Day 1 Embarkation Day The Liberty Overview Carnival Liberty -- the line's fourth Conquest-class vessel, and the first to sail a full season in Europe -- won't surprise folks familiar with the Conquest-style layout, public spaces and cabin amenities. As with its siblings, the ship features a plethora of themed bars and lounges, four restaurants, two main pool areas, a spa and fitness facility, a sprawling casino, and Harry's, a reservations-only supper club. Carnival Liberty boasts a high ratio of private balconies, a library, an ornate three-deck theater and a series of shops, and offers teens their own nightclub (which is uniquely located along the promenade with the rest of the "adult" fare). It's pretty safe stuff. On our recent inaugural voyage on Carnival Liberty, this occasional (rather than habitual) Carnival cruiser found the experience genuinely exceptional in just about every possible way. Service was outstanding, both personal and efficient. Our standard balcony cabin was charming, low-key and spacious. The entertainment, particularly at night, was so varied and offered so many options -- Vegas floor shows, jazz, the fabulous "piano man" who packed in the crowds with his group sing-alongs -- that they kept us up way, way, way past our normal bedtime. Cuisine definitely exceeded my expectations, particularly at Harry's Supper Club -- not to mention Emile's buffet, the fish-and-chips bar, the sushi station and even the pizzeria (which made fabulous thin-crust pies). And the artisan-themed public spaces designed by Carnival's uber-interior architect Joe Farcus were much more sophisticated than I expected: the colorful glass lamps along the walls of the art nouveau Emile's; the elegance of the Antiquarian Library, with its book-binding theme; the Cabinet Room, a bar for jazz and cigars that was downright low key in its elegance; and the genuinely lovely Flowers bar, which literally seemed a breath of fresh air with its garden pastel watercolors tucked behind iron gate like fixtures. And yet, in an era in which some cruise lines are abandoning long-occupied niches to broaden their audiences -- and, in the process, forgetting all about what made them special in the first place -- Carnival is making no such mistake with Carnival Liberty. The line, which has already successfully evolved from a party-hearty budget option to one that's equally geared to singles, families and seniors (no easy feat there), is simply tweaking its well-established formula. Travelers are becoming more sophisticated and discerning across the board and Carnival, especially through its newer ships, is simply raising its bar to meet the new demand via coffee bars, supper clubs and sushi stations. Dining On Carnival Liberty, the two main dining rooms offer the traditional set-tablemates, set-time dinner scenario (and are open-seating at breakfast and lunch). The Silver Olympian Restaurant is the nicer one in that it's located aft and so is framed by three walls of windows; the Golden Olympian is located in a more central spot. Both offer the same menus. At dinner, low-carb and vegetarian fare is offered as well as Spa Carnival choices. The two-level Emile's, a buffet venue, offers hot and cold buffet fare for breakfast and lunch (though I would advise folks in the mood for eggs to take a turn at the omelet station rather than eat the pre-made stuff). The food itself is displayed mostly in cafeteria-style lines, with desserts (and sometimes salads) occupying a kiosk of its own. A separate station also offers deli sandwiches; a "Taste of the Nations" station offers varying international cuisines. Don't miss Fish & Chips; located on the second level of the Lido, it's easy to bypass, but the offerings -- from calamari salad to scrumptious fried oysters -- were delightful and prepared upon request. Adjacent to the Lido, in the aft pool area, is the much-praised pizzeria and, on the opposite side, a counter for burgers, hot dogs and the like. On the Promenade, two gustatory highlights include the Jardin Cafe (the coffee was great and the pastries and deserts ... well, let's just say they were irresistible) and the Origami Sushi Bar, adjacent (open evenings only). Harry's Supper Club, a reservations-only gourmet experience, levies one of the highest service tabs in cruising -- $30 per person -- and it's worth every penny. Harry's specializes in quality cuts of filet mignon (and a 24-ounce porterhouse), lobster, veal chops, lamb chops and Chilean sea bass, and its wine list is definitely one of the industry's most intriguing. A combo performs during dinner (and, whether dining at Harry's or not, the venue has a lovely bar). We tried Liberty's 24-hour