HarleyGirlFLA
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Member since 5/05 9674 total posts
Name:
Mel
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Full Detailed Cruise Review
Liberty of the Seas
September 15 – 22
Eastern Caribbean
- San Juan
- St. Maarten
- Labadee
Ship Facts
Maiden Voyage: May 19, 2007
Passenger Capacity: 3,634 double occupancy
Godmother: Donnalea Madeley
Gross Tonnage: 160,000
Length: 1,112'
Max Beam: 184'
Draft: 28'
Cruising Speed: 21.6 knots
Ship Highlights
FlowRider®
H2O Zone
Cantilevered whirlpools
Rock-climbing wall
Ice-skating rink
Royal Promenade
Extensive WiFi capabilities and connectivity for cell phones
Full-size, flat-screen TVs in every stateroom
Themed bars and lounges
Adventure Ocean® youth facilities
ShipShape® Fitness Center and Day Spa
Full-size Everlast boxing ring
Casino RoyaleSM
Presidential Family Suite
Sports Pool
Full-size sports court
9-hole miniature golf course
Johnny Rockets® '50s-style restaurant
Portofino Italian Restaurant
Chops Grille
Ben & Jerry's® ice cream
Vintages wine bar
Boleros Latin-themed lounge
Sorrento's pizza
Vitality Wellness Program
Saturday September 15
We arrived at the pier at 11am. The ship had not been cleared through Customs so we had to wait inside the customs building until our group number was called. Each person was given a card with a number on it and when your group was called you were to head onto the ship. Our card was called at 1pm.
We board and there are the photographers taking your welcome aboard pictures. Everyone had to have their picture taken. We headed to do the soda thing, book our excursions and schedule my massage for later in the week. We then headed to our room so we could drop off our carry on and then go get something to eat at Johnny Rockets. When we got to our room our stateroom attendant was their just finishing up some stuff. She greeted us with a warm “welcome aboard” and left. We dropped our stuff off and went to eat. After we finished eating we went back to our cabin and our luggage was there. Considering the time and the Muster drill was going to be at 4:30 we just hung around in the cabin for a little. I unpacked and we got ourselves cozy. I also had arranged for a special cake to be in the room for us. The cake was yummy. It was a vanilla cake. They didn’t have a “happy anniversary” saying so I got “Bon Voyage” and the card said “Happy anniversary” Stepped out on the balcony and just relaxed until it was time for the drill.
After the drill we walked around the ship for a bit. We had dinner seating for 8:30 so we just got familiar with where everything was and lounged around.
We had a small table (total of 6 people including us at our table). DH wasn’t sure if he wanted to go to dinner the first night but I suggested we go because we don’t know who we are sitting with and if we want to make any changes it will have to be done by the next day. So we go and we had a blast. Our table consisted of us, a married couple from England (Neil and Gail) that were in their early 50’s and a gay couple from Atlanta (Jason and Allen) that were probable in their 30’s. As soon as we sat down Neil introduced himself and his wife and said they were from South Hampton. Then Jason and Allen introduced themselves and Jason looked at DH and said “oh we are going to have so much fun”
The conversation flowed very nicely. In fact I never laughed so hard. Jason said to DH if you’ve never cruised before let me tell you order everything on the menu because they’ll bring it to you. If you have cruised before heck order everything anyway. The rest of the night all we joked about was they will bring you anything you want. Even shrimp on a skewer.
After dinner everyone at the table went to the Latin themed bar. Jason tried to teach me to salsa dance. All he kept telling me “it’s in your hips” and I told him I’ll just wiggle and he can salsa. We were at the bar till about 2am.
Sunday, September 16
We were at sea. We got up at about 9. Took a shower, dressed and headed to breakfast at the windjammer. We had a huge breakfast and walked around deck 11 and 12 which is the pool and flowrider area (the surfing thing). After walking around for a little we decided to sit by the pool until 1 because the art auction was going to have a preview at 1 and the show at 2. We grabbed some ice cream and then walked to the auction to register and check out the preview. I had some champagne and we enjoyed the auction. Did not win any art that day, but I did bid on a spa treatment that was 50% off and got it.
After the auction I had scheduled my spa appointment for the item I won. I did the seaweed wrap. It’s actually called something else. It’s a really long and hard to pronounce name. I went to the spa and hubby went to the room to relax. The treatment was very interesting. I go in and was directed to the relaxation room. The girl comes out, her name is Renee and she will do my treatment. We go into the treatment room and she explains to me what the wrap is and asks what do I want to gain from the wrap as that determines the intensity of the little electric things that get put to my body. She asked do I want to reduce stress, muscle tension or detox and loose inches. I said detox. She tells me to take off my pants and top leaving everything else on and to put the robe on and she’ll be right back as she is going to mix the seaweed. She comes back and explains what the next step is. She took my measurements and then rubbed some cold lotion on me. She poured the seaweed lotion concoction on the treatment bed and then hooked up the little electric things. Scary sounding right. She poured more concoction and then some thin cloth. I was told to lay down on top of the cloth. She poured some more of the concoction and then placed some other electric things in strategic spots on me. Some more concoction and then another warm thin cloth over me. That is the wrap. She then had some rose oil and rubbed that around my eyes and placed a warm eye mask over me. The little electric shock things would shock for 3 seconds then off for 3 seconds. Shock for 3 seconds then off for 3 seconds, and so on and so on. Every 3 – 5 minutes Renee would come back and turn up the shocks.
After about 20 min of all of this, she comes in and the treatment is over. She wipes the rose oil from my eyes and removes the thin layers of goop. She takes me measurements and I was down 7 inches overall.
Signed off on everything, got dressed and headed back to the cabin. Needless to say this was very interesting. The part that I was getting a little upset with was Renee kept trying to sell me all this different oils, herbs, vitamins and lotions that are a critical part of detoxing myself. I told her I work for a health and wellness company and majority of the stuff she is trying to sell I can very easily get. She said yes but you can’t get these items and you really should have them. I said its ok I really don’t want them. I don’t really need it. She was trying and I was not biting.
Went back to the cabin, took a nice hot shower and we headed to dinner. This was formal night so it was great to get all dolled up. I wore my wedding jewelry and hubby bought me a beautiful bracelet on board that matched my necklace and earrings.
Allen was not feeling well and did not come to dinner. Jason came down to give his regards and apologize they wouldn’t be joining us that evening. We had a good time at dinner however with Gail and Neil. We had shrimp cocktail and prime rib. We were also surprised with a bottle of wine from the District Sales Manager that I had dealt with when I worked at Gulliver’s. She had surprised us and I thought that was incredibly sweet. Since hubby does not drink wine I asked the table what they like and would share with them. Gail and Neil drink white so I got a lovely chardonnay from 2005. I don’t remember the name of the wine, but it was very nice. The dessert was amazing. Grand Marnier Souffle. Absolutely to die for. I told hubby he has to get a recipe and make this at home.
After dinner hubby and I went to a show and when that was over we strolled the ship and the casino.
Monday, September 17
At sea until 3pm
We got up early and headed to an early breakfast. We knew we’d be pulling into port at 3 and since we had booked an excursion we were to meet at the theater at 2:45. We had a nice big breakfast and walked around the ship a little. We hung around the pool and enjoyed the “welcome to san juan” party on board. At 2:30 we headed to the theater to meet up for the excursion.
We booked:
City Tour & Bacardi Rum Distillery
This tour includes a stop at the San Cristobal Fortress and the Bacardi Rum Distillery. The tour includes views of Old San Juan and the more modern parts of the city.
We arrived at the Fortress at 3:45 and only had 30 min. The fortress was awesome. We went to the top and the views were breathtaking. It was amazing. Unfortunately 30 min is just not enough. The fortress closes at 4:30 so we had to be out by 4:15 to get back on the bus for the ride to the distillery. If we had an hour would have been great.
We get to the distillery and are welcomed with complimentary drinks of our choice. We get 2 drinks each. I had a mojito and a coke with Bacardi lemon. I never had a mojito before and wow this was great. Very refreshing. A wonderful warm weather cocktail. The coke with Bacardi lemon tasted just like a coke with a wedge of lemon. It was good. Hubby had a coke with Bacardi lemon and orange juice with orange Bacardi. The orange and orange tasted like candy.
The tour was fun. We learned about the history of Bacardi, how the bat became its official emblem and how to make certain drinks. Their was one part where you can smell the different types of rum, the molasses and different levels of rum.
Then we hit the gift shop, picked up some shirts and headed back to the bus to return to the ship. We got back to the pier and did some shopping at the local stores, including a Harley Davidson store. Got some great shirts and went back to the ship to head to our cabin. Showered and changed for dinner.
I had the most delicious soup that night. It was chilled apple soup. It tasted just like apple sauce. Very tasty. I liked it so much I had the waiter bring me a second one. LOL
After dinner we went to the show. I think this was 70’s night. The show was Abbacadabra. Yes, it was a cover band performing all of Abba’s songs. It was so neat. We had a blast singing along. Then when they sang “dancing queen” everyone was out of their seats dancing and singing.
