LIBERTY REVIEW - Western Sailing 4/11-4/18 with Some Photos

[LizaMM]

Great Review:p

 

Thanks

 

Wonderful review!! Keep it coming. I can't wait to be on the Liberty. You mentioned that u bought the soda cards for the kids. How did it go? I've read conflicting reports and am concerned that my kids will only get a partial can of soda poured into a cup. Is this true???

 

 

This is true. When you have the soda card they pour your drink into a cup and one cup at a time is all you can get. They will not give you the can. You can, however, get as many cups per day as you want. This also includes Shirley Temples and juice. It all worked out fine for us.

 

On the Freedom in Feb with my older DD's I did bother to get the soda card because they only had maybe 1 or 2 a day.

 

 

What a fun review, thank you for sharing. Looks like you and your family had a great time and I love seeing all your pictures. Makes my wait until my Freedom Cruise (January) seem a little less painful! lol ;)

 

Glad you are enjoying it! Which Freedom itin are you doing?? I wrote a review of my 8 Day Western Sailing in Feb BUT it was not a daily with photos like this one. The Freedom was a great cruise as well!!

[LizaMM]

I keep trying to post and getting locked up!!!!

 

Anyway.....

 

The pier at Puerta Maya is kind of long. There are bike riders with carts that can take you back and forth if you want:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a view from next to the ships:

 

 

 

 

We got back on the ship and just relaxed for awhile. The kids rested in their cabin, mom in ours and I went out to the Lido Deck to listen to music and relax there.

 

I watched the sunset from my balcony:

 

 

 

 

 

 

We all showered, dressed and had dinner in the Dining Room. I don’t know how we ate after all the wonderful food at Panchos Backyard but somehow we did! After dinner the kids went to Circle C which was having a Battle of the Sexes game at 10 and then a game of Spoons; a game of Would You Rather and then winding up with Party Time Mexican Fietsa. Mom and I went back to the cabin and got into bed.

 

 

Our Towel Animal:

 

 

 

 

 

Kids Towel Animal:

 

 

 

 

I was feeling stuffed and tired! We watched some tv and fell asleep waiting for the kids. The kids came back at around 1AM when the Circle C activities were over.

[KORO1985]

I cant wait to read about the rest of your trip. You pictures are great! We are doing the same itinerary on Liberty in August. I am so excited!!!!!!!!

[Dcellbattery]

Is there a charge for kids late night activities with Circle C or any of the other programs? I ask this because with RCCL there is a charge after 10pm. Wonderful review. Will sail on her the last week of July. Becoming very excited!

Thanks

[LizaMM]

I cant wait to read about the rest of your trip. You pictures are great! We are doing the same itinerary on Liberty in August. I am so excited!!!!!!!!

 

 

Hopefully I'll get to some more later.

 

 

Is there a charge for kids late night activities with Circle C or any of the other programs? I ask this because with RCCL there is a charge after 10pm. Wonderful review. Will sail on her the last week of July. Becoming very excited!

Thanks

 

No! There is no charge for Circle C at any time! This was a nice bonus of having my son in this group rather than the 9-11 group because there is a charge after hours for them.

 

Circle C is 12-14 y.o and Club O2 is for 15-17 and these have no additional fee at all. These kids can come and go to activities as they please anytime.

 

All other age groups are part of Camp Carnival and there is a charge for the late hours. Also, even the 9-11 group (which can sign themselves in & out during the day) must be dropped off /picked up by parent during the late hours (after 10PM ).

[LizaMM]

TUESDAY – FUN DAY AT SEA

 

As seems to be the pattern I woke up at around 7:15. Mom was still asleep so instead of ordering room service for coffee I decided to toss on some clothes and take a walk out to the Lido Deck to get a cup. Our cabin was in such a phenomenal location for going back and forth!!

 

Anyway….I stepped outside and walked across the area by the main pool and much to my dismay the Chair Hogging had already begun! I kid you not….I spotted at least 50 lounge chairs that had towels, flip flops, book etc placed on them!! I was actually a little annoyed! I got my coffee and hightailed it back to my cabin. Mom was awake now so I told her what I saw. I really wanted to have a deck chair where I could hear the music and see the activities…she did as well. So we skipped having coffee on the balcony, grabbed our towels and stuff and went out to the Lido Deck to get some chairs. By this time there were even more saved! The hilarious thing is that up on the Big Screen was this lovely photo with words in the forground saying:

 

“In consideration of your fellow guests the reserving of deck chairs is not permitted. Towels and personal items left on chairs unattended for 40 minutes or more will be removed by the pool attendants for safe keeping and will be available for collection from the Towel Hut”

 

It was comical really! This message ran on the Big Screen every morning for almost an hour and yet all around the deck are people leaving stuff on chairs for hours at a time! This message was also posted in the Capers daily. I met someone in a family group who told me that they set their alarm for 6:30 so they could go out and save a row of about 8 chairs then went back to bed for a couple of hours…..they also admitted that much of the family would not come outside until noon but those chairs would be held for them for hours!! I did NOT see Carnival enforce this at all (I did witness an argument on another day which I will tell you about then).

