Liberty of the Seas Royal Caribbean 2019 Reviews

I've been struggling with this one.  Like…almost 9 months struggling to effigy out how to write this without it just being super negative (and that'south not my vibe in general).  Because I really did non bask this experience.

I'll start this by proverb that I am unequivocally Not a cruise person—at least non this kind of cruise.  This was my first one, only I went in knowing that there was a pretty practiced adventure that cruising wasn't for me (this feel just confirmed information technology).  I was, however, surprised past how much I disliked it…

I idea my feelings on cruising would be more like my feelings on spread-out resorts:  basically, it doesn't really fit my travel way merely for the right kind of trip it'south totally fine.

Yeah, no.  (Though that sunrise shot is pretty gorgeous, no??)

So I'grand sharing my feelings on the Liberty of the Seas, merely please know that I don't have whatever other cruises to compare this to.  From all my research, this is non the nicest Royal Caribbean area ship, but information technology's past no means the worst either.

Basically, it's fine, but not amazing.  This is just one perspective, and there were lots of people who obviously love cruising and loved being on this ship.  So experience complimentary to have this review with a whole table salt lick if necessary.

About the Liberty of the Seas

Information technology's not a terribly new ship, dating back to 2007.  CruiseCritic has a skillful overview of pros and cons from people who know much more I do nearly cruise ships, which you tin can read here.

To me, the whole matter felt a scrap older and shabbier, only the rooms in item feel older, and information technology doesn't have some of the insane bells and whistles that newer ships do.  From what they say, it's a good cruise ship for kids, and my little nieces and nephews did have a great fourth dimension.

I just felt like…I was on a Walmart prowl feel.  That sounds harsh, and for some people that's non an issue at all.  It'south not a judgment, just a vibe I don't find at all interesting about travel.  For me it's most culture and amazing nutrient and interesting people and getting out of my comfort zone.  This was non that.

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We had the misfortune to board post-obit a norovirus outbreak, so they'd completely sanitized the transport before we arrived (they actually pushed back our boarding time by a couple hours to terminate it).

I completely appreciate the attempt at safety and hygiene, though the entire ship smelled like a loftier schoolhouse locker room that's merely been doused in bleach.  The water in the restaurants fifty-fifty tasted like bleach.  And sadly pretty much my entire family (and myself, on the very last night) succumbed to the norovirus at some point during the trip, so that was a bummer.

The pool area

The ship has three different pools, and it'south definitely 1 of the boat's highlights.  There'south a true adults-just pool area, which is a tad quieter, and where I tended to spend my time.  In that location's an all-ages pool that'south like an all-the-time trip the light fantastic toe party (unh-ch-unh-ch…), and then a crazy little water park for the kiddos.

The biggest challenge for me is that they were all dorsum-to-back, so the party music from the middle pool bled into the adults-only area…made information technology hard to arctic.  Information technology also gets super crowded and all the chairs are packed in like sardines—seriously, non even a couple inches between them.  Then it's not the most relaxing atmosphere.

One recommendation I will make is but to stay on the gunkhole for the port days, or at least one of them.  Considering so many people leave the gunkhole, it was definitely the quietest day and I was able to catch a dainty chair to lay out.

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Because the pool was so crowded and I couldn't find a chair in the sun, I often ended up on the top deck above the pool, where the running track is.

On the plus side, had a lot more than space and quiet.  On the down side, it'due south super windy up at that place so it wasn't super comfortable.  And obviously, no pool (for me it was more than almost getting a tan).

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LOOK AT THIS NUGGET!  Like I said, my nieces and nephews loved the splash park, and spent gobs of time there when they weren't sick.

The rooms

So, the room state of affairs on the Liberty of the Seas is ane of my to the lowest degree favorite aspects, and I recollect it'southward pretty much a abiding where cruises are concerned.  They're super tiny and just non that comfortable.

When you're used to snagging a pretty decent hotel or a great Airbnb for a fraction of the toll, it's tougher to swallow.

My room steward was Christopher, and while he was prissy, he honestly was never around and I had trouble getting answers to simple things I wanted to know.  Simply he did give me some sweet towel animals—the sloth is my favorite (for my birthday)!

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The bathrooms in cruise send rooms are particularly awful and cramped, which made getting ready (for things like formal nights) a large hurting.  I kept banging my elbows on the shower walls and bathroom walls.

I've made some notes about must-bring items at the bottom of the post every bit well (and some things that I didn't end up finding useful).

The food & drink options

First, and most importantly, drinks:

I got the full potable package so I could have whatsoever I wanted (including practiced coffees and bottled water) whenever I wanted.  For me that just made more sense, because I care nearly that.

I found the drinks to exist strong, but the cocktails not bang-up.  Got some okay pina coladas and the like at the puddle bars, but at regular bars like Olive or Twist (at the pinnacle of the ship), the cocktails were terrible.

One thing I found super helpful… I typically asked for a bottled water each time I ordered a drink, and just started hoarding them since I was sweating constantly.

I did love this…this is a glass of port!  Normally a serving is i.v ounces, but with my potable pass they poured me a full glass!  (Though yous actually shouldn't drink a massive glass of port.  But still, that would exist like $50 in a eating house.)

