The cruise industry is always growing, welcoming new, innovative, and mind-blowing ships like Legend of the Seas. However, does that mean you should avoid older vessels?
Recently, I sailed aboard Liberty of the Seas on a five-night cruise to Germany and Belgium from Southampton, England. Although she isn't the oldest in the Royal Caribbean fleet, she's a far cry from the record-breaking Oasis and Icon Class ships that dominate the cruise line's marketing strategy.
Still, after spending five nights onboard, I came away impressed by just how much Liberty has to offer. Thanks to a recent Royal Amplification, the ship feels refreshed with new dining venues, updated public spaces, and new original productions.
That said, sailing on an older ship comes with a few trade-offs. While Liberty of the Seas offers many of the features that make newer Royal Caribbean ships so popular, there are also areas where her age is noticeable, such as her dated staterooms.
In this article, I'll dive into what it's really like to sail on this older ship, exploring 10 things I liked and disliked about Liberty of the Seas — and why, despite her shortcomings, she offers one of the best values in the fleet.
#1. I loved the new Western-themed ice skating show.
During her Royal Amplification, Royal Caribbean replaced the Encore! An Ice Spectacular skating show in Studio B with Boots and Blades. As someone who isn't a fan of country music, I didn't think I'd like this production.
And while the Western theme may not have been my first choice, Boots and Blades was a pleasant surprise and easily one of the highlights of my Liberty of the Seas cruise.
The choreography, for example, was especially impressive — the lifts, spins, and tricks kept my attention throughout the 45-minute show, with the skaters making the difficult moves look a little bit too easy.
I also thought that the costumes were a lot of fun, from the hobby horses to the sparkly getups. Even the sets felt a little more immersive than other ice shows that rely more on technology. At one point, one of the skaters hopped on a mechanical bull!
#2. I disliked my outdated cruise room.
Wanting to keep our cruise costs low after a pricey pre-cruise visit to London, England, my fiancée and I booked the cheapest available cabin, a standard interior stateroom, aboard Liberty of the Seas.
Knowing that Liberty is a 19-year-old cruise ship, we knew that the cabin would feel dated. However, this was still a disappointment considering that the vessel had just completed its highly anticipated Royal Amplification.
Many public areas received a facelift, including the pool deck. The cabins, unfortunately, remained largely untouched. For example, the couch in my inside stateroom looked worn, and the cabinets were chipped. Plus, there was a noticeable lack of charging options.
In the end, it wasn't the worst cruise cabin I've ever stayed in, but it was a far cry from the more modern and luxurious rooms found on ships like Icon and Utopia of the Seas.
#3. I loved the revamped pool deck.
Unlike the staterooms, Liberty's pool deck got a much-needed refresh. In line with other Royal Amplified vessels and newer ships, the pool deck now features bright décor, creating a resort-like atmosphere.
The transformation turned decks 11 and 12 into a destination, rather than just a place to cool off on a hot day at sea. For starters, there are two Lime & Coconut Bars, each serving up the signature Lime & Coconut drink, along with other tropical beverages.
Royal Caribbean brought its highly-rated El Loco Fresh and Cantina Fresca to the pool deck, too. This gives guests easy access to grab-and-go Mexican fare, like nachos, burritos, and quesadillas — at no extra cost!
For those who don't want to battle the annoying chair hogs, casitas were also added to the pool deck. These shaded, private lounging areas are available to rent for the day, both in port and at sea, and provide a more relaxing retreat. That said, they don't come cheap, and Liberty has plenty of complimentary seating available, even if it is a short walk from the pools.
#4. I disliked that Royal Caribbean removed the complimentary sauna and steam room.
One of my biggest complaints about Liberty is that Royal Caribbean seemed to prioritize revenue-generating additions, like specialty restaurants and new stateroom categories, over refreshing the ship's existing features.
For example, the spa's complimentary sauna and steam rooms were removed to make way for new cabins on Deck 11. The new locker room is extremely tiny, with just two toilet stalls.
I was looking forward to using the sauna, especially since access is a paid perk on newer ships with thermal spas. For example, my thermal spa pass on Utopia of the Seas cost $99 per person for a three-night sailing.
#5. I loved the ship's European flair.
Because this was a European cruise out of England, the onboard atmosphere felt noticeably different from a typical Caribbean sailing, with a more international mix of passengers.
