Another Legend(ary) Review 1/13/13...Now with Full Frontal Nudity

[headhurt]

On our last night, we dined with a couple from Canada we had met on our Cozumel day. Great people, dinner was a blast. Especially since our waiter was a ham from Croatia and often joined us in jokes. If you order the Caesar's salad, they prepare the salad table side. We complimented him on his salad-tossing techniques.:D

 

I went for something different and ordered the Lamb chops, which were out of this world, un-freaking-believable. Log went for the New York Strip, and he said it was pretty awesome, too. Knowing better, I opted not to get the cheesecake and went with the chocolate sampler, which was still full of chocolate-lovers goodness.

 

Compliments of the Chef

 

Lobster bisque

 

In my opinion, the supper club is where the CCL dining experience really shines. It's almost like they don't try as hard in other aspects, and focus all their talent on the supper club. I'd hate to think it's really that way, but there is a huge different in the quality between the supper club you pay extra for, and the dining options that are included with the cruise.

Lamb chops...ZOMG

 

Baked apple on pastry (Log's dessert)

 

The Chocolate Sampler

Edited January 23, 2013 by headhurt

[headhurt]

So sorry your experience in Grand Cayman was not great. It is my favorite port and I hope you give it another chance if you ever make it back there. On a sunny, calm day it's beautiful.

 

This was my third visit to the island. The first visit was a calm, sunny day, so we did the Stingray tour...which was fun. Overall, I just don't like the island. The previous poster nailed it on the head when they said it reminded them of Naples.

[countrygirlcruiser1234]

Great review!!! just wondering if you saved the fun times and if you could post pics of them or scan and post them on here. we are thinking of going this year...again...and want to see if anything has changed.

[grumpyjr88]

Loving the review so far!

 

As a foodie in a large metropolitan city, I totally agree with you about the food but it's not awful and occasionally the MDR does hit homeruns.

[headhurt]

The Legend is, what, approximately ten years old? Some signs of age were apparent, but did not detract from the overall experience. I can see why some people hold this ship near and dear to their hearts. She has a distinct character. It wasn't one of my favorites, but still a nice ship. A little smaller than the others, it doesn't have all the flashy amenities of her bigger, newer sisters. I had once heard that Legend will go into dry dock at some point within the next year or so and get all kinds of upgrades. I don't know if that is true.

 

 

I do like how they segregated the smokers to their own pool area. The Serenity deck was great (sadly, I didn't get any pics there), but competition for chairs was fierce. No sooner than one person would vacate, three others were jockying to take their place.

 

We had an obstructed balcony, which I am sort of meh about. A couple cabins down, a couple of teenage neanderthals actually climbed out of their balcony (or their parents' balcony, I would assume) and sat on top of the lifeboat...while the ship was sailing!! Darwin missed his opportunity as they scurried back into their cabin. Security came and was looking for them...they were really unhappy.

 

 

 

FYI: They have laundry stations a few decks. It costs $3 to wash and $3 to dry. Only one cycle doesn't get your clothes all the way dry, so you could realistically spend $6 to fully dry you clothes. We only washed one load of laundry.

 

I don't know what the theme of the urns was all about, but they were everywhere.

 

Overall, the ship was clean. They had hand sanitizing stations everywhere, which was good. We didn't go see any shows, because that sort of thing doesn't interest us, and therefore I cannot comment on it. There was plenty of storage space in our cabin.

 

 

The casino seemed to always be a hotbed of activity. We poked around a couple bars and stuff...standard.

[headhurt]

Great review!!! just wondering if you saved the fun times and if you could post pics of them or scan and post them on here. we are thinking of going this year...again...and want to see if anything has changed.

 

Sadly, we did not save the newsletters.

[headhurt]

I have to work tonight, so I am going to go take a nap. I will try to wrap this up tomorrow.

[Cruzface]

If you order the Caesar's salad, they prepare the salad table side. We complimented him on his salad-tossing techniques.:D

 

Love it! LMAO!:cool:

[crusinpsychRN]

Why am I having a hard time getting my pics to upload from my Flickr account. I have tons! Including food porn!!!!:(

 

Yeah, I can't see them.:confused:

[Vigorosity]

Out of all the ports, I would have to say that this was my least favorite...which is kinda hard considering I didn't even get off the ship in Belize. But it's true. And at the end of the day, I know there were plenty on Legend that echoed my sentiments.

