Back from 1st cruise on Sovereign (review)

[melissa6675]

Hi all! My husband and I got back from our trip on Sovereign on Friday, and I have to say it exceeded all of our expectations! We both agree it was the most perfect vacation ever, and we plan to cruise again as soon as possible!

 

We stayed at the Radisson the night before and were pleased with the accommodations. People have mentioned the Radisson being run down, but I did not see that. I noticed dings in the hallways, but our room (whirlpool suite) was spotless with no evidence of being run down anywhere. The pool area was beautiful! We drove up and down Cocoa Beach looking for a place to eat, and ended up eating in the hotel's restaurant, Flamingos, and the food was excellent. I had the steak, and it was in the top 5 I have ever had, and I'm picky about steak.

 

Shuttle at 11:30 to the Port was flawless. There was a large crowd, but RCCL had everyone moving swiftly and we were onboard at 12:00. Our cabin (outside, #3602) was ready. SMALL is the only way to describe it, but very well laid out, clean and in good repair. We felt absolutely no claustrophobia. Our cabin steward, whose name escapes me, was polite and efficient and left us towel animals each night. I had not told Scott about the animals and it was fun to see his face each time a new one showed up. Our cabin was always clean. It think the steward was always waiting just around the corner for us to leave so he could run in and clean up. One morning one of the fluorescent bulbs above the vanity started to flicker annoyingly. We left it on when we left for breakfast, and lo and behold it was fixed before lunch. Our steward was great, as were all the employees. I never met one that was rude or unhelpful the entire time.

 

The food in the dining room was fantastic every night. Several nights we all ordered more than one entree and without a second thought our waiter, Mehmed, had them to us. The first night I asked for lemon for my water, and each night after that the lemon was served without me asking. We enjoyed the waiters singing on Venetian night. My husband's birthday was celebrated on the second day, and our Head Waiter, Peter, our waiter and asst. waiter and several others, sang to him and presented him with Tiramisu. Peter deserves a special mention. He was wonderful, very helpful and full of interesting conversation. Formal night dress was mostly followed, although I did notice one couple at a table next to us never took off the jeans and t-shirts. I did not see that appear to ruin anyone's good time. The Windjammer for breakfast and lunch was good too.

 

CocoCay was the most beautiful place I have ever been. We originally started out near the snorkel beach but ended up walking the entire island by ourselves. The water is bluer away from the snorkel area. I highly recommend walking to the right past the Aqua park. We took pictures of the wild chickens and had a great time speculating about previous inhabitants.

 

Nassau...we set off on our own, and I was not impressed, terribly. We are old architecture freaks, and were looking for interesting buildings to look at, but mostly found run down shacks. I'm sure we could've taken a tour and seen more, but alas, we did not. Found the Anglican church, which was beautiful. Went to Fort Fincastle and walked around Bay Street. The straw market is like running a gauntlet, but we had fun purchasing our souvenirs. Good prices. Had a drink at Senor Frogs, then back to the ship to clean up and head to Atlantis for gambling. Atlantis is over-the-top fantastic and we are going to try to take a land-based vacation there as soon as we pay off the house!!

 

By the way. Scott bought some rum in Nassau and we walked right onto the ship with it. After going through the x-ray area, I noticed a lot of the yellow and white boxes of liquor set off to the side. It seems that if you are buying several bottles and they are put into the boxes, security will hold them for you til the end, but if you buy maybe just one bottle, put it in your backpack/shopping bag and you'll get it through. I'm not advocating anything, I'm just saying.

 

The sea day was a nice, relaxing break. The weather was beautiful and the captain seemed to be moving very slowly through the water, so it wasn't windy at all. I saw evidence of CHAIR HOGS everywhere on the pool deck. That is so unfortunate. We were up top and there were plenty of chairs in both sun and shade.

 

We saw a few of the shows and watched "The Quest" which was hilarious. If you are shipping out on Sovereign soon, do not miss the juggling show..it's fantastic!! If you have kids with you they will be sitting in their seats with their mouths hanging open, trust me. It's great!

