At a look
- Onboard actions embrace ice skating, waterslides and a surf simulator.
- There are many family-friendly, high-occupancy rooms, together with some that are not suites.
- You will have sufficient meals decisions — together with Italian, Mexican and steakhouse eating places — to please the pickiest palates.
Liberty of the Seas is a superb instance of what Royal Caribbean brings to mass-market cruising: a give attention to modern sights you will not discover on every other fleet and a broad vary of decisions for eating, actions and room kind.
The 154,407-ton ship spans 14 decks and carries 3,798 passengers at double occupancy. Technically, it is a big ship, however it’s center of the pack size-wise for this cruise line. For comparability, Royal Caribbean’s largest ship, Icon of the Seas, measures 250,000 gross tons and may carry 5,610 passengers at double occupancy. Liberty is not fairly as overwhelming, however it nonetheless gives loads of actions to maintain anybody from becoming bored.
The passenger combine when Liberty of the Seas cruises from U.S. ports leans towards vacationing households with youngsters and teenagers, together with adults of all ages touring with out youngsters, many within the over-50 age group. Youthful adults, together with a celebratory crowd of spring breakers and bachelor or bachelorette partiers, flock to the shorter, closer-to-home cruises, whereas retirees fill the ship on longer itineraries and people departing from international ports.
The ship’s wide selection of cabin decisions makes it ideally suited for group journey and full-blown household reunions. Liberty of the Seas has a loyal following of Royal Caribbean regulars, however it’s additionally ideally suited for brand new cruisers or these new to the model searching for a take a look at run.
A buddy who usually cruises on one other cruise line just lately discovered herself in awe of the “every part from a shoebox to a penthouse” listing of choices. For instance, Deck 6 on Liberty of the Seas options 13 cabin sorts, together with accessible and connecting balcony and inside cabins, an enormous four-bedroom suite and the distinctive Promenade View rooms dealing with the ship’s inside promenade.
Liberty of the Seas (and its two sister Freedom Class ships) is understood for having the correct quantity of spectacle and onboard enjoyable with out overwhelming with measurement. Standout options on board embrace an ice rink that’s out there for skating in addition to ice performances. Studio B, the sector surrounding the rink, additionally serves as an alternate leisure venue for interactive enjoyable just like the hilarious adult-themed, late-night recreation referred to as The Quest.
For moist household enjoyable, Liberty of the Seas gives loads of swimming pools, waterslides and splash pads to maintain youngsters of all ages entertained. Adults searching for a quieter retreat can escape to the principally adults-only Solarium.
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Here is what you may count on on Liberty of the Seas.
Liberty of the Seas cabins and suites
Liberty of the Seas gives 4 major cabin sorts on the ship. Inside rooms are usually windowless, whereas ocean-view cabins supply home windows that do not open. Balcony cabins account for extra rooms on the ship than every other cabin kind. These characteristic step-out, open-air balconies accessed by way of sliding glass doorways (some have views blocked by ship constructions or lifeboats). Suites of assorted sizes and layouts make up the remainder of the lodging.
Inside these 4 cabin sorts, search for varieties, together with rooms that join or are wheelchair accessible. Whereas rooms accommodating two visitors are the most typical kind, the ship has rooms in most classes with sleeping preparations for 3, 4 or extra.
Cabins in all classes have a great deal of storage, together with drawers, cupboards and ample closet area. Most bogs have a conceit with one sink and an enclosed bathe. Suite bogs usually have tubs and granite counter tops.
One space the place Liberty of the Seas reveals its age is a scarcity of ample electrical retailers for charging a number of gadgets in most cabins. Earlier insurance policies allowed visitors to deliver nonsurge-protected outlet add-ons of their baggage, however stricter insurance policies now prohibit outlet extensions apart from these with solely USB outputs.
Associated: Royal Caribbean cruise ship cabin and suite information: All the pieces you wish to know
For those who’re searching for a cabin that is totally different from the norm, Liberty of the Seas has a class of inside cabins that really supply a window — however the view is not of the outside. These rooms overlook the Royal Promenade on Deck 5, the place you may discover an assortment of outlets, bars and eateries. Promenade View rooms are nice for people-watching however do not supply a lot privateness when the curtains are open.
If you wish to splurge, the smallest suites on board are junior suites. These are basically bigger balcony cabins, not suites within the conventional sense of getting a number of rooms. Bigger suites, starting from one to 4 bedrooms, embrace these with separate rooms for sleeping and socializing.
The most important suite on board is the Household Villa Suite, that includes 4 bedrooms and spanning a big portion of the again of the ship on Deck 6. It measures 736 sq. ft inside, not counting the lengthy balcony with its alfresco sizzling tub. The suite sleeps as much as 14.
Extremely Spacious Oceanview rooms are additionally nice for households. These are forward-facing rooms on decks 6 by way of 9, measuring 293 sq. ft with room for as much as six folks. They’re located beneath the bridge, and whereas you’ll really feel extra ship motion in these rooms, the view of the place the ship is headed is beautiful.
