Review of our Spring Break '12 Cruise on Carnival Liberty

[LittleMiss]

PunkinsDad,

 

I remember now that you mentioned it that he did say there were called Ro-Ros. It was the first one that I recall seeing.

 

Haven't sailed from New Orleans yet, but Sunshine's deck 5 aft wrap is making it too tempting so we're planning to drive down and try her out.

 

 

 

 

Steve,

 

Thank you.

 

We enjoyed the 2.0 changes; mainly the Guy's Burgers, but the new Lido bars were a nice touch too. The former Paparazzi Bar was a hit with several of our CC friends. Here's the former Paparazzi Bar post 2.0;

 

 

 

Normally when the aft wake disappears before the horizon it means the seas are rough, but that was not the case on this cruise; the wake disappeared because we were cruising slow and smooth all day so it just naturally disappaited (My apologies to the owner of the incidental aft in this picture. This was the only pic of our wake that I snapped while up on deck that day);

 

 

 

After Guy's burgers we headed to the aft ice cream station for desert and watched a young lady make a very nice cone, take one lick, and then watched it fall between her feet on the deck. She ran, I took a pic;

 

 

 

After I took the pic above I was scolded by a fellow cruiser for wasting ice cream just to get a picture. She then proceded to cover the ice cream up with a napkin and brought wet floor signs over from next to the pool and placed around the spill. She was furious with a few folks who stepped over the ice cream instead of going around. I started to tell her I didn't drop the ice cream, but figured she was having a good time rambling on about it so I let her continue.

 

 

Our CC roll call had a Meet & Greet scheduled from 3-4 in The Stage Bar so Karen and I made our way down to deck five and found the party in full swing;

 

 

 

The Meet & Greet was open bar and after five screwdrivers and a couple of blue drinks, the picture above is the only one that is close to being in focus; the others are online in the album if anyone is interested in some out of focus pics of their fellow CC members.

 

 

After the Meet & Greet we stopped by the casino and played some more BlackJack for about an hour. We then returned to our cabin and found Britt sound asleep;

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile Bryson and Spencer were back up the golf course practicing up (Karen had beaten Spencer so he just had to practice some more);

 

 

Have to ask... How did you guys go about getting the meet and greet set up?

[Pellaz]

Wow, sounds like you had quite an experience in Belize with the inattentive tender captain and the Pharmacy of Photographic Doom! :)

 

 

Pellaz,

 

That explains it then. In the past they would say the fee would be waved if you purchased x amount of food and drinks and even further back the chairs were free. They're definately worth $2, but perhaps should be included if you buy wristbands for the toys.

 

Agreed, they should just include it. When we were at Paradise Beach we didn't opt for the water-toy wristbands because the weather was cloudy and showery (and slightly cool for Coz, upper 70s) and just paid $2 each for chairs. We DID get some food -- my sister said her jalapeno poppers were GREAT -- but they didn't really hassle us at all to buy food and drinks. I'd like to go back on a nice, hot sunny day, or maybe go to Chankanaab. Our ship's late-arriving, late-leaving itinerary didn't really encourage that, this last time.

 

BTW although the snorkeling at PB is pretty minimal, I DID see quite a few fish at the end of the dock to the left.

[PaulMedik]

Have to ask... How did you guys go about getting the meet and greet set up?

 

 

LittleMiss,

 

Call Carnival and request the group benefits department. Terms were $11.50 per person with a minimim of 20 people no max. Included a reserved lounge / bar with unlimited drinks & dry snacks.

 

A member of our CC roll call set ours up and set up a Google spreadsheet to keep track of who paid and who owed. We all paid our fellow CC member via PayPal or other means and once on board the charges were added to his S&S account. I saw him settling up and signing for charges with a ship's office at the end of our M&G. There was also an option for $5 per person for virgin drinks.

 

Wrist bands to indicate who paid were planned and available, but turned out to be not required.

[PaulMedik]

...........

BTW although the snorkeling at PB is pretty minimal, I DID see quite a few fish at the end of the dock to the left.

 

 

Pellaz,

 

Pellaz,

 

When I was out on the dock I had my long lens on my camera and if I'd had a wide angle I'd have captured dozens of fish in each picture (The FishEye would have made them look quite a bit bigger I would think). These sharp snouted fellas were swimming to the left of the pier;

 

[LittleMiss]

LittleMiss,

 

Call Carnival and request the group benefits department. Terms were $11.50 per person with a minimim of 20 people no max. Included a reserved lounge / bar with unlimited drinks & dry snacks.

