legend of the seas

[cruiser_carol]

As if Carol didn't do a good enough job selling it, I can also assure you that even before the new bedding and freshening, Legend was in fine shape in Dec 05, with the notable exception of the mini-golf course which was looking pretty rough (gaps in the turf that would trap balls, etc). I've now sailed on two other ships with mini golf and they were in MUCH better condition. With that single caveat, though, everything else on Legend was always very well maintained and the crew was just super. I seem to be inadvertantly doing a tour of all RCCL ships *right before* they get their new bedding (just got off Radiance, also still old bedding), so I'm looking forward now to a sailing I just booked - May 19 from Rome on Legend for 12 days! I can't wait.

 

I wouldn't worry at all about the conference center. They are typically used only during the day if there is a business or affinity group on board, or maybe possibly for an evening reception, but never the sort of thing that would interrupt your sleep. Typically I worry most about what is directly beneath or directly above me. You dont want to necessarily be right under the windjammer, pool deck, or a dance club, because it can sometimes sound like they're training elephants above, and the chair scraping can be really jarring. I'm told also that being above the showroom can be noisy because of the practicing when shows weren't on. I personally don't like being within 3 or 4 doors of the elevator, and hearing the constant 'ding' and drunken people coming back from the club late at night.

 

Carol, we're going to miss you by a couple of months on Legend, but we'll try to keep her nice for you. At the moment, we're in an inside dungeon room on 2. :)

 

 

Hi Niles...Always great to hear from you... I hope you enjoyed your cruise on Radiance. What ports did you visit? Radiance sounds like a lovely ship.. she also has a lot of glass I believe. With great views..and many extras. that sounds like a perfect match to Legend. I really Would like to hear more about her. As for the Legend of the Links..well sadly the mini golf is still in a very bad way. We never used it our first cruise..but the kids made good use this time. They Still enjoyed it..but it was very difficult in some areas. I know the crew regularly repair it..but it just seems to wear out very quickly. the Shuffleboard type game on the deck outside the link..was scraped away..resurfaced..and repainted while we were onboard. So they do try very hard to keep things in order.

 

Great news to hear that you are on Legend in May. I am sorry we miss each other. We have to travel in school holidays as my husband is a teacher. But I will look forward to a review of your cruise. Giving me all the pros and cons. I can't imagine what it will be like sailing from Rome..or having to fly to get there. How I will get the baggage ..or should I say...reduce the baggage... to meet airline restrictions. It will dfinitely take a miracle. We had around 20 bags for 6 of us this year. And at least 8 were quite big..and mostly ours. And we certainly weren't' especially well dressed.. lol. It Just takes a whole lot more to make us look better!! Regards, Carol

 

 

Gadiamondgal...the new beds are brilliant. Very comfortable...stylish...and very plush. They really make a big difference. Legend was very lucky to be the first of the existing fleet...(only Freedom had them first)..to have the new beds...(so I have been told) RC wanted to increase the UK market. so made her look especially good for the summer season out of Southampton. It seemed to work.. as she has had glowing reports. she had many repeat cruisers already from last year...like myself... Who really noticed all the improvements. And seeing Legend looking so good... it has made it easier to promote Navigator.. As she is taking Legends' place next summer out of southampton. Carol

[imatarb]

We sailed the Legend last December, and she was a beauty. I found the size to be very nice, the amenities perfect and the staff always friendly. The food and entertainment was also quite good.

[Cachecara]

We sail on Lengend in January and are glad to hear all these wonderful things about her! Thanks all.

[referee]

cachecara.....my wife and i are on the jan. 27th sailing...are you on the same one?....referee

[needsomesun]

Referee, we are also on the Jan 27 sailing. Our first time on RCI.

[conchqn]

Anyone sailing on the 20th of January?

