Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas is Back Sailing After Major Changes in 5-Week Dry Dock

Royal Caribbean’s second Freedom-class ship is now back carrying passengers after a 5-week dry dock that gave the ship some major upgrades.

During her dry dock in France, Liberty of the Seas received her Royal Amplification which included a new pool deck, several new restaurants and bars, an updated spa and fitness center, and other enhancements that are giving the ship that fresh new vibe.

In April, Cruise Fever reported that three Royal Caribbean ships would be in dry dock at the same time: Ovation of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, and Liberty of the Seas.

Following the mid-May return of Harmony of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas has officially wrapped up its stay in Brest, France, making it the final ship to emerge from dry dock and start carrying passengers again.

Pictures of the Newly Renovated Liberty of the Seas:

What’s IN and What’s OUT

To make room for these upgrades, several public spaces were completely transformed. Here is a look at what was added and what had to go to make it happen:

• IN: The Royal Escape Room / OUT: The Connoisseur Club – The cigar lounge on Deck 5 is gone, making way for a brand-new, high-tech puzzle concept. Royal Caribbean creates some amazing escape rooms, so I can’t wait to check this one out.
• IN: Izumi Teppanyaki / OUT: Sabor Modern Mexican – The specialty Mexican spot on Deck 4 was swapped out for Izumi, bringing the crowd-favorite dinner-and-a-show hibachi experience to Royal Caribbean cruisers who truly love this eatery.
• IN: Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen – Italian dining gets a minor tweak on board as Giovanni’s Table gets replaced with the newer Italian concept.
• IN: Starbucks – The Royal Promenade finally features a standalone, full-service Starbucks, making those early morning disembarkations a little more bearable. This replaces Boleros lounge.
• IN: El Loco Fresh – While Sabor was removed, fans of Mexican flavors can still get their fix at El Loco Fresh, which is a complimentary poolside spot serving up quick burritos and tacos.
• IN: New Photo & Shore Excursions Area / OUT: On Air – The ship’s dedicated On Air lounge was removed to create a completely modernized photo and excursion hub.

Reimagined Pool Deck and Space Refreshes

Up on deck, cruisers will immediately notice a new resort-style pool deck vibe. The pool deck has been redesigned with a Caribbean-style, multi-level bar: The Lime & Coconut.

The entire area has been refreshed with vibrant colors and private casitas available for rent.

Inside the ship, the Casino Royale layout received a refresh to update the overall gaming layout.

For guests looking to either relax or work out during their cruise, the Vitality Spa and Fitness Center was refreshed with new equipment and modernized treatment rooms. The kids and teens spaces also received an upgrade with a completely redesigned youth program layout.

68 Brand New Staterooms Added

Royal Caribbean also added 68 brand-new staterooms to the ship. This was achieved by repurposing a few other spaces that were not used as much, including the former card room and conference center.

Sections of the youth areas and spa spaces were also reconfigured to fit the new cabins, adding more capacity to the ship for its summer season.

Prior to the ship’s recent drydock, Liberty of the Seas was listed with a capacity of 3,798 at double occupancy and 4,960 at maximum capacity.

Current Liberty of the Seas Itinerary

Fresh out of dry dock, the amplified vessel has officially kicked off its European summer season. Liberty of the Seas departed Southampton, England on May 31 for a 7-day, round-trip Spain and Portugal cruise.

The ship is currently at sea making its way to Vigo, Spain, followed by stops in Lisbon, Portugal, and Bilbao, Spain, before returning to Southampton on June 7.