Carnival
Liberty
November 10, 2005
Inaugural Caribbean Cruise
by
Linda Coffman
Give
me LIBERTY, or give me... what?
Life, liberty, and the
pursuit of artistic freedom.
Okay, the last isn't an inalienable right, but it's
what Carnival Liberty is all about. The newest Conquest-class member
of Carnival's fleet is a sparkling tribute to artists and craftsmen,
with interiors that showcase their creativity and skill.
A walk through Carnival Liberty reveals the artistry
that brings pleasure to our daily lives in ways we may not think
about or recognize. From functional (pottery) to funky (tattoos!),
Joe Farcus, Carnival's ship architect had a master plan he was eager
to share. "I thought of the central idea of artisanship because
these ships are built by true craftsmen."
Dining
Carnival Liberty's array of traditional and alternative
dining choices are as expansive as my waistline felt at the end of
my cruise.
The variety of casual dining choices include
made-to-order omelets for breakfast and a wide variety of buffet
items for lunch, as well as meat-carving and pasta stations and a
Mongolian stir-fry buffet in the Art Nouveau styled Emile's
Restaurant. In addition to the usual selections, there are Oriental
dishes, a daily taste-of-nations specialty, coffee bar, a Pizza
bar, outdoor Grille areas serving fresh burgers and grilled
favorites, the Deli for just-made sandwiches, and a second
level offering Fish & Chips (including Bouillabaisse
cooked on the spot and calamari with Maui onion fritters). Several
serving stations near the swimming pools dispense ice cream treats.
Try the Sushi Bar on Promenade Deck for freshly prepared
sushi before dinner. Also on Promenade Deck, the Jardin Café serves
specialty coffees and pastry treats for a nominal charge.
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Silver
Olympian Dining Room
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The Silver Olympian Dining Room and Golden
Olympian Dining Room are the formal restaurants where diners are
seated beneath silver- or gold-leaf domes and stunning Murano glass
chandeliers. Columns fashioned in the shape of flatware handles are
crafted in Tiffany's "Olympian" pattern, from which the
dining rooms derive their name, and contain niches where antique
flatware is displayed. Look for the "Signature Selections"
on the menu, dishes created by French Master Chef Georges Blanc.
Don't be in a rush to leave or you'll miss the inventive and
talented wait staff performing musical numbers just as energetically
as they served dinner.
Harry's, Carnival Liberty's supper club is a
jewel—literally. Named for celebrated jeweler Harry Winston, the décor
is enhanced by bejeweled lighting and vitrines set into the walls
display fine jewelry (real gold, but, alas, faux stones). A combo
plays for couples who want to take a spin around the dance floor
between courses. For the $30 per person cover charge, it's one of
the best restaurants—and dining bargains—at sea. Not only is the
food exceptional (escargot, Russian caviar, lobster bisque, Alaskan
king crab claws, grilled lamp chops, lobster, and several cuts of
beef from 9 to 24 ounces), but the presentation is sophisticated and
the atmosphere decidedly upscale. Don't miss this fine dining
experience.
For parents who want to share a romantic dinner for
two, the Camp Carnival program and group evening babysitting solves
the problem of child care. In addition to the many choices, Carnival
Liberty offers the flexibility of dining whenever you are
hungry—around the clock. Room service never closes and, while the
choices are somewhat limited, a picnic on your private balcony is
always a treat.
Staterooms
With so many categories, category selection might seem
daunting. In reality, there are only five cabin configurations, but
every passenger is assured of standard accommodations that are, on
average, 50% larger than those on most cruise ships. On
Carnival Liberty, they range from standard Interior and Oceanview
staterooms to Oceanview staterooms with private balconies and Suites
and Penthouse Suites with large private balconies. More than 60% of
all staterooms are outside and, of those, 60% have balconies.
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Oceanview
Stateroom with Balcony
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Staterooms feature light wood cabinetry, pastel
decor, mirrored accents, small refrigerator, personal safe for
valuables, a sitting area with sofa, chair and table, and a
hairdryer in a vanity/desk drawer. A new convenience is an
additional open shelving unit next to the refrigerator that is not
found on earlier Conquest-class ships. Terrycloth bathrobes are
provided for passengers' use during the cruise in all oceanview
accommodations.
Nothing can ruin a vacation faster than a lumpy,
bumpy bed with scratchy sheets and pancake thin pillow. To insure
sweet dreams, Carnival provides more than a chocolate treat on your
pillow. The exclusive "Carnival Comfort Bed" systems are
simply heavenly. They start with plush mattresses and add soft and
comfy duvets, 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 convenience is the two-sided
(regular and magnifying) bathroom shaving/make up mirror. Closet and
drawer/shelf storage, as well as bathroom shelves, are more than
adequate. My one 'problem' observation—the closets aren't quite
long enough for long evening dresses to hang freely. Shelves below
the hanging areas, while ideal for storing shoes, cause my dresses
to 'pool' at the bottom.
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.
Continued --> Carnival
Liberty (Part 2)
