Just back from Liberty of the Seas, any questions?

[karenbf]

Hello.... do you know if Ricardo Ugalde is currently on the Liberty as the Concierge?.... know he will be leaving soon for the Independence and don't know if he is already gone.... Thanks.

 

I'm not positive about this one but they gave us a sheet with "Behind the Name Tags" on it. Concierge is not one of the titles on the sheet. They have the following listed:

Kjetil Gjerstad, Captain

James Andrews, Cruise Director

Jayne Colella, Loyalty & Cruise Sales Manager

Christos Karavos, Hotel Director

Cetin Kokes, Food and Beverage Director

Eldor Vaernes, Chief Engineer

[takeavacation]

Just my 2 cents -- I was on the Liberty in Sept. 07 and did the same itinerary. For Montego Bay -- plan ahead. There are great options if you book with someone before arriving. Go to the Jamaica board here on cc and you'll find great recommendations for guides. I used Trevor Hudlin and he was great. We did a full day tour to Mayfield Falls - which is about an hour from the port -- and the most beautiful place! It was a great day without a lot of tourists (there we just the 10 of us!!). We walked the river - swam, jumped off trees and rocks, swam thru underwater tunnels and climbed falls -- it was incredible!! After he took us to a local lunch of jerk -- and it was great!! Jamaica can be the best port if you plan ahead === do not just get off the ship and wander aimlessly -- that will ruin your day quickly. Have a great trip!:)

[megnsamsgracie]

This is kind of a tough one. I prefer the early dining. I'm not sure of the age of your 4 kids. That might help me recommend something to you. I have travelled with teenagers before and found that it worked out fine for them to eat early with us most nights. Only once or twice did they want to miss dinner with us and run around with their AO friends. I just know after a 2 hour dinner and show, we were ready to turn in.

 

They will be almost 12, 10, 7.5 and 5.5 at time of sailing.. their first cruise 12/07 they ate with us and then went to the kids club.. they really didnt enjoy dinner in the dining room though. Oh well, maybe I can talk to the maitre d and see if we can fit into a table with just us 2.. bring the kids to AO and then do dinner. I was liking the my time dining on freedom but its not offered on Liberty yet

[karenbf]

I guess the big question is do you want to eat with your children? If you do, eat early. If you don't, eat late. When we have travelled with kids, we always requested a large table with people we didn't know. That way if the kids ate with us, they got to meet people from other areas of the US or World. When the kids were off doing their thing, we had other adults to converse with and share what happened that day.

[SeaTheMagic]

Thanks so much for sharing. I'm enjoying just reading your responses. Glad you had a great time!!

[t-bonz]

Hi Karenbf! Thank you for offering your recent Liberty experiences and knowledge with us. Did you save your Compasses and if so would you be interested posting or emailing them? :)

[hmsdos]

I'm not positive about this one but they gave us a sheet with "Behind the Name Tags" on it. Concierge is not one of the titles on the sheet. They have the following listed:

Kjetil Gjerstad, Captain

James Andrews, Cruise Director

Jayne Colella, Loyalty & Cruise Sales Manager

Christos Karavos, Hotel Director

Cetin Kokes, Food and Beverage Director

Eldor Vaernes, Chief Engineer

 

Thanks.... I do know one of these well enough to send an e-mail and ask about the Concierge....

[girlsrulekrj]

This is kind of a tough one. I prefer the early dining. I'm not sure of the age of your 4 kids. That might help me recommend something to you. I have travelled with teenagers before and found that it worked out fine for them to eat early with us most nights. Only once or twice did they want to miss dinner with us and run around with their AO friends. I just know after a 2 hour dinner and show, we were ready to turn in.

 

Karenbf (I'm Karen too, by the way): what time were the dinner seatings on Liberty? There is a thread going around that Voyager changed early seating to 5:30pm and I agree with many of the posts that that is simply way too early. I heard Liberty is 6:15pm for early. Is that still true? Thanks for your assistance!

[girlsrulekrj]

We have been to these ports many times, except for Labadee. So, I'll start there.

Labadee- Very nice beaches. Do not pay the asking price at the flea market!, offer 25% of what they ask. I would start in the artisan's market and then go to the flea market. They bring all the food for lunch from the ship. Dragon's Breath zip line looked like a blast. They had to shut it down about noon due to rain. Great place just to hang out and do nothing.

 

Montego Bay- DO NOT GO OFF THE BEATEN PATH! Take a ship excursion or do something right at the port. We have taken taxi tours, coffee plantation excursion, and snorkeling excursions. The Mountain Valley Rafting excursion was highly recommended by my friend. If you do this one, ask for Doctor Love's raft. He goes above and beyond on his trip down the river.

