A First-timers Review: Carnival Liberty 5-2-2009 (with photos and capers)!

[musigal]

Hey, Holly -

 

I have a question! We are going on the Liberty May 30 with the same itinerary as you, except Roatan instead of Cozumel/Belize. We've booked a few excursions through another company (not Carnival) and I want to be clear on the time zones! I called Carnival and they told me we would stay on Miami time (Eastern time) for the entire cruise. From what you said, this is not the case! Right? Did they announce the time zone thing? Ahhhh! :confused:

[musigal]

PS - totally loving your review! Keep it coming!

[Hollybelle]

PS - totally loving your review! Keep it coming!

 

Hey, Holly -

 

I have a question! We are going on the Liberty May 30 with the same itinerary as you, except Roatan instead of Cozumel/Belize. We've booked a few excursions through another company (not Carnival) and I want to be clear on the time zones! I called Carnival and they told me we would stay on Miami time (Eastern time) for the entire cruise. From what you said, this is not the case! Right? Did they announce the time zone thing? Ahhhh! :confused:

 

Thanks, musigal!! This was my first cruise so I'm not sure what the standard is with time changes, but my parents were a little surprised by it and they've cruised before. I can't recall whether or not they announced it over the loudspeaker (I think they did), but it was also on the front cover of the caper we received for the day we were supposed to set them back, so pay attention to those.

 

In Grand Cayman we booked an excursion with an outside vendor and just made sure to double check our time with the ship before we got off (we used the digital clocks found in the stairwell in the front of the ship) and also checked it with the tour group.

 

We didn't switch back until Thursday evening (port day three) before going to bed.

 

My best advice would be to pay attention to the capers. The time change information was bolded and in a box on the front page both times.

 

HAVE FUN!!!

[poundcake09]

Awesome review I'm on the Liberty on 5/30 also and I'm 8248. I've been to G.Cayman and Ocho rios both and you've made them seem better than I remember. Thanks so much.

[carnivalcanuck]

Thanks for the AMAZING review! We are sailing on Liberty 10/24, with almost the same ports, Cozumel instead of Belize......maybe. Looking forward to reading the rest of the review and seeing some more great pics!

Thanks again! :)

[JeffersonSea]

Excellent review so far, maybe the best I've read. We're on the 5/30 sailing too, and your review is really helping us prepare! Love it.

 

Question on the panorama pics...how did you do them? I'm a web designer, so I'm very proficient with photoshop, did you just use that or did you use a panoramic camera or some other software?

 

Can't wait to read more!

[susique333]

Hollybelle, this really is the most exciting review Ive read in a long, long time!

[WinnipegCruiser]

I am really enjoying the review. I am also a Disney superfan. I have been to WDW over 15 times...

 

However, I can never seem to pull the trigger on the Disney cruise. It just seems like so much more money than Carnival...

 

We were just in Ocho Rios and Margaritaville. We were disappointed as there were so many children there. Just didn't feel as fun as the Grand Turk Margaritaville.

 

Anyway, so glad you had a great time. I love the pictures. There are many of us always looking for new "whale tail" pics. I found one of yours to be much too nice NOT to steal, crop and place in my signature.... (thank you)

 

Hope you don't mind .... look down.

[Hollybelle]

Awesome review I'm on the Liberty on 5/30 also and I'm 8248. I've been to G.Cayman and Ocho rios both and you've made them seem better than I remember. Thanks so much.

 

Thanks, poundcake!! Wow, you leave in less than 5 days... that is so freaking exciting :D. Have fun.

 

Thanks for the AMAZING review! We are sailing on Liberty 10/24, with almost the same ports, Cozumel instead of Belize......maybe. Looking forward to reading the rest of the review and seeing some more great pics!

Thanks again! :)

 

Thank you! I really wish we had gotten to go to Cozumel, but I guess there's always next time.

 

Excellent review so far, maybe the best I've read. We're on the 5/30 sailing too, and your review is really helping us prepare! Love it.

 

Question on the panorama pics...how did you do them? I'm a web designer, so I'm very proficient with photoshop, did you just use that or did you use a panoramic camera or some other software?

 

Can't wait to read more!

 

Thanks for such a wonderful compliment. And I love your avatar!

 

As for the panoramas, they're really easy if you're proficient in photoshop. I use Photoshop CS3, but I'm guessing if you have one of the other versions the steps will still be similar.