 

So….mom and I got a pretty good spot and had our coffee out on the Lido Deck. We took turns going to the cabin to get sunscreened and into bathing suits and mom got a bite to eat at one point. BUT we never left them both vacated and at any rate none of these activities took longer than 15-20 minutes.

 

The kids slept late. They eventually came out and found us (I left a detailed note with directions of where we were in the cabin) and they went off to have breakfast.

 

I had highlighted a couple of trivia things in my Capers but they were indoors and I was really enjoying the Lido Deck so I skipped them.

 

 

It was a truly fabulous day!:

 

 

 

 

 

The Lido Deck was very crowded with people having fun! I LOVED the atmosphere!!:

 

 

 

 

 

The Master Mixology Contest started at around 1:00PM and that was very cool! This is a contest on the Liberty where guests sign up and compete to make the best mixed drink. The judges were one guest, the beverage manager, one of the entertainers and I think maybe one other entertainment staff person. They had everything possible to make these wonderful concotions. They were rated on a scale of 1-10 for ingredients, taste and name. The person with the highest total score won and their drink is sold for the rest of the cruise!

 

Here is a photo I took from my lounge chair:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The kids went off to Circle C at around that time for the In The Bag Challenge and some free play time. Kayla bonded with a group of girls and they hung out quite a bit. She had to check in with me at certain intervals.

 

 

Here is David returning from the in The Bag Challange.....he and his teammate did not win:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David spent a lot of time going down the water slide and I went with him as well. I finally went on the water slide for the first time on the Freedom in Feb – it was my 6th Carnival Cruise but my first time on the slide! I just loved it!! I totally get that “buckle up Buttercup” commercial with the guy going down the slide screaming like a schoolgirl! WAY to much fun!!!

 

So most of this day involved relaxing on the Lido Deck and of course having a couple of DOD’s. Today they were selling the Funnel Cups.

 

Here is David and I toasting ours.....I got a DOD and he had a Vigin Miami Vice (the Smoothie of the Day):

 

 

 

 

 

At some point mom and I got lunch from the Deli. The kids ate with their new found friends.

 

 

I enjoyed "Barbara's Tropical Fruit Fiesta" (Master Mixology win) as my refill:

 

 

 

 

 

One thing I love about Late Seating for dinner is that at around 4:30 the Lido Deck really empties quite a bit as people who have Early Seating start to head back to their cabins and get ready. This is when we got in the hot tub for a little bit and also took advantage of the much shorter line on the water slide! David watched Back to the Future on the Big Screen which started at 6:00PM…..there was an 80’s theme for the day.

 

At some point it was time for a latte and then head to the cabin to shower, relax on the balcony and get then get ready for dinner.

[kjunea]

Love the Funnel Shots! That makes you a member of the Whale Tail Club!!

 

I also need to practice some mixology.... I'ld love to win that contest!!

[Georgiagolfer]

Really enjoying your review. DW and I sail on Liberty in just over 4 weeks. Although we have been to these ports previously, this will be our 1st time on Liberty. From what we have seen and heard it is a beautiful ship. Looking forward to more of your review and more of the ship.

[LizaMM]

Love the Funnel Shots! That makes you a member of the Whale Tail Club!!

 

I also need to practice some mixology.... I'ld love to win that contest!!

 

I always take a lot of photos of the Funnel.....In fact, I am using them for a project I am doing for school! I have noticed the Whale Tail Club in siggies but I have no idea what it is!! :eek:

 

You should definetly practice some drinks....that looked like a very fun contest to be a part of.

[LizaMM]

Really enjoying your review. DW and I sail on Liberty in just over 4 weeks. Although we have been to these ports previously, this will be our 1st time on Liberty. From what we have seen and heard it is a beautiful ship. Looking forward to more of your review and more of the ship.

 

 

I have been to these ports before as well. It was the first time for my kids though and mom had not been to Cozumel before.

 

The Liberty is really a beautiful ship! I was truely in awe when I stepped on board and looked around!!

 

ENJOY!!

[nylori]

keep it coming! Love the info about Mixology. Does everyone get samples and vote? How many people get to mix?

[LizaMM]

keep it coming! Love the info about Mixology. Does everyone get samples and vote? How many people get to mix?

 

More to come later :)

 

 

 

No....the only people who got to sample were the judges. There was only one Guest who was a judge, the rest were Carnival Staff including the Beverage Manager.

 

I think there were 6 people who mixed on our sailing. I have no idea if there was any limit or not. They made announcements about it, had some signs and mentioned it in the Capers the first couple of days about how to sign up. There was no mention of a # limit or anything.

 

The winning drink was sold the rest of the week. For the first hour or so after the contest it was at a special price ($4.50 maybe?) and after that it was $5.25.

[poptart]

More to come later :)

 

 

 

No....the only people who got to sample were the judges. There was only one Guest who was a judge, the rest were Carnival Staff including the Beverage Manager.