 

Georgetown- I have seen Hell, the Turtle Farm, Stingray City, the Rum Factory, snorkeled and just beached it. The shopping here is not what it used to be. There used to be a feel of the rich movers and shakers who vacationed here. Not so much anymore. It's just another Caribbean port now. My recommendation is to enjoy the beach or rent a jeep and go around on your own.

 

Cozumel- I have gone to the Tulum Mayan Ruins, Chankanaab Park, jeep excursion, snorkeling, Playa Mia. Tulum is a long day. The ferry ride to Playa del Carmen is 45 minutes and another hour long bus ride to the ruins. Once you are there, it's beautiful. Chankanaab Park is great in my book. Kind of one stop shopping. It has the Dolphin experience, snorkeling, ruins, food, beach, botanical garden, shops.

 

Thank you! Greatly appreciate your sharing of your experiences and tips! We have booked Chankanaab/dolphins in Cozumel so that's one port down. By the way, which ports on this itinerary are tenders and which are docked at the pier?

[luv2cruz24]

Labadee and Grand Cayman are tenders. We booked the Dolphin Swim as well...can't wait! The paperwork I got the other day from the TA for our Liberty cruise in April still said 6:15 dinner. I hope they don't change it!

[karenbf]

Hi Karenbf! Thank you for offering your recent Liberty experiences and knowledge with us. Did you save your Compasses and if so would you be interested posting or emailing them? :)

 

I do have my Compasses. I highlighted stuff on them. So, I don't know if you would still want to look at them. Plus, I don't know how I would post them.

[karenbf]

Karenbf (I'm Karen too, by the way): what time were the dinner seatings on Liberty? There is a thread going around that Voyager changed early seating to 5:30pm and I agree with many of the posts that that is simply way too early. I heard Liberty is 6:15pm for early. Is that still true? Thanks for your assistance!

 

Tendered ports were Labadee and Georgetown.

 

Day 1 Bon Voyage Dinner, Casual Attire, main- 6:15, late- 8:45

Day 2 Captain's Gala Dinner, Formal Attire, main- 6:00, late- 8:30

Day 3 Venetian Feast, Casual or 70's Attire, main- 6:00, late- 8:30

Day 4 Crown & Anchor Dinner, Casual or Colorful Caribbean Attire, main- 6:00, late- 8:30

Day 5 Chef's Dinner, Formal Attire, main- 6:00, late- 8:30

Day 6 Surf Dinner, Casual Attire, main- 6:30, late- 8:45

Day 7 Feast of Nations, Casual Attire, main- 6:00, late- 8:30

[CruisingGAL82]

Hi Karen,

 

Glad you had a Great Cruise! Thanks for offering to answer questions for all of us!

 

I just read a review the other day and they stated that they felt the liberty didn't have a lot of windows and they couldn't really see the ocean from many of the public areas? Did you find this to be true...?? I hope not!

 

Thank so much!

[oceanblue33]

Hey Teresa my name is Jay, my wife and I will be on LOS going to the western caribbean this weekend. I've also been trying to get a hold on a recent cruise compass without any luck. There is a sight http://www.cruisedailies.com/portal/ that have some c.c. from the LOS but there from last year. Anyway I'll save all of my cruise compas and I'll mail them to you. If this is ok with you?

my email is jaysayy33@yahoo.com

[t-bonz]

I do have my Compasses. I highlighted stuff on them. So, I don't know if you would still want to look at them. Plus, I don't know how I would post them.

Thank you for replying. I would have suggested scanning and posting on Webshots, but if the Compasses are highlighted, the highlighted areas might not show up well.

 

Hey Teresa my name is Jay, my wife and I will be on LOS going to the western caribbean this weekend. I've also been trying to get a hold on a recent cruise compass without any luck. There is a sight http://www.cruisedailies.com/portal/ that have some c.c. from the LOS but there from last year. Anyway I'll save all of my cruise compas and I'll mail them to you. If this is ok with you? my email is jaysayy33@yahoo.com

Hi Jay! Thank you for your message! I too have been searching for Western Compasses for a while. Searched cruisedallies, Webshots, and Cruise Critic to no avail. I would LOVE a copy of your Compasses! I'll PM you with my email address. Thanks again for your message. Have a great cruise this weekend...I'm so envious! :p

[cruzlover]

Hi Karen,

 

Thanks for taking the time to answer questions.

