Wonderful Thanksgiving cruise on Carnival Liberty!

[tuscandream]

Fun Facts: Dh 43,Me 43, Ds 20, Dd 17 Ds brought 3 friends Dd brought 1 friend. We rented. 12 passenger van and drove from Pittsburgh to Miami.

 

Precruise: stayed at Hampton Inn in Doral Fl. Got 2 separate rooms, total for both $250.00. Free breakfast, short ride to the port of Miami. We went to Dolphin mall Friday night to get Ds friend some clothes since his luggage got stolen the night before we left the Burgh. It was a great mall.

 

Embarkation: On Sat morning after a short 25 min drive to POM Dh dropped us off with the luggage while he parked the van ($140.00) for the week to park in a covered garage. It was a little unorganized it wasn't apparent at to whom to give our luggage to. I had to find someone to ask, and was told this is a new pier and she had to go ask someone. She did direct us to the center of the building to drop luggage off. They did something different by making us show all our documentation and I'd before he took our luggage to make sure it wasn't packed in the luggage he was taking. I never experienced that. We went thru a quick check in to the left side of the building showed ID, went thru security check on our way upstairs to walk right up to a specialist to check us in and get picture for sign/sail cards and we were given zone 4 where we waited maybe 30 mins before called to board. Simple easy process we arrived at about 10:30 or so, boarding by 11:40. We did sneak to our room to drop off carryon bags. We headed up to the lido for some lunch. I loved the new 2.0 upgrades.

 

Food: I thought the food was very good. Guys burgers are fantastic, the girls loved the burritos. Didn't try Mongolian wok, fish n chips hubby thought was good a little greasy. Dinning room food was great a lot of variety, I love the chilled soups mmmm. We did have reservations for the steakhouse which I did make prior to sailing. It was good, my fillet was over cooked I should have sent it back. Hubby liked his dinner. We did attend the punch liners brunch which was good they did serve fillet for breakfast. 20 min wait to be seated and brunch service was a little slow, but food was good. We did have early seating for dinner.

 

Service/Staff: I thought the staff was very friendly always greeted with a smile. Dinning room service was great, attentive. Bar staff was friendly efficient. Room attendant Ian did a great job making up our room, always friendly called us by name.

 

Entertainment: this is an area I thought lacked a little. This was my 10th cruise (6th with carnival) in the past we did the shows every night, this week we did go see the love and marriage show which was ok. I didn't find the cruise director to be that funny as on previous cruises. I think the cruise director name was Graham, he was just not memorable. It didn't ruin our cruise just my opinion and observation. There was a hypnotist one night, I thought that was a little boring. Saw several comedians they were ok. We enjoyed karaoke, piano bar.

 

Ports: we went to Cozumel,Grand Cayman, Roatan, Belize

 

Cozumel: booked prior to cruise Nochi Cocum via island marketing. We have done this before and enjoyed it. 49.99 pp all inclusive drinks, 3 course lunch which food was really good as well as the drinks. They have a nice pool, jacuzzi with swim up bar. Nice relaxing day they only allow 100 people. The beach wasn't as nice as I remember some debris and broken shells hard to walk into the water. They do have chairs, on beach, hammocks, loung chairs around the pool. We had a fun day.

 

Belize: booked excursion via carnival prior to cruise for beach break with lunch Bannister Island, 39.99 or 49.99 pp can't recall. 4 hr excursion pick u up from ship take you right to the island 20 mins nice day, have bar with good drinks, the island special lunch was really good which was rice/beans and BBQ chicken on grill. They did have hamburgers too you could order. They were to take you back to the town to shop but we had a problem with the boat we went back to the ship.

 

Roatan: we booked all inclusive with carnival prior to cruise for Mayan Princess which is a resort, 99.99 pp the weather wasn't good this day it rained. We did meet the tour guide at the stores at mahogany bay site, it was a little unorganized. Didn't leave in a timely manner, had to board on van to be told we need to get out and go into another van. After about 20 -30 min ride we arrived at the resort, it was nice a beautiful pool, they had this big tiki hut next door due to some remodeling they were doing. The hut had a huge open air bar, some sectional couch, lots of wooden tables and chairs. The beach had lounge chairs, and some of those beds on beach it was very nice. The staff was wonderful, best rum punch ever, beer, rum, tequila etc. we had a great day. The buffet lunch was so good, chicken, steaks and burgers, salad. The rum punch taste good, you don't even taste the rum but it does sneak up on you. It rained off and on that day, we didn't go in the ocean. We did walk down they had some vendors on the beach selling trinkets, braiding your hair offered massages. I enjoyed this excursion, just wish the weather cooperated.

