One of Royal Caribbean’s biggest selling points is how much there is to do onboard, and Liberty of the Seas certainly isn’t short of activities, entertainment venues or places to spend an evening.
Liberty of the Seas entertainment ranges from full theatre productions and ice shows to live music, quizzes, karaoke, game shows and parties around the ship. During the day, there’s even more to choose from, including the FlowRider, waterslides, rock climbing, mini golf, ice skating, pools and organised activities.
I sailed on Liberty of the Seas on back-to-back cruises from Southampton, first for two nights and then for seven nights. That gave me plenty of time to try the different venues and see how the entertainment changed between a short cruise and a longer sailing.
There was certainly enough to keep me occupied, particularly during the day. But the evening programme was actually one of the areas where Liberty fell below my expectations. The ice show was excellent and Saturday Night Fever was a good production, but beyond the two main shows, I found the programme more limited and repetitive than I had expected from Royal Caribbean.
In this guide, I’ll take you through the main entertainment venues on Liberty of the Seas, the shows I watched, what you need to book, what’s included and the different things you can do onboard during the day and evening.
Watch My Full Liberty of the Seas Ship Tour
You can also watch my full Liberty of the Seas ship tour to see the entertainment venues, pool decks, bars, restaurants and public areas around the ship. I take you deck by deck from the top of Liberty of the Seas down to the lower public decks, including Studio B, the Platinum Theatre, Star Lounge, Boleros, Schooner Bar, Hoof & Claw and the outdoor activity areas.
What Is the Entertainment Like on Liberty of the Seas?
There are two slightly different answers to this question. If you’re asking whether there is plenty to do on Liberty of the Seas, then absolutely. This is a very active ship. You’ve got the FlowRider surf simulator, three major waterslides, a rock-climbing wall, mini golf, sports court, pools, hot tubs and the ice rink. There are also quizzes, game shows, karaoke, live music, Royal Promenade events and organised activities throughout the cruise.
If you’re asking specifically about the evening show programme, my experience was more mixed. Royal Caribbean has a very strong reputation for entertainment, and I went onto Liberty with quite high expectations after previously sailing on Independence of the Seas.
The standout on Liberty was the ice show, Boots and Blades. The skating was excellent, the costumes were good and it remains impressive to sit on a cruise ship and watch a full ice production. Saturday Night Fever was also a good production. It’s a full-length musical rather than a short cruise ship compilation show, and the cast worked hard throughout.
Where Liberty felt weaker was everything surrounding those two productions. Across my back-to-back cruises, there was only one other main headline act that really stood out. The Wild Boys were excellent, but they appeared on both my two-night and seven-night cruises, so I ended up seeing the same performance again.
There was also a juggler and another variety-style performance, but guest entertainers weren’t scheduled every night. That meant some evenings felt surprisingly quiet for Royal Caribbean.
There was still live music and plenty happening in the smaller venues, but after several nights some of that started to feel repetitive too. I’ve had stronger entertainment programmes on Iona and Sky Princess, which surprised me, and I also thought the entertainment on Independence of the Seas was better.
That doesn’t mean Liberty is a boring ship. Far from it. It just means I’d separate the huge range of activities onboard from the strength of the evening headline programme, because they weren’t the same thing on my cruises.
Do You Need to Book Entertainment on Liberty of the Seas?
One of the easier things about Liberty of the Seas is that you generally don’t need to book the main entertainment before you go. That makes it quite different from some larger ships where theatre reservations become part of your pre-cruise planning.
There was usually plenty of room in the Platinum Theatre on my cruises, although I would still arrive before the performance starts if you want a good choice of seats.
Studio B was different. The ice shows were some of the most popular entertainment on both cruises and the venue filled much more quickly. If you particularly want to see Boots and Blades, I would get there early rather than arriving just before the performance starts.
The same applies to some of the smaller live music venues. Boleros and the Hoof & Claw could both become busy when popular performers were playing. Because these spaces don’t have the capacity of the main theatre, finding somewhere to sit could be difficult if you arrived late.
So while reservations generally aren’t the issue on Liberty, timing definitely is. If there’s something you really want to watch, check the daily programme and arrive early.