[referee]

needsomesun......welcome.....you can also put your name on the roll call page....our t.a. switched our cabin from deck 3 to deck 6 mid-ship....everything is supposed to be the same. can anybody tell us if we made a good move.?..also we are driving from orlando to tampa and parking our car there...any advice about the parking situation at the pier.....thanks...referee

[cruiser_carol]

needsomesun......welcome.....you can also put your name on the roll call page....our t.a. switched our cabin from deck 3 to deck 6 mid-ship....everything is supposed to be the same. can anybody tell us if we made a good move.?..also we are driving from orlando to tampa and parking our car there...any advice about the parking situation at the pier.....thanks...referee

 

I should think you will be very happy on deck 6 midship. But It will be much livlier than Deck 3... as You won't be far off the atrium. Where On deck 6 starboard side you have Latte tudes coffee Bar and Ben and Jerry's ice cream. On the port side the photographers'. So lots of people passing through. But not necessarily around your cabin area. Next year on legend... we will also be on an upper level... Deck 7 ..next to the library. We have had deck 3 cabins the past 2 cruises and been very happy. But it will also be fun to see life at the top.. Have a Great cruise! Carol

[IMNiles]

Hi Niles...Always great to hear from you... I hope you enjoyed your cruise on Radiance. What ports did you visit?

 

It was very nice, thanks. It was an easy jaunt down the west coast of North America. Starting in Vancouver BC and ending up in Los Angeles CA, with stops in Nanaimo BC, Victoria BC, Astoria Oregon, and San Francisco CA. SFO was great because all aboard wasn't until after 1am, so there was no rush.

 

Radiance sounds like a lovely ship.. she also has a lot of glass I believe. With great views..and many extras. that sounds like a perfect match to Legend. I really Would like to hear more about her.

 

She is indeed a lovely ship with lots of glass, and she reminded me a bit of the Vision class, but at the same time I think some of the spirit was lost. All week I was trying to put my finger on what was wrong, and someone summed it up for me by suggesting that as this was RCCL's first attempt at a ship this big, they just kind of took Vision and made it bigger, and hadn't quite figured out how to move traffic across the ship, make efficient use of the space, etc. There were so many spots that were just tucked away, and if you didn't know they were there you'd never find them. Many people never found the Seaview Cafe or the Sports Bar, for instance (I never saw a bartender in the sports bar, and never saw more than 3 people in it, but I didn't walk through it often). I absolutely would not hesitate to sail Radiance again, and given the choice between Radiance or Voyager, I'd probably choose Radiance unless I was doing a transatlantic and really wanted the extra onboard entertainment. I think I need to choose a more traditional non-repositioning sailing before I can pass judgement effectively. The mini golf was certainly in much better repair!

 

Great news to hear that you are on Legend in May. I am sorry we miss each other. We have to travel in school holidays as my husband is a teacher. But I will look forward to a review of your cruise. Giving me all the pros and cons. I can't imagine what it will be like sailing from Rome..or having to fly to get there. How I will get the baggage ..or should I say...reduce the baggage... to meet airline restrictions. It will dfinitely take a miracle. We had around 20 bags for 6 of us this year. And at least 8 were quite big..and mostly ours.

 

I'm really excited, because I've never been to any of these places, and it just sounds like such a fantastic itinerary (Mykonos, Kusadasi/Ephesus, Rhodes, Limassol Cyprus, Alexandria Egypt, Athens, and naples/capri, with a few sea days sprinkled in). The big challenge for us is going to be airfare. Round trip for us will come in somewhere between $800 and $1300 per person depending on whether we can find a sale fare. Thankfully, because we will be flying transatlantic, we will have a much larger luggage allowance than a typical intra-european flight, and I'm used to meeting airline luggage allowances as there simply aren't any ships that sail from Arizona! ;) We saw a dynamite sale fare yesterday, but decided not to buy it because it is *so* far out and it was on airlines we don't typically fly. We're hoping maybe we can even use miles if there is availability.

 

I'm still trying to compose my thoughts about my last Radiance trip. I expect to post the first installment sometime tonight.

 

Cheers

[6MonthsHere6MonthsThere]

needsomesun......welcome.....you can also put your name on the roll call page....our t.a. switched our cabin from deck 3 to deck 6 mid-ship....everything is supposed to be the same. can anybody tell us if we made a good move.?..also we are driving from orlando to tampa and parking our car there...any advice about the parking situation at the pier.....thanks...referee

 

Hi Ref, There is a multi storey car park adjacent to the pier, was $12 a day:eek: payable by CC if you so wish. We will be arriving in Tampa on the Legend on 4th Nov from it's Transatlantic crossing, did the same last year and it was great.:)

John.