 

I think there were 6 people who mixed on our sailing. I have no idea if there was any limit or not. They made announcements about it, had some signs and mentioned it in the Capers the first couple of days about how to sign up. There was no mention of a # limit or anything.

 

The winning drink was sold the rest of the week. For the first hour or so after the contest it was at a special price ($4.50 maybe?) and after that it was $5.25.

 

Thanks for this info--if the have it on the Fantasy I'll definatlly try to be in the contest. I have a couple of special foo foo drinks I mix up that my friends seem to love....does winning also include a ship on a stick?

 

Loving your review!!!

 

I WANT A WHALE TAIL FOR MY SIGGY!!!

[stefyo]

I am LOVING your review!!! We sail the Liberty in Oct - same ports!

 

Do you have the capers that you might be able to post??

[lele100]

We are going to be on the Liberty in Sept. also Western Carrib. can't wait ship looks awesome, back in February we went on the Imagination and got the drink of the day in the funnel cup my DH and I, and now we are using it to put our coins in (since its also a coin bank) to save up for money to spend on board for our Sept cruise, we figured from Feb til Sept we can save up a pretty good amt. So everywhere I go now and buy something I don't try to look around for change I always give them to the nearest dollar so that I can get change hehehehe, funny I know, but it keeps it exciting.

[lhuggi1]

great review - can't wait for more

[Hollybelle]

I'm really enjoying your review and appreciate the time it takes to put one of these together... we leave on the Liberty for the Western itinerary this Saturday!! Less than 6 days till we're off!

[Aquarius324]

Wonderful job on the reviews and pictures! I'm thoroughly enjoying it all! It's just getting me MORE excited for mine (if that's possible!) :D

[cjkumbaya]

Great review - really enjoying it. Thanks so much for sharing and for the photos!

[JLK22]

I'm really enjoying your review and appreciate the time it takes to put one of these together... we leave on the Liberty for the Western itinerary this Saturday!! Less than 6 days till we're off!

 

Hey Hollybelle, I will be on the Liberty this Saturday too!! So excited!! I dont think i have seen you on our roll call, if you haven't, you should check it out. Looks like there will be alot of fun people sailing with us.

 

LizaMM -- Thanks sooooo much for these reviews! It is helping me cope with my excitement for my Libety Cruise in 5 days!!

[marygal]

Thanks for the great review and pics, I will be on the Liberty on October, looking forward to it!

[LizaMM]

To all of you about to sail......YAY!!!! ENJOY!!!!

 

I will try and get as much done as quickly as possible but I have another paper due at school PLUS a project PLUS final coming up so I am going back and forth....not to mention my family that needs tending....lol

 

Feel free to ask any questions if i don't get to something that you are wondering about!

[LizaMM]

Another great dinner. I had French Onion Soup, Caesar Salad, Sicilian Style Chicken and the Date & Fig Cinnamon Cake, mom had Black Bean Soup, Caesar Salad, Salmon & the same dessert as me. Kayla – Chicken Quesadilla, Caesar Salad, Ribs and Cheesecake and David – Chicken Quesadilla, Fruit Salad, Ribs and Warm Chocolate Melting Cake….YUM!!!!

 

I remembered my camera tonight and was able to take some photos of the entertainment.

 

That is our asst. waiter up on the table. He has been with Carnival 9 years and was FANTASTIC.....I mentioned on the Comment Card that I thought he would be a superb Head Waiter!:

 

 

 

 

 

Our Head Waiter (Mauro) is the one in the white hat. He has been with Carnival for 10 years and was leaving the Liberty in May for a couple of months before returning to another ship. He was also GREAT and I mentioned him on my Comment Card as well:

 

 

 

Mom and David really enjoyed the show! If you look at Davids face you can see that David was really enjoying his warm chocolate melting cake as well!:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After dinner the kids headed to Emiles, Deck 10 where Circle C group was meeting for Make Your Own Pizza and the Freaky Food Factor before finishing off the evenings activities in the Circle C Room with a game of Truth or Truth.

 

Mom and I walked around for a while, we went down to the Promenade deck and caught the end of Corey’s 80’s Party and the Thriller Dance Contest by the Casino Bar and then went to the Piano Bar. The Adult Quest Game started in the Cabinet Lounge at 11 and I decided not to go because I was afraid I would get caught up in the whole thing and I was tired and wanted to get to bed. I heard it was a BLAST and had I not been sailing with my mom it sounds like it was right up my alley!!

 

We went up to the cabin and got ready for bed. The kids came back when their activities were over and tucked me in!

 

Our towel animal:

 

 

 

 

My mom is a turtle collector....not live ones ;) but crystal, shell, marble, silver knick=knack sort. She also has a ton of turtle pins and always wears one.....my kids had asked our SUPER FANTASTIC ONE OF THE BEST EVER cabin Stewards, Putu, for a turtle to surprise her.

 

Kids towel animal:

 

[cccer]

Great review so far. We will be on her in July. Keep up the great job.

[susique333]

Liza you are doing a terrific job, your photos are really clear!! I could hug you, Im soooo excited!! ONE more month!!