How big is Liberty of the Seas?

She measures 155,889 gross tons and 339 m long, carrying 3,798 guests at double occupancy and around 1,360 crew.

Liberty of the Seas cruise ship at sea with water slides

Liberty of the Seas Cruise Ship Guide: Everything You Need to Know (2026–27)

Liberty of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's 154,407 ton Freedom Class ship, carrying around 4,546 guests, freshly Amplified in spring 2026 with Izumi, El Loco Fresh, Starbucks, The Lime & Coconut and a new escape room. After a summer in Southampton she moves to Galveston from 31 October 2026 for short Western Caribbean cruises.

We sailed the Amplified Liberty of the Seas for seven nights from Southampton in 2026, in a balcony cabin. Our honest verdict: the new venues are a real step up, but the ship still needs some work in places. Everything below is updated for the 2026–27 seasons.

Technical Specifications

Explore the engineering and operational data of the world's most iconic cruise vessels.

154,407 GT

Gross Tonnage

4,546 maximum

Passenger Capacity

1,360

Crew Size

2007

Year Built

Royal Caribbean

Cruise Line

Galveston

Home Port

Where Does Liberty of the Seas Sail in 2026–27?

Summer 2026 – Southampton, UK (no-fly cruises)

Five- to nine-night sailings from late May to October 2026, including Norwegian fjords, Northern Europe and Spain/France itineraries.
Final UK cruises: 3 October (7 nights – Cherbourg, A Coruña, Bilbao, Le Havre for Paris) and 10 October (6 nights – Stavanger and Oslo).

Transatlantic – 16 to 31 October 2026

A 15-night crossing from Southampton to Galveston, calling at Vigo, Lisbon and Funchal (Madeira), then eight sea days. A great option if you love sea days and want to try the ship at a lower nightly price.

Winter 2026–27 and beyond – Galveston, Texas

Four- and five-night Western Caribbean cruises from 31 October 2026, mainly to Cozumel and Costa Maya, with Roatán on some sailings.
Royal Caribbean has confirmed Liberty stays in Galveston through 2027, alongside Icon of the Seas from August 2027.
Royal Beach Club Cozumel is due to open in late 2026 – check whether your sailing includes it once it does.

What's Included on Liberty of the Seas?

Your Royal Caribbean fare includes:

Your cabin and daily housekeeping
The Main Dining Room, Windjammer buffet, Café Promenade, Sorrento's pizza and El Loco Fresh
Production shows, the ice show and live music
The Perfect Storm and Tidal Wave slides, FlowRider, mini golf, sports court and rock-climbing wall
Adventure Ocean kids' club and the teen space
Pools, whirlpools and the fitness centre

Not included: specialty restaurants (Izumi, Chops Grille, Giovanni's), Starbucks, alcohol and most soft drinks, WiFi, spa treatments and shore excursions.

Are tips included on Liberty of the Seas?

No. Royal Caribbean adds gratuities automatically each day: $18.50 per guest per day in non-suite cabins (including Junior Suites) and $21 per guest per day in suites. An 18% service charge is added to bar drinks and specialty dining. You can prepay gratuities before you sail to lock in the current rate. Compare every major line in our 2026 cruise gratuities guide

Is a drinks package worth it?

Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package covers cocktails, beer, wine, soft drinks and specialty coffee (but not Starbucks). Prices vary by sailing and are usually cheaper when bought before you cruise, so check your Cruise Planner for sales. It tends to pay off on sea days if you'll have more than five or six drinks a day; on a port-heavy itinerary it often doesn't. Everyone in the same cabin usually has to buy it.

Is Liberty of the Seas Family Friendly?

Yes – very. She is one of Royal Caribbean's best-value family ships, with Splashaway Bay for little ones, three big slides, a refreshed Adventure Ocean (now split into separate spaces for babies and juniors) and a teen area renamed Social040. Couples and adults will find quieter corners in the Solarium, Vintages wine bar and the specialty restaurants.

What Changed in the 2026 Amplification?

Liberty's Royal Amplification was planned for 2021 but postponed during the pandemic, so she was the last Freedom Class ship to get the modern venues her sisters already had. The spring 2026 refit finally closed that gap.

A Caribbean-style pool deck

The pool deck was redesigned with two Lime & Coconut bars, bright island décor, new whirlpools and bookable casitas (an extra charge).

New places to eat and drink

Izumi Hibachi & Sushi replaced Sabor Modern Mexican on Deck 4, near the Schooner Bar.
El Loco Fresh (free) on Deck 11 near Splashaway Bay, with Cantina Fresca margarita bar next door.
Starbucks is on Deck 4. Boleros is still there – early deck plans suggested Starbucks would replace it, but it didn't.

Escape Room and a bigger casino

Escape U: Art Studio – the new Royal Escape Room, entered through the Star Lounge on Deck 5, where the Connoisseur Club used to be.
Casino Royale on Deck 4 expanded into the old photo gallery space. The shore excursions desk and photo gallery moved to Deck 3, outside Studio B, and the On Air karaoke lounge has gone.

