Carnival legend just got back carnival went downhill

[Serangel71]

FWIW on my recent Liberty cruise there was a 4 piece band playing every night next to the casino on the Promenade. No full Reggae band but 2 fake Rastafarians out on the lido.They were ok.

 

I wonder if there is a way to find out what ships have cut back the most? Perhaps its the older ships or the shorter cruises that are getting the cut backs the most?

 

 

That might be partially true. We were on a short cruise (Sensation) last July and we had to leave the show - way too loud and it did not flow well. Disjointed. Now, don't jump - we were in the front but it was just as bad as we were walking out. Thought it might be due to age:D. Great news as DF-Laverne took me to the piano bar -- &&&& Barry Miller - more intimate setting & no yelling the songs. Much better time. Wish we can get him again.

 

Food not bad, either. I remember May 1999 - Sensation food was outrageous!! Both DS's had steaks - on Lido for dinner. DH said he almost ate there as they were fresh cooked & sizzled. Gee, I am getting hungry.

 

First & only really bad food was on Miracle. It sounds like it has improved. That is why I LOVE those comment cards!!!

 

Took 3 cruises on Mariner of the Seas. LAst cruise (May 2008), 2 people got sick. Thank GOD for those little ginger pills.

 

FYI - I don't expect gormet foods, just edible. This was worse than the charcoal ball (hamburger) seved to DS on Disney --in MDR!! :eek: Again, rest of foods great.

[melli_fera]

OMG

What is with all the posts like this???

 

I think there are people with jobs out there that don't allow them internet message board time....and maybe even a busy real life that keeps them otherwise occupied.

The OP stated they were going to post a LONG review.

Does anybody realize how much time and effort go into that???

 

Give the Op time for goodness sake.

:rolleyes:

 

Why bother even opening a thread with "I'm gonna do XYZ later when I have time...." :confused: Sit down and do it when you're ready, don't go baiting people!

[shortnsweet7676]

OMG

What is with all the posts like this???

 

I think there are people with jobs out there that don't allow them internet message board time....and maybe even a busy real life that keeps them otherwise occupied.

The OP stated they were going to post a LONG review.

Does anybody realize how much time and effort go into that???

 

Give the Op time for goodness sake.

:rolleyes:

 

Well said... The OP just started this thread late last evening and said a "long review" was to come. It takes time to put together a review. Everyone, just give the OP a chance to give you some examples of what the issues were.

 

I was on the Legend 4/24/11-5/1/11 and noticed a decline in what I experienced on a Carnival cruise just one year ago. It didn't stop me from having a good time, but I did notice the difference and it got me to thinking about trying out another cruise line. But, I would definitely cruise Carnival again. I'll probably try one of the newer, bigger ships though. Maybe I'll get around to writing a review.

 

Some differences I noted: quality of entertainment (just ok), I preferred the comedy shows; food in main dining room (MDR) was bland and was served lukewarm most nights; hubby had to send his steak back one night; not a lot of options at the buffet, especially on embarkment day; the pizza was horrible; service in the MDR was questionable the first night, but was great by the last day. Oh, and we had to wait in a loong line most nights for them to open the MDR for late dining, which was supposed to start at 8:15pm, there is only one dining room for all three dining options. That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

 

Like I said, we still had a good time. The ports of call were excellent! We had an excellent room steward. Our MDR servers were great (after the first night). The food in the steakhouse was good, although, not as good as it was on the Carnival Glory. We liked the Cruise Director, Wee Jimmy. We also did the Behind the Fun Tour and got to meet the ship's Captain; we really enjoyed the tour.

 

I don't know if it's because the Legend is a smaller ship than the Glory and the Liberty or if it's Carnival overall. I just know the experience on the Legend was not as good as my experience on the Glory and Liberty.

[Serangel71]

You're like me. I get to do this (mostly) once a year and I want to be happy with it. I don't mind the cost! That is if I get what I pay for.

 

I just can't "celebrate mediocrity" as I've mentioned before. If Carnival doesn't hear where they're slipping how are they supposed to improve? Which brings-up "customer service" which we all know sucks big time...

