Help me choose between the Dream and Legend

[erinmomof2]

No one in my family has been on a cruise before, so we don't really know what to look for when deciding. We had planned on booking the Legend but when looking into the amenities of the ship we didn't think it looked like there was much to do that we would enjoy. We started looking at the Dream and it seems like there is a little more choices. But the reviews for the Legend seem to be better. Any advice on what ship would be better suited to first time cruisers? Our girls will be 8 and 5 and will not be visiting the kids club so that is not a factor.

 

Thanks so much!

[Irishlinny]

The Dream will have a few more bells and whistles than the Legend. But the Legend is my favorite because it's a little smaller (but not small by any means) and it's alot less crowded. All a matter of taste, but for 1st time cruisers, the Legend may be a bit less daunting. Also, not sure why your kids wouldn't want to at least check out the Camp Carnival...they don't have to stay there all the time...they can pick and choose the times they want to be there. Carnival does a great job with the younger kids!

Have fun whichever you decide!

[erinmomof2]

We don't want the kids to the kids camps because we want to spend our vacation time together. I know a lot of families like the camps, but it's not for us. For now our kids are young enough to want to spend time with us, so we're going to encourange that. I realize that they could go for an hour or two here and there but that isn't what we want on our family vacation. And if asked I think they would prefer to be with us rather than with people they do not know, they are both very shy kids!

[bamboozel]

The Dream. We sailed on our first cruise last May on the Dream. Loved it! You will have a great time on the Dream. Will sail her again in the near future.:)

[cbMcruiser]

No one in my family has been on a cruise before, so we don't really know what to look for when deciding. We had planned on booking the Legend but when looking into the amenities of the ship we didn't think it looked like there was much to do that we would enjoy. We started looking at the Dream and it seems like there is a little more choices. But the reviews for the Legend seem to be better. Any advice on what ship would be better suited to first time cruisers? Our girls will be 8 and 5 and will not be visiting the kids club so that is not a factor.

 

Thanks so much!

 

We have not sailed the Dream and for the time being we do not want to. We feel it is too big a ship for our liking. We have cruised together on the Glory, Liberty and Triumph, but our last cruise was on the Legend. I have to say that I enjoyed the layout of the Legend very much. It is probably my favorite Carnival ship. We really like the 2500-2800 passenger ships.

 

On the Legend, all the floors go completely from front to back, there are no disjointed "up a flight of stairs" trips to certain areas or dining rooms.

All the lounges, sushi and entertainment are located centrally on two decks and it is very easy to get to everything. I also enjoyed the layout of the Ledo deck and I enjoyed (as did our 10 year old grand daughter) the two pools. The pools are larger footprints, in that they have large wading areas before you get to the actual pool. This was immensely fun for her.

 

Finally, we also have a very shy 10 year old grand daughter. She enjoyed Camp Carnival VERY much. It gave her some independence, helped her make new friends. It also allowed her parents and us the time to go to the Steakhouse and know that she was having fun! BTW on the last day, there was a lot of exchaging of email addresses between the girls and a little crying as they said goodbye!

[kujobie]

As stated, Legend is by far the better design and less crowded. That said, they're both nice ships.

[cruiseonthebrain]

I loved sailing both, but really enjoyed the Dream a lot more. Loved the Serenity Deck area and casino on the Dream.

 

That being said- you are asking for a family preference, so I asked my niece and my cousin who are both nine and who have both sailed each ship (spoiled girls:-) From the mouth of babes, they enjoyed Camp Carnival on the Legend better, but both "really, really, really" liked the Dream because of the water park and arcade.

[crewsweeper]

We've sailed both, and DW is currently on the Legend with her sisters. I can tell you right now that she's missing the Spa with the Thalasso pool and steam rooms, the larger Serenity area (albeit no pool), the Tandoori grill, and the Lanai deck BBQ, more choices at the sushi bar. As someone else mentioned here, the Dream has two water slides which are going non-stop on sea days with lines of kids (and more than a few fathers). At one time the Dream had a couple of Icee machines, but I think they took them out.

 

Personally, while I like all the afore mentioned, I did find the Legend a better layout (easy to hit the Lido for stuff and bound back to your cabin) and lines less lengthy and on the Western C. the Legend does get into Roatan when the Dream cannot. I think the pools arelarger, or at least appears that way. And I like the skylight dome in the Golden Fleece steakhouse. But then I don't travel with younger children, who I think you love the stuff for children on the Dream.

[cellalot]

Sailed both in the last year. Both fun but we loved the legend. Not nearly as crowded and mucheasier to navigate.

[javamom]

I hear over and over people say Legend is their favorite ship. I can't wait to find out in September!

 

My daughter has been on Dream and Legend. She and her husband did have a wonderful time on Dream but they both prefer Legend.

 

Hope this helps! ANY cruise is a good cruise. ;)

[CruisinKelly]

I've been on the Legend twice and just got off the Dream in January. I loved the deck plans and the extras on the Dream but the big downfall for me was the amount of people on the ship. Had to wait long periods of time for an elevator, sometimes as much as 15 minutes (we had someone with us that had to use the elevator) and although the buffet lines were plenty and lines were not really a problem there, it was a problem for the anytime dining. The biggest problem was that all the shows and activities (in the Capers) where full to overflowing and you had to get everywhere extremely early and then half the time you were so packed in I just quit trying to go. For those reasons only I prefer the Legend. I think you have to weigh what is more important to you, more activites and options or less crowds in few options. Have a great trip whichever one you pick!

