Carnival Legend -1/29/12 - 02/05/12

[serene56]

Just off the Legend-- just walked in the door.

The cruise was again fabulous. No problems with sour workers. luke warm food. poor quality dinners. I thought the entire week was GRAND.

 

Ok-- the weather was really crappy. I think the sun poked out maybe 4 hours the entire cruise---LOL

 

the ship was sailing full and I would have the say that 90% of the people were senior citizens- with about 75% of those being over 75.

 

Never did I sail with a full ship of older people like this sailing--- and yes, we do sail Princess too.

 

 

be back with a full review.

[BusyFLmom]

Yay!!! Cant wait for the review!!! I know its gonna be good :D

 

Welcome back!!!

[serene56]

I talked Honey into going the night before- afterall it is January and I feared the worse. (we usually fly the last flight of the night and arrive around 10pm. But this time he took off the entire day-- and we flew out at 1pm.

 

Stayed at the Holiday Inn Express at Rocky Point - most all reviews state this is the place to stay while staying in Tampa. We paid 93. for the room. No shuttle service to the cruise ship-- thats ok because it only was 35.00 for the 7 of us to take a taxi there.

 

We arrived at the hotel about 4:30- called for a shuttle. Got checked in nd relaxed for a bit. Headed over to Bahama Breeze at 5:45pm and there was a 75 minute wait. Went back to the hotel- took the free shuttle to International Plaza and had dinner there- Was back at the hotel before 9:30.

 

Bed-- it was a long day.

---

Got up early- ya'll know that cruise excitement that does not allow you to sleep in any.

--

son and niece went down stairs and the lady at the check in counter told them that the Legend will not be sailing today and we need to make arrangements for the night. My niece in tears come to me and told me what was happening. I jumped on their free computer and posted here..

 

So I called Carnival- used the emergency number to get what was happening so I could make arrangements if we needed to find another hotel.

 

The employee told me that Legend will not be in port until 11:30 or soon after-- people are not being checked in until after 2pm. The ship is supposed to sail at 8pm

 

(because we had a reservation with the cab company we decided to keep with our original plans)

 

we took the cab at 10:15 and got to the pier. The ship WAS there. we checked in using the platinum room. (nothing fancy but is sure was nice to me)

 

Sign and sail cards are not ready but we can get them before we board. We were told that boarding will not be until after 2 because the ship still has not started their disembarkation process. (i felt bad for people that booked early flights)

 

at 11am we got up to go outside-- and saw the line (WOW) they stopped letting people into the terminal. It holds 450 people and it was a capacity. The people outside were going to wait until the ship started loading. (good thing it was not all the hot out there)

 

We were told we would have to stay put until we got our sign and sail cards so we could get back in the terminal-- or we would have to wait outside... we waited-- got our cards and went outside-- the line went around the corner and way down the street. I felt very sorry for them because it will be a long wait.

(well at least 2 hours---but when you are arriving early to get on a cruise ship-- and stand on a line-- it really can not be fun>)

 

 

We had a little trouble getting back in the terminal--- People just were not informed but we had a name of the head lady who told us we could leave and come back in---

[Snorkel2Much]

Looking forward to the rest. Thanks for sharing.

[mamajules]

Looking forward to hearing more. One question - why no shuttle service at the HI Express Rocky Point? We're booked there for our Legend cruise in October through Stay123 and are planning to use their shuttle to the port.

[serene56]

We were boarding about 1:30. I was really impressed with this boarding process. Someone kept coming over the speaker telling us what was happening. They passed out bottles of water to everyone and little bars of granola (yuck)

 

We finally boarded after the handicapped-- and there were MANY.

I will not go into detail about the lady standing there will anyone who got in front of her-- I think she woulda knocked someone over if they did.

(LOL)

 

we had to wait for the cabin--they were not ready and we were told it will be announced.

 

We headed to the Lido deck---and I showed my first time cruisers around the Lido buffet.

Lunch was good- food was good- plentiful. Staff seemed pleasant and willing to help.

(im sure they heard a lot of grumblings that morning.)

 

we got the all clear that the cabins were ready so we headed to drop off the carry ons.

 

Muster drill was done before 5pm- it was very quiet. (i never attended such a quiet drill)

staff were taking people drinks and putting them off to the side-

 

When we were all standing the cruise director came on and told people in cabin # blah blah blah blah (and named a few cabins) which surprised a lot of people since they did not take a call.

We had to wait a good 5 more minutes for those people that were called to show up.

After it was over I was standing there when someone asked a staff member how they knew who was missing. He stated that each deck and section there is a security officer that checks cabins-- if that cabin is locked they got put on a list and that is where they got the cabin numbers from.

All public areas are cleared.

 

so for those people thinking they can miss it--- dont. You hold the rest of us up while you get there.

[serene56]

Looking forward to hearing more. One question - why no shuttle service at the HI Express Rocky Point? We're booked there for our Legend cruise in October through Stay123 and are planning to use their shuttle to the port.

 

 

you have to be booked into the cruise package.

