Live / Solo from the Carnival Legend - December 5-12, 2021

[Giantfan13]

I can't thank you enough for this wonderful review of your cruise and all the great pix. We are on the Legend come Sunday and simply cannot wait. We, like you, are avid cruisers and it's ben way too long since we have been on a ship. I already was excited, but after reading all your posts and looking at the menu's, I am salivating to get on this ship.

 

A couple of quick questions, we do not have internet (we just don't do this when we cruise), would that keep us from using the Carnival app on the ship? We also have YTD, and just hate to have to wait a while to eat. We are a bit older and like to eat about 6:30 or so, if that a bad time?

 

Did you eat at the buffet at all? And how was that experience?

 

Oh, since you posted all the trivia for the cruise--we need answers also. LOL

 

Again, thanks for taking the time to see what we have been missing.

 

Cheers

Len

[brilliantseas]

15 minutes ago, Giantfan13 said:

I can't thank you enough for this wonderful review of your cruise and all the great pix. We are on the Legend come Sunday and simply cannot wait. We, like you, are avid cruisers and it's ben way too long since we have been on a ship. I already was excited, but after reading all your posts and looking at the menu's, I am salivating to get on this ship.

 

A couple of quick questions, we do not have internet (we just don't do this when we cruise), would that keep us from using the Carnival app on the ship? We also have YTD, and just hate to have to wait a while to eat. We are a bit older and like to eat about 6:30 or so, if that a bad time?

 

Did you eat at the buffet at all? And how was that experience?

 

Oh, since you posted all the trivia for the cruise--we need answers also. LOL

 

Again, thanks for taking the time to see what we have been missing.

 

Cheers

Len

 

No need for an internet package to utilize the Carnival Hub app, just be sure to download it before you get on the ship. You'll connect to the Carnival WiFi and log in with your foilo number once onboard to display everything that is going on around the ship. You can also access dining room menus, check in for your table for YTD, and view your sail & sign account in the app without paying for an internet package. The only feature they charge for is the on-ship messaging feature, which lets you send messages to others in your party. The messaging feature is $5 for the length of the cruise. 

 

6:30 should be fine for YTD without a wait. The only time I saw a wait longer than 10 minutes was between 7:00 and 7:45ish, when the wait jumped to 20-30 minutes. The rest of the time, early or late, was under 10 minutes. 

 

I didn't eat dinner in the buffet, but I did try some of the selections for breakfast and lunch.

 

The omelet stations are adjacent to the center buffet lines and the midship elevator lobby entrance to the buffet. This threw me off as I'm used to finding them at the deli on other Carnival ships. At first I thought maybe they had discontinued the omelet station, but it is just a tiny section roped off at the end of the main breakfast buffet line. The french toast was good, but I could pass on the rest of the breakfast buffet selections. Boil-in-bag scrambled eggs and cold potatoes just don't do it for me. The buffet waffles are pre-made from a bakery and get warmed in the toaster. 

 

For lunch, I tried the Chopsticks chinese station and the deli station. The dessert cakes also looked good at lunch, but less so at dinner. My preference is tacos or a burrito from Blue Iguana Cantina if I'm going to have lunch in the buffet. 

 

Have a great cruise! 

[brilliantseas]

Today's Sea Day Brunch featured a coconut milk chia seed pudding, the skillet cake, and chicken sausage that turned out to be pork sausage. I arrived around 12:20 (brunch hours are 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM), and service was unusually slow. My waiter apologized for this as both the chia seed pudding and skillet cake were made to order as this was a slower period for the kitchen. Unfortunately, while the skillet cake was served hot and delicious, the chia seed pudding didn't have time to set up and was closer to the consistency of soup, and the sausage was pork rather than chicken, and was served cold. 

 

 

 

I finished off the meal with my third slice of banana cream pie of the cruise. 

 

[brilliantseas]

After lunch, I took a quick peak inside Medusa's Lair Nightclub. This nightclub is unique for Carnival ships as it is two stories, with entry on the upper level, with a staircase leading down to the lower level. 

