Legend 8/28/11 review... NO HURRICANE, with lots of pics (yep, food porn)

[beachbum6264]

Keep it up! (and please hurry so we can read about your whole trip before we sail the Legend on Sunday!)

 

Thanks... I'm typing as fast as I can!! Darn job keeps interfering with fun stuff :p.

 

Lov'in the review so far, can't wait for more. And the food porn is great, keep that coming too, please. ;)

 

Thanks, more food porn tomorrow!

 

Thanks for much for the awesome review!! Can't wait to read more and love the pictures. We were on the Carnival Valor in February of this year and Cozumel was one of our ports. We loved it there, can't wait to go back. :):)

 

We love it there, too. We talk about trying a different beach, but why mess with a good thing? Once we did the Tulum trip and enjoyed that, but mostly we just want to relax. Hope you get back there soon.

[beachbum6264]

I've never heard of alligator fritters and now I am heairng about them all the time! :eek: Must be the "new menu" because they weren't available when we cruised in May. Sounds interesting. What do they taste like? (PLEASE don't say alligator! :o)

 

Yep, it's the new menu, the alligator fritters are one of the "didja" items (as in "didja" ever want to try these??)

Tasted like calamari or less chewy conch in these fritters.

[Nannydd12]

Great review, really enjoying it.Can't wait to check out all of these ports in April. Have only been to Grand Cayman so all the info is really appreciated. We got to see several jumpers when we were in Grand Turk in 2010 and the Carnival Security officers were not happy with them either, they were a group of about 6 or 7 people that they were waiting on so the ship could sail and then they jumped and held the ship up even longer. Maybe to much fun and drinking at Margaritaville. We got to watch the whole thing from our balcony.

[dane225]

Great review so far!! Can't wait to read the rest!!:D

[QUIGONATOR]

:D Frozen yogurt/ice cream machines are part of my families daily activities on the cruise.He,He! BUT I read on another review that they took out ice cream machine from Serenity area, does that mean they only have a couple machines on the boat now or did they relocate them somewhere else?

 

Is there a band in serenity area, or maybe you can elaborate about it!

 

Do they stil have a past guest party? Or is it for everyone? It used to be capt. cocktail? If so do you know what night? My guess in thurs when everyone is tired from Roatan!

 

Thanks!! Appreciate your info on here ;)

Going on Legend next month!

[rhcpchika1]

Bring on Belize!! :)

[jobell]

Thanks - I have some of the Fun Times, but my scanner bit the dust and haven't bought a new one (had to buy a new TV today, so the scanner will have to wait). Elegant nights were Monday (first sea day) and Thursday (Roatan)

 

This is perfect...thank you. :)

[Froufie]

Yep, it's the new menu, the alligator fritters are one of the "didja" items (as in "didja" ever want to try these??)

Tasted like calamari or less chewy conch in these fritters.

 

That's cuz they were calamari - rumor has it that Carnival has not yet received the alligator from their supplier and are substituting calamari - but not telling anyone unless they ask!:eek:

[nikita]

Thanks so much for your very witty review!! Can't wait for more!

[beachbum6264]

Wednesday, August 31 Belize!! (and Rum Punch!!)

 

We got the room service wake up call again this morning – we had an early excursion. Walked onto the balcony and caught the first tender coming up to the ship…. seas as smooth as glass this morning.

 

 

We booked the Barrier Reef Snorkel and Beach Break (with rum punch). We booked through Carnival because they pick you up right at the ship. B. doesn’t care anything about port shopping, so if he doesn’t have to go he’s fine.

 

We met in the Follies Lounge at 8:15 – they have a pretty good system for getting folks off the ship. Not much waiting and they called our excursion. Down a flight of stairs and into the excursion boat, and off we go toward the second largest barrier reef in the world

 

 

We spent about 1.5 hours snorkeling on the reef. L and W had never snorkeled before, so this was an experience for them!

 

 

 

 

Then they forced me to get out of the water and back into the boat. I could have spent the day on the reef… but I know there is rum punch on that boat, so back I go

 

 

Yes, it’s early in the day, but heck, we’ve already had breakfast and we all know that it’s 5 o’clock somewhere!

