stay at the beach outside of the Sheraton. Had a great time.

 

Grandy Caymen> We did the Captain Marvins tour. Highly suggest using them. Captain Marvain was out captain and loved the snorkeling and sting rays. Only about 20 people or so on the boat.

 

Costa Maya> Loved this port as well. Last time we were there it was 5 years ago so they really built this up. Went into town with only my younger son and felt very safe. Love the peope, the were really nice. Went to a little bar that had chairs, food and message table set up. I wish I could remember the name. They were down from Cats Meow a bit. Guys serving were great and treated us nicely. The dogs I did not have an issue with ( big dog lover ) . I wish I bought treats for them. I ended up giving one dog most of my lunch. Yes they are thin so that is why I fed them, but we have neglected dogs here in the US chained to trees all day. At least these poor dogs were able to beg for food and attention. Water was crystal clear.

 

All in the all we had a great vacation. Ship was immaculate and always seeing someone cleaning hand rails, flloors, etc. Of course on sea days it was hard to get a chair but we found some on the upper deck. It was so hot anyway by mid day you can always find chairs. The only thing is I wish they did not have the internet cafe where they have it located. You have to go through a smokey bar to get there. I was coughing the whole time on line and they you reeked of smoke when you were done. I wish I remembered to put that on my comment card.

 

I enjoy crusiing with Carnival. The people sooo friendly on board. If you have any questions email me at lfresa@snet.net

[shortstop95]

I have not been on the Liberty yet, but I have been on a fue with John.I like him over all of the other CDs that I have cruised with.I can't belive he lost his temper like that.That virus can really make or break a cruise.

 

 

I think John Heald is overrated... we've had on several cruises and for the runs that we were on.. his routine and corny jokes are identical. Nice man mind you, but when you've heard the exact same jokes.. three times over it's hard to keep laughing This isn't just a little bit.. the welcome aboard shows... the cruise talks... the opening monologues every night at the shows... I avoid cruises where he's the CD as I can't bear the thought of hearing them again. In contrast, I think Todd Wittmer is the best CD afloat. Carnival should send all their up and comers to learn from him... Todd knows how to make a cruise fun.

[redskin80]

Is the virus still on the ship? I cruise in 3 weeks and like anyone that would be the last thing I'd want to deal with after spending this money and waiting for this trip.

 

Thanks!

 

Marrianne

 

The Norvo they speak of was 2006, we took the ship about two weeks after that cruise and had no problems. Just remember to washyuor hands, and yuo will be fine

[S.S.Oceanlover]

There was no evidence of any noro last week. You may be thinking of the Liberty of the Seas which recently had a bout of it.:)

 

Bill

[mar5762]

There was no evidence of any noro last week. You may be thinking of the Liberty of the Seas which recently had a bout of it.:)

 

Bill

 

THAT must be it, saw Liberty and thought it was this one. Nice to know thanks so much!

 

Marrianne

[smashley]

Did you buy duty free liquor in Grand Cayman? If so, how many bottles can you get duty free?

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I didn't buy any booze at all anywhere. Not much for drinking and the hassle of packing it for the flight home deters me from buying it.

 

I do know that whatever you buy there is shipped over to the ship for you if you buy it early enough. I don't know the cutoff time though.

 

Bill

[serene56]

Did you buy duty free liquor in Grand Cayman? If so, how many bottles can you get duty free?

 

 

Each US citizen is allowed to return to the US with up to US$400 in purchases without paying duty, as long as they have been out of the country for at least 48 hours and have not claimed the exemption in the previous 30 days. A couple may claim US$800, a family of four US$1,600, and so on. A duty of 10% will be charged on the excess amount. US citizens may return with one carton of cigarettes duty-free and 80 cents per carton will be charged on any additional cartons. US citizens over age 21 are allowed 2 liters of alcohol duty-free. A duty of 15% will be charged on excess alcohol

 

Remember when flying you cant carry on this stuff--it msut be packed into your check luggage.

 

in grand cayman the stuff is delivered to the ship- do not wait til the lasdt minute to buy or you will be outta luck

[jaddsnana]

Great review! THANKS. We will be on this same cruise in 20 days! Can't wait!

[jaddsnana]

From 1 to 10 how would you rate this cruise????

[hubofhockey]

I think John Heald is overrated... we've had on several cruises and for the runs that we were on.. his routine and corny jokes are identical. Nice man mind you, but when you've heard the exact same jokes.. three times over it's hard to keep laughing This isn't just a little bit.. the welcome aboard shows... the cruise talks... the opening monologues every night at the shows... I avoid cruises where he's the CD as I can't bear the thought of hearing them again. In contrast, I think Todd Wittmer is the best CD afloat. Carnival should send all their up and comers to learn from him... Todd knows how to make a cruise fun.

 

I agree on Todd. I had him on the Liberty Western this April and I hope he's still on the Liberty next April when we do the Eastern Carib.

 

I agree with OP on the Lido buffets. They pale in comparison to Windjammer on RCCL. But the dinners are comparable and I actually liked Liberty's dinners in dining room better than EOS on RCCL.

 

Sorry to hear about the kids going nuts. That's a shame.

 

Chair hogging is bad on the Liberty. On sea days next year, I'll put my stuff out before breakfast.

[serene56]

Chair hogging is bad on the Liberty. On sea days next year, I'll put my stuff out before breakfast.

 

Chair hogging is bad on almost all ships.. before breakfast may be too late even

[Raider07]

On the scale of 1 to 10 I would have to give this one a 6.5 on the scale.

[jaddsnana]

Thanks for the great info....

[soxgirl02]

We leave to go on the Liberty in 4 days for the July 1st sailing. I want to make a reservation at Harry's, but I am not sure what night is best night to make that reservation...any suggestions?