Launched in 1995 and refurbished in 1997, the Legend of the Seas is virtually a floating resort, complete with a Roman spa and 18 holes of mini-golf. She sails under the Norwegian flag with Norwegian officers and an international crew of 720. She is also one of the faster ships afloat, cruising at 24 knots. This 69,130-ton, 867-ft vessel is as large as the
Majesty of the Seas and
Monarch of the Seas and carries 1,800 passengers.
Recent refurbishment and an incredibly jubilant staff and itinerary keep Legend of the Seas at the top of cruisers' favorite list. Now that the cruise line is building ships with interior promenades and almost a dozen levels of staterooms, the Legend (built in St. Nazaire, France) seems like a dwarf compared to its sisters.
Her itinerary includes a robust Mediterranean schedule including the newest Royal Caribbean hot spots Alexandria, Egypt (with side trips to Cairo's majestic pyramids at Giza) and Limassol, Cyprus. The alternate summer ports of call include Venice and Dubrovnik, Croatia while the fall and winter timetable comprises mostly Caribbean hot spots.
The guest roster is comprised mostly of North Americans and southern Europeans who appreciate the region's exotic ports of call. A pleasant mix of families and retired couples allow for a subdued yet enthusiastic atmosphere. Worldly staffers with an impressive language list proffer some of the best Golden Anchor service on the high seas, calling passengers by name and consistently asking about guests' experience.
The double-decked Romeo and Juliet dining room serves multi-course meals of excellent entrees and fanciful desserts three meals a day. Assigned seating is generally a plus and no additional fees are required except for the traditional tips and alcohol offerings. Royal Caribbean regulars will be disappointed to discover that there are no separate restaurants such as the steakhouse or Johnny Rocket's diner to bring a sense of variety, however. That's why more happy-go-lucky guests enjoy the exotic international fare in the Windjammer Cafe or pizza and sandwiches in the Solarium. The food throughout the ship is very good in both taste and presentation, and signature midnight buffets attract a wide-eyed crowd. Steaming cups of coffee and gourmet ice cream are served in the cafe. Evenings are toasted in the signature Viking Crown lounge on the 11th floor, where 360-degree views and late-night dancing are enjoyed.
Entertainment forms the common ground for everyone with a variety of public spaces that are abuzz with action. The primary gathering spot is the towering atrium where two glass elevators scale the glass-enclosed panorama and a lively lobby bar and Schooner bar serve drinks amid a music-filled space. The live bands keep things interesting although during the daylight hours the scenery alone does just the trick. A jingling casino remains active, and although it is smaller than those on other ships, it succeeds in sucking the money directly from guests' wallets regardless.
That's Entertainment theatre boasts world-class entertainers and a sparkling orchestra often complemented by a team of singers and dancers. The Anchors Aweigh lounge one level up accommodates a mellower crowd with dance bands and dim lighting. The typical parade of duty-free goods is on display as is the constant barrage of special sale items hawked with an embarrassing vigor (this is hard to escape on large cruise ships).
The outdoor pool is quite small by newer ships' standards and only two petite whirlpools serve the hundreds who choose to promenade on the top two decks. An indoor pool and whirlpools help to handle the overflow in the Solarium. The most noteworthy places to relax are at the rear and front of the ship, where more peaceful sundecks discourage loud children and boisterous adults.
A compact gym faces sideways and also features a modest spa with a full menu of treatments and separate men's and women's saunas and steam rooms. A beauty salon also takes regular appointments and is most available on days when the ship is in port. Aerobics, yoga, rock climbing and jogging classes are always on the agenda. A peaceful library offers dozens of books on loan and only when kids engage the stacks of board games do things become hectic. A ridiculously overpriced Internet station offers more than a dozen computers plus wireless access to surf the web at a snail's pace.
The Excursions desk handles all of the off-shore tours and programming, and guests are best advised to book in advance to ensure their desired itineraries. With popular stops such as Egypt, Greece and Turkey, many guests can be left high and dry when it comes to touring the sights (although no worries in Athens thanks to the city's new subway system which extends all the way to the port at Piraeus allowing for an inexpensive city stroll). A conference center, screening room, teen disco, children's program, table tennis, video arcade, miniature golf course, rock-climbing wall, and medical office handle the remainder of guest needs.
The state rooms are entirely spacious (even the baths are larger than usual). Small foyers with hardwood floors mark the entrance. Twin beds convert to kings when needed and feature RCI's latest pillow-top bedding and plush comforters. Baths offer only soap and wall-mounted hair toiletries. Phones provide room-to-room communication or costly landside options while the expensive minibar struggles to keep drinks cool. A laptop-sized safe is accessible only after swiping a credit card although this incurs no fee. Plenty of storage space makes up for the rather dated TVs. Only the top two floors provide balconies (with only the last stateroom on each side of the ship having a slight obstruction due to storage). Those on decks six and below make do with windows or portholes. Loyal guests and cardholders in suites gain access to a concierge lounge with free drinks and light canapes.
Unlimited room service is a welcome perk, housekeeping is top-notch, and walks along the fourth-floor track and sundeck are uncrowded and offer panoramic views. Handicapped guests can request any of 17 state rooms designed to meet special needs. Most announcements are made in English, Spanish and Italian, reflecting the composition of the guest list. Repositioning trips during the spring and fall bring excellent value for those interested in an abundance of days at sea and a few stops on the Portuguese islands and Morocco's exotic shoreline. This ship is for the experienced cruiser who appreciates glamorous ports of call and a well-balanced life at sea. Larger ships in RCI's fleet, like the Brilliance and Voyager of the Seas, also ply the Mediterranean in the summer.