 

Steps:

1. Obviously take the photos (I always stand in one place and take one straight on with another slightly angled to the left and one slightly angled to the right picking up the images in the periphery) You can also do it with just two photos if you want.

2. Open all the photos up in photoshop

3. Open a new page (choose "new" from file and pick your settings- I usually go with a DPI/resolution of 300)

4. Drag and drop all three photos onto the new page

5. Start with the center picture and do your best to line it up with one of the side pictures

6. Make sure both layers are highlighted in your layer pane on the right

7. And then choose "auto-align layers" from the dropdown EDIT menu (you want to make sure the outside picture is the top layer because it will become the skewed picture)

8. Then choose "auto-blend layers" from the same drop down

9. If you're happy with how this looks, next make sure both layers are still highlighted in the layer pane on the right, right click on them and choose "merge layers"

-From here just repeat steps 5-9 with the other side picture (making sure it's on top)

-After that just crop the picture and save (I usually save it as both a psp file and jpeg)!!

 

It sounds like a lot of work but really only takes a minute to do. I hope I explained the steps in a manner that can be followed :rolleyes:!!

 

Have fun!

[Hollybelle]

Hollybelle, this really is the most exciting review Ive read in a long, long time!

 

Yay! Thanks, Susique :)!

 

I am really enjoying the review. I am also a Disney superfan. I have been to WDW over 15 times...

 

However, I can never seem to pull the trigger on the Disney cruise. It just seems like so much more money than Carnival...

 

We were just in Ocho Rios and Margaritaville. We were disappointed as there were so many children there. Just didn't feel as fun as the Grand Turk Margaritaville.

 

Anyway, so glad you had a great time. I love the pictures. There are many of us always looking for new "whale tail" pics. I found one of yours to be much too nice NOT to steal, crop and place in my signature.... (thank you)

 

Hope you don't mind .... look down.

 

Ooh... another Disney lover!!! You took the words right out of my mouth as far as not being able to pull the trigger on a Disney cruise. Not only does it cost an arm and a leg more than a Carnival cruise, but it's also a lot more expensive than our typical Disney ventures. We're annual passholders, so 5 day trips don't put us out too much, especially considering we can drive there.

 

While I haven't been to Grand Turk, my parents rave about the Margaritaville (and cruise center) there. They're definitely in agreement with you on that. I can't wait to get there myself.

 

And I'm glad I could help with the whale tail picture :D. It looks great in your signature; I don't mind at all!

[marshalljm]

Thanks for all the info on the Liberty, we leave in less than 2 weeks and I can't wait!!:D We are doing different ports but I loved the pics of the ship and the food porn!!

[JeffersonSea]

Thanks for such a wonderful compliment. And I love your avatar!

 

As for the panoramas, they're really easy if you're proficient in photoshop. I use Photoshop CS3, but I'm guessing if you have one of the other versions the steps will still be similar.

 

Steps:

1. Obviously take the photos (I always stand in one place and take one straight on with another slightly angled to the left and one slightly angled to the right picking up the images in the periphery) You can also do it with just two photos if you want.

2. Open all the photos up in photoshop

3. Open a new page (choose "new" from file and pick your settings- I usually go with a DPI/resolution of 300)

4. Drag and drop all three photos onto the new page

5. Start with the center picture and do your best to line it up with one of the side pictures

6. Make sure both layers are highlighted in your layer pane on the right

7. And then choose "auto-align layers" from the dropdown EDIT menu (you want to make sure the outside picture is the top layer because it will become the skewed picture)

8. Then choose "auto-blend layers" from the same drop down

9. If you're happy with how this looks, next make sure both layers are still highlighted in the layer pane on the right, right click on them and choose "merge layers"

-From here just repeat steps 5-9 with the other side picture (making sure it's on top)

-After that just crop the picture and save (I usually save it as both a psp file and jpeg)!!

 

It sounds like a lot of work but really only takes a minute to do. I hope I explained the steps in a manner that can be followed :rolleyes:!!

 

Have fun!

 

Sweet, thanks for the detailed instructions. I use CS3 also, (I have CS4 but haven't started toying with it yet, same w/Flash CS4). I didn't even know about the auto align and auto blend, but I'll sure start playing with them immediately. And since we leave on the Liberty on Friday, I'll be able to take plenty of pics to practice with!!

 

Looking forward to your Grand Cayman report and pics!

