My Carnival Liberty Review w/ lots of pictures - April 28 - May 5, 2012

[happylady]

Great review....looking forward to your Chef's Table review.

[mickey2007]

No hot tubs on the Serenity decks. There are two levels of loungers but upper level is smaller and only in the bow of the ship not along the sides. Hammocks are on the upper level and couches and clamshells are on the lower level and they're only on the starboard side of the lower level. Kiddie pool is on the port side.

 

Sapphire Beach can be reached by taxi (about $40 for 2 RT) and there is a shack you can rent snorkel gear from. Bring your own froot loops from the buffet.

 

There was a hot tub on the serenity deck of the Liberty.

[boaterette]

I too am enjoying your review. The pictures are really large on my screen and I have to scroll. I wonder if anyone knows why it is ok on some and not on others.

[APDMOM]

I too am enjoying your review. The pictures are really large on my screen and I have to scroll. I wonder if anyone knows why it is ok on some and not on others.

 

If you have a Windows/PC, try the following...

Open the review in you internet browser. Hold down control shift and the - (minus) keys. It should make everything smaller in your browser.

 

If you have an Apple Mac, hold down command and - (minus key) ...

 

To get back to the larger settings, do the same, but with the + key this time

 

Hope this works for you!:)

[MisterMom]

Diggin' your review! Just left home, I mean, The Liberty last month. Miss her too much so enjoying your review to recall good memories! Keep it up!

 

(so sad about your HMC day. I'm glad you made the best of it.)

[oceanblue33]

Just a question...am I the only one haveing trouble reading these posts? the pictures are fine but the posts are out of margin so I have to keep switching

back & forth in order to read them.

 

I can read the posts ok it's only the review that is "streteched out"

 

go to screen resolution set to 1600x900 that should help

[lovecruzing]

Good morning folks. I will see how much I can get in for the next hour as I have to get the kids to their swimming lessons by 10:15 and then I have my nephew's birthday party to go too and I am sure I will be stopping by my brother's place for a bit after the party so will be tied up most of the day.

 

As a side note, when I uploaded the pictures to photobucket, I did not change any settings; I just uploaded and started posting away. I didn't choose large or anything they are just coming out that way. As per your comments, I will leave the pictures the way they are.

 

Tuesday, May 1, 2012 - Chef's Table

 

We decided to book the Chef's Table after reading such great things about it from John's blog and from CC members and from seeing lots of pictures that made me drool.

 

Our reservation was for 6:30 pm for a 3 ½ hr dining experience. We all met in the lobby, 12 of us in total, the chef introduced himself and we proceeded through the dining room and into the galley. We had let the steakhouse know the day before when they called to confirm our reservation that we did not eat pork, no raw meat, any red meat to be medium well and no dry wine, semi sweet would be nice. On the invitation it had said that no cameras were allowed but on the boards folks had said that you can ask the chef if it was ok to take pictures so I did. Chef said that I can take pictures of the dinner but not in the galley so sorry, no galley photos. I had seen pictures of the galley portion of the dinner from others so I guess it depends on the chef.

 

We gathered around a galley table (stainless steel sort of table) and was served with champagne and our first appetizer.

 

We started off with some Parmesan Core & Olives that were really good. Who knew that a simple olive could taste so good. From the first bite my hon said we are booking this again. We continued on with some Chorizo & Dates, Piquillo Sofrito; Focaccia, Mascarpone Cream & Proscuitto Crudo (ours was modified with some sort of a cheese as opposed to the Proscuitto) and Langoustine & Sundried Tomato Jam Fritters;

We had a behind the scene tour of the galley as the kitchen was in full function. The pastry chef also showed us how to make the warm chocolate melting cake. It seems rather simple but I am not a baker so didn't remember any of the instructions. And besides, by then, the champagne was already getting to my head as they kept filling up our glasses.

 

We then went back through the dining room and into a private room for the actual dinner. It was really small and intimate.

 

We had assigned seating with our names and a personalized menu

Our bread, it was actually a garlic bread and really tasted good

 

Our first course was Tomatoes Our Way (Aerated Tomato Juice, Cocoa Butter Coated, Chardonnay Poached).

 

Well folks, it was in my stomach before I realized I did not take a picture. Oops!! I remember thinking that wow, tomatoes taste so good? And, I never knew you could eat coco butter. I only know about putting coco butter on your skin. It was nice though, it was sort of creamy and light. Like I said, gone in a flash.

 

Next we had Tuna Banh Mi (Lemon Bread, Sesame Crisp, Miso Cream, Avocado Gel). We enjoyed this dish too.

Followed by Cornish Hen (Caramelized, Butternut Squash Sofrito). This dish was melting in your month

 

Bavarios (Spinach, Green Peas, warm turnip & Apple Juice). This was my least favourite dish. I eat it but wasn't in love with it.

