Liberty of the Seas Review
Find a Liberty of the Seas Cruise from $301
About
Liberty of the Seas Overview
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.
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.
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
Top Liberty of the Seas Itineraries
Galveston, Roatan, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Galveston
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.
More about Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas
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Awards and Recognition
Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice
- 2019 Best for Entertainment
- 2019 Best for Fitness & Recreation
- 2019 Best for Shore Excursions
- 2018 Best for Dining
- 2018 Best for Entertainment
- 2018 Best for Fitness & Recreation
- 2018 Best for Shore Excursions
- 2018 Best for First Timers
- 2017 Best for Entertainment
- 2017 Best for Fitness & Recreation
- 2016 Best for Entertainment
- 2015 Best for Cabins
- 2015 Best for Entertainment
- 2015 Best for Fitness
- 2014 Best for Entertainment
- 2014 Best for Families
- 2013 Best Overall
- 2013 Best for Cabins
- 2013 Best for Entertainment
- 2013 Best for Fitness
- 2013 Best for Public Rooms
- 2013 Best for Families
Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas Member Reviews
Royal Caribbean International Fleet
One of Royal Caribbean's smaller ships; highlights include rock climbing, bungee trampoline, three pools, eight bars and a Ben & Jerry's at sea; holds less than 3,000.
Older ship carrying fewer than 3,000; highlights include rock climbing, two pools, outdoor movie screen and several specialty dining venues including Ben & Jerry's at sea.
Offers three- and four-night cruises; features a rock climbing wall, Johnny Rockets at sea and smallish aqua park; can carry a bit over 2,500 cruisers.
An older ship carrying less than 3,000; features rock climbing, two pools, for-fee nursery, eight bars and lounges and more than half a dozen dining venues.
When Vision of the Seas launched in 1998, it was the last in a class of vessels whose design represented the most innovative for Royal Caribbean.
In 1999 Royal Caribbean's 3,114-passenger Voyager of the Seas became the largest cruise ship in the world and was heralded as the most revolutionary vessel ever built.
Carries less than 3,000 people and features eight restaurants, a rock climbing wall, mini-golf, three pools and 16 bars and lounges; spends half of year Down Under.
The second in the revolutionary Voyager-class series, Explorer of the Seas has a wealth of facilities, activities and entertainment.
Bustling atmosphere; features two-slide water park, simulated surfing, rock climbing, ice skating shows, 15 bars and the line's signature Royal Promenade; can carry upward of 4,000.
Brilliance of the Seas' mediumish size -- 2,112 passengers -- allows cruisers to feel they have the best of both worlds: a vessel with ample activities and attentive crew.
Carries some 4,400 passengers and features surf simulators, rock climbing and ice skating, 11 bars and lounges and the lively Royal Promenade.
Royal Caribbean's 3,114-passenger Mariner of the Seas launched in 2003 and was the first in its class to undergo upgrades designed to create fleet uniformity.
Highlights on this smallish ship include rock climbing, mini-golf, three pools, and 16 bars and lounges including a wine bar and English-style pub; holds some 2,500.
One of Royal Caribbean's smaller ships; attractions include rock climbing and mini-golf, kids' water slide, half a dozen or so dining venues and family-specific cabins.
Can hold some 5,000 passengers; offers simulated surfing, rock climbing, a mini-golf course, dedicated karaoke bar and 10 dining venues.
The first megaship to hold more than 6,000 cruisers; features high-energy activities like zip lining, surfing and the high-diving AquaTheater.
Carries more than 4,000; features a three-slide water park, surf simulators, rock climbing wall and "Saturday Night Fever: The Musical."
A ship of wows including rock climbing, surfing, virtual reality enhanced trampolibe, laser tag, puzzle break and mini-golf, plus "Grease, the Musical" onstage, ice skating shows, kids' water park, 22 bars and 10 eateries.
Mega-ship holding upwards of 6,400 passengers; features zip lining, surf simulators, rock climbing and an open-air Central Park with shops and restaurants.
Quantum of the Seas dares its passengers not to have fun. It's a bold ship that screams for your attention via its innovative features.
Carries nearly 4,500 passengers and features surf simulators, vertical skydiving, 16 dining venues and some of the largest suites at sea.
World's largest cruise ship featuring high-energy attractions including zip lining, water slides, surf simulators, rock climbing and 18 dining venues.
Royal Caribbean's newest ship will be one of the largest in the world when it launches in spring 2018; high-energy highlights include zip lining, water slides and surf simulators.
Part of Royal Caribbean's Quantum class, Ovation of the Seas boasts high-tech features such as the RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator, bumper cars and robot bartenders.
Royal Caribbean's Cuba ship with stops in Havana; features the Cuba-inspired Boleros lounge and a free mimosa or bloody mary at the daily "Sunday" brunch.
The first Quantum Ultra-Class ship will launch in the spring 2019. The class will be the next evolution of Royal Caribbean's Quantum Class, though the line has not yet said what its size will be.