Tell me all about the Legend of the Seas!

[cruisequeen4ever]

DH and I LOVE the Honolulu to Sydney itinerary aboard the Legend of the Seas, and the timing is perfect, BUT...

1) We are Elite with Princess and would miss all of the benefits like free laundry, dry cleaning, mini bar, and Internet for 17 days.

2) We are very concerned about this being such an old ship. I read one stabilizer recently went out, and I do get seasick in rough seas. I read the movie screen has pixels out that Royal Caribbean hasn't fixed. I read about stains on the chairs. Altogether, it just doesn't sound like the wonderful experience we are used to.

3) I've read many reviews of food, and all who have compared Princess and Royal Caribbean food have put Princess ahead. I don't care if one is better than another, I just don't want inedible food for 17 days. Yes, I understand food is subjective.

Sooooo I have questions for those who have sailed with Legend...

1) How is the food? Are real eggs used?

2) Are there ship problems like malfunctioning toilets, leaks, stains, broken parts?

3) How does this ship compare to the newer Royal Caribbean ships?

4) Will there be a lot of ship activities offered daily like on other cruises?

Thank you! I want to make an informed decision. I originally posted this in the Roll Call section but think there's more potential for a response here.

[2tall]

I should preface this by saying that we were on the Legend last April so I can't attest to how she is TODAY but I will try to answer as much as I can.

 

The food is much like on other cruises and it was never hard to find something good to eat. We tended to eat breakfast in the main dining room because it was less crowded. The eggs there were genuine eggs (or so they seemed easy side up).

 

We encountered no mechanical problems.

 

It's a smaller ship so there isn't as much to do or see as on the larger ships it there was always at least something going on.

 

I loved it and were booked on another Vision class ship this March. Of course, I tend to prefer the smaller ships anyway since you get to know the crew and other passengers. If you're social (and you probably are if you cruise), just sitting around the pool can be entertaining with your new friends.

 

Two tips: eat at Chops (it was amazing); try the Chefs table (ditto).

[cruisequeen4ever]

Thank you for the helpful info.!

[tucsonjim]

In an era of mega ships with all he bells and whistles, the Legend is fighting a losing battle. Despite the smaller passenger capacity, the ship struggles to meet the needs of its guests. The Windjammer cafe is constantly jammed with too many people seeking too few seats. The cruise line sought to improve the situation by removing many two and four seat tables and replacing them with 5-6 seat tables. The result? Two people now sit at the larger tables and it takes the typical "may we join you" imposition to get a seat. Facilities are limited and the ship itself has become a training center for drew to learn the ropes and then move on to the larger ships. The end result is an aging ship with a green staff, all aspiring to move up to a better base. We were told the reason Legend wasn't being retired was its speed. Despite this somewhat dubious honor (attained by belching diesel smoke), it's time they sold this ship and moved on.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

I haven't sailed on Legend myself so I can't give any advice, but if you go to main Royal Caribbean board and then click on the "Legend of the Seas" link at the top, there are a couple trip reports with pictures! :)

 

IMO, I'd have no problem sailing on Legend if given the opportunity.

[DarthGrady]

I was just on Legend in December for a 9 night sailing. I loved the ship, but I've gotten partial to the smaller ones over the last few years. I enjoy the cozier atmosphere of them. There is a pictorial review from the sailing linked in my signature if you'd like to check it out.

 

I'll try to help with your questions:

 

1) We are Elite with Princess and would miss all of the benefits like free laundry, dry cleaning, mini bar, and Internet for 17 days.

 

True, you won't be getting any past guest perks. But RCI does have a great past guest program, so 17 credits would be a good way to start if you plan on going with RCI more often.

 

2) We are very concerned about this being such an old ship. I read one stabilizer recently went out, and I do get seasick in rough seas. I read the movie screen has pixels out that Royal Caribbean hasn't fixed. I read about stains on the chairs. Altogether, it just doesn't sound like the wonderful experience we are used to.

 

The movie screen did have some dead pixels. I don't know if it's been fixed yet or when that will happen; probably in the next dry dock. I thought the ship's condition was very nice. I didn't notice any other maintenance or cleanliness issues. She was thoroughly renovated a couple of years ago, but she is indeed 20 years old and no amount of updating can hide that everywhere.

 

3) I've read many reviews of food, and all who have compared Princess and Royal Caribbean food have put Princess ahead. I don't care if one is better than another, I just don't want inedible food for 17 days. Yes, I understand food is subjective.

Sooooo I have questions for those who have sailed with Legend...

1) How is the food? Are real eggs used? I liked the food just fine and had no issues with it. The buffet had the scrambled eggs which I guess could be the powdered stuff. But the main dining room and (sometimes) the buffet have omelets and real eggs (like eggs benedict) available. She also has the new sushi bar and Chops Grill, which are nicer (for fee) options.

2) Are there ship problems like malfunctioning toilets, leaks, stains, broken parts? My only issue was with the AC in our room being pretty weak. It never got a cold as I would like. But I'd sleep in a refrigerator if I could, so your mileage may vary.

3) How does this ship compare to the newer Royal Caribbean ships? Obviously she isn't a Freedom or Oasis class ship. She is smaller and older, but as such has her own charm. I like the smaller ships better, but that's just my preference.

4) Will there be a lot of ship activities offered daily like on other cruises?

Yes, there will be an assortment of daily activities. They will be listed in your daily Cruise Compass paper.

[Lady Chew]

We just got off Legend at the end of February ... she is an older, smaller ship, and certainly cannot compare to the newer, bigger, more technologically advanced ships, but she is not without her charms.

 

A few instances of wear & tear here & there, but very clean. Very nice public spaces - the only negative we had was the smoke in the casino. Just horrible.

 

We were very pleased with service throughout the ship.

 

No issues with toilets, A/C, etc not functioning, either in our stateroom or in public venues.

 

Plenty of activities to attend throughout the day, as well into the late evening.

 

We had a "regular" balcony cabin and we have never had so much storage, we couldn't even use it all, and we were carrying about 6 weeks of clothing & stuff, not to mention souvenirs!!

 

We are not gourmands, but we were very pleased with the food. We never had a problem finding a place to eat in the Windjammer. Our only gripe with the WJ was that they have placed way too many chairs around the tables than there is space. Trying to turn a table for two into a table for four, a table for four into six, etc etc. Made getting around very difficult.

[cruzisme]

Are the cabin walls magnetic like on Princess ships? I bring magnets to put up papers.

[goodycruising]

We just got off Rhapsody last month and we cancelled a cruise we had booked for next year on Legend. We found that compared with the larger RCI ships sailing out of Australia and Celebrity Solstice, that it was a rougher trip and the smaller windjammer buffet was such a disappointment. It was just too small and crowded in our opinion. The space per passenger ratio as less than the bigger ships according to a site that has deck plan info.

The seas were not as large as we have had on the other ships and the older technology seems to make the trip less comfortable for us. The newer azipod equipped ships seem more stable.

We also like to get a Junior Suite if possible and the fact that they are under the pool deck and often noisy drives us crazy. We were also under the smokers area on Rhapsody which was noisy for a lot of hours of the day.

So while Legend is a ship we haven't been on, the fact that it is smaller than Rhapsody made us hesitant to go on her as the price difference was not worth the risk we would not enjoy the trip.

Going over a big ocean that could get rough would make me nervous. Only you can decide what you would feel comfortable with.

 

Sent from my GT-I9506 using Tapatalk

[Clarea]

Are the cabin walls magnetic like on Princess ships? I bring magnets to put up papers.

Not magnetic, but metal to which magnets are attracted.

[rjrice1]

bump

Edited March 17, 2015 by rjrice1

[rjrice1]

OMG !!! brings back memories.. You will love her as much as we did

This was our very first cruise back in 2004. Right after all the hurricanes and another one brewing in the ocean.

Had an "owner's suites" can remember Capt. Johnny waving to us daily from his control room.

