Review: Wedding Cruise on the Carnival Legend 5/22. Long w/ Lots of Photos!

[Jimmy Geegitz]

Awesome..Can't wait for more!

[marshhawk]

I just rebooked the Legend-I love this ship! Please hurry with the rest of the review! And where did the secret door go? I just checked the deck plans and I see the small corrider...???

 

p.s. i grew up in a small town in Jersey-there's no place better to grow up...LOL IMHO

[GayleR]

Love your review! We will be on this lovely ship in September. I'm dying to know where that door goes!:p

[JAXCRUISER]

Great review--looking forward to the rest!!! Thanks!

[Dave0311]

Great review. Quick question - how did you like cabin 4224? I was literally about to call CCL and book this cabin on Miracle (sister ship) for this August. Was there any noise from below? Anything you disliked about this cabin? Thanks so much!

It was a great cabin. It wasn't too far from the elevators, only one or two decks down to the dining room, and directly up to the buffet and Serenity areas.

 

The only problem I had with it was that the secret door next to the cabin, when it was opened would slam shut very hard. No one ever really used that door, it was secret after all. But when they did you could feel it close!

 

And the venture down through the secret door (which is rather anti-climatic in my opinion) comes a couple days into the cruise. You have to wait to see what happens! :D :p

[2bfirsttime]

LOVING your review so far. I love a long detailed review, especially one laid out as well as yours. Keep up the good work. Were set to sail the Legend a year from today for a Graduation gift to my SS.

[Dave0311]

While I was busy exploring cabins and opening boxes, a lot of our group was checking out the new Serenity area that was installed on the Legend during her latest dry-dock earlier this year.

The happy couple:

Not sure if I mentioned this yet, but I’m grabbing photos from my camera and my sister’s camera. This is how I’m able to post pictures of Serenity despite my not being there at the time. ;)

Time for the muster drill aka safety briefing.

It doesn’t look like a lot of us were taking it too seriously. It’s okay though, we still had about 15 minutes from when this picture was taken until it actually started. At that point we shut up. I can’t say the same for the drunken past guest who attempted to conduct the safety briefing on his own. The crew were not impressed with his attempt.

We had a lot of drinkers travelling in our group on this cruise:

[Dave0311]

Now that the muster drill is over, it’s time to resume our fun! The Serenity-goers went back to base:

They weren’t there for long though. Sushi was starting soon.

This was the only time I ate the sushi on the cruise. It was just alright, in my opinion. Some of the sushi aficionados in our group really disliked it. And then there were some who thought it was some of the best sushi ever. I guess the jury’s still out on this one.

Up next: crossing under the bridge!

[Dave0311]

For those of you who have sailed out of Tampa (or any other port with a low bridge), you know it’s pretty neat to see the ship just barely make it under the bridge. If you’ve never sailed out of one of these ports, keep in mind that it’s pretty much a requirement to get pictures of the ship going under the bridge.

I’ll just let the pictures speak for themselves. Although the experience is much cooler than the photos can show. I was on the funnel deck, right in front of the funnel. My sister was in – you guessed it- Serenity.

Approaching the bridge:

Going under:

We made it!

[Dave0311]

Alright now that every has taken their bridge pictures, it’s time to get back to the fun.

I can’t say this is exactly appropriate Serenity area behavior. Luckily I wasn’t there to take part in the antics:

Back on deck 4, I’m helping to unpack the boxes with the wedding favors. Soon these will be delivered to everyone’s cabin. As I’m unpacking, I notice something fly by the ship out of the corner of my eye. I look out our balcony and see this:

That barge passed right by our ship. Since we were travelling in opposite directions, it seemed like it zoomed b y, but it was probably moving much slower than it seemed. It was still shocking to see another large vessel move that closely to the ship!

Soon after out encounter with the barge, Jess & Jason stop by the room to start delivering the favors to everyone’s rooms. Prior to the cruise, we were debating on whether to deliver them ourselves or to tip the stewards to have them deliver everything. In the end, we decided we would deliver them. Luckily everyone else was in their rooms at the time, so everything got delivered first time out.