[beachbum6264]

As soon I got back on board I had a rum punch in one hand. Some I know had a rum punch in both hands. We did this same excursion last year, and not much has changed. The rum punch is tasty (read that as heavy on the rum), and they are not stingy …. at all. We quenched our thirst all the way to Bannister Island for the ‘beach break’ part of the excursion. You can’t take the punch off the boat onto the island, but you can go back onto the boat if you get thirsty (or so I heard)

Lazy day, we were the only group there this time, and there were plenty of chairs to be had. We set up camp and relaxed (theme of the cruise)

 

Inviting sight:

 

 

B accepted the invitation

 

 

 

Could be my next house. Not a problem, I could handle it

 

 

Growing up on the beach you develop an ‘eye’ for certain things in the sand, I always loved to find shark’s teeth – you learn to spot them after a while. Looks like I haven’t lost that skill – I just looked down and there it was

 

 

All too soon it was time to get back on the boat (for real this time) and head back to the ship. The punch was flowing all the way back, too. Yes, that’s B in the middle, cup in both hands.

 

 

Needless to say, a good time was had by all.

[beachbum6264]

All too soon we are back at the Legend

 

 

We did bring something back with us, because the bartender on the excursion boat obviously thought we just had not had enough rum punch yet

 

 

Yep, punch. With rum. A little punch, a lot of rum. Just what we needed!!

 

B. decided he would just stay on board, but L and W had never been to Belize, so the 3 of us changed clothes and headed into Belize City. The first time we were in Belize B and I walked through town to the water taxi stand and went to Cay Caulker. We had an amazing day, but B got a little freaked out walking through the city (I thought it was interesting and all the people we met were nothing but helpful and friendly), so I had to promise we would not go outside the port area. It’s about a 15 – 20 minute ride into the port. We headed to the Wet Lizard for a bit to eat

 

 

Lobster fritters (no conch right now, but lobster will do)

 

 

We did some shopping (again, without benefit of a shopping talk, amazing, I know), and caught the last tender back to the ship. For some reason I was worn out, must have been the sun. That’s my story, I’m sticking to it. So I went to have an afternoon nap, B went to the past guest party by himself. If there is free food and free booze, he’s there! He said it was packed, but the drinks were being freely passed. One thing they did differently was that you picked up a plate of appetizers on the way in, they weren’t passed around like they had been in the past. I guess this left more wait staff to pass drinks. He was happy. I was asleep – the sun, remember????

 

There was no show before dinner tonight, which gave me more time to nap (sun, right???). Dinner tonight was one of my favorites, I love the lamb, and they didn’t disappoint.

 

The ‘didja’ tonight was the shark and langoustino firecracker roll. Looked more like a sphere than a roll, but tasted good.

 

 

(sorry it’s a bit blurry, the camera must have gotten a bit too much sun) And here’s the lamb:

 

 

No comedy show tonight, either. They did have a deck party “Rockin’ Under the Stars”, but we’ve got another early day tomorrow, and we’ve had a lot of ‘sun’, so we skipped that.

Tomorrow: Roatan. Papers are waiting for me to grade, so have to go back to the real world now.

[LovesAllTravel]

Awesome review-great job! Love your humor. I definitely believe it was that sun that did you in after your day in Belize, LOL. Looking forward to the rest of your review, I'm sailing on the Legend in 10 days!!

[MrFunInTheSun]

Great review!!

[beachbum6264]

No time to write today - one of those 'easy' teacher days - left home at 6:45, grade meeting after school, parent strategy meeting at 6:00, home at 8:30. Still looking for that 8 - 3 job.

Roatan review tomorrow...

wish I were there right now.

[SteelerCruiser]

Great Review so far........looking forward to more......also looking forward to the sailing the Legend in November!

[singley5]

Monday, Aug. 29

 

Up early for room service before our spa appointment. Melon and a bagel always taste much better with a view of the water. The spa gave us a wake-up call around 7:40 so we won’t miss our time. Nice of them, I’m sure plenty of people forget/oversleep. L and I head up to the spa, fill out the forms, and off to our rooms – I got a 75 minute hot stone massage (my total addiction/weakness), L got a hot bamboo massage. In all my cruises this was the first time I’ve done the spa thing. I get hot stone massages fairly regularly, this was L’s 2nd massage ever, and her first one over 30 minutes. While the spa is not as “spa like” as the land one I usually go to, they were professional all the way. I did tell her that I was not interested in purchasing any products – just here for some relaxation. Small treatment rooms (but I know space is limited), dim lights, quiet music, comfy table… and a great massage. Sometimes they don’t use the stones much, but she used them for most of the massage, which I loved. L loved her bamboo massage, said they used different sizes, all warmed. We both came out totally useless for the rest of the day.

