Legend of the Seas 18th June - 2 July Review (long)

[callow]

Cruise Review – Legend of the Seas, June 18 – July 2, 2005

 

Mediterranean - Southampton to Southampton.

 

Pre cruise

 

We stayed overnight at the Holiday Inn in Southampton which is just at the entrance to the port, we had a car with the free parking so drove in. The entrance to the embarkation building is only about a 10 minute walk from the Holiday Inn, they offer a stay and park which we used as we brought two cars, it was about £86 on top of the room charge.

 

Embarkation

 

We arrived at 12md and were onboard within 20 minutes having lunch. I did fill in the embarkation info online but they didn’t have it so it had to be done again. Rooms were not available until 1pm.

 

Stateroom

 

We had room 7028 a D1 cabin with balcony. There was plenty of room for all our clothes and bags fitted under the bed. It was only when the sofa bed was out did it get difficult to get to the balcony. Room was kept tidy and replenished.

 

Ship

 

The ship is in good condition and crew were always seen refurbishing various parts. There is lots of marble and wood and as the ship is small it is easy to get from one end to the other. All crew members smiled and said a friendly hello.

 

Meals

 

We had a mixture of room service and Windjammer for breakfast. A few times with room service something was forgotten and once the coffee was forgotten and never appeared despite being told it would be sent up. There is a different menu for the American and English based cruises, we initially had the American ones. English one includes toast and perhaps less choices on the egg front.

 

At the Windjammer the breakfast included English items such as real bacon, pork sausages and black pudding, plus the usual breakfast fare. A variety of teas were available including Tetley’s and Twinnings.

 

Lunch – Initially we had lunch in the Dining room, but then my kids found they preferred the Windjammer. Windjammer had hot food, salad and sandwiches.

 

Afternoon Tea – Scones, a few hot foods and mini sandwiches.

 

 

Dinner – We had late sitting at 8.30pm and apart from the first night the kids (5 and 7) did not join us. We fed them at Windjammer and then took them straight to Adventure Ocean for 7pm. This allowed us to have some free time to either get ready or have a few drinks before dinner. I kept asking the kids if they wanted to join us for dinner but they preferred the Windjammer.

 

On our first night we joined our table where another 4 people were sitting. As soon as we sat down one the group got up and announced that they wanted a table for 4 and went to see the maitre de. The rest of the group talked amongst themselves saying how they asked for a table for 4 etc, they wouldn’t even order in the hope they would get a new table. I was shocked by their behaviour and didn’t speak to them at all, I had to leave shortly after as my daughter felt ill. The next day we asked the maitre de for another table and found a friendly group who even if we had brought the kids wouldn’t have made a fuss.

 

I found the meals good to excellent. If I asked for rare or medium rare it came exactly as asked. My favourite was Surf and Turf, fillet steak and lobster tail. Many of the meals were the same as on offer in the Windjammer. I found there was plenty of choice and many times members of our table ordered a main course as starter if they fancied it. Many nights we brought our own wine and were only charged corkage on one night when we brought two bottles. One table member did have a problem a few times with cold food, but after pointing it out a hot meal was quickly brought.

 

Our waiter Sasha and assistant Ceaser did an excellent job.

 

Juices, (orange, pineapple, fruit punch) were available at all times and well as self serve soft ice-cream. We did get our kids the soft drink cards, but they would have been just as happy with the juices.

 

Beer was available at around £2 and cocktails (Coladas, Margaritas) were £2.75 plus tip. Occasionally there were specials at £2. A glass of wine with dinner was around £3.50.

 

Lattetudes and Ben and Jerrys were available, I didn’t see many people using it and I did hear some customers complaining about serving the coffees in a cardboard cup rather than china.

 

Adventure Ocean (Kids Club)

 

My children are 5 and 7, there were about 100 under 12s on the cruise and usually 10-12 in each age group attended. My kids had a great time and wanted to spend most of their time there apart from when they were swimming. There was always something new on the schedule so they didn’t get bored. They most enjoyed the Pyjamarama movie nights which were on the formal nights. The kids went to Kid’s dinner in the Solarium (burgers, pizza) once but preferred the food in the Windjammer so didn’t go to any more. They had these dinners about 5 times and they were a 6pm and always on formal nights. Hours of the club were 9am - 12md, 2pm-5pm and 7pm-10pm. While in port the club as open as long as the ship was docked usually at 7.30am. We used the babysitting most nights but most kids were gone and once when I came at 12mn my kids were upset as everyone else had left at 11.30pm.

 

Ports.

 

We did no ship excursions, mainly due to the fact that by the time I got ready to book them they could no longer be booked. We got off the ship at Gibraltar, Villefranche and Vigo.

 

In Barcelona a passenger was taken off the ship with pneumonia and the Spanish authorities ordered the ship to have new water and chlorinate the pools, we were supposed to leave at 5pm but the ship wasn’t cleared until 3.30 am and as a result we had to skip Lisbon, each stateroom was given £50 onboard credit for the inconvenience.