 

These photos were taken early in the afternoon, as the crew was setting up for the Chef's Table dinner. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Giantfan13]

Once again, thanks for the replies.

 

Wish we could meet up but you'll be way off before our 12:30 boarding.

 

Cheers

Len

[brilliantseas]

5 minutes ago, Giantfan13 said:

Once again, thanks for the replies.

 

Wish we could meet up but you'll be way off before our 12:30 boarding.

 

Cheers

Len

 

You are most welcome, and I hope you enjoy your trip as much as I have enjoyed mine. If I didn't have an 8-hour drive ahead of me, I would be happy to hang around for a meet-up, but I'm hoping to be off the ship and in the car by 10:15-10:30. 

 

 

[brilliantseas]

Daytime room service menu, with both free and for-a-fee options. 

 

 

 

[Pami1968]

Great review and thank you so much.  Sailing solo on this same ship/itinerary in January and I'm even more excited now.  

 

I do have one question - what is the skillet cake?  is it just a thick pancake?

[brilliantseas]

11 minutes ago, Pami1968 said:

Great review and thank you so much.  Sailing solo on this same ship/itinerary in January and I'm even more excited now.  

 

I do have one question - what is the skillet cake?  is it just a thick pancake?

 

The skillet cake is very similar to a thick pancake, topped with whipped ricotta, vanilla crumble, and marshmallow. It is also supposed to have fruit preserves, however mine did not. 

[brilliantseas]

After nearly a week of playing as a duo, Accidental String Trio is actually a trio tonight!

 

 

 

 

[brilliantseas]

No Carnival Quest because #COVID, but you can still put 20 people on stage, shoulder to shoulder, to play Showdown? 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 12, 2021 by brilliantseas

[brilliantseas]

Any idea what is going on here?

 

 

 

Pretty sure this is how Carnival cleans the stage at the end of the cruise?

[brilliantseas]

Tonight's Dinner Menu (Day 7 / Last Sea Day)

 

 

 

 

Dill Lemon Comfort Soup - it was lacking in chicken, but was otherwise tasty. 

 

Shrimp Cocktail

 

Enchiladas - These are vegetarian, filled with black beans, onions, and peppers. I believe the recipe has changed since I last had them on a Carnival ship, but they were still good. 

 

Carnival's signature dessert - Warm Chocolate Melting Cake. This one was just a little too "liquid" for my liking. I ate about half of it, along either the ice cream. 

[knicks05]

How was pizza pirate?

[HLR]

Question for you about your tables in the MDR as you are solo and I will also be solo on the December 19th sailing.

You said your table is assigned on the app?  Where you usually located as a single? I like sitting on the upper level by the inside rail overlooking the main floor at dinner, but by a window for daytime dinning. Can I request that if I don't like the table the computer has selected for me?

 

Totally enjoying your live review!!!

 

Howard 

[brilliantseas]

1 hour ago, knicks05 said:

How was pizza pirate?

 

Long lines and kind of slow in the evenings. The pizza is the same as I've had on other Carnival ships for the last few years. It is okay, but nothing I'm going out of my way to eat unless I'm feeling a late night hunger. 

 

Here is the menu. 

 

[brilliantseas]

19 minutes ago, HLR said:

Question for you about your tables in the MDR as you are solo and I will also be solo on the December 19th sailing.

You said your table is assigned on the app?  Where you usually located as a single? I like sitting on the upper level by the inside rail overlooking the main floor at dinner, but by a window for daytime dinning. Can I request that if I don't like the table the computer has selected for me?

 

Totally enjoying your live review!!!

 

Howard 

 

The app has a selection box that says "Seat me at a shared table." It is unchecked by default, but you can select it if you would like to share a table with others. Otherwise, you'll be seated at a 2 or 4-top by yourself. 

 

The tables aren't assigned by computer; the app just acts as the hostesses used to act in checking you in and giving you a buzzer. The hostess just sees your name and party size populate on the list and they assign you a table. The app then acts as your buzzer. 

