Just back from Sovereign 5/27 - 5/30

Just got back last night from the Sovereign 3 day last evening and thought I would share a few thoughts.

Note, I have been on the Explorer twice and the Brilliance (Panama) once so I was interested to see how the Sovereign would compare. I have to admit, I was a little nervous since I had read negative comments about the food, ship condition and sewer smell.

Our cruise left on Friday, and we flew down Thursday afternoon into Orlando. We rented a car and stayed at the Radisson at the Port. My mom had just stayed there a few weeks ago prior to her cruise, and she was not pleased at all with the quality of her room. However, we had a party of 3 and booked the 2 room suite package and couldn't be more pleased with the quality of the room and the hotel in general. It looked like the room was brand new.

The hotel was extremely empty, and the staff there said it was the lowest time of the year (which seemed odd, but..?). We had a nice dinner at the restaurant at the hotel. We decided we wanted to take our own taxi instead of the free shuttle, and we had them pick us up at the convention center entrance of the hotel at 10:30 AM and arrived quickly at the ship.

We were in 1510, an owner's suite, so we were able to go to the priority checkin line. After checkin, we had to wait a few minutes until they began admitting people onto the ship. Soon we were onboard!

I have to say all worries that I had about the ship were quickly dispersed. The ship is in absolutely beautiful shape - everywhere. I *never* encountered a sewer smell. Our suite was gorgeous and spacious. We were directly behind the captain's extended bridge. Interestingly, instead of the captain's bridge being glass enclosed like on the other ships we had been on, the extended area was an open deck with a large control panel on it. Other than 1 time, we never saw anyone out on this bridge, though.

The deck was plenty big and I noticed that the glass on the deck stayed clean (on other cruises, we noticed that our deck glass was always cloudy due to ocean spray, etc). Our room steward, Clifford was attentive and helpful at all times.

We had been told that our third person would be in a pullman bed (ceiling?) but instead the couch folded out into a bed (which was what we were hoping for).

We found the food delicious. Our waiter, Katarina from Slovakia, was just wonderful. We ate in the dining room each night.

We were the first Bingo winners on the ship, winning $105! The slots were not so kind to us, however!

We have been to Atlantis many times, so we just took the water taxi to Atlantis and shopped.

CoCo Cay was more wonderful than we could have hoped for! What a great place! It was nice that everyone could spread out -- you never felt crowded there. The weather was sunny and hot and we just relaxed on the beach (had one Coco Loco, but it was too fruity for our taste, but we wanted the fun plastic glasses with straws).

Also, I used the computer center for Internet access for work purposes, and I was really surprised at how quick the access was. Having used the room systems on both the Explorer and the Brilliance, as well as their computer rooms, I really was impressed and pleased with the speed of access. It made my tasks go quickly.

We attended the show the first night only. It was a comedian, who was funny, but not hilariously funny. We were second seating and the show was before dinner the first night, at 11 PM for all the second night, and I think before dinner the last night. Formal night was the second night (while in Nassau).

We did find it odd that there appeared to be no Concierge lounge nor Concierge service on this ship. We are platinum Crown & Anchor members so we assumed that we would have been invited to use this facility. We were invited to a Crown & Anchor party, which we did not attend. No big deal, as we really don't use Concierge services that much anyway, but it was just an observation.

On Sunday afternoon after returning from CoCo Cay, as the ship took off, we went up to Johnny Rocket's for a snack. The sky began to cloud up and started raining, with thunder and lightning. The captain immediately came on the speakers and explained that we were going to drive through a small storm, and that we should reach clear and sunny skies in about 15 minutes, with nothing to worry about. As soon as he stopped talking, it REALLY began to pour hard and the wind began to blow - HARD! About 20 deck chairs that were on the forward deck above Johhny Rockets (12) started blowing like they were toothpicks and flew about 20 - 30 feet and amassed on top of each other. It appeared that at least 2 or 3 of these chairs flew over the side of that deck and fell down at least 1 or 2 decks. As we got up and said

"We'd better get to our room!", it was kind of surreal. Once we got to our room, the boat started sounding the Fog Horn about every 20 seconds. I jokingly/worriedly said, "Oh now what, can't other boats see us or something?!" Within a minute the captain came on an cheerily said to again not worry, that we were sounding the Fog Horn because small vessels could not see us in the fogged up storm condition, but that we would be into the clear in about 7 minutes. Water was coming down onto our deck in buckets. But, within a few minutes, things did clear up and all was sunny and fine again.

Also, other than that quick incident, this was the absolute smoothest sailing cruise I have been on.

One afternoon in the Schooner bar we were laughing really loudly. This was when we were in Nassau and the ship was very empty. A uniformed gentleman came up to us and started laughing with us about how hard we were laughing. I read his nametag and it was the captain! He stayed and joked with us for a few minutes and he really was a funny guy! He even sent us a round of drinks with his compliments.

