Live from the Magic, errr Liberty of the Seas Comparison Thread

[ICEMANPAD]

Well I have posted on the Turkey Day Gang thread and a couple of others that we were going to run a comparison thread when we took RCL's Liberty of the Seas this summer and we will be boarding in 2 days. We have, see our signature, traveled on the Magic 6 times and the Wonder twice in the past 5 years and will be on the Magic against for our 6th consecutive Thanksgiving in November.

Living in South Florida with easy access to the ports (read: no airfare or long car trips), we like to cruise. However, this summer we have decided to do something different and try out RCL and their biggest ship to date (OK we know Oasis will be larger, but it is still being constructed). So being Disney veterans, and that includes annual passes for over a decade, DVC, and even a Disney wedding, we will be writing a comparison as we take a Western Caribbean cruise in the upcoming week.

Chuck

 

[alwayslisad]

:::gets my ::

Ok Fellow Turkey - enjoy your trip - LOTS OF PICS please - and ENJOY!!!

 

[missdani416]

I can't wait to hear your report! We have been thinking of RCL but have never done anything but Disney cruises. We want to cruise next summer but really want a 7day. Thanks. Hope you have a great vacation

 

[Cheryl726]

Awaiting the report!

 

[ICEMANPAD]

A couple initial comments..while the RCL ship is considerably larger, some of the stats can be deceiving. The actual capacity of Liberty of the Seas is only about 900 people more than Disney ships b/c all Disney cabins hold 3-4 people while many of the RCL cabins are only for 2 people.

Also, the Disney boats are effectively 9.5 decks (2-10 and 1/2 of 1) each while RCL is really about 11 true decks, though each is somewhat larger than Disney. RCL claims 15 decks, but there is no deck 1 and decks 13-15 are only on a small part of the boat with 14/15 being approximately equal to the Stack.
Anyway, starting to pack and we will finish in the morning, but it is a short drive of under an hour to the port.

Chuck

 

[MyLove4Disney]

Will your group be a family with children or adults only?

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Our group contains 2 40 something adults and 1 9/2 year old ds. Our ds loves the Lab on DCL and he is hoping that the AO program of Liberty of the Seas will be just as fun!!

However, we have learned that there will be no activity in the AO program tonight. Just a meet and greet time. Usually, on DCL he is involved in the first evening activity...so we will see how it goes tonight.

 

[alwayslisad]

Hiya Chuck, Lisa and Mason - hope you have an amazing vacation - lots of sun and fun!

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Day 1 comments.

Embarkation at the port...no comparison..Disney by a landslide...there is simply nothing to do but sit....ditto for the mandatory drill...everyone stands and swelters on the outside of deck 4 instead of the, generally, air-conditioned Disney station.

However, this ship has a couple things Disney does not. First there is the Promenade, a football field length 4 deck high atrium through the middle of the ship that has shops and eateries...there is no contest, RCL has this one....also RCL gets the nod for the childrens water area and the pool deck overall...the kids play area is really nice and better than some land based water play areas that we have seen.

Dinner, well the food was edible, but, the dining experience cannot compare to Disney and the menu was a bit more limited here...also the pianist and violinist they had playing was loud enough to drown out conversation in part of the room...also, while we are trying to switch to the late seating to better coordinate w/the kids program, it may not be possible, but that is as much our error for taking early seating in the first place.

On the other hand, the opening lunch buffet was comparable and as good as Disney's.

The stateroom we have, a junior suite is about 300sq ft plus another 100 sq ft for the balcony and was priced less than a cat 6 would have cost us this week on the Magic....it is very nice.

So, we are still open in our thoughts here. While this ship lacks the Disney mystique, we knew that coming aboard.

Will post more in days to come.

Chuck

 

[bettyann29]

cant wait to hear more...

more.. more.. more!!

 

[cakesnjammom]

cannot wait to hear nore...thanks for all the great information!
Enjoy yourselves!

 

[missdani416]

I can't wait to hear more. Thank you for sharing this with us. Do they have a kids only pool? Enjoy!

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Day 2 - Day at sea.

The weather has held for us so far....very calm seas and plenty of sun.

We were fortunate and were able to switch to late seating which worked much better.

Breakfast at windjammers...think Topsiders...very similar in layout except no outdoor seating. Food not quite as good as Disney, but lunch in same place comparable to Disney in quality.

Dinner was formal night and menu was very similar to standard Lumiere's menu. Food was fine.

We saw the ice show this afternoon...now that is the one show to see on this ship...the skaters consist of 3 male/3 female and 2 pairs teams and all have international competetive experience...frankly the skating, ok no schtick, but the skating was better by far than Disney on Ice...plenty of triple jumps which are all the more impressive due to the limited size of the rink.

The captain's gala in the Promenade was nice, but not spectacular, though part of it may be due to the ship's orchestra/singers playing a steady diet of slow classics from the 40's and earlier...

However, sitting at a table in the Promenade gives you a feeling that you don't even realize you are on a ship...hopefully the new Disney ships incorporate this feature as has been rumored.

Overall, a very pleasant day...this ship ha some nice features, ie the Promenade and water park/ pools that set it aside from Disney...

On the other hand, this ship lacks completely any sempblance of a theme...it is very disjointed and we feel like something is missing...

One very annoying feature is the necessity of walking thru the arcade to get to the kid's clubs...

Tomorrow is Labadee - the private island...one negative already is that tenders are required, though in fairness, I believe they are building a pier to accomodate the new behemoth, Oasis of the Seas due to launch later this year.

Chuck

 

[missjudit]

Enjoy reading your report & look forward to meeting you on the Turkey cruise.

 

[yazee1]

The stateroom we have, a junior suite is about 300sq ft plus another 100 sq ft for the balcony and was priced less than a cat 6 would have cost us this week on the Magic....it is very nice.

Chuck

I'm guessing no split bath, though. We're thinking about RCL next year for just dh and me. Is the junior suite several hundred less than a category 6 on DCL or closer to two or three hundred less?

 

[my3m]

as we are planning to try RCCL next year....

 

[ICEMANPAD]

First a couple answers:

There is no split bathroom, even in our Junior suite. However, we have 307 sq ft + 100 more on the veranda.

As to kids only pool, the H2O zone is primarily for kids, not sure why an adult would want to use it.

Day 3 - Labadee - This place is not CC!!...that said it does have its features like the aquapark - lots of large inflatables (for a fee) - and the zip line (also for a fee) - and they are under significant expansion construction...

That said, the kids program on the beach was non-existent...and this is on a cruise that has 4210 passengers (ie we are full)...and btw, the ship is only about American, and there are over 60 countries represented on the passenger manifest.

While the lunch was ok, it was nowhere near Cookie's...

One thing they do have over Disney - 100's of hammocks many in shade (I like hammocks)

Overall, the island is nice but if CC was a "10", this place is about a "7"...and while some may say future expansion will help (and it might), CC is also being improved so we shall see.

One more thing, the kids program area is not quite as nice as Disney, but so far, the programming has been comparable except without the Disney schtick.

Chuck

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Happy sailing Chuck, Lisa and Mason! Wish we were on it with you. Can't wait to read more of your comparision. Have you tried the Wave Runner (you know the surfing thing)?

K

 

[The LK 4]

Loving the comparison trip report!

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Hey Chuck and Lisa!

Have you been to "Johnny Rockets" yet? I love their onion rings! Also, is this the "SpongeBob" ship?

Priscilla