Legend question!

[CFitzRN]

Sorry to start a new thread but I keep searching and can't find this specific info. We are going on our first cruise soon (Legend) and would just like to know how to orient ourselves when we get on board. My husband and I are bringing our 4 sons and one son's girlfriend.

 

What I would like to know is: What do we do as soon as we get on board? I've heard mentioned getting lanyards and having a hole punched in your S&S card. Where do we go for this? And what else should we try to do first, besides grabbing lunch on Lido? I hate not knowing what to do and would like to get settled asap. I don't want to wander aimlessly (haha) and would like to get the most out of our first couple of hours. Traveling with 4 teenagers and one 10 year old can be very chaotic and anything I know to help alleviate the unknown would be great. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[TheCruisingBrewers]

Well usually you spend about 10 minutes gawking, being new cruisers... the sheer size and granduer will hit you as soon as you walk in.

 

I would recommend you find your room and drop off the carry-ons, head to the pursers and have the hole punched in all the cards, you can bring lanyards or even buy the nice Crusie critic ones... I am not sure you can buy them in gift shops or at the casino till the ship sails.

 

We usually spend a good amount of time wandering those first few hours, walking off lunch and usually with a drink in hand.

 

Wander up to the Lido and have some lunch... even the buffet will be a teenagers dream....SO much food and to die for burgers and pizza. The ice cream machines are a must for after lunch. This buffet the first one Carnival puts out is usually the best of the week... they are showing you their best, the produce is perfect and there is a huge variety of food.

 

Once you have eaten wander and find Club O2 and Camp Carnival, get their paperwork and find out when the meet and greets for the teens are.... Check out the spa and set hair appointments for formal night if you wish them, then head to the dining room and check out your table and make/or check supper club ressies.

 

Enjoy your first cruise.... you will never forget it. Expect to rarely see the teenagers on board.... They will have the time of their lives.

 

Have a wonderful time!

 

Nancy

[Rockee4055]

Lanyards you get punched in the casino or at the pursers desk.

 

What I like to do before I get on a new ship is go online and look at the deck plans to get oriented as to the layout.

 

It's just nice to know that you can't go all the way through on certains decks etc.

 

If you search around on here someone may have a scanned image of the ship maps that you can get.

 

If all else fails come here and ask. You'll be almost gauranteed an answer and the tright answer.

 

have fun on your cruise.

[we2cruze]

Wandering is a great way to get a feel for the layout of the ship. I think it's fun with a bit of people watching thrown in. You can also go up to the dining room to see where your table assignment is and can meet with the maitre'd at a certain time listed in the Capers (the daily paper given with info in it) if you would like to change tables or times.

[serene56]

i get my lanyards with a plastic pouch from home at Walmart. (in the jewlery isle)

 

Cant get to your cabin til 1-1:30 so watch your carry ons.

 

We head directly to lunch at the buffet before it gets crowded. then wander aimlessly around the ship to get accustomed to our ew surroundings.

 

you want to find out when the meets are for the camps== MOST importantly for those teens to meet the kids for the week on their sailings. Usually at night.

 

Have your kids KNOW the rules and expectations BEFORE they sail.

 

Our main rules were dinner together as a family was mandatory--

no private excursions with new founded friends. and no going to any ones cabin for any reasons.

 

Once in your cabins-- set the voice mail on the phone. You can then call and get messages by using th epublic phones located around the ship.

You will see them by every elevator.

[Loving My Life]

As soon as you walk on the ship, they will hand you a little map of the ship that we carried with us everywhere (I don't have the best sense of direction:) ). We dropped our carry ons off at our cabin and checked out the room and balcony. Then we headed up to the lido for lunch. Then we wandered the ship and took pictures--lobby, lounges, dining room, shops, library (where the computers/internet are), kids camp, etc. We took tours of the spa and gym. We found our table in the dining room. We lucked out with a table at a window so we had amazing views of sunset at dinner. Then it was time for pictures and dinner.

[mattmdv]

Here's some pictures from our Legend cruise, May '06 (Legends of 5.6.7), maybe they will give you some ideas. Go, explore, eat, do everything, or do nothing at all, it's your cruise/vacation.

 

http://community.webshots.com/user/mattmdv

 

Matt

[DaDivaMom]

You have until 2:30 to eat, explore and drop stuff off.........then we are having drinks of the day, my friend!:p

 

Honestly I would get some food and wander. Drop off your bags if you can. Have the heathens wear their swimsuits so they can plop in the pool if they want to. Switch room cards if needed, put game room or spending limits on the boy's S&S cards (ask me I know!), just hang.