 

A member of our CC roll call set ours up and set up a Google spreadsheet to keep track of who paid and who owed. We all paid our fellow CC member via PayPal or other means and once on board the charges were added to his S&S account. I saw him settling up and signing for charges with a ship's office at the end of our M&G. There was also an option for $5 per person for virgin drinks.

 

Wrist bands to indicate who paid were planned and available, but turned out to be not required.

 

Thanks! Then I wonder how on Legend last year everything was free including the drinks. We paid nothing...

[PaulMedik]

Thanks! Then I wonder how on Legend last year everything was free including the drinks. We paid nothing...

 

 

LittleMiss,

 

Dunno, but free trumps fee every time. :D

[PaulMedik]

As we approached the ship I could see the balcony glass repair was ongoing;

 

 

 

 

The steps never seem as long or as steep when you're actually using them as they do when you're looking at them;

 

 

 

 

Upon returning to the cabin we had freshly laundered clothes waiting;

 

 

 

 

I was on the balcony and caught a glimpse of a large fish, but all I could capture an image of was the smaller fish swimming above him;

 

 

 

The maintenance crew was putting the final glaze on the balcony glass;

 

 

 

After a lazy day of strolling the ship taking pictures, riding a tender to Belize and back, and getting barked at by a yappy Belizean, I worked up quite an appetite. What fixes hunger?

 

[PaulMedik]

When the thrusters fire up to turn the ship toward our departure course from Belize, the plume of silt kicked up spreads thru the clear water like smoke from a billowing chimney on a cold day;

 

 

 

We have all read many times about how rough the aft is when the thrusters kick in with vibration that rattles the entire structure, but if you're asleep on the balcony then the vibration serves to gently rock you deeper into slumber;

 

 

 

 

About a half hour after sailing from Belize the CD Jamie announced that we would be stopping for a while to evacuate a critical passenger, but that our arrival in Roatan would not be affected. Luckily we were in sight of a few islands to occupy my time getting pictures;

 

 

 

 

What would it be like to live in a small wooden elevated structure on an unnamed Caribbean island with a jetski as your mode of transportation?

 

 

 

Or how about this one?

 

 

 

Before long we were met by a small vessel and the patient was transferred and we were on our way again. I like how you can see there the water depth changes by the disappearing plume of silt;

 

[PaulMedik]

On our last stop in Belize this was where the pilot boat went to after retrieving the pilot from our ship;

 

 

 

 

The pilot boat after retrieving the pilot;

 

 

 

 

Sunset over Belize;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 20, 2012 by PaulMedik

[Jeffy294]

You are doing a great job with the review. I have been on the Liberty 4 times with my 5th scheduled for next January and I can't get enough of the pictures.

[silvercrikhix]

Paul, absolutely fantastic camera work on this review!

I love the fisheye photography of the ship, you can see so much in one shot, just fab!

 

Your boys are certainly growing, it is fun to see the earlier pics of your family interspersed with the new ones. Reading your reviews and watching your boys grow over the years has been so interesting! Thank you for sharing your adventures with all of us. The time and effort it takes from you to share is genuinely appreciated.

[PaulMedik]

You are doing a great job with the review. I have been on the Liberty 4 times with my 5th scheduled for next January and I can't get enough of the pictures.

 

 

Jeff,

 

Thank you.

 

Our fifth time on her was every bit as enjoyable as our first and I'm sure you'll enjoy the new venues as well as appreciate that she's been well cared for over the years.

 

 

 

Paul, absolutely fantastic camera work on this review!

I love the fisheye photography of the ship, you can see so much in one shot, just fab!

 

Your boys are certainly growing, it is fun to see the earlier pics of your family interspersed with the new ones. Reading your reviews and watching your boys grow over the years has been so interesting! Thank you for sharing your adventures with all of us. The time and effort it takes from you to share is genuinely appreciated.

 

 

silvercrikhix,

 

Thank you.

