Dead alligators and more swollen appendages: My "JUICY JUICY" Sovereign review

Aaaahhhhhh.....Well it's been almost 12 hours sent I was thrown kicking and screaming off the Sovereign of the seas this morning. And let me say although this cruise may have not had as many memoriable moments as my last review it was definately a great cruise.

Lets take a little journy..........

JUICY JUICY

Friday: So here's the deal. My wife and I had tickets to leave Saturday morning to head to Florida for our cruise. But my wife use to be a flight attendant and we still get flying priviliges. So I came up with the brilliant idea of going down friday night instead of saturday. Wow it sounds like such a great idea huh..........fast forward to my wife and I standing in line for TWO HOURS for a ticket agent. Now I don't want to say the name of the airline but it rhymes with OOHHHH ESSSSSS AARRWAYS. Whew glad I covered myself there. Don't need any lawsuits. We finally get to an agent and the guy looks at us and says.

"It's less than a half hour you can't get on"

So many things run through my body....anger, frustration, sadness and to be honest a little more anger. But I do realize it's not his fault so we leave with our tail between our legs, feeling like the Soup **** just said "NO SOUP FOR YOU" While leaving I notice the AirTran counter is empty. So I go over and ask the lady if there is anyway we can fly out tonight even though our flight is tomorrow. She checks and says sure. I know what your thinking. "WOW good for you" Yea that's what I was thinking too.

Fast forward: 2:25 a.m......oh yea....no type-o, I said a.m. Waiting for our shuttle from the hotel we booked for the night to show up. Finally my wife calls and the guys says. "Oh I'm so glad you called....yea it turns out our shuttle service ends at 2:00. And you called at 1:59 (did I mention this is A.M.?) So we chat and the guy agrees to give me another dicount to account for the taxi.

So we get a taxi and while leaving the airport something runs across the road.

In my head I say was that an alligator?

Then.......clunk......clunk

Then the cab driver says........"WOW you don't see that every day.....I just ran over an alligator"

Nope I'm not seeing things.

Day 1 is over and done. I will continue with day 2 tomorrow.

Us Airways Huh??????

Hehe

Tim

Must have been one heck of a speed bump! :D

I can hardly wait to read more!! Just the title of the review thread makes me want to know what happened on your cruise!!;)

--Susan

Please don't make us wait for more!!!

Wow, Gator's usually run faster than that even with one drink in their hand. (I'm a Gator so I can speak to this.) Oh.......you said ALLI-gator, sorry:o . And swollen appendages yet again, can't wait.

Be careful about running over us "Gators".!!!!!!!:)

OK. It's 7:55 AM on Saturday and my DW and I are "crying" over the story. Can't wake the kids up. Seems like a Seinfeld episode. As I read down the thread I see everyone wanting more, so I decide to chime in. How long do we have to wait for more of the story? Did you get a pair of boots from the casualty? (I, too am a Flordia Gator). Hope your cruise was as funny as the trip to get there.

JUICY JUICY

AAAhhhhh.....a good nights sleep and all is well. Good morning boys and girls and welcome back to your peter pan story teller(If you're between 25-35 you should have a clue here). O.K. next day arrives and we wake bright and early at 9:00(remeber we went to sleep at 3 so 9 seemed pretty early.

We wake, shower, grab breakfast and head back to the airport. Our original plan called for staying at Disney World for two days before the cruise. So we go back pick up the free WDW trasportation, and we were there in no time at all.

I have to give a big shout out to mousesavers.com.........YEA BOY, EAST SIDE. There thats over.

JUICY JUICY

Maybe you have read my previous review on Enchantment of the seas. And if not, shame on you. Any way here it is.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=71172&highlight=appendages

and you remember my wife was bitten on the hand and I called her mongo for the rest cruise. Well wouldn't you know it. MONGO STRIKES BACK RETURN OF THE SITH. Sorry couldn't resist. Not quite mongo but her finger swelled a little and we couldn't help but laugh from the obvious relationship to the previous cruise.

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Wow is this taking forever or is it just me? WDW was fun, we didn't go to any of the parks. Just wondered around and looked at the hotels we can't afford to stay in, and watched all the shiney happy people holding hands.(In the morning) At about 9:00PM they weren't happy anymore dragging their half dead, sunburned, crying, getting on my nerves kids back to the hotel.

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Well I am getting a cramp. I will return with more shortly(by that I mean later not sooner)

Juicy Juicy right back at ya!

We were on the same cruise and I'm going through a little Post cruise Depression myself. We did go ahead and book a cruise for April 2006 and we have one scheduled for October 2005 so that should help relieve some of my ailment.

We had a wonderful time It was our first time on the Sovereign and we were very pleased at how nice it was.

I thought it would go by quickly being a 4-night cruise and all but it went just fine.

Anyway I really gotta go and unpack, my DH will not let me leave the bags in the middle of the living room until October.

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Now it's the day of the cruise. We pick up the transportation at WDW and head back to the airport. THis was amazingly well done by WDW. We arrive at the airport find our check in and BAM. There is a bus ready to head to the ship(do a little dance). It was nice to have things comming up Milhouse for once. We arrive at the terminal and get into line. Now I have become a little spoiled by the terminal in Ft. Lauderdale. They tend to get you in and out in like 10 minutes. This took a little while longer, but it wasn't devistating. We arrive on the ship. This ship looks really different than my privious two. First impressions were that of crampedness(is that a word?) I have been on enchantment for the last two cruises and there are plenty of opportunities to look out and see the water. SOS seemed like you had ot look for the water when you were inside. Anyhoo, we look around and see what there is to see. Then we head to the windjammer.

********Warning the following remarks may be offensive to some readers********

The food in the windjammer was.........oh how do I put it......not great. It just felt very not good. You know hard to put my finger on, some of the food seemed like slop. In a good slop kinda way. Don't get me wrong I ate it but I have seen better windjammer food. And I"m not a fan of the way the stations are set up. But hey thats just me.

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AFter a while of looking around and we go to check on our luggage and our rooms. No luggage. No big whoop, I realize it takes a while sometimes. We had an outside cabin on the second floor. It was really small but that is expected. Once I moved the oars aside there was plenty of room. We lounge sit by the pool then head to dinner.

The dining room was a very nice experience for us. We had a table with three other younger couples. Two of which were on their HM. Very nice people all of them. BIG SHOUT OUT TO TABLE 317. That night we watch a little shows, drink a bit too much and have a pretty good time.

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Day 2.....Coco Cay.

I had been here once before about 3 years ago and let me say Kudos to RCCL for the work they have done here. The island looked wonderful, there was plenty of room to move and look for chairs. YOu could be totally isolated or hang out with other people. We did the waverunner tour and it was wonderful. Even with the fact we were with a buch or Japanesse or CHinesse people(I can't even begin to tell if I spelled that right). Not being racist or anything but they couldn't understand the instructor. He kept telling them what to do and they would do