 

Carnival seems to have the attitude that, "We don't care if you're dissatisfied. There are others to take your place." Well, there's a finite supply of "others" out there.

 

YMMV

 

Agree with you. We used to go on 2 family cruises (2 cabins) twice a year and my DH & oldest DS would go during tax seaon:(, while I had to work. Went on a variety of lines. Now, I would like to do 1 a year.

 

Carnival was a bargain cause everything came together quite nicely. They also booked their cruises by a mixture of age groups. Now it seems CCL saying there are many cruise virgins out there that have nothing to compare too. We can always market the newbies to death on TV, etc and even on the internet.

 

For me I am still trying to do cruises but will do other modes - in a little over a year - flew to Washington State & Idaho, cruise on Sensation (too short) and a bus trip to Tennessee.

[Rottweiler Puppy]

OMG

What is with all the posts like this???

 

I think there are people with jobs out there that don't allow them internet message board time....and maybe even a busy real life that keeps them otherwise occupied.

The OP stated they were going to post a LONG review.

Does anybody realize how much time and effort go into that???

 

Give the Op time for goodness sake.

:rolleyes:

 

+1

took me over a week to get mine posted and even then, its still not done. Adding more here and there.

[Serangel71]

I recently cruised twice on Victory and noticed very little (if any?) cost cutting.

__________________________________________

You spoiled children are cruising

while Turd World people are scraping for food

and you complain about a slight diminution of service on yo CRUISE?

 

You oughta be ashamed of yo'self. You poor babies!

 

:cool: .

 

Please stop being so hard. You need to walk in others sandals. Some people who cruise save all year to go on a cruise and while the world hasn't stopped spinning, they want what they paid for.

 

Spoiled, no. If I pay for something that is to be the end to end all and find it is not as advertised, yes, I am not happy. I do not have high lofty expectations, nor do I feel that rude service is what I paid for. (fyi -Have not had really rotten service that I can remember but I try to not let that affect my vacation.)

 

Another FYI -- you boarded in San Juan -- different type of cruise & passengers.

 

This thread is a discussion. Lighten up, Man

[Serangel71]

Go into it with an open mind! Don't listen to half the stuff on here and disregard the other half...

 

I have enjoyed every cruise I've been on. Some more than others though!

 

WELL SAID!!!! If I told you about one of ours, people would shake their heads a such a bad cruise -- but it was one of my favorites. Out of 21 cruises - 21 favorites. :D

[zqvol]

Oh, goodie! It certainly didn't take long for one of "them" to chime in. :(

 

I'm leaving on the Legend Sunday. I'm fully expecting to have a great time. Is it possible that the quality of the food and service is not what I encountered on my first Carnival cruise in 2007? Sure. But then again, we were shocked at how good the food and service was then. Celebrity and RCI didn't come close.

 

I hope that Carnival (while keeping in mind that they are a business and are looking at the bottom line) looks at some things and makes some adjustments where they can. Friendliness is free. :)

 

And if you feel that Carnival is on the "slippery slope", we won't H82seaUgo to another line/board.

 

You will have a good time because your vacation is what you make it. You will have a clean cabin and three cafeteria style meals each day plus as many other calories as you want to eat.

 

I have been on the Legend 3 times in the past 30 months. There has been a marked decrease in food and entertainment quality in that time. In addition Carnival has done their best to herd you into Carnival enclaves in Cozumel, Belize, and Roatan.

 

Either way the OP is absolutely correct in his observations.

[ronnyclicks]

I normally would not do a review either, but we just returned from the Legend yesterday and I really was unimpressed. I will probably do one later this week. From the bland food, to shutting down pool, mini golf, basketball etc at 10.

i always had a wonderful time on the legend. as far as closing the pool at 10 at night i think is basic safety common sense. are you swimming later than 10?