After the show we headed to bed as we had a big day the next day.
Tuesday, September 18
Our Anniversary
St. Maarten
We arrived at St. Maarten at 8am. We got up early, had breakfast and was getting ready for our 11am excursion. It was raining and we hoped the excursion would not be cancelled. We had to meet at 10:30 on the pier. Our ship was next to Disney’s ship and our ship is HUGE. It was practically double the size of Disney’s ship. I said to hubby “do you think” when other ships pull up next to Liberty they just go “oh damn”
The tour guide tells us where we are headed it’s not raining and we’re all cleared for this adventure.
The adventure:
Loterie Farm Treetop Adventure Tour
Experienced staff will instruct you in the use of high-tech gear and explain the double redundant safety feature, then it’s up, up and away! The exhilarating traverse adventure course consists of a sequence of zip-lines, rope swings and ‘bridges’ suspended from platforms mounted in the trees of the forest. Comfortable clothing and closed shoes are required. This tour includes physical exertion and is not suitable for pregnant women, persons with a history of heart conditions, seizures, back, knee, neck or shoulder problems or other pre-existing health problems. For safety reasons, it is recommended that guests remove all jewelry, watches, etc. and leave onboard.
The best way to describe this: FUN!!! We had a blast. It was 32 obstacle courses of these fun zips, rope swings and bridges. We had such a great time. We were with such a great group and everyone was just enjoying themselves. When this was over I was aching.
Good thing was I had scheduled my massage treatment for that night so I couldn’t wait to get back to the ship. We got back to the ship at around 4 and my treatment was for 5:30. So we grabbed a small snack and I went to the spa. Hubby just roamed around and went back to the cabin to relax. I had a special called “ladies night” it was a massage, reflexology, a facial, chocolates, champagne and time in the sauna. It was incredibly relaxing. Soft music and scents filled the room. I felt like I was going to fall asleep. It was definitely a great way to end that adventure I had earlier.
After my relaxing treatment I went back to the cabin and got ready for dinner.
Dinner was good. I had another interesting soup. Chilled Peach soup. It was good. It looked like sweet and sour sauce. But it was very refreshing. I think I had the chicken marsala that night.
After dinner we went to the show. We saw a show called Somewhere in time. It was neat. It was about a man that travels in time and meets all these interesting people along the way. He meets Mozart, a Queen, and some other people. It was cool with all the effects. We enjoyed it.
We went to a bar, had a few drinks toasted our anniversary and back to the cabin.
Wednesday, September 19
At sea
We attended the art auction, bingo and blackjack tournament. We had a blast just doing all the onboard activities. The art auction was right before dinner. We did not win any art but their were quite a few pieces we were interested in. After the art auction we were talking to the art auctioneer and after our conversation it turns out rides. We started talking about bikes and the artist Scott Jacobs. Scott Jacobs is the only person who is licensed to draw for Harley Davidson. He designs a lot of the artwork. One piece of work can take anywhere from 300 – 400 hours. The detail in his pieces are amazing. The auctioneers name is Adam and he is very friendly with Scott Jacobs and Arlene Ness. Arlene Ness is the godfather of motorcycles and this guy is friends with him.
After a long talk we headed to dinner. This was Italian night and the night when all the waiters and chefs come out to sing. Food was ok.
Thursday September 20
We arrive in Labadee at 8am. Labadee is RCCL’s private little beach. They actually have a 99 year lease. Haiti is a very poor country. We did a mild excursion.
Labadee Historic Walking Tour
Your Haitian historian will take you on a comfortable paced walk around Labadee, visit the historic ruins of Nelli's Tower, listen to the breathing Dragon's Rock and learn about the history of Haiti over the last 500 years. Participants need to be in moderate physical condition.
It was interesting. I learned that the Dominican Republic is the same island as Haiti. It’s on the other side. A river separates the two
After the walking tour we hit the flea market, did some shopping and relaxed on the beach.
We went back to the ship and relaxed a little. Had a wonderful dinner and a show.
Friday September 21
At sea
We did the art auction, the ice skating show, bingo and the casino. I won art. I won a Winnie the pooh piece. We also won another piece from Anatole Krasnyansky. We own a piece we won last year and wanted to add to the collection.
Dinner was great. We had a special order of Grand Marnier Souffle for the entire table for dessert.
And Saturday was the end of the cruise.
Everything was great. We had a blast. We saw shows were fun, everyone was so nice and I am already planning next year’s cruise on Freedom.
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We still haven't booked our cruise for Feb, but almost positive it will be with RCCL.