 

Granted it does take a lot of time, but I get to relive our cruise again by sharing our experiences so it's worth the effort. The pictures really bring home just how much and how fast our boys are growing. Everyone always thinks of a future time and how content they will be then, but for me I'll take the present as being the best time of my life while giving a nod to our past as running a close race. Not that I don't look forward to the future, but since it's not guaranteed to ever arrive.....;)

 

 

 

 

**********************************************

 

 

As the sun was setting over Belize Karen and Britt spent the early evening reading magazines on the balcony;

 

 

 

 

 

Without a doubt though it was one of the longest sunsets I've ever seen;

 

 

 

 

Even after the sun was completely over the horizon the sky had a soft orange glow that highlighted the clouds and provided a nice backlight for the nearby clouds;

 

 

 

 

Karen and I enjoyed another relaxing and succe$$ful evening playing blackjack then an ice cream cone on our balcony. Ketut cleaned up all traces of our mess and left another towel animal;

 

 

 

 

Our next port stop was Roatan and we were making our way thru the reefs into port during breakfast. I enjoyed a hearty breakfast which had a calorie count close to an entire days worth of energy;

 

[AutumnBM]

Excellent review & beautiful photos!! And greetings from a fellow (well , native. We no longer live there) West Virginian! Mingo County to be exact.

 

 

We're going on the Legend in August to these exact same ports so it's looking like I'll be checking out your Legend review as well!

[PaulMedik]

Excellent review & beautiful photos!! And greetings from a fellow (well , native. We no longer live there) West Virginian! Mingo County to be exact.

 

 

We're going on the Legend in August to these exact same ports so it's looking like I'll be checking out your Legend review as well!

 

 

AutumnBM,

 

Thank you.

 

I'm sure you'll enjoy Legend; she's many cruiser's favorite ship.

 

You will also likely enjoy Roatan since the topography is similar to Mingo County; steep wooded hills. Once you get out in the woods though you'll discover many of the trees are as big around as Mingo County coal silos! If you venture over to West Bank Beach (known by several other names), you'll find a beach nearly as nice as Half Moon Cay, but with a mountain in the background. Can you picture a Mingo County mountain with a Caribbean beach at the bottom? That's what it's like. Temperature wise, Mingo County is hotter in August than Roatan ....:cool:

 

Also be sure and visit Clearwater Beach while you're in the Tampa area; the sand at Clearwater Beach is whiter and softer than any Caribbean sand I've found so far.

[AutumnBM]

AutumnBM,

 

Thank you.

 

I'm sure you'll enjoy Legend; she's many cruiser's favorite ship.

 

You will also likely enjoy Roatan since the topography is similar to Mingo County; steep wooded hills. Once you get out in the woods though you'll discover many of the trees are as big around as Mingo County coal silos! If you venture over to West Bank Beach (known by several other names), you'll find a beach nearly as nice as Half Moon Cay, but with a mountain in the background. Can you picture a Mingo County mountain with a Caribbean beach at the bottom? That's what it's like. Temperature wise, Mingo County is hotter in August than Roatan ....:cool:

 

Also be sure and visit Clearwater Beach while you're in the Tampa area; the sand at Clearwater Beach is whiter and softer than any Caribbean sand I've found so far.

 

 

Wow! Always cool to find someone who actually knows what WV is like in those parts. You must be close then! We've since lived in Charlotte & are now in Chicago so haven't been around mountains in quite some time now.

 

I would love to see a beautiful beach in WV hahaha Instead of Tug River...but I won't make fun. I am so ready for this cruise though. I made it a point to bookmark your Legend review for later reading :) I love well-written cruise reviews! They get me so excited & holds me over til cruise time. We're officially into double digits on our cruise countdown clock. I'm pretty much dying up here...ha!

[pcvtmom]

Thanks for this excellent review...especially the updated Paradise Beach section. We're also PB lovers, having visited it multiple times on past cruises. However, our last trip there was in 2009. What a change!! Hmmmm...may have to book a Western Caribbean cruise soon!

[christinalvt]

Thanks for such an in-depth review with so many pictures! Lots of pics help get the true feel of the ship. Question: is that bag of laundry you took a pic of the one that costs $15? If so, about how many clothing items fits in it, or is there a limit to the amount of clothing? The bag seems kinda small...

Thanks!

Christina

[DEERINH2O]

Loving the review. Can't wait to read more

 

Kathy

[Jeffy294]

Jeff,

 

Thank you.

 

Our fifth time on her was every bit as enjoyable as our first and I'm sure you'll enjoy the new venues as well as appreciate that she's been well cared for over the years.

 

 

 

 

 

I was on her this past January, so we got to enjoy all the new stuff. That and the fact Karl should be the CD is the reason we booked Liberty again for next January. Yes she has been taking great care of. Been on several of her sister ships but non are the same.

