Carnival Liberty - 8 Day Western

J

jkmcroot

Guest
Well, I thought I had our vacation all planned for 2008 on board the Triumph. I had researched everything and gotten some great advice from users on this board. However, our school district decided to have spring break a week earlier. Now we could have just moved our cruise on the Triumph a week but we had already done that itinerary twice before.

So, what to do. Well, I changed our trip to the 8 day western caribbean on the Liberty and now I need to start my research all over again and I am definately not complaining.

First, anyone been on the Liberty, if so, what do you think. Also, any recommendations for local tour guides in Costa Maya or Costa Rica would be greatly appreciated. Also, I'd like to know of any good hotel recommendaionts in Fort Lauderdale, something fairly close to the pier. We will be booking the flight ourselves and flying in the night before. What is the pier like at Port Everglades? Is it easy to get to or should go through Carnival to book our hotel and transfers to the pier?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
C

cjbee

Guest
My family is on the 8 day on the Liberty in May. I am in the process of investigating hotels in FLL and I will post what I find. I would try to find a hotel that has some kind of transfers instead of using Carnival's. I did that years ago and that was the one and only time. Talk about organized chaos. My MIL actually had a someone else on the bus take one of her bags off the bus and put theirs on. IMHO, never again. I'd just as soon pay for a cab.
CJ
 
J

jkmcroot

Guest
Please let me know if you find a hotel that has transfers to the pier. I had thought of that as well. We usually get the airfare through Carnival and this has never been an issue but now flights are so much more reasonable than Carnival offers, it just makes more sense for us to fly out on our own the night before.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
 
D

Drommom

Guest
Hello, I am on my second voyage on the Carnival Liberty.WE will be going on June 9th. We usually stay at the Hampton Inn Airport Ft. Lauderdale NORTH. There are two at the airport.

We usually get in aroud 2 am and have used their free airport shuttle. This hotel is not in a touristy area but very popular with cruisers. We will be using this hotel for a third time. There is a Macdonalds next door and a small strip mall for groceries.. soda etc.

We like the free airport shuttle also if you get in at a decent hr. you can sign up for their FREE shuttle to the pier. We have friends who have done this. We dont mind a cab ride. We like to be in control of when we go. We did ask the desk to call and schedule a cab for the am. If you get in late you wont have choices with the free shuttle might have to take a late one.

In Costa Maya we are interested in culture and history not beaches.. and sun cancer! so we took the most indepth Mayan tour offered by Carnival. A trip to Kohunlich.. this is the oldest ruins on this island running along the border of belize.. It is about a 2 1/2 hr. ride from the pier and will take the entire time you are in port.
Since this is a rather new port there isnt tons of things to do here.
Massages on the beach.. you can go to town for a cheap cab ride and sit at the beach. or stay at the pier and shop in a very pretty mall with a swimming pool and music to entertain you.
This is a stop that has not been built out too much yet..

If you want a bit of both the swimming shopping and the mayan ruins. There is a newer smaller site. Chaccoben that is also very popular. For this one you wouldhave time to take the tour and go to the beach or shop. David and Ivan are private guides lots of folks recomment. You can google them for more info. Or search on here.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GO TO KOHUNLICH WWITHOUT CARNIVAL! We were the last folks to get back to the ship. No real time for shopping.
In Costa Rica we will probably do the boat tour..

We now have been on this ship and the valor so I would be happy to answer any questions you might have about the ship.
 
B

Babushka

Guest
I have never been on the Liberty but have been on her sister ships, the Glory and Valor, and had a great time on both ships! We really like the newer, larger ships and had no problem finding our way around the ship. I'm sure you will have a wonderful time!
 
C

cjbee

Guest
Right now, we are favoring the Hampton Inn also. They have a package that if you stay with them, you can keep your car there for up to 10 days for $25. Does it seem like a safe area?
CJ
 
D

Drommom

Guest
This hotel and its location would not constitute the safest area but many many cruisers use this hotel and keep their cars there. Just dont leave anything you couldnt part with.

Its pretty well lit...and they have security. Check out tripadvisor.com for reviews... Also there are TWo Hampton Inn Airport Hotels. Makes sure you pick the right one. And if you come by air make sure you dial up the right hotel for the shuttle.
 
D

Drommom

Guest
[quote Biskena][quote jkmcroot]Well, I thought I had our vacation all planned for 2008 on board the Triumph. I had researched everything and gotten some great advice from users on this board. However, our school district decided to have spring break a week earlier. Now we could have just moved our cruise on the Triumph a week but we had already done that itinerary twice before.

So, what to do. Well, I changed our trip to the 8 day western caribbean on the Liberty and now I need to start my research all over again and I am definately not complaining.

First, anyone been on the Liberty, if so, what do you think. Also, any recommendations for local tour guides in Costa Maya or Costa Rica would be greatly appreciated. Also, I'd like to know of any good hotel recommendaionts in Fort Lauderdale, something fairly close to the pier. We will be booking the flight ourselves and flying in the night before. What is the pier like at Port Everglades? Is it easy to get to or should go through Carnival to book our hotel and transfers to the pier?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.[/quote]

Hi friends:

If you are coming to Costa Rica I suggest you visit this web site:
www.costaricaindigenoustours.com (Save money, these tours are less than can buy on the ship)[/quote]


And Im going to assume by your note and your email address in your profile that this is your tour company.. thats a big no no..
 
F

Foubar

Guest
We did the Liberty last year and stayed at the Hampton (with the free shuttle), the Liberty is a huge vessel i am not crazy about the way the Lido Deck is layed out but just personal preference, nothing wrong with it.
the staff was wonderful we made the mistake in booking a handicaped cabin it had a HUGE bathroom but you really lost a lot of cabin space. i really like the stir fry station I ate lunch there almost every day.

Enjoy your trip and if you are looking for a nice place for dinner try the Hooters in Ft Lauderdale it is on the second story and the evening we were there there was a nice breeze (and of course Hooter girls).

AL
 
O

oma

Guest
Well I took the aerial tram in Panama. and the canopy tour with limontours.com in Costa Rica. Excellent experience in both tours.
 
R

rba01701

Guest
I have been on the Liberty twice and will go again with that ship. She is amazing
 
Top