Liberty Of The Seas

The 2007-built Liberty of the Seas cruise ship is the second Freedom-class Royal Caribbean liner, with sisterships Freedom OTS and Independence OTS.

The vessel (IMO 9330032) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 309436000) and registered in Nassau.

History – construction and ownership

Royal Caribbean International (RCI) is a US-based passenger shipping company, trademarked travel brand, and a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group (RCG/shipowner). Founded in 1968, RCI today holds over one-fifth of the global cruise market. It operates RCG’s largest fleet by both vessel number and GT tonnage.

All RCI liners have names ending with “of the Seas.”

The 4000-passenger Liberty OTS had her first drydock in 2011. During the refit, the ship received features first introduced on Oasis OTS, including large stage productions, the Royal Nursery, an outdoor movie screen, and a cupcake bakery. New technology upgrades included interactive HDTVs and digital deck plan systems with LCD touchscreens for navigation, ship information, and real-time updates.

Liberty OTS also features Freedom-class favorites such as Johnny Rockets, Ben and Jerry’s, the only ice rink at sea, rock-climbing wall, Royal Promenade, and Boleros Latin lounge.

In early 2016, Liberty underwent a major drydock revitalization. New additions included Splashaway Bay waterpark, The Perfect Storm water slides, and refreshed dining and bar venues.

Decks and Cabins

Liberty of the Seas staterooms (1839 total) include 122 Suites, 724 Balcony, 262 Oceanview, 168 Promenade View, and 563 Inside. Most cabins measure 150-190 ft² (14-18 m²). Most balconies are 65 ft² (6 m²). The largest accommodation is the Vista Suite (1210 ft² / 112 m² plus 805 ft² / 75 m² terrace). Wheelchair-accessible staterooms total 32.

The vessel has 15 decks, of which 14 are passenger-accessible and 8 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options – Food and Drinks

The three-deck-high Main Dining Room offers traditional assigned seating or My Time Dining (6:00–9:30 pm, with daily reservations). Guests choosing My Time Dining must prepay gratuities. Each level of the MDR is named after a Renaissance master—Rembrandt, Michelangelo, and Botticelli. A grand crystal chandelier dominates the space. Meals feature “Chef’s Signature Selection” dishes, alongside a separate Vitality menu for health-conscious guests. Vegetarian options are always available. Standards like salmon, sirloin steak, and chicken are also on the menu.

Full list of Liberty OTS restaurants and eateries:

• Rembrandt Restaurant (652-seat aft dining room, level 1; themed breakfasts with DreamWorks characters)
• Michelangelo Restaurant (500-seat aft dining room, level 2)
• Botticelli Restaurant (883-seat aft dining room, level 3)
• Windjammer Café buffet restaurant (774-seat; breakfast from 6:30 am, lunch 11:30 am–3:30 pm, dinner 6:30–9 pm)
• Chops Grille (104-seat specialty steakhouse; reservations recommended)
• Portofino Restaurant (100-seat Italian specialty venue)
• Johnny Rockets (84-seat retro-style burger bar)
• Sorrento’s Pizzeria (79-seat complimentary eatery)
• WipeOut Bar (20-seat complimentary burger counter)

Shipboard entertainment options – Fun and Sport

Liberty OTS offers nightly production shows at the Platinum Theater, including “In the Air,” a Cirque-style performance, and the Broadway musical “Saturday Night Fever” (since 2011). Studio B ice rink hosts ice shows, free with advance tickets. Other activities include comedians, karaoke, bingo, trivia, poolside contests, and wine tastings. Sports facilities include the FlowRider surf simulator, rock-climbing wall, mini-golf, and sports court on Deck 13.

Amenities include complimentary 24-hour room service, supervised youth programs, Internet/WiFi, and laundry services.

Full list of Liberty OTS lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues:

• Platinum Theatre (grand productions with dance, acrobatics, comedy, and music)
• Studio B (indoor ice rink for ice shows, cooking demos, and parties)
• Photo Gallery & Shop; BRITTO Art Gallery
• The Catacombs Disco & Nightclub; On Air Club (140-seat karaoke/sports bar); Star Lounge (fka Sphynx); The Centrum (7-deck atrium with aerial acrobatics); Next Cruise Lounge; Concierge Club (for suite guests and loyalty members); Seven Hearts card room (33 seats); Crown Lounge (fka Diamond Club); Viking Crown Lounge & Bar
• Schooner Bar (112-seat piano bar); Boleros Latin bar (77 seats); Connoisseur Cigar Lounge; Hoof & Claw English Pub; Vintages (wine bar); Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream; Cupcake Cupboard (bakery); Café Promenade (24-hour, with Starbucks specialty coffee); Champagne Bar; R Bar; Squeeze Bar; Sprinkles Ice Cream; Sky Bar; Plaza Bar; Olive or Twist (martini lounge); Cloud 9 Sports Bar
• Casino Royale (447 seats)
• Royal Caribbean Online (Internet center, 24-hour)
• Royal Promenade Boutiques: fashion, perfumes, jewelry, duty-free liquor, souvenirs, sportswear, and essentials
• Vitality at Sea Spa & Fitness Center; 7 Jacuzzis (2 cantilevered); 3 pools
• Solarium (adults-only pool and bar)
• Outdoor movie screen; Screening Room cinema (60 seats)
• Challengers Arcade; Fuel Teen Disco; The Living Room teen lounge; Royal Babies & Tots Nursery
• H2O Zone water park; Adventure Beach; Adventure Ocean kids’ club
• Sports Court (basketball, table tennis, golf simulator); Jogging Track; Mini Golf (Liberty Dunes); FlowRider surf simulator

The Royal Promenade is a duty-free shopping arcade with boutiques such as Fashion Boutique (handbags, apparel, Swarovski, Guess, sunglasses), Perfume Shop (luxury perfumes, cosmetics), The Shop (logo items, toys, gifts, essentials), Jewelry Shop, Port Merchants (general store with liquor, tobacco, snacks, books, and sundries), and Get Out There (sportswear, beachwear).

