Carnival Liberty Review

4.5 / 5.0
1,580 reviews

To Panama and Back on Liberty

Review for the Panama Canal & Central America Cruise on Carnival Liberty
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lynpat
First Time Cruiser • Age 20s

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Sail Date: Apr 2008
Traveled with children

We were all set to sail on April 12. We arrived at the Ft Lauderdale airport at 10 AM on April 11. Took a taxi to our hotel, Grand Pelican, and were all checked in having lunch at 11AM. The hotel was beautiful, our room was lovely and the staff was excellent. My family (me, my husband, and our 2 daughters ages 12 and 15) went for a quick walk on the beach (it is only steps from the lobby) and then headed to the pool and lazy river tube area. It was a perfect spot to relax after a very early morning flight from the cold Northeast. We spent the afternoon relaxing, had an early dinner on the outdoor patio, and went to sleep watching an in-room movie. We were up early the next morning with the excitement and anticipation of heading to the cruise terminal. We ate a quick but very enjoyable breakfast buffet at the hotel, and caught a cab at 10:30 to head to the port. Arriving at the terminal was thrilling, seeing our ship and 2 or 3 others all docked. Our bags were taken and we entered the building for what looked like a never ending line (so much for arriving over 1 hour earlier than we were supposed to to beat the crowds). The line moved VERY slowly. We had been VIP boarding in the past, but ran with the crowds of regular cruisers this time. Suddenly the check in desks closed and the agents left. We were shocked, then realized that we were all going to proceed to a much larger check in area, where the line moved along VERY quickly. Our pictures were taken and we were on board before we knew it. I think it was about 11:15. We were aware of the new policy that we could not access our cabins until 1:30, so carry ons were small and light. This being our 6th cruise, 5 of them on Carnival, we have our little routine set. We grab the video camera, take a walking tour of the ship (great to do when it isn't very crowded) and tape everything we see. We look into the gym and Spa, Camp Carnival, check out all of the lounges and the dining rooms (find our table if the numbers are set out), peek into Harry's Supper Club, see the mini golf and learn our way around getting oriented with our maps in hand. Then we head to the buffet (Emile's in this case) and enjoy our first meal on board and feel satisfied that we THINK we know our way around. Liberty can be a difficult ship to maneuver, even when you think you know where you are going (the mid ship dining room, Golden Olympian, makes it impossible to go forward to aft on decks 3 and 4 without taking the stairs or elevator in the middle). Now we can put our video camera away for the rest of the time on board knowing we have great footage of the entire ship, unless something really great is happening during the week!! We got to our cabins at 1:30. In the past, we have booked a "suite" on Pride and Miracle. There being four of us, the extra space was a real bonus. We did however really miss having an extra bathroom. Especially getting ready for an early dinner seating time after a late day at port. This cruise we opted for a balcony room that could sleep four and an inside room directly across the hall. My children used the inside room for their belongings and for the bathroom and getting dressed. My husband and I used the balcony room for all of this. We all slept in the outside room as they are too young to really have a cabin of their own and I felt more comfortable having us together at night. I had arranged this with Carnival ahead of time (they had to agree to put 2 of us in a room that could really sleep 4) and the cabin steward was more than happy to realize he was serving 4 instead of 6, I think he was still in training to some degree. We did our drill and set sail about 5PM. Our dinner seating was 6:15 in Golden Olympian (mid ship and the smaller of the 2 dining rooms). Our wait staff was a bit unfriendly the first night, and I wasn't thrilled with our seating arrangement. In the past we always had a booth with the four of us. In Golden Olympian, many of the tables run lengthwise along one long bench seat with 2 chairs opposite. It seemed to me that whoever was sitting in the chairs vs the bench seat was always getting in the way of the wait staff, having to pull in so they could maneuver around us. It was also a very loud dining room, sitting so close to the next table on either side. It must have been full capacity because many tables appeared to be in the aisles and entry way. As usual, the food was wonderful and the service progressively improved as the week went on. Our head waiter (first female head waiter we have encountered on a cruise ship) became very friendly, joking with my daughters that they could come in at 5AM to work with her. The bar server was excellent, sharing her straw wrapper decorating tricks with us (she was on her last week as