Liberty of the Seas Review
RCCL Casino Royale players program DIMINISHED comps.
Rating by category
Additional details
Travel dates September 10, through September 17 2017 out of Galveston, Texas.
First, I like to state that I am a Crown and Anchor Diamond level member, but I also enjoy gambling and the perks (comps) that should come with gaming at any casino. The Casino Royale management has apparently made the decision with its major changes to its comp program. First, the table minimums are now $10 and $15, except for a two hour period from 11 am to 1 pm on sea days only with $5 table minimums. The next big change was the points levels needed to qualify for a stateroom. Points are accumulated by your table play and/or your slot play, it takes approximately $4 to earn ONE POINT, towards a complementary stateroom. It now takes 2400 points versus 1600 points to qualify for an inside stateroom; it now takes 3600 points versus 2400 points for an ocean view stateroom and it now 4800 points versus 3600 points for a balcony stateroom. The casino staff was excellent, and tired to make the casino experience memorable, but after the two hour of $5 minimum on the table games, more than half of tables emptied out and the dealers were just standing around at an empty table NOT getting any TIPS. Perhaps someone from the Casino Royale management should take a Carnival cruise casino and learn how to really run a successful casino players program.
In looking at the wine list, I noted that the least expensive single glass of wine was $12, and liquor now runs $10 or more with the tip being automatically added onto the bill. Thus RCCL pushes its ultimate drink package that can cost almost $900 per couple, which appears to encourage those on the package to drink to excess.
Cabin Review
Oceanview Stateroom
excellent cabin nice big round window, with a standard bathroom and the round shower stall. My cabin steward, Willem Jackson, provided EXCELLENT service through out the cruise.
Port Reviews
Galveston
Arrived at George WH Bush International Airport and it is a one and one half hour bus ride to the Galveston TX cruise port. The ride can take longer depend upon the usually heavy traffic. TX DOT does highway road work SEVEN DAYS a week so be prepaired for delay. You will arrive at the port anywhere between 12pm and 2pm.
Grand Cayman (Georgetown)
Took the tender in and just walked around the shops near the pier.
Falmouth
This is a cruise stop that was built by the cruise lines as Ocho Rios and Montego Bay became too dangerous for cruise passengers. This "compound" is fenced off from the rest or the village. It has the usual jewelry stores that you are encouraged to visit by the cruise line. There really aren't much local crafts, just a lot of imported "stuff". It is very clean and easy to walk around. I stopped into a cigar shop thinking I might have a Cuban cigar, and almost put one in my mouth, until I learned that this five inch cigar cost $32. I get my cigars at JR Cigars.com, not Cuban but more reasonable in price.