Carnival Legend

The 2002-built Carnival Legend cruise ship is the 3rd of four Spirit-class CCL liners, with sisterships Miracle, Spirit and Pride. Legend was last refurbished in 2018 and extensively in 2014 - before the debut on the Australian market.

History - construction and ownership

Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) is a US shipping company, trademarked brand and subsidiary of Carnival Corporation (shipowner). CCL was founded in 1972 as an independent company by Ted Arison (1924-1999, co-founder of NCL Norwegian). Carnival Cruise Lines has Corporation's largest fleet as both a number of vessels and GT tonnage (ship sizes and capacities). CCL has over 1/5 of the cruise industry's worldwide market.

The 2124-passenger ship Carnival Legend introduced some significant firsts for the company, including onboard wedding chapels and alternative restaurants. Spirit-class ships also boast an impressive 80% ratio of outside cabins and lots of nice little touches such as 'designer' martinis and museum-quality artwork.

Legend's US$47 million refurbishment in 2014 added the Australian-only slide Green Thunder, Splashdown kids' waterslides and drenching bucket, Bonsai Sushi restaurant, Serenity Retreat for adults, Cherry on Top candy store, RedFrog Pub and brand new Aussie beers (including the Thirsty Frog Summer Ale).

Cruise itinerary program

Carnival Legend itinerary program is based on roundtrip departures from homeport Sydney Australia to South Pacific Islands port destinations (Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji) during winter. In the summer months, the ship offers Alaskan roundtrip itineraries out of Seattle WA. On repositioning, the ship offers one-way cruises between Hawaii, Australia, and Alaska (Vancouver Canada).

• On May 6, 2013, was announced that starting September 2014, Legend will be the second Carnival Australia ship. The vessel was seasonally deployed (since September 24, 2014) to Sydney NSW, joining there Carnival Spirit (deployed permanently to Australia since 2012). Carnival Legend started its schedule from Sydney Harbour with a maiden Australian cruise on September 24, 2014. The 2014 Australian program included roundtrips to the Pacific Islands (8- to 12-day long itineraries). Carnival Australia cruise deals were available for booking in June 2013. The vessel became the newest and largest Carnival ship homeported in Sydney AU. The ship entered dry dock for refurbishment works in 2014 (Jan-Feb) in order to be “Aussified” accordingly.
• In May 2016, Carnival Australia officially confirmed Carnival Legend's homeporting in Melbourne in 2018 (February-March) for a total of 16 roundtrip itineraries. In the period February 6 - March 24, the liner operated on roundtrips from Station Pier. The scheduled itineraries ranged from 3-day short breaks (Cruise to Nowhere) to 4-day Tasmania, 10-day South Pacific Islands (New Caledonia and Vanuatu) and 11-day Around New Zealand. For the last time, Carnival Australia homeported a ship in Melbourne Victoria in 2013.

Starting October 2019, the ship is homeported in Tampa Florida, replacing there Carnival Miracle. In advance of the new Tampa deployment, Carnival Legend offers longer "Carnival Journeys" itineraries, including 15-day Panama Canal transition cruise (from Los Angeles to Tampa) and 16-day Hawaii cruise from Vancouver (BC Canada).

• From Tampa are offered 7-day Western Caribbean cruises (to ports Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Roatan, with Belize or Costa Maya).
• On January 25, 2020, the liner also offers a one-time, 8-day voyage including a partial Panama Canal transit, as well as visits to Limon and Grand Cayman.
• Legend also offers a one-time, 14-day Panama Canal voyage from Tampa on December 1, 2019, featuring calls at Cozumel, Limon, Cartagena, Aruba, Curacao, and Grand Cayman.

In 2020, Carnival Legend cruises in Europe on 9- to 16-day itineraries visiting 34 different ports in 16 countries. The inaugural European season 2020 starts with 16-day Transatlantic crossing from NYC to Dover (June 3-19). The repositioning cruise visits Qaqortoq (Greenland), Reykjavik (Iceland), Lerwick (Shetland Islands) and Ireland (Belfast, and Cobh-Cork).

• 9-day "Norwegian Fjords" roundtrip from Dover (itinerary June 19-28) visits in Norway Bergen, Olden, Molde, Trondheim, Alesund, Stavanger.
• 9-day "Western Europe" repositioning from Dover to Barcelona (itinerary June 28 - July 7) visits Le Havre (France), La Coruna (Spain), Leixoes-Oporto and Lisbon (Portugal), Gibraltar (UK) and Malaga (Spain).
• 9- to 12-day Adriatic and Mediterranean cruises are between homeports Venice (Italy) and Barcelona (Spain) and visit Marseilles, Livorno, Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples, Kotor (Montenegro), Greece (Corfu), Malta (Valletta) and Croatia (Dubrovnik, Rijeka).