And got "addicted" with 17 cruises afterwards

Edited March 17, 2015 by rjrice1

[Stu K]

great ship and for her age in great shape! I booked knowing that there would not be the whistles and bells. We had some great staff on out Christmas and New Year cruise but some of the bar service was pretty bad.

 

We Actually got 20% refund due to the service as they admitted there was a high percentage of new staff.

 

Would cruise on her again if itinerary was good and hope for a better ratio on trainee staff.

 

Stu K

[buffy24]

It is so funny to read how small the Legend is considered now. When I was a travel agent back in 95, I was selected from our company to go on a "cruise to nowhere," prior to her maiden sailing. I thought she was such a beautiful and grand ship. We were unable to actually leave port due to some last minute adjustments that had to be made (our waiter told us the anchor fell off!), so they provided an open bar to all of the travel agents. Boy, those people could drink :) I still have the framed print they gave us as a gift. I would love to sail on the Legend again someday.

[cruzisme]

Thanks re info on the cabin walls

Will bring magnets next cruise

[Bailey & Sophie]

We were on the Legend last month. We have not been on a ship quite this small, but really enjoyed our time on board.

However...we had an inside room. There was absolutely NO storage in the bathroom. There were no shelves, no cupboards, etc. The only place to put items was on the lower shelf (where extra tp, kleenex and the shower mat was located) or the top of the counter which was about 6 inches long. There was no rim on the counter, so if there would be rough waters things could slide off. Also, the bathroom door only opened about 40% so it was difficult to get up and over the bathroom ledge and get through that 40% opening.

We always take an over-the-door shoe holder with clear pockets that we put over the bathroom door. I don't know what other bathrooms offer and they may have more storage. I picked up the shoe bag at Dollar Tree for a buck. When we unpack I leave it in the suitcase so I know where it is.

[copi2boys]

We liked the Legend, going in knowing it was an older, smaller ship. The food was good, we had no complaints. Loved the chef' table , Chops, and Izumi. Good and varied entertainment. We had a balcony. More storage in that room than on the Oasis class. We didn't use all the drawers and side cabinets. Plenty of room in the bathroom but prefer the sliding doors for the shower, not the curtain. I would sail her again. :D

[Paulette3028]

This is for someone recently on Legend......who was the Activity Manager onboard?

[cruisequeen4ever]

Thank you for all of your thoughtful responses! Some people on the roll call were snarky in their replies. We decided on a land trip to Maui followed by an Alaska cruise on Princess instead. We may try Royal Caribbean in the future, though. Happy cruising to you all! [emoji568]

[Paulette3028]

Thank you for all of your thoughtful responses! Some people on the roll call were snarky in their replies. We decided on a land trip to Maui followed by an Alaska cruise on Princess instead. We may try Royal Caribbean in the future, though. Happy cruising to you all! [emoji568]

 

Enjoy your vacation....sorry to read that people in the roll call were 'snarky' -- I just hope you made your decision based on what you read in this thread, because those 'snarky' people in the roll call, you probably would never have found on the ship, anyway. It seemed that everyone who gave you their feelings in this thread were sincere with the goal to help you make your decision.

[John&LaLa]

Thank you for all of your thoughtful responses! Some people on the roll call were snarky in their replies. We decided on a land trip to Maui followed by an Alaska cruise on Princess instead. We may try Royal Caribbean in the future, though. Happy cruising to you all! [emoji568]

 

We scared another one away. Is that the plan. :what: I missed the memo

[Fiveone5]

We found the ship to be well cared for - older yes but very nice. We usually sail Voyager class, but found Legend perfect for the Panama Canal.

 

1) How is the food? Are real eggs used? Enjoyed eating at the Solarium for lunch. Did not find the food selection to be poor quality but I have not sailed on Princess to compare.

 

2) Are there ship problems like malfunctioning toilets, leaks, stains, broken parts? I was concerned about the issues you mentioned but never heard of any while on board.

 

4) Will there be a lot of ship activities offered daily like on other cruises? Yes!