 

Can't wait until the 6th!!!!

[CFitzRN]

Great info - thanks everyone! Diva - yep, I'll be there for the DoD, no worries. I just don't want to be a big, lost dork beforehand. :D

[CFitzRN]

Here's some pictures from our Legend cruise, May '06 (Legends of 5.6.7), maybe they will give you some ideas. Go, explore, eat, do everything, or do nothing at all, it's your cruise/vacation.

 

http://community.webshots.com/user/mattmdv

 

Matt

 

Haha - I clicked on your link and thought "this looks familiar..." - I've already seen your pics and thoroughly enjoyed them! Thanks again though!

[CFitzRN]

As soon as you walk on the ship, they will hand you a little map of the ship that we carried with us everywhere (I don't have the best sense of direction:) ). We dropped our carry ons off at our cabin and checked out the room and balcony. Then we headed up to the lido for lunch. Then we wandered the ship and took pictures--lobby, lounges, dining room, shops, library (where the computers/internet are), kids camp, etc. We took tours of the spa and gym. We found our table in the dining room. We lucked out with a table at a window so we had amazing views of sunset at dinner. Then it was time for pictures and dinner.

 

So, let me ask this: If you don't like where your assigned table is located, can you request a change to a specific table through the maitre d'?

[serene56]

I just don't want to be a big, lost dork beforehand. :D

 

 

Why not? thats the whole idea by being a new cruiser..

 

MY favorite past time while waiting to get in the cabin is sitting at the pool on the lido deck and watching newbies.. Yes you can tell. For one they will be the ones wearing lanyards with the blue sign and sail cards.

 

Watching these people being approached by a waiter with a tray of DOD in nice sovernier cups being asked if they would like a drink-- thinking they are free they take one, take a sip and then the waiter asks them for their sign and sail card.

 

Another newbie=== they are always in a hurry. Taking pictures of "stuff"

[CFitzRN]

Why not? thats the whole idea by being a new cruiser..

 

MY favorite past time while waiting to get in the cabin is sitting at the pool on the lido deck and watching newbies.. Yes you can tell. For one they will be the ones wearing lanyards with the blue sign and sail cards.

 

Watching these people being approached by a waiter with a tray of DOD in nice sovernier cups being asked if they would like a drink-- thinking they are free they take one, take a sip and then the waiter asks them for their sign and sail card.

 

Another newbie=== they are always in a hurry. Taking pictures of "stuff"

 

So what do you seasoned cruisers do with your S&S cards then?

[getta]

So what do you seasoned cruisers do with your S&S cards then?

Hi Christy. Have a great trip. I don't have my sign and sail card punched. I put it in a small wallet used for that purpose and have it in my beach bag. I don't want it around my neck and getting in the way of my sun tan.

[serene56]

So what do you seasoned cruisers do with your S&S cards then?

 

 

I wear a lanyard too--except my card is not blue.

 

dont sweat the small stuff- whats the chances of you ever seeing your fellow passengers ever again in this lifetime?

[AK Wife]

This will be our fourth cruise with the DD & DS! They are now almost 18 and 16 so I asked them what they thought and here goes:

My DS was 11 on his first and he said to check out the schedule for the kids club and highlight what you want to do. The first formal night we had him be with us for a family dinner, but the second formal night the kids club did something else and we let him go to that. He remembered touring the ship, playing "treasure hunt" games, and meeting other kids from all over. Your son might want something to collect addresses in for his new friends. Now at almost 16 he is looking forward to the teen scene!

My DD'sfirst comment was "separate"!:p Explore the ship, get your bearings, and know where your cabin is in reference to the nearest elevator, the pool, and the dining room. We go with another family and all the kids always know their way around the ship before the adults. My DD carries a deck of cards in her purse - they all would get Shirley Temples with their soda cards and find a spot to sit and play cards. They ususally knew the best places to hang out.

Our first cruise with the kids, 11&13, we did the walkie talkie thing. It was okay if the batteries worked and they were in range. That was the last time we took them. Now we arrange for meeting times - check in with us on the deck by the ice cream machine on the port side @2:00, meet us at the cabin prior to dinner at 7:30, etc. They are good about finding us, keeping tabs on each other, and remembering the rules and expectations.

