Back from 5-11 to 5/18 Legend Cruise, Any Questions?

[cruiseveteran]

My husband and I just returned from the Carnival Legend cruise from May 11th to the 18th, the Mother's Day cruise week. This was our second cruise on the Legend, we cruised last year about the same time (just before it swapped places with the Miracle) so I feel that we can comment openly on the up's and down's of the ship.

 

The best feature was that the food was the best I've ever had on Carnival! I don't know where this new cooking staff came from but it is sure the best I've eaten. I use to say another cruise line had the best food, but the Carnival Legend tops them all out of my 34 cruises.

 

The current cruise director, hopefully is just a temporary CD, while the regular CD is on vacation. More on this subject when I write my review.

 

I'll be glad to answer any questions!

 

Susan a.k.a. cruiseveteran:confused:

[Clearwater]

My family and I leave on the Legend on 6/22...we are officially doing the countdown dance!

 

We still need to book excursions. What did you choose??

 

Glad to hear the food was great.

 

Did you book the Supper Club?

[poptart]

Looking forward to your complete review!! Can't wait.

[cruiseveteran]

In Grand Cayman we picked Nativeway Sports for the Stringray, snorkel and starfish trip. It was okay....we felt rushed, plus it was suppose to be a group of no more than 25 and there were 36 on the boat which made it crowded and more work for the crew.

 

We have always used Captain Marvin's for this tour and will not stray away again from Captain Marvin's. Their crews are more attentive and they carry fresh water to hose the salt water off you at the end. The captain also gives you a little history talk while leaving and coming into the dock about certain homes, etc.

 

The only reason that we tried Nativeway Sports was that it had the "starfish" stop. They didn't even let us off the boat to experience the starfish, just one of the crew members jumped down, got a couple of starfish and showed them around.

 

Nativeway Sports way neither good nor bad, but when your use to great service, then go to Captain Marvins.

 

We went to Fins & Flippers in Roatan and it was a paradise. Words cannot explain how peaceful and pleasant the private island is! I had a 60 minute full body massage from a gal from England (cost $60) and it was great, she really knew her stuff, I felt like a new person.

 

Cozumel we went to the mainland via the ferry system. $22.00 round trip. Can't stand Cozumel island because of the crowds, three ships were in port that day.

 

My husband and B-I-L took the bottom reef fishing excursion through Carnival in Belize and said it was great. Rest of family went ATV'ing and cave tubing, booking with a private company and had a great time, it was all they could talk about for hours.

 

Never saw the Supper Club crowded. Didn't book the supper club this time because we had done it our first cruise on the Legend and it was not worth it. The dining room is fabulous on this ship, staff is great (Ivan was our waiter, Table 153) and the food out of this world. There is no reason to eat in the supper club and waste your money (IMO). Save it for the casino because you won't see it again!

 

Good luck on picking your excursions!

 

Susan

[KruznKel]

Hi Susan.. can't wait to read the full review.. would love to know if you took pictures at Fins n Flippers.. I keep looking for pictures.. and have only found a few posted..;)

[Purplesaurus]

Hi,

we are booking acruise on the Legend for October, 2009. Looking forward to your review. What cabin were you in? Can't wait for my turn

[patticaryl]

We also have gone with Captain Marvin when we were in Grand Cayman, and it was a fabulous day!

At Fins and Flippers..........how was the snorkeling? What did it cost you for the day?

Thanks!

[krissy72]

Thank you for sharing your experience with Nativeway. I have the same exact excursion booked with them for my Aug. Cruise. I was under the impression you got to swim with the starfish. I also don't want to feel rushed. I will look into Capt. Marvins.

[AandBmom]

I did Nativeways last week and loved them. There were 6 of us in our group so lots of space and lots of 1:1 time with the guide. We did the island and rays tour which was great.

[AandBmom]

Which cruise director did you have that you didn't like? We had Jen and found her hard to understand due to her accent and we found her annoying most of the time.

[DollyJ]

I'm glad you had a good time, and so happy to hear someone say the food was great!

 

Can you recall the 'theme' of the deck parties? And, how was the weather? We leave this Sunday!!:D

[AandBmom]

I know you're asking the OP but I thought I'd share my experience since it was just two weeks ago. There was one theme party and it was bathrobe deck party. It was basically music and dancing to songs such as the Macarena (spelling???), the chicken dance, etc.

 

Two weeks ago the weather was perfect - high 80's low 90's in every port, no rain. One night windy.

 

Weather in the dining room though was quite chilly, be prepared! There was great food, okay food and food not to my liking. The joy of a cruise is that you can always try something else if you didn't like the first thing.

[LHP]

We were also on this sailing.

 

And we would like to thank "cruiseveteran" for doing an outstanding job of organizing our Unofficial Meet and Greet!! Ms. Susan definately does not do anything half way!!:D It was fabulous.

 

Jen was the "acting Cruise Director". You have to be an acting CD for one year before you can become a permanent one. Shawn Bussey is coming in June, so if you are sailing then...you will have Shawn.

 

We had a ball!!

[mom2girls]

Thanks for posting! I'm looking forward to your review.