 

The public areas of the ship are lovely. Having never been on a cruise before, much less any of the newer larger ships, I thought everything looked beautiful and elegant. A string/piano trio played each night in the Centrum and you could hear the music if you were anywhere near the area. I had to laugh, though, as I had watched Titanic as a lark before we went, and many of the pieces they played were also on that movie. Felt a little foreshadowing going on.

 

Spent a lot of time in the casino. Slots are tight, as I expected them to be with no competition. We played blackjack each night (we are avid players) and managed to take more than $2000 in profit home. Hooray! Casino employees are very friendly and happy to help those that don't know how to play particular games.

 

There were several handfuls of kids on the ship with us and without exception they were well-behaved. The teenagers were polite and respectful of others. Kudos to the parents on the ship! They are doing a great job raising their children. We have four and will take them next time, and I expect them to behave as well the the children we saw this time.

 

A word about smoking, since I have seen it mentioned on the boards several times. I am a smoker and try to be considerate of non-smokers. I did not see evidence anywhere of smokers not observing the rules about where to smoke. The non-smoking side of the ship stayed just that - non-smoking. The casino was very well ventilated and they had a non-smoking section of slots and several non-smoking tables. The smokers were actually more considerate than the joggers. There are sandwich board signs asking that joggers refrain until 10:00 a.m., yet there they were pounding away at 7:00 on deck 7, even with the signs right in their faces.

 

Our drinks and miscellaneous tab came to a whopping $600. Most of it was from my recent discovery of Mango Tangos, CocoLocos and Miami Vices, which they were selling to me every time I raised my hand (often). Of course each time I was served in a souvenir glass (not plastic) at 9.00 a pop. On my last day I realized that it seemed I had a complete service for 24 (ha!), so I asked them to just bring regular glasses. They did with no problems.

 

Disembarkation was pretty good. We were off by 10:15 and on our way home by 10:45. Customs was a breeze, no one ever asked to see any of my bags.

 

All in all, it was perfect. We had the best time of our lives and every vacation we have from now on will be measured against this cruise. Thanks to RCCL for making us feel so special!

 

Days til our very first cruise! SOS to Bahamas

 

[joycepaula]

Thank you so much for the wonderful review. I am going May 21 for a 3-night cruise on SOS, and found your information so helpful and encouraging. This will be my first cruise.

Joyce S.

[Family of 14]

What a great review! I normally don't read reviews of ships that I have never cruised on and don't plan to, but your title "1st cruise" caught my eye and I wanted to see how you liked it.

 

 

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>"The smokers were actually more considerate than the joggers. There are sandwich board signs asking that joggers refrain until 10:00 a.m., yet there they were pounding away at 7:00 on deck 7, even with the signs right in their faces." <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I am not a jogger, but just curious as to why joggers are asked to refrain from running until 10:00 am? Most joggers I know either get out really early or late evening. One of the things that bugs me about RCCL's newer ships is the jogging track around the lounging areas. Nothing worse than trying to relax and have a jogger come pounding by. Or having a jogger come run up on your heals as you are trying to take a stroll around the top deck. Once, a jogger just about knocked my 75 year old father over! Plus, you have to leave your lounge chair tucked in tight as to not get in the way of the jogger trail. I would prefer RCCL limit jogging time to between 6:00 am and 9:00 am myself.

 

<MARQUEE>Are you sailing on the Mariner 7/18/04?...Click here!

or HERE!

 

</MARQUEE>

 

Disney Wonder 3/2000 ~ Disney Magic 9/2000 ~ RCI Vision 2/2001 ~ Carnival Victory 12/2001 ~ Celebrity Millennium 3/2003 ~ RCI Adventure OTS 9/2003 ~ RCI Mariner OTS 7/18/2004 ~ RCI Serenade OTS 9/26/2004

[aqusis]

On the Sovereign the jogging track is on deck 7 with passenger cabins directly below on deck 6. It is very noisy once they start jogging and disturbs those in the cabins on deck 6. I have to agree with OP, in that despite signs it was blatently disregarded by passengers and not enforced by crew on this ship.

