Back from LIBERTY......first cruise!

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cambra

Guest
Hi everyone...and to those who helped me out in my first thread "Convince me NOT to cancel my first cruise".

Just got back yesterday from a looooooong week at sea on the Liberty. It was our first cruise, so I will be happy to answer any questions.

The ship is beautiful....and remember...I don't have anything to compare my experiences with, so they are quite biased, I'm sure! I was so impressed how clean and spotless everything was! I have never been so catered to in my life! This crew never rested!!!

I took just the right amount of clothing...my husband took wayyy too much. I felt a little stuffy at formal night....but it was nice to see everyone dressed up. Two of the nights we dined at Harry's...we thought it was so much better, in fact, it was unbelievable...and well worth the extra $30 per person.

Didn't spend too much time at the pool...weather wasn't all that great. The huge movie screen was neat though!!

I spent way too much money in the gift shops....those darn Australians can get me to buy anything;)

I won $650 in Freeport...That was the ONLY good thing about that port!! We had been there before, so we knew what to expect. I walked away after winning my $650 on the Wheel of Fortune slots!!!

Grand Cayman was beautiful...we went to the Ritz Carlton and used the beach there....we were able to do that because my husband's company will be having a HUGE convention there later this year, so we went on a tour, and they allowed us to use their beach and lounge chairs!!! Wow ....was it amazing!!

We didn't realize how lucky we were until we walked down to the beach where everyone else from the ship had to get off....they had to pay $21 a person to use the beach, get a chair, and have a drink!!! YIKES::eek: We paid only $5 each for the taxi to the Ritz!!! I think we made out on that one, and we didn't even intend to!

That leads us to Thursday......I wake up....and yep....it happened! I was totally sea sick the WHOLE day! I mean....BAD!!!! It was so bad I had to go to the infirmary to get that SHOT everyone talks about! I can't even tell you how many times I threw up, because half of the time...there was nothing in me to throw up! Sorry to be so graphic...but it was the worst thing ever!! I lost that entire day...I spent it in bed after the shot put me to sleep....Before the shot, I walked the whole ship trying to find a place to feel better....LIGHTBULB....there is NO WHERE on a rocking ship to feel better:cool:

We were suppsosed to port that day in Costa Maya ....but Costa Maya said NO WAY because docking would be too dangerous in the rough waters! I needed to get on land....but I suffered that whole day! It's amazing how the rough waters didn't bother so many people!!

The shows were wonderful...the food was good...the lines were horrific! The cabin was spacious (we had a balcony....thank GOD!!) I hated the shower!! Shaving was impossible without a ledge!!!! I never knew I was so flexible::eek:

So, I've rambled about my personal experience....thanks for reading...I will be happy to answer any questions....so much more happened....

And...would I go back on another cruise? Probably not. And, not because I didn't love the cruise, or the crew....the whole experience was wonderful...all it took was one day of feeling like you know what...and that did it....those of you who have been truly sea sick, know that feeling! I could not endure that again...I would be anticipating the whole cruise....

Other than that one day, though...I felt fine....in fact most of the time I never felt movement at all....so why then as I sit here on my computer am I rocking back and forth??????? In the shower last nite I thought I would fall out!!!

Thanks everyone for all your advice and sharing your experiences with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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Kim1319

Guest
LOL. Sorry to laugh Cambra, but I love your humor. I love your way with words. You wrote a great review. Sorry about the seasickness though. Yes I know how you feel. I was 13 on my first cruise, and we had rough , very rough seas as we were in a hurricane! I lost nearly 2 days of our 5 day cruise, due to seasickness. But it didn't stop me from going back. Besides all the passengers got a huge refund and discount on a future cruise so of course we took it :D LOL. And on that 2nd cruise we took it was so much better and there was no rocking whatsoever. Not that we could feel anyway. So it still hasn't stopped me from going back on cruises. My last cruise (November 2004) I felt sick a little bit, cruising down the Mississippi River from New Orleans. About an hour before we got into the Gulf of Mexico the ship started to rock really really bad and there were quite a few sick passengers. Not alot but a noticeable amount of people. So I took some pills they gave me, and layed down for a little while then decided I was well enough to go to dinner (Where some others in the dining room didn't do too well .... if you know what I mean LOL). But 2 out of 7 cruises is not bad, and I know its a rare thing. So it definitely hasn't stopped me from cruising. And it seems that you too experienced not so great weather if you had to miss a port of call. So maybe by next year you will be ready to try again. :) But then again, cruising is not for everyone :) And I'm glad you did enjoy what you could (tu)
 
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Sweetpea29488

Guest
Cambra,
Sorry to hear you got so sick. Hopefully you will try sailing again sometime in the future. I do have a question for you. We will be on LIberty April 1st. When you said the lines were horrible are you talking about the breakfast and lunch lines on the lido deck? If so, what time of the day did you eat breakfast and lunch. Just wondering so we can try and prepare for this. Thanks for any info. you can give us.
 
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cambra

Guest
Hi Sweetpea....

Yes....I did mean the lines on the lido deck. We mistakingly thought that we would make this a "relaxing, wake up late" kind of cruise......boy were we wrong!!!!!!! So, after waiting about 25 minutes in line to get some scrambled eggs and bacon at 9 in the morning...we decided to wake up at 7 am the rest of the cruise to avoid the lines.

I am sure this is nothing new to veteran cruisers....but we just didn't know!!