 

The same applies to parties of all sizes for breakfast and lunch - you check in on the app and will be seated at your own table unless you specify that you'd like to share a table with others. 

 

If you prefer a certain table location or wait staff, you can request it by checking in with the hostess at the entrance instead of using the app. They will accommodate you if they aren't on a wait. 

[knicks05]

5 minutes ago, brilliantseas said:

 

Long lines and kind of slow in the evenings. The pizza is the same as I've had on other Carnival ships for the last few years. It is okay, but nothing I'm going out of my way to eat unless I'm feeling a late night hunger. 

 

Here is the menu. 

 

Thanks I hope you enjoyed your cruise. 

[brilliantseas]

The last sea day is "Comedy Showcase" in the Follies Theater, with two comedians each performing a 20 minute set. The 7:30 show is family friendly, and the 9:30 show is adults only. 

 

Unlike the shows in the Firebird Lounge, there were still seats available at showtime for the 9:30 show. 

 

 

Comedy club manager Renier likes grand introductions...

 

 

Jason Andors was our first comedian for the 9:30 show. 

 

 

 

The second comedian, JeROME, does a lot of crowd interaction and ends his set with a Michael Jackson interpretive dance. 

 

 

[brilliantseas]

Ending the cruise with cover band Alter Idem in the Red Frog Pub. I apologize for the poor photo, my camera really hates the lighting in this venue.

 

[HLR]

6 minutes ago, brilliantseas said:

 

The app has a selection box that says "Seat me at a shared table." It is unchecked by default, but you can select it if you would like to share a table with others. Otherwise, you'll be seated at a 2 or 4-top by yourself. 

 

The tables aren't assigned by computer; the app just acts as the hostesses used to act in checking you in and giving you a buzzer. The hostess just sees your name and party size populate on the list and they assign you a table. The app then acts as your buzzer. 

 

The same applies to parties of all sizes for breakfast and lunch - you check in on the app and will be seated at your own table unless you specify that you'd like to share a table with others. 

 

If you prefer a certain table location or wait staff, you can request it by checking in with the hostess at the entrance instead of using the app. They will accommodate you if they aren't on a wait. 

Thanks!!! You are so attentive!

 

One last and maybe important question that no one [I think?] has asked:

 

Do they provide masks? 

 

Of course I am bringing some....but how many....hmmm...Howard

[brilliantseas]

8 minutes ago, HLR said:

Thanks!!! You are so attentive!

 

One last and maybe important question that no one [I think?] has asked:

 

Do they provide masks? 

 

Of course I am bringing some....but how many....hmmm...Howard

 

 

The only place I saw masks being provided was on Half Moon Cay, at the entrances to the Beach Barbecue. 

 

They require you to have them on in the terminal while boarding the ship, so I think it is presumed that all passengers have them. I did not see any in the gift shop, but I am sure Guest Services has them if you really need a new one. 

 

Masks are required in elevators, dining rooms, the buffet area, and in the casino, piano bar, Follies Theater, and Firebird Lounge, and when dancing near the band in the Red Frog Pub. They are recommended, but not required in all other indoor areas. 

[sparks1093]

7 hours ago, brilliantseas said:

 

 

The only place I saw masks being provided was on Half Moon Cay, at the entrances to the Beach Barbecue. 

 

They require you to have them on in the terminal while boarding the ship, so I think it is presumed that all passengers have them. I did not see any in the gift shop, but I am sure Guest Services has them if you really need a new one. 

 

Masks are required in elevators, dining rooms, the buffet area, and in the casino, piano bar, Follies Theater, and Firebird Lounge, and when dancing near the band in the Red Frog Pub. They are recommended, but not required in all other indoor areas. 

On our sailing they had crew stationed at the entrances of the Lido buffet handing out masks to anyone who was not wearing one. They look like they are wearing an apron but it is a pouch full of masks.

[brilliantseas]

Carnival Legend is approaching Baltimore's Inner Harbor for disembarkation. 

[brilliantseas]

Pools are empty of passengers and the bar is closed. I guess it is time to go?