Dec 11-18 Legend

[Wekiva Jim]

AKA the troublemakers.

 

Like I said, we had the misfortune of interacting with these two when they were easily recruited into BF#2. In an attempt to give him the benefit of the doubt and a small measure of respect, we nicknamed him Army boy. He said he was a fellow veteran, but had extreme views he would loudly share. He could shoot straight to the top of most people's list of 'biggest jerks I've met this month'. There is a photo of them in post 85, sitting alone at the bar while we all huddled up together. They rebuffed efforts to socialize with us, and he showed his foolishness off when he was asked by the staff to slow down his drinking by having a glass of water. We were ashamed to have brought them in and spent the rest of the hour explaining and apologizing. We were glad to see them leave and were not at all surprised when we found out that their interactions with other passengers also did not go well.

 

It was later on Saturday evening in the casino when the two again showed their borish and antisocial attitude, and it finally wore thin. Appearently a lady said something to one of them about how low Ab's pants were (as is the latest ghetto style). But it was GF (who never did get her own nickname) who was the biggest instigator. While I wasn't there, and don't know the details, SHE was the one led away in cuffs, with Ab following closely behind.

 

The next morning while sitting around waiting to get off, we were talking to a couple who told us their own story about a pair that closely resembled their description. It wasn't pretty.

 

But what sealed the deal to get these two the award nomination was posted by one of our group members. She did self assist and said she was one of the first off the ship. She also mentioned that Ab and GF were being turned over to the local cops who seemed very interested in helping the couple continue their vacation down at the police station.

 

So I guess this means that ship security does more than check ID's, and Carnival will cooperate with local law enforcement when necessary.

[Abi Angela]

Great review. We are on the Legend so very soon and our roll call is also having a "private party." Hope we have as wicked good time as you all seemed to have. I had been waiting for the ending of the story with Army boy. Loved the many pictures, thanks.

[travellover39]

 

 

And just what WAS he thinking during the photo?? (post 82). Well, I wasn't smiling, so that knocks out the more obvious answers, and the only thing I get that serious about is money. So I was probably trying to figure out a way to do this again within a year AND bring the eating machines. But again, I wasn't smiling, so I was most likely caught sliding it back a month or two...

 

I hope you get to do this cruise again with your boys. You both looked like you enjoyed the Legend cruise very much.

 

Thanks again for sharing your cruise with us.:)

[Wekiva Jim]

After going to bed so early last night and missing the final opportunity to party with my new buddies, it was no wonder I was up early enough to drink two cups of hot cocoa before we sailed under the bridge around 5:15. We had packed most of our stuff on Sat., and put them outside the door in the evening. So really it was a slow morning of packing up the few odds and ends into the carry on bags, going up for breakfast (I was 7 for 7 this cruise), then returning before 8 to make sure everything was out of the room.

 

We spent the morning on a chilly deck 9, and our zone number for debark was called at 10. By this time I was getting a bit antsy about the time going by, knowing I'd waste another hour fetching the car and swinging back for DW and the bags. So I did something dumb! Total brain lock #2 occured in the baggage claims area when I got our 2 overstuffed (and darn heavy) bags and waltzed off, leaving behind the garment bag :eek:.

We didn't even miss it until we got home and I was checking my missed calls/messages. Yeah, they called me from the port, in plenty of time to go back and get it, but...

 

So it wasn't the perfect end to a really great week, oh well. If the worst that happened was me getting drunk and stupid (but not necessarily at the same time), I'll make that trade everytime.

[Wekiva Jim]

The drive home was uneventful. The children, who'd been offered financial incentives for not screwing up this week, were allowed to split the 100 bucks emergency cash I'd left behind, but had to give up the credit card. The left behind garment bag was delivered by UPS a few weeks later for $28. (good thing it was nearly empty).

 

We will sail again with Carnival, and probably in the off season so we can bring EM1 & 2 along. DW says it has to be an eastern next time, but doesn't care which ship. Living in central Florida gives us many choices, so the next TR is still a mystery to me too.

[BoozeNCruise]

Jim, great review.

My family and myself were on the same cruise. We attended the first boozefest in Billies Piano Bar that you organized. I think it was your wife that took my picture as I entered, Not so much a pic of me, but the MonkeyHead Drink I was drinking. We were a party of five. I appreciate the hard work that you did organizing the many functions that you did and I am sure all others are appreciative as well.