The European season 2020 ends with 16-day Transatlantic cruise back to USA (October 30 - November 15) from Barcelona to Tampa FL, visiting Malaga, Funchal (Madeira Island), Tenerife (Canary Islands), Antigua (St Johns), Puerto Rico (San Juan) and Dominican Republic (Amber Cove).

Decks and Cabins

Carnival Legend staterooms (1062 total, in 28 categories) include 50 Suites, 634 Balcony, 171 Oceanview and 215 Inside cabins. The ship has 17 wheelchair-accessible cabins but no Spa cabins. Most cabins are sized 185 ft2 (17 m2). Most cabin balconies are sized 40 ft2 (4 m2). Suites are 4 types (Grand, Vista, Ocean, Junior), the largest are Grand Suites (300 ft2 / 28 m2 plus 115 ft2 / 11 m2 terrace).

The boat has 12 passenger decks, of which 6 are with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Carnival Legend offers several restaurants and a couple of innovative dining concepts. The Unicorn Cafe buffet restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but also serves 24-hour complimentary pizza and ice cream. The full-service Truffles is a 2-level dining room with 3-course menu and wine list. New for Truffles is the experience 'A Taste of Nouveau', where diners can sample dishes that are normally served in the fine-dining Nouveau steakhouse restaurant (formerly called Golden Fleece). Situated on the top deck, it serves prime aged beef and lobster dishes.

The new concept "Long Lunch at Sea" takes place in the Nouveau on sea days. A 3-course lunch costs $30 and features dishes like blue-crab salad and grilled cold-water lobster. A fresh seafood platter is served for another $20. A selection of wines will cost an extra US$20 per person. Bonsai Sushi on Deck 2 is a completely new experience. Passengers can sit at tables for two and four or at the bar and choose from a menu featuring sashimi, sushi rolls, bento boxes, along with Japanese desserts and sake. 

Follows the complete list of Carnival Legend restaurants and food bars.

• Truffles Restaurant (1122-seat aft Dining Room, with two fixed dinner seatings, or “Your Time Dining”; offers “Seuss At Sea” themed breakfasts for $5; with the 36-seat Private Club Room restaurant annex).
• The Golden Fleece Steakhouse (744-seat reservations only restaurant, serving seafood and prime beef steaks; with dance floor and stage for live performances)
• Unicorn Cafe Lido Buffet Restaurant (1396-seat self-service restaurant with complimentary food stations; operates as dinner bistro in the evenings)
• Sushi Bar (complimentary).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The major theme onboard Carnival Legend is ”great legends in the history”. The theme is carried out throughout ship's twelve passenger decks, sixteen lounges, indoor and outdoor promenades. The "Fun Ship" has it all, including a 9-deck-high atrium, golf program, duty-free shopping mall, video arcade, and 1,800-sq.ft kids' play space.

The Atlantis lounge is the best place for a meet-and-greet with friends and a good cocktail. Follies Show lounge pampers with Las Vegas-style show programmes, and Sing-along Piano Bar features karaoke, and live musical performances. The Dream Team Bar is the spot to watch your favorite sports team as it has large-screen TVs so you can catch the action and enjoy favorite drinks. There is also Satchmo's Club and Billi's Piano Bar. Dance away the night at Medusa's Lair, Carnival Legend's nightclub.

