Carnival Legend
I guarantee that anyone visiting or sailing on the Carnival Legend will have a strong opinion. Her décor is bold and busy, incorporating many colors, themes and designs. As the name suggests, this vessel incorporates legends from our past. Each lounge has been carefully named and decorated to remember a specific period or era - be it in sports, entertainment, art or history. Overall, the ship has a Renaissance period theme to it. You will find cocktail tables with urn-shaped pedestals, murals replicating Roman themes and a gold "logo" that has been "stamped" on the walls and ceilings. Yes, at first glance you may be slightly overwhelmed - but I must admit, the Carnival Legend is definitely a conversation piece.
Although this is a new ship, she is the sister to many - both inside and outside the Carnival fleet. You will find the same layout on the Carnival Pride (currently out of Port Canaveral, but moving shortly to the LA market) and Carnival Spirit, which in the summer does seven-night Alaska sailings. In addition, if you take a look at the Costa Atlantica and the brand-new Holland America Zuiderdam and soon to come Oosterdam, you will be looking in the mirror. True, each ship has its own décor and personality, but physically, they are identical. Carnival saw how well this deck plan and flow pleased passengers, that they decided to carry it over to their other brands.
Staterooms
Eighty percent of the staterooms on the Carnival Legend are outside. Eighty percent of those have private balconies. At the price of a standard outside cabin on many other ships, you can put your entire group in balcony cabins on the Legend. For that reason alone, it is worth considering this vessel for an incentive program. I found the cabins to be spacious and well designed. The décor was much tamer here, than in the public areas, done in soft woods and pleasing colors. Carnival has added plush towels, terrycloth robes and a full amenity kit in the bathrooms. In addition, you will find interactive television, wall safes and refrigerator/mini bars in every cabin.
Public Rooms
You enter the ship at the Colossus atrium, complete with giant pillars, vases, rich inlaid woods and opulent chandeliers. The theme here is certainly ancient Rome and you may be inclined to throw on a toga - but bear in mind that this is not where you will be spending your entire cruise.
I particularly liked Satchmo's, (capacity 135) named of course for the famous trumpet player. This New Orleans-style jazz club is done in knotty pine with streetlights and portions of exposed brick wall. There is a stage and dance floor, making this a fantastic evening escape.
Club Merlin (capacity 278) is the casino - aptly named for the wizard who had the ability to turn any metal into gold.
On Hollywood Blvd, there is a mural of television and movie stars from the early to mid 1900's. It is definitely a trip down memory lane.
The Dream Team bar (capacity: 67) features sport legends and is the perfect place to catch "the game". There are multiple flat screen monitors on the walls, and gambling machines at the bar.
Billie's piano bar (capacity 106) is a wonderful hideaway if you want a quiet spot before or after dinner. A piano sits in the middle of a wrap-around granite bar, making it very easy for anyone to sit right down and sing along!
Medusa's Lair (capacity 118) is a very progressive and funky two-level disco.
The three-tiered Follie's show lounge hosts nightly production shows and variety acts. This lounge seats 1,167 passengers and has unobstructed views. Just under the show lounge is what I call "the bonus room". The Firebird Lounge is perhaps the perfect room for group meetings and awards ceremonies. Seated, it holds 348 passengers and is complete with a stage and audio/visual equipment. The "Russian lacquer box décor" is certainly different and bright.
There is one main dining room on the vessel called Truffles. With two seatings, it can of course accommodate all of the passengers on the ship. In addtion, there is a private club room for groups and special guests. This very elegant venue holds 76 priviledged passengers. Food and service on Carnival have come such a long way, and may have even surpassed some of the competition. I did not have to ask one for my water glass to be refilled, and I found the food to be hot and tasty. If you want an incredibly elegant meal, head to the Golden Fleece (capacity 156) at the top of the ship. Here, you will pay a $25 fee to dine on Joe's stone crabs and prime cuts of meat. This is perhaps the prettiest room on the vessel with the most romantic ambiance.
No Carnival ship would be complete without a fully stocked, state-of-the-art fitness center and spa. You won't be disappointed on the Legend. Here, you will find everything you need to keep you body and mind in shape. I love the indoor Jacuzzi, overlooking the exercise machines. The ship has three pools, one of which sports a retractable dome covering and a stage for the band. Here, you will also find tables and chairs so that passengers can grab a bite to eat and not have to leave the area.
The bottom line is..Carnival delivers fun, options and quality. If you want a bang for the buck, this is a great place to look!
For more information on the Carnival fleet, check out their website at www.carnival.com