GinaDucey
May 4th, 2004, 04:23 PM
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>
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>