We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Read my full disclosure here.
Recently, my daughter and I took a 3-night cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas. This was my first time sailing on one of Royal’s older ships, and the first time doing one of their shorter itineraries. We had a great time, and I can’t wait to share my Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas Review – so you can decide if this is the right ship for you!
Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas Review
I have now sailed on 23 cruises, two of which have been on Royal Caribbean – on both the Icon of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, so I was excited to try a smaller, older ship in Royal’s fleet.
I had also only sailed one other 3-night itinerary, on the Disney Wish, which is definitely a different vibe than a weekend Royal Caribbean sailing.
Before sailing, I had heard (from clients, the Liberty of the Seas sails all summer out of Bayonne, New Jersey) that parts of the ship were dated, but in watching videos before my cruise I realized the ship had a lot to offer and more amenities than I realized.
The Liberty of the Seas is a Freedom class ship, so its sister ships are the Independence of the Seas and the Freedom of the Seas. The ship has 15 decks and can hold up to 3798 guests.
So should you sail on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas? Check out the pros and cons below to decide!
Need help planning a cruise? Then click the banner below to get started. Great service, no fees, and I know all the cruise lines!
How Old is Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas?
The Liberty of the Seas had its maiden voyage in 2007, so its definitely on the older side compared to the newer mega ships. BUT Liberty of the Seas is going into dry dock in 2025 for a much needed refurbishment.
Our Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas Itinerary
Baby girl and I took a three night cruise, a Friday to Monday itinerary out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
These shorter itineraries do tend to a be a party crowd, and we had two port stops, Nassau Bahamas and then Perfect Day at Cococay, Royal Caribbean’s amazing private island destination. We did not have any sea days and had trouble fitting in time to do everything on board. Next time we will opt for a 4 or 5 night cruise.
But we did maximize our time, spending all of Friday (embarkation day) at the party pool to relax and enjoy the sail away party. In Nassau, we booked the excursion to Baha Bay waterpark at the Grand Hyatt at Baha Mar (we booked through the cruise line and highly recommend since lunch and transportation were included).
At Perfect Day at Cococay, we just hung on the beach (South Beach) and walked around a little bit. It did rain a bit in the afternoon, so we took the later part of the day to enjoy some activities around the ship.
Things I Liked about Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas
It was a fun cruise so let’s start with all the positives about Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas:
- Food was excellent. On our three night cruise, we stuck to main dining for dinners and the buffet for breakfasts and lunch. Of course a stop at Sorrento’s for a mid-day pizza snack.
- Service was excellent. The ship is well staffed and the staff was so helpful.
- Ice Skating Show and comedy show were highlights. I liked that the shows were at 7pm, for 45 minutes, which fit in perfectly before the late seating for dinner. The main headline show is Saturday Night Fever: The Musical
- There is lots to do on board the Liberty of the Seas – mini golf, waterslides, ice skating (bring long pants if you want to ice skate), rock climbing wall (Bring closed toed shoes if you want to do this), a really large splash pad for littles, 3D movie theater, Flow Rider Surf Simulator, full size sports court, arcade, pretty large pool for a cruise ship, a solarium for adults 18+, and a spa.
- Huge gym, especially considering the size of the ship
- Lots of on board eateries – Complimentary venues include the Windjammer buffet, Promenade Café, Sorrento’s pizza, and the main dining room. Upcharge restaurants include Johnny Rockets, Sabor for Mexican, Giovanni’s for Italian, Chops Grille and Chef’s Table.
- There is star link internet on board.
- There are plenty of lounge chairs, all over decks 11, 12, and in the solarium
- Royal Caribbean continues to do embarkation so easy. I find they are the best with check in and getting you on the ship quickly.
- We had an ocean view balcony room – I find Royal Caribbean’s rooms spacious and well appointed.
Things I did not like about the Liberty of the Seas
- The Liberty of the Seas came into service in 2007. Some areas of the ship have not been updated since – like the carpets, bathrooms, and room décor. Everything was clean but felt dated.
- There are only two American outlets in the room and one European outlet.
- No on demand movies in the stateroom. In fact, there were only a few channels and a very small television.
- There is a large casino, but it smells horribly because they still allow guests to smoke in the casino. I could not imagine playing in there, I could barely walk through it. That is one thing I like about sailing on Virgin Voyages – no smoking in the casinos!
- They do not have self-serve drink machines at the buffet. In Sorrento’s you could only get water.
- I prefer a walking track on a lower deck, like the one on Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam ship. The walking track here is on deck 12, and I find it too windy up there.
- Like with all Royal Caribbean ships, there are so many upcharges – you have to pay for wifi, soft drinks, alcohol, specialty dining (if you want it), Johnny Rocket’s which is also no longer open for complimentary breakfast, etc, etc.
Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas Pro Tips
I know you will l love your time on the Liberty of the Seas, but here are some pro tips to make your trip even better.
Royal Caribbean offers room service complementary for continental breakfast. If you want a hot breakfast delivered, it’s a flat eight dollar delivery charge. The rest of the day room service is a flat eight dollar charge. Fill out the form the night before and leave it on your door.
Bring a European adapter for access to an extra outlet in your stateroom.
Be sure to bring your own conditioner, shampoo and body wash, only an one-in-all product is provided. Before you sail the Liberty of the Seas, be sure to check out my full cruise packing list.
You do not need reservations for any of the shows.
Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas Review
If the Liberty of the Seas is sailing your itinerary, I would not hesitate to book this ship for your family. I didn’t love the rowdier crowd of the three night sailing, but I think that’s to be expected on these weekend itineraries.
After sailing recently on some more modern ships like the Norwegian Prima and the Regent Seven Seas Splendor, I found the décor a bit of a throwback, BUT since everything was clean and comfortable, I could overlook places where the ship was not as well kept up as it could have been.
And again, with the food, shows and service being standouts, I would recommend this ship to any client with confidence.
Not all ships (and cruise lines) are the same, which is why it’s always best to book your cruise vacation with a travel agent, so a professional can help find the perfect cruise for you. Be sure to reach out for all your Royal Caribbean and cruise planning needs!
Follow Momma To Go on social media! Twitter, Facebook , Pinterest, and Instagram
Please share:
