Dream or Legend ?

[SusanMelody]

I am researching cruises to take in early January as a Christmas gift for my DH and DD. Our last cruise was on the Paradise where we enjoyed the excellent service and DD loved Camp Carnival. Both the Legend and Dream have the same itinerary at about the same price, so I am interested in opinions on which to choose. DH and I enjoy listening to live cover bands and the casino at night and hanging out at the pool/outdoor bars during the day. DD is 8 and LOVES Camp Carnival.

[Sailor's Momma]

I debated between the two recently. After, many google searches I decided on the Legend. Many people liked it better. My husband liked that it was a smaller ship too.

[n6uqqq]

On the Legend you would have about 1500 less passengers onboard. To me that is a huge plus!

[Luvtoeat]

Was just on the Dream in July and had a cove balcony. We choose the Dream because it was one of the newer ships. I do agree at times it seemed a little crowded. We were on the Legend 3 or 4 years ago and as I remember had a really good time. We will be on the Legend again this November since we received a free cabin offer from Carnival. Had not planned in cruising until next year but could not turn down the offer.

[mbleackl]

I am researching cruises to take in early January as a Christmas gift for my DH and DD. Our last cruise was on the Paradise where we enjoyed the excellent service and DD loved Camp Carnival. Both the Legend and Dream have the same itinerary at about the same price, so I am interested in opinions on which to choose. DH and I enjoy listening to live cover bands and the casino at night and hanging out at the pool/outdoor bars during the day. DD is 8 and LOVES Camp Carnival.

 

I love the big ships. We are on the Dream Jan. 18 sailing. My family are joining me to celebrate my 70th BD. We are a group of 10 including my DGS age 12 and my DGD age 2. Have had some incredible price drops totalling $1100 between all 4 cabins since booking. Hoping to get more.

[grrl2grrl]

I've been on both, and they both hold a lovely place in my heart. The legend was my first. I had fun watching the other passengers sing (sometimes badly) during late night karaoke, and the ship was very easy to navigate. The dream has the Cloud 9 spa though... We booked a spa room and their thelassotherapy pool helped with all my aching muscles from walking and adventuring all day in the ports. The only negative about the Dream was the layout to get to the MDR. The easiest path was to walk all the way down the lido deck then go down at the aft elevators... However on formal night my dress flying about could have been a potential issue. (you couldn't go down first then back because the middle was blocked off.)

 

I'd sail either again, they were both lovely, but if given the choice to go back to the cloud 9 spa... That's where you'd find me...

[k2excursion]

I was on one of Legend's sister ships & didn't think much of it. But I totally love the Dream! I'm going back for a 3rd trip on the Dream in a few months. But I'm a big kid. Your DD would most likely enjoy Dream more, as it is very appealing to the young & the young at heart. Cruisecritic seems to have more of the not-so-young demographic, and they tend to prefer ships like the Legend. Even among my friends, the younger ones tend to prefer ships like Dream, and the not-so-young ones tend to prefer ships like Legend. (There are always exceptions to this though.)

 

The Dream will feel more crowded than Legend, but I never felt overly crowded. Dream has fewer pools, but they have awesome waterslides. The kids & me love those slides. Dream does have plenty of live entertainment on board. They have a great band (Black Jack Band) that plays in a very nice venue (oceans plaza) on deck 5 midship. There's another band in a small lounge in the aft. They put on great production shows in the theater 3 nights during the week, with live music. For what you're looking for, I think Dream is the way to go on every point that you mentioned.

Edited September 12, 2013 by k2excursion

[Captain Carnival]

Having sailed both I would say LEGEND for sure!

[CJinFLA00]

I have been on both and prefer the Dream. I know many people love the Legend but I felt the ship was too small. Just my opinion.

[luv2trvlnow]

The only negative about the Dream was the layout to get to the MDR. The easiest path was to walk all the way down the lido deck then go down at the aft elevators... However on formal night my dress flying about could have been a potential issue. (you couldn't go down first then back because the middle was blocked off.)

 

The only deck that is blocked off is Deck 3 (Lobby). There was no need to walk outside. My choice from the spa rooms would be to take the elevator down to deck 4 and go to your dining room from there, all while remaining inside.

So it is possible to go down and then aft while remaining inside (no dress flying up potential, lol!) on decks 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Sharon

[CRUISE2062]

The Dream and Legend have similar itineraries but not the same. The Carnival Dream ports in Costa Maya, Mexico and the Carnival Legend ports in Grand Cayman, otherwise it is the same itinerary. We chose the Dream(the only Carnival ship that ports there) because of Costa Maya. We went there several years ago and have always wanted to go back. That being said, I do prefer the Legend...actually it is probably my favorite of all the Carnival ships! Have a great cruise!!!

