Another Froufie Review - Jan 21-28, Carnival Liberty

[NurseW2Kiddies]

One more question for you Froufie. Was there a Filipino Cover Band on board....Blood Power/Music Network etc???? We soooo enjoyed the music on Destiny a couple of years ago.... Hoping to see the likes on the Liberty in May??

[Froufie]

We did have some ‘visitors’ while sunning ourselves - a family of ‘beach ducks’ were wandering nearby being ‘monitored’ by a rooster! Got some great pics and videos! Then along comes the giant and somewhat scary iguana (with those big spikes).....lumbering along then deciding to climb up a nearby tree - everyone grabbed their cameras to get some shots/videos of this too! Very cool!

 

 

 

 

Four wildlife 'videos': http://travel.webshots.com/video/3040715550059010061moCtAE

 

After a couple of hours there we started to pack up and get ready for our pickup by Elvis. We found Sunny there too and he was happy to finally meet me and we took a picture together!

 

 

 

Back around the other side of the island via the Marriott Frenchman’s Reef (to drop off another couple) then back to Havensight. Seems we were still on the pandora bead hunt and had a lead (shopping area #7) - we found it and the specific jewellry place and Bonnie happily bought something and off we went to find the little shop selling soft drinks - where we picked up some gingerale for Bonnie and diet pepsi for me...then back to the ship.

 

Not before feeling a rain drop here and there - then all of a sudden - yup you guess it - the skies opened up and it started pouring! So here we are lugging 6 packs of cans, and beach bags and shopping bags trying to get to the ship - and not making much progress!. And the flip flops are now kind of ‘unstable’ on the wet pavement and running is not an option (at least not a safe option). The port officer is barely looking at ID cards as we hustle thru the gate to the ship - at this point we stop, take off our shoes and run barefoot to the ship!

 

What a sight we must have been - soaked to the skin and barefoot! We make it onboard to realize how ‘air conditioned’ the ship is and how FREEZING we now feel! Stuff thru the scanner then we hightail it up to our cabins for that most wonderful hot shower...ahhh.

[bazarr2]

Hi Froufie, LOving your review. We will be sailing on the Liberty in one week ;) I am glad that I read that about the piano guy, not sure If I will tell my daughter, let her experience it for herself :) that will be fun.... :p:D

[Froufie]

After warming up and cleaning up we meet in the Atrium with our glasses of wine to listen to New Dawn (husband and wife duo) who are pretty good.

 

Video of the pre-dinner entertainment in the Atirum: http://travel.webshots.com/video/3060305890059010061pYqcsP

 

Dinner consists of onion soup, a study in sushi and the braised style short ribs....all yummy...followed by the warm cinammon, date fig cake with ice cream (I know it sounds weird but try it - it’s excellent) and a decaf cappuccino.

 

Study in sushi appetizer

 

French Onion Soup:

 

Tablemate Steve orders the meatloaf from the new 'comfort' menu and says its very good!

 

My braised short ribs:

 

And finally dessert!

 

Tonight’s show features Ron Jospeh an R&B singer from New Orleans (The Soul Man of Bourbon Street) - he is pretty good despite a small crowd this evening - and does some great renditions of motown and blues songs.

 

I then make another donation to the casino, try and use the non-functional internet yet again, grab some tea and a brownie and head back to my cabin - again it’s 1 am!! (no wonder I’m so tired).

 

[Froufie]

Hi Froufie, LOving your review. We will be sailing on the Liberty in one week ;) I am glad that I read that about the piano guy, not sure If I will tell my daughter, let her experience it for herself :) that will be fun.... :p:D

 

You're SOOOO bad (ya we did the same to friends - told them to 'meet' us in the piano bar....knowing full well what would happen when they walked in! :D)

[Froufie]

One more question for you Froufie. Was there a Filipino Cover Band on board....Blood Power/Music Network etc???? We soooo enjoyed the music on Destiny a couple of years ago.... Hoping to see the likes on the Liberty in May??

 

No 'filipino' cover band on our cruise - we had a duo (New Dawn) and a latin band (mambo Chilango) and instead of the 'filipino' band we had another 'cover' type band called High Rise and they were pretty good and had the crowds up and dancing most of the time!

