My Sovereign of the Seas mini review and my views on RCCL vs Carnival

[GinaDucey]

Well just back from the Sovereign of the Seas April 30th 3 day cruise. I have posted a full review on the review part of the board so please feel free to go there and read the entire thing.

Basically I really enjoyed my cruise - but then again it is going to take a lot for me not to enjoy a cruise. The ship is older - but I did find it elegant. I understand it is scheduled for a refurb soon. We were in a Suite and it was nice and roomy. Did not do anything in Nassau as our TA arranged for us to have a VIP day at Breezes Resort. It was a blast and I am sure we will go to Breezes as an actual destination. Coco Cay was a blast and had a heck of a time on the wave runner tour.

Now here are my observations on the two cruise lines. Please keep in mind I had a wonderful cruise and cannot find anything wrong with my trip - these are just observations only.

Well first of all Carnival has the casual dining over Royal - I did not really care for the variety and I feel like since there was a huge variety of food being offered that maybe quality has been sacrificed. However the dinners in the actual dining room were wonderful. Very nice presentation and the steaks that I had every single night were very good! The midnight buffet food was also very good. Only ate lunch on the ship one day and it was ok.

The entertainment was good. They had a guy by the name of Mike Price there and if anyone ever gets the opportunity to see him - do. He is a juggler and he has a wonderful show and has a darn good comedy routine as well. The main show I did not care for - it was a broadway review. The dancers were very good and so were the costumes - but I just did not care for the actual selection of broadway hits for the show.

Now here are my observations on RCCL vs Carnival. Well everyone I talked with were very nice and normal individuals. No snobs or anything like that. The teens that were on the ship were very well behaved and very respectful. I saw every mix of age getting drunk and having a good time. They were not sloppy drunk or falling down every where - put they were really happy!

The ship is older and you can tell that when it was first launched it was first class all the way and I thought it was rather elegant. The decor is typical 80's and was very lavish for the time. I also liked that the pool deck has a wadding pool type area on the outter edge of the main pool and there are 2 pools there with the hottubs in the center. Plenty of lounge chairs - I did not see any chair hogging but then again there was not a day at sea for many to stay up on deck. I also liked that there is a type of soft carpeting on the deck. Everything is central on this RCCL ship and that took a while to get used to and I am not sure if I liked it or not. The casino had a nice layout and was easy to get around it. the main theatre/lounge had three levels and every seat was good and they have a more "vegas" feel for the seating. The casual Windjammer is two levels and it is nice that you can go upstairs and eat in a bit more peaceful area.

Now compared to Carnival. I think overall all the food and food venues offered on Carnival are better (not counting ones that are offered for a small fee) - I really think I like the overall layout of the Carnival ships better. There is more room for evening hours parties on the Lido on Carnival. I really like the back deck of the Carnival ships much better and the fact that when you go to the front of the ship to look around - you can go to the front of the ship. On RCCL you really cannot get as far front on their ships. However the back of the ship is kinda cool with lots of little stairways to get around - but do not like it better.

The suite was really nice and RCCL gave us tons of hangers for our clothes. We also had three large mirror door closets. Our bathroom was huge and did have a tub. SO over all I like the bathroom better but our suite was very noisy and since it was right under the Windjammer we can hear the kitchen crew working until all hours of the wee morning. I do not like that RCCL has so many selections of room sizes - in the bottom floors I can see where people may feel like sardines (sp?). I love that Carnival offers for the most part one size room.

I had some issues with the RCCL reservationist and was made promises that were not true - this however did not spoil my cruise. But I can say it did leave a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. I was promised many perks with my suite and not one was true.

And I am not really sure why everyone keeps bashing Carnival that is a loyal Royal cruiser. I met some people who are Platnium level and they were not even getting their perks like they were told they would. Customer service is not really that great and that is what would keep me from making Royal really up on my list for a next cruise. The folks that I saw were no different than Carnival cruisers in mannors, dress, verbal skills, dining room mannors etc.... I have a feeling that if most Carnival cruisers were polled and their vacation budgets were truly revealed - I bet more than anyone would believe could afford Celebrity and better - but we all just have far more fun on Carnival.

Oh and by the way - you only have to pay for juice if you get juice from the bar. I cannot comment on Johnny Rockets as the Sovereign does not have that and everything else is well just like Carnival - but the presentation makes all the difference and I vote Carnival.

I hope I have not offended anyone - and I am not bashing - just sharing my views. I would sail RCCL again - but only if price were right and I would not get anything smaller than a Jr. Suite - and that is just a cabin size issue. Everything else I can really just go with the flow and make my own brand of fun!!!