 

It was a windy day, and the sea was raging, so it was announced that we would be tendering from a different location that day. We never heard this announcement because for whatever reason, announcements were not piped into our room. I don't know if this was just an issue with our cabin, or if this is something CCL doesn't do anymore. But, if you want to hear the announcements, you had to be out of your room to do it. So, the tender chance was a nice, port-day surprise.

 

Itinerary said we would be in Cayman from 10am to 6pm. All the water activities were cancelled by the Cayman Port Authority, so no one got to see stingrays that day. CCL still had some excursions available, but they all seemed so overpriced...which is what they should call the island...Overpriced Island.

 

Anyway, by the time we got our tender stickers, and were herded off the ship, we set food on land at 12:15pm. We had tender sticker 24. We talked with people who had earlier ones, they didn't get to the island not much earlier than us. I don't know if this was because of the choppy water, or if it had to do with two other ships visiting, and tender boats had to be divvied up between the three. To their credit, a HAL ship seemed to use their own tender boats.

 

 

Back to the island...

 

We set foot on ol' terra firma, and what greeted us nothing short of chaos. There were shuttles and taxis there. Tour operators waving signs around and asking if you wanted to go "kiss a stingray". (Slutty stingrays!) Log and I just wanted to go visit the Turtle Farm and stop downtown. We were passed off to at least five different drivers, each one giving us different quotes on how much they would charge us that day. Another family (with two cute twin girls) were also having a frustrating time as they wanted to charge the same rate per little kid as they did grownups...which was $15 per person. So, for a family of four, it cost them $60 just for a cab right. Not including the $10 per person to get into the Turtle Farm (I hope they charged a reduced rate for kids).

 

 

 

So, the cab driver packed his van tighter than grandma's colon, and we were whisked away to the Turtle Farm...we we were allowed 30 minutes because the driver was not willing to wait any longer than that for us. We were not able to join a guided tour. Instead, we raced around, snapping pictures, touching turtles, and doing a fly by the gift shop. I would have enjoyed staying there longer, but Dale the Sullen Van Driver would not have allowed it.

 

 

We inquired if there was a restaurant that served plantains (Log loves them). Dale recommended a place called Breezes. Oh, they had plantains, but it was only served with only one particular dish (they were not willing to budge on this) and you could not order them as a side. The drinks cost just as much as the food, which wasn't that stellar to begin with. Between Log and myself, we each had an average lunch, and one drink each. Total cost $70. I understand that the Cayman dollar is stronger than the American one. And I understand that they have to import pretty much everything on the island. But $70 for a subpar lunch seems a bit ridiculous to me.

 

 

By this time, we were completely turned off of the whole island, so we decided to forgo the shopping, and just go back to the ship. We found a really nice shuttle driver this time, and she gave us a ride back to the tender loading area, where they proceeded to overload the tender boat and chug back to the ship. Just as we got back on the ship, the skies opened up and rain came down like the angry fist of God. Which sort of summed up our feelings about Cayman nicely.

 

 

It was only $10 to enter the turtle farm? It's $30 on the website. Would be awesome if I didn't have to buy online, aswell.

[crusinpsychRN]

Yeah, I can't see them.:confused:

 

Oh, I see them now! Thanks!

 

I never like GC either. If you don't swim with stingrays or sit on the beach not much else to do.

 

I told the bartender in the Atrium the urns carried dead sea captains who would travel all over with Legend. The look on his face was priceless!

 

Agree on the Lido food for the most part. Last cruise I did indulge in some of the desserts which was spectacular. Once I ate at the steakhouse. I was with a guy from the roll call. For some reason, I don't remember much of it...except food was good.

 

I have started my last few cruises by telling the waiter the first night in the MDR I've had problems with cold food and after that everything came out nice and hot. Now, how do I get a cold salad??

 

I like the entertainment staff on Legend. I've been 4 times with 2 more scheduled and they all know my name. The last cruise was the MOST fun due to experiences on the ship.

 

Really enjoying your writing style, very funny! Great turn with a work!

Edited January 23, 2013 by crusinpsychRN

[crusinpsychRN]

Really enjoy your way with words!

