Sovereign 4/25 -4/29 Positive cruise review

[sl0905]

I thought I would post a review since there have been so many negative reviews of this ship lately.

This was our third cruise, first cruise was 4 day Sovereign, last year was Mariner Western and this year 4 day Sovereign again without teenage daughters.

We flew in via Delta nonstop, rented a car from Budget (make sure you sign up for Fastbreak to skip the counter) stayed at the Hilton via Easyclicktravel for 79.00. The Hilton was all new and still under renovation. Everything in our room was new including the bathroom. The king bed had 6 pillows on it with a down comforter wrapped in sheets. Well worth 79.00. The hammering did start around 8am Monday which was ok with us, we needed to be up anyway. Dropped the car off at Budget at noon and took their van to the ship, very easy. The line was outside the terminal but it went fast because once you were inside there were 2 lines for security. Upstairs in the terminal it was about a 20 minute wait. Make sure everything is filled out, immigration forms cc info etc and it takes only 2 - 3 minutes at the counter. We went to our room on deck 5 oceanview 5 minutes until one. Everything was perfect. Our room attendant was the best ever on this cruise. He had a great personality and always spoke to us. We went to check our dining assignment and we had early seating for the first time to try it. Our table was on deck 3, a table by the window for 2! No we did not request it but we liked it!! We just booked directly through RC on the phone, not the internet since we new what we wanted and had done this cruise before. Dinner the first night was the only time the meat wasn't that good. We both had prime rib and it was too tough. Everything else was OK. Service was perfect already the first night. Our assisant server was new on the ship and just got off a Norwegian ship. He said he did not like the freestyle dining as he never got to really talk to any of the passengers. I think the tips would be better with assigned dining. After dinner we went to the casino for a few minutes before the show and we only play slots. My husband was playing dollar slots for a minute then moved to the .25 slots and was playing 3 credits when the machine went crazy with lights and noise. He won $2500.00. What a way to start a cruise - free cruise now!

Coco Cay on Tuesday-The line for the tender seemed long as it stretched back into the hallway where there are cabins. It went really fast and everyone waiting was able to get on that tender plus more. So if you are going down the stairs to the tender and the staff stops you and makes you wait in line there, don't worry, there is plenty of room. The weather was perfect high 70's maybe 80. We did the jet ski excursion. We each had our own jet ski and loved it. You go pretty far away from the beach and ship. The water is very rough at times so if you're a little scared tell the staff and they will put you at the end. Each stop the staff asked if anyone wanted to go faster or slower and you could change your position (number). You have to hold on for dear life at times, well worth the 95.00 each. Next time I'm going to parasail. Lunch was Ok, hot dogs, hamburgers etc nothing special. We walked away from the crowds past the sand pumping machine to complete silence except for the birds and ocean. Looks like they're pumping sand onto the island to fix what the hurricane took out. We had shrimp scampi that night. You only get 4 large shrimp so when you order you may want to order 2 plates right away because 4 shrimp is not enough. Perfect service again in the dining room

The next day was Nassau. We booked ahead of time with Stuart Coves and did the 1/2 afternoon snorkel excursion. Well worth $40.00. We had about 50 people on our boat and they took 12 off because they thought we would not enjoy ourselves if it was too crowded. We had a great time the weather was good a little overcast which was ok - no sunburn. The shark feed at the last stop was wonderful. While in the water i thought they were little, like a foot or so but once everyone was back in the water you could see them from the boat and they were much bigger. We were the only people from the ship on the excursion. We were dropped off at the cruise ship terminal around 5. For dinner that night we had steak, it was excellent. Our server thought mine was too done as he walked past as I was cutting it and had another one for me. I told him it was fine. Once again perfect service in the dining room

The next day sea day - or sleep day whatever you want it to be. We don't do pools or pool games so I don't know about any of that. Inside the ship we just sat outside the coffee shop for a while and watched everyone. There was a great mix of ages on the ship. We did not see alot of teenagers. There were some but they were well behaved. A boy around 11 ran into my husband and apologized right away. Another time on the elevator a boy around 13 was in the front when a lady behind him needed to get off. Even though she had room this boy got off the elevator and held the door for her, then got back on. I couldn't believe it. Last year on the Mariner we had to step over kids on the elevators and in the hallways. We thought the kids were all well behaved on this cruise and didn't have a problem like other posters. I don't want to do voyager class again.

Overall this was a perfect getaway for our 25th anniversary. We had better service from our room attendant and servers than the other 2. We didn't see any dirt or have any problems with any of the staff. Everyone from the pursers desk staff to the room attendant was most helpful. The ship is older and you can tell by the design and the poles that obstruct some of the view in the theater, but it is still a great time. It is a very inexpensive way to have better service than I've ever had at a mainstream hotel. Everyone must remember if you want absolute perfection in every way you may want to look to a newer ship on a more upscale cruise line. I like this ship because you know you're on a ship. To me the voyager class seems like a mall. Just go to have a good time and if there is a problem address is right away at the pursers desk. One more thing that drives everyone crazy is the sewer smell. We never had it but if you have it in your cabin or around your cabin in the hallway, call the pursers desk, they will send maintenance up and they will work on the plumbing which is located in the hallway. They don't need to come in your cabin at all. The doors between cabins is where the plumbing is for the bathrooms, thats why you get a sewer smell at times because the plumbing is right next to you in the hall!

[madelyn]

Thanks for the review. We are going on Sovereign this summer and I was starting to get nervous because of the reviews. The last couple of cruises have been on the Voyager class ships, so I was wondering how it was to go back on a smaller ship. I feel better after reading your review.

 

Madelyn

[Honeybear]

Hi! Would you tell me the name of the cruise dirctor and about the intertainment? We are leaving in 9 days and I'm SO excited! Thanks in advance....

[maggieworkman]

What rooms were you in? We are in a 5th deck oceanview room too. I am hoping for no sewer smell too.

 

Maggie

[sl0905]

We were in 5056 which was right next to a fire door in the hallway, so we had no noise at all from one side of the cabin. The cruise director was Keith Williams. He reminded me of the second Darin Stephens from Bewitched. As far as entertainment it was the RC singers and dancers. I know alot of people don't like to watch them, but I do. They are all very young and do a great job. If you get a chance do the backstage tour, you will be suprised how little space they have to change in. The headliner was Johnny Thunder from the Drifters (remember Under the Boardwalk). He was very good and I couldn't believe he was 70 something. I sure hope I can move around that good in my 70's. There was also a rock band that would play in Voltage called The Castaways. They were OK. We only listened to them while waiting for the Quest to begin. The captain was Hernan Zini. He looked very young. We heard he was leaving after our sailing so I'm not sure who tookover. You will have a good time.

[Honeybear]

Thank you for all of your information! Was there any comedy acts? What is a Quest?