First a little background. This was our 14th cruise dating back to 1987 so we are not new to cruising. We chose Royal Caribbean (RCI) for its ports of call. We have always wanted to see Italy and decided that this would be the best way to see a lot of it without having to pack and unpack many times. We had our travel agent make all the flight arrangements through RCI since we didn't want to chance missing an overseas flight connection and get to Rome late. We also wanted to stay in Rome for an extra day and tour the Vatican and ancient Rome. We signed up for all our tours online and prepaid for them so that our vacation would be a no-brainer. I would recommend anyone wanting to go on RCI-sponsored tours to do this since waiting in line on shipboard requires much patience, but more on that later. The flights went off without a hitch except for the smoke detector going off at 3 am over the Atlantic Ocean. Some bonehead was smoking in the main cabin middle lavatory. This shot of adrenaline kept most of us awake for the rest of the flight. We arrived in Rome at 7 am Sunday morning, the day of embarkation. RCI agents were on hand to direct us to the appropriate luggage carousel where we eventually got all our luggage. The agents then had us all assemble our luggage in one place where we were assured that it would be delivered to the ship. We were then taken to a crowded area of the terminal just inside the exit doors where we were informed that the busses would not be available to take us to the ship until 10 am. However, for $35 each RCI would take us on a tour of Rome. If we chose not to go on the tour we were told to fend for ourselves and be back at the crowded meeting point at 9:45 am. Oh, did I mention that there were also other groups of agents representing three other cruise ships meeting in the same place, not to mention the crush of regular passengers assembled in this area? We opted to fend for ourselves since we were tired and hungry. There were two snack shops in the terminal, both crammed with other tourists that got there first so we just sat around and waited for the busses. It would have been nice to have had the busses available when we arrived, take us to the port, and had a waiting room set aside with snacks so early arrivals could rest. At 9:40 am RCI agents showed up and we followed/ran after them through the airport hoping we would not lose them in the crush. They loaded us onto two busses and off we went. On the bus, the agent helped us fill out the necessary forms and went up and down the aisle making sure each person was prepared for the boarding process. Again we had filled out all of our information online so we were prepared. The 45 minute trip to the port was uneventful. The embarkation process was smooth as silk. It took us about 10 minutes from disembarking the bus to stepping onto the ship. We were not allowed into the cabin decks until 1 pm but food was available on deck 9. There was music playing continuously to get everyone in the mood to cruise. The sail-away party was minus hors d' oeuvres, probably a cost cutting measure. The Legend of the Seas is a nicely appointed ship that is getting a little long in the tooth. The furniture is well-worn both in the cabins and on deck. All the wood could use a coat of teak oil to improve the appearance. In keeping with cost-cutting there were no complimentary toiletries in the cabin baths. We opted for a high deck inside cabin to save money. It was large enough and comfortable with plenty of space for storage, more than we have had on other cruises. But we missed the window. Most of the time it felt very claustrophobic so we used the cabin mainly to sleep and get ready for dinners. In the hallway there was a musty smell that lingered for the entire cruise. It started at the front of the ship and gradually moved down the hallway as the cruise progressed. We though it might have been the vacuum cleaner but never could determine its origin. Food aboard the ship was good but not the quality we have had on other cruises. As probably another cost savings, the menu consisted of Starters, Entrees, and Desserts. We have been used to Appetizers, Salads, Entrees, and Desserts. The most notable cost savings was the elimination of the sommelier. The Assistant Waiter now has to do the duty of taking wine orders and serving wine. Since we had four couples drinking wine at dinner, our table was usually the last to start and finish eating, usually being one course behind everyone else. The wine selections and prices were about what we expected. The nightly entertainment was superb! Each night was a different performer with unique talents. In fact, the usual shipboard singing and dance troupe only performed once during the 13 nights. The port tours were very well organized and conducted. All guides spoke excellent English. On most of the tours where we went walking in crowded cities we were given radios with earphones so that the tour guide could talk to all of us above the city noise and we could actually hear him/her. The tours gathered in the lounges where someone from each party had to bring all the tickets for those folks who wanted to tour together to the front a get a numbered sticker that indicated which bus that party would travel on. It seems that during the tour selection process those folks that wanted to tour together could indicate so and eliminate this confusing step in the process. I would suggest making all your tour decisions online before you depart. I say this because the tour desk aboard ship was only one from 9 - 11 am and from 6 - 8 pm most days. The lines were long and the wait even longer. Also, if you wanted to cancel a tour you had to do so 48 hours before the tour departed. Although the tour desk folks were helpful, this waiting was the most frustrating part of the entire cruise. Other cruise lines allow tours to be set up, changed, etc. using the room TV system. This would be a welcome addition on RCI. We love to play trivia and name that tune. In an unusual departure from other cruises we have been on, these and other games were held in the Schooner Bar. This was a narrow area that had both smoking and non-smoking sections. However, the smoke doesn't know the difference. It was not pleasant having to sit in a smoke filled room to play these parlor games. The employees of RCI were very friendly and helpful. Our dining room waiter, assistant waiter, and head waiter bent over backwards to make our dining experience one to cherish. Our cabin steward was invisible but met our every need. The staff at the pursers desk were always pleasant and helpful. And the wait staff in the grille were engaging and smiling. Disembarkation was very smooth. We had signed up for a tour of the Vatican and ancient Rome, then a drop off at our hotel, then a trip to the airport the next morning. We disembarked and went directly to the bus after identifying our luggage which was taken to the hotel. When we completed our tour the bus dropped us off at the hotel where an RCI agent met us, made sure were got registered, and gave us a voucher for the airport pickup. At 4:45 am the next morning a limo was at the hotel to take us to the airport. An RCI agent met us at the airport to make sure we got to the correct gate. The only issue we had with the hotel was its location. Although it was a well-appointed hotel, it was located in a residential area of Rome not within walking distance of restaurants or sightseeing venues. We opted to take the Illuminated Tour of Rome. This was a night tour of Rome by bus ending with dinner. It turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip. All in all, this trip was one that exceeded our expectations. Italy is a delightful country; Croatia was a pleasant surprise; and the RCI experience was memorable. The fact that we almost didn't see a cloud in the sky for 15 days and the temperature each day was 72 - 75 degrees probably helped, too.