 

Also the first shuttle leaves at 11am and you will have to be signed for that or take the next one at 11:30. (too late for me)

 

so if you figure out what the cost of the cruise package vs takeing a taxi the price was the same and we got to the port before all the shuttles were leaving the hotels--which put me in the front of the lines.

[serene56]

The Legend has a new Cruise Director for the past 3 weeks. His name is Kirk and he was the CD on our Pride cruise last February. All his stuff is the same as it was on the Pride.

 

I did talk with his the first day-- told him the Pride was a favorite cruise of ours. He did apologize to us and told us if we remember anything from the Pride we will notice it will all be the same this time. (it was)

 

All is good though-- even though it was the second time hearing the same joke it was still fun

[serene56]

the weather was really crappy

 

Here is what we sailed in all week:

 

http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/florida-rainmaker_2012-02-05

[Young-Cruiser]

I want to see more review. Like, the cruise part.

[serene56]

I have been trying to post the fun times but being computer illiterate I am not having a good time of it.

 

I do have it scanned to an email.

 

If interested in a copy send an email to Serene56@aol.com with Legend Fun Times in the subject line

[gelo7]

Glad that you had a grand time.

[Malinger]

Thanks for posting, we are sailing in June and appreciate your review. I am also sending an email for the Funtimes. THANKS AGAIN!!!!

 

-Nate

[boowaaccaa]

Thanks for posting-- looking forward to the rest of your review!

[dhkhth]

Thank you for your review and emailing of the fun times. I can not wait until my cruise in a little over a month!

[KRW71]

Love reading Legend reviews.:)

Sorry that Mother Nature did cooperate.:mad:

[serene56]

I got weighed this morning--lost 5 1/2 pounds. Needless to say I was shocked since I ate every day like it was my last meal. (LOL)

 

I tried every appetizer and had at least 2 entrees each night.

Some I liked- some I didnt like and some I LOVED. (LOBSTER- i ate two of those.

 

 

ok-- some more cruise stuff that I did not know.

 

Ports-- when arriving in Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Belieze

IF You have an early excursion planned with a private vendor you need to go to the Follies lounge where they will "dismiss" you row by row.

 

As much as I read reviews I did not know this for Cozumel and thought since we were not tendering you could just walk off the ship in an entirely orderly fashion- Not the case for the first hour.

If no hurry then take your time wait til you are given an all clear then you can make your way down to Deck A midship to make your way off the ship.

 

There was no butting in lines-- the cruise staff was making sure of that too.

[crewsweeper]

I got weighed this morning--lost 5 1/2 pounds. Needless to say I was shocked since I ate every day like it was my last meal. (LOL)

 

I tried every appetizer and had at least 2 entrees each night.

Some I liked- some I didnt like and some I LOVED. (LOBSTER- i ate two of those.

 

 

ok-- some more cruise stuff that I did not know.

 

Ports-- when arriving in Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Belieze

IF You have an early excursion planned with a private vendor you need to go to the Follies lounge where they will "dismiss" you row by row.

 

As much as I read reviews I did not know this for Cozumel and thought since we were not tendering you could just walk off the ship in an entirely orderly fashion- Not the case for the first hour.

If no hurry then take your time wait til you are given an all clear then you can make your way down to Deck A midship to make your way off the ship.

 

There was no butting in lines-- the cruise staff was making sure of that too.

Great tips here! DW and sisters on Legend this coming Sunday. And which rows in Follies Lounge get dismissed first? Near stage or near rear?

 

Can't wait for the rest of it.

[Sparky2]

you have to be booked into the cruise package.

 

Also the first shuttle leaves at 11am and you will have to be signed for that or take the next one at 11:30. (too late for me)

 

so if you figure out what the cost of the cruise package vs takeing a taxi the price was the same and we got to the port before all the shuttles were leaving the hotels--which put me in the front of the lines.

 

We loved the Cruise Pkg. We booked it in Feb. or March and got it for $119 + tax ($133.28). There were just the 2 of us so we didn't have anyone to share taxi fare.

 

We arrived at the port at 11:30 but couldn't board anyway. For those of us outside waiting, we were bussed to the Convention Center for a hot lunch and still received the $15.00 credit for having to board late. The bus brought us back after the line had cleared so we were able to just walk in, check in, and on the ship. Not the way we'd expected it to be, but it worked out fine. Sure beat standing outside or sitting inside for a few hours.

 

Since it included the shuttle from the airport to hotel plus the shuttle from hotel to cruiseport plus the return shuttle to the airport, it was a great value.

 

So - the cruise package may not be worth it if you have others to share the cost but for us it was great.

[serene56]

Great tips here! DW and sisters on Legend this coming Sunday. And which rows in Follies Lounge get dismissed first? Near stage or near rear?

 

Can't wait for the rest of it.

 

 

The rows are dismissed as they fill so the first row will be filling first and work its way towards the back-- then start all over again on the other side.