[Cruzmama]

To Everyone who is on a future Legend cruise: You will love it! I went on the Legend last month, and it was a great cruise! I've been on other Carnival ships and other lines, and I was not disappointed in this ship at all. In fact, it was one of the best cruises I've ever taken. The staff was fabulous and always friendly. The food was very good. Did I like EVERYTHING I ate? No. Some things were better than others. The comedians on the ship were very funny. The other shows that I went to were OK. The entertainment in the lounges was not great (OK, I admit the lady at the piano bar was pretty bad!). But a cruise is what you make it! I like to relax, enjoy our balcony, eat well, and experience new things on the islands, which is exactly what I did.

 

Have a great time, and be glad you are able to get away on a nice vacation. Most people aren't that lucky.

[SCDreamWeaver]

Well Said Cruzmama, i agree with you that we are fortunate to be in a position where we can take a nice vacation. Being on vacation is what YOU make of it, there is always something that could be better, but at the end of the day you choose to either let it put a cloud on your vacation or allow the sun to shine in again.

[melli_fera]

i always had a wonderful time on the legend. as far as closing the pool at 10 at night i think is basic safety common sense. are you swimming later than 10?

 

Actually, yes, I would... avoid all the kids, let my skin rest from the sun, and just sorta, you know, relax.

 

Oh, and I'm going on the Dream in August, so be on the lookout for my review in September... should I create my thread now, just so everyone can be waiting for it? I'll be sure to keep reminding everyone that it's coming :rolleyes:

[dodger501]

just got back form a week on the Legend carnival went downhill

 

with the entertainment and lack of activities

 

long review to follow

 

24 hours and 87 replies later, still no review.

Perhaps you might have waited until you had a day's worth before starting this up with a potentially incendiary topic?

[melli_fera]

24 hours and 87 replies later, still no review.

Perhaps you might have waited until you had a day's worth before starting this up with a potentially incendiary topic?

 

right???????

[ronnyclicks]

Actually, yes, I would... avoid all the kids, let my skin rest from the sun, and just sorta, you know, relax.

 

Oh, and I'm going on the Dream in August, so be on the lookout for my review in September... should I create my thread now, just so everyone can be waiting for it? I'll be sure to keep reminding everyone that it's coming :rolleyes:

i totally agree with you on the nightime swimming. that would be awesome. but at the same time i can understand why the pools are closed for general safety. and can you imagine the lawsuit if a drunk stumbled in and drowned.

[golfb4cruzing]

ping pong

cornhole

karaoke

minigolf

high school shows

bloated cruise directors

 

if I cruised for the ship, I would be dissappointed.

[uncleboo]

took this cruise AS I needed a crusie that left out of Tampa, as my mom

 

lives in Fl and that was the clsoest port for her to get to.

 

as soon as i steped on the ship and asked a question constantly got the

 

wrong answer to my question. seemed that whatever i asked whereever i went got bad or wrong info.

cruise staff was not friendly and nice

 

when i asked my room steward how he was he replied daily same **** different day

 

too many employees had bad attitudes/

 

i think Carnival does not treat them good

 

entertainment sucked/

 

not enough 2 main productino shows. newlwed game is not a headliner

to me for nightly entertainment

 

chocolate buffet was not impressive done in the lido buffet during lunch. used the cheapest chocolate to make chocolate desserts

 

crusie director was wee jimmy. looked like a leprecharan and a munkin

 

all rolled into one. was his own biggest fan,

 

did not have enough activities on sea days or in port.

 

everyone does not do all day trips off the ship older crowd likes to stay

on.

serenity area nice had a good filet mignon.

 

need to have more activities

 

trivia does not cost them anything.

 

entertainment staff frumpy inmature and too giggly.

 

needs alot of improvement

 

never been on a cruise where i was BORED

 

i guess they want you to drink gamble buy art use the internet all $$$

activities

 

99 cent phone calls from room was good

 

but why not show a movie everyday

 

movies on tv in cabin

just played at random could never find out the actual times they would play

 

no smoked salmon at buffet in lido for breakfast had to go to dining room

 

needs lots of improvements

 

questions bring them on

 

had lemonade and ice tea to drink all the time on ship

 

ice cream was lousy

 

best dessert was apple pie and fresh fruit

 

recommenation do not chosse this ship:(

[mfaieta]

Since people seem to want to attack, I am not going to take the time to do a long review with pictures at all that, not worth it. For those that truly want facts on MY OPINION on THIS SPECIFIC sailing of the LEGEND, here it is.

