Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas is not just a cruise ship. It is a floating resort, an entertainment complex, a water park, and, at times, something that barely feels like a ship at all.
But that raises a very important question. Has cruising got too big?
I sailed on the very first cruise on Legend of the Seas to find out what the ship is really like, who it is best for, and whether it is worth paying more for one of the newest and biggest cruise ships in the world.
I was invited on board the press preview sailing by Best Day Ever, a travel agency that specialises in Royal Caribbean cruises. But as always, this review is based on my own experience on the ship.
And honestly? Legend of the Seas surprised me.
Before I stepped on board, I expected it to feel crowded, confusing and overwhelming. After all, this is a ship that can carry up to 7,600 guests, plus 2,350 crew members. That means almost 10,000 people could be on board at once.
It has 20 decks, 27 dining venues and 17 bars. From one end of the ship to the other, it is around a quarter of a mile.
That sounds ridiculous. And for some people, it probably will be.
But somehow, Royal Caribbean has made it work.
First Impressions
Legend of the Seas makes an immediate impression. The moment you board, you are greeted by The Pearl, a huge glittering structure.
This is not the kind of ship where you quietly step into a small atrium and hear a pianist playing in the corner. Legend of the Seas is bold, bright and designed to impress from the start.
At first, it is a lot to take in. There are people moving in every direction, venues on multiple levels and huge open spaces that do not feel very ship-like at all.
But once I started exploring, the ship became much easier to understand.
Royal Caribbean has divided Legend of the Seas into different neighbourhoods, which helps enormously. Instead of feeling like one giant ship, it feels like several different areas, each with its own purpose.
There are family zones, pool zones, entertainment zones, dining areas, quiet spaces and suite-only areas. Once you know which neighbourhood you are heading to, the ship feels much less intimidating.
It is also very well signposted. I found it surprisingly easy to work out whether I was heading forward or aft, and I did not really get lost, which is impressive for a ship of this size.
What Makes Legend Of The Seas Different?
The biggest thing that sets Legend of the Seas apart is the sheer amount to do.
This is not a ship where the daily programme consists of a quiz, a shuffleboard tournament and a theatre show in the evening.
There are water slides, pools, hot tubs, a surf simulator, rock climbing, mini golf, a sports court, an adults-only area, a carousel, an arcade, parades, diving shows, musical theatre, live music, karaoke, speciality restaurants, cocktail bars and more casual food venues than you could possibly need.
And that is exactly the point.
Legend of the Seas is designed for people who want the ship to be the destination.
If you are the kind of cruiser who likes getting off in every port from breakfast until dinner, you may not get the best value from this ship. There is simply too much on board to enjoy if you are ashore all day, every day.
But if you love big ships, lots of choice and a holiday where the kids never have time to be bored, Legend of the Seas is very hard to beat.
The Neighbourhoods Work Really Well
One of the cleverest things about Legend of the Seas is the way the ship is split into neighbourhoods.
Surfside is the family area, aimed mainly at younger children. It has a splash park, carousel, arcade and a child-friendly buffet, which makes life much easier for families who do not want to keep walking to the main buffet every time someone wants food.
This area is probably best for children under around eight. If you have toddlers or younger kids, I can imagine spending a lot of time here.
For older kids, teenagers and adventurous adults, Thrill Island is where the more exciting activities are. This is where you will find the water park, with six huge slides, along with the FlowRider surf simulator, rock climbing, mini golf, the sports court and Crown’s Edge, where you can dangle over the side of the ship.
Unfortunately, I had a broken big toe during my cruise, so I could not try the more active attractions. I was slightly devastated about that, especially when I saw the water slides, but it has given me a very good reason to go back.
Chill Island is the main pool area, with pools, hot tubs, loungers, music and bars. It has a fun, holiday atmosphere without feeling too chaotic.
Then there is The Hideaway, the adults-only area at the back of the ship. This has an infinity pool, hot tubs and loungers, and it is one of the best places to escape if you want a calmer space.