[serene56]

Smokers:

 

Cartons are sold on the ship- 28.00 each or 2 of 52.00

 

Save the money and when you get to Cozumel-- 3 cartons for 66.00

 

that is the better deal.

 

There is not a lot of places to smoke- whose idea to make Sachamos smoking when people are eating their sushi there.

 

anyways we did not find it a problem since we had a balcony--but for people with ocean view or insides-- head to lido deck 9 (midship towards forward on the starboard side-- the entire side is smoking.

 

and you can smoke in the casino but you better be playing- you can not walk through the casino smoking. nor can you just sit there and smoke.

 

it was easier to head to the balcony or the lido deck area.

 

After the dinner times-- the casino was quite busy.

[Sparky2]

I got weighed this morning--lost 5 1/2 pounds. Needless to say I was shocked since I ate every day like it was my last meal. (LOL)

 

I tried every appetizer and had at least 2 entrees each night.

Some I liked- some I didnt like and some I LOVED. (LOBSTER- i ate two of those.

 

There was no butting in lines-- the cruise staff was making sure of that too.

 

Can't believe you LOST 5-1/2 pounds. I ate & ate, too, but did gain 3 lbs. Just glad it wasn't more. I did walk everywhere except to the Lido deck.

 

I took $800 with me on the cruise and came home with $1000.00. I was down to 6 quarter tokens in the slot machine and ready to go to bed when I won $400.00. This is the first time I've come home with more than I went with.

 

I also had two lobster tails. They were great. Sometimes they're rubbery, but these were not. I also had 2 or 3 appetizers each night. Yummy!

Now I'm back to eating my cooking. Oh, well, there's always next year.

[serene56]

I think Honey is upset with me losing that- he worked out at the gym every day for an hour while I lounged in the hot tub there.

 

The hot tub located in the gym area is very hot compared to the one outside on the pool decks=- even the serenity area.

 

Its also not crowded. (well remember we also sailed with an older crowd)

 

I visited this hot tub every day and only one of those days was there any people in it.

 

I also think that people look in there and the hot tubs are not turned on they think it is not working but there is a timer button that you need to push and it turns on for 20 minutes and turns back off.

[serene56]

Dining: we were given Any Time Dining.

There was 7 of us and I wanted us to dine together so I wanted to see the Maitre D first thing after lunch.

 

There was only one man on line. - no one behind me.

 

I flashed my platinum card because I thought that dining choices were ours.

The guy apoligized up and down but could not accommodate us for early dining. I even suggested be given a table for anytime at 6:00pm. He could not do that. He suggested that we just show up at 5:45 when the anytime dining door opened.

There is not that many tables of 8 which would hold the 7 of us. (i think there was 6 along the back wall and two on either side of the hostess podium.)

 

I spoke to him in great deal about booking any time vs traditional and he said the majority of the cruisers want traditional early and there is only 700 slots for early.

 

We did show up at 5:45 and wow---the line was down the hall, through the odyssey lounge. We did show up when the door opened and was given the table to the left of the podium. (fabulous wait team here)

the next night we showed up again at 5:45 but were so far behind the line that the table was already taken so we were given one of the tables across the back.

The next night we got our favorite wait team and the next night same thing.

On Friday we arrived 15 minutes late (6pm instead) and all the tables for 8 were already gone--we had to take 2 booths that sat side by side instead.

Now that night was really bad with the waiters. The other booth had rolls, drinks poured and just got their appetizers and we still had menus, no water etc. so my family passed us rolls from their table---lol

 

another tip for anytime dining-- you do not want to go to dinner around 7pm as it will be some time between some course as this is when the waiters do their singing and dancing routine. (and yes it is done in the anytime dining room on the Legend)

We did not do dessert this night as it was taking too long between the time we were done the dinner--

 

Now I would think that with sailing with the older people they tend to eat early- (the dining room was nearly empty by 8:15 most nights.

 

I learned that all sailings are different so my experience may be different to yours--depend on the cruising passengers with you on any given week.

[serene56]

Print out a copy of the Room service menu. They no longer have them in the cabin.

 

===

buffet area surprised me this trip. On a cruise I always like getting up early--sitting at the buffet with a good book and a cup of coffee while honey stays sleeping for a tad bit longer. On this trip the buffet was always busy (yes, even in the early morning) and stayed busy all day long.

 

Omelets are made at the pizza station.

 

Most of the people getting off the elevator on the aft section will head to the first buffet which made this area very congested. If you find this area crowded head towards the midship-- that section serves the same food--less crowded.

 

Midship is also where the Asian station is located-- most older people will stay away from the spicy type food so we found that station not crowded at all.

Every day there was either some type of spring roll OR won ton. (chicken, shrimp or fruit. (fruit won ton was interesting)

 

the Hot garlic sauce for dipping anything was amazing. (i asked for the recipee and was disappointed that the main ingredient was ketchup-- ???? WTH)

 

When reading the menu-- the food does not sound good good but tastes--wow. I discovered food I never ever heard of..

 

My suggestion is to try something you never had before-- or you never heard of--- try it you might discover something you want to find at home