Please feel free to ask me any questions.

Carnival
Fantasy 11/91, Ecstasy 1/98, Fascination 11/99, Paradise 2/00, Imagination 4/02, Ecstasy 5/03, Paradise 10/03

Royal Caribbean
Sovereign of the Seas 4/04

<MARQUEE>Hey - when's my next cruise?</MARQUEE>

[judyf]

Thanks for the post. I will be on RCCL for the first time and enjoyed reading your review.

Judy
RCCL Voyager 5/21-5/30/04
CCL Inspiration 4/4-4/11/04
NCL Sea 4/14-4/27/03
DCL Wonder 5/16-5/19/02
DCL Wonder 5/3-5/8/01
CCL Fantasy 2/15-2/18/01

[hilltopfamily]

nicely worded & detailed comparison of the 2 lines. And I think you did a great job of comparing the "types" of persons you saw on board. thanks for sharing.

Penny
Disney Magic~~Eastern 7/03
Carnival Celebration~~Western 3/04
Aug 1, 2004 Carnival Elation--Yippee, Our 3rd Cruise!!!
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[dsclark]

AH, the Soveriegn...
I was on her when she was just a few months old, 4/89. The waiter had our favorite drinks waiting for us at each meal, appetizers always included shrimp or crab cocktail, with occasional caviar thrown in.Jerry Van Dyke was the entertainer..

[cruzn buckeye]

Great review!

Wow, I love Jerry Van Dyke!

Breezes VIP day...How can you plan that on your own?
Sounds like fun!

[halos]

Nicely worded, refreshing review.
Thanks!!

I believe in Miracles
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MIRACLE JUNE 19, 2004
Calm Seas, Good Friends

[dvcmember]

I sailed on Disney in 2002 and it was an awesful experience. The food was poor as well as the crew friendliness and entertainment. I am booked on the Fantasy in December and excited to see what see looks like after the remodel in Fall 2003. We want to have non-stop action and fun. I think Carnival is the best choice. We were considering Soverign of the Seas, but it was too much and teh cabins are a lot smaller.

[footballmom]

Since we've never cruised yet, I have been reading this board like crazy trying to learn what to expect (as much as possible.) Best I can tell, reviews on the same ship and cruise date can vary drastically. Personal preferences and expectations and weather seem to be the key to a great review or a horrible one. IMHO, any time you take a vacation, you run the risk of something "going wrong." You either roll with it, or not. I don't understand the bashing that goes on. If you don't like something that happened, don't put yourself in that particular situation again, and chalk it up to experience. Please excuse the "philosphizing"............We're really looking forward to our first cruise, and I'm going to enjoy it if it kills me!! If DH doesn't have a good time, I'll simply throw him overboard!! Cruise on!!

Can't wait to sail on the Conquest 11/14
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[momofmeg]

One thing to keep in mind Sovereign came out in 1988-so it is not fair to compare RCCL by her. I was on her in 1999-loved her and again in 2001. I saw major wear in just those 2 yearsand found that cruise was not near as nice.

I myself have learned it is the SHIP not the line. I recently cruised Miracle-four months earlier I cruised Inspiration. Inspiration was a nice ship and good cruise but Miracle was like 10 times better. Until cruising Miracle my favorite and nicest cruise was on Pacific Princess. I had found my one Princess cruise tons better then my RCCL and Carnival cruises until I cruised Miracle.

Now I want to try a Voyager class ship. We are looking at ittenaries for Voyager-Canada-New England and Mariner eastern carribean-we will do one or the other.

Now it is true on RCCL the staff especially the cruise director likes to make little digs about Carnival. I don't like that and I feel if you have a much better product why do you feel it is necessary to knock your competition. anyway as I have cruised Carnival I know it is untrue. I think in the long run that is going to backfire on RCCL. Most of us don't like to be told this and that but want to find out for ourselves. I wonder how many have actually cruised Carnival just see if RCCL's little digs are true.

Carnival Tropicale 10/15/98 Western Caribbean
RCCL Sovereign of the Seas 11/22/99 Bahamas
Carnival Fascination 09/23/00 Southern caribbean
HAL Statendam 05/20/01 Alaska
RCCL Sovereign of the Seas 11/08/01 Bahamas
Pacific Princess 09/29/02 Bermuda
Carnival Inspiration 12/14/03 Western caribbean
Carnival Miracle 04/09/04 Bahamas

[ruttie]

Nice review ,, I think yu have found out what most of us who cruise both lines have... its just apples to aplles in comparisons somethings are better on one some one the other and for me it is really only a matter of price and itenerary that drives me now.