Carnival
Liberty
May 2012
"Fun Ship" 2.0 Innovations
 Carnival Liberty Docked in Grand
Turk |
by
Linda Coffman
When Cruise Diva sailed on Carnival Liberty's first
Caribbean cruise in 2005, we learned from
Joe Farcus, Carnival's former ship architect, that the theme of the ship's decor
was the
pursuit of artistic freedom.
Fun is what Carnival Liberty is all about and the
first Conquest-class member
of Carnival's fleet to receive the cruise line's latest "Fun Ship"
2.0 upgrade is not only a sparkling tribute to artists and craftsmen—with interiors that showcase their creativity and skill—it's
also about new dining options and some other changes to familiar
spaces.
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!),
Farcus 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.
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| Guy's Burger Joint |
The variety of casual dining choices include
made-to-order omelets for breakfast and a wide variety of buffet
items for lunch and dinner, 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, coffee bar, Pizza
bar, the Deli for just-made sandwiches, and a second
level offering Fish & Chips. Serving stations near the swimming pools dispense ice cream treats.
On either side of the entrance to the buffet restaurant are "Fun
Ship" 2.0 additions—Guy's
Burger Joint, where the burgers and fries are hand made,
and BlueIguana Cantina, serving up made-on-the-spot
tacos and burritos with your own selection of fillings.
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.
 |
|
Silver
Olympian Dining Room
|
The Silver Olympian Dining Room & 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 walls contain niches where antique
flatware is displayed. Don't be in a rush to leave after dessert or you'll miss the inventive and
talented wait staff performing musical numbers just as energetically
as they served dinner. Dinner is served in two seatings or, for
those passengers who prefer to set their own schedule, in Your Time
Dining™ that allows them to dine at their leisure in an open-seating
arrangement.
Diamonds Steakhouse, Carnival Liberty's
premium steakhouse is a
jewel—literally. Originally named "Harry's" 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). 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, lobster bisque, grilled lamp chops, a
filet & lobster surf 'n turf combo, and several cuts of
beef from 9 to 18 ounces), but the presentation is sophisticated and
the atmosphere decidedly upscale. Don't miss this fine dining
experience. As a bit of lagniappe, on the first night of our cruise
a bottle of wine was included with dinner for the same per-person
charge.
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. Pizza is always available and room service never closes.
While room service
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, 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.
 |
|
Oceanview
Stateroom 1057 with Balcony
|
Staterooms feature light wood cabinetry, pastel
decor, mirrored accents, small refrigerator, personal safe for
valuables, vanity/desk with stool and drawers, a sitting area with sofa and table, a
hairdryer in the top vanity/desk drawer. An
additional open shelving unit next to the refrigerator that was not
found on earlier Conquest-class ships adds storage for small items. Terrycloth bathrobes are
provided for passengers' use during the cruise in all oceanview
accommodations. Three sets of closet doors provide hanging space
behind two of them and deep shelving behind the third.
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 plus 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—one closet wasn't quite
long enough for long evening dresses to hang freely. A shelf below
the hanging area, while ideal for storing shoes, cause my dresses
to 'pool' at the bottom. However, there was plenty of room for the
dresses in a second hanging closet.
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.
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.
And yes...even with all the
innovative changes on Carnival
Liberty, stewards still fashion those cute towel animals to greet
guests after evening turn-down service. You can even attend a Towel
Folding Fun demonstration to learn how they do it and the adorable new Towel
Animal Theater show is where your favorite critters come to life and you can
find out what they do when you leave the cabin.
Continued --> Carnival
Liberty (Part 2)
