Just Off the Sovereign of The Seas...Review

[mobydog]

Hi All- First of all, I would like to thank all of the previous posters who offered up so many great suggestions on this website...it made my trip so much better! We sailed on the Sovereign of the Seas November 7-11.

 

Embarkation- We drove to Port Canaveral...took us less than 15 minutes for four of us to get on the boat. It was a breeze.

 

Cabins- We had an inside cabin on the 3rd floor (ok, I am cheap)...it was completely fine for our needs. We were NEVER in our room- out until 2:30 a.m. and back up at 7 a.m. to head off the boat (not a really relaxing vacation but we were without our kids so we took full advantage of the night life). I love to sleep in total darkness so it was perfect for me. In the morning we would simply turn on the TV (which we left on the boat camera channel) and saw what is was like out and what time it was.

 

CoCo Cay- Tender boats were not bad the day we were there. We went snorkeling first in case of inclement weather. If you like to snorkel, swim out to the platforms and climb up for a break- it was a great view of the island. Fish were minimal- best viewing spot was by the lifeguard platform near the plane wreck. If you are not snorkeling- I would highly recommend going right once off the tender and heading to the back part of the island, past the water slide and floating playground. There was a bar, bathrooms and tons of hammocks. Most passengers just drop anchor at the snorkeling area as it is the closest beach. Barely anyone was back on the other part of the island. Well worth the short walk.

 

Nassau- We rented a room at the Comfort Suites and headed straight for Atlantis...this was money well spent. We had four adults and split the cost of the room between the two couples. We had an incredible day, using the waterslides, lazy river, walking through the digs, snorkeling and looking at the aquarium. Never actually went to our hotel room- just checked in and out at the same time.

 

Ship Activities- We tried to do as much as possible- the following were my favorites: Mike & Larry (dueling pianos) in Boleros- these guys rock; The Flash Back Show in Follies Theatre; Love & Marriage Game Show; Pool Party (Wednesday Night). We also sat by the pool and never had difficulty finding a lounge chair as other readers have posted (boat was not to capacity- 1800 guests).

 

Alcohol & Soda- ok, I'll admit it- we smuggled liquor on board and it was not really worth the effort. Drinks on the ship were priced like any other bar...we ordered buckets of beer (order 5 beers, 6th beer free- $17 including tip :D ) and drank that most nights. We splurged at the pool party on these huge drinks in a pineapple shell and they were only $7. We ended up drinking the flask of vodka, malibu rum and wine, but brought back a full pint of rum we never opened. We purchased the soda card- and I must admit I have a small caffeine addiction (as does my spouse) so we found it worthwhile. We also used it to get cranberry and pineapple juice to mix up some fruity adult beverages in our cabin. The only pain about the soda card is having to go to the bar or hunt down wait staff in the Windjammer or Sorento's to get a soda- there has to be a better way!

 

Food- The food was good. There was a variety of items each night and everyone found something they liked. Our waiter, Clifford, was awesome and he was more than willing to accomodate our tables special requests (which we had every evening). If it is on the menu as an appetizer during your trip- be sure to try the risotto with scallops- best thing I ate all week! We ate breakfast in the Windjammer every day as we could not commit the time to a sit down breakfast. We had the 8:30 p.m. dinner seating which were disappointed about pre-cruise- but this ended up working out perfect for us...we would simply grab a slice of pizza late afternoon and this would tide us over until our seating- we never felt rushed to get back on the boat from the islands to make it to dinner.

 

Midnight Chocolate Buffet- Don't miss this if you love chocolate. It was deluxe.

 

Things I wish I had packed- A watch; an alarm clock- I know I am supposed to be on vacation but a few more clocks on board and in our cabin would have been helpful.

 

Worst of All- We are non-smokers and the casino, Schooner Bar and Viking Lounge were unbearable to be in. The boat needs better ventilation or at least one completely smoking bar and one non-smoking bar. Also, like any other place, more women's restrooms needed- no surprise there.

 

Best of All- there is never a shortage of other guests willing to make complete fools out of themselves for your entertainment- some of the best people watching I have ever seen!!!! We called them "Paid Passengers for Our Entertainment".

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[Cruisin Amy]

Glad you had a great time...

 

How was it leaving the ship?

 

Do they do a soda card?

 

thanks!

[abbyndrewmom]

Thanks for the fair and balanced review. We will be on her in March and I can't wait!!!