However, beyond the clientele, Royal Caribbean made a few subtle changes to better cater to the European market. For example, the Rock Brit Street Party paid homage to famous British musicians, playing hits like "Revolution," "Levitating," and "Rock DJ."
The food options were tailored to the European market, too. Café Promenade, for example, frequently had a scone filled with berries and cream. Although it was far from the scones I had at high tea in London, it was a nice touch that I don't typically see on Caribbean or Bahamian sailings.
Even the bears in the classic car in the Promenade were sporting fun United Kingdom flag-inspired outfits.
#6. I disliked the slow service in the dining room.
The service in the dining room was undoubtedly slow. One night, we had to ask our servers multiple times for a bread basket, and drink refills seemed nearly impossible.
Normally, I choose My Time Dining. However, for this sailing, I decided to try traditional dining with a set table and assigned servers. Meals regularly stretched longer than expected, and the service felt less attentive than what I've experienced on other Royal Caribbean cruises.
The food was great, but the overall dining experience would have been much better with faster and more consistent service. As such, it left a sour taste in my mouth for traditional dining.
#7. I loved all the quiet lounge areas.
Liberty of the Seas isn't packed from bow to stern with adrenaline-pumping activities like Oasis or Icon of the Seas — and that's one of my favorite things about the ship.
Although there is an escape room, a FlowRider surf simulator, a rock climbing wall, waterslides, a mini-golf course, and more, the ship strikes a nice balance between constant stimulation and built-in downtime.
There are plenty of tucked-away spots throughout the ship where you can relax with a drink, read a book, or simply enjoy the ocean views. My go-tos were the nooks near the aft elevator banks, the outdoor seating behind the FlowRider, and the Viking Crown Lounge.
#8. I disliked that there wasn't a Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade.
As mentioned earlier, Royal Caribbean has been focused on adding more revenue-generating spaces, from specialty restaurants to cabins and casinos.
On Liberty of the Seas, Casino Royale on Deck 4 was expanded to feature more table games and slot machines than before, replacing the former photo gallery area near Boleros.
Instead, the shore excursions and Focus gallery were moved and combined on Deck 3, right outside Studio B. Unfortunately, these changes mean that the On Air Lounge no longer exists.
Even worse, the expanded casino means that there was no room to add Playmakers, which has been a major disappointment to many frequent cruisers — myself included. I mean, you can seriously never go wrong with a campfire cookie for dessert!
#9. I loved the non-smoking casino.
When I heard that Liberty was getting an expanded Casino Royale, I assumed that part of the casino would be non-smoking, while the original part would remain smoking.
To my surprise, the entire casino aboard Liberty of the Seas was non-smoking during my sailing. Personally, I thought it was a great change — though my partner was a little frustrated she couldn't vape while cutting through the ship.
Still, the space felt cleaner and more comfortable, and I appreciated how smoke wasn't drifting into popular spaces like Boleros or the Schooner Bar.
#10. I disliked the long lines.
Finally, we encountered some annoying lines on Liberty of the Seas, whether for a slice of pizza or an ice cream cone on the pool deck. Disembarkation in Southampton was hectic with just one gangway, too.
The worst, however, was the seemingly constant line at Café Promenade for specialty coffee. Starbucks rarely had a wait, but that's because Diamond vouchers and drink packages don't work there.
To avoid the crowd also trying to get their morning caffeine fix, we quickly learned that going earlier was better. As such, we'd often make our way to Deck 5 no later than 8:00 a.m., getting our specialty lattes in seconds.
Is Liberty of the Seas a good cruise ship?
Overall, my fiancée and I were pleasantly surprised with our experience on Liberty of the Seas. Still, even with the recent Royal Amplification, she shows her age in many areas.
The staterooms, in particular, are in dire need of attention, and I think it would have been smarter for the cruise line to allocate some funds toward the cabins versus more casino space or new accommodations.
That said, in terms of value, Liberty of the Seas remains a strong option. She delivers a fun onboard atmosphere, solid dining options, and good entertainment at a competitive price point compared to newer, larger vessels.
Although Liberty isn't the flashiest ship in the fleet, she offers a memorable cruise experience — if you go in with realistic expectations. For example, if you understand that some areas feel dated, rather than expecting modern cabins or the latest technology, you can have a great time aboard Liberty of the Seas.