[cruiseclues]

Great Photo Review...love the food porn :)

[Aldeya]

 

Tour operators waving signs around and asking if you wanted to go "kiss a stingray". (Slutty stingrays!)

 

So, the cab driver packed his van tighter than grandma's colon, and we were whisked away to the Turtle Farm...we we were allowed 30 minutes because the driver was not willing to wait any longer than that for us.

 

 

It's hysterical !!!:D Can't wait for more!

Edited January 23, 2013 by Aldeya

[kenrod]

Thanks for sharing your review with us. It brings back fond memories of our experience on the Carnival Legend.

[stormynow]

Loving the review so far! I tend to agree with your description of the food but I'm O.K. with it-I don't have to cook it or clean up after it. Luckily we are all certified divers so that takes care of our excursions in every port and one reason we like this itinerary. Other than the diving, I've never been that impressed with the Caymans. It reminds me of Naples, Fl. Glad you liked your visit to Tampa/St. Pete. It is a lovely place to live :D

Comparing Naples, Fl to Grand Cayman,,,*** are u smoking?

[NeuroQueen]

Well, I have to reply to the comment that Grand Cayman is like Naples, Florida. I've lived in Naples most of my life and I can guarantee our beaches are a far cry from Cayman. If they were I would spend a lot more time at the beach! I do agree with the overpriced restaurants being similar. The cocktails are overpriced in both places, as well!

 

Loving your review! You do have a way with words that has me cracking up! Can't wait to read more.

[Danacat222]

Great review and happy to hear that the Taste Bar is on Legend, where is it located? I do not want to miss that.

 

I am a foodie too, my brother is a chef (he has cooked with few well-known celeb chefs and has cooked for some well-known celebs) and I come from a foodie family.

 

I am cruising with my Mom and we are doing the Steakhouse one night and Chef's Table another, i expect sub-par banquet food in the MDR (as i did when on all previous cruises; sometimes having my expectations realized and sometimes exceeded quite a lot), and it's not all that important to me, i know i wont go hungry and i a dont have to cook or clean :)

[Coolcruise02]

Great review and pictures!

[headhurt]

Great review and happy to hear that the Taste Bar is on Legend, where is it located? I do not want to miss that.

 

The Taste Bar was located on Deck two, forward by the coffee shop, just before you go into the casino. It's not available every night, so you will have to check your Fun Times newletter to see if it will be open that evening. On our sailing, I think they were only open three nights.

[headhurt]

Well, I have to reply to the comment that Grand Cayman is like Naples, Florida. I've lived in Naples most of my life and I can guarantee our beaches are a far cry from Cayman. If they were I would spend a lot more time at the beach! I do agree with the overpriced restaurants being similar. The cocktails are overpriced in both places, as well!

 

I tried to explain to Log why I wasn't whoopie about GC, and then after our visit, he could better articulate my feelings than I could. The island is completely Americanized and touristy. Burger Kings and KFC. Everything is overpriced. It just felt like some of the more touristy parts of Florida and zero island charm...which is what I like about the Caribbean islands.

 

Log is Colombian, and speaks fluent Spanish (I'm learning). Traveling with him is like having a special backstage pass. People in Coz and Roatan definitely warmed up to him (except for a douchey New Jersey guy in Roatan). It seemed that when he started speaking to them, locals really opened up and were completely honest with how tourism affected their island(s). We even had some eye-opening insight relayed to us by a couple workers on the ship...which I will post about later.

[mchatt92]

I was on the Legend this past NYE. I agree about Grand Cayman. I was able to go to sting ray city, which was amazing, but overall it was my least favorite port.

[gelo7]

Nice review.

[LibratPDX]

I'm not sailing on the Legend in the near future but I am very much enjoying your review and point of view.....I actually LOL'd a few times:)

[Talex831]

Just an FYI for anyone looking for transportation to the turtle farm, ask where the busses are. They are only a couple of blocks from the port and are only a couple of dollars each. They are the island busses and the locals get on and off at stops all along the way. You can go to the farm, wander over to the rum cake factory and catch another bus back. They drive a loop around and back all day.

 

GC is not my favorite island either, but it is one that I am comfortable enough to use the local transportation.

 

Soooo glad to hear your positive review of Nachi. We have reservations for our spring cruise there!

 

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