[barbaraanne]

Truly, you if you don't want the larger crowds and lines, go with the Spirit-sized (Legend) ships. It's so much more pleasant, and there are four pools for half as people, instead of two pools for twice as many people! I like to lay out and swim, and there's a lovely kids' pool on the upper decks of the Legend that won't have anyone there most days...it's glorious, if I was under 2 I'd never leave! If you want more people and more bars, stuff, and more lines getting on/off, go for the larger ship, if not, you will never miss them; and my kids made more friends on the smaller ships, but it depends on the time of year. During summer or spring breaks, many kids on all ships, other times of year, no kids on many ships!

[crewsweeper]

Truly, you if you don't want the larger crowds and lines, go with the Spirit-sized (Legend) ships. It's so much more pleasant, and there are four pools for half as people, instead of two pools for twice as many people! !

 

Agree on pool count, but I don't tink the Dream holds twice as many people as the Legend. As I recall, the Legend can hold around 3600 passengers and the Dream around 4400, not 7200 (although it may seem like 10,000 when you're late to the omelet station or waiting in the Mongolian Grill line). Give or take. But still basic point is spot on: fewer pools, more passengers.

[ready2cruzagain]

Depends on when you want to sail. I seen this morning that from April 2013 until December 2013 the Legend will be in Spain, Italy and Dover, England.

[BusyFLmom]

I asked this same question 10 months ago :D As you can see from my siggy which we chose. Reason we chose it over the Dream was pretty much same answers everyone else is giving. Im sure you will have a great time no matter which one you decide :)

[vamartha]

I haven't sailed on the Dream yet but it is one I am considering. I have sailed on the Legend and we LOVED it. It never felt crowded except on embarkation day while waiting for the cabins to be ready.

 

On the other hand the Dream was anchored in Belize at the same time we were and you can really tell the difference in size. I really want to try the larger ship but I have a feeling that I will miss the size of the Legend.

 

I'll be watching to see what you choose and what your feelings are after your cruise. Since it will be the first one you won't have the size comparison and I suspect you will have a good time either way!

[hfitzger]

I would echo the recommendations for the Legend! While we have never sailed on Dream (and not sure I want to based on comments of it being too big, crowded), we absolutely loved Legend. It was easy to navigate and never felt crowded. Lines for the buffet on Lido were minimal or non-existent since there were so many stations for food.

[quickrate]

Agree on pool count, but I don't tink the Dream holds twice as many people as the Legend. As I recall, the Legend can hold around 3600 passengers and the Dream around 4400, not 7200 (although it may seem like 10,000 when you're late to the omelet station or waiting in the Mongolian Grill line). Give or take. But still basic point is spot on: fewer pools, more passengers.

I believe the Legend is only 2600 to 2800 passengers versus over 4,000.

[rdevine10]

Its funny, I asked the same question about 10 months ago too. I was trying to decide between the Glory, Legend & Dream.

 

Glory was the cheapest for our travel time, but we ended up ruling it out as Miami was farther from Daytona Beach area (where we are visiting pre and post cruise) and car rental etc in Miami was SUPER expensive compared to the other ports.

 

I was so tempted to book the Dream. I mean a waterpark for the kids, etc. For our week it was doing a Western sailing. I didnt care for the stop in Costa Maya. DH was not thrilled with going to Mexico at all, but I talked him into Cozumel since its an island. I kept reading reviews on how crowded it was, etc.

 

Then on to the Legend. I liked the stops better (grand cayman vs costa maya, but thats a personal choice), and it was much smaller. It did have a waterslide, I liked the looks of the pools and how they seems much less crowded than our only other cruise (Disney Dream). (Disney Dream and Carnival Dream are similar in size, and it was near impossible to get in the pools on the Disney Dream as they were just CRAZY crowded). My kids were not thrilled with that aspect- however the Carnival Dream does have the waterpark.

 

In the end, as you can see below, we are taking the Legend. I finally came to this decision because we are traveling during april/spring break and I know the ship will have more kids on it. I felt the sizing of the Legend would be a better choice for the time frame we were going. If the Carnival Dream had been doing an eastern route that week, I likely would of tried the Dream.

 

BTW- for thats its worth, my kids will be 9 and 6 on the cruise. I cant wait to try a slightly smaller ship and see what kind of experience we get!

[rdevine10]

I forgot to add that I also chose the Legend as I really, really, really want to go to Roatan. While both ships do, its not a common occurrence for the Dream to not be able to get into port here, while the smaller ships can much more easily.

 

HTH!

[barbaraanne]

Agree on pool count, but I don't tink the Dream holds twice as many people as the Legend. As I recall, the Legend can hold around 3600 passengers and the Dream around 4400, not 7200 (although it may seem like 10,000 when you're late to the omelet station or waiting in the Mongolian Grill line). Give or take. But still basic point is spot on: fewer pools, more passengers.

 

Sorry, you have the numbers for Legend wrong. Taken from CC Review:

At 88,500 tons and carrying 2,124 passengers, Carnival Legend is just skirting the high side of mid-sized -- large enough, but not particularly crowded; we found it quite easy to find our way soon after boarding.

 

So, it IS around half as many people!

[Heirloom]

Have done both.

 

Go Legend........seriously.

[glrounds]

Have never been on the DREAM, but love SPIRIT classed ships (have been on all four). IMHO they are the "Goldilocks" ships . . . not too big, not too small, just right. Love 'em. :)

 

Without a doubt, pick the LEGEND. :D

 

[AZchieffan]

I must say I am pretty excited for my Legend cruise. Been on Conquest, Elation, and Splendor twice. Enjoyed them all, but have still not been on a Spirit class. Might have to try a Dream class next cruise. Then I'll have them all covered. :D

[glrounds]

I must say I am pretty excited for my Legend cruise. Been on Conquest, Elation, and Splendor twice. Enjoyed them all, but have still not been on a Spirit class. Might have to try a Dream class next cruise. Then I'll have them all covered. :D

 

Excellent choice. When you return tell us what you think about all the URNS. ;)