Each cruise is certain to come back with points you loved, however you might also encounter sure components of the cruise you disliked or want you probably did otherwise.
I not too long ago returned from a 4-night cruise on Liberty of the Seas. This was my first time crusing on this ship, however as a result of I had sailed on different Freedom Class ships earlier than, I believed I had a reasonably good thought of what to anticipate.
Each cruise comes with surprises, although, and I encountered each constructive and damaging surprises onboard Liberty of the Seas. From the waterslides to leisure and meals, here’s what I appreciated and disliked about my Liberty of the Seas cruise.
What I appreciated
Washy Washy women
Strolling into the Windjammer buffet on any Royal Caribbean ship is bound to be met with the phrases “Washy Washy” because the Windjammer workers encourage visitors to scrub their fingers earlier than getting into.
Whereas Liberty of the Seas doesn’t but have hand washing services within the Windjammer, there’s 0% likelihood any visitor will enter the buffet with out clear fingers.
The explanation? The “Washy Washy” women, also referred to as the happiest, most colourful, and funniest crew members you’ll discover onboard.
Associated: Information to Royal Caribbean’s Windjammer Cafe buffet
As quickly as you arrive on the Windjammer, you’ll discover one among these crew members wearing a dressing up (which modified every day) and holding a bottle of hand sanitizer. Whereas this may occasionally sound like a boring job, these ladies danced, sang, laughed, and had large smiles when everybody handed by way of the Windjammer’s doorways.
That they had essentially the most power I’ve ever seen from any crew member (or perhaps any particular person ever). We seemed ahead to our meals within the Windjammer day by day not just for the meals, however for the assured leisure we’d encounter when needing to sanitize our fingers.
Tidal Wave waterslide
I don’t often use the waterslides on a Royal Caribbean cruise, particularly those which are absolutely enclosed, as they make me really feel a little too claustrophobic. Liberty of the Seas, nevertheless, has one of many fleet’s most unusual waterslides: the Tidal Wave.
The Tidal Wave waterslide is a raft slide, and two visitors can slide down collectively earlier than “boomeranging” off a big wall. Whereas the trip is de facto brief, it was far more enjoyable than I initially anticipated.
We went on the slide time and again and couldn’t get sufficient!
Saturday Night time Fever
One thing that makes Liberty of the Seas distinctive is that she has a Broadway present accessible onboard: Saturday Night time Fever. I knew nothing about this present earlier than I entered the theater, however was past impressed by the performing and dancing of the solid members.
This present follows the story of a Brooklynite, Tony Manero, who spends his weekends at a neighborhood disco dancing and discovering love whereas additionally distracting himself from life’s struggles. The present options dancing with songs from the Bees Gees, KC and the Sunshine Band, and Tavares.
Associated: Broadway exhibits on Royal Caribbean: The whole lot it’s essential know
My favourite a part of Saturday Night time Fever had been the performances from the crew members enjoying the Puerto Rican dancers within the story. If I might give one cause to see this present, it might be to observe this dance couple cha cha, merengue, and salsa their manner across the stage.
Whereas I wouldn’t say it was my favourite Broadway present on a Royal Caribbean ship (that goes to We Will Rock You on Anthem of the Seas), I’d undoubtedly see the present once more subsequent time I’m onboard.
Freedom Class options
Freedom Class cruise ships are a few of my favourite ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Identical to on Independence and Freedom of the Seas, I loved the options of a Freedom Class ship on my Liberty of the Seas cruise.
I like gaining access to the ship’s helicopter pad, taking walks on the scenic outside Promenade deck, and hanging out on the outside Diamond lounge deck.
Associated: All about Freedom Class cruise ships
I discover the scale of a Freedom Class ship to be supreme, too, because it isn’t too huge nor too small. Plus, the shorter Caribbean itineraries provided on Freedom Class ships means they all the time have a better “social gathering” environment in comparison with longer cruises or itineraries visiting locations like Alaska.