Oh! I forgot to mention...we were on the 8th floor....I think that's the veranda deck?? Not sure, all ships all the same with deck names??? (You can tell, I don't know what I am talking about!!) Anyway...apparently we were directly under the pool deck...and OH MY GOD.....sure enough every morning about 6-6:30 am we could hear the pool loungers being pulled and dragged along the deck!!! It sounded like finger nails on a chalk board!!!!! EEEEEKKKKKK::eek:

I am probably not of much help, as this was our first cruise....but I am happy to share my experiences with you!

To avoid the lines we ate breakfast and lunches in the Silver Olympian a few times...that was real nice!

Oh, and I couldn't even tell you how many of those darn ice cream cones I ate! :p
 
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Sweetpea29488

Guest
Cambra,
Thanks for the info. We usually eat breakfast around 8:00 or so when we are on a cruise. Lunch we kind of eat early to avoid the lines. I also love the ice cream and on the last cruise I couldn't stay away from the grill. I normally don't eat cheese burgers but these were so good I couldn't stay away. That's what I had almost everyday for lunch.
 
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cruisinbuddy

Guest
They have drugs to combat that seasickness thing. At the 1st breakfast of our 1st cruise we were told, keep your stomach full by seasoned cruisers. It worked, 1 am I woke up feeling a bit queazy, went to breakfast and was fine. I've been prone to motion sickness all my life.
 
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serene56

Guest
Do you know what stuff they play on the big movie screen out on the deck?

leaving Sunday- cant wait.

Im sorry you got sick on your first cruise. Watching weather for the Liberty and it seems to encounter bad stuff at least once during the cruise since the begining of January.
 
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cambra

Guest
[quote serene56]Do you know what stuff they play on the big movie screen out on the deck?

leaving Sunday- cant wait.

Im sorry you got sick on your first cruise. Watching weather for the Liberty and it seems to encounter bad stuff at least once during the cruise since the begining of January.[/quote]

From what I remember, during the day, they played a news station...I forget which one...one of those 24 hr news programs (CNN, FOX...one of those) I was only out there probably twice and paid attention and that's what I saw.

However, at night, they usually played some kind of movie or concert. One night in particular they played Lord of the Rings ROTK. That was pretty neat to see on that huge screen!

I know you are gonna have so much fun!!! The ship is absolutely beautiful and it only took me 5 days to find my way around it!!!! LOL

Have fun!!!

Oh...and grab your chairs out by the pool EARLY....I mean by 7 AM...or you won't get one!! I know you vets must know this already!!
 
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rdonte

Guest
Cambra
Can you advise what time they started announcing debarkation into the cabins. We have late flights out of Ft. Lauderdale and would like to sleep till at least 7 before waking and getting breakfast. On our Europe sailing they started these announcements at 6 am and kept going till 8 am. Everyone was off the Liberty by 8:30. I sure hope its more relaxed in Ft. Lauderdale
50 days till our turn, Liberty Eastern....
Thanks
 
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traceybear

Guest
Hi Cambra!
thanks for the great review! glad you had fun.

as a veteran cruiser, I'm used to getting up early to grab a deck chair but I've never heard of 7am. is that true? if we made it out by 8am would we be out of luck?

Thanks!
 
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cambra

Guest
rdonte...wow you've been on a lot of cruises!! I hardly feel worthy to give advice! But...we were anxious to get off the ship and return to our boys...and we live within driving distance from the port...so we were up and ready to go....I remember the Cruise Directors voice coming over the loud speakers::eek: in our room at about 7 am...and I think we got off the ship about 8:30....we did enjoy a relaxing sit down breakfast in the Silver Olympian...I didn't feel rushed at all!! We were just ready to go!

Traceybear...maybe 7 am is early? But I know for sure by 8:30 those chairs were taken!! At least by towels and misc. "this chair is taken" items!! LOL

I hope you have better weather than we did!! Have fun!!
 
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rdonte

Guest
Thanks Cambra for the info. There is always something new to learn and I enjoy anyone that will take the time to give their advise or opinions. It helps us all no matter how many times we sailed.
Maybe you can help me with another question. I have 40 persons in my group all staying one pre cruise night at the Holiday Inn Express on 17th St. We want to all get to the port together so I was looking for bus or motor coach transfers. Have you ever heard anything about Gold Coach or Ace Tours???
Thanks,
Renee
 
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cambra

Guest
Renee....having lived in Fort Lauderdale....I think I do remember hearing about Gold Coach right around when we were getting married...but I don't know a thing about them...just the name...sorry I can't be of help. The other service I have not heard of.

You will be super close to the port though, staying on 17th causeway....we stayed at the Marriott Courtyard...they charged us $300 and we weren't even there for 12 hours!!! YIKES!!!! Thank goodness my husband's company got the bill!!!! The hurricanes here last year have driven hotel prices wayyy up.

Sounds like you are gonna have so much fun! Today it's about 40 degrees where we live in Florida and it was colder than that overnight!!! I hope it warms up for your trip!!!!!
 
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rdonte

Guest
Thanks again Cambra.
Since I am such a pre planner I reserved our room at the HIE last May as I knew it would be in the Spring Break time frame and in Ft L.. I wanted to get right on it so we got our rooms for $109.
Gee cold there. Its 68 here this morning so hope that it can be at least that in April. Guess it really doesn't matter, we will be so excited that we won't feel cold.
I did hear from a gal in my group that lives in Naples FL. She will try and see about getting some info on the bus companies for me. The hotel offers a shuttle as well but can you imagine trying to get 300 hotel guests to the pier 20 at a time. This is why I thought the bus idea was best and for only a few dollars per more.
What would you suggest for those that have flights out at 45 or 6 pm to do after getting off the ship?? There are 3 couples that would like to see/do something nearby?
 
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