room service numerous times (and even found ourselves ordering tuna sandwiches at 3 a.m., testing the actual around-the-clock quality of the operation) and it was exceptional. Items are fairly limited to salads and sandwiches (and continental breakfast, unless residing in a suite), but they were fresh and well-made. And if you're still not sated, Carnival's one of the few lines that still offer the occasional and splendiferous midnight buffet -- the Chocolate Extravaganza is worth missing a few hours sleep. Public Rooms On Carnival Liberty, every room has not only a theme that's tied in with the artisan scheme but also a story -- which gives bars and other spots a nice added element of interest. The center of the activity is the ship's nine-deck-high atrium; here, the Grand Villa Garden features ironwork over lovely, lighthearted flowers in pastels. Another room worth appreciating is the Venetian Palace, the ship's main theater, using as its major design element Murano glass made in Venice. There are also colorful tiles and chandeliers ... and check out the ceiling, which is dotted with the famous Venetian Carnival masks. Other public rooms include the Antiquarian Library (lovely as it, is the book selection is pretty meager so you'll want to bring your own supply); the Victoria Lounge, the secondary theater, which is genuinely elegant with its theme being English-style majolica glassware; and the Empress Room, a tiny gem of a room with a fake fireplace whose design revolves around Chinese Cloisonne. Carnival Liberty has a hard-to-find Internet cafe (it's tucked away behind the Cabinet Bar) and the number of computers is underwhelming -- there were lines on our trip. The good news is the ship is very Wi-Fi-friendly; I'd advise you to bring your own laptop. Cabins Carnival Liberty's cabins occupy the usual Carnival range (no surprises here), and are pleasantly larger than industry average from insides on up. In cabins from the inside category to standard balcony and including picture window, decor is a pleasant amalgam of peachy and soft yellow tones. Insides come with chairs; all others have a seating area with a sofa (some are pull-outs) and coffee table. One way in which Carnival distinguishes itself is by offering beds that convert from twins to a king (other cruise lines use more narrow twins that, doubled, equal a queen). Beds are outfitted with soft linens and duvets. On the technology front, beyond in-cabin wireless Internet access, there's an interactive television system that offers everything from pay-per-view movies to reservation capabilities. Color televisions with remotes, safes (Carnival recommends you use a credit card to lock them instead of your room key, making it impossible to secure that particular credit card), filled mini-fridges (price cards are offered), and phones with voice mail fill out the rest of the amenities. Storage was excellent. All bathrooms in these categories feature only showers (with the type of shower curtain that seems to know how to snake its way around you; make sure it's tucked inside or you'll flood the floor). Mirrors above the sink are flanked with shelves for toiletries. A sampling of free items is offered (it changes; ours included razors, dental floss and the dubious innovation of Crest orange-flavored toothpaste -- though, since we forgot ours, we weren't too choosy). Showers dispense gel and shampoo from anchored containers. Towels provided were not only generous in quantity but also quite nice in quality. Balconies, for those standard cabins that have them, are pretty shallow but the furnishings are nice: one mesh adjustable chair, one regular chair and a small table. This ship, likes it siblings, offers family-friendly accommodations. Most notable are those with floor-to-ceiling windows. Suites are not quite twice the size of balcony cabins, but plenty roomy. Beyond the extra space, there are more bells and whistles, such as bathrooms with tubs and televisions with VCR's. Entertainment Frankly, the three-deck-high Venetian Palace is such a spectacular theater -- with its Murano glass, funky jester-like patterns on the chairs and wild Venetian masks on the ceiling -- that just walking in gives you a buzz. On Carnival Liberty, three mainstay shows are presented, all in the Vegas mindset. These include "Rock Down Broadway," "Wonderful World" and "Singin' with the Big Band." Introduced in a very low-key fashion is Carnival Cruise Lines' first-ever outdoor movie screen. Carnival's Seaside Theater is similar to that developed by Princess Cruises; towering over the main pool deck is a 270-square-ft. screen that thrums with programming day and night. During the