Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas is one of the line’s smaller ships and offers an intimate atmosphere and slower pace. It’s a great option for anyone who likes longer cruises to a variety of interesting locales, including the Panama Canal. A $50 million refurbishment in 2013 saw the two-decades-old ship upgrade its amenities and restaurants with the addition of Izumi and Chops Grille, two of the ship’s three alternative dining venues. Part of the upper floor in the Romeo and Juliet Dining Room is now cordoned off to serve as home to Chef’s Table, an upscale for-fee dinner experience.

[fa type=”bed”] Accommodation

Legend of the Seas has a total of 915 cabins split into the following basic categories: inside, outside, balcony, junior and suite. The colour scheme is generally cream with light woods, accented by touches of tan and teal on the walls, beds, carpet, curtains and sofas. Walls are furnished with colorful artwork. Each stateroom has two twin beds that covert to a queen, two small bedside tables, a small sofa and coffee table, a vanity with chair, a telephone, a mini-fridge, a keypad-operated safe, ample closet and drawer space, and a flat-screen TV.

[fa type=”cutlery”] Food

Legend of the Seas offers six dining options, three of which are included in the cruise fare and three carry additional fees. The main Romeo and Juliet Dining Room is an elegant mix of cream and tan with accents of maroon and teal. The venue offers two set-seating dining times on the lower level and My Time Dining on the upper floor. You can’t miss the Windjammer, the ship’s nautically themed buffet venue. For breakfast, options include fruit, yoghurt, cereal, oatmeal and grits, waffles and French toast, bacon, sausage, tater tots, biscuits with gravy, and scrambled and hard-boiled eggs. A chef at a special station can also make you an omelet while you watch. The Windjammer is also a great casual lunch and dinner options. Park Cafe is one of the new dining options added during the ship 2013 refurb. It provides free light fare throughout the day, including sandwiches, paninis, soups, salads and carved meats, as well as cookies and other light dessert options. If you’re in the mood for some Japanese-inspired cuisine, head up to Izumi in the Viking Crown Lounge.

[fa type=”ticket”] Activities

Legend of the Seas’ peaceful Vitality at Sea spa offers five treatment rooms and a standard menu of spa treatments, including teeth whitening, facials, massages, body scrubs and wraps. In the same area as the spa is a small salon that provides services for men and women, including haircutting and styling, manicures and pedicures, and waxing. The fitness centre is well equipped with spin bikes, regular Life Fitness bikes, treadmills, ellipticals, steppers, and several Cybex weight machines, as well as a host of free weights, exercise balls, step boxes and yoga mats. A handful of fitness classes like stretching and abs workshops are held free of charge throughout each sailing. For those who prefer to stay fit outdoors, the ship has a rock-climbing wall, mini-golf course and several shuffleboard courts on deck 10, as well as a one-lane jogging track.

[fa type=”group”] Families

Children’s programming, known as Adventure Ocean on Royal Caribbean ships, is a strong point for the line. However, due to the longer nature of Legend’s sailings, the ship doesn’t carry many children. Supervised play is provided, as are cribs for napping. Parents can go ashore on port days while their young children stay on board in the nursery. There is a variety of age-appropriate fun, such as listening to stories, sing-alongs, dance and play with hula hoops, science experiments and art projects.

Verdict

– Cruise Passenger

“Overall, Legend of the Seas feels comfortable and cozy, as it’s smaller than most of the line’s other, newer, more shiny ships; because there are fewer bells and whistles, life onboard moves at a slower pace.”

– Cruise Critic

“A ship with refined European decor for mature-age cruisers.”

– Berlitz