The reality is I’ve been on and off cruise ships for years. But I was blown away by what I saw on my first trip aboard Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of The Seas. The ship is huge, and the interior common areas seemed to be open but with an intimate welcoming vibe. Cruise ship design has always walked the thin line of being too cramped or too spacious and not suitable for the common traveler. The design on Liberty is perfect.

First, my stateroom. I had an outside deluxe ocean view stateroom and it exceeded my expectations! It was on deck nine (9622 to be exact). The balcony sat two, the bed was comfy and the sheets were very soft.

The service was out of this world. From dinner service to cabin service to just a friendly smile in the hall, every crew member I encountered made me feel like this was my home away from home.

One of the things that impressed me the most about the Liberty was the obvious attention paid to the needs of younger passengers. I was given a tour of all the children’s facilities, game rooms, activity centers and “teens only” nightclubs and common areas. They divide children by age range and keep them busy for as long as you (the parent) need to lounge in the very relaxing “adults only” areas of the ship.

The most unique design marvel of the ship is the promenade. You’ll find shops, restaurants, lounges even a Ben & Jerry’s. It’s really cool. I also particularly enjoyed the ice skating rink (be sure to take in the ice show…very cool) and the boxing ring. Of course the crown jewel on Liberty has to be the surf machine. It’s called Flowrider and you can actually learn how to surf while on board! Awesome, dude.

Royal Caribbean has gone to great lengths to wash away the “chilled shrimp buffet” perception of cruise ship dining. EVERY MEAL I had was delicious. Be sure to have at least one meal at Chops and at Portifino’s (the Italian restaurant).

I wish I had more time to take in the Spa and the other activities on my short trip, but alas, it was back to NYC. My experience on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas was amazing and I am looking forward to stepping on board sooner rather than later.

Erik Hastings