Follows the complete list of Carnival Legend lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Firebird Lounge (484-seat, hosts Punchliner Comedy Club/brunch)
• Medusa’s Lair Disco and Nightclub (211-seat, 2-level Dance Club)
• Follies Theatre (1400-seat, 3-level main show lounge, also used for movies, bingo games, game shows)
• Trump Card Room (30-seat)
• Legend Cafe (28-seat specialty coffee bar and patisserie)
• Taste Bar (serves complimentary appetizers); Dreamteam Bar (10-seat sports bar); Billie’s Bar (88-seat piano bar); Juice Bar, Towel Bar; Odyssey Foyer Lounge and Bar (100-seat)
• Satchmo’s Jazz Club (425-seat jazz lounge)
• Club Merlin Casino (108-seat, served by Merlin Bar; with 6-pocket Legend Pool Table)
• Legend Atrium (11-deck high midship open area with dance floor and stage, served by 147-seatLegend Lobby Bar)
• Atlantis Lobby Lounge (23-seat wine bar)
• Enchanted Forest Interior Promenade (55-seat)
• The Holmes Library and Internet Cafe (17-seat, 24-hour Internet computers)
• Wedding Chapel (30-seat)
• Hollywood Boulevard Upper Promenade
• The Fun Shops (offers “Bon Voyage” items, duty-free liquor, jewelry, fashion boutiques, souvenirs, logo items); Formalities Shop (tuxedo rentals, special occasion gifts); Studio Photo Gallery and Shop
• Gigabytes Video Games Arcade (24-hour)
• Circle C (kids' lounge complimentary area with video games, parties, movies, planned activities)
• Camp Carnival (aft located kids' lounge area with complimentary kids programmes and supervised activities)
• Spa Carnival complex (with Steam Rooms, Saunas, Whirlpool, 10 Treatment Rooms, Helen of Troy Beauty Salon and Fitness Center)
• Camelot Pool; Avalon Pool (with SkyDome sliding roof). Both pools are served by Avalon Bar
• Serenity (adult-only relaxation area with Whirlpool, Pool, Bar and sunbathing area with lounges)
• Club O2 (teens club lounge with video games, movies, karaoke, and themed parties)
• WaterWorks Aqua Park (with 214 ft Twister Waterslide, 187 ft Green Thunder waterslide, PowerDrencher bucket, mini-racing waterslides, kids pool play area)
• Volleyball-Basketball Court; 9-hole Mini-Golf Course; Jogging Track, Shuffleboard.

The Carnival ship Legend is of company's Spirit-class liners, with sisterships the fleetmates Miracle, Pride, Spirit, and also Costa Atlantica and Costa Mediterranea. The vessel was christened by Judith Olivia Dench (Judi Dench) - British actress and author. Fun Ship 2.0 upgrade was done in 2013.

When debuted in August 2002, Carnival Legend was the first ever "Fun Ship" with an onboard wedding chapel and alternative options for dining. The percentage of staterooms with oceanviews was also impressive – 80%, and 80% of them with balconies. The vessel has a 9-deck-high Atrium, duty-free luxury boutiques, an impressive golfing program. Kids are amused by the children' play area of 1,800-square-feet. The Legend's interior design theme is the great legends in the history, carried out throughout all passenger decks, promenades and lounges.

In February-March 2018, Carnival Legend was homeported in Melbourne Australia. During that time, the ship will offer a total of 6 round-trip itineraries - three 3-night Cruises to Nowhere (short breaks without any ports of call), one 4-night cruise to Tasmania, one 10-night to South Pacific islands and one 11-night around New Zealand.

Ship's first-ever New Zealand cruise was the itinerary January 7-17. The 10-day roundtrip from Sydney Australia visited the NZ ports Wellington (Jan 10), Akaroa (Jan 11), Dunedin (Jan 12), and the Fiordland National Park (Jan 13). This was also Carnival Cruise Lines first NZ cruise. The Legend ship also has the title of cruising the furthest north when in 2013 visited Greenland (Qaqortoq) during the 15-day Transatlantic crossing to NYC (Oct 7) from Europe. From New York, the ship was repositioned to Tampa Florida and since September 2014 started its Australian cruise program.

Carnival Legend refurbishment 2014 review

The list of deckplan changes after the ship's 2-weeks-long drydock in 2014 (done in Freeport, Bahamas) includes:

• New Aqua Park “Carnival WaterWorks” with the “Green Thunder” waterslide (187 ft/57 m long, speed 25 mph / 40 kph), and the “Twister” waterslide (214 ft / 65 m long), plus kids splash zone with sprays, mini-racing waterslides, and the “PowerDrencher” bucket (water capacity 150 gallons / 568 litres).
• RedFrog Pub with the ThirstyFrog Red beer (draft brew, Carnival’s private label)
• Bonsai Sushi (sushi, sashimi, Japanese beers)
• Cherry On Top (candy store)
• (new entertainment options) “Hasbro, The Game Show” and “Playlist Productions”
• upgraded pools, upgraded fitness equipment
• new carpeting, tiling, wall coverings.

The boat's last wet-dock (May 2-14, 2018) was in Portland (Oregon USA) at Vigor Marine Shipyard, and included regular maintenance works.