Platinum Theatre
The Platinum Theatre is Liberty of the Seas’ main theatre and sits forward across Decks 3 and 4. This is where you’ll find the larger production shows, visiting entertainers, singers, comedians and other headline performances scheduled during the cruise.
The main production I saw here was Saturday Night Fever. Unlike some cruise ship production shows that combine different songs around a theme, this is a full musical production based around the music and story associated with Saturday Night Fever. I thought it was a good show and the cast worked hard throughout however it wasn’t the best show I’ve seen.
Saturday Night Fever is also generally considered more suitable for teenagers and adults, roughly ages 13 and over, rather than younger children. Younger children can attend, but the show includes some mature themes, sexual innuendo and mild adult language, so it’s worth being aware of that before deciding whether it’s suitable for your familyIt’s also may
The Platinum Theatre was also used for the guest entertainers on my sailings, including The Wild Boys, who were one of the best guest acts I saw onboard.
Access wasn’t a problem on my cruises. There was normally enough room, particularly if you arrived with a reasonable amount of time before the show. I wouldn’t feel the need to sit in the theatre extremely early, but I also wouldn’t arrive after the lights have started going down and expect to get your first choice of seat.
Studio B and Boots and Blades
Studio B is one of Liberty of the Seas’ most distinctive entertainment venues. It’s on Deck 3 and contains the ship’s ice rink. This is one of the things that still makes Royal Caribbean feel different from many other cruise lines. Even after sailing on several Royal Caribbean ships, I still think having a proper ice show at sea is impressive.
The main ice production during my cruises was Boots and Blades, and this was easily my favourite show on Liberty of the Seas. The skating was excellent, the costumes worked well and the production made good use of the relatively compact Studio B space. Even if you don’t normally go to cruise ship shows, this is the one I would recommend making time for.
Studio B is also used for other activities and entertainment depending on the cruise programme, including opportunities for passengers to use the ice rink. One thing worth remembering is that Studio B fills much faster than the Platinum Theatre. If there is a particular performance you want to see, arrive early.
It’s also worth knowing that you access Studio B from Deck 3. Although the venue extends lower into the ship, you don’t enter it from Deck 2.
Star Lounge
The Star Lounge is towards the front of Deck 5 and is one of Liberty of the Seas’ larger secondary entertainment spaces. It’s used for a wide range of events and activities throughout the cruise rather than having one specific purpose. Earlier in the evening, there can be quite a few family activities here, while at other times you may find bingo, quizzes, games, art talks and other organised events.
It also gives Liberty another indoor entertainment space away from the Royal Promenade and main theatre. That can work particularly well on a longer cruise, when not every evening revolves around seeing a theatre show.
Boleros
Boleros is on Deck 4 and is Liberty of the Seas’ Latin-style bar and entertainment venue. There had been some speculation before the refit that Boleros might disappear, but it remains onboard.
During the evening, this is one of the places to look for live music and dancing. The atmosphere can be lively, particularly when a popular performer is playing, but that also creates one of the main problems I found with Liberty’s smaller entertainment venues.
There isn’t unlimited seating. Boleros filled quickly on my cruises, and unless you arrived early it could be difficult to find somewhere to sit. That made spontaneous evenings slightly harder than I expected. Instead of wandering around the ship, hearing some music and deciding to stay, there were nights when you really needed to pick a venue early and secure a seat.
If there is a performer listed in Boleros that you particularly want to hear, I would plan around it rather than assuming you’ll find somewhere to sit later.
Hoof & Claw Pub
Hoof & Claw is Liberty of the Seas’ British-style pub on the Royal Promenade. It’s one of the main smaller venues for live music during the evening, and it can become very popular when a particular performer is playing.
The pub was also occasionally used to show major football matches during my cruises. Liberty of the Seas doesn’t have a Playmakers Sports Bar, so if there was a big match on, Hoof & Claw was one of the places showing it. For me, though, it didn’t really work as a sports venue in the same way as Playmakers does on ships like Independence of the Seas. Hoof & Claw is simply too small for that purpose, particularly when a lot of passengers want to watch the same match.
Like Boleros, its smaller size means the atmosphere can be excellent when something is happening, but seating becomes an issue when a lot of passengers have the same idea. This was one of the venues where arriving early made a noticeable difference. If you’re happy standing or moving on after a while, that may not matter. But if you want to settle down for the evening, listen to the live music or watch a particular match, I would get there early.