[bazarr2]

You're SOOOO bad (ya we did the same to friends - told them to 'meet' us in the piano bar....knowing full well what would happen when they walked in! :D)

Last year on the Miracle she was in the piano bar so maybe they all do it and she will know about it but will still say nothing in case she forgot :p

[mississauga]

i am lots of fun - and if you want to bring me along on your spirit cruise i can be your mascot or something? Or tour organizer? Heck i'll even drag your luggage around for you!! (and pack and unpack it as required!) :d:d

 

 

lol:d:):d

[NurseW2Kiddies]

Thanks so much!!! I googled them. Exactly what we like!! Liberty here we come!!!!!

[LPGA Golfer Gal]

Froufie,

Thank you for a fantastic review! I love the pics and stories of your trip. We just booked for Sept. 29th and cannot wait.

A couple of quick questions: Half Moon Cay - is it ok to just get off the ship and find a spot on the beach and spend the day there? No need to book a cabana right?

The second question is about your tour on St. Thomas - how long does it last and is it flexible with your shopping, beach and sightseeing wants? Where would you say the best place is to do snorkeling?

Thank you so much. Looking forward to the rest of your trip review.

[Froufie]

Froufie,

Thank you for a fantastic review! I love the pics and stories of your trip. We just booked for Sept. 29th and cannot wait.

A couple of quick questions: Half Moon Cay - is it ok to just get off the ship and find a spot on the beach and spend the day there? No need to book a cabana right?

The second question is about your tour on St. Thomas - how long does it last and is it flexible with your shopping, beach and sightseeing wants? Where would you say the best place is to do snorkeling?

Thank you so much. Looking forward to the rest of your trip review.

 

So glad you are enjoying the review - and you will love the ports as well!

 

In HMC there are loungers all along the beach - most crowded right near the pier where you walk off but if you want a quieter spot just keep on walking down the beach (there is music playing at the Pirate bar).....lots of shade under the trees - no need for a cabana at all.

 

As for our tour Sunny offers various different options in regard to shopping touring, etc. We took tour #1 (and you can choose the amount of shopping time you want). If you want to snorkel off the beach best spots are Coki and Sapphire. I find Coki to be a bit busier with more vendors - Sapphire a bit more laid back..... I think with Sunny's tour you can choose the beach of your choice!

 

Here's a link to the tour packages: http://www.sunnylistonfuntours.com/tourpackages.html

[Yankeegirl]

Froufie ~ We have been home from our cruise on the Elation exactly one week and I am totally having "cruise withdrawal", so thank you for your great review. I feel like I am there with you guys!!!!:)

[CWcruisers]

Hey Froufie, you will love the TA. I did my first 2 years ago on RCCL Navigator OTS from Miami to Rome. Talk about staying up late, beginning the second day, they start advancing clocks ahead one hour to catch up to Europe time, and since I was already jetlagging by 3 hours coming from the West Coast, we were closing down the disco at 4 am and being awaken by the Captain's noon report each day. Felt sorry for the poor cabin stewards as they had to be exhausted. It will be the opposite for you, you'll be going to bed at dinner time and waking up in the middle of the night. If you haven't already done so, definitely pick late seating, or maybe consider Anytime Dining, which is what we did. The people who had early hated it because they weren't hungry at dinner time.

 

Was this your first time sailing with the new menus? I can't say that I am a big fan. What did you think?

[Froufie]

Froufie ~ We have been home from our cruise on the Elation exactly one week and I am totally having "cruise withdrawal", so thank you for your great review. I feel like I am there with you guys!!!!:)

 

I hear you on that 'post cruise depression' - you know the only cure is to book another cruise right? :D:D

[Yankeegirl]

I hear you on that 'post cruise depression' - you know the only cure is to book another cruise right? :D:D

 

I do believe that would be the best medicine! Lol There are several we are looking at right now. I definitely want to go on a ship with the new 2.0 upgrades!:)

[martyk136]

At HMC did you rent cabanas or just find loungers around to use.

We are sailing Liberty June 9, and when our cruise mates inquired about cabanas, they were all booked.