 

 

[lovecruzing]

Ok, so I got hubby to take the kids to swimming so I can finish off at least the Chef's Table now before I head out for the rest of the day.

 

Up next, Salmon (Herb Pesto, Cured Tomatoes, Carrots, Fava, Mushroom Earth, Condense Beets). The beets are the rolled up red things and they were good. I even helped my table mate and CC friend Cheryl who sat next to me with hers. Thanks Cheryl. They were sweet and crunchy.

 

 

 

 

 

Followed by Short Ribs (Slow Stewed, Potato Pebbles, Pumpkin Fudge, Tomato Dust). O M G!!!!!! This was amazing. The chef said that it was slow cooked for 8 hours and you definitely could tell. There really was no need for chewing with this dish. You just took a piece and it melted in your mouth.

 

 

And finally Desert (Chef in a Candy Shop)

 

 

 

Overall, this was a wonderful experience. Very small and intimate. The attention you got was amazing. The minute you looked at the waiter they were there to see what you wanted. There was also a magician there doing some tricks for us. I will definitely be doing the chef's table again for sure.

 

As a side note, I am not sure in what order they do this but we had made the reservation only a few months ago and another couple on our roll call booked her reservation last July and then the night before her reservation, received a call saying that they had to cancel it because there was not enough people. The chef had told us that depending on how many had booked would determine whether or not they were gonna have 1 or 2 dinners during the cruise. I felt really bad that we were able to go and only booked it a few months out and she was not able to go and booked it since last July.

 

I will leave you with a few more pictures of the event:

 

 

 

 

Me, hubby, Chef and Cheryl

 

 

 

Our tablemates. She was happy. As a matter a fact we all were.

 

 

[absolutely brilliant]

Enjoy your day! Thank you for this wonderful review. Although my stomach is now growling...lol! My planned, what I thought was a "gourmet" dinner" now seems so meager! I tried sticking a fork into your pictures...no luck!

[absolutely brilliant]

You guys have to be the best looking couple on the ship...or any ship for that matter! You are both glowing!

[vikkster]

Oops!! We were standing on the upper level of serenity as we pulled into St. Thomas and I really thought there was a hot-tub there as hubby was standing on the edge of it taking a picture. But I was wrong. Thanks for the clarification. Too early in the day for me to have been drinking and not remember this LOL.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 

You are right there are 2 hot tubs on the Serenity deck.

[Pellaz]

Wow, those 'food porn' pics look fab!

 

I think I counted 2 posts in favor of hot-tubs existing on Serenity and one post not...so I'll go with "they exist!" Hoorah! :D

 

(It's not that big a deal, but on Imagination the hot-tubs on Serenity were much less crowded and a lot hotter than the lukewarm tubs on the Lido. :) )

[navybaby1113]

Mmm...the food from the Chef's Table looks delicious!

[ALLMYKIDS3]

No hot tubs on the Serenity decks. There are two levels of loungers but upper level is smaller and only in the bow of the ship not along the sides. Hammocks are on the upper level and couches and clamshells are on the lower level and they're only on the starboard side of the lower level. Kiddie pool is on the port side.

 

Sapphire Beach can be reached by taxi (about $40 for 2 RT) and there is a shack you can rent snorkel gear from. Bring your own froot loops from the buffet.

 

There are 2 hot tubs on the Liberty Serenity Deck, once you are on the Serenity Deck ..you just go up the stairs and there they are ..no kids allowed !!!:D

[ALLMYKIDS3]

Oops!! We were standing on the upper level of serenity as we pulled into St. Thomas and I really thought there was a hot-tub there as hubby was standing on the edge of it taking a picture. But I was wrong. Thanks for the clarification. Too early in the day for me to have been drinking and not remember this LOL.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

You were not wrong ..there are hot tubs on the Liberty Serenity Deck;)

[dejamakan]

The build up for me for this cruise was HMC and Guy’s Burger so once our bags were safely in the room, we headed straight to Guy’s Burger for some lunch. I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into it so I ordered the straight up burger and took a seat, ready to enjoy it.

 

Ok, here we go, wait for it, i’m chewing, still chewing, it’s good, it's really good. OMG!!! It is delish!! yummy!! just as I imagined it would be and oh so juicy, rich in flavour and fat and calories free. Bet you didn't know that it was fat and calories fee... well now you do. I truly enjoyed every ounce of it. I ended up having one for the next 3 days and then that was enough.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up next, HMC, my little paradise on earth.

 

Stttoooop! I can't take it any more...LOL! I need to go get my bib and a napkin! Lovin' ur review, will be having mine on 12/26/12

[lovecruzing]

You guys have to be the best looking couple on the ship...or any ship for that matter! You are both glowing!