[sexylegend8]

Great thread! Thanks for this, we have just come back from being on the Radiance of the Seas, we so enjoyed ourselves that we are looking to book again and this was one of the ships we are thinking of.......

:)

We also like the idea of the smaller ship, just because we experienced a liitle fear of heights on the Radiance and Decks 12 & 13 were no go zones during the day LOL.

We were thinking that the Legend would be ideal. Does anyone know if the motion would be around the same as the Radiance??

[impatientlywaiting]

DH and I LOVE the Honolulu to Sydney itinerary aboard the Legend of the Seas, and the timing is perfect, BUT...

1) We are Elite with Princess and would miss all of the benefits like free laundry, dry cleaning, mini bar, and Internet for 17 days.

2) We are very concerned about this being such an old ship. I read one stabilizer recently went out, and I do get seasick in rough seas. I read the movie screen has pixels out that Royal Caribbean hasn't fixed. I read about stains on the chairs. Altogether, it just doesn't sound like the wonderful experience we are used to.

3) I've read many reviews of food, and all who have compared Princess and Royal Caribbean food have put Princess ahead. I don't care if one is better than another, I just don't want inedible food for 17 days. Yes, I understand food is subjective.

Sooooo I have questions for those who have sailed with Legend...

1) How is the food? Are real eggs used?

2) Are there ship problems like malfunctioning toilets, leaks, stains, broken parts?

3) How does this ship compare to the newer Royal Caribbean ships?

4) Will there be a lot of ship activities offered daily like on other cruises?

Thank you! I want to make an informed decision. I originally posted this in the Roll Call section but think there's more potential for a response here.

 

I've read some unpleasant comments about the Legend in response to your questions. IMO, the Legend is a beautiful ship and I didn't observe any of the negative things others have written about. There are many of us cruisers who do not like the "bigger" cruise ships and do not care for all the "bells and whistles" the bigger cruise ships offer. I have yet to find any inedible food on any of the "smaller" ships we've cruised on with Royal (we did a TA on Legend this time last year and LOVED it - the sailing across the Atlantic was very smooth and uneventful). We also could have run ourselves ragged trying to keep up with all the activities offered during the day and evening.

[rubrrick]

DH and I LOVE the Honolulu to Sydney itinerary aboard the Legend of the Seas, and the timing is perfect, BUT...

1) We are Elite with Princess and would miss all of the benefits like free laundry, dry cleaning, mini bar, and Internet for 17 days.

2) We are very concerned about this being such an old ship. I read one stabilizer recently went out, and I do get seasick in rough seas. I read the movie screen has pixels out that Royal Caribbean hasn't fixed. I read about stains on the chairs. Altogether, it just doesn't sound like the wonderful experience we are used to.

3) I've read many reviews of food, and all who have compared Princess and Royal Caribbean food have put Princess ahead. I don't care if one is better than another, I just don't want inedible food for 17 days. Yes, I understand food is subjective.

Sooooo I have questions for those who have sailed with Legend...

1) How is the food? Are real eggs used?

2) Are there ship problems like malfunctioning toilets, leaks, stains, broken parts?

3) How does this ship compare to the newer Royal Caribbean ships?

4) Will there be a lot of ship activities offered daily like on other cruises?

Thank you! I want to make an informed decision. I originally posted this in the Roll Call section but think there's more potential for a response here.

 

I read the entire thread, and understand that you have decided not to sail on the Legend of the Seas.

 

I just got off of the Ruby Princess Sunday morning, and am home for a couple of weeks before heading off for Hawaii on the Legend of the Seas.

 

I have sailed with both lines, and am a top tier member of both lines. I hear where you are coming from on your item #1, where you have the perks that go along with being Elite on Princess, and were thinking about trying out Royal Caribbean. While the Legend of the Seas is an older ship, she still has a ton of charm, and there are many crew members that prefer a smaller ship to a larger one.

 

When you do finally try a Royal Caribbean ship, I think you will find there are more similarities than differences between the two lines.

 

Rick

Edited April 28, 2015 by rubrrick