I spent lots of time outside on Liberty of the Seas, whether or not stress-free on the helicopter pad or suntanning on the outside Solarium, and I’ve no complaints concerning the Freedom Class-specific options and facilities.
Classical guitar at Vintages
Throughout my Liberty of the Seas cruise, a classical guitar participant carried out outdoors of Vintages wine bar every night.
I don’t often spend an excessive amount of time at Vintages whereas on a Royal Caribbean cruise, however sipping a glass of wine with stay guitar music created the right environment that I saved coming again to day by day.
What I disliked
No Izumi
I discovered it fairly odd that there was no Izumi restaurant on Liberty of the Seas, as Royal Caribbean’s Japanese specialty restaurant may be discovered on practically each ship within the fleet. Even 3 out of the 4 smallest ships, the Imaginative and prescient Class, have an Izumi location!
As an alternative of Izumi, Liberty of the Seas gives specialty eating at Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Desk, Sabor, and Chef’s Desk. Whereas I like all of those choices, I felt one thing was lacking with out Izumi onboard.
A part of the Windjammer buffet is called “Jade” and supposedly this was once a specialty sushi counter the place visitors might buy sushi at an additional price. This didn’t seem like provided on my Liberty of the Seas cruise.
Good Storm waterslides
Talking of how a lot I beloved the Tidal Wave slide on Liberty of the Seas, the alternative may be stated for the Good Storm waterslides.
Royal Caribbean’s Good Storm waterslides are discovered on a number of ships within the fleet. These racing slides twist and switch a number of instances as visitors make their manner downhill.
Associated: Which Royal Caribbean ships have waterslides?
I’ve gone on these slides on different ships and located them thrilling, however I used to be disillusioned with the slides on Liberty of the Seas. The water stress was extraordinarily gentle and the slides had such a low slope that I needed to push myself down.
The water stress may be sturdy sufficient to get children down the slide rapidly, but it surely took us adults some time to achieve the underside!
Lengthy strains
I am undecided if that is one thing particular to Liberty of the Seas, however I encountered worse strains on this ship than every other within the fleet to date.
Whether or not grabbing an ice cream cone on the pool deck, a slice of pizza at Sorrento’s, or boarding the ship after our port day, the strains appeared to be longer and slower than regular.
The Italian-themed dinner within the Windjammer, the truth is, had strains so lengthy we did not even dare look ahead to pasta.
I could have simply gotten to those locations on the fallacious time, and an additional 5 minutes of ready right here and there was nice, however this was one factor I didn’t take pleasure in about my Liberty of the Seas cruise.
Sport present
My cousin and I had been in search of a strategy to cross the time one night and got here throughout an exercise I had by no means seen earlier than: Sport Present: Rock the Room.
This present gave the impression to be a dancing competitors between totally different sides of the room the place each the sport present’s members and viewers stood up and danced.
If I ever wished to indicate a brand new cruiser that cruising may be trendy and classy, this could completely not be the way in which to do it. This present was like a stereotypical cruise ship exercise you’d see on a comedy skit poking enjoyable at cruises, and I couldn’t consider a greater strategy to describe the present than “cringeworthy”.
We dipped out nearly instantly after the present started. Two minutes later, I noticed an enormous hoard of different visitors leaving the Star Lounge. One visitor talked about it was a “mass exodus”, so I wasn’t the one one which didn’t like this exercise!
Last ideas
Whereas there have been some points of my Liberty of the Seas cruise I did not take pleasure in as a lot as others, I nonetheless had an exquisite expertise onboard. As a matter of reality, my cruise on Liberty of the Seas was one of the vital enjoyable cruises I’ve skilled but. From the constructive vibes of the crew members to social gathering environment onboard this brief crusing, there was by no means a boring second.
I am already trying ahead to returning to Liberty of the Seas this January to find extra of what this ship has to supply!