a server, moving to piano player on the lobby deck....Best wishes Tirza!). We looked forward to our meals each night, trying something new and loving it all! Sunday was a day at sea, very calm waters. Not much going on in the kids clubs yet, so we spent time together at the pools, and the shows. Monday was Cozumel. Very windy which cancelled some shore excursions due to rough seas. We shopped a bit in San Miguel and headed to Chakanaab park for an afternoon of relaxing in those wonderful hammocks at the beach. Tuesday was another day at sea. My youngest daughter and I signed up for "mommy and me massages" which were wonderful. My older daughter went to the spa for an "oxygen facial" and really enjoyed that . We checked out the art auction, the horse races and had another restful day. Wednesday was Costa Rica. We signed up for a shore excursion of "bike riding". It was a 2 hour ride on a bus to the southeast shore. We stopped at a hotel, Almonds and Corals (worth a trip back to) to grab bikes. The ride was about 1/2 hour to the beach and the most beautiful spots for hiking and pictures. We spent about an hour or more there, and then rode back in the rain to return our bikes. The hotel had a delicious fruit buffet set up for us and gave us a requested tour of the area and rooms. We were able to change into dry clothes (glad I took the advice of the excursion desk) The bus ride back was another 2 hours. VERY long with no restrooms!! The guide was excellent, stopping to purchase us fresh bananas that were great! Thursday was Panama Canal day. We were taking the tour through the canal. We (about 12 busloads of us) departed at 7AM for another 2 hour bus ride (without bathrooms again). We arrived at our ferries and took an hour or more to load. We had many elderly and physically challenged people on the tour, and the guides were great to take the time and care to help them aboard. It was VERY hot and humid, I think 95 degrees and 93% humidity. The boats appeared to be overloaded and were very cramped. It was hard to find a seat for 4 of us where there was any chance of a breeze. At this point we were hot, tired, and hungry. The smell of diesel fuel was overwhelming. Once the ferry took off, the breeze picked up a tiny bit. We found 3 seats across the back and took turns squeezing into them. The food was good enough, it was difficult to hear anything the guides were saying on the speakers, and most of the passengers seemed pretty miserable. The first locke was interesting and fun to see and photograph. After that, we all just wanted it to end. I kept daydreaming of my cabin and air conditioning. When we arrived in Panama city and the Pacific ocean, everyone cheered up and got excited. First to see the city and another ocean and second to know we would be on the buses soon. Another 2 or more hours back to the ship. We arrived at 5:30 and the ship was still there, although we were scheduled to set sail at 4, they waited for us. Another reason to book through the cruise line! We were then set for 2 back to back days at sea. These are the best for me. I really love the whole "ship experience". Friday the seas were VERY rough and my husband was in the cabin feeling ill most of the day. He gave in and took motion sickness medicine from the infirmary after the wrist bands we bought didn't seem to help. He missed the "On Deck for a Cure" breast cancer walk that we and 300 others signed up for. I give Carnival a big hand for this, raising over $3000 on just this ship this week. Imagine the possibilities when every cruise ship in every fleet does this every week? WOW! I attended the wine tasting seminar at Harry's. Not the best I have ever been to, but fun anyway. (The constant banging of the ceiling from the basketball court above was a bit distracting!) My daughter and I also attended another art auction and bought a piece. Beware of all the additional shipping fees they tack on when you think you would be able to carry your piece home instead. A $77 bid turned in to almost $150 with the fees added. YIKES! My kids had both made friends in the clubs during the week and spent most of the time Saturday with them. My husband was feeling better, but anxious to get home (not an "at sea day fan"). My daughters and I tried to prolong the whole experience with manicures and pedicures and the Spa. A very worthwhile investment. The entire experience was pure bliss! We packed up before dinner, enjoyed our meal and the entertainment at night, and said a sad farewell to Carnival Liberty at 9:30 Sunday morning. Disembarking went very fast, even after my daughter lost her sail and sign card as we were ready to get off the ship (the purser quickly printed a new one, although I think she was hoping to stay on board for another week!) Luggage was easily found and customs was a breeze. We were at the airport by 10AM and home to find that Spring had arrived to New York while we were away. 80 degrees today as I write, although the desk is rocking up and down in that funny way after being at sea for 8 nites.

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