[mobydog]

Cruisin Amy- Just as easy to get off the boat. We were half way through the call out list (brown) and were off the boat around 9:15 a.m. Easy to get through customs as well. We did the soda card- $24 plus gratuity per person for the 4 day cruise.

[Cruisin Amy]

thanks we did the self assist with Carnival a few weeks ago and what a zoo wall to wall people...we had to take our luggage on the stairs from deck 8 to 2...never again! but we did have an early flight!

[Catperson]

Could you please tell me how you booked the Comfort Suites for the day? Did you call the hotel direct or use a 1-800 line or a TA, etc. How much did you pay for the room? Did you book the room far in advance or quite close to your arrival date in Nassau? Thx.

[mobydog]

Catperson- We booked the room through www.smarterliving.com. We paid $200 for the room (it was a bit more expensive because we had four adults). I know that travelzoo.com was running an Atlantis special at one time and so was expedia. I booked the room several months in advance but continually checked various websites to see if the rate dropped for four adults. Good Luck.

[KelJ]

Could you please tell me how you booked the Comfort Suites for the day? Did you call the hotel direct or use a 1-800 line or a TA, etc. How much did you pay for the room? Did you book the room far in advance or quite close to your arrival date in Nassau? Thx.

 

I don't know when you're cruising or what day of the week you'll be in Nassau, but the Atlantis Hotel is running a special until 12/25/05 of $99 per night (double occupancy) plus taxes. We have JerseyGirl to thank for spreading the word. Our kids are 10 and 13, and the 10 year old was free, but we had to pay for the 13 year old. The room (which we'll never see) cost us $184, and we have complete access to everything. This special is only good Sunday through Wednesday. We will be there on Sunday, December 11th, and they said we can begin using the facilities as soon as we get there and check in, even though rooms aren't ready until 3:00 p.m. You book directly with the Atlantis Hotel, and the number is 1-877-275-2921, rate code TZNV.

[clc41297]

Please answer something for me:confused: .

 

On the 4 day Sovereign does the ship stay in Nassau for 2 full days and leave 1AM Friday morning and arrive at Port Canaveral at 9 AM? The website says Thursday and 1AM Thursday would mean a day at sea?????????

[glentally]

I don't know when you're cruising or what day of the week you'll be in Nassau, but the Atlantis Hotel is running a special until 12/25/05 of $99 per night (double occupancy) plus taxes. We have JerseyGirl to thank for spreading the word. Our kids are 10 and 13, and the 10 year old was free, but we had to pay for the 13 year old. The room (which we'll never see) cost us $184, and we have complete access to everything. This special is only good Sunday through Wednesday. We will be there on Sunday, December 11th, and they said we can begin using the facilities as soon as we get there and check in, even though rooms aren't ready until 3:00 p.m. You book directly with the Atlantis Hotel, and the number is 1-877-275-2921, rate code TZNV.

 

Hello Kelj,

 

I'm slow so bear with me. You said $99 per night. How much would it be for the wife and I?

 

Glen

[KelJ]

Hello Kelj,

 

I'm slow so bear with me. You said $99 per night. How much would it be for the wife and I?

 

Glen

 

Glen,

For just the two of you, you would pay the $99 plus tax, so the total for the two of you would be like $127 (I think that's what the reservationist told me before I told her the ages of my kids). The $99 covers two people. We had to pay extra because taking my 13-year-old son was like adding a third adult. I think you pay for 12 years old and up.

[KelJ]

Glen, just giving this a bump. I answered you, but it didn't move up on the thread. Kelly

[cruz1234]

Please answer something for me:confused: .

 

On the 4 day Sovereign does the ship stay in Nassau for 2 full days and leave 1AM Friday morning and arrive at Port Canaveral at 9 AM? The website says Thursday and 1AM Thursday would mean a day at sea?????????

 

No you are not in Nassau for 2 full days. You arrive Wed. am and leave out shortly after midnight. By 11:30 all passengers were on the ship so we pulled out a little early. But normally they figure around 1 am. Then you spend all day Thursday at sea.

[clc41297]

Thanks for the response!!!:D

[skiiergirl]

No you are not in Nassau for 2 full days. You arrive Wed. am and leave out shortly after midnight. By 11:30 all passengers were on the ship so we pulled out a little early. But normally they figure around 1 am. Then you spend all day Thursday at sea.