Schooner Bar
The Schooner Bar is on Deck 4 and has the nautical styling found across Royal Caribbean’s fleet. It’s one of the more relaxed entertainment spaces on Liberty of the Seas, with a mix of trivia, quizzes, piano music and smaller activities depending on the daily programme.
Because it sits close to the Platinum Theatre and Casino Royale, it also works well as somewhere to stop for a drink before or after another event. The atmosphere is much more casual than the main theatre, so if you prefer quizzes, live piano music or a quieter evening rather than a full production show, it’s one of the venues worth checking in the daily schedule.
Casino Royale
Casino Royale is on Deck 4 and was expanded as part of Liberty of the Seas’ recent refit. The larger space now has more slot machines and gaming tables, and it was a busy venue during both of my cruises.
If you enjoy casino gaming, it gives you another evening option beyond the theatre, live music and bars. Personally, I prefer how the equivalent space is used for Playmakers on Independence of the Seas, but the casino on Liberty was clearly popular, so the expansion will suit passengers who enjoy spending time there.
Olive or Twist
Olive or Twist is high up on Deck 14 and feels very different depending on the time of day. During the daytime and early evening, it can be one of the quieter places on Liberty of the Seas, with elevated views over the pool deck and out to sea. I found it a good place to sit when I wanted to get away from some of the busier areas of the ship.
Later in the evening, the atmosphere changes and Olive or Twist becomes part of the nightlife. Depending on the sailing programme, you may find karaoke, silent discos, late-night music and other entertainment here. That makes it a versatile venue, because you can use it as a quieter lounge during the day and come back later when it becomes much livelier.
Royal Promenade Entertainment
The Royal Promenade is one of the main hubs of Liberty of the Seas, running through the centre of Deck 5. It isn’t just a walkway between the bars, shops and restaurants, because different parties, events and entertainment can take place here throughout the cruise. It’s worth checking the daily programme, as some of the livelier events happen in the promenade rather than inside one of the dedicated entertainment venues.
The atmosphere can also change quite noticeably depending on the length of the cruise. My two-night sailing had much more of a party feel, with groups onboard, busier bars and a livelier atmosphere from embarkation day onwards. The seven-night cruise felt calmer and more relaxed. Both still had the informal Royal Caribbean atmosphere I enjoy, but on a shorter sailing I’d expect the Royal Promenade and surrounding venues to feel noticeably busier, particularly later in the evening.
Royal Escape Room
One of the newer entertainment additions on Liberty of the Seas is the Royal Escape Room, which was added during the recent refit. You’ll find it on Deck 5 near the Star Lounge, in the space previously occupied by the Connoisseur Club.
It gives you something different from the usual mix of theatre shows, quizzes and live music, particularly if you’re travelling with family or friends and want an organised activity to do together. The Royal Escape Room costs extra, and you can book it through the Royal Caribbean app, so it’s worth checking availability once your sailing is open for bookings.
Pool Deck Entertainment and Outdoor Movies
Entertainment on Liberty of the Seas isn’t limited to the indoor venues. The main pool deck is one of the liveliest areas of the ship during the day, particularly on warm sea days, with music and organised activities happening around the pools. There is also a large outdoor screen overlooking the pool area, which is used for films and other entertainment during the cruise.
Sailaway parties are held around the pool deck, and on sea days there was also live music, which gave the area a lively atmosphere without making it feel like something was happening every minute.
The Lime & Coconut sits right in the middle of this area and became one of the main social spots during my cruises. My two-night sailing was noticeably livelier, especially on embarkation day, with busy bars and more of a party atmosphere around the pools. The seven-night cruise was calmer, but there was still plenty happening during the day.
If you enjoy being around music and activity, this is one of the main places to spend time during the day. If you want a break from it, the Solarium and some of the higher decks give you quieter alternatives.
Water Activities: FlowRider and Perfect Storm Waterslides
Some of Liberty of the Seas’ biggest daytime attractions are the water activities at the aft of Deck 13. The FlowRider is Royal Caribbean’s surf simulator, where passengers can try bodyboarding or surfing while the ship is at sea. Even if you don’t want to take part yourself, it can still be entertaining to stop and watch other passengers having a go.