 

I'm just wondering if you found the public areas such as the Promenade to be very smokey. I've been reading that since they do not allow smoking in the cabins anymore, there are more people smoking in the bars, etc. I understand there is supposed to be one smoke free lounge on the ship. Do you know which one and was there live entertainment?

 

Thanks. Melinda

[PokrChick]

Hey Teresa my name is Jay, my wife and I will be on LOS going to the western caribbean this weekend. I've also been trying to get a hold on a recent cruise compass without any luck. There is a sight http://www.cruisedailies.com/portal/ that have some c.c. from the LOS but there from last year. Anyway I'll save all of my cruise compas and I'll mail them to you. If this is ok with you?

my email is jaysayy33@yahoo.com

 

Hey Jay - if you email them at cruise dailies, they will post the compasses on their site for all of us to enjoy:cool: They say if you aren't able to scan them, they'll do it for you and send them back to you. Their email address is uploads at CruiseDailies dot com. We're headed on the Liberty / Western in June and I'm dying to see them also!!! :D

[karenbf]

I disagree with whoever said there weren't enough windows in public rooms. I could find a view almost everywhere. There are a few exceptions because of the venue like The Catacombs, Studio B, The Screening Room and Platinum Theater. I definitely felt like I got my daily quota of sunshine (and glorious views).

[cruisinfever]

Thanks so much Karen for the info. We will be on the Liberty two weeks from

Saturday. Just wondering about Montego Bay? What is the easiest way to get to Margarittavilles and is it safe. Is there a place to hang out on the beach there.

 

Another question my son had - are there any hot made to order crepes anywhere on the ship?

 

Thanks

[karenbf]

Hi Karen,

 

Thanks for taking the time to answer questions.

 

I'm just wondering if you found the public areas such as the Promenade to be very smokey. I've been reading that since they do not allow smoking in the cabins anymore, there are more people smoking in the bars, etc. I understand there is supposed to be one smoke free lounge on the ship. Do you know which one and was there live entertainment?

 

Thanks. Melinda

 

The only place I found the smoke to be bad was in the Casino. There are two non-smoking bars, The Champagne Bar and The Sphinx Lounge. Sorry, no live entertainment there. Most of the live entertainment (besides the theater) is in the Sky Bridge, Boleros, Olive or Twist, Schooner Bar, and Hoof & Claw Pub. DJ/dance club type music is in The Catacombs.

[karenbf]

Thanks so much Karen for the info. We will be on the Liberty two weeks from

Saturday. Just wondering about Montego Bay? What is the easiest way to get to Margarittavilles and is it safe. Is there a place to hang out on the beach there.

 

Another question my son had - are there any hot made to order crepes anywhere on the ship?

 

Thanks

 

The easiest way/only way to get to Margaritaville is to take a taxi. It should be about $6. The only other option is a 3 mile hike. Yes, it is safe there. It's on the beaten path. There isn't much beach there. The bar has a swiming area though.

 

Sorry to tell your son that I didn't see a single crepe. Of course, I wasn't actively looking for one either. Possibly I missed them? They do have a made to order omelette area. Maybe they would make a crepe for him?

[cruisinfever]

Karen thanks for answering so quickly.

 

The crepes on the Jewel were made in the solarium by the pool. They make them on a warming stone. They were available in the afternoon or at night. They were awesome covered in chocolate, strawberries or caramel.

 

In reading other threads - were there smoke free nights in the casino?

 

Was it difficult to get a seat by the pool?

 

How was the cruise director?

[karenbf]

Karen thanks for answering so quickly.

 

The crepes on the Jewel were made in the solarium by the pool. They make them on a warming stone. They were available in the afternoon or at night. They were awesome covered in chocolate, strawberries or caramel.

 

In reading other threads - were there smoke free nights in the casino?

 

Was it difficult to get a seat by the pool?

 

How was the cruise director?

 

I might have to book the Jewel just for the crepes! You made them sound so good.

 

I was not aware of any smoke free nights in the casino.

 

Yes, lounge chairs by the pool were hard to come by.

 

James Andrews was a great cruise director. He was very high energy and humorous but not obnoxious.

[CruisingGAL82]

Thanks Karen!!! Good to know!!!!! :D

[canuckcruiselover]

What was your take on Montego Bay? I've heard not great things about it but I am excited to be going there in August. Is it really as bad as people say? Is there anything, such as shops or resturants, right in the port area?

 

I don't scare easily but my friend and I decided to walk around the nearby shops and were literally pounced on by hords of sales people who wanted to take us to see their uncle's/aunt's/brother's store. Unless you are going on the zipline, which my DH and buddy absolutely loved -- it was the highlight of the trip for them -- my recommendation is to stay on the ship and relax by the pool.