Liberty of the Seas

Liberty of the Seas to offer new programs in ship's debut.

Royal Caribbean International's newest ship the Liberty of the Seas will introduce new health and wellness programs, "adventure" weddings and enhanced offerings for its youngest guests.

The vessel will employ sister ship Freedom of the Seas' innovations such as the FlowRider surf machine and cantilevered whirlpools, but the new offerings onboard the Liberty of the Seas are all about enrichment, according to the cruise line.

When the ship debuts in May, its Vitality program will promote an invigorating and rejuvenating vacation, through a balanced regimen of food, fitness, spa and shore excursion offerings that include Tai Chi, acupuncture and wellness seminars.

Its Explorer Weddings will be an "alternative and adventurous extension" of the line's existing wedding and vow renewal program. Guests can get hitched on an Alaskan glacier, in a hot-air balloon, while surfing on the Liberty's FlowRider, or while SCUBA diving on the ocean floor.

For its youngest customers, Royal Caribbean is introducing the Crown & Anchor Society Youth Program that will offer frequent-cruiser rewards. The ship will also have an enhanced Adventure Ocean program with new features by the Adventure Theater by Camp Broadway, a New York City children's theater group, designed to introduce children and teens to theater, music, and dance, and Scratch DJ Academy, which will host classes that will put kids on turntables.

The stellar new ship – sharing the title of the world’s largest cruise ship with her hugely successful sister-ship, Freedom of the Seas – will be differentiated by her design and décor showcasing spectacular artwork commissioned by the cruise line. The Centrum and Royal Promenade feature dramatic artwork by Miguel Chevalier, renowned French artist and pioneer of interactive digital art. Through the use of color, video and light projection, guests will experience art that is vibrant, ever-changing and immersive. Chevalier’s creations are a part of a distinctive theme, entitled “Illusion or Reality”, that enlivens all of the public spaces aboard Liberty. In addition, guests will experience the Renaissance-themed dining room, the night club inspired by Norwegian mythology and the star-studded Casino Royale depicting Hollywood classic films.

Liberty of the Seas and sister-ship, Freedom of the Seas, will alternate between 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, with Liberty departing on Saturdays (from May 19) and Freedom on Sundays from Miami.  Both itineraries include stops at Royal Caribbean’s private destination Labadee, Haiti, before returning to Miami.  Liberty’s Western Caribbean itinerary calls in Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Montego Bay, Jamaica; while the Eastern Caribbean itinerary calls in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten, allowing for a third day at sea to take advantage of all the ship has to offer.

The two Freedom-class ships will be joined by a third, Independence of the Seas, when she debuts in Europe in May 2008.