Liberty of the Seas Review
A member of Royal Caribbean's Freedom class of ships, Liberty of the Seas is a large ship that can feel crowded but is ideal for families and offers peace and quiet if you know where to find it. The ship's heart is in the central Royal Promenade. With glass staircases and bridges that cross from port to starboard lit in cool purple and blue tones, this area, which soars four decks high, comes alive with daily deal seekers and character parades. You’ll also find several bars here, perfect if you like lingering over a pre-dinner aperitif while people watching.
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Despite being 10 years old, Liberty of the Seas feels new and contemporary throughout most of the public areas (though the rooms are a bit worn). Cruisers on Liberty of the Seas can dine in style in a rich mahogany three-story dining room, each level named in honor of an Italian Renaissance painter, with sparkling chandeliers and romantic sunset views. And there are optional specialty restaurants, as well, making for an easy date night.
And when it comes to outdoor fun, Liberty's got it all with three distinct pool spaces plus an area for thrill-seekers who can't help but scream on the gut-grinding water attraction, Tidal Wave.
There are no two ways about it though: This is a large ship that regularly hauls 4,000 passengers, and it can sometimes feel crowded, particularly when you're waiting for an elevator or trying to angle for a slice of pizza in the Windjammer buffet. But while some areas of the ship feel cramped, others do not and once you get a feel for the flow of traffic and part ways with your at-home stress levels, you'll find the quieter, less traveled areas -- if that's what you want.
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Liberty of the Seas is an ideal cruise for families, especially given the quality of the onboard programming for kids. You won't find a ton of bells and whistles, technologically speaking, in Adventure Ocean (the kids' club) or the nursery, but children always have a full slate of age-appropriate programming, and without fail, ours asked every day to go back. That leaves plenty of time for parents to relax at the adults-only Solarium pool, in the casino or at the spa.
Inclusions
Included with your cruise fare:
- Meals in three main dining rooms, the Windjammer Marketplace, and at Jade, Cafe Promenade, Sorrento’s Pizza, plus continental breakfast room service; also snacks at Sprinkles Ice Cream
- Main theater production shows
- Most activities and events onboard, including use of the Studio B ice skating rink
- Fitness center use (except most fitness classes and personal training sessions)
- Use of the Sports Court, mini-golf, water slides, flowrider surf simulator and rock climbing wall
- Adventure Ocean kids' programming until 10 p.m.
- Gratuities, only if you booked your cruise in Australia and New Zealand in AU and NZ dollars
Not included with your cruise fare:
- Daily gratuities ($14.50 per person, per day for people staying in Junior Suites and below; $17.50 per person, per day for Grand Suites and higher)
- Auto-gratuities of 18 person on all spa, salon and beverages purchases, and all specialty dining venue reservations
- Drinks, excluding water, tea (including iced tea), basic coffee and select juices from the Windjammer Marketplace buffet
- Room service ($7.95 per order) excluding free continental breakfast
- Dining at most specialty restaurants
- Spa and salon treatments and services; most fitness classes in the gym
- Select activities including arts and crafts classes, arcade games, bingo, sushi-making demonstrations, events at the onboard shops, the bottomless galley brunch, the behind-the-scenes ship tour and all alcohol tastings
- Casino play
- Nighttime (after 10 p.m.) group babysitting
- Internet access and packages
- Onboard art and photography purchases
Fellow Passengers
Liberty of the Seas' population is fairly evenly divided between young families and older empty nesters, which generally makes for a relaxed group of people that mixes well together. The ship's spaces and slate of entertainment reflects that generational divide, too. Liberty's home port is Galveston, Texas, which means it tends to draw a large proportion of Americans, and specifically Texans, so prepare to hear a few "y'alls" sprinkled into the conversation.
Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas Dress Code
Daytime:Casual clothing is the norm during the day.
Evening:The dress code on Liberty of the Seas is relaxed throughout the week, and passengers used to more strictly enforced cruise dress codes might be surprised at the shorts, tank tops and denim that their fellow passengers wear to the dining room -- even on formal nights (though technically these are against RCI's suggested dress code, no one seemed to be turned away). There are two designated formal nights on a seven-night cruise where women bust out their sparkly cocktail dresses and men don suits and ties for the pre-dinner photography (tuxedos are a rare sighting). And anything goes with kids' fashion.
Not permitted: Tank tops and shorts are prohibited in the main dining room and specialty restaurants at dinner. Shoes must be worn in all dining venues at all times.
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