Liberty of the Seas eating places
Eating choices included within the cruise fare are fairly fundamental. The three-level major eating room serves breakfast and dinner day by day and lunch on sea days. You select your dinner seating choice on the time of reserving, both conventional or versatile eating.
The versatile possibility appears like a plan that permits you to get a desk every time you might be able to eat. Nevertheless, it is actually a plan that enables diners to order a meal time every night within the cruise line’s app or doubtlessly have to attend for a desk in the event that they stroll up throughout a busy time. You possibly can even reserve dinner instances within the app earlier than your cruise.
One other included possibility, Windjammer Cafe, serves meals and snacks all through the day and night and is good when you do not wish to wait to be served.
Cafe Promenade serves pastries and lightweight snacks throughout its opening hours. Sorrento’s Pizza serves lunch and dinner into the late night. Gentle serve ice cream cones can be found on the pool deck throughout pool opening hours.
On a four- or five-night cruise, these included choices would most likely suffice for most individuals. However for seven or extra nights, specialty eating is likely to be so as, as a result of even a great cooked-to-order burger prices additional on Liberty of the Seas.
Fortunately, the burger you pay for at Johnny Rockets is a extremely good one, making it a no brainer a minimum of as soon as throughout a weeklong crusing. And do not skip the shake or apple pie a la mode — the pie is the perfect at sea, in my view. The shake prices additional, however the flat charge for a meal at JR’s features a sandwich or salad, all of the toppings, a soda and a dessert.
The shake is free should you’ve bought Royal Caribbean’s high beverage bundle and for Diamond and above loyalty members. I’ve seen drink bundle holders sprint in only for shakes a number of instances through the day — principally the Oreo cookies and cream taste.
Three different for-fee eateries spherical out the alternatives. Chops Grille (steak), Giovanni’s Desk (Italian) and Sabor (upscale Mexican) are all strong choices for lunch or dinner. Of the three, Giovanni’s is my favourite alternative even when somebody in your group is craving a great steak as a result of the menu features a filet mignon. Personally, I am nonetheless dreaming concerning the luscious stack of eggplant Parmesan on Liberty of the Seas, with the carbonara operating an in depth second amongst my favourite Royal Caribbean meals.
Search for decrease pricing of specialty eating in presail packages or decrease charges on the primary night time of the cruise. The actual splurge on Liberty of the Seas is the chef’s desk, an intimate group eating expertise with a number of chef-chosen programs, full with wine pairings. I completely loved each the meals and the presentation on the chef’s desk.
Room service on Liberty of the Seas is free throughout restricted morning hours for continental breakfast. Choices embrace chilly cereals, breads and pastries, and fruits, in addition to espresso, tea and juice. All different meals and snacks incur a flat supply charge.
The free continental breakfast makes it straightforward to have your espresso and perhaps a chocolate croissant delivered whilst you dress to move out for an actual breakfast within the buffet or major eating room. It is a sensible alternative for these touring with youngsters (or adults) who are likely to get hangry within the morning hours.
Associated: Royal Caribbean meals: The last word cruise information to eating places and eating on board
Liberty of the Seas bars and lounges
Bars on board Liberty of the Seas embrace Royal Caribbean favorites just like the Schooner Bar and an English pub named Hoof and Claw on this ship. The Schooner Bar shouldn’t be solely a energetic piano bar every night but in addition an lively spot for trivia competitions and indoor actions all through the day. Hoof and Claw is the spot to look at sports activities on a number of screens and drink from an Americanized menu of U.Okay.- and Irish-themed drinks. You will additionally discover bars or drink service within the eating places, across the swimming pools and sizzling tubs, within the on line casino and in leisure venues.
My private favourite has at all times been the Viking Crown Lounge as a result of it is a characteristic you will not discover on the newer Royal Caribbean ships and it is exhausting to high the view. Liberty of the Seas provides the bonus of a craft cocktail bar referred to as Olive or Twist inside Viking Crown. Whereas it could sound like a martini bar, the menu options a variety of drinks — together with quite a lot of nonalcoholic mocktails.
Drinks in any bar on board or from roving servers will be bought individually by charging them to your onboard account utilizing your SeaPass card or by buying a Royal Caribbean drink bundle. Packages can be found that embrace bottled water, soda and specialty coffees, in addition to alcohol.
Liberty of the Seas actions
For younger adults and households with youngsters, the primo onboard sights are the waterslides, the FlowRider surf simulator and the mountain climbing wall on the highest deck. Simply because the ship is smaller than Royal Caribbean’s latest megaships does not imply these are scaled-down variations.
The trio of massive slides contains Cyclone and Hurricane twin racing slides and the Tidal Wave boomerang slide that takes you on an exhilarating experience. It first positive aspects momentum with a downward plunge earlier than speeding upward for a breath-holding immediate, adopted by what appears like a freefall splash down. Littles can cool off at Splashaway Bay on Deck 11 with its right-size slides, splash pads and bucket drops.