Alongside the FlowRider, Liberty of the Seas has three Perfect Storm waterslides. Cyclone and Typhoon are side-by-side racing slides, while Tidal Wave has a very different design, sending you down the slide and up a large wall before bringing you back again.
With the FlowRider and waterslides all in the same area, this part of the ship feels much more like a waterpark than a traditional cruise ship deck. It’s particularly popular with families and older children, but adults can use the attractions as well, making this one of the main areas to head to if you want a more active sea day.
Sports and Active Entertainment
Liberty of the Seas also has several activities if you want something more active than sitting by the pool. At the aft of Deck 13, you’ll find the rock-climbing wall and Sports Court. The wall is another classic Royal Caribbean activity, with views out over the sea while you climb, while the Sports Court is used for organised games such as basketball, football and other activities depending on the daily programme.
At the opposite end of Deck 13 is Liberty Dunes, the ship’s mini golf course. It sits high up at the front of the ship and is free to use, with open views around you while you play. This area is noticeably quieter than the FlowRider and waterslide section at the aft, and there are also sun loungers nearby if you want to stay in this part of the ship for a while.
Studio B is also used for passenger ice skating at selected times during the cruise. This gives you the unusual chance to skate on the same rink used for the professional ice shows. Sessions are scheduled rather than available continuously, so check the Royal Caribbean app or daily programme if you want to take part.
Between the rock climbing, sports court, mini golf and ice skating, there’s a good mix of activities that don’t involve the pool or waterslides. They also give you more options on sea days, especially if you prefer doing something rather than simply relaxing around the ship.
The Solarium
The Solarium isn’t really an entertainment venue, but it’s worth including because Liberty of the Seas isn’t all about constant activity. This adults-only area on Deck 11 has its own pool, loungers, seating and two large cantilevered hot tubs that extend out over the sides of the ship.
I spent quite a lot of time in the Solarium hot tubs, particularly when the weather wasn’t great. It gives adults somewhere calmer to spend part of the day if the main pool deck, FlowRider and waterslide areas feel too busy. That balance worked well for me, because you can join in with the more active side of the ship when you want to and then move somewhere quieter afterwards.
Entertainment for Families
Liberty of the Seas is very family friendly, with plenty for children and teenagers both indoors and outside. Adventure Ocean is Royal Caribbean’s kids’ club programme and is located around Deck 12. The area was refreshed as part of the recent refit, although it is now smaller than it used to be because some of the surrounding space has been converted into new cabins.
There is also a nursery for younger children, while teenagers have their own spaces. The arcade is nearby as well, although arcade games cost extra.
Outside, families have Splashaway Bay, the pools, Perfect Storm waterslides, FlowRider, mini golf, rock climbing and the Sports Court. Studio B can also be opened for passenger ice-skating sessions at scheduled times, while the theatre productions and professional ice shows give families something different to do in the evening.
For me, this is where Liberty performs particularly well. I found the headline entertainment programme less varied than I had expected, but there was still a huge amount for families to do throughout the day and evening.
Is Liberty of the Seas Only Good for Families?
Although Liberty of the Seas has a lot aimed at families, I never felt that it was a ship designed only for people travelling with children. I sailed without children and still found plenty of places and activities that worked well for adults.
The Solarium gives adults a quieter pool area, while Olive or Twist can be very peaceful during the day before becoming livelier later in the evening. There are also plenty of bars, live music venues, quizzes, shows and late-night entertainment around the ship.
The overall atmosphere can change quite a lot depending on the sailing as well. My two-night cruise had more of a party feel, while the seven-night sailing was noticeably calmer. So while the waterslides, Splashaway Bay and kids’ clubs make Liberty a strong family ship, adults travelling without children shouldn’t feel that everything onboard is aimed at families.
Daytime Entertainment and Activities
Sea days on Liberty of the Seas don’t have to revolve around sitting beside the pool. Alongside the major outdoor attractions, there are quizzes, competitions, games and organised activities taking place around the ship, with venues such as the Star Lounge and Schooner Bar being used for different events throughout the day.
The pool deck has its own programme of music and activities, while Studio B is used for more than just the professional ice shows. There is also a large and well-equipped gym at the front of Deck 11 if you want something more active indoors.