day, the screen played music videos and basically took over the role of a band, while at night a variety of films were played, both family-oriented such as "Shrek" and retro-hits like "Titanic"; late in the evenings, concerts featuring performers such as Tom Jones were shown. Alas, it seemed as if Carnival wasn't really sure how to best handle the Seaside Theater on our voyage -- deck chairs were stacked high, there wasn't any genuine incentive to check it out (whereas Princess offers steamer rugs, free popcorn and a drinks service) and as a result, the area was pretty underutilized at night. Far more popular is the indoor Promenade, an avenue of sorts that connects most of the bars, lounges and entertainment options. From here, you can check out the sports-themed Gloves Bar (which was rarely crowded and had the most comfortable leather chairs!); Hot & Cool, the disco whose decor celebrates the art of tattoos; Paparazzi, a wine bar that sits in a crook in the hallway and, as such, is the best people-watching spot onboard (another good place was the Flower Bar, in the lobby). Piano Man, which can get quite raucous as people sing along to the best of 60's, 70's, and 80's pop music; and the Jardin Cafe for after-dinner noshing. Cabinet, the ship's cigar bar and jazz venue, is tucked away a deck below but devotees managed to find it anyway. On the other hand, places like the Stage, billed as offering live music and karaoke, and the Empress Bar in the Club Lounge, were as desolate as graveyards. During the day, Carnival features the usual wacky antics along with bingo, bad-hair-day seminars and shopping in its duty-free emporiums. Fitness & Recreation The only big downer on Carnival Liberty is its main pool area. Oddly, the centerpiece of the main area, here called "Tivoli," is two big whirlpools -- the pool itself is tucked off to the side, literally under an overhang. It didn't inspire visions of wacky pool games, that's for sure. Seating is terraced so people are spread out all over the place -- I thought the configuration was confusing. Above the main pool area is Carnival's famous slide. Much more appealing was the pool aft. The Versailles pool is center stage with two big whirlpools off to the side. This area has a retractable roof in case of inclement area and also has the advantage of being the site of both the grill and the pizzeria (plus a nice bar) so there's good reason to plant yourself down and spend the day. The Spa Carnival health and fitness center pretty much features the usual (an expansive fitness center with a separate workout area; some classes, like Pilates and yoga require a $10 fee) and a funky waterfall with a Jacuzzi. The spa itself is pleasant if a tad barren in decor (no extravagant Thai or Santa Fe desert themes). The Beauty Salon has one wall lined by windows -- a perfect scenic place for folks getting pedicures and manicures. Our ginger/lime salt scrub and massage was exceptional ... and there was no Steiner product pitch afterwards! You can buy all the products you desire, though, in the spa's stand-alone boutique. There's a jogging track. Family Camp Carnival's facility on Carnival Liberty encompasses some 4,200 square ft. First up is an enclosed play area -- features include an arts-and-crafts center, a video wall, a soft play area, a computer lab, PlayStation 2 consoles and a library. There's also a wading pool just outside. Carnival divides kids into four age groups, and has introduced more edu-tainment offerings into its programs. Among them are Sea Notes, a musical program; H2Ocean, which focuses on hands-on science projects; EduCruise, which features interactive projects on ports of call; and ExerSeas, a series of recreational and fitness activities. Camp Carnival also offers activities that involve family members. Most impressive was the ship's teen disco. Rather than lump the teens with the rest of the kids, its high-energy Without Batteries disco is in a central location right on the promenade -- a few doors down from the adult disco. The club itself looked quite cool -- it's themed around antique toymaking before batteries were necessary -- but high-tech toys aren't lacking. The dance floor was outfitted with special sensitive light panels that recreate your footprints as you walk across. Other features include a big juice bar in the center, multiple video screens, flashing lights and arcade games. Next door is another area of arcade games, this one open to kids (and adults) of all ages. Another cool feature: Teen-targeted shore experiences are offered. Group babysitting is available; cost is $6 per hour for the first child, $4 per hour for each additional kid in the same family.