At the front of the ship is the AquaDome, which is one of the most impressive parts of Legend of the Seas. It has a huge glass dome, a beautiful bar, food venues and the AquaTheater, where Royal Caribbean puts on its diving shows.
Central Park gives the ship a completely different feel again. It is filled with real plants and flowers, with restaurants and live music around the edges. On a ship this big, having a green, open-air space makes a huge difference.
The Promenade is where you will find bars, shops, parades and evening entertainment. It feels more like an indoor street than a cruise ship corridor.
All of these separate areas help spread people around the ship, which is one of the main reasons Legend of the Seas does not feel as crowded as you might expect.
Does Legend Of The Seas Feel Too Big?
This was my biggest concern before sailing.
I usually prefer ships that carry between 1,000 and 4,000 passengers. That is big enough to have plenty going on, but not so big that it feels like a floating city. Legend of the Seas is in a completely different category.
On paper, the numbers sound intimidating. Almost 10,000 people including crew is a lot. But in reality, the ship felt much more manageable than I expected.
It is big, of course. You will walk a lot. You will not pop back to your cabin quickly if you are on the other side of the ship. And you do need to be realistic about how much you can fit in.
But it did not feel chaotic.
Royal Caribbean has clearly put a lot of thought into crowd flow. Activities are spread across different neighbourhoods, entertainment happens in multiple places, and the ship has enough venues that everyone is not trying to do the same thing at the same time.
The elevators also deserve a mention. Rather than pressing up or down, you select your destination floor before you get in. The system then tells you which lift to take.
This means the lift does not stop at every floor, and it makes moving around the ship much quicker than I expected. For a ship this size, it works extremely well.
Food On Legend Of The Seas
Food is one of the strongest parts of Legend of the Seas. There are 27 dining venues, and the variety is huge. You could easily spend a week on board and not try everywhere.
There are the usual Royal Caribbean staples, including the main dining room and Windjammer buffet, but there are also lots of smaller casual venues where you can grab something quickly.
Sorrento’s serves pizza, El Loco Fresh has Mexican food, Basecamp offers casual options like burgers and hot dogs, and Surfside has its own buffet for families.
The AquaDome Market is another great addition, with food stations inspired by different cuisines from around the world.
What I liked most was how easy it was to find food without making a big event of it. You do not always want a long sit-down meal, especially on a ship with so much going on. Sometimes you just want a quick snack between activities, and Legend of the Seas makes that very easy.
There are also plenty of speciality restaurants if you want something more memorable.
The train-themed dining experience sounds particularly exciting, with food served as you “travel” through different destinations. There is also the glamorous Hollywood Supper Club, along with Royal Caribbean favourites such as Chops Grille.
You certainly will not go hungry on this ship.
In fact, the bigger problem is resisting the temptation to eat all day.
Drinks And Bars
If you like cocktails, you will probably love Legend of the Seas. There are 17 bars, and many have their own menus and themes. This makes the drinks experience much more interesting than simply ordering the same cocktail in a different venue every night.
The Lime and Coconut is always fun, and you can get drinks served in a souvenir bucket. Swim and Tonic, the swim-up bar, serves frozen gin and tonic cocktails, which is a brilliant concept.
There is also a frozen cocktail bar, which was one of my personal favourites.
Whether the drinks package is worth it will depend on how you plan to spend your cruise. If you are getting off the ship every day and spending hours ashore, you may struggle to drink enough in the evening to make the package good value.
But if you are planning to stay on board and enjoy the pools, bars and entertainment, it becomes much easier to make it worthwhile.
For this ship in particular, your itinerary matters. A port-heavy Mediterranean cruise and a ship-focused Caribbean cruise could give you very different answers on whether the drinks package is worth buying.
Entertainment Is A Major Highlight
The entertainment on Legend of the Seas is outstanding.
The AquaTheater show was one of the best shows I have seen at sea. The divers perform from huge heights into the pool below, and the stunts are genuinely breathtaking.