 

The language barrier on this ship was the worst of any I have sailed on. I have never waited in a line to go into the MDR before. We had 6 p.m. seating and waited in line EVERY DAY to get inside. Why open right at 6 or 5 minutes after. How about 2-3 minutes early to avoid a line? Not enough kids to do a lot of the activities but no alternatives. You would think with 3 counslers to 10 kids, they would be loving all over those kids. My 6 year old cried one day because he said he got in trouble and was yelled at. Every time I tried to talk to them or drop my son off, they seemed annoyed. Kept telling my son about the late night parties and getting him excitied but every time we went, they said it was cancelled. Why didn't they at least keep him for an hour. He would have played video games or something. It would have been nice to go to an evening event.

 

 

ZERO activities or alternatives for my 2 older teens since they were 2 of 5 teens on board. My 12 year old LOVED her club though and said she was glad there was only about 12 of them. The club was her favorite part and had tons of activities.

 

I am used to ships that have plenty to do. Not much to do here at all. No sports director like we saw on RC so hardly any planned tourniments and they 2 that my son and husband went to were either cancelled or rushed through. For example, they were in a mini-golf tourniment and not done yet and the lady running it said she had somewhere else to be and stopped it early and just handed everyone a medal? What the heck?

 

MDR staff was nice and great with my 6 year old. Food was just bland and lukewarm. There were a few things I loved but some nights we just didn't enjoy it. Not bad, just not what I am used to.

 

Room service was quick and food there was tasty. Ice cream machine was a mess or broken a lot. Twice ice machine was out and when we told someone, he just looked at us and walked away.

 

Guy making grilled sandwiches was SUPER nice and those were really good. I thought the pizza was alright and my kids loved the calzones. My son loved the slide and there was never a line.

 

1 of the comedies was really funny. The other was just okay. I liked the shows and enjoyed the Thriller dance class (I just wish it wasn't on the main stage before the show, kind of silly).

 

I felt that the marriage shows, trivia, gender wars, etc was not up to par with RC. They seemed a little cheesy and tacky while RC seemed more "real". These shows were just chairs on a stage with the assistant cruise director reading from note cards.

 

All in all, we still had a GREAT vacation. It was not ruined AT ALL but the negatives I am stating. I am just sharing because if I could do it all over again, I would have chosen a different ship or possibly a different cruise line. I'm not saying I will never go on Carnival again or that I wouldn't recommend them to someone else. I am just saying overall, this was my LEAST favorite cruise experience. BUT, heck, it was still a cruise. I spent time with my family, didn't have to cook or clean, and got to see beautful places. I'm still happy!

[psbaldi]

Thanks for the review...I sail her in July and always value the opinions of those who have experienced a sail whether it is positive or negative...either way I learn what to expect and what not to expect...

[halos]

Well Said Cruzmama, i agree with you that we are fortunate to be in a position where we can take a nice vacation. Being on vacation is what YOU make of it, there is always something that could be better, but at the end of the day you choose to either let it put a cloud on your vacation or allow the sun to shine in again.

 

 

Again...and again and again. :rolleyes:

 

Nobody is saying their vacation was ruined or they had a horrid time. All any of these posters are saying is the product is not the same.

 

Comprehension on this board is atrocious.

 

On my last CCL cruises I had a very good time....the places I went to and more importantly, the people I cruised with all created wonderful vacations for me. I have another CCL cruise coming up and I know it will be wonderful as well....HOWEVER, I also know that the cruise following that next CCL cruise, on NCL, if it is anything like the previous NCL cruise I have taken, I will have a more than fabulous experience and I won't have to 'make it'... that it just will be.