 

We headed to the Serenity deck to see if we would be lucky enough to score some chairs. YES!! right in my favorite place, too – right in the middle of the back row – here’s my favorite view for a sea day:

 

 

this was only improved by the addition of a blow fish. Yep, I had to have one….

 

 

There was some kind of orange drink – Coral Crush. Not sure what was in it, just interested in the fish!!! It was OK, a little sweet for me, but I’m a margarita kind of girl. In case you are wondering what that fish looks like inside, here ya go:

 

 

there is a cup with a lid inside, and it kept the drink cold for a long time. I have the funnel cup and a monkey head, the fish may find its way to my classroom (under the sea theme going on in there, go figure)

 

L and I camped here for the day – rest, read, drink, eat, repeat…. grabbed a burger for lunch, repeat morning schedule. I have the sea day relaxation routing down pat! B and W did their things… B found a shady spot and read, then headed down to the steam room/sauna in the spa, while W watched movies in the room. Everyone was happy.

 

 

Is that your kindle next to your drink.. If so why the plastic bag. Just wondering I want to take my kindle along should I pack a bag for that too?

[arb34]

Loving this review!!! My next cruise is on the Legend but not until Oct 2012...too far away. And another '73 grad here but from the East Coast of Florida....last 26 years in the mountains of North Carolina so falling in love with the beach all over again through cruising... may have missed it but what type of cabin did you have?

[gelo7]

Back to reliving the fun:

 

 

Tuesday, Aug. 30 – Cozumel

 

Good morning, Cozumel!! Woke up just in time to watch us pull in to Cozumel, thanks to room service being right on time. Scattered showers around the island

 

 

but looking forward the coast is clear. So, as soon as they clear us, we are off the ship and headed through the drizzle to the taxi stand. Look: Rainbow!!!

 

 

Not many people have gotten off the ship yet, guess the slight drizzle held them back. Not us, the taxi is dry! We grab a cab to Paradise Beach ($13 for the 4 of us). It’s early and we are the first ones …. only a couple of employees are there. It’s my 8th or 9th trip there, the 2nd since they opened the pool. I know there are better beaches in our future, so we grab some chairs in the pool, close to the bar (thinking ahead!). This is what Paradise Beach looks like, before the crowds get there:

 

 

see those 2 chairs right in front? Ours! The bar is just to the right.

 

view to the beach:

 

 

Look, no one is here!!!

 

 

B. has the pool to himself

 

 

We were there over an hour before the next group of people showed up. It was Paradise!

Paradise Beach is a great spot and a bargain too.

[GayleR]

Is that your kindle next to your drink.. If so why the plastic bag. Just wondering I want to take my kindle along should I pack a bag for that too?

 

It's a waterproof cover that you can purchase on Amazon. Some people just use gallon sized ziploc bags.

[matondo]

I am loving the review. When you find that 8-3 job let me know. I have to add my 2 cents worth on the GPS. My DH calls our Helen because we always wonders where in Helen we are and she tells us.:D

[luvmyjewels]

Just popping in to say thanks for the great review and pictures! Can't wait to hear more about your day on Roatan.

[w8ing2cruz]

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All too soon it was time to get back on the boat (for real this time) and head back to the ship. The punch was flowing all the way back, too. Yes, that’s B in the middle, cup in both hands.

 

 

Needless to say, a good time was had by all.

 

I try to avoid Carnival sponsored excursions AT ALL COSTS but this one just fit the bill too well. LOVED that you were picked up right at the ship and Bannister Island was awesome. The rum punch didn't hurt either - we drank 'em dry on our trip :p. There was lots of booty shakin going on!! This is one Carnival excursion that I would definately recommend!

 

Great review BTW!! Also - just in case you want to try something different in Coz (we've been to PB three times) you should look up Tucan Sailing Adventure - awesome day on a catamaran!!

[rksmom]

We did the same excursion in Belize. Once we got back to the ship I couldn't have gone into Belize if I had wanted to. DH put me to bed for the afternoon, but that rum punch was really, reeeaalllly good. To this day, whenever we talk about the cruise he says "It was good but it would have been really nice to see Belize". Oh well, he can take me on the Legend and we can try again lol.

 

Sandi

[McDebbie]

Another 1973 grad here, too funny. I noticed the cover for the Kindle also, where did you get it? Not sure if it would work with my Sony since it has a hard cover.

 

Love the pictures of Paradise Beach, we are going to Nachi Colum instead but I am hoping for the same pool experience. Forget the beach, plant me by the swim up bar. ;)

 

Can't wait to 'hear' the rest of the review.