Well, Army Boy, what a tool that guy was! His real name is Ryan. I spent a lot of my late nights at the PokerPro table in the casino and Ryan was there every night. On this one particuliar nite, wed i think, I sat right beside Ryan. He was so drunk and obnoxious but losing lots of money so no one at the table seemed to mind. He played every hand and went all in with his money most of the time, losing most of the time. He deposited money into his account many times that night. This one time he entered his PIN number wrong twice. I stopped him before the third attempt and asked him, "dude, do you want me to enter it this time?". He said, no, I don't want you to know my number. I said confidently, I already know your number, you've entered so many times tonight.

The PokerPro table is a non smoking table, but Ryan was smoking. He would cuff his cig in his hand and hide it between his legs. One of the other players said, "what's that smell, do you smell something burning?". At that time, Ryan jumps from his chair and proceeds to fall over his chair as his cig was burning his pants!

A little later ryan had ordered another drink. One of the bar staff came over and discretely told Ryan that he was cut off from the bar and would not be served any more that night. I said discretely but Ryan went off on a beligerant tirade, we calmed him down of sorts. Ryan, looked at me and said, can you believe that, they cut me off! I said Ryan, they are just looking out for your well being, they don't want you to drive home drunk tonight, which he quickly responded, "yea". Then he said, I don't have to drive home? kinda confused looking, like, right?

It soon became an unwritten rule that if you beat Ryan out of his earnings that you buy him a drink. Again, Ryan had money and we were like sharks taking our turns getting it. I know first hand Ryan lost well over $ 900 that one sitting. It was rumored that he was down over $4 k thus far and this was wednesday or thursday night.

I know Ryan was a trouble maker, but I sure hope he is on my next cruise, Ryan helped me in a big way pay my sail n sign bill completely! :D

[Wekiva Jim]

OK, here's a shocker for you, Disney does customer service better than Carnival, or anybody else for that matter. But I was happy with CCL and the product they offer. Things I may have liked better on DCL include; having a more personable room steward/staff, not paying extra for the private area beach buffet, BYOB, Mickey photo op's, MDR rotation, split bathrooms, fresh water pools, the pre/post cruise mailings, and the deck party/fireworks.

 

While these are all improvements Carnival can't/won't offer, I don't think I'm willing to pay about double for the same basic cruise experience. Many of these ships go to the same places. Some folks appreciate/expect the extras that go along with the higher price tag other cruise lines offer, but I think I'll fall into the category of 'less expensive, more often'.

 

We will do Carnival again.

[Banditswife]

Hi, we were on the Legend 12/04/2011. So we were leaving as you were entering. It's late, so I will read your review later. Glad you had a good roll call, we did too.

[Wekiva Jim]

Hey Bruce, thanks for another look at Army boy. I guess if I was making a profit off him I might have put up with him for a limited time also.

 

It was great meeting you and your family and I'm glad everyone had a good time.

[Wekiva Jim]

I had heard that Carnival is alot closer to my budget, and after getting bitten by the cruise bug (pretty nasty scar), it seemed like a more natural fit. The base price (before taxes, port fees, tips) was about half of the DCL rate, and matched what I'd hoped to spend by doing a last minute purchase. As it was, we did the early saver rate of $389 in March, up from the 379 in Feb when I started looking. With port fees, taxes, etc, it grew to 470, and auto-tips brought it to $550 each for a 7 night cruise. Even with it being the 'off' season, I don't think it gets much cheaper. But we did have a windowless room in the bowls of the ship.

 

I'm glad I'm not a cabin person. When we had a balcony, I found I was spending way too much time on my private paradise. I became a hermit and missed way too much. At 30-50% higher cost to go to the same places, I couldn't afford, I mean justify it. I personally think having a room closer to the elevator is more important than what deck you are on, or if your room has a window.

 

The total cost of $1,100 for the 2 of us is very comparable to what we would have spent at a land based hotel for a week and ate all our meals out. With the time/expense of getting from your room to the activities reduced, the costs seem to even out more. We were able to save money again with no airfare or pre cruise hotel room. The romance at sea angle played a part too.

 

I think the enticement of being transported to a far away new place each day while I party/eat/sleep is too much to resist. Especially if the cost per day (after expenses) is reasonable, or even affordable.

 

Granted, popular times of the year or a room with a view will cost more anywhere, and adding in excursions/entertainment can easily double/triple what we paid. All told it cost about $2K, with parking/gas, shopping, excursions, booze, and casino being the other $100+ expenses.

 

Not too many can say they had more fun that week, and probably fewer can say they spent less doing something similar. That sounds like value to me.