Planned 2026 drydock upgrades include a new Escape Room (replacing Skylight Chapel on Deck 15), redesigned pool areas, and refreshed dining venues. The Skylight Chapel was a 40-seat venue for weddings and services. The new Observatorium (Escape Room) will host team-based puzzle-solving adventures with a one-hour time limit.

Itineraries

Liberty of the Seas operates 7-day Western Caribbean cruises from Galveston, Texas. In summer, she sails from Bayonne, New Jersey, to Canada and Bermuda. Featured ports include Belize, Jamaica, Roatan, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel, Mexico.

Liberty OTS is the fleet’s 2nd Freedom-class liner, with sisterships Freedom and Independence. She was built in 2007 by Aker Finnyards Shipyard (Turku, Finland), later acquired by STX Europe (a subsidiary of South Korea’s STX Corporation). The ship’s godmother was Donnalea Madeley from Ontario, elected from about 2500 female travel agents who showed commitment to social causes. She was the first travel agent ever chosen for this role, traditionally reserved for VIPs. The christening ceremony was held at PortMiami on May 18, 2007.

The inaugural voyage was a 7-day Caribbean cruise starting May 19, 2007. Before arriving in Miami, Liberty OTS operated special pre-inaugural cruises: a Transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York, followed by a repositioning sailing from New York to Miami with calls at several US East Coast ports.

From 2011 to 2018, Liberty OTS featured the “DreamWorks Experience.” The ship is decorated in Art Nouveau style, highlighted by digital art installations from Miguel Chevalier, combining light projections on suspended canvases. Entertainment includes Royal Caribbean’s signature shows, Vegas-style productions, ice-skating, rock climbing, themed bars and lounges, and extensive modern facilities.

Liberty OTS refurbishment 2016 review

During her 2016 drydock (January 10 – February 6), Royal Caribbean added three waterslides on Deck 13 aft near the FlowRider. The Lido Deck 11 Aqua Park was redesigned as “Splashaway Bay,” a new kids-only water playground.

Liberty was the first Freedom-class ship to feature waterslides. The first RCI ship built with slides was Harmony of the Seas (2016), which debuted with four slides.

Key deck plan changes in 2016 included:

• (Deck 2) Three inside cabins removed (2405, 2403, 2401).
• (Deck 3) Catacombs Disco (218 seats, level 1) replaced with 19 new interior cabins. Four more interiors added near the Art Gallery (starboard). Bernini (port) and Velasquez (starboard) lounges converted into 10 new oceanview staterooms. Rembrandt Dining Room renamed “Main Dining Room” (level 1).
• (Deck 4) Catacombs Disco (level 2) replaced with Sabor Modern Mexican restaurant. Michelangelo Dining Room renamed “Main Dining Room” (level 2).
• (Promenade Deck 5) The Sphynx lounge renamed “Star Lounge.” Champagne Bar replaced with R-Bar. Botticelli Dining Room renamed “Main Dining Room” (level 3). Cupcake Cupboard (bakery) added.
• (Deck 6) One new inside cabin added forward (6137).
• (Deck 7) Five new inside cabins added, four in place of the Library (moved to Deck 9).
• (Deck 9) One new inside cabin added forward (9237). Library and Card Room relocated here. Concierge Club removed.
• (Lido Deck 11) H2O Zone replaced by Splashaway Bay water park. Portofino restaurant replaced with “Giovanni’s Table” (Italian).
• (Spa Deck 12 forward) New cabins added around ShipShape Spa: Q-Inside, Panoramic Oceanview (PF-Family Panoramic, P1-Larger, P2-Panoramic), and E2-Spa Balcony.
• (Deck 13) Liberty Dunes mini golf course and golf simulator replaced with Perfect Storm waterslides (Cyclone, Typhoon). Wipe Out! burger bar replaced with “Tidal Wave” (Boomerang slide). Slide opening was delayed until June 2016 due to design adjustments, including padding at impact zones.
• (Deck 14) Multipurpose rooms Cloud Nine (24 seats) and Seven Hearts (33 seats) replaced with Suite Lounge.
• Internet upgraded to VOOM high-speed service.

A total of 89 new cabins were added, including 26 Panoramic Oceanview staterooms (with floor-to-ceiling forward-facing windows) on Deck 12.

Liberty OTS refurbishment 2011 review

The 2011 drydock introduced the following upgrades:

• All staterooms renovated.
• “DreamWorks Experience” (Disney-themed entertainment) introduced.
• Royal Caribbean Nursery added on Deck 12.
• Giant outdoor movie screen installed at the main pool area (Deck 11).
• Vintages wine bar upgraded.
• BRITTO Art Gallery added on Deck 3.

The Theatre Lounge program was updated with complimentary DreamWorks 3D movies and the Broadway musical “Saturday Night Fever.”