It is the kind of show that makes you wonder how it is even possible on a moving ship.
But the real standout for me was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
I was not expecting to feel emotional watching a cruise ship musical, but it was incredible. The production has a 15-piece live orchestra and child actors, with Charlie played by an 11-year-old boy.
The talent on stage was amazing, and it felt like a proper West End-style production rather than “good for a cruise ship”.
If you sail on Legend of the Seas, this is not a show to skip.
There is plenty of entertainment elsewhere too, including parades on the Promenade, live music, a duelling piano bar and karaoke.
Even walking around the ship at night is part of the experience. The top decks look beautiful when they are lit up, and Royal Caribbean doesn’t close the hot tubs early like many other cruise lines do.
Cabins And Suites
Legend of the Seas has a huge range of accommodation, from inside cabins to some of the most extravagant suites at sea.
At the top end, the Ultimate Family Townhouse is the one that gets the most attention. This two-storey suite has a slide between floors, a hot tub, a cinema room and Royal Genie service.
It is spectacular, but it is also far beyond most people’s budgets.
Thankfully, there are plenty of more realistic options. You can choose from inside cabins, ocean view cabins, neighbourhood-view cabins, standard balcony cabins and various suite categories.
This is one area where I do think it is worth getting help before booking.
On a ship like this, cabin location matters. You may want to be close to the family areas, near the lifts, away from noise, close to Central Park, or somewhere quieter. There are so many cabin types and locations that it can be hard to compare them all properly on your own.
That is where a Royal Caribbean specialist travel agent can be really useful.
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Booking With Best Day Ever
I am working with Best Day Ever, a travel agency that specialises in Royal Caribbean cruises.
Because they book so many Royal Caribbean holidays, they can often access exclusive discounts and pass those savings on. They can also help with flights, hotels and choosing the right cabin, which is particularly helpful on a ship like Legend of the Seas where there are so many options.
Their service does not cost any extra compared with booking direct, so it is worth getting a quote before you book.
Is Legend Of The Seas Good For Families?
Of course! Legend of the Seas is one of the best family cruise ships in the world.
There is something for every age group, from splash areas and carousels for younger children to water slides, sports, arcades and thrill activities for older kids and teenagers.
The food options also make family cruising easier. Having casual venues and family-friendly areas means you do not always need to drag everyone to the main dining room or buffet.
The biggest challenge for families will be deciding what not to do.
There is no way to fit everything into one week, especially if you are getting off in ports. So it is worth looking at the activities before you sail and choosing your must-dos.
For children who need constant entertainment, Legend of the Seas is fantastic. For parents who want a bit of peace, the kids’ club and adults-only areas will be very welcome.
Is Legend Of The Seas Good For Couples?
Legend of the Seas is very family-focused, but that does not mean couples should rule it out. I had my honeymooon on Allure of the Seas and that’s what got me addicted to cruising straight away!
There are plenty of adult-friendly spaces, including The Hideaway, Central Park, cocktail bars, speciality restaurants and evening entertainment.
Couples who enjoy big ships, great shows, good food and lively bars will have a brilliant time.
However, if you want a quiet, romantic, traditional cruise, this probably is not the best choice. There will be children on board, and many areas are designed with families in mind.
For couples who want peace and relaxation, I would choose a different ship. For couples who want fun, entertainment and lots of choice, Legend of the Seas could be excellent.
I’d suggest September as the best month to cruise as there may not be quite as many kids on board then.
Is Legend Of The Seas Good For Port-Intensive Itineraries?
This is where I would be careful.
Legend of the Seas is so packed with things to do that a very port-heavy itinerary can feel a little frustrating. If you are getting off the ship every day, you may feel like you’re missing half of what you have paid for.
That is why I think this ship works best when you are happy to spend plenty of time on board. Sea days are valuable on a ship like this.
On my next sailing, the itinerary is Barcelona to Rome with only one sea day. I have already decided that we will only get off the ship once, because I want to actually enjoy the ship.