[Lovefuninthesun]

...it's totally subjective -- so many variables:

Size of ship -- do you like smaller (Legend) or bigger (Dream)

Age of ship -- Dream is newer

Bells and Whistles -- some think Dream has more

Debarkation port -- Tampa (Legend) is awesome!

Itinerary -- Grand Cayman (Legend) vs. Costa Maya (Dream)

Ship reviews -- Legend is one of the most popular ships out there

Plus -- Lgend will only be in the states a few more months -- she is heading to Australia, so sail her while you can!

 

Have fun!

[jsfromsc]

I'd love to try a cove balcony, but I have read many negative comments about the Dream here on CC, especially sewage smell. We were just on the Legend in July/August. I love the Spirit class ships. They also have 3 pools on the Lido, so more chance of hanging out near a pool. The aft pool is the Serenity area. So nice to hang out with no kids around! My pick would be the Legend. The layout of the Spirit class ships is really nice. Also, she'll be heading to Australia next year so this might be your last chance to sail on her.

[grrl2grrl]

The only deck that is blocked off is Deck 3 (Lobby). There was no need to walk outside. My choice from the spa rooms would be to take the elevator down to deck 4 and go to your dining room from there, all while remaining inside.

So it is possible to go down and then aft while remaining inside (no dress flying up potential, lol!) on decks 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Sharon

 

Yes, you are correct, but my assigned MDR was on 3 so then I have to travel down - over - down and get stuck crowded in the stairwell until they let us in. This is the path I took once I figured out the fly up capacity of wearing a dress on deck, but I had to learn the hard way. This is one of the inconveniences as to why I don't like the Dream's layout. It's not a huge issue, and I would sail on the Dream again as her positives way outweigh the negatives. But if I'm comparing the very functional layout of the Legend, and the layout of the Dream - the Dream was inconvenient and unnecessarily so in my opinion.

The layout of the MDR is not something that will cause me to not book a ship (I will have the same issue with the upcoming Freedom ship) but it is something I would consider on my cons list if choosing between two ships. If you never eat in the MDR it won't ever be an issue, but I eat there every day, and sometimes twice a day.

[WAHMto5]

We haven't sailed on the Legend yet, but we LOVE the Dream! We also enjoy listening to a live band and I think the Dream has the BEST live band we have heard in a long time and doe's not compare to any of the other ships we have been on.

[poptart]

I've been on the Dream--spa cabin and on the Legend. Totally enjoyed both ships.

 

The Legend is my favorite ship but I am 63.

 

If I were taking an 8 year old with me I would sail the Dream because it has awesome water slides. More bells and whistles for the younger crowd that aren't important to me.

 

Oh and Costa Maya rocks!!!

 

Happy Sails!

[rjrpar]

For us it's an easy decision, The Legend

[SusanMelody]

Thanks to all for your wonderful replies. I believe our choice will be the Dream because of our 8 year old DD and the live music choices for my DH.

 

Time to book...I saw an extended aft available on Deck 6

 

Susan

[WAHMto5]

Thanks to all for your wonderful replies. I believe our choice will be the Dream because of our 8 year old DD and the live music choices for my DH.

 

Time to book...I saw an extended aft available on Deck 6

 

Susan

 

You will love it! Our youngest is 8 and she loves the water slides they have on the Dream.

[iluvtocruise33]

I have been on the Legend once and the Dream three times so I would have to say the Dream wins out. I love the larger ships and even with more people had any problems with any crowds or lines.

[grrl2grrl]

You really couldn't have made a bad choice between those 2 ships! Have tons of fun on your cruise!

[mitsugirly]

I have only been on the Dream, so I can only comment on our experience with it.

 

We love big ships (and newer ships). This is why we picked the Dream as our first Carnival experience. The ship was amazing and we loved her.

 

The water slides were an absolute blast!!! We had our 5 year old daughter with us and also our 4 3/4 :p grandson with us as well and they both loved the water park and slides...especially the twister!

 

With this being a "bigger" ship, yes, it was was very crowded. It was probably the most crowded ship I think I have ever been on (with NCL's Epic being the next biggest ship and it didn't seem this crowded).

 

Since you did inquire about the kids club, I have to say that I was completely disappointed in the kids club (especially 2 particular staff members). I had nothing but issues with them the entire cruise and it was by far the worse experience for my daughter on any cruise. She usually begs to go to the kids clubs and doesn't want to leave when it's time to go. This was a different story. If you feel like reading a VERY LONG review that I did of the dream, it's listed in my signature line. (It also covers the ports we went to, so if not interested in that, you can totally skip over them). :)

[SusanMelody]

Thanks for all of the great advice. I chose the Dream, surprised my DH and DD for Christmas and we sail this Saturday ! We are all so very excited. My DH cannot wait to get back to Camp Carnival, I am looking forward to our aft cabin and my DH is super excited about the live bands.

 

Bon Voyage !!