Looking for a lively short weekend getaway? The Carnival Liberty has it all. With alternating 3- and 4-night sailings from Port Canaveral, Florida, the Liberty allows for quick Bahamian vacations for those much-needed breaks from society. But, of course, being a Carnival cruise, it is a given that there is a lot of fun to be had.
THE STATS:
The Carnival Liberty launched back in 2005 as the fourth Conquest class ship. She calls in the ports of Nassau and Princess Cay weekly. Carrying over 3,000 guests and weighing 110,000 gross registered tons, the Liberty isn't the largest or newest in the fleet, but she still produces the most memorable vacations. The ship is certain to impress guests by cruising at the top speed of 22.5 knots and carrying a crew of 1,160 people across many different nationalities.
Now enough of the statistical background of the ship. Let us dive in to see where her personality shines. One of my favorite aspects of every cruise is getting to know the vessel. On this class of ship specifically, all the fun lies in three different areas. First, the Garden Atrium must be one of my new favorites from Carnival due to the beauty and the contemporary design it boasts. Wrapping around the Atrium, you can find the Fun Shops, the Antiquarian Library, Skybox Sports Bar, Pixels, and Guest Services. As the ship's heart, this venue is always bustling with cruise-goers shopping, enjoying live music, sipping cocktails, or enjoying a mid-day coffee and pastry.
THE FUN STUFF:
Get "Funderstruck," as Carnival says, on the Promenade deck. Starting forward with the Venetian Place show lounge, through the Garden Atrium, past Czars Palace Casino, and to the Victoria Aft Lounge. Spanning this deck, you can also find the Stage Bar for those more low-key concerts or karaoke and the fan-favorite Piano Man Bar. Two other venues that can't be missed are the Hot and Cool Dance Club for those late-night/early-morning parties and Club O2, the teen hangout.
Connect with the sea on the Lido Deck while enjoying a multitude of activities and parties. With three pools and a waterslide, the kids and kids at heart are sure to soak up the sun as others relax on the comfortable loungers. You will also find Emile's Lido Restaurant (buffet) and my two favorite Carnival dining options, Guys Burgers and Blue Iguana Cantina.
After going over the top three places to be "Funderstruck" on the Liberty, now it is time to talk about the big three for evaluating a cruise vacation. The first being the staterooms.
ACCOMODATION:
On this sailing, an Oceanview balcony Stateroom (8C) served as a great home away from home. Although it proved not to be the most spacious of staterooms, there was no shortage of storage space. The beds were also quite comfortable, and the balcony is my favorite aspect. There is nothing like waking up to watch the sunrise as the excitement builds about the fun to come of the day.
ENTERTAINMENT:
The most impressive aspect of this sailing was the entertainment. The cast onboard had worked quite hard with two production shows in the Venetian Palace Theater. Flick was my favorite as it incorporated magic, movies, and singing into one, but "America Rocks" was also quite entertaining. Of course, "Punchliner Comedy Club" is as real as shoreside comedy clubs by giving the comedians freedom to discuss anything and warn guests if they are easily offended to leave. However, Vince Morris and Kelly Terranova never failed to make the crowd laugh at either the family-friendly or 18+ shows.
DINING:
Last but not least is the dining on the Liberty. It felt nearly impossible to try every dining option on the ship in the three nights I had. However, I loved how the crew sang and danced at the end of each night in both dining rooms (Golden Olympian and Silver Olympian). It showed how much the crew loves being back at sea and employed by the line. I have failed to mention three other dining options thus far: the Seafood Shack as the al la carte specialty dining grab-and-go seafood, Pizza Pirate for the 24-hour made-to-order pizzas, and lastly, the Diamond Steakhouse, and chef's table which are the only two full-service specialty dining option on the vessel.
Overall, the Carnival Liberty is guaranteed to bring guests the most fun-filled and once-in-a-lifetime vacation. I would recommend this vessel to anyone looking for that quick Bahamian getaway.
Have you cruised the Liberty? What did you like most about the ship? If you haven't sailed yet, would you book? What would you look forward to the most?