Short answer: No. Legend of the Seas is easy enough to navigate once you understand how its neighbourhoods are laid out, even though it's the world's biggest cruise ship. In this article, I'll cover how I got on while on board and give you tips to make sure you don't miss anything.
With a length of 364m, Legend of the Seas, along with its Icon Class sister ships, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, is colossal. If you laid London's The Shard on its side next to Royal Caribbean's latest ship, Legend of the Seas would be longer by 54m, the size of a 16-storey building. And at 66m, Legend of the Seas is as wide as Durham Cathedral is tall.
The scale of the ship is phenomenal. Apart from the other two Icon Class vessels, the only thing that can truly prepare you for it is sailing on one of Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships; their gross tonnage, length, beam and capacity are, while lower, at least comparable.
If you exclude the Oasis Class, the next biggest ships are MSC World America and MSC World Europe, which are shorter by a full 30 metres, roughly the height of a 10-storey building.
Looking at the Legend of the Seas deck plan before embarking, I was genuinely intrigued by how easy it would be to find my way around. For example, in some areas, there are rows of up to 10 cabins from the port to the starboard side.
So, did I get lost? Here's how I got on.
Full disclosure: I did get lost once. But to be completely honest, that's happened to me many times before, even on much smaller vessels. Most of the time it happens when I'm not paying attention and forget to check the signage.
So, while yes, I did lose my bearings on Legend of the Seas, it was only once, and no worse than on any other cruise ship I've sailed. Considering the scale, that's rather impressive, and it shows that if you're worried about getting lost on board, you shouldn't be. Signage is clear and ever-present. Pay attention, and you'll be fine.
Credit where it's due: Legend of the Seas' passenger flow has been well thought through. The ship is divided into eight neighbourhoods, and their positioning in relation to one another makes a lot of sense.
For example, travelling as a family, we spent most of our time in Surfside on deck 7 (perfect for younger kids, with Splashaway Bay, the Carousel, the Arcade and more) and Thrill Island on deck 16 (home to the crazy golf course Lost Dunes, the Category 6 waterpark, the Flowrider surf simulator, the Adrenaline Peak climbing walls and more). We found Windjammer Market on deck 15 to be the most family-friendly dining option.
Conveniently, Surfside, Thrill Island, Windjammer Market and Adventure Ocean (the kids' club on deck 6) sit almost on top of each other at the aft of the ship, so moving between them only ever means a short ride in a lift - no need to walk from one end of the ship to the other.
Similarly, the more adult-focused neighbourhoods, the Royal Promenade on decks 5, Central Park on deck 8 and Chill Island on decks 15 to 17, all sit mid-ship. Again, getting from one to the other only requires a ride on one of the 22 elevators dotted around the ship.
Are some areas of Legend of the Seas confusing?
While I honestly found Legend of the Seas easy to navigate, a few areas are more likely to cause confusion. The staterooms towards the front of the ship on decks 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, for example, are densely packed. In those areas, four corridors serve rows of up to 10 balcony and interior staterooms. Make sure to check the deck plan and remember which corridor leads to your stateroom.
If you have an aft or midship stateroom, pay close attention to the signage when you step off the lift. In these areas, port and starboard cabins sit in two separate wings, split down the middle by an open-air gap above Central Park and the Surfside neighbourhood. There's no walkway or concourse linking the two sides, so if you head down the corridor on the wrong side of the ship, you'll need to walk all the way back to the lift to cross over.
What's easy to miss on Legend of the Seas?
Some of the ship's best spots sit just off the main thoroughfares, tucked behind bigger attractions or perched at the bow, away from the crowds - and may fall off the radar. Here are the places you shouldn't miss:
- Rye & Bean: Sitting to the right of the Aquadome on deck 15 (when facing forward), Rye & Bean is easy to walk straight past.
- The Overlook Lounge and The Overlook Pods: Spread across decks 14 and 15 at the very front of the ship, this area sits beyond the Aquatheater, away from the pool decks and dining hubs, easy to miss.
- Running Track: Unlike most cruise ships, which put their track up top, Legend keeps it low, on deck 5. It's a sensible use of space, but it means keen runners can assume there isn't one at all.
- Crown Lounge: Right at the bow on deck 6, just above the Royal Promenade, Crown Lounge is a bit of a hideaway and can stay under the radar.
- Water's Edge Pool: Positioned on deck 7, this pool is effectively screened from view by Splashaway Bay as you walk through Surfside. Don't miss it.
- Cloud 17: Cloud 17 sits at the top of the Chill Island neighbourhood, which spans decks 15 to 17. With so much to do on the lower decks of Chill Island, it's easy to forget about this one.
Tips to find your way on Legend of the Seas
Legend of the Seas is like most megaships: you can get lost if you get distracted. But honestly, don't make this a make-or-break factor. The ship's flow and layout have been carefully thought through and make a lot of sense.
If getting lost is something you're worried about, here's what I'd recommend:
- Have a look at the list of venues and facilities before travelling. On a ship that size, the biggest risk is missing out on something because you didn't know it was there.
- Check where your stateroom is on the deck plan. Work out which set of elevators is closest and stick to them when heading back to your accommodation.
- Learn the neighbourhoods, not just the deck numbers. Several span more than one deck, so knowing you're heading for "Chill Island" rather than "deck 16" makes it much easier to orient yourself once aboard.
- Do a slow lap on day one, before it gets busy. An hour spent walking the main decks on embarkation day, with no destination in mind, does more for your sense of direction than any map.
- Use the Royal Caribbean app, which includes an interactive deck plan. You'll need to connect to the ship's Wi-Fi, but no internet package is needed.
- Legend of the Seas has several key features, such as The Pearl on the Royal Promenade, the Category 6 waterpark and the Aquadome. Use these for bearings.
- Check the cabin numbers - if they are going up, you're walking towards the back of the ship; if they're going down, towards the front.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Is it easy to get lost on Legend of the Seas?
No. Legend of the Seas is divided into eight clear neighbourhoods, and signage throughout the ship is consistent. Most confusion comes down to inattention rather than poor design.
How big is Legend of the Seas compared to Icon of the Seas?
Legend of the Seas is an Icon Class ship, the same class as Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, and shares a comparable length, beam and layout.
How many elevators does Legend of the Seas have?
Legend of the Seas has 22 elevators, split across two banks.
What deck is the running track on?
The running track is on deck 5, lower than on most cruise ships, which typically place it on an open top deck.
What deck is Cloud 17 on?
Cloud 17 is on deck 17, at the top of the Chill Island neighbourhood, which spans decks 15 to 17.
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