Liberty of the Seas

Ah, the Freedom Class! The very definition of an affordable cruise, with tons of stuff for families to do and a mega-resort experience that’s not bad at all. It’s actually kinda mind-blowing that Royal Caribbean only made three Freedom-Class ships, especially since they just… work. They’re not so small that you’ll get bored, and not so big that you’ll get lost. They don’t overwhelm you with thousands of activities, but they still pack in ice rinks, a FlowRider, some pretty awesome waterslides, and just the right vibe for a family vacation.

Liberty of the Seas continues the tradition set by her older sister, Freedom of the Seas, offering plenty for families at a very reasonable price. The main differences? Freedom of the Seas has a different waterslide compared to Liberty, and Freedom now sails solely from Miami, while Liberty focuses on Fort Lauderdale, New York, and Southampton. Other than that? Well, Freedom got a major upgrade and refurbishment in 2020, and Liberty is scheduled for the same treatment in 2026. In the end, it mostly comes down to itineraries and prices when deciding which ship is best for you, and of course, we’re always here to lend a hand.

What we like about Liberty of the Seas

I love that the Freedom-Class ships are affordable and that you can score great Caribbean cruises for less than $400. Liberty of the Seas, for example, offers 3 night Caribbean sailings that stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay starting at just $280. That is an amazing price for a ship that packs in so much and it is even set to receive a major upgrade in the next few months. A lot of websites and reviews call the Freedom Class the best “bang for your buck” ships at Royal Caribbean, and it is hard to disagree.

These ships are packed with things to do and are a great choice for families who just want to enjoy a fun vacation onboard a classic mega resort at sea. Sure, Liberty of the Seas does not have the wild activities you will find on the newest vessels, like roller coasters, bumper cars, super long zip lines or two hour Broadway shows, but will kids really miss those when there is still plenty of fun on a smaller ship? Liberty has a FlowRider, a small waterpark for children, mini golf, a rock climbing wall, an ice rink, dance classes and different waterslides. Speaking of waterslides, Liberty of the Seas is home to the Tidal Wave, considered one of the few (if not the only) boomerang style waterslides at sea.

This is not just a ship for children, by the way, since it offers plenty of cool activities for adults as well. It has small Broadway productions, ice shows, the exclusive “In the Air” show that explores the history of flight, dance classes, jewelry making classes, nightclubs and even a class where you learn how to create animals out of towels. That skill might come in handy someday and definitely deserves a spot on your LinkedIn.

What we don’t like about Liberty of the Seas

Even if Liberty of the Seas is very similar to Freedom of the Seas, it is important to remember that Freedom received a major update in 2020 that added many new venues and activities (like the laser tag), while Liberty is still waiting for that same update which was announced for 2026. Liberty, for example, does not have some of the dining venues and bars that you can already find on her sister ship. Freedom of the Seas has an updated Izumi restaurant, the Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade, and Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, an Italian restaurant with a different and often better menu compared to the traditional Giovanni’s Table you find on Liberty of the Seas.

That might seem like a small difference, but the updates were worth it and helped modernize Freedom of the Seas. It is almost guaranteed that Playmakers and Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen will be added to Liberty of the Seas in 2026, and the ship will be even better with those upgrades. You might say, “isn’t it a little harsh to take points away from Liberty since the ship will definitely be upgraded next year?” and I would say probably not. Something could always happen that delays the update, and we still have to wait and see exactly what will be done. We also do not know if the work will be completed in 2026 or if it will extend into 2027. For now, we need to review the ship as it is, and it is still a great family cruise even without the upgrades.

Conclusion

Liberty of the Seas is already a great ship, and the upcoming updates will likely make it just as good as or even better than Freedom of the Seas. It still offers plenty for families at very reasonable prices, and it is hard to worry about upgrades when you are sliding down Tidal Wave next to your son or daughter.