Liberty or Freedom-enough time onboard...?

[Smileeface]

Hi, for anyone who has cruised Freedom of The Seas, I'm sailing on Liberty of the Seas in June. Have excursions planned in Cayman & Cozumel, want to be on the beach in Labadee. Wondering if I should opt to stay onboard in Montego Bay and enjoy what's on the ship. The ship is sooo large with so many passengers, I'm thinking it might be a good choice. My only excursion interest in Montego Bay is the Jungle River Tubing, but I thought maybe skipping it and hanging onboard while it's a bit quieter. With all the port stops I'm wondering if we will actually have enough "ship" time! Please advise! Smileeface :)

[TxKroozer]

We enjoyed the Freedon this past January and with stops in Cozumel, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Labadee, there was still plenty of time to enjoy what these ships have to offer. We did opt to do a morning excursion in Jamaica and then came back on the ship, but we also skipped Grand Cayman for high winds which essentially gave us another sea day.

 

We opted for the Freedom in Jume for the Eastern route which gives us 4 sea days and only three ports.

 

You will have fun and your mixture of ports, excursions and ship time will be wonderful.

[superjerryw]

In general, I would rather go ashore than stay on the ship. You need to keep in mind that when the ship is in port, many of the activities on board the ship are not available. You may find that the rock climbing wall, the flow-rider, the shops on the Promenade, etc. are all closed. If you just want to hang out and relax, you'll pretty much have the ship to yourself.

[KateO]

We went on the Freedom in September and when we decided to do another cruise this year my husband said he felt like he hadn't had enough time on the ship during our Freedom cruise (we did a shore excursion at all ports). So, I booked the Eastern Itinerary on the Liberty which gives us 3 days at sea instead of the 2 on the Freedom. He and my daughter love hanging out at the H2O zone all day...

 

So if you wanted more time on the ship you could do either ship on the Eastern Itinerary.

 

KateO

[FitzLA]

7 days, and 4 port stops is not nearly enough time to experience all the ship has to offer. There are still parts of the ship I never even saw. I guess I need to go again.

[Smileeface]

I didn't realize that some of the activities would not be ongoing while we were in port. Do the flowrider and rockclimbing and iceskating stay open while in ports? We are doing the 7nt Western Caribbean with several young teens and other families. What did you all do in Jamaica, any recommendations? smileeface:)

[cb at sea]

If you want to hang at the pool, port days are great for that! The casino won't be open, and the dining room will probably be closed for lunch. (Windjammer will be open)

We stay onboard at ports we've seen and didn't care for--like Nassau!!!! I figure that I pay to use the ship, so I try and USE it!!!!

[negc]

I didn't realize that some of the activities would not be ongoing while we were in port. Do the flowrider and rockclimbing and iceskating stay open while in ports? We are doing the 7nt Western Caribbean with several young teens and other families. What did you all do in Jamaica, any recommendations? smileeface:)

 

We got a day pass and took our kids and grandkids to Sunset Beach Resort which is close to where the ship docks. Other folks headed to Doctor's Cave Beach, which was our alternative choice. Reasonable admittance fee and rental fees for lounges, umbrellas etc. Still others really enjoyed the zip-line tour. I agree that it would have been nice to have even more time to explore all of the features of the ship, but we enjoyed each of the ports that we visited also. Guess you just have to determine which things are most important. No one has to get off at every port if they choose not to, and while some, though not all, of the ship shuts down, you can still find ways to occupy your time if you stay onboard. Enjoy the ship, it is quite something.:)

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

We sailed Freedom last June and will sail Liberty this May. My own belief is that these ships should sail ten-day itineraries. Neither Hubby nor I felt as if we had time to really get around and enjoy everything. Don't misunderstand. We had a great time. We just wanted more time on such a spectacular ship. Maybe just one more sea day would have helped.

 

To me, these amenity-laden ships would be ideal on the longest excursions such as to the Panama Canal (even though they can't FIT in the canal :D .)

 

I did stay on board Freedom one day while Hubby went in to Grand Cayman. It was fun, relaxing, so much quieter, a very enoyable time.

[Smileeface]

Thanks! I'll have to think more on it I guess, or hey, I could just plan a return trip next year! :p