Royal Caribbean
Legend of the Seas Cruise Review
Mediterranean

Robert Benson
Age: 35
Occupation: Logistics
Number of Cruises: 12
Sailing Date: May 12th, 2007

On the day of our departure, my wife and I took a private water taxi from our hotel in Venice directly to the cruise ship dock.  There were RC employees right there to assist us in getting off the taxi as well as handling our luggage.  I was prepared to drag the luggage through the cruise port but they assured me that everything would be safely delivered to the ship.  I was pleasantly surprised and even more surprised when the kind employee refused a tip. 

It was around 3pm before we walked into the cruise terminal.  I am used to lines and impatient people criticizing the delays.  None of that was present.  It was the most peaceful and friendly check-in that I have ever experienced.  In less than 20 minutes, my wife and I were on the ship taking in all of the vessel's beauty. 

It was very easy to find our stateroom as we were stopped by no less than 3 different employees making sure that we were on the right track.  We found our stateroom and within minutes there was a knock on our door.  It was our cabin steward introducing himself.  His attitude and appearance gave us a great deal of confidence in his ability to keep our room as it should be. 

The safety muster was the only thing about the cruise that was a little disturbing.  The muster station meeting was held outside in the full sun with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees fahrenheit.  After 45 minutes of this exposure, I saw several elderly passengers wilting in the heat and suffering overexposure to sun. 

After the safety meeting, we quickly stored our life preservers in the room and went exploring.  The ship is rather old so you can expect a few cosmetic flaws but I was impressed with the way the ship has been kept up to exacting standards.  Walking on deck, it is rare not to see one or more employees cleaning or shining some aspect ot the ship.  The employees on this ship take great pride in the ship's appearance as well as in the guest's satisfaction. 

Just before departure from Venice, we went to the pool deck and listened to a band called Sunscape.  Their steel drum centered Caribbean rhythms immediately transport you to a different frame of mind.  All the stress of the previous days just seems to melt away to their smooth, melodic sounds.  Heading back down to our stateroom, we noticed that our luggage had arrived and we took the time before dinner to unpack.  The two-story Romeo and Juliet dining room is a beauty to behold.  Immaculately kept and run by a staff that makes sure your dining experience is memorable.  The food was impeccably served.  If something was not to your liking, it was promptly replaced with a smile and a sincere apology.  Every night was like going to a five star restaurant. 

The Casino Royale wasn't necessarily a destination of ours but you could not resist walking through it and feeling the electricity of the patrons who were having a great time.  There were many different gaming options and it was very popular.  My wife and I don't drink very much but we did take the opportunity to visit all the bars on board just to take in the atmosphere.  The Viking Crown Lounge on deck 11 always seemed to have the largest crowd.  We went up there for the awesome views and the great karaoke.  The Schooner Bar was a nice place where Ricardo and Steve played popular music.  The Centrum was also a place to enjoy a pre-dinner beverage and listen to great live music like the Elini Trio.  The Solarium was an absolutely gorgeous area with it's welcoming pool and bar area complete with hot dogs, hamburgers, and pizza.  It was like an epicurean oasis.  There was a Cafe Latte-tudes and a Ben and Jerry's but we never frequented them although they seemed well received from others. 

The Spa was very popular on our cruise and it wasn't uncommon to hear someone at our dinner table raving about a recent visit.  The shows in the That's Entertainment Theatre were well choreographed and never boring.  We saw a comedian/magician named Neal Austin who almost made us hyperventilate we were laughing so hard.  The purser's desk was extremely helpful to any questi on that we had.  If you don't speak English do not be afraid to go to them.  Most of the desk workers are fluent in several languages.  The Shore Excursion desk was always staffed with very delightful people who were very knowledgeable about the different activities offered in each port.  The Photo Shop on deck 6 was staffed with great people.  They helped me on more than one occasion with my digital camera.  They were polite and efficient. 

All in all, I would take this cruise again and again.  The staff and every other aspect of this vessel deserve great respect for a job well done.  We can't wait to take the same vacation soon.    


 

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