That about sums up the high points that I thought were worth mentioning.

We loved the Sovereign and would sail on her again without hesitation.

Any questions, just ask!

Oh, I forgot to mention today I discovered that some of my costume jewelery was stolen from my luggage in transit from Orlanda to home. A large faux diamond ring, and my two 'jewelry by the inch' chains from a previous cruise (can you believe it -- darn it!). The stupid theives left the real gold. I am investigating how to report this via TSA, etc...?

Also, for anyone interested in the Internet options on the Sovereign, you can either use their computers and pay by the minute, or prepay for packages of minutes. They also have WIFI access for laptops in the following areas: Viking Crown, outside Windjammer, Voltage, Conference Center, Boleros, Schooner bar. To use this, you first use one of their computers to setup an account by swiping your room card. Then, ongoing from your laptop, you login to their system using the account that you setup. I had my laptop with me, but since their computers were so quick I never ended up using my own laptop.

I,too have been on the SOS and enjoy it lots................glad you did too........

We did find it odd that there appeared to be no Concierge lounge nor Concierge service on this ship

Thanks for the review. Glad you enjoyed the cruise.

How did you become Platinum members after just three cruises ?

We have been on the Explorer more than one time so this was not our third cruise. Also, I believe you get double credit for suites on cruises over a certain number of days.

Thanks for sharing your cruise review. Sounds like you had a great trip. The storm would have freaked me out with chairs flying around. Amazing how the captain can steer away from them so quickly.

Thanks for sharing your memories of a wonderful experience on the Sovereign. She was the first cruise ship I ever sailed on ... and it was only her fourth cruise (Feb. 1988). She was sparkling new ... and clearly one of the most incredible experiences I had ever had up to that time.

I will always have special memories of that trip ... and there's always a little pang of regret when I read of someone having a negative experience on her.

I'm glad yours was so positive.

Glad that you enjoyed the Sovereign. I was on this ship a few weeks back and had a great time. I too would not hesitate to go again and will.

Sorry,

I thought you said Explorer twice and Brilliance once in your original post.

Yes, that is correct, if it is imperative to the conversation that I provide my exact cruising history.

I have been on the Explorer twice, the Brilliance once, and the Sovereign once, making this my fourth cruise. We turned Platinum on this cruise. We have been in suites on all of the above noted cruises.

I believe that is consistent with what I have posted in all of my above messages.

Thanks

Thanks for the great review. We are sailing on the Sovereign in June and I am so excited. I love to read reviews!!!!

I think if the captain sent us a round of drinks, I would faint. But I guess that's because I am a newbie.

How much does it cost for the WiFi connection? Do you know if you have to do anything special to your laptop (settings, etc.) or does that get explained when you set up your account?

I am sorry about your Jewelry getting stolen. At least it was the fake stuff and not the real gold. But, I know that is easy for me to say.

Maggie

Thanks for the great review. I am sailing on her June 10th and had the same concerns as you. I am glad it was great, since I am taking a friend who has never cruised before. We have a Jr Suite, and I am Diamond. Disappointed that there is no concierge room. I went on Majastey of the Seas when she was new, for my honeymoon and as far as I am concerned, it was the best cruise ever ( maybe because I was so happy?). Anyway I hope she gets refurbed soon so I can try her again.

A couple of questions; since I have been sailing on the larger ships I can't remember, is there a lot of movement on the smaller ones? Should I have my friend take Bonine everyday? I know I will, because I got sea sick on the last two trips,,, never was sea sick in my life before that. Once on the dive boat and once on the first night out.

Are ther two dining rooms or only one? Is there a grand staircase in the Dining room?

Is the casino very big?

Thanks for the great review. We are sailing on the Sovereign in June and I am so excited. I love to read reviews!!!!

 

I think if the captain sent us a round of drinks, I would faint. But I guess that's because I am a newbie.

 

How much does it cost for the WiFi connection? Do you know if you have to do anything special to your laptop (settings, etc.) or does that get explained when you set up your account?

 

I am sorry about your Jewelry getting stolen. At least it was the fake stuff and not the real gold. But, I know that is easy for me to say.

 

Maggie

Hello

For WiFi, you will need an 802.11b compatible wireless card in your computer, or if you don't have one they will rent you one for $10/day or $50 for the whole cruise.

The cost for minutes is $.50 per minute, or, you can buy pre-paid packages of $25 for 60 minutes, $35 for 90 minutes, or $50 for 150 minutes. You choose whether you want to go by the minute or buy a package when you first setup your account on their physical computers.

I don't think you need any other special setup according to these instructions (I kept a copy of the brochure).

Hope that helps, have fun on your cruise!