Some of my favourite daytime spaces weren’t organised activities at all. The wraparound promenade on Deck 4 is much closer to the sea than the upper decks and has traditional shuffleboard courts along the side. You can also walk out to the helipad at the front of Deck 5 when it is open. It’s one of the quieter areas onboard and was one of my favourite places for sailaway.
That mix means you don’t have to follow the entertainment programme every hour of the day. You can join a quiz, head to the activity decks, go for a walk outside or simply find somewhere quiet depending on how you want to spend your sea day.
What Entertainment Is Included on Liberty of the Seas?
Most of the entertainment and activities on Liberty of the Seas are included in your cruise fare. That covers the main productions in the Platinum Theatre, the professional ice shows in Studio B, live music around the ship, quizzes, karaoke and most of the scheduled entertainment listed in the daily programme.
Many of the larger outdoor attractions are included as well. You don’t pay extra to use the FlowRider, Perfect Storm waterslides, rock-climbing wall, Liberty Dunes mini golf or Sports Court. Adventure Ocean is also included for eligible age groups, although some childcare services and other specific activities may have an additional charge.
There are a few exceptions. Arcade games cost extra, as do some classes and experiences, and the Royal Escape Room is a paid activity that can be booked through the Royal Caribbean app.
You can therefore experience most of Liberty’s main shows, live entertainment and active attractions without adding much to your cruise bill, unless you specifically choose some of the extra-charge activities.
What Was the Best Entertainment on Liberty of the Seas?
For me, Boots and Blades in Studio B was easily the standout entertainment on Liberty of the Seas. The skating was excellent, the costumes were good and the smaller ice-rink setting made it feel completely different from watching a conventional theatre production.
Saturday Night Fever would be my other main show choice. It’s a full musical production rather than a shorter compilation-style cruise show, and I thought the cast did a good job with it.
The guest entertainment was more mixed. The Wild Boys were excellent, but because they appeared on both my two-night and seven-night cruises, I ended up seeing the same headline act twice. Beyond that, the programme didn’t feel as varied as I had expected from Royal Caribbean.
Live music around the ship helped fill some of those gaps, although venues such as Boleros and Hoof & Claw could become very busy. So while Liberty had individual shows and performers that I really enjoyed, I didn’t find the overall evening programme consistently strong across the whole cruise.
Is Liberty of the Seas Entertainment Good?
Overall, I’d describe the entertainment on Liberty of the Seas as good, but not one of the strongest parts of my cruise. The ship itself has an impressive range of things to do. You can watch an ice show, see a full theatre production, listen to live music, try the FlowRider, use the waterslides, go rock climbing, play mini golf or take part in one of the many organised activities around the ship. If you enjoy an active cruise or you’re travelling as a family, there is very little chance of running out of things to do.
My reservations are mainly about the evening programme. Boots and Blades was excellent, Saturday Night Fever was good and The Wild Boys were another highlight, but there were evenings without a major guest act and some of the entertainment began to feel repetitive across my back-to-back cruises.
That surprised me because Royal Caribbean has such a strong reputation for entertainment, and my previous experience on Independence of the Seas had been better in this area. I’ve also had more varied entertainment recently on Iona and Sky Princess.
I wouldn’t choose Liberty purely because I wanted a different headline show every night. I would choose it for the combination of shows, live music, daytime entertainment and the sheer number of activities available around the ship.
Practical Tips for Liberty of the Seas Entertainment
You don’t need to spend the weeks before your Liberty cruise trying to reserve every show. Most of the entertainment doesn’t require advance booking, which makes evenings fairly flexible.
The Platinum Theatre was rarely a problem on my cruises, although arriving before the show starts will obviously give you a better choice of seats. Studio B is different because the ice shows are very popular and the venue fills much faster. If Boots and Blades is something you really want to see, I’d arrive early.
The smaller live music venues also need a little more planning. Boleros and Hoof & Claw could both fill quickly, so wandering in halfway through a popular performer’s set didn’t always work. If there is something specific you want to hear, arrive before it starts and find a seat.
It’s also worth checking the programme beyond the main theatre. Some evenings might have more going on in the smaller lounges, with live music, karaoke, quizzes or a silent disco rather than another headline production.