The sports activities court docket sits alongside the waterslides and contains basketball and pickleball courts with tools offered. Verify the every day planner within the ship’s app without spending a dime play and event instances. Simply past the sports activities court docket is the enduring Royal Caribbean mountain climbing wall. In my household, the cruise is not full till there’s been a dad and daughter climb-off and a spherical of miniature golf.
Additionally on its higher decks, Liberty has seven sizzling tubs and three swimming pools. One of many swimming pools is totally enclosed within the Solarium. Entry is restricted to cruisers ages 18 and older, although youngsters are allowed in often within the evenings and when climate makes the outside swimming pools unsuitable to be used for prolonged durations of time.
The Liberty of the Seas health middle is massive and gives free cardio and resistance tools and extra-fee group courses and health coach companies. As you’re employed out, benefit from the stunning ahead views.
The Vitality Spa options an indulgent menu of well being and wonder remedies, together with facials, massages, hair and nail companies and even acupuncture. The spa does not have a thermal suite, however it has separate males’s and ladies’s altering rooms with showers, steam rooms and saunas out there to be used at no cost, even when you have not booked a spa therapy.
Within the night, the Platinum Theater hosts musical productions. Do not miss the Broadway musical “Saturday Evening Fever” or the high-flying aerial acrobatics manufacturing “Within the Air.”
Additionally value trying out are the ice reveals in Studio B. The sector across the ice rink is intimate sufficient to listen to each shoosh of the ice because the skaters race, spin and leap of their glamorous glittery costumes. The ice reveals are free, however reservations are sometimes required. Watch the cruise planner within the app for present instances and reservation particulars. Royal Caribbean is the one cruise line to supply ice reveals on board.
On line casino Royale is a flashy area that includes quite a lot of desk video games and slot machines. It is the one place on the ship the place you should use money, however it’s also possible to decide to cost playing to your onboard account utilizing your SeaPass card. Offering your card additionally permits you to earn on line casino factors within the hopes of incomes perks, together with discounted or free cruises. The age for playing on all Royal Caribbean ships is eighteen, besides on Alaska sailings when the age is 21.
Standout actions for me on Liberty of the Seas at all times embrace the “Love and Marriage” recreation present and visitor comedians. The ship doesn’t have a separate comedy membership, however comedians carry out in the primary theater some nights of each cruise, usually with a PG present early within the night and a late-night R-rated model.
Liberty of the Seas itineraries and pricing
Liberty of the Seas modifications dwelling ports fairly usually. It gives loads of quick cruises, together with three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale within the winter and spring and five-night sailings to Bermuda from Bayonne, New Jersey, in the summertime of 2025. Longer itineraries from Bayonne embrace nine-night cruises to Canada and New England or the Caribbean scattered all through the summer time and fall of 2025.
In 2026, the ship will swap its summer time dwelling port to Southampton, England. Cruises from the U.Okay. will take visitors to Portugal and Spain, in addition to extra northerly European nations like Germany, Belgium and Norway.
On the time of publication, fares begin round $400 per particular person for an inside cabin on a three-night Bahamas cruise or $1,579 per particular person for a nine-night Europe cruise from Southampton.
Liberty of the Seas for households
Liberty of the Seas is good for households. Along with sights and actions that cater to children, the ship gives child-friendly menus in all eating venues besides the chef’s desk venue.
The ship gives a free day camp-like youth program with its personal enjoyable area on board referred to as Journey Ocean, positioned on Deck 12. Mother and father drop off youngsters ages 6 to 12 for supervised every day actions, together with crafts, science experiments and scavenger hunts. Teenagers as much as age 17 have their very own hangout and disco, with a separate schedule of actions.
The youngest cruisers, ages 6 months to three years, have their very own nursery area with tender play areas and a nap room. Company need to pay an hourly charge to drop off their little ones with the nursery’s baby care staff.
Liberty of the Seas accessibility
Liberty of the Seas options 33 accessible cabins in a number of classes, together with junior suites. These rooms embrace roll-in showers with fold-down seats and seize bars, ramps over thresholds and lowered closet rods and vanities.
The principle theater and the Studio B ice enviornment have wheelchair seating, and the primary pool and sizzling tub have lifts. The on line casino has lowered gaming tables, and Visitor Providers has a lowered counter. All gangways are accessible, and there may be an accessible path to the tender docking space. Crew help will be offered at embarkation and disembarkation.
Backside line
Liberty of the Seas is a perfect ship for many who wish to expertise the thrills Royal Caribbean has to supply — simply not on the road’s gigantic megaships. Although Liberty continues to be a big ship, it gives barely smaller crowds and sometimes considerably decrease cruise fares than larger and newer ships.
The dimensions works nicely for group cruises and people touring with teenagers who will be allowed to maneuver concerning the ship independently. Despite the fact that the onboard sights maintain sturdy enchantment for households, these not touring with youngsters will discover tons of adult-focused leisure and stress-free areas. The wealth of exercise choices makes Liberty of the Seas an important trip alternative for all sorts of vacationers.
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