[islandwannabee]

I was also on this cruise may 1-8th. Have sailed the legend 7 times in the past 3 years. I guess I am in the minority, but I loved it!!!.

I don't have kids, so can't comment, but when you cruise with children and are going when there are typically not alot of kids, then why do you expect there to be tons of kids on board. I would say sail during the summer, or spring break.

 

I thought the service was exceptional. My dining server, Vincent was the best I have ever had. Always concerned if the food was ok, cooked right and hot. I don't really understand people who say the food wasn't good. Not everything is going to be great, if you don't like something, order another dish. The servers are great about it.

 

There was one night in the middle of the cruise, where there was no production show, only the deck party, which we don't care for, so watched a movie in the cabin on the ipad. No big deal and enjoyed the movie.

 

I don't really understand how you can have a bad cruise or even say carnival is going down hill. Where else can you go and pay what you did and get a great clean room, all the food you can eat, entertainment etc etc.

 

We just enjoy everything about cruising and sure if one little thing happens, what's the big deal. One day in the serenity area, the table was sticky and I asked one of the servers to please wipe it, she never returned. Did it ruin my cruise, heck no, just moved to another table. Life is not perfect, it's what we make of it that counts.

 

Can't wait to cruise the Legend again!!

 

Cindy

[LHP]

Sorry you hit a cruise that wasn't to your taste....it happens. (happened to us on our 3rd cruise on the Holiday years ago)

 

However to make the assumption that an entire cruise line is "downhill" from one cruise is amazingly presumptuous.

 

Since our 8 cruises in the past 6 months have been amazing....I guess I could start a thread that said Carnival is really going UPHILL these days.....

;)

[ciship]

Sorry to hear the ice cream machine was broken most of the time. That is where my husband and daughter "hang out" on our cruises....hmmm, sure hope they get this fixed before our July cruise on the Legend.

 

I can usually tolerate anything (mediocre food, lackluster shows, etc...) but I have a real problem with lousy customer service. It's just not that hard to offer a smile and a hello, even if you are having a bad day. I think the mood of the crew sets the tone for the whole cruise.

[cybercon]

:confused:

Count me as another one who would be willing to pay a little more for better service and entertainment. It wasn't that long ago when you could see a very good 4 piece rock band in a bar every night and a full reggae band on lido every day, late night theme parties on deck, just lots of stuff to do. Now you're lucky to get a washed up, drunk, one man band in the casino who can't sing and can barely play guitar. I still love Carnival, and I'm hoping my upcoming Dream cruise will be different. If not, I may be trying some different lines in the future. No hard feelings or anything. I have always had good times on Carnival cruises. I just want a little more, or at least a little more like it used to be, and I am willing to pay more if need be.

 

I agree with you. We have cruised Carnival since 1998 and all was good. Now with the new managmnet we have notied entertainment, food service in dining room going down hill. I would gladly pay more for some of the good old years. We have booked a cruise on the Victory in January and now if CCL has cut back more from last year don't know if we want to cruise on CCL.

[LittleJeanne]

To Everyone who is on a future Legend cruise: You will love it! I went on the Legend last month, and it was a great cruise! I've been on other Carnival ships and other lines, and I was not disappointed in this ship at all. In fact, it was one of the best cruises I've ever taken. The staff was fabulous and always friendly. The food was very good. Did I like EVERYTHING I ate? No. Some things were better than others. The comedians on the ship were very funny. The other shows that I went to were OK. The entertainment in the lounges was not great (OK, I admit the lady at the piano bar was pretty bad!). But a cruise is what you make it! I like to relax, enjoy our balcony, eat well, and experience new things on the islands, which is exactly what I did.

 

Have a great time, and be glad you are able to get away on a nice vacation. Most people aren't that lucky.

 

 

This sounds much like our last cruise on the Legend, in January. The only thing I could truely say that I was disappointed in was the lady at the piano bar. We spent 1 hour there all week,instead of time every night, and that was too much. She was NO piano bar entertainer. All this beng said, we booked the Legend again for January 2012.