Thanks for the great review. I am sailing on her June 10th and had the same concerns as you. I am glad it was great, since I am taking a friend who has never cruised before. We have a Jr Suite, and I am Diamond. Disappointed that there is no concierge room. I went on Majastey of the Seas when she was new, for my honeymoon and as far as I am concerned, it was the best cruise ever ( maybe because I was so happy?). Anyway I hope she gets refurbed soon so I can try her again.

A couple of questions; since I have been sailing on the larger ships I can't remember, is there a lot of movement on the smaller ones? Should I have my friend take Bonine everyday? I know I will, because I got sea sick on the last two trips,,, never was sea sick in my life before that. Once on the dive boat and once on the first night out.

Are ther two dining rooms or only one? Is there a grand staircase in the Dining room?

Is the casino very big?

Hello

I felt little to NO movement on the Sovereign. It was much smoother than my previous cruises on the Explorer and Brilliance! Of course, my mom was on the Sovereign about 3 weeks ago and she had some rough seas and a lot of movement.

There are two dining rooms on 3 and 4. However, there is no Grand Staircase connecting them.

The Casino seemed as big to me as the Casinos on the other ships.

Hope that helps, have a great cruise!

No it is not imperative to the conversation that I have your exact cruising history. Since you did mention your exact cruising history I was curious as to how you attained platinum status with the cruises you listed. You answered my question, thank you.

I am sorry I inadvertently touched on such a sensitive issue with you.

No it is not imperative to the conversation that I have your exact cruising history. Since you did mention your exact cruising history I was curious as to how you attained platinum status with the cruises you listed. You answered my question, thank you.

 

I am sorry I inadvertently touched on such a sensitive issue with you.

It's not a sensitive topic, I could really care less quite honestly. To clarify, since I stated in the first topic that I was on the Explorer twice and the Brilliance once, I thought that pretty much explained that it was not our third cruise.

Sorry if you read more into my response.

.

A couple of questions; since I have been sailing on the larger ships I can't remember, is there a lot of movement on the smaller ones? Should I have my friend take Bonine everyday? I know I will, because I got sea sick on the last two trips,,, never was sea sick in my life before that.

My husband is more sensitive to motion than I and honestly, neither of us needed it last week (we were on the May 23 sailing). The first and last nights were pretty rough but not nauseating for us. I am glad we didn't take our bonine because it seems to mess with both of our systems more than the actual ship movement. The only time I felt at all queasy was waiting on the tender boat to get back on the ship. We were seated on the side closest to the ship, on the lower level, the seas were rough, it was hot, and the top level took forever to unload. But it passed as soon as we got back on the ship. :)

Thank you VERY much for the great review. We're really looking forward to her too!

Thank you so much for your review. I am seriously thinking of going back on the Sovereign as a wedding anniversary cruise. My very first sailing was on the Sovereign. I loved it then, I was a bit concerned over some of the things that I read on the Boards. Thank you for clearing things up.

We are heading to Cocoa Beach

on Sunday. We leave Monday

on the Sovereign. :D

Thanks for your in deepth review.

I was pleased to hear all the positive

comments. I know we will have a blast.

This will be my 10th cruise.

Sorry about your jewelry. Thank goodness

it was not your real stuff!

We did find it odd that there appeared to be no Concierge lounge nor Concierge service on this ship. We are platinum Crown & Anchor members so we assumed that we would have been invited to use this facility. We were invited to a Crown & Anchor party, which we did not attend. No big deal, as we really don't use Concierge services that much anyway, but it was just an observation.

This class of ships does not have a Concierge lounge.

If you "became" Platinum on this cruise as you stated elsewhere in your review, we were not platinum for this cruise. C&A changes occur after the applicable cruise.

Concierge service is granted by type of cabin or by being Diamond C&A members. Concierge service is not available to Platinum C&A members based solely on C&A status.

You can refer to the Royal Caribbean website for details of all the C&A levels and associated amenities.

Thanks for the review.

Now, the important question.... Did the Clock work???

:)

Thanks for the review.

 

Now, the important question.... Did the Clock work???

 

:)

LOL! After watching the show last night, I wish I had paid more attention to that clock! All I can tell you is that the clock is there, so I 'assume' that it works since they said it was a goner if they did not get it working.

Very funny question about the clock...NO it did not work!! We were on the May 16th sailing and stood right next to it during check in and everyone in my family commented on it not working! My DH and I were watching the program last night and both started laughing saying well I guess we know the outcome of the clock!

This was our 2nd cruise and we were also very impressed with the Sovereign. I have to admit I was a little worried after having been on our 1st cruise on the Navigator with a balcony cabin, but everything from the accomodations to the entertainment & service was quite satisfying. We never smelled any sewage and I found myself almost looking for it at times after reading about it so often! We had to miss CocoCay on the way to Nassau due to high winds but the captain was determined to get us there and we were able to stop there on the way back...and I'm so glad we did...it was beautiful!