Once everything was delivered, we broke down the boxes and put them outside the cabin. With the suitcases unpacked and stowed under the bed, we are now officially done the prep work for our vacation!

Next: first sunset and dinner

[Gecko7]

Great review and I can see the pictures now. It seems my work has a policy preventing day dreaming while on their network.:D All is good from my home, keep it coming......Thanks!

[MicksMom]

Thank you for taking the time to post such an awesome review!!! I love reviews with lots of pictures. :D

[McDebbie]

Great review, can't wait to see the rest.

[pomm1972]

Thanks for the comments everyone. :) Now to answer some questions.

 

The hotel did have a shuttle to the pier, but we had reserved a group of four taxi vans so we could all travel over at the same time. From what I remember hearing, it was about 20 minutes between shuttles.

 

As for food, the groom's family ordered pizzas, wings, and cheesesteaks from a nearby pizzaria. I can't recall the name off-hand, but I'll try to find out for you. The food was very good.

 

Our shuttle driver from the airport to the hotel said there was a good Italian restaurant and Chinese restaurant within walking distance of the hotel. If we hadn't ate at the hotel, I'm sure we would've checked one of these places out. If you're a drinker, there is a convenience store down the road that sells beer and stuff. That's certainly not something we're used to in NJ!

 

The Legend is my favorite ship. This was my third time on her. The itinerary is fun too. I definitely recommend her. :)

 

We stayed at the SpringHill Suties Tampa Westshore Airport. It was right in between the airport and the pier, about 10-15 minutes from each. We were very pleased with this hotel. :)

 

Thanks again for the comments! Will continue the review shortly.

 

Pizza joint was probably Westshore Pizza. The italian restaurant was probably Maggianos and Chinese- PF Changs.

[pomm1972]

Excellent job, keep it up. As I sail on her for my 2nd time in 40 some odd days I'm keeping my eyes peeled for the rest.

[TheLittleScot]

Great review and photos! I'm getting really excited to go on the Legend in August. I keep hearing great things about it. We'll also be staying on Deck 4. I can't wait to see what's behind the secret door (as anti-climatic as it may be)!

 

Your "suspenseful" photos going under the Sunshine Skyway are more significant than you may know. The original bridge (now the pier that parallels the Skyway) collapsed when a freighter collided with one of the support columns. Another separate crash just under the bridge was also caused by none other than a bright, careless cruise ship. :D

 

 

For those of you who have sailed out of Tampa (or any other port with a low bridge), you know it’s pretty neat to see the ship just barely make it under the bridge. If you’ve never sailed out of one of these ports, keep in mind that it’s pretty much a requirement to get pictures of the ship going under the bridge.

 

I’ll just let the pictures speak for themselves. Although the experience is much cooler than the photos can show. I was on the funnel deck, right in front of the funnel. My sister was in – you guessed it- Serenity.

 

Approaching the bridge:

 

 

 

 

Going under:

 

 

 

We made it!

 

 

[Crusin Karen]

Oh, this sounds like such a fun cruise! Congrats to the bride and groom and can't wait to read more. We always cruise from Manhattan (live about 20 mins. from cruise terminal :)) and going under the Var/Narrows Bridge is the same experience. You kind of "duck" and hold your head! :eek: Thanks for sharing this with us!

[pe4all]

Loving this review. Thanks for the answer about the cabin. Went with 4165 instead. And congrats on the wedding!:)

[Sandgnat]

Great review. I love the Legend too. We are getting married on the Legend 11-20-2011! This will be my 3rd time on her too! Keep it coming!

[CruisinJazz]

I can't wait for the rest of the cruise report! I just booked Carnival Legend for the September 23, 2012 cruise! Over a year away! ugh!! The wait is going to be horrible! LOL

[deadmoney]

Awesome review. Looking forward to the rest.

[star453]

FAntastic review:) Looking forward to the rest.

[MRVEGAS711]

Great review, keep it going!

[ciship]

We are on the Legend in July.........can't wait to read what you did in each port!

[marshhawk]

Could you please get back on line and give us more review-it's been days!