[msrereb]

jeff C, i'd like to talk to you about photoshop sometime..just learning it myself. what type of camera do you use? i have a digital SLR canon rebel...bringing a 80-300 telephoto...are you on flickr

[klr80]

Can't wait to read more....thanks for posting.

 

We leave in 5 days and we have a large group heading out on a similar route...expect we should actually be going to Roatan.

 

Thanks again...

[sports-mom]

Really great review.. I'm enjoying reading it. :)

Love the pics too!

[idjaffe]

To go....Is it Aug yet?

[J2K66]

Question on the panorama pics...how did you do them? I'm a web designer, so I'm very proficient with photoshop, did you just use that or did you use a panoramic camera or some other software?

 

Another program that works quite well (and was used for the Miami panoramics I posted earlier) is Microsoft ICE. It's free, just google it. I've found that it does either a great job, or a horrible job... there's not much in between. The good thing is though, it's so easy to use that if it doesn't do a good job there is very little time invested/wasted :)

[RAVI360]

 

 

 

 

You know, I have to give the guy some credit… usually when you see someone in a thong, you shudder and look the other way for fear that the image might burn your retinas. At least he had the body (and personality) for it!

 

Dam:eek:...i think i'm in love..

[genna778]

Hey, Holly -

 

I have a question! We are going on the Liberty May 30 with the same itinerary as you, except Roatan instead of Cozumel/Belize. We've booked a few excursions through another company (not Carnival) and I want to be clear on the time zones! I called Carnival and they told me we would stay on Miami time (Eastern time) for the entire cruise. From what you said, this is not the case! Right? Did they announce the time zone thing? Ahhhh! :confused:

 

 

There are a bunch of us on the May 30th cruise here on Cruise Critic. We have about 90 page roll call going for our cruise... See you on the cruise.

You can't miss us we'll be the goofy adults with kiddie bandaids on our right hands and DODs in the left at the Tivoli pool during the sail away party....

 

You might want to check out our roll call going on :)

[JeffersonSea]

jeff C, i'd like to talk to you about photoshop sometime..just learning it myself. what type of camera do you use? i have a digital SLR canon rebel...bringing a 80-300 telephoto...are you on flickr

 

Sure, anytime. I use a Nikon D50 that I use for most pics, but we also have an Elph point and shoot. Any decent new point and shoot will take good pics, they're all pretty high megapixel and resolution pics.

 

Feel free to email me with any questions.

 

jeff@clayhawk.com

[jaburr24]

Great review! Loving the pictures, I am doing the same cruise and it's 60 days away, but the pics get me excited to go tomorrow!

[Hollybelle]

Thanks for all the info on the Liberty, we leave in less than 2 weeks and I can't wait!!:D We are doing different ports but I loved the pics of the ship and the food porn!!

 

Can't wait to read more....thanks for posting.

 

We leave in 5 days and we have a large group heading out on a similar route...expect we should actually be going to Roatan.

 

Thanks again...

 

Really great review.. I'm enjoying reading it. :)

Love the pics too!

 

Thanks, everyone!! I'm glad you're all enjoying it.

[Hollybelle]

To go....Is it Aug yet?

 

Nope, but it'll be here before you know it!

 

Dam:eek:...i think i'm in love..

 

I know right, you should have seen his abs :eek:!

 

Sweet, thanks for the detailed instructions. I use CS3 also, (I have CS4 but haven't started toying with it yet, same w/Flash CS4). I didn't even know about the auto align and auto blend, but I'll sure start playing with them immediately. And since we leave on the Liberty on Friday, I'll be able to take plenty of pics to practice with!!

 

Looking forward to your Grand Cayman report and pics!

 

No problem, considering you're familiar with CS3 I'm sure they were overly detailed!

 

I hope to see your pictures on here when you return. Have fun!

[Hollybelle]

Day 4, Tuesday, May 5: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

 

Capers:

 

 

 

 

 

[Hollybelle]

Brett and I awoke early on Tuesday (6:15ish) and grabbed a quiet breakfast on Lido. From our table we watched as our ship sailed us into Grand Cayman on another beautiful day. From what we could gather there were going to be at least 4 ships in port: Carnival ships Liberty, Legend, Valor, and the Disney Magic.

 

I’m not quite sure why, but this was the only time I took food pics on Lido. Mmm:

 

 

 

And let me just tell you, those chocolate muffins were delish!! I don't know how many I consumed, but I might have even been known to steal a few to take back to the room each day :eek:! Soooo good. Like breakfast dessert.