 

Grand Cayman: we didn't dock at Georgetown due to the winds, we docked on the other side of the island which was desolate no stores when you get off. They had some tents set up with some tshirts and things. We did take a cab to 7 mile beach royal palms resort. They did charge you 2 or 3 dollars for their beach access. Chair rental 10.00, they had a pool and some lounge chairs. They had a bar and food which the kids said was very good but pricey. Another great day in paradise. They did cancel several excursions this day due to winds. DS and friend rented jet skis here and had fun, but waves were big and rough.

 

Overall, we had a great cruise. I loved the upgrades and itinerary. The price of the cruise is a great value, I love what carnival offers for the price. Looking to book again for April 2013. If you have any questions let me know, I like to return favor of posting an honest review that can help someone else out. Because I have spent many hours reading and doing research. The liberty is a great ship, no signs of wear. Never had a problem finding a chair, did I see chair hogs yes but there were plenty of chairs maybe just not in the desired location such as by main pool.

[WOWGirl]

Thanks for the review.

[tdk]

thanks for the review...can't wait to sail liberty again for New Years

[sjn911]

So glad your trip was great and thanks for review..that ship looks so pretty to me always...sarah

[sunlovingirl]

My husband and I were on this trip too. It was part two of our honeymoon. We had cruised the week prior (and got married the first day of the first week on the boat!).

 

I thought the difference between the weeks was the most noticeable thing to us. There were just so many more people on the boat this time. We stayed on the ship Belize and Grand Cayman days because we just wanted to be able to get deck chairs and lay out, and there were never really any together otherwise.

 

We always tried to hang out in the aft because that was the pool with no kids allowed. (which is one thing I didn't like about the Liberty. The Serenity deck was near the water slide and the adults only pool was in the back. Every time we went to the Serenity deck there were teenagers in all the hammocks and toddlers running around. The adults only pool was near the pizza and ice cream stations, where the kids would often go, but they did a great job of not allowing them in the pool. Just seems to me it was a little backwards. )

 

Otherwise, I agree, a great ship and a great time. I can't wait to cruise again!

 

Ohh the CD was not Graham. He was like the assistant cruise director. The CD was Jacques. He was a nice guy, but not the funniest. But he always sounded cool on the intercom "well a very good morning to you lady and gentlemen..."

 

Cheers!

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the review!

[TakeMeAway1001]

Thanks for taking the time to write, we went on her last May and are going again this May and doing the same itinerary as you :)

[tuscandream]

I too agree the serenity should be by the adult only pool. I didn't find the week of Thanksgiving all that crowded. Both hubby and myself didn't think the boat was full. It didn't seem it to me. Congrats on your marriage and honeymoon. Did u do b2b cruise? That is something I would love to do one day.

[Danacat222]

Thanks for the review, thinking of Liberty later next year. Going on similar itinerary on Legend in March, cant wait!

[PathfinderEss]

Nice review, glad you had a good time on your cruise.

[skiingj]

Thanks tuscandream for the great review!! I think at Nochi Cocum we shared the hot tub, drinks and some stories ;0 Had fun with your friends and fam! If you have any NC pics please PM for my email as I would love to see. The Liberty was awesome and we are now looking forward to our next cruise on the Breeze in late April. John

[tuscandream]

Thanks tuscandream for the great review!! I think at Nochi Cocum we shared the hot tub, drinks and some stories ;0 Had fun with your friends and fam! If you have any NC pics please PM for my email as I would love to see. The Liberty was awesome and we are now looking forward to our next cruise on the Breeze in late April. John

 

John I think I remember you, it is your friends wedding right in April? It was nice talking with you too. I was looking at the breeze it looks like a beautiful ship. My son turns 21 in April and I would love to take them away. Just in the research stage now to find the best value and itinerary. Happy holidays to you and your family.

[jobell]

Thank you for the review! :)

[cruzcrazee1]

What a fantastic review.

[kelikea]

Great review! My husband and I were also on that exact cruise. We were with 2 other couples. We had a great time.

[skiingj]

John I think I remember you, it is your friends wedding right in April? It was nice talking with you too. I was looking at the breeze it looks like a beautiful ship. My son turns 21 in April and I would love to take them away. Just in the research stage now to find the best value and itinerary. Happy holidays to you and your family.

 

Yes wedding in April on the Breeze which is a very expensive cruise for some reason, I think it was $1,400pp for a Balcony. I like the itinerary but if my friend wasn't getting married I would have not booked as its costing us more for that 8 day then the Breeze did in Europe for a 12 day we did in September. I love looking for cruises to book. Happy hunting for a cruise! Happy Holiday’s to you too!