 

LHP: Do you know anything about Shawn Bussey? From all of the recent reviews about Jen, she didn't seem that great. I'm hoping that Shawn is good.

 

I've been very lucky to have great CD's in the past.

 

(IMO the food on all of Carnival's ships is much better than RCI.)

[TVMet]

Thanks for posting! I'm looking forward to your review.

 

LHP: Do you know anything about Shawn Bussey? From all of the recent reviews about Jen, she didn't seem that great. I'm hoping that Shawn is good.

 

I've been very lucky to have great CD's in the past.

 

(IMO the food on all of Carnival's ships is much better than RCI.)

 

My 20 year old son has been on 5 Carnival cruises, he just went on his first RCI cruise and said the same thing, "food was better on Carnival". Although he said the steak was better on RCI, we have found the steak to be not too good on Carnival recently, including a recent Legend cruise. He said the steak was better on RCI, but overall Carnival had much better food.

[abby and nathan's mom]

What night is the past guest party on?? 34 days and counting....:) :)

[bmacri]

We are heading out on the Legend at the end of June.

I just saw that the weather could be rainy????????

Does that mean all day..........or..........big downpours and then sun?

 

Dang! I so wanted sun.

[KenMo]

What night is the past guest party on?? 34 days and counting....:) :)

 

Sorry for butting in on Susan's thread, but I can answer this for you.

 

The PG party was Wednesday, Follies Lounge from 7:30pm - 8:15pm. Dress code was smart casual.

 

I don't think it's a guarantee that it will be the same on your sailing.

 

There were so many PG's on our sailing that they had it in the Follies. Maybe if there are fewer PG's on your sailing, it could be in another venue.

[KenMo]

We are heading out on the Legend at the end of June.

I just saw that the weather could be rainy????????

Does that mean all day..........or..........big downpours and then sun?

 

Dang! I so wanted sun.

 

I see you're from the Pacific NW. As a fellow PNWer (Portland)....I know what your thinking.

 

When in rains in the NW, it rains all day....a long, cold, dank rain. Not so in the Caribbean. Most likely it's a quick thundershower....it will still be warm.

[snc421]

Which cruise director did you have that you didn't like? We had Jen and found her hard to understand due to her accent and we found her annoying most of the time.

 

Agreed... but I thought our Maitre D (Yusef) was amazing!

 

I know you're asking the OP but I thought I'd share my experience since it was just two weeks ago. There was one theme party and it was bathrobe deck party. It was basically music and dancing to songs such as the Macarena (spelling???), the chicken dance, etc.

 

Two weeks ago the weather was perfect - high 80's low 90's in every port, no rain. One night windy.

 

I was on the 5/4 sailing as well. I was at the deck party for a little while, but didn't take my robe. It was funny to see guys use their robe ties as neck ties.

Yes, the weather was perfect for us. Like 5 raindrops (literally) while we were maneuvering through the Tampa Bay. That's it for the whole week. It sure was windy that one night... outta the East at +30 MPH. It did make for a little rockiness, but still not bad at all IMO.

[snc421]

Oops! Double post... I am sorry!

[chandom]

It sure was windy that one night... outta the East at +30 MPH. It did make for a little rockiness, but still not bad at all IMO.

Wow, we had winds one night in the 30-45 mph range as well.

 

Kind of a side thought.

Just as an FYI the Carnival Colors thing is still living on the Legend. However, only time any thing was mentioned in the dining room was the first night telling us what color team we were. After that only time I ever heard any thing was during the activities.

[snc421]

Kind of a side thought.

Just as an FYI the Carnival Colors thing is still living on the Legend. However, only time any thing was mentioned in the dining room was the first night telling us what color team we were. After that only time I ever heard any thing was during the activities.

 

My experience was the same, only on the first night they told us red or blue team, based on even or odd table number, and nd no further mention the rest of the trip. I didn't get into the activities though... just the deck party, and by then I forgot which team we were supposed to be on!

[LHP]

Thanks for posting! I'm looking forward to your review.

 

LHP: Do you know anything about Shawn Bussey? From all of the recent reviews about Jen, she didn't seem that great. I'm hoping that Shawn is good.

 

I've been very lucky to have great CD's in the past.

 

(IMO the food on all of Carnival's ships is much better than RCI.)

 

Yes, we have sailed with Shawn Bussey twice and enjoyed her company both times.

 

She did not make a lot of announcements (that I can remember). She is cute as a button and her staff really like her. She was on top of every detail and everything ran smoothly. She was easy to understand, since she is from the good ole USA.

 

We sailed with her on the Spirit in Alaska and on the Sensation when it ran out of New Orleans.

[DraTz]

Quick question, which company did you book the cave tubing from? Was it by chance cave-tubing.com? I am actually looking into doing the ATV and cave tubing excursion from them. I want some feedback on them, and if they are trustworthy, etc. Did whatever company you take get you back with plenty of time to the boat? Basically, overall I would like more information on the cave tubing. I am going on this cruise in a few months.

 

My father is interested in snorkeling in belize... I dont know, I suppose a lot of this will be answered in your full review.