Carnival Liberty in one read
Carnival Liberty joined the fleet in 2005, and among her four Conquest-class sisters, she's the one with the numbers to back up a genuine "top of the class" claim: a 4.5 out of 5 Cruise Critic member rating, tied with Carnival Freedom for the highest in the group. She also happens to be the ship Carnival's Fun Ship 2.0 program reached first, back in October 2011 — years ahead of Freedom's 2019 refit.
She sails longer itineraries than most of her sisters — 6- to 8-night Caribbean weeks from New Orleans, with an occasional 14-night sailing — and a 2025 dry dock added a new WaterWorks aqua park, keeping her feeling current despite her age.
Fit scores, not review scores — a lower relaxation number means she suits a quiet trip less well, not that she's a lesser ship.
Families and couples who want a full week (or longer) in the Caribbean on the highest-rated ship in her class, from a New Orleans homeport.
You want a short 3- to 4-night getaway — that's Conquest or Glory's lane — or the very newest overall refit, which currently belongs to Conquest.
Is Liberty your ship?
Four quick questions and we'll give you an honest read on whether she fits — not a sales pitch.
Where she sails
Durable pattern, not a fixed schedule — verify your exact sailing.
New Orleans, on longer weeks. Liberty runs a mix of 6-night Western and 8-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries, plus at least one 14-night Southern Caribbean and Panama sailing on the 2026 calendar — genuinely longer than the short getaways her Conquest and Glory sisters typically run.
No relocation has been announced for Liberty as of this writing, unlike her sister Valor, whose 2027 move to Mobile is confirmed.
Onboard: her features & standouts
A brand-new water park and the class's best review scores to back her up. Tap through.
Liberty is tied for the top Cruise Critic member score in her class at 4.5 out of 5, despite being the first of the five to get her Fun Ship 2.0 refit, back in 2011. Her 2025 WaterWorks addition shows Carnival has kept investing in her well past that original refit.
Cabins & suites
What's aboard
- Standard interior, ocean view, balcony and Carnival's usual suite tiers.
- A 2005 build refreshed substantially in 2025 — newer-feeling than her age alone would suggest.
Worth knowing
- There's no Havana, Family Harbor or SkyRide on this ship — all later-class features.
- Carnival markets her at about 110,000 gross tons (110,320 registry), carrying roughly 2,974 guests at double occupancy.
Her sisters
Same stretched-Destiny platform, four different paths since — here's how her sisters compare.
Carnival Conquest
Miami, and currently the freshest overall refit in the class as of February 2026.
Sister shipCarnival Glory
Port Canaveral, with the longest-standing water park in the class.
Sister shipCarnival Valor
New Orleans (moving to Mobile in 2027), with an equally fresh 2025 water park.
Sister shipCarnival Freedom
The one built at a different shipyard, tied with Liberty for the class's top rating.
The honest read
Liberty's 4.5 out of 5 Cruise Critic member rating ties her with Freedom for the highest in the class, and it's a genuinely strong score for an 18-plus-year-old ship. She doesn't appear in Cruise Critic's official best-or-worst Carnival ships feature at either end — like her sisters, she's simply outside that particular editorial conversation, despite the strong member score.
The honest read: there isn't much daylight between Liberty and Freedom on paper — both tie at 4.5 — so the real decision between them usually comes down to homeport and itinerary style rather than which one is "better." Liberty offers longer New Orleans-based Caribbean weeks; Freedom adds occasional Mediterranean and transatlantic sailings from Port Canaveral.
Our verdict
Liberty is an easy recommendation if you want a full week or longer in the Caribbean on the class's top-rated ship — her review scores back up the choice, and her 2025 WaterWorks keeps her feeling current. New Orleans as a homeport is a real plus if you're anywhere within driving distance of the Gulf Coast.
Book her over Freedom if a straightforward Caribbean week appeals more than an occasional transatlantic or Mediterranean sailing. Her godmother, actress Mira Sorvino, christened her in Civitavecchia, Italy in 2005.
Ask Seabound about Liberty
Tell us about your trip.
Homeport, group size, kids' ages, budget and length — and we'll tell you honestly whether Liberty is your ship or another Carnival fits better.
Instant answers from our guides · always verified against current Carnival information before you book.
Quick answers
Is Carnival Liberty a good ship?
Yes — she holds a 4.5 out of 5 Cruise Critic member rating, tied with Carnival Freedom for the highest in the Conquest class. She doesn't appear in Cruise Critic's official best-or-worst Carnival ships feature in either direction, but her member score is genuinely strong.
Does Carnival Liberty have a water park?
Yes — WaterWorks was added in a 2025 dry dock, making it one of the newest water parks in the Conquest class alongside Valor's.
Where does Carnival Liberty sail from?
New Orleans, on longer 6- to 8-night Caribbean itineraries, plus at least one 14-night Southern Caribbean and Panama sailing on the 2026 calendar.
Liberty or Freedom — which is better?
Both tie at 4.5 out of 5 on Cruise Critic's member ratings, so it's less about which is objectively better and more about fit — Liberty runs straightforward Caribbean weeks from New Orleans, while Freedom adds occasional Mediterranean and transatlantic sailings from Port Canaveral.
What's Carnival Liberty's steakhouse called?
Diamonds Steakhouse — a name unique to this ship among her Conquest-class sisters.