 

Thanks. I was wondering that same thing. Website didn't make it too clear. (At least for me. LOL)

[babycatcher]

It was my first cruise and I loved it! Getting on was easy- no long lines at all. We enjoyed the shows and also the comedians too. I agree about the smoking, I was astonished to hear they allowed smoking in the cabins. It was really bad to walk through the casino or Schooners to get to Follies and fight all the smoke.

Coco Cay was all I expected and more- so many thanks for all the tips from this board. I have one to add- if you wear prescption glasses and are blind without them- they have prescription goggles available for snorkling. I had not seen this tip and I know many others would like to know about it. Nassau did not have them- only Coco Cay. What a difference it made. We loved the snorkling and we also went down the beach further as was suggested and had NO trouble finding lounge chairs and hammocks. We even got to witness a wedding at the waters edge. However being further away from the crowd made it harder for the photographer to find us for pictures, so we had no pictures on Coco Cay- somehow we missed the photographer when we first got there.

We had an inside cabin but was upgraded from 2nd deck to 6th deck which was easier for getting to the upper floors as the lifts were almost always busy and we took the stairs a lot. We remembered to take an extension cord and a clock and a night light -air freshner combo.

Food was excellent- we had the late time. We ate nearly all our breakfasts in Windjammer until one of our table mates said it was nicer to eat in Illusions. We did that and the food was much better as well as being served to you. Next cruise we will eat all breakfasts in Illusions.

I was supposed to have a 12:15 flight out of Orlando to Cleve. so we got the first luggage call- It went very fast and we were out of there and on the road in no time. However it was at the airport that my nightmare began... I discovered that my TA got me a reservation but I did not have a ticket. By the time several phone calls were made between my TA and the airline my reservation was gone. They ended up putting me on NorthWest Airlines to Detroit. I never met such RUDE people both in Orlando and in Detroit. I will NEVER take NWA again. I had to find a small Continental gate in Detroit in order to pick up a commuter plane to Cleve. Well Detroit is a Northwest hub and the Continental gates are few and far between. I kept going up to different gates and asking them to help me find where I was supposed to go- you see I had a paper ticket but not a boarding pass and so I had no idea what gate to go to. I finally got a security officer to help me and they actually reopened the door on a plane to get me on. I finally got to Cleve. at 6PM.

Moral of the story is- I will book my own flights from now on no matter what kind of good deal the TA can offer.

Over all I loved the ship and the trip!

[glentally]

Thanks to both of you for the reviews. I have 20 days to go!

 

What was your favorite bar? Did they have karokee?

 

Glen

[dawnrae]

What time did you arrive at the port for embarkation? Trying to find out the earliest we will be able to board.

 

Thanks

Dawnrae

[smokester]

Mobydog, when you booked Comfort Suites, did they give you some kind of pass for Atlantis? Was it only for the number of people in your group or could you use if for any number? Thank you!

[jstazy]

glentally...are you going on the Dec 5th cruise?

 

babycatcher....did you have an assigned room number and they moved you?

 

Does anyone know info on the ability to upgrade cabins at the pier??

[babycatcher]

We were assigned a cabin number and when we got there to sign in we were informed we had been upgraded- don't know how or why.

We liked Boleros the best. The dueling pianos were great. They had karaoke too and also battle of the sexes game. All the bars allowed smoking.

[cruz1234]

Mobydog, when you booked Comfort Suites, did they give you some kind of pass for Atlantis? Was it only for the number of people in your group or could you use if for any number? Thank you!

 

Smokester..we booked Comfort suites, they gave us 2 passes and each was good for 2 people. We had booked for 4 people in our room. That is the max they will give you for each room. We had to show those passes

when we went to go out to the pool area at Atlantis. Once we got down by the pool we went to the towel stand where they look at your passes and give you each an armband. Without the armband you cannot go on the slides, in pools etc... They also gave us towels so don't lug yours all the way there from the ship..

[glentally]

glentally...are you going on the Dec 5th cruise?

 

babycatcher....did you have an assigned room number and they moved you?

 

Does anyone know info on the ability to upgrade cabins at the pier??

 

Yes, why are you?

 

Glen

[jstazy]

Yes we are leaving on the same cruise you will be on. We have a "roll call" post if you are interested. We had all discussed meeting by the pool bar after the muster drill.....

[smokester]

Thank you . We will be traveling on May8th. Just looking at our options.