Liberty of the Seas evaluation: Huge-ship enjoyable on a not-so-huge Royal Caribbean cruise ship

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 overseas ports.

The ship’s wide selection of cabin decisions makes it splendid for group journey and full-blown household reunions. Liberty of the Seas has a loyal following of Royal Caribbean regulars, but it surely’s additionally splendid for brand spanking new cruisers or these new to the model on the lookout for a take a look at run.

A pal who usually cruises on one other cruise line just lately discovered herself in awe of the “every little thing from a shoebox to a penthouse” checklist of choices. For instance, Deck 6 on Liberty of the Seas options 13 cabin varieties, 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 thought for having the correct amount of spectacle and onboard enjoyable with out overwhelming with measurement. Standout options on board embrace an ice rink that’s accessible for skating in addition to ice performances. Studio B, the world 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 on the lookout for a quieter retreat can escape to the largely adults-only Solarium.

This is what you possibly can count on on Liberty of the Seas.

Liberty of the Seas cabins and suites

Liberty of the Seas gives 4 major cabin varieties on the ship. Inside rooms are typically windowless, whereas ocean-view cabins provide home windows that do not open. Balcony cabins account for extra rooms on the ship than another cabin kind. These characteristic step-out, open-air balconies accessed by sliding glass doorways (some have views blocked by ship buildings or lifeboats). Suites of assorted sizes and layouts make up the remainder of the lodging.

Inside these 4 cabin varieties, search for varieties, together with rooms that join or are wheelchair accessible. Whereas rooms accommodating two friends 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 house. Most bogs have an arrogance 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 an absence of enough electrical retailers for charging a number of units in most cabins. Earlier insurance policies allowed friends to deliver nonsurge-protected outlet add-ons of their baggage, however stricter insurance policies now prohibit outlet extensions aside from these with solely USB outputs.

Should you’re on the lookout for a cabin that is totally different from the norm, Liberty of the Seas has a class of inside cabins that truly provide 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 retailers, bars and eateries. Promenade View rooms are nice for people-watching however do not provide 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 9, measuring 293 sq. ft with room for as much as six individuals. 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

The versatile choice appears like a plan that lets you get a desk every time you might be able to eat. Nonetheless, 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 may even reserve dinner occasions within the app earlier than your cruise.

One other included choice, 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 light-weight snacks throughout its opening hours. Sorrento’s Pizza serves lunch and dinner into the late night. Tender 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 in all probability suffice for most individuals. However for seven or extra nights, specialty eating is likely to be so as, as a result of even cooked-to-order burger prices additional on Liberty of the Seas.

Fortunately, the burger you pay for at Johnny Rockets is a very good one, making it a no brainer at the very least 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, for my part. 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 when 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 occasions in the course of the day — largely 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 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 working 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 evening 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 when you dress to go 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 inclined to get hangry within the morning hours.

Associated: Royal Caribbean meals: The final word cruise information to eating places and eating on board

Liberty of the Seas bars and lounges

My private favourite has all the time 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 arduous 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 a wide range 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

The trio of massive slides contains Cyclone and Hurricane twin racing slides and the Tidal Wave boomerang slide that takes you on an exciting journey. It first features momentum with a downward plunge earlier than dashing upward for a breath-holding instantaneous, adopted by what seems 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 supplied. Examine the each day planner within the ship’s app without spending a dime play and event occasions. Simply past the sports activities court docket is the enduring Royal Caribbean mountaineering 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 absolutely enclosed within the Solarium. Entry is restricted to cruisers ages 18 and older, although youngsters are allowed in sometimes within the evenings and when climate makes the outside swimming pools unsuitable to be used for prolonged intervals of time.

The Liberty of the Seas health middle is massive and gives free cardio and resistance tools and extra-fee group lessons and health coach providers. 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 providers and even acupuncture. The spa does not have a thermal suite, but it surely has separate males’s and girls’s altering rooms with showers, steam rooms and saunas accessible 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 price testing are the ice reveals in Studio B. The world 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 occasions and reservation particulars. Royal Caribbean is the one cruise line to supply ice reveals on board.

On line casino Royale is a flashy house that includes a wide range of desk video games and slot machines. It is the one place on the ship the place you should use money, however you may as well decide to cost playing to your onboard account utilizing your SeaPass card. Offering your card additionally lets you 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 all the time 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 principle 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

In 2026, the ship will swap its summer time residence port to Southampton, England. Cruises from the U.Ok. will take friends to Portugal and Spain, in addition to extra northerly European international locations 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 points of interest and actions that cater to kids, the ship gives child-friendly menus in all eating venues besides the chef’s desk venue.

The youngest cruisers, ages 6 months to three years, have their very own nursery house with smooth play areas and a nap room. Company need to pay an hourly charge to drop off their little ones with the nursery’s little one care group.