[referee]

6 months.....thanks......can i drop my wife and the luggage at the pier. drive over to the garage, then walk back?....referee

[Grumm]

I should think you will be very happy on deck 6 midship. But It will be much livlier than Deck 3... as You won't be far off the atrium. Where On deck 6 starboard side you have Latte tudes coffee Bar and Ben and Jerry's ice cream. On the port side the photographers'. So lots of people passing through. But not necessarily around your cabin area. Next year on legend... we will also be on an upper level... Deck 7 ..next to the library. We have had deck 3 cabins the past 2 cruises and been very happy. But it will also be fun to see life at the top.. Have a Great cruise! Carol

 

Carol

 

This is slightly off-topic, but you were on Legend as we got off this year. Everything you said about her was true. We loved our cruise and have booked for Navigator next year. What I need to know is this:-

 

Is "Winey...Winey" still plying his trade in the Windjammer? We thought he was the star of the cruise!

 

Alan

[Straughn]

I am very happy to hear the Legend is still a wonderful ship. We are sailing on Dec. 30 for the New Year's cruise. Our first cruise on Legend was to Alaska the year she was launched (1995?) and we loved the ship, especially the floor to ceiling windows in the dining room.

 

Kazooie11--We will be in a GS and will be happy to give you a report when we return. Hopefully you will have some info before then and won't have to wait to hear from me. We have sailed in a GS on both Vision and Radiance class ships and love them. We will book an OS if the price is right, but I am perfectly happy to be in a GS which I think is a well designed cabin. IMO, about the only real advantage to an OS, other than space, is the separate shower. I wuld be happy to answer any questions that you have now, as the layout of the GS on the Vision and Radiance class ships are very similar.

[6MonthsHere6MonthsThere]

6 months.....thanks......can i drop my wife and the luggage at the pier. drive over to the garage, then walk back?....referee

 

Certainly can, less than 2 minute walk, if they dock at pier1 they also have a Valet parking service which we have used a few times to great affect, takes away all the hassle.:)

 

John.

[kazooie11]

Straughn,

 

Thanks for the offer of the Legend GS review. I'll look forward to it. In the meantime, I'll just be jealous of all of you who are sailing before us. Then again, you'll be home and wishing you were us in January ;)

 

I'd also be interested in your selection of excursions. My DD has talked me into the zipline and cave tubing in Belize, and I know we want to go snorkling in Grand Cayman. We're looking at Capt. Marvins for that. Also would like to do a Mayan historical site. I guess the best port for that is either Costa Maya or Cozumel.

 

Once I get the excursions planned, I guess all that will be left to do is to make my final payment, cut off my jeans (for something to wear to formal night) and get out the big towels to save a few deck chairs. I've learned so much on CC! :D

 

Thanks for your reply!

 

Jim

[cruiser_carol]

It was very nice, thanks. It was an easy jaunt down the west coast of North America. Starting in Vancouver BC and ending up in Los Angeles CA, with stops in Nanaimo BC, Victoria BC, Astoria Oregon, and San Francisco CA. SFO was great because all aboard wasn't until after 1am, so there was no rush.

 

 

 

She is indeed a lovely ship with lots of glass, and she reminded me a bit of the Vision class, but at the same time I think some of the spirit was lost. All week I was trying to put my finger on what was wrong, and someone summed it up for me by suggesting that as this was RCCL's first attempt at a ship this big, they just kind of took Vision and made it bigger, and hadn't quite figured out how to move traffic across the ship, make efficient use of the space, etc. There were so many spots that were just tucked away, and if you didn't know they were there you'd never find them. Many people never found the Seaview Cafe or the Sports Bar, for instance (I never saw a bartender in the sports bar, and never saw more than 3 people in it, but I didn't walk through it often). I absolutely would not hesitate to sail Radiance again, and given the choice between Radiance or Voyager, I'd probably choose Radiance unless I was doing a transatlantic and really wanted the extra onboard entertainment. I think I need to choose a more traditional non-repositioning sailing before I can pass judgement effectively. The mini golf was certainly in much better repair!

 

 

 

I'm really excited, because I've never been to any of these places, and it just sounds like such a fantastic itinerary (Mykonos, Kusadasi/Ephesus, Rhodes, Limassol Cyprus, Alexandria Egypt, Athens, and naples/capri, with a few sea days sprinkled in). The big challenge for us is going to be airfare. Round trip for us will come in somewhere between $800 and $1300 per person depending on whether we can find a sale fare. Thankfully, because we will be flying transatlantic, we will have a much larger luggage allowance than a typical intra-european flight, and I'm used to meeting airline luggage allowances as there simply aren't any ships that sail from Arizona! ;) We saw a dynamite sale fare yesterday, but decided not to buy it because it is *so* far out and it was on airlines we don't typically fly. We're hoping maybe we can even use miles if there is availability.

 

I'm still trying to compose my thoughts about my last Radiance trip. I expect to post the first installment sometime tonight.

 

Cheers

 

 

Hi Niles..thanks so much for taking the time to tell me about your cruise. It sounds absolutely wonderful. I was not even aware of such itineraries.. I tend to think of the Caribbean..Mexico..and Europe/ Med. What a route...Vancouver is supposed to be lovely from all accounts. And Oregon! Quite a surprise. I have been to LA and San Francisco in the 1970's by ship.. It was just fantastic going under the Golden Gate bridge..and what a beautful city. It would be great sailing that time of night.This year on Legend we went under the sister bridge..to the golden Gate.. in Lisbon...it was so amazing. Called the 25th..(or is it 24th?) April bridge. The crown of the viking lounge.. looked like it just wasn't going to clear it. a great moment.

 

You really do have to travel to get your cruises..what great experiences. I traveled with my parents to Phoenix..Arizona...when I was 12..(1962).from our home in florida. All by car... with no air con...in the summer months. We would drive sometimes at night. My dad was going to work there..but they decided it was too hot and dry and carried on to San diego. where we stayed for a few months. I remember us bringing back some cactus...from somewhere along the way.

 

The ship sounds beautiful. I can remember other posters saying something about the seaview cafe being a hidden secret. I don't know if that was also on Radiance. ..but clearly not everyone found it. So the layout definitely is not the best. Those that did find the cafe....said how good it was. I would definitely like to sail on Radiance..or one of that class.

 

Your itinerary for next year is great. Really exciting. I think Legend is an ideal ship for all these ports as well. We are very lucky in the Uk that we are so near. Yet last year was our first cruise..or trip to the Med. Those airfares you quoted are very expensive. I hope you do find a really good deal nearer the time. It will definitely be worth the cost.We have the extra expense of traveling to rome...but the airfare has been incorporated into our cruise price..and the TA did get us a good deal. Though the airline has yet to be named! We also need to find a hotel for a day or two in Rome. Prior to the cruise. According to our TA...it is too early to arrange that.. so time will tell what total costs are involved there.

 

I look forward to reading your review..So long for now..Regards from rainy England.. I think the sun has finally left for this year. Though It has been a wonderful september. Carol

[cdillon23]

Straughn,

 

Thanks for the offer of the Legend GS review. I'll look forward to it. In the meantime, I'll just be jealous of all of you who are sailing before us. Then again, you'll be home and wishing you were us in January ;)

 

I'd also be interested in your selection of excursions. My DD has talked me into the zipline and cave tubing in Belize, and I know we want to go snorkling in Grand Cayman. We're looking at Capt. Marvins for that. Also would like to do a Mayan historical site. I guess the best port for that is either Costa Maya or Cozumel.

 

Once I get the excursions planned, I guess all that will be left to do is to make my final payment, cut off my jeans (for something to wear to formal night) and get out the big towels to save a few deck chairs. I've learned so much on CC! :D

 

Thanks for your reply!

 

Jim

 

Jim,

 

We have a couple excursions planned while we are on the Liberty in November. We are doing the cave tubing in Belize through cave-tubing.com and we are going to the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins with http://www.chacchobenruins.com in Costa Maya. We plan to just hit the beach in Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Don't know which beach in Grand Cayman yet, anyone with a suggestion let me know, but we will go to Paradise Beach in Cozumel. Hope this helps!

 

Chad

[referee]

cdillon23....We were interested in visiting the Chacchoben Mayan ruins on our Jan. 27th cruise..I saw your link..1...is this one better or different than Cozumel and 2....would you book through the cruiseline or try to get one on your own.....thanks.....referee(jay)

[Cachecara]

Hi Referee,

We are cruising Legend on the January 6th sailing. It's meant to be a celebration for my 2 daughters who will be graduating college in December and May. YIPPEEE!!! One even has a job already!:D (Can you say light at the end of the tunnel!)

