Legend of the Seas, while still a wonderful vessel, is presently well past its prime condition. The soft surfaces are in dire need of refurbishment and even some of the steel frame is showing serious deterioration. The ship is by no means unsafe, but years of salt water and heavy use have taken their toll. Likewise the crew is not up to the usual Royal Caribbean standard. The dining room staff can be wildly inconsistant, from superb to unacceptably rude, even insulting. The purser's desk is manned by undertrained and therefore incompetant staff. The food is fair. The deserts are awful. The pillow chocolates are gone as are the rugs in the elevators that show the day of the week. The on board Fax Times is gone. LIttle things that were universally noticed and condemned. Cost cutting at work proving annoying and disappointing.
Shore excursions proved a source of real concern. The descriptions do state where you are going and how long it will take. However, they also misrepresent the amount of walking, and the amount of stairs or hills to be climbed. This is of serious concern if you have any physical problems, especiallly on the far east cruises where it is generally very warm.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
1 out of 5
Almost everything is overcooked. If you like your meat less than well done, you will be unhappy quite a bit. Beef, lamb, pork, turkey, veal and fish badly overdone. Chicken underdone. Desserts are unredeemingly and completely disgusting. The head chef responsible for them apparently likes to tinker with classic recipes. He fails daily.
Entertainment
1 out of 5
Royal Caribbean continues to believe that their on board "reviews" are quality entertainment. High school musicals are more interesting and better prepared. The individual entertainers are C list as expected, and generally the comedians are the best of the lot. The one surprise was the Abba cover band Bjorn Again which was very well received.
Children's Programs
3 out of 5
Only 8 children under 18 were on this trip. The childrens' programs were available but no feed back was available.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
The staff is generally helpful, polite and willing to help. There are clearly some deficiencies in the purser's office and as noted, sometimes in the diningroom staff. However, it is believed these are anomalies. The staff has mastered the art of dissembling with a smile. If you catch them, they will still deny. On our cruise, grapefruit was "not on the ship" but appeared as garnish on a daily basis. The ship "ran out" of ginger ale, but strangely, after a day at sea, more reappeared. Our stateroom attendant however was always smiling, cheerful and helpful. If you need it in the stateroom, you need only ask.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
Layout is excellant with most necessaries on levels 5&6. Room size is adequate even in the less expensive cabins. Lacks interactive accounts on television and gym is hidden behind the spa. Ship is kept clean, though smoking is still allowed in some areas.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
Due to small ship size, and age; though she is not OLD, some expected amenities are lacking, like refrigerators in all cabins. The safe system relies on a credit card for access requiring that you keep one outside the safe. Rather counter productive to security concerns. No more chocolate on the pillows. Rooms are clean and neat, though are showing some age wear. Storage is adaquate even for 2 weeks. Bathrooms are of average size and do provide toiletries. Mattresses have been improved and are at least comfortable now. Hair drying in room, and it works.
A created city showing what China can be. Modern, clean, friendly and utterly without charm. Buy your tea here as it's the best quality you will find on the trip.
A created city showing what China can be. Modern, clean, friendly and utterly without charm. Buy your tea here as it's the best quality you will find on the trip.
Bankok is a bustling metropolis. Unfortunately far from the ship, but worth the bus ride. Friendly locals who speak English are helpful. Exceptionally bad traffic with drivers worse than in Rome or even Boston. Local food was outstanding.
Don't Miss: Take the tram to the top of Victoria Peak. A view to remember.
Vung Tau (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam
3 out of 5
Another long bus ride, but this city is rapidly regaining its stature as the Paris of the East. Wide roads filled with scooters and traffic laws are at best advisory.
Bankok is a bustling metropolis. Unfortunately far from the ship, but worth the bus ride. Friendly locals who speak English are helpful. Exceptionally bad traffic with drivers worse than in Rome or even Boston. Local food was outstanding.
Another long bus ride, but this city is rapidly regaining its stature as the Paris of the East. Wide roads filled with scooters and traffic laws are at best advisory.
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