Great review!!

[Froufie]

Hey Froufie, you will love the TA. I did my first 2 years ago on RCCL Navigator OTS from Miami to Rome. Talk about staying up late, beginning the second day, they start advancing clocks ahead one hour to catch up to Europe time, and since I was already jetlagging by 3 hours coming from the West Coast, we were closing down the disco at 4 am and being awaken by the Captain's noon report each day. Felt sorry for the poor cabin stewards as they had to be exhausted. It will be the opposite for you, you'll be going to bed at dinner time and waking up in the middle of the night. If you haven't already done so, definitely pick late seating, or maybe consider Anytime Dining, which is what we did. The people who had early hated it because they weren't hungry at dinner time.

 

Was this your first time sailing with the new menus? I can't say that I am a big fan. What did you think?

 

Hey Wendy - thanks for the advice! I am excited to be 'gaining' one hour every day on the way back (more partying and then sleeping in?) :D...and already booked late seating for dinner!

 

As for the menu - to be quite honest after so many Carnival cruises it would take a lot to get me excited! Not that anything was that bad but some of the new stuff was not that great (e.g. the oysters rockefeller were downright nasty - not baked and no cheese???)

[Froufie]

At HMC did you rent cabanas or just find loungers around to use.

We are sailing Liberty June 9, and when our cruise mates inquired about cabanas, they were all booked.

Great review!!

 

Tons of loungers to be found up and down the beach (even a couple of hammocks if you search real hard!). Just go and find some and plunk yourselves down wherever you like! :)

[sweetlissa]

 

 

 

How about a Miami Vice before dinner?

 

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Just beautiful, loving you're awesome review as usual. Missing you bunches girlie!

[galawdog]

This trip review is just the antidote I needed. 5 months post-Legend, and 7 months pre-Legend. Can't wait to read the rest. :)

[ferfoodle]

Glad you enjoying the review and pics - too bad we didn't get to meet on the cruise!

 

As for the piano bar somehow Bonnie and I slipped in 'unannounced' (maybe he was busy or something?or just didn't notice us wander in?)....but only moments later did we witness his 'welcome' and I can see how many would be embarrassed or mortified to have this kind of attention drawn to them when they just wanted to peak in to see what was going on!

 

Of course later on in the week when I walked in I got the 'special welcome' but was expecting it so no big deal!

 

Hope you enjoyed the Liberty as much as I did!;)

 

HI Froufie - great review. Looking forward for the rest of it. Thank you for leaving her in great shape for us, we got on as you got off. But just so sad - we are already home too:(.

 

We too were able to slip in "unannounced" the first time at the piano bar, so I was so shocked when the next couple came in and got the "Look whose here" response by the whole joint. We of course joined in for the next couple of hours. So much fun.

 

I wanna go back....Waaaaaaa......

[MyDogRudy]

 

This evening I had the cream of wild mushroom soup (excellent) and the oysters rockefeller - very yucky - Natasha the assistant maitre D has just come by to deliver some bar coupons to Steve and asked how dinner was so we told her - the oysters were not really baked/cooked - mostly raw with lots of green spinach and no cheese! (Well she did ask!) - she apologized of course but we told her perhaps she should mention this to the kitchen for future dishes? Anyone else have issues with the oysters rockefeller?

 

I actually really liked the oysters. They were less baked than other Oysters Rockefeller I have had, but I also enjoy raw oysters. There is not usually much cheese on them, more like a little parmesan with fine bread crumbs. I thought the spinach part of the dish was tasty, more of a puree. I wish I would have ordered two portions. Just a matter of taste though, they were definitely different than other times I ordered that dish in other restaurants.

 

 

 

Sent from my Motorola Electrify using Tapatalk

[Anung Un Rama]

You're very welcome - glad you are enjoying it (and try and keep the Breeze in good shape for me as I'll be boarding in November for the Transatlantic cruise! :D:D)

 

Well you be sure to keep the Breeze in good shape as we're on the US inaugural 2 day then 8 day B2B :D

[GOCOCKS]

Luv the review. Can't wait to board the Liberty in June. Too excited already!!;);)

[vivavegas]

Great review! Can't wait for more......