My DH and I sailed on the Carnival Legend on Nov. 8. We drove to Ft. Lauderdale and stayed in our favorite motel there which is the Hampton Inn on Commercial Blvd. That is just off the interstate, it caters to a business crowd, there is a wonderful reception area with hot coffee and hot tea always ready, fruit always there and at night cookies and milk. The breakfast they serve there each morning is excellent and always features one hot item at and sometimes more. They have a friendly staff, the motel is enclosed and thus safer, the grounds are pretty and they have a high speed computer set up in the reception area for guests. Free. We paid $138 and that included taxes and I think it is well worth it. I should also say the rooms are spotless.
Embarkation was a nightmare. Now that cruise ships have huge ships, they have got to come up with a better way of doing it. When DH and I finally got on the ship, things got better. I loved the mythology motif that I had read so much about on this board. I found the paintings and carvings sort of fey and they did create a mood. I loved the Follies (big stage area-auditorium). I felt like I was inside of The Princess Diaries or something. I did think the urns were a bit much. The designer must have really had urns on his mind when it came time for ship decorating. And the somewhat metrosexual picture of the young man that stretched forever was really big. But I loved the colors and bright lights. My favorite place was the Enchanted Forest. It is a walkway type of place with small tables placed by big portholes and it is decorated like an enchanted forest. I worked there every morning and I seldom even saw another soul the entire three hours I was there each morning. Peaceful.
The Casino was a trip. I became enamored of the Enchanted Unicorn nickel slot machine and I won! ! I also had the sense of mind to take that money straight to the Pursers desk and pay it on my ship account before I could bet it back. It paid my bill down quite nicely. So look for the Unicorn machine in the corner where no one goes and Good Luck! I did not see any of the stage shows. I was too busy and I would like to take the trip again and see them!! I did play Trivia. It was fun. The other passengers must have been taking smart pills because a lot of people showed up each time and they were way too smart. They could name those TV shows and those songs and those commercials-------you always meet the nicest people at those games. The Battle of the Sexes was noisy and hilarious as always. The Ladies won big time. I walked out of the Newlywed Game. It is just too raunchy for me. I dont want to know what embarrassing thing someone I like does in bed with his wife. Ugh. But different strokes for different folks. They did not have Sports Trivia in the Sports Bar like they do on the Glory. They should immediately correct that because I think it is also a big money maker for them. The men folk flooded into the Bar for Trivia on the Glory and they all had a drink it seemed. I played Bingo once and you know what? I am tired of crazy ways to Bingo. I am tired of someone standing up and yelling Bingo after six numbers have been called. Does anyone cover the card anymore? Or at least Bingo straight up and straight down and the four corners?