More cabins, less spa

More than 35 new cabins were added, replacing the Deck 2 Conference Centre and the Deck 10 Card Room, plus space taken from Adventure Ocean and the spa. The free steam rooms and saunas in the fitness centre were removed. Existing cabins got little more than a light refresh.

What didn't get added

There's no Playmakers sports bar – the casino expansion took the space it would have needed.

Liberty of the Seas Cabins and Suites

Cabin type, Approx. size, What you get

Interior 150–160 sq ft ,Two beds convertible to a queen; no window

Promenade-view interior1 50–160 sq ft, Bay window overlooking the Royal Promenade

Ocean view 160–180 sq ft, Window or porthole; some large family ocean views

Balcony 175–200 sq ft + balcony Private balcony, sofa, the most popular choice

Junior Suite 290 sq ft + balconyBigger room and bathroom with bath; standard gratuity rate

Grand Suite and above 380 sq ft upwards Suite perks, concierge lounge access on higher tiers

Royal Suite / Owner's Suite Largest on board Separate living area, top-tier suite benefits

Liberty of the Seas Restaurants

Included

Main Dining Room – three levels, open for breakfast, lunch on sea days and dinner.
Windjammer – the buffet, now with a handwashing station at the entrance.
El Loco Fresh – new in 2026, free tacos, burritos and nachos by the pool.
Café Promenade – sandwiches, pastries and snacks round the clock.
Sorrento's – pizza on the Royal Promenade.

Specialty (extra charge)

Izumi Hibachi & Sushi – new in 2026, teppanyaki tables and sushi; Royal Caribbean says it's the most popular restaurant in the fleet by volume.
Chops Grille – the steakhouse.
Giovanni's Italian Kitchen – family-style Italian.
Johnny Rockets – diner burgers and shakes [CHECK still on board post-Amplification].
Starbucks – new in 2026, not included in drinks packages.

Booking tip: Teppanyaki at Izumi sells out fast on short sailings. Book it in the Royal Caribbean app before you board, and pick an early slot on night one or two.

Shows and Nightlife on Liberty of the Seas

Boots and Blades – new in 2026, a country and western ice show in Studio B that replaced Encore! An Ice Spectacular. Seats fill fast, so arrive early.
Platinum Theatre – headline production shows (recent guests report Saturday Night Fever [CHECK current line-up]), plus comedians and guest entertainers.
Royal Promenade – parades, street parties and live music.

Best bars: The Lime & Coconut by day, Boleros for Latin music and dancing at night, the Schooner Bar for piano singalongs, and Vintages if you want a quieter glass of wine.

Insider Tips for Liberty of the Seas

Book Izumi and Boots and Blades early. Both are the hottest tickets on board.
Don't count on a free sauna. The complimentary steam room and saunas were removed in 2026.
Mexican food is still on board – Sabor has gone, but El Loco Fresh is free.
Prepay gratuities if you've booked well ahead – it locks in today's rate.
On the transatlantic, eight sea days in a row means pool loungers go early. A balcony is worth it on this one.

Liberty of the Seas FAQs

Where is Liberty of the Seas sailing now?

Liberty of the Seas sails from Southampton until 16 October 2026, when she crosses the Atlantic. From 31 October 2026 she is based in Galveston, Texas, sailing four- and five-night Western Caribbean cruises.

Is Liberty of the Seas sailing from Southampton in 2027?

No. Her sister Freedom of the Seas replaces her at Southampton from May to October 2027, while Liberty stays in Galveston.

What's new on Liberty of the Seas after the 2026 Amplification?

The 2026 refit added Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, El Loco Fresh, Starbucks, two Lime & Coconut bars, pool deck casitas, the Escape U: Art Studio escape room, an expanded casino, more than 35 new cabins and the Boots and Blades ice show.

Are tips included on Liberty of the Seas?

No. Royal Caribbean charges $18.50 per guest per day in non-suite cabins and $21 per guest per day in suites, added automatically unless you prepay.

Are drinks included on Liberty of the Seas?

Water, basic tea and coffee, and some juices are included. Alcohol, soft drinks and specialty coffee cost extra unless you buy a drinks package.

Is WiFi free on Liberty of the Seas?

No. WiFi is a paid add-on through Royal Caribbean's Voom internet packages, which are usually cheaper if bought before you sail.

Does Liberty of the Seas have water slides?

Yes. She has Tidal Wave, the first boomerang-style slide at sea, plus The Perfect Storm racer slides, Splashaway Bay for younger children and a FlowRider surf simulator.

Is Liberty of the Seas adults only?

No. Liberty of the Seas is a family ship with a kids' club, teen area and water slides, though the Solarium and specialty restaurants offer quieter, more adult spaces.

What's the difference between Liberty and Freedom of the Seas?

They are near-identical Freedom Class sisters. Both are now Amplified with Izumi and The Lime & Coconut, but venue layouts differ for example, Liberty kept Vintages rather than turning it into a non-smoking casino as on Freedom.