That will not suit everyone. Some people cruise for the ports, and that is perfectly fine.
But if the destinations are your priority, I would probably look at a smaller or older Royal Caribbean ship instead. It will likely be cheaper, and you will not feel as though you are missing so much on board.
Suggested read: Royal Caribbean Ships Ranked by Size
Tendering Was Better Than Expected
One thing I wondered about was how tendering would work on such a huge ship. When a ship cannot dock and passengers have to take boats ashore, it can be slow even on much smaller ships.
But Royal Caribbean handled it well.
Guests could book tender times through the app, which helped spread people out and avoid huge queues. In La Spezia, the ship used large shore-based tender boats that could carry hundreds of people at once, rather than relying only on the ship’s own lifeboats.
It was much smoother than I expected.
Sun Loungers And Crowds
Sun loungers are always a concern on big ships, especially when the weather is good.
On Legend of the Seas, I found that there were generally plenty available. There were also signs saying that guests should not reserve loungers, and this seemed to be helping.
That said, the loungers are very close together in some areas. In places, they are literally touching, which means you may need to climb onto them rather than walk between them.
If you like lots of personal space while sunbathing, you may need to search around for a quieter spot.
The good news is that quiet areas do exist. Even on such a big ship, I found places where it was possible to get away from the noise and crowds.
What I Loved Most
The best thing about Legend of the Seas is the choice. You can have a completely different day depending on your mood.
One day could be water slides, burgers, frozen cocktails and a big theatre show. Another could be Central Park, speciality dining and live music. Another could be pools, hot tubs and doing very little.
The entertainment is exceptional, the food choice is brilliant, and the ship is far easier to navigate than I expected.
It also feels like Royal Caribbean has learned a lot from its previous big ships. The crowd management, neighbourhood layout and technology all help make Legend of the Seas feel more manageable than its size suggests.
What I Did Not Love
The main downside is that there is too much to do in one week.
That sounds like a strange complaint, but it can create a bit of holiday FOMO. You may feel like you are constantly choosing between activities, shows, restaurants and ports. For some people, that is exciting. For others, it could feel overwhelming.
The ship is also not the best choice if you want a traditional cruise atmosphere. It does not feel like a classic cruise ship. It feels like a huge floating resort.
And while I did not find the ship too crowded, some areas can feel busy, especially around the main entertainment decks in the evening. The sun loungers being so close together may also annoy some people.
Who Should Book Legend Of The Seas?
You should consider Legend of the Seas if:
- You want the ship to be a major part of the holiday
- You are travelling with children or teenagers
- You love big ships with lots to do
- You enjoy shows, activities, bars and casual dining
- You are happy to spend time on board rather than getting off in every port
- You like Royal Caribbean’s lively, resort-style approach to cruising
Who Should Avoid Legend Of The Seas?
Legend of the Seas may not be right for you if:
- You prefer small, quiet ships
- You mainly cruise for the destinations
- You dislike busy family-focused ships
- You want a traditional cruise experience
- You prefer lots of personal space around the pool
- You want a simple, relaxed itinerary without too many decisions
Final Verdict
Legend of the Seas is an incredible ship. It is huge, bold, exciting and packed with more things to do than most people could manage in one week.
I expected it to feel overwhelming, but it was much easier to navigate and much less crowded than I imagined. Royal Caribbean has done a very good job of making an enormous ship feel surprisingly organised.
It will not suit everyone. If you want a quiet, traditional cruise focused mainly on ports, this is probably not the ship for you. But, if you want a cruise where the ship is the destination, Legend of the Seas is fantastic.
For families, it is one of the most exciting cruise ships at sea. For big-ship fans, it is a must-try. And for anyone who has ever worried that they might get bored on a cruise, this ship is probably the answer.
Would I sail on Legend of the Seas again?
Yes. Absolutely.
And next time, I am making sure my toe is fully healed so I can finally try those water slides.
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