Legend of the Seas Review

3.0 / 5.0
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Repositioning "Exotic" Cruise from Brisbane to Hong Kong, April - May, 2016

Review for Asia Cruise on Legend of the Seas
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Kenn
6-10 Cruises • Age 70s

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Sail Date: Apr 2016

Legend of the Seas is eldest—or second eldest (1995) of the Royal Caribbean International (RCI) fleet, and either smallest or second smallest in size. She is well-maintained given her age and is only now beginning to show the years, at least to the casual observer. Given the number of mechanics, plumbers, air-conditioning techs constantly probing and opening walls and ceilings, it likely is that her guts are in far worse shape than the visible exterior Ship scuttlebutt has it that she is on her way to dry dock next year for a major makeover, or will be put on the market to become a cruise ship for a Russian or other second- or third-tier company. If Royal is smart, they will sell her. Today’s cruise crowd wants balconies and Legend doesn’t have enough of them for a verandah-demanding public. The largest public spaces—theater, dining room, Schooner Bar, Casino, all are one deck and that deck has no public restrooms. It is a nuisance to be going either up or down a flight of stairs to do one’s business. There are only forward and mid-ships elevators, no third set of lifts aft which means passengers with cabins at the rear have to walk forward, go to the deck of their choice, and then walk aft again if they are going to a locale that is just above or below their stateroom.

The fleet-wide cheapening of Royal continues. As has been remarked by many, the “little extras” continue to disappear. No chocolate on the pillow at night, no ginger or mints as you exit the dining room, no petit fours after dinner on formal nights. Things that once were free are now available at a “nominal fee.” This includes ice cream by the scoop outside meal times and espresso drinks. Then again, this cruise has great value—the cabin prices are almost ridiculously low, with roomy inside staterooms available for well under $100US per day per person. Even Legend’s least expensive rooms have adequate closet space and generous number of drawers—far more storage space than some “better ships.” Don’t expect a refrigerator in lower-priced rooms.

The big gripe with sea savvy cruisers that affect all “mid-range” lines such as Royal, Princess, Holland America and Celebrity is the sell, sell, sell mentality and charge for whatever you can get away with. At least six of the fifteen or so TV stations on the ship are dedicated to selling something whether future cruises, shore excursions, drink of the day, or spa treatments. (Note: on most ships there are several TV channels that are sound-only offering music to different tastes from classic rock to classical. Not so on Legend which offers no music channels) The omni-present photographers are all but underfoot, virtually blocking the entry to the dining room some nights. One improvement over my last cruise on Royal (Autumn, 2014) is that the daily program is not bulging with stuffed-in adverts and promotions. This is made up for by the morning TV show, which allegedly informs guests of the day’s activities, but consists of a one- or two- minute reading from the daily program and ten minutes of sales pitches with “special interviews” from such stellar personalities as the ship’s barber. The hosts are the cruise director and sidekick whose patter runs from funny to asinine, moreso to the latter. The latest sales gimmick is a special “backstage tours” of crew areas, the galley, the bridge and the like. You can take the Legend tour (which would have been free 5 years ago) for $150 per person. That’s right, one hundred fifty US dollars. I asked one couple who bought the tour what they thought and the not-surprising one-sentence was response was, “Not worth it.” Speaking of the daily programme: that is your sole “newspaper.” RCI has dropped the 8-page dailies that selected news, business and sports stories for British, American, and Australian/New Zealand audiences in English-language editions as well as a variety of same in other major tongues.

Cabin Review

Port Reviews

Cairns

Thorough. Friendlly driver-guide. Good intro to the city.

Darwin

Not much to see here, but the guide did a good job and gave us a feel for the town.

Manila

Lots of stuff about their national hero--maybe too much. Good stop at St. Agustin church and at the huge shopping mall

Brisbane

Vibrant young city.

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