Liberty of the Seas Review
Cruising on Royal Caribbean has become like sitting on a Mexican beach
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Additional details
This was my 4th cruise with Royal (previously a 4, 7 and 12 day cruise participant). We sailed from Galveston to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica and then back on Liberty of the Seas. My family and I had two balcony rooms that adjoined as we were traveling with two small children (ages 4 years and 11 months). It has been 5 years since our last cruise (having children put a crimp in cruising enjoyment), but I was absolutely shocked at how much the quality of the cruise with RC has declined in the last 5 years. Let me expand.
First, from day 1 I felt like I had not boarded a cruise ship, but had actually laid down a towel on a Mexican beach. Every few minutes, from the moment I boarded until 2 days were left in the cruise, I was bombarded with every type of solicitation to buy something more in order to make my cruise even better. Okay, so it wasn't every minute, but it sure seemed like it. Buy this drink package, buy this special spa package, buy this upscale dining package...over and over and over again. I didn't mind it when I first got on board the ship because I'd come to expect it from previous RC cruises. But I nearly lost it when, as I was sitting with my family at dinner in the Windjammer, I was approached by a nicely dressed looking waiter, holding a menu in hand. "Have you bought your dining package to enjoy with your lovely family sir?" Now seriously, does this guy think that with a toddler in a high chair and a 4 year old eating only pasta noodles on her plate, that I was a guy looking to shell out more money for some only slightly better food???? I politely said no, but I really wanted to tell him "Stop bothering me at dinner! Can't you see I'm eating here and enjoying time with my lovely family? Geez!" Guess what? If I want one of these packages, I think I'm pretty smart and can figure out who or where I need to go in order to purchase one.
Second, I know that cruise lines try to make cruising affordable for everyone. But I really got tired of every little up charge for everything on the cruise. RC has become the Spirit and Frontier Airlines of the seas.
Cabin Review
Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony
Cabin was nice, but carpeting on floor was a little old and worn. Could use either a really good cleaning or replacement. Of course cabins always could be a tad larger, but I think every cruiseline has small rooms.