In serious doubt : anyone care to help us ?

[New KAJO]

Hello guys,

 

We have to decide today about booking a cruise on the 'Legend of the Seas' ( Mexican Riviera ).

 

Via google I was looking for reviews about this ship on the net, and what I found were VERY NEGATIVE reviews : bad food, bad service, unfriendly staff, long waiting lines to embard and disembark, lots of noise, ......

 

Are these people just very critical or is this the true ?

 

We did the Voyager of the Seas, the Celebrity Galaxy, the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic in the past.

 

Will we be disappointed on the Legend ?

 

Thanks for as much replies as possible !!

 

Kajo

[cabostleda]

Whilst I've never sailed on Legend I'm sure most of the negative comments have been blown up out of proportion. I tend to take reviews here and on other sites with a pinch of salt as some people have expectations that can never be met and are then disappointed with the reality.

 

I'd suggest if you are happy with the itinerary stick with the Legend as I'm sure you'll have a great time as more than likely you'll receive the same level of service and quality of food you'll get on any RCI ship.

[JanetMarie]

Kajo - what I can offer is this. Keep scouring through these boards today. There are a lot of folks who offer pros and cons on their vacations. But remember, I'm a believer in that you are the one who controls your destiny. You can certainly have an awesome time on your vacation if you choose to. I mean, there may be some food items that we all don't care for. There may be some daytime activities that we don't care for. There may be some guests in adjacent cabins who are noisy that we don't care for. But that's just life. Keep perusing these boards, and I hope you have a great vaca, wherever it takes you! :) :) :)

[sandhillwings]

long waiting lines to embard

Yes, it can take a lifetime to become a poet...

 

 

We did the Voyager of the Seas, the Celebrity Galaxy, the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic in the past.

I have read both good and bad reviews about these ships as well. If the reviewers complained about everything, then I'd tend to discount their opinion. If, however, you felt their disappointment held merit relative to your own expectations, then I'd select a different ship.

 

Wishing you a very pleasant cruise.

[NYDee]

We have sailed the Legend four times. The last was Australia/New Zealand in Feb. 2003. We did Hawii on the Legend in her inaugural year. We enjoy the ship. We found the food on the last cruise to be very good as did our table mates. Six of whom were doctors from NYC and used to eating in the finest restaurants. The food was not the "French Laundry" quality but very good. We would not hesitate to sail her again. But since we have done the Splendour twice as well we want to try other classes of ships. So our next cruise is on the Navigator in the Caribbean and then on Jewel in the Baltic. And about to book the Brillance. As an older ship, the Legend didn't have the specialty restaurants and some of the amenities of the newer classes. I am not sure when or if they will update her with some of the ammenities of the newer ships.

[New KAJO]

As an older ship, the Legend didn't have the specialty restaurants and some of the amenities of the newer classes.

Hi Dee,

 

Can you please explain what amenities are missing on the Legend ?

Do you see and feel that the Legend is an 'older' ship ?

 

Thanks for your help !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Kajo

[Desertbelle]

We sailed the Legend in December to Hawaii and loved her so much we booked her again for Mexico in September.

 

The Legend doesn't feel like an old ship at all. She is spotless clean and her carpets and furniture look new. There are no specialty restaurants on the ship but there are plenty of choices for eating every day. She has the miniature golf course, rock climbing wall, casino, etc, all the normal cruise ship things.

 

The Legend is a medium sized ship...which we loved. The atrium is beautiful...and there are more windows on this ship than any I have ever seen.

 

The staff were wonderful and the food very good.

 

I think that anyone can find something to complain about on any cruise. It's up to you to cruise with a good attitude or a bad one....your enjoyment will reflect the mindset you embark with. :)

[trish1c]

Have you read the reviews about the ships you previously sailed & enjoyed? They too will be filled with negative comments. If you only read them you'd be scared to go on those trips too. Take what you read about the ships you've already sailed & compare it to your personal experience. Now go back & read the reviews about the Legend. You should feel better.

 

If you do see a trend, then you will know what to avoid about the Legend too & that should also make your trip better.

 

Enjoy.

[jimbulger]

As someone who likes writing and reading reveiws I never let it influence me.

 

I am certain that the legend is a great ship and the food quality will be the same as your last RCI cruise

[NYDee]

New KAJO,

 

When we were on it RCI had not added the specialty restaurants or rock climbing wall. I thought I read that they were going too, but don't know if they have. No Johnny Rockets, ice skating rink, less lounges, those kind of things. We really like the Legend and only missed the specialty restaurant. We love to sit in the Centrum, right outside the Champagne bar, before dinner and listen to the musical groups where we often met up with our tablemates. I don't think they have this on the newer class ships. Since we haven't sailed the newer ships, I am not sure exactly what they have the Legend doesn't.

