Legend of the Seas – Royal Caribbean

Legend of the Seas was one of Royal Caribbean’s mid-sized cruise ships, part of the Vision Class, and served passengers from 1995 until 2017. Back in the day, it was considered pretty modern, but by today’s standards, it was more low-key. While it didn’t have all the bells and whistles of the newer mega-ships, it had a charm of its own that appealed to a different kind of traveler — folks who liked a more relaxed, classic cruise experience.

At about 70,000 gross tons and holding just over 2,000 guests, Legend of the Seas was a good size for people who didn’t want to be overwhelmed by massive crowds. You could get around the ship easily, and it still packed in a good variety of features. There was a rock-climbing wall — a Royal Caribbean signature — along with a mini-golf course, pools, a solarium, a theater, and even a decent-sized fitness center. It also had a Viking Crown Lounge, which was a staple on many Royal ships and offered 360-degree views, especially nice at sunset.

As for the vibe, Legend of the Seas leaned more toward traditional cruise style. You had your main dining room with set seating, a buffet, and a couple of specialty restaurants that were added later. The service on board was usually pretty solid — nothing too fancy, but warm and friendly. Entertainment wasn’t on the Broadway level like you see on today’s newer ships, but there were nightly shows, live music in the lounges, and trivia and games during the day to keep things moving.

This ship sailed all over the world during its time with Royal Caribbean — the Caribbean, Asia, Europe, even Panama Canal cruises. It was one of the more well-traveled ships in the fleet. In fact, near the end of its run, it was doing a lot of itineraries in Asia, where Royal Caribbean was expanding at the time.

In 2017, Royal Caribbean sold Legend of the Seas to Thomson Cruises, a U.K.-based line that later rebranded as Marella Cruises. The ship was renamed TUI Discovery 2 and continued sailing under that name. For folks who had sailed on her back in the Royal Caribbean days, it was a bit of a nostalgic moment — a reminder of the simpler cruise experiences that used to be more common before the “floating cities” took over.

All in all, Legend of the Seas was a solid, no-fuss cruise ship. It offered a more intimate and traditional way to cruise, without the crowds or overwhelming size of newer vessels. For many passengers, it was a perfect match — comfortable, easy to navigate, and focused on the destination more than onboard thrills. It might not have had robot bartenders or water slides, but it delivered where it mattered: good service, good food, and good memories.