 

You are right there are 2 hot tubs on the Serenity deck.

 

Enjoy your day! Thank you for this wonderful review. Although my stomach is now growling...lol! My planned, what I thought was a "gourmet" dinner" now seems so meager! I tried sticking a fork into your pictures...no luck!

 

Absolutely brilliant, I love your comment about sticking your fork in as I too feel like doing the same thing. Also thanks for your compliment about hubby and I. He is a lucky guy. Actually, we are both lucky to have found each other so many years ago. I in particular went through hell and back in the early days as we were so young and of course your folks are thinking you are way to young to be having a boyfriend. The rest as they say is history.

 

Ok, so I was not drinking too much so early in the day and my memory was correct wrt the hot-tub.

 

I will get back to the review later as I am out and about right.

[lovecruzing]

Stttoooop! I can't take it any more...LOL! I need to go get my bib and a napkin! Lovin' ur review, will be having mine on 12/26/12

 

Too funny. Enjoy your cruise in December and we too will get to experience guys again in December.

[MsMot]

I am so enjoying your review! I was on the Liberty in 2008 for a Caribbean cruise, but unfortunately I had a severe asthma attack and ended up spending 85% of the cruise in my cabin with the nebulizer. The decor on the ship is really cool. Keep the review and pictures coming. :D

 

Karen

[bluehenfan]

loved the picture with Jamie. She was the asst. CD on a couple of my cruises on the Pride. She was in a relationship with the CD Kirk Benning at the time and they were a fun and cute couple. I'm glad she has moved up to CD. I am really enjoying your report. After looking at your 1st lunch from Guy's, I am now craving a really good cheeseburger and fries !! LOL !

[Atomic911]

Great review! :D

[cruisingbajan]

Great Review!! Really enjoying it and the pics.

 

My wife and I sail her next year so I am living vicariously through all of these Liberty reviews.:)

[jjtimes6]

Loving your review!

 

There are definitely two hot tubs on Serenity, but they are up another level from most of the loungers, so I can see how they can be missed. I think they are all the way up on deck 14? But I could be wrong about the deck number.

[lovecruzing]

Back to the the review. Boy, this really takes a lot of time. I now have a new found appreciation for anyone that does a review. Trying to juggle with home and kids, it's not easy.

 

Wednesday, May 2, San Juan – Past Guest Party

 

Got up to beautiful sunshine today, oh yeah and wanted to hit the road early. I planned on doing a bit more shopping before our 11:45 time slot to do the Segway Tour. I was so excited for this tour after having read a lot on the boards about how much fun the Segways are. I decided to book the 2 hr tour as the 45 min tour was not going to be enough. Even folks way older than I am had done this tour and raved about it. So following you fine folks recommendation, we (rather I) booked the 2 hr tour.

 

We arrived at 11:53 (as opposed to 11:45) thanks to hubby's watch which was a bit slow. Of course I never have a watch with me and just depend on my phone for the time but didn't have the phone with me. My hon’s first thought was that he was not doing it as it looked dangerous. Well, after watching the safety video, he was dead set against doing it. I pretty much told him that I was gonna do it anyways and that he can take the bags back to the ship, in a nice way of course.

 

As it turned out, 12:30 we were still being thought how to use the Segway and just could not get the hang of it and had to let the tour guide know that we would not be able to do the tour. Try as I may I just could not get the hang of that darn thing and I was not trying to leave San Juan in an ambulance. Also, it was only fair for the tour to carry on without us as other folks were waiting. Now that actually brought a tear to my eye as I was rather disappointed in myself not being able to get the hang of the segway. I asked the guide if it had every happened before where folks were not able to do the tour and he said yes, all the time so I felt a bit better. So, the Segway was not to be. First HMC now this. Here is to hoping this is the last disappointment. We took our stuff back to the cabin and then came back out and took the free trolley to the fort.

Hubby waiting on the free trolley

 

 

 

 

 

 

And again, this was not to be. We got blessed again with some liquid sunshine so stayed on the trolley for the ride and headed back to the ship, soaking wet I might had. Bummer.

 

The bright side was that today was the past guest party so we went there, exactly as it started, and made good use of the free drinks and then shake it all out at the Latin deck party to end off the evening.

Bye Bye San Juan

 

 

 

 

 

Some Remy Anyone??

 

 

 

 

Up Next, Grand Turk and my wonderful beach massage.

[samzgirl84]

Hello my fellow Canadian (we are from Niagara Falls)! I am thoroughly enjoying your review. We will be on board the Liberty in Jan 2013. We sailed her in 2009 before the 2.0 improvements so are looking forward to all the great changes. I can hardly wait to try my 1st Guy's burger. I am looking forward to the rest of your review!