Review: New Year’s Cruise Onboard Liberty of the Seas

Liberty of the Seas in Cozumel, Mexico

This was the first cruise that I went on since before the pandemic. The new health protocols onboard were quite noticeable, but they did not impact my overall experience. In fact, the cruise was more enjoyable than before because the ship was not at full capacity and all of the sanitation efforts made me feel more safe onboard than at an airport or even a grocery store.

The ship still had most of its venues open at a reduced capacity and there were just as many activities as before. There were plenty of things happening on the ship, but I spent most of my time walking around outside to avoid large groups of people and for the fresh air and scenery. I did take advantage of some of the ship's outdoor activities like the mini golf course, rock climbing wall and waterslides. So far, I’ve been on five ships with a rock climbing wall and Liberty of the Seas' was my favorite because of its size and design that

offered different levels of difficulty.

This ship has a lot to offer on the open decks, including mini-golf, pools/jacuzzis, rock climbing and the FlowRider Surf Simulator that can be found on most Royal Caribbean ships. One thing that was new for me was that all guests have access to walk onto the bow (front) during the day. This was the first ship that I’ve been on where I was able to visit the bow while cruising and get beautiful views of the sea and a nice breeze. I also found it to be the most secluded area that very few people visited and no more than three other people were there at the same time as me. The bow also hosted the ship's helipad, which had some seating options that are removable in case of an emergency. Overall, this was a very cool and relaxing place to be during the day and especially at sunset!

The activities on the open decks were great, but the fun isn’t just limited to outdoor venues. Liberty of the Seas has plenty to offer inside. From broadway shows at the Platinum Theatre, to the art gallery and Studio B: Ice rink/theatre in the aft, this ship has a wide variety of entertainment, including the Royal Promenade, a district of shops, restaurants and bars that’ll make you forget you’re on a ship!

Royal Promenade onboard Liberty of the Seas

One downside of the Royal Promenade was that it was very busy, so I tried not to visit this area too often. Otherwise, this was a very cool place to be since it didn’t feel like I was on a ship and there were so many things to do just in this one place.

Encore! An International Ice Spectacular was the only show in Studio B and it was definitely my favorite onboard Liberty of the Seas! This show was performed by a talented group of figure skaters from around the world. This was the only show that required reservations, but there was no extra cost associated with it. I will include a sneak peak of the show in a video at the end of this post and you can also check it out in the Videos section of my blog!

Every evening while on this cruise, you could find me walking on the track on Deck 12 or outside on Deck 4. In fact, I do this on all of the cruises that I go on because I find it to be very relaxing and the cool, evening breeze is so refreshing. I also enjoy listening to the sounds of the waves. I could even stargaze if I found the right spot with low lighting.

Liberty of the Seas Pool Deck

Besides all of the activities and entertainment, one thing that I’ve always enjoyed about cruises is watching the sunset each night. This cruise was no different, but watching the sunset this time felt different. It gave me hope that it is possible for things to return to normal. Seeing how Royal Caribbean has handled their health and safety protocols and how safe I felt onboard, I believe that it won’t be long before the cruise industry makes a comeback. Hopefully travel can soon be like what it was before the pandemic-or at least close to what it was once like (I wouldn’t mind cruising on ships that are only 50-75% booked).

Overall, I enjoyed getting back on a cruise ship after a long time on dry land and I can’t wait to go on more adventures this year!

Sunset from my stateroom onboard Liberty of the Seas