My husband and I have cruised on Holland America and Celebrity and Carnival Legend was our 11th cruise. We will not go on another Carnival Cruise unless it is FREE! chefman25 is correct about his experiences. We also were VIP's because we had a suite. All we received as VIP's is a chance to get on board faster then have to sit and wait in the Lido area waiting for our room to be available. The room was spacious and we thought we would do a suite because we always went the cheapest way on the other ships and the suite was the same price as a normal room on Celebrity or Holland America. We had early sitting and we shared a table with another couple, who turned out to have similar likes as we do. Our waiter, however, could not remember what we ordered and several times plates were returned. The food in the dining room was just okay-not a big selection like on the other cruise lines. My husband enjoys have escargot and it was only served once and was not available any other night. On other cruise ships , a good waiter would make sure it was available as many nights as asked for it. The lido cafe buffet was always the same items for breakfast. I feel the pastries were store bought and were frozen too long. Tasted like cardboard. Usually there would be hard rolls and good black breads for breakfast deli meats but not on this ship. The staff was not overly friendly.Elgin, the shopping port guy was very helpful to us and friendly. His girlfriend comes off as being a "little stuck on herself". Not a pleasing voice-too loud, does not need a microphone. We had a wonderful room steward-Antonio He went out of his way to be there for us. Some other cruisers remarked that they heard about how nice he was and wished they had him for their steward. They did not adhere to to formal night requirements. We do dress accordingly and we did see flip-flops on women and t-shirts. I was taught better manners. There was one cruiser who wanted to make sure that everyone on that cruise could hear her scream throughout the ship no matter where she was,(not a young child but acted like she needed to be in the camp for kids) including the dining room and her mother was right beside her. She did not care who's hearing she affected. The casual nights in the dining room were way too casual. I am surprised I didn't see someone in their bathing suit. I did see men walk around during the day without shirts on and women in their bathing suits with no cover up; walking around inside the ship. I have some experience in the dance field and thought the dancers could be good if given a good piece to perform to. The first night, I felt it was very dis-jointed and it improved on the last show (not the talent show). The female singers need to stop screeching. We left Tampa when it was bitter cold. We had no heat in our room. When we called the service desk, they said they would send someone to our room. After 3 hours and we returned to our room after the evening show, I called again-3rd call. The girl told me that the ship did not have heaters because it is a "fire hazard". They delivered blankets to our room. The next day I personally went to the service desk and was told by a girl behind the desk that the ship did not have heat. That is hard for me to believe because I asked quite a few passengers and they all replied that they had heat and could adjust it. When I complained about the dining room service, they did take that tip off my gratuity bill. I gave my room steward extra money before I left the ship. For the "first-timers" I think they should try another line, such as Holland America or Celebrity and then see if they feel the same about Carnival. Living near Tampa, we thought we would give it the "good ole college try" but I rather pay for a cheaper room on an upgraded cruise line and have a better selection in the dining room and buffet areas. I can go to Applebees and Outback if I want a regular dinner. I am paying for a cruise and being charged $10 a day per person in gratuities whether I get good service or not. People also tend to dress better and the waiters do not dance on the stations. I never saw them sanitize those stations after they danced on top of them. No I will not return to Carnival. When we cruise, we spend a lot of our time at the gym because we do not have a gym near us. So it is like a spa to us without using their spa services.