During the day, the activity decks are a major part of the Liberty experience. The FlowRider, waterslides, rock climbing, mini golf, sports court and scheduled ice-skating sessions give you far more choice than simply spending a sea day around the pool.
Finally, the atmosphere can vary noticeably depending on the type of cruise you book. My two-night sailing was much livelier and had more of a party atmosphere, while the seven-night cruise felt calmer and more relaxed. The entertainment venues are the same, but the way the ship feels around them can be quite different.
Useful Liberty of the Seas Guides
If you’re planning a cruise on Liberty of the Seas, I have several other guides that cover the ship in more detail.
My What’s Onboard Liberty of the Seas guide gives you a broader overview of the ship, including the main public areas, activities, venues and facilities you’ll find around the different decks.
You can also read my Liberty of the Seas Honest Review, which covers my experience across two back-to-back cruises, including the cabins, dining, entertainment, service, atmosphere and the parts of the ship that didn’t quite meet my expectations.
If you want to spend more time around the outdoor areas, my Liberty of the Seas Pools Guide covers the main pools, Solarium, hot tubs, Splashaway Bay and the different places to relax around the pool decks.
For evening venues and places to have a drink, my Liberty of the Seas bars guide takes you through the main bars and lounges, including Boleros, Hoof & Claw, Schooner Bar, Olive or Twist and The Lime & Coconut.
I also have a separate Liberty of the Seas Casino Royale Guide, which explains what you’ll find in the casino, how it works and what to expect if you’re thinking about playing during your cruise.
Liberty of the Seas Entertainment FAQs
Do you need to book shows on Liberty of the Seas?
Most entertainment on Liberty of the Seas doesn’t need to be booked in advance. I generally found plenty of space in the Platinum Theatre, although it’s still worth arriving before the show starts if you want a better choice of seats. Studio B fills much more quickly for the ice shows, so I would arrive early for Boots and Blades.
What is the best show on Liberty of the Seas?
Boots and Blades in Studio B was the standout show for me. The skating was excellent and watching a full ice production at sea is one of the things that makes Royal Caribbean different from many other cruise lines. I also enjoyed Saturday Night Fever in the Platinum Theatre.
Is Saturday Night Fever suitable for children?
Saturday Night Fever is generally better suited to teenagers and adults, roughly ages 13 and over. Younger children can attend, but the production contains mature themes, sexual innuendo and some mild adult language, so parents may want to take that into account.
Is entertainment included on Liberty of the Seas?
Most entertainment is included in your cruise fare. That includes the theatre productions, ice shows, live music, quizzes, karaoke and most scheduled activities. The FlowRider, waterslides, rock-climbing wall, mini golf and Sports Court are also included. Some activities cost extra, including the Royal Escape Room and arcade games.
Does Liberty of the Seas have live music?
Yes. I found live music in several venues during my cruises, including Boleros, Hoof & Claw and other bars and lounges depending on the daily programme. There was also live music around the pool deck on sea days.
Is there enough to do on Liberty of the Seas during a sea day?
Yes. Even though I found the evening entertainment programme less varied than expected, there was plenty to do during the day. Between the FlowRider, waterslides, mini golf, rock climbing, sports court, ice skating, quizzes, pool deck entertainment and quieter areas such as the Solarium, I never struggled to find something to do.
Useful Cruise Items to Consider
These are a few simple items that can make your cruise more comfortable and help you stay organised onboard. I personally use variations of these when cruising, and they’re all practical rather than essential.
Magnetic hooks Perfect for extra storage in your cabin
Packing cubes Keep your suitcase organised
Cruise luggage tags Protect your tags at the port
Travel Extension Lead UK For charging multiple phones, cameras, and laptops
Toiletry organiser Great for small bathrooms
You can also browse my full Cruise Essentials list for more useful items I use or recommend for cruise holidays.
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Cruise eSIM from Saily
Buying the ship’s WiFi package isn’t the only way to stay connected during a cruise. Saily has launched a cruise eSIM that provides mobile data at sea and in supported ports, which could be worth considering if you mainly need internet access for messaging, maps and general browsing.
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Affiliate disclosure: This section contains an affiliate link. I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through the link, at no additional cost to you. I haven’t personally tested the Saily cruise eSIM yet, so check the current coverage, data allowance and compatibility with your phone before purchasing.