[PaulMedik]

...... Question: is that bag of laundry you took a pic of the one that costs $15? If so, about how many clothing items fits in it, or is there a limit to the amount of clothing? The bag seems kinda small...

.........

 

 

Christinalvt,

 

I'm not sure of the co$t; it's free for Platinum. The bags are small, but you can get a surprizing amount in them if you fold the clothes tight. We normally send one or two and get back two or four; they use the same type of bags for return and they fold the proper way instead of the tight way so there's always more bags returned than sent. The only clothes that we have to wash upon returning home are the clothes we wear home and usually the last days; two days of dirty clothes vs ten days. Being able to have our clothes cleaned also save$ considerable with today's airline baggage fees because we don't have to take as much.

 

Some people have reported issues with laundering methods, but we've sent many silk shirts etc with no issues. Silk shirts as in Tommy Bahama brand so not exactly delicate, but definately comfortable. ;) I normally take five or six Tommy Bahama shirts and just realized that I didn't take any at all on this cruise? Tommy Bahama is made for cruising so I'm not sure what I was thinking.....:o

Edited May 21, 2012 by PaulMedik

[PaulMedik]

............ Been on several of her sister ships but non are the same.

 

 

Jeff,

 

We have too and agree with you completely. For whatever reason Liberty just feels better. :)

[PaulMedik]

Wow! Always cool to find someone who actually knows what WV is like in those parts. You must be close then! We've since lived in Charlotte & are now in Chicago so haven't been around mountains in quite some time now.

 

I would love to see a beautiful beach in WV hahaha Instead of Tug River...but I won't make fun. I am so ready for this cruise though. I made it a point to bookmark your Legend review for later reading :) I love well-written cruise reviews! They get me so excited & holds me over til cruise time. We're officially into double digits on our cruise countdown clock. I'm pretty much dying up here...ha!

 

 

AutumnBM,

 

Thank you.

 

Karen and I are from Webster County and live in Montgomery, Fayette County; about an hour or so North of Mingo County.

 

I don't even wanna look at my count down clock because it's waaaay too long until our next cruise.

 

I'd sure love to have a beach like that on the Kanawha River. If anyone would like to supply the sand, I do own riverfront property! :D

 

 

Loving the review. Can't wait to read more

 

Kathy

 

 

DeerinH20,

 

Thank you. Hopefully I'll get some more completed tomorrow.

 

 

Thanks for this excellent review...especially the updated Paradise Beach section. We're also PB lovers, having visited it multiple times on past cruises. However, our last trip there was in 2009. What a change!! Hmmmm...may have to book a Western Caribbean cruise soon!

 

 

pcvtmom,

 

Yes it's a lot different, but still has the same feel and enough familiar areas to make the experience all that we look forward to.

 

Get err booked!

Edited May 21, 2012 by PaulMedik

[crewsweeper]

Tearing down the Harbor View? We always got sidetracked by Wet Lizard's conch fritters, but I heard HV was pretty decent. Looking forward to our fav island of Roatan :) and also your debarking "adventure". I wondered if I might have captured you guys walking off the ship. But I checked my pics on both camera and DW must have deleted several hers:D as I could have sworn I had took several pictures of folks leaving the ship as we sat and sat and sat waiting for your cruise to end:p

[PaulMedik]

......... I wondered if I might have captured you guys walking off the ship. But I checked my pics on both camera and DW must have deleted several hers as I could have sworn I had took several pictures of folks leaving the ship as we sat and sat and sat waiting for your cruise to end

 

 

Crewsweeper,

 

I took a few as we were coming off and then some more while waiting for our ride; you might be in some of ours.

 

 

 

 

 

*****************************************************

 

 

After breakfast I got some sunrise over Mahogany Bay pics as we were backing into the pier;

 

 

 

 

We were in port early and had a cabana reserved so we didn't waste much time wandering around the ship;

 

 

 

We headed straight for deck zero and met the Carnival Photogs on the gangway;

 

 

 

 

 

Wonder what they're looking at?

 

 

 

 

They were looking at rows of newly planted trees that are sure to be huge by the time we return;

 

[PaulMedik]

Everyone was all smiles, but I believe they're in a hurry to get to the cabana;

 

 

 

 

It's always kinda surreal walking through port areas before all the passengers are buzzing around;

 

 

 

 

Our cabana rental includes unlimited 'Magic Chair' rides;

 

 

 

 

Ski tips up! Well at least that's what we normally hear when we get on ski lifts;