 

We did not feel like the ship was old and worn. Except that there were several cases of the Norwalk virus on board. So they were continually cleaning with the disinfectant which had dulled all the brass and left a streaked film on the glass. So the ship didn't "glitter."

 

We would sail the Legend again anytime and probably will. Our waiter was one of the best we have ever had.

 

Dee

[madforcruising]

I´ve been on the Legend back in her inaugural season (1995) and in September 2003. So I think I can compare about how "old" she looks and feels. I would go back to her in a heartbeat. Actually I think she is in very good shape and there was nothing that made me feel to be on an old ship. OK she has no chops and portofinos which I don´t miss as I don´t use them. She is a litle smaller than other classes of ships which I don´t think is really bad. I think they added the rock climbing now (it wasn´t last year).

In May/June this year I sailed for the first time on a Radiance class ship (Jewel of the Seas). The Jewel is great, new, beautiful and I can´t wait to go again in Sept. but I wouldn´t think a minute about going back on the "older Vision class" especially the Legend.

So don´t worry to sail the Legend it´s a great ship in great shape. I even liked the design of the cabins better in 2003 than in 1995 (don´t know when they remodeld the cabins).

BTW I have a review on my website, you can use the link in my signature.

[hardingk]

We were just on her 2 months ago. I would sail her again. Here is my review:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=5156

[abridalmaven]

We went on her in December, and were on her for 10 days, and we had a great time, there was so much to do and places to have fun, that I would go on her again in a heartbeat. The food was very good, and I am from NY and have lots of good food to compare to everyday. I find anyone's opinion of food something I do NOT even take into account. We can eat the same meal and 4 out of 5 will like it and the odd one ( the loudest one of course) will hate it. And again I will reiterate what others have stated, if you decide to have a bad time you will, and if you go expecting to have a great time you will.;)

[D4]

We just got off the Legend on Sunday. We flew home yesterday and I'll post a review tonight.

 

A little background on us: we have 2 kids (16 & 19) and this was our 10th cruise. We've been on Carnival, Norwegian, Celebrity, and RCCL.

 

We loved the Legend. It is in fabulous shape. It's only 9 years old. It has the mini-put course and the rock wall, but no specialty restaurants or skating rink. To me, it is the perfect size of ship. I also had worries on the food based on lots of negative posts. We found the food to be very good -- better than Carnival, comparable to Norwegian, and not as good as Celebrity (which is our family's favorite line.) We found the service to be excellent and the whole crew very friendly and eager to serve.

 

I wouldn't hesitate to go on this ship again or to recommend it to others. The ship is one of my favorites.

[dougp26364]

If I selected a ship by the reviews I've seen, I might not have ever set sail. We sailed Legend to Alaska in 2002 and found her to be a wonderful ship. Lot's of glass, especially in the dinning room which has floor to ceiling windows. I wouldn't hesitate to sail her again.

 

After we sailed on Legend, I went back and read some of the reviews. They made me wonder if those reviewing the ship had sailed on the same vessel I was on. Sometimes I wonder if they had sailed her at all. The same could be said for the Vision of the Seas. After sailing Vision, I read a ton of negative reviews. None of which matched our experience which was great.

 

All I can figure is either I'm not to hard to please or some people can't be pleased. It's probably a little of both.

[RickT]

Unfortunately people use these boards as a means to complain. I've never cruised the Legend but have cruised her sister ship the Splendour. I did the Mexican Riveria earlier this year on the Vision and had no complaints. The food was no better or worse than any prior RCCL cruise. The ship was older but in great shape. Were there people complaining, ABSOLUTELY! Their expectations were unatainable.

 

If I do have one complaint (which I feel is legit) I found the boarding process rather slow out of LA. Dropping off my luggage seemed to take forever. Once that was done everything else moved smoothly. Departure was a breeze. So, rest assured the Legend will be no better or worse than other RCCL cruises. I would book her tomorrow if she was doing the route I wanted.

[cruizinEllen]

Just returned from the Legend 2 days ago and thought it was FABULOUS! Loved the ports espcially Cabo, food was typical Royal Caribbean...mostly very good, service was excellent and we had the quickest and easiest embarkation and debarkation EVER in 22 cruises. The ship was in great shape. Don't let anyone ruin your vacation!

 

Ellen