Carnival Liberty: Home At Sea

It was November 10, 2005 when I first sailed on Carnival Liberty’s Inaugural Caribbean Cruise with my friend Amber and it’s good to be back on board with my husband Mel. I’m looking forward to discovering all the Fun Ship 2.0 Initiative upgrades, but one area that didn’t need improving is our accommodations.

I’ve always felt that Carnival Cruise Lines’ ships have some of the most comfortable standard accommodations at sea. Our starboard side ocean view stateroom 1057 with a balcony on Carnival Liberty’s Panorama Deck (Deck Ten) is no exception. Its features include light wood cabinetry, a soothing pastel decor, mirrored accents, small refrigerator, personal safe for valuables, a sitting area with sofa, stool and table, and a hairdryer in a vanity/desk drawer. A convenience is plenty of shelving for all the odds and ends we tend to bring along. Closet and drawer space, as well as bathroom shelves, are more than adequate. Happily, I saved room in our suitcases by not having to pack bathrobes—they are provided for use during the cruise.

Nothing can spoil a vacation faster than a lumpy, bumpy bed with scratchy sheets and pancake thin pillow. To insure sweet dreams, the exclusive “Carnival Comfort Bed” systems are a delight. They start with plush mattresses and add soft and comfy duvets and upgraded pillows and linens for a good night’s sleep.

Bathroom amenities include shampoo and bath gel in shower mounted dispensers and an array of sample toiletries. The shower itself is roomy and has a pull-out clothesline for drying bathing suits or hand laundry. A real bonus is the two-sided (regular and magnifying) bathroom shaving/make up mirror.

With 1,487 staterooms, Carnival Liberty offers a wide array of accommodation types, ranging from standard Interior and Oceanview staterooms to Oceanview staterooms with private balconies and Suites and Penthouse Suites with larger private balconies. More than 60% of all staterooms are outside and, of those, 60% have balconies. For families, the sitting area sofa converts to an additional sleeping area at night and connecting cabins are available. Passengers with physical challenges haven't been overlooked—staterooms have been designed that take their special needs into consideration. While smoking is allowed on private balconies, all cabin interiors are non-smoking.

With our home on Carnival Liberty conveniently located near the forward elevators and staircase, it’s only a short distance to the spa and gym and adults-only Serenity Deck above us and to the terraced lounging area of the Lido Deck aft of our location. We can pop down to the pool area with its RedFrog Rum Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Bar, Guy’s Burger Joint, and the buffet restaurant in a jiffy. My only complaint? I couldn’t bring along Elvis, Priscilla, and Lisa Marie, our trio of tabbies. They’re at home being pampered by their cat sitters while we’re preparing for pampering by our stateroom steward Su aboard Carnival Liberty.

Photo © CruiseDiva.com