 

Mariner of the Seas

 

 

 

[sl0905]

We were on the Sovereign last June and we actually had a cabin on deck 7. Alot of people avoid this because of the promenade right outside your window. We actually liked this deck because we were only a few doors away from walking outside on the deck. People don't stare inside your cabin, and you can close the curtains. The only noise we heard anytime was the joggers early in the morning thumping by, starting around 7. I think that is why they want them to wait. Not everyone is up at the crack of dawn on vacation!!

[jennifer29]

i just got my docs on frid for our cruise may 31st.. do they have the chocalate buffet on the sovereigns.

 

cant wait to go ..

 

Jenn

[jennifer29]

also any suggestions on shopping at the straw market. i have lots of sov. to bring back..

[Family of 14]

aqusis and sl0905 - I can see why this would bother some people. Since we are early risers, the only aspect of being on deck 7 that would bother me would be having my window on the Promenade. Whether passengers take a peek or not, I would feel that I never had any privacy! What's the use of paying for a window when you can't leave the curtain opened? I guess that's why we book balconies.

 

I can also see where it would be annoying for joggers to have to wait until after 10:00 to jog. My suggestion to that would be...your on vacation for heavens sake...forget the excercise for a week. They could always walk and make much less noise.

 

As for peekers, we did peek in a stateroom one evening while on a Disney cruise (or was it Carnival ). The curtains were wide open on one of the forward decks!

 

<MARQUEE>Are you sailing on the Mariner 7/18/04?...Click here!

or HERE!

 

</MARQUEE>

 

Disney Wonder 3/2000 ~ Disney Magic 9/2000 ~ RCI Vision 2/2001 ~ Carnival Victory 12/2001 ~ Celebrity Millennium 3/2003 ~ RCI Adventure OTS 9/2003 ~ RCI Mariner OTS 7/18/2004 ~ RCI Serenade OTS 9/26/2004

[melissa6675]

Hi, to answer several questions, yes the Sovereign does have a midnight chocolate buffet, but we did not go. We had late seating for dinner and since the food was so fantastic we never felt hungry until the next morning. From what I could tell, the line for the buffet starts about 11:00 p.m., but that is for picture taking only. No "open buffet" until after 12:00.

 

They also had wandering waiters with canapes going through the casino and the lounges most every night.

 

The straw market can look a bit intimidating at first, since there are so many stalls. You'll find t-shirts, mugs, towels, straw purses and hats, ball caps, jewelry and lots of carved wooden items. The most interesting items we saw were carved wooden smoking materials (not for cigarettes or pipe tobacco, if you get my drift). Most all of the stalls sold t-shirts at 4 for $10, but beware, these are the flimsier t-shirts that are 100% cotton and will shrink like Enron's pension plan if put into a warm wash. Besides that you will find a wide variety of inexpensive souvenirs. We bought for about 12 people and spent around $60.00 total.

 

Deck 7 is directly over cabins, which is why they ask joggers to refrain in the a.m. We were on deck 3, so they weren't affecting us, but I was bothered by the entitlement attitude of the joggers. As far as people possibly peeking in the windows - never. I saw many people out at 6:30 a.m. with coffee enjoying the view. As a rule they kept conversation very quiet so as not to disturb others, and it was very peaceful.

 

One other word I forgot. Sovereign takes the muster drill seriously. Don't try to skip it. They will find you.

 

Days til our very first cruise! SOS to Bahamas

 

[iluvcruzin]

Thank you for posting your review. I'm printing it off to share with my Son & his bride-2-be. I booked them a 4-night cruise on this ship for their honeymoon in December. Glad to hear such positive reviews.

 

Maureen

 

Princess Sun 2/27/2005

Mariner of the Seas 10/16/2005

 

8 cruises to date.

[SForman]

Great review. Thank you

 

Sovereign of the Seas

 

 

Adventure of the Seas

 

[justcruzin85374]

Great review, your 1st cruise expereince sounds like it perfect! Glad you enjoyed it, have you started planning your next cruise with your children? They'll never want a land vacation again

Thanks for posting.

 

Soveriegn 92 E. Caribbean

Majesty 95 W. Caribbean

Granduer 97 E. Caribbean

Rhapsody 00 Mexico

Vision 02 Alaska

Radiance 03 Panama Canal

Brilliance 3/29/04

 

 

 

Radiance of the Seas/Panama Canal 10/18/2003

Are we there yet?