We tipped the cabin steward extra up front;) and let him know that our kids would be in the cabin across the hall and to let us know if there were any problems. Of course there weren't, and they managed to make him feel very special! My DD brought paper & markers to decorate our doors (my DH and I celebrated 20 yrs last summer) and made signs for the cabin steward:D as a farewell. They also made sure that their things were put away and organized to make his job easier. I also had a key for their room so I could check on them at any time. You can get that at the purser's desk.

Above all, have fun, and plan your excursions as a family. I would never even think of allowing my teens to explore foreign ports on their own. But we made sure our excursions were things everyone wanted to do, or the boys and girls would split up (like my DD and I are touring Roatan but the DH & DS are doing snuba). We all have fun and we meet for dinner to discuss our adventures.

Have a great cruise!

[bmacri]

Blue S&S cards are first time cruisers.

Is it gold colored for over 10 cruises?

I can't remember the color of cruises 2-9.

 

I wonder if the wait staff takes notice or if it really doesn't matter that much. The staff seem to be nice to everyone.

[snc421]

Great tips, Mrs. Alaska!

 

I sailed on the Carnival Legend May 4 this year. Links to my review and pictures are in my signature. (Cruise pics start on like page 5 of my Webshots album... 4 nights in FL ahead of the cruise.)

 

Totally agree the best thing to do before going to the Lido for food even is to physically locate your room. After the 10 minutes of gawking, DH & I looked at the photo gallery a little in anticipation of the week to come then went to locate room #6197. They say rooms aren't ready until 1:30. As it was only like 12:30 at this time, we went to the Lido. We did not ask if it was ok to leave our carry-ons. We didn't even open the door. Just walked away. But we knew exactly where our room was so we found it again no problem at 1:25 to change clothes and leave the carry-ons.

[snc421]

Blue S&S cards are first time cruisers.

Is it gold colored for over 10 cruises?

I can't remember the color of cruises 2-9.

 

I wonder if the wait staff takes notice or if it really doesn't matter that much. The staff seem to be nice to everyone.

Aren't they silver? Seemed like I saw silver ones in addition to the blue and gold ones. I didn't realize my blue card was my rookie card... Thanks! Our staff seemed to treat DH & I the same as everyone else IMO.

[ncbeachteacher]

Hey Christy!

 

Besides eating, checking out the cabin, etc... it is also a good time to make reservations at the Golden Fleece or the supper club dining. We loved it last year once and it is definitely a repeater! Highly recommend it! We have also made spa reservations and taken tours of the work out facilities. Get oriented to where things are located but the Legend is a great ship to get around on and you will learn the layout fairly quickly. However, we still gawk! Believe me, it will be 2:30 before you know it! See ya soon!

[cuyahoga11]

Blue S&S cards are first time cruisers.

Is it gold colored for over 10 cruises?

I can't remember the color of cruises 2-9.

 

I wonder if the wait staff takes notice or if it really doesn't matter that much. The staff seem to be nice to everyone.

 

Gold is 2-9

 

Paltinum is over 10

[snc421]

Gold is 2-9

 

Platinum is over 10

 

Thanks for the clarification! Makes sense, I see people's platinum cruises in their signatures. I was curious when I saw the three colors... but now I know. Now I am wondering why they have cards to designate the rookies.... Platinum and plus cruisers I understand because they get the VIP embarkment, but why the first timers? :confused:

[cuyahoga11]

Thanks for the clarification! Makes sense, I see people's platinum cruises in their signatures. I was curious when I saw the three colors... but now I know. Now I am wondering why they have cards to designate the rookies.... Platinum and plus cruisers I understand because they get the VIP embarkment, but why the first timers? :confused:

 

When the staff sees blue they say welcome and when they see gold they say welcome back:cool:

[serene56]

. Now I am wondering why they have cards to designate the rookies.... Platinum and plus cruisers I understand because they get the VIP embarkment, but why the first timers? :confused:

 

 

so people like me know who to watch--LOL (j/k)

Since i have cruised before and after the color cards-- everyone gets treated the same..even the blue card people who have booked the highest cat suite will get the same treatment as the couple who booked the lowest.

 

You will see more gold cards then blue cards

[snc421]

When the staff sees blue they say welcome and when they see gold they say welcome back:cool:

Aha! Thank you!

so people like me know who to watch--LOL (j/k)

Since i have cruised before and after the color cards-- everyone gets treated the same..even the blue card people who have booked the highest cat suite will get the same treatment as the couple who booked the lowest.

 

You will see more gold cards then blue cards

 

Agreed that I was treated the same. You're right... I did see more gold than either other color.