 

Debarkation

 

We had to be out of our room by 7.30am. Our colour was called at 8am and 10 minutes later we were driving away.

 

 

We thought the cruise was great and had a relaxing time. We have booked again next year for June 10 and the friends we made on our dining table have booked as well. We are both booked aft Junior Suites next time. I can’t wait.:)

[onapea]

How was the weather?

[trawleroh]

In the Mediterranean the weather was great. It was high 70s to mid 80s with a nice breese most of the time. Crossing the Bay of Biscay it was windy and cool heading south and cloudy and cool heading north (with a side swell). Not bad for 14 nights!

[ukcruiser53]

Thanks for your review - there's a lot of confusion about the currency but reading your review it must by UK pounds. Any idea what the table minimums were in the casino? Thanks

[tommoore1]

We were on this cruise also, and over-all we had a GREAT time! I agree that the food was well above par, and the crew was EXCELLENT (as usual!).

 

The only problem we had was that the ship has converted to Pounds-Sterling (the only ship in the fleet that has, so far) and for us Americans, prices were a bit confusing :confused: .

 

We enjoyed being two of only around 90 "Yanks" on-board, and we felt like we were a novelty at the dinner table every night--LOTS of good natured ribbing back and forth every evening!!!

 

It turns out that the passenger that was ill in Barcelona had Legionnaire’s Disease, not Pneumonia like we were told. That is why the Spanish government was so adamant about cleaning the pools and spas (and not allowing the spas to be refilled) and dumping all on-board fresh water.

[ewheelock]

It's great to see a good review for the Legend. I am sailing December 10th of this year. It is hard to find any kind of review for this ship. I see in the review that there is a Lattitudes and Ben & Jerrys on the ship. Were these added in the dry dock this year? (the RCI web site doesn't show that the ship has these). Any info on the ship will be a great help.

[callow]

Casino - minimum bet for blackjack was £3, I think it was less for other games. Slots are mostly 25p but there one or two 10 and 5p ones and a number of £1 ones. The slots are US so tokens are given to use instead.

 

 

Lattetude and Ben and Jerrys was added in the refit. They are together and have a few seats.

[tommoore1]

Yup, they added Lattitudes and Ben & Jerry's during the April dry-dock. They also shrunk the photo area (to make room for the Latitudes/Ben & Jerry's), changed the Windjammer around a little, and added LOTS of new carpet and tile. There is a big globe in the area between the Purser's desk and the excursoins desk that is kind of cool, too.

 

We were on this ship for the 14-day Panama Canal cruise in February of '04, and a 7-day Mexican Riviera in ?('03--I think!) and, after a total of 35 days on this ship, I have to say that this is one of our favorites!

 

This ship has the BEST Loyalty Ambassador (Runi) in the fleet, so be sure and stop by her desk on deck 8 and tell her that Tom & Bonnie say "hi"...

[ewheelock]

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm glad that they were added and I can't wait until December 10th. My dd is graduating from college on the 9th and this will be a graduation cruise for her.

[tommoore1]

Will that be out of Southhampton or will it be sailing out of Tampa by then?

[ewheelock]

tom thanks for the reply. We are going to be in the Royal Family Suite and I think that it is right next to where she is. I will try to remember to say hi for you. I just can't wait until december!

[ewheelock]

It will be out of Tampa. I would guess that the currency will be changed back to US when it sails out of Tampa.

[tommoore1]

The $$$ issue was the only thing I didn't like about our last cruise on the Legend (that, and the lay-over in Barcelona for the Ill passenger caused us to miss Lisbon Portugal, obviously not RCCI's fault).

I envy you, you'll love the Legend!

[sherry1]

Hey Callow,

Thanks so much for the review, we will also be on the Legend Dec 10 and I couldn't believe it when I read your review, you stayed in the same room we are booked for. I also see you took your kids. We will be taking our boys, 8 and 12. What did you think about the room? Are we going to have enough room for the 4 of us? This is our first room with a balcony. We are so excited. Any little tips would be appreciated.

 

How was the entertainment? Did they have anything for kids? We were on the Grandeur last May and they had the funniest comedian onboard. His name was Dan Bennett. Was kinda hoping he would be on the Legend. Thanks

[callow]

We found the room OK for the 4 of us, it was a bit cramped with the bed out.

 

7028 is very handy for all areas of the ship. It is near the stair well for Adventure Ocean and the Windjammer.

 

I have a few photos of the room so if you send me your email me I can send them to you. I don't want to put them out publicly.

 

Callow

[sherry1]

Callow,

My email address is smsteen@verizon.net. thanks

[rubrrick]

Callow,

 

We had the same experience about wonderful food when we were aboard in May. The executive chef, Neil S. left for vacation when your trip ended. I hope that the next chef well be as good. We were spoiled by the wonderful flavors that came out of the kitchen. The best so far on RCCL.

 

Rick