 

My bags are always packed!

Brilliance 3/29/2004

[caribbeancats]

Thanks for the review. We are planning a Sovereign cruise in July to help us make it to January for our Mariner cruise. We sailed Sovereign in '99 & loved it.

 

'til Mariner of the Seas

[TBRay]

You've reminded me of why the Sovereign of the Seas remains one of my favorite cruise ships. Besides the crew being one of the friendliest in the fleet, there are so many of the 'little things' (that you pointed out so well in your review) that keeps people coming back.

 

I still love the 7-day cruises but for those short get-aways the SOS is our ticket everytime.

 

GREAT JOB!

[ruskatab]

Glad to hear you had a great time. I go in October on the Sovereign and cant wait.

[HB Cruiser]

Jennifer29

 

We will be on the SovOS on May 31st with you.

 

Will be with my wife, my mother, and my wife's father. It will be #5 for us but the first for my mother and my father in law. Cannot wait!!!

 

We have been on Voyager and Enchantment as well and our favorite is still the Sovereign. In its own little way it is the greatest ship out there!

 

Tim

[lrcno]

Thanks for the review. I'll be on the Sovereign for my first cruise May 24th.

 

until 5/24/04 Sovereign of the Seas

 

[melissa6675]

Thanks for the kind words about my review.

 

Just to let you know, I've been off the ship since Friday, so five days, right? Today I booked and deposited on the Sovereign for December 24th for my family of 6, my mother and her husband, my sister and her family of four, and my sister-in-law and her family of four.

 

16 of us hitting the ocean on Christmas Eve! Need a new countdown clock!

 

Days til our very first cruise! SOS to Bahamas

 

[jennifer29]

HB CRUISER,

 

this is our first cruise im going with my mom and younger sister. we booked a room at the radisson the nite before..

were on deck 2.not sure if wer gonna like it but we figured we only needed a room to sleep and shower. or rather nap lol. i just cant wait to be on vacation..

 

Jenn

[w&k]

Only 5 days till our Sovereign voyage!

 

What was the water temp like in Cococay?

 

Thanks for the great review!

 

Wendy

RCCL Sovereign May 10, 2004

[Lemanja']

I had so much fun on the Sovereign that I changed my cruisecritic name after my review!

 

Lemanja'

 

"Oh, when my baby, when my baby smiles at me I go to Rio...de Janeiro!"

[kc320]

w&k, we just got back from the Sovereign on Monday. Water temp at Coco Cay was still a little cool for THIS Fl. Gal. It was pretty windy then to so that made it feel cooler. Once you got in & got used to the water it wasn't tooo bad.

melissa6675, great review, you have now been offically bitten by the Sovereign bug. As you see there is no cure, relief can only be obtained by booking another cruiseon her.

 

 

Halloween on the Serenade

[burnsie]

Thanks for the great review. I can't wait to be on her again in Sept. I have been on the fence as to wether or not I should book the Raddison for the night before the cruise. We live on the other coast so it is not a long drive to the port. But, being spoiled I think I will do it anyway. I'll tell hubby it's for our Anniversary. I am jealous I would love to go on a Christmas cruise.

 

Soveriegn of the Seas 02

Monarch of the Seas 03

Soveriegn of the Seas 03

Soveriegn of the Seas 04

[Sirknight]

Melissa--Great review!

Burnsie--When in September are you going? I'm taking the family to celebrate DW's 50th & DD's 18th birthdays on the 27th--Can't wait!

 

-Chris

Sovereign 10/03

Until our 9/27/04 Sovereign Cruise

[mbisson]

Nice way to start cruising, isn't it? Now you're hooked and there is nothing that can cure this new disease you have.

 

It might've been your first cruise, but your experience pretty much mirrors ours on the Sovereign back in August, and we've been on several cruises. Welcome to the Club.

 

-Monte

 

some of my cruising photos:

http://community.webshots.com/user/m1bisson

A bad day cruising is better than a good day at work.

 

The worst cruise I ever took was pretty damned good.

 

Platinum with RCI, a couple cruises with NCL and 1 with CCL

 

Clock remove but cruise in Dec