[Camsnana]

needsomesun......welcome.....you can also put your name on the roll call page....our t.a. switched our cabin from deck 3 to deck 6 mid-ship....everything is supposed to be the same. can anybody tell us if we made a good move.?..also we are driving from orlando to tampa and parking our car there...any advice about the parking situation at the pier.....thanks...referee

Hey ref...four months from today. We are also on deck seven, mid ship. We enjoy being a little higher up to enjoy the view...where are you on the ship

[cdillon23]

We were interested in visiting the Chacchoben Mayan ruins on our Jan. 27th cruise..I saw your link..1...is this one better or different than Cozumel

I do not know which port has the better ruins, Cozumel or Costa Maya, this is my first time to visit either of these ports.

 

2....would you book through the cruiseline or try to get one on your own.....thanks.....referee(jay)

For this cruise RCCL offers an excursion similar to this one. What I mean is it goes to these ruins. I have read a lot about how if you set up your own tours the groups tend to be smaller. So this being my third cruise I thought I would give it a try. So we are going through that tour agency. I also know that RCCL's excursion is close to $70 when we are going to pay $43 through David and Ivan. I read a lot of good stuff about them on the Costa Maya board and they really seem to cater to cruise passengers. So in other words, we are going to try it on our own and see how it goes. Hope this helps! :D

 

Chad

[Blochouse]

Not new to crusing but new to boards. We were on Legend 2 years ago on a Hawai cruise. Great trip and excellent ship. I cannot think of anything negative about the ship or crew. We were booked on the Legend again for a May 6, 2007 cruise around Italy and 2 ports in Croatia. We have just been informed that the cruise has been cancelled by RCCL and we have been offered a May 31, 2007 sailing instead. They are offering a $200 per cabin shipboard credeit for the switch in dates.

(1) Does anyone know exactly why May 6th cruise was cancelled?

(2) Do you think $200 is fair compensation for the change in dates.

Any information and/or advice would be appreciated.

[IMNiles]

We were booked on the Legend again for a May 6, 2007 cruise around Italy and 2 ports in Croatia. We have just been informed that the cruise has been cancelled by RCCL and we have been offered a May 31, 2007 sailing instead. They are offering a $200 per cabin shipboard credeit for the switch in dates.

(1) Does anyone know exactly why May 6th cruise was cancelled?

(2) Do you think $200 is fair compensation for the change in dates.

 

 

On the roll call for the Transatlantic, krharris said:

I got a call directly from RCCL last night. I was booked on May 6, 13 nite (I know this thread is the transatlantic but you guys are having the same "Inventory" issues that I was on that cruise). Anyway, they cancelled the 13 nite (Rome to Rome) and changed it to a 7 nite (Rome to Rome) starting May 12. They wouldn't comment on what came before May 12. They created a May 19, 12 nite but wouldn't let me book that. They offered any Legend cruise through November 2007 at the same rate (I had a JS) or better depending on the cruise.

 

They offered $400 on board credit (again I had a JS).

They offered up to $200 per person for any air arrangements that I had already made (which I have). Just need to fax in the receipt.

 

so it sounds like what happened is that the reshuffled the itineraries to make room for a charter. She was originally going to sail directly to Rome, and then sail 13 night itineraries. Now it looks like she's going to sail from Tampa to Barcelona, a charter from Barcelona to Venice, regular sailing from Venice to Rome, then 12 nights out of Rome on May 19. I'm booked on that "new" May 19 cruise, and I'm glad to know I'm not completely crazy because I don't remember it being this itinerary when I looked a few weeks ago!

 

This far out, itinerary changes like this aren't unheard-of, and the offer they've made you (assuming they also made the airfare change offer) seems about par for the course. When the redeployed Legend from New Orleans last year (for obvious reasons) to Tampa, I had a group of 8 cabins travelling with me, and we got $100 per cabin OBC plus air-change-fee compensation.

[Priusprof]

Have no fears about booking Legend. We live in Tampa and sailed on her last December. Ship is AOK! At 70k tons she is smallest of that class but does not lack anything!

The Tampa facility is easy on and off. Channelside area is nice with shops and the FL Aquarium.

[referee]

camsnana.....we finally chose a cabin on deck 6 midship....just hoping for calm seas...my wife does not do well with waves....we tried that battery operated wrist band for our last march cruise to hawaii...i think it was a waste of $90.....did not help at all.....she'll go back to bonine or something called "hylands"....if anybody has any info on the latter, i'd really appreciate it...thanks....referee (jay)