Chief dining room:

My family and I were assigned to the main dining room on level 3.  I was 100% not a fan for dinner, but it totally fine for breakfast, and that's what I'd recommend vs. the cafe—information technology's merely more arctic.

For dinner, everything I had ranged from super "meh" to truly awful.  The steak in particular.  I feel like the lasagna and brusk rib weren't awful.  I upgraded in one case to the Chops filet and it was okay (but non amazing).  Our waiters were super nice and accommodating, and hats off to them.

Specialty Dining Options:

I did splurge on the specialty dining a couple times, and would take more if I hadn't been in a larger group.  We went to Giovanni'southward for my birthday, and it was hands-downwardly the best meal we had the entire time.  Literally everything was stellar except ii things which were still good.

My parents and I ate a Chops one night besides.  It was good from a steak, wine, and service perspective, and the appetizers were pretty decent too.  The sides were fairly meh, kind of phoning it in.

Honestly, if it had been up to me I would have but gotten the dining package and splurged on improve meals the entire cruise.  Only nutrient and drink are super important to me when I travel, so it'due south something I am e'er willing to spend on.

Our wine even had its own bong 🙂

(J/K I know it's an aerator…simply really…)

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Liberty of the Seas—the ship itself

I spent equally little time in the big Promenade equally possible, since information technology was ever crowded.  I liked some of these fiddling alcoves along the side of the send that rarely had many people and actually were a way to go some peace and serenity.

I also really loved that the ship had a running track on the top, even though it was windy AF.  The sunrises from up in that location were pretty epic and I made sure to get out every morning.

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The ports

Ugh.  The ports on our particular prowl itinerary with the Freedom of the Seas were the worst.  That was part of why I was so negative virtually the whole thing, I think.  If we'd had somewhere cool and new on the itinerary, I call up I could accept been a flake more excited.

Instead, our ports were Roatan, Honduras (where you go to get murdered), Belize Urban center, Belize (where you lot go to get murdered), and Cozumel, Mexico (Senor Frogs…).

I struggled to effigy out any kind of excursions I was excited virtually.  I ended up staying on the ship in Cozumel and it was totally the right call—I wished I'd done it for all iii.

The Roatan port day was actually my birthday, and so I wanted to do something nice.  None of the regular excursions sounded remotely interesting, so I booked one that was basically a spa day at a "private island".  Merely beginning, ice cream…

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The place looked pretty enough, but wasn't anything special.  And the spa 24-hour interval consisted of an okay trunk scrub and possibly a massage, but nothing super special.  It was a nice piddling thing for my birthday though, unique.

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Belize City is a tender port, meaning the ships have to dock off the coast a ways and then smaller boats accept groups over to the port.

This adds significant fourth dimension onto whatsoever circuit (and Belize is oftentimes on a different time zone), so you lot should take all that into account in your planning.  Nosotros left the Liberty of the Seas behind and it was about a xx-minute ferry each fashion.

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I actually did something fairly ballsy and did a DIY excursion over to Caye Caulker.  I'd been in Belize only 6 months earlier and had spent a few days chillin' in Caye Caulker, so wanted to spend the day showing my mom around.

I've written a whole post well-nigh how to do it yourself…along with some stiff warnings about why information technology's not necessarily a great idea.

What I *would* recommend is a snorkeling trip out to Hol Chan Marine Reserve.  The second-largest bulwark reef in the world is in Belize, and then the snorkeling is World Class (you can run into a little more on that here ).

Finally, Cozumel.  I'm sure at that place are some upsides here.  Thing is, I've spent quite a bit of time on the Riviera Maya (in this nice all-inclusive ) and in Cancun , and then there but wasn't annihilation new here to interest me.

This is the day I stayed on the boat.  If you oasis't seen Chichen Itza though, this is the time to practice information technology (y'all tin run across more than about that hither ).  Also, the snorkeling and scuba diving here is amazing so if yous haven't experienced that, absolutely do!

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So.  Yeah.  I obviously wasn't a fan, merely that doesn't hateful that the Liberty of the Seas isn't correct for certain kinds of travelers—peculiarly families.

I tried to make lemonade out of lemons, since I was there with family and that was a big piece of the trip.  It was great to spend time with them, and I'm glad that I've given cruising a try at least one time.

Some must-bring items for your cruise:

I did a ton of inquiry ahead of time to effigy out what was a must-bring.

• First and foremost, tons of sunscreen, as well every bit after-sun lotion and hydrocortisone cream (for heat rash).  I've talked all nigh my favorite sunscreens for travel .
• The fan I brought was CLUTCH in that tiny airless room
• For me, earplugs and a great blackout mask are a must
• I wished I'd brought some clips to concord my beach towels on the pool chairs
• I didn't use my insulated loving cup at all, and didn't stop up needing the fancy outlet plug thing I'd brought (but having a few long cords would be helpful, like for my phone)

Beach & pool adventures that *aren't* cruises:

• 9 Tips for a Perfect DIY Aruba Vacation
• Monkeyin' Around in Costa rica'south Manuel Antonio National Park
• Finding My Happy Place…My First All-Inclusive Resort (in Playa del Carmen)
• How to Have a Super Chill Vacay in Caye Caulker, Belize
• A Stay At Cancun's Luxury LeBlanc Resort

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Source: https://www.onegirlwholeworld.com/north-america/liberty-of-the-seas-review/