Jump to content

Carnival Liberty, 09/19/09: A pictorial review.


DarthGrady

Recommended Posts

We just got back yesterday, and had a great cruise. There were only a few minor problems that I will discuss later on in the review. I am putting the final touches on, but I will go ahead and get it started. It may take me a few days to get it all up since I have a lot of pictures go go through and match them up to days. Hope you all enjoy it:

 

Introduction:

My wife and I booked this cruise in early 2009 after finding it for a really great price. We were booked on the Carnival Fascination, but cancelled that booking when we found this cruise. Both went to Half Moon Cay, but Liberty was also going to San Juan, Grand Turk and St. Thomas. This was very appealing since we have never been to any of those ports, with the exception of St. Thomas. We had also never been on the Liberty, so it was a chance for me to explore a new ship which I always enjoy. We booked a category 1A room (with portholes), and paid $450 per person after all fees were factored in.

 

Our first glimpse of the ship at Port of Miami

232323232%7Ffp43367%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287%3B%3A3246326nu0mrj

 

 

232323232%7Ffp43366%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287%3B9%3A2%3A2326nu0mrj

 

Embarkation:

This is one area where the Port of Miami really shines. Their embarkation process is really top notch. This was especially noticeable since we just went through the general disarray that is the embarkation process at the Port of Vancouver. Upon arriving at the pier in Miami and dropping off the luggage we entered the security area. I was expecting to wait in line with everyone else, but the signage indicated that there was a separate line for VIP guests (I am Platinum with Carnival). We were able to bypass the long check point line and went right to the front. This was great, and exactly what I felt Vancouver needed since you have to go through security and Customs. After the screening we were directed to the VIP check in lounge, and the man at the door took our names for his list. He said that we could sit and wait, and we would be called to the desk when they were ready for us. They had the lounge set up very nice, and even had a little lemonade dispenser. After about 10 or 15 minutes they called us to the desk and checked us in. This took all of a few minutes, we got our Sail and Sign cards and were then off to the gangway. From the time that we parked the car, to when we boarded the ship was a half hour at most. The Port of Miami should be the model for all other Carnival embarkation operations.

The VIP Lounge

232323232%7Ffp43368%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287%3B9%3C866326nu0mrj

232323232%7Ffp43369%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287%3B9%3C85%3A326nu0mrj

232323232%7Ffp4334%3A%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287%3B%3A3268326nu0mrj

 

232323232%7Ffp43359%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287%3B%3A3259326nu0mrj

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Our Cabin:

We booked room #1212 on Riviera deck. This is a category 1A room with upper/lower bunks and two porthole windows. This was a great deal for us since we got an ocean view at a price less than an interior. We didn’t mind not sleeping in the same bed, so the wife took the pull down bunk and I had the twin bed.

I loved this room or the same reason that I loved our 5A on Inspiration, the portholes! They are a great compromise between interior cabins and ocean view. I can close the porthole hatches to make it dark like an interior room for sleeping in late, and then open them for a view outside. Everything in the cabin worked fine except the TV. The set itself was fine, but at least six or seven channels never worked. Some of the ones that did work would cut in and out intermittently.

232323232%7Ffp43362%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D328798%3C9%3A5326nu0mrj

 

232323232%7Ffp43362%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D328798%3C2%3B2326nu0mrj

 

232323232%7Ffp43364%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287996735326nu0mrj

 

232323232%7Ffp4335%3B%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287996945326nu0mrj

 

232323232%7Ffp4335%3A%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287996752326nu0mrj

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Ship:

I found the Carnival Liberty to be a very nice and clean ship. Its layout is virtually identical to the Carnival Glory which I had been on previously. The lobby and public areas are very bright, especially when compared to other Carnival ship I have been on. There is a lot of white faux rock with wrought iron pillars and acres pastel watercolor paneling. The rest of the public areas have that same Tuscan inspired theme. The bars and lounges all had standard setup and décor. The chandeliers around the ship, including the large one in the atrium, change colors in sequence and are a nice touch.

 

The Grand Atrium

232323232%7Ffp43349%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D328798%3B385326nu0mrj

 

232323232%7Ffp4334%3B%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D32879%3A%3A%3A35326nu0mrj

 

232323232%7Ffp43369%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D32879%3A%3A8%3A6326nu0mrj

 

232323232%7Ffp43354%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D32879%3A%3C%3A33326nu0mrj

 

The Aft Atrium

232323232%7Ffp4335%3A%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D328795%3B%3A7%3B326nu0mrj

 

232323232%7Ffp43364%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287%3B%3B7842326nu0mrj

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Promenade on deck 5 is the central entertainment area of the ship and is the home of the Czars Palace Casino. It has the Liberty’s main disco, the “Hot and Cool” lounge, which was curiously decorated with giant plastic arms sporting various forms of tattooing. I immediately had flashbacks of the Sensation’s piano bar that has giant plastic hands. The teen club “Without Batteries” was right next door, which also includes the arcade. I’m too old to hang out there, but it looked nice and had a very decent collection of arcade games. The “Piano Man” piano bar, “The Stage” jazz club, “Paparazzi” wine bar and the “Victorian Lounge” cabaret are all on the promenade also. The Liberty promenade also has the “Origami” sushi bar, the Jardin Café coffee bar and the Carnival Loyalty and Future Bookings desk.

The Promenade

232323232%7Ffp4335%3A%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287985%3A43326nu0mrj

 

Coffee and pastry counter

232323232%7Ffp4336%3B%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287986584326nu0mrj

 

"Without Batteries" Club O2 Teen Lounge (Notice the Duracell product placement)

232323232%7Ffp4324%3A%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287985%3A69326nu0mrj

 

 

232323232%7Ffp4335%3A%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287985%3A9%3A326nu0mrj

 

Loyalty and Future Bookings Desk

232323232%7Ffp4335%3B%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287984896326nu0mrj

 

Promenade live entertainment stage

232323232%7Ffp43369%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D328797%3A7%3C7326nu0mrj

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Emile’s restaurant on Lido deck is the ship’s buffet area. The area is almost identical to the Red Sail on Glory, except that they eliminated the stairway up to the Supper Club for the Liberty. The restaurant was very light and open. We ate in the upper area where the Fish and Chips counter is located. That area is much less crowded than the lower area, I assume because most folks don’t want to ascend the stairs to get up there. Emile’s also has a burrito bar which serves hand made burritos with chips and salsa. I tried it the first day and liked it a lot, not up to Moe’s standards, but few are.

232323232%7Ffp43357%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287%3B%3A5839326nu0mrj

 

The lido area was tweaked slightly at some point between the Glory and Liberty. The two central whirlpools and the main (middle) pool are right next to each other on Glory. On Liberty they have moved them next to the tiered seating area, flanking the doors that lead to the atrium. They also eliminated the raised stage area and its cover. I assume this was done to create more open seating area for Liberty’s Seaside Theater screen that is above the main pool. Whatever the reason, the result is a cleaner looking area that flows much better.

The aft pool area

232323232%7Ffp43346%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D328795%3B%3A%3C3326nu0mrj

 

The Liberty's main pool area

232323232%7Ffp4335%3B%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287%3B%3A32%3C6326nu0mrj

 

 

232323232%7Ffp4334%3A%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D328797%3A754326nu0mrj

 

The Glory's main pool for comparison

232323232%7Ffp%3B%3C%3Dot%3E232%3C%3D9%3A8%3D773%3DXROQDF%3E2323%3A6599%3A2%3A%3Aot1lsi

 

The slide

232323232%7Ffp43359%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D32879969%3B%3A326nu0mrj

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great review so far. Looking forward to the rest of it. We are on the same itinerary in less than 3 weeks so really appreciate this particular review. Nice pics too!:D

 

What time did you arrive for embarkation? Were the regular lines really long?

 

We got there around noon, and the regular lines for security and check in were fairly long. They had lots of staff on hand though, and it appeared to me moving along fairly well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the review it is great. Did you have any noise with the room being that far up at the front of the ship?

 

There was noise during high seas, you could hear the waves breaking on the hull. It was not extreme, but noticeable.

 

I actually kinda liked it, almost like one of those "Sounds of the Seas" relaxation tapes. ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Emile’s restaurant on Lido deck is the ship’s buffet area. The area is almost identical to the Red Sail on Glory, except that they eliminated the stairway up to the Supper Club for the Liberty. The restaurant was very light and open. We ate in the upper area where the Fish and Chips counter is located. That area is much less crowded than the lower area, I assume because most folks don’t want to ascend the stairs to get up there. Emile’s also has a burrito bar which serves hand made burritos with chips and salsa. I tried it the first day and liked it a lot, not up to Moe’s standards, but few are.

 

232323232%7Ffp43357%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287%3B%3A5839326nu0mrj

 

The lido area was tweaked slightly at some point between the Glory and Liberty. The two central whirlpools and the main (middle) pool are right next to each other on Glory. On Liberty they have moved them next to the tiered seating area, flanking the doors that lead to the atrium. They also eliminated the raised stage area and its cover. I assume this was done to create more open seating area for Liberty’s Seaside Theater screen that is above the main pool. Whatever the reason, the result is a cleaner looking area that flows much better.

 

The aft pool area

232323232%7Ffp43346%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D328795%3B%3A%3C3326nu0mrj

 

The Liberty's main pool area

232323232%7Ffp4335%3B%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D3287%3B%3A32%3C6326nu0mrj

 

 

232323232%7Ffp4334%3A%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D328797%3A754326nu0mrj

 

The Glory's main pool for comparison

232323232%7Ffp%3B%3C%3Dot%3E232%3C%3D9%3A8%3D773%3DXROQDF%3E2323%3A6599%3A2%3A%3Aot1lsi

 

The slide

232323232%7Ffp43359%3Enu%3D323%3B%3E8%3B7%3E682%3EWSNRCG%3D32879969%3B%3A326nu0mrj

 

You're right, it does look a lot better on The Liberty. I can't remember if the Valor was like this or The Glory. You have done a great job at keeping your pictures organized. I am a photographer & don't think I could have done this well over a several day span.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The position of the "hot"tubs on Lido is different than the deckplans on CCL website. Interesting. I think I like that setup.

 

Maybe they either used a stock photo of a sister ship or they have done some redesigning after the original photos. I agree, this looks much cleaner & more organized. I can see how the flow would be better.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Darthbrady for answering my question on the noise in the 1A room, I like that sound also and the room looked like it was about the size of an inside. For the difference in the price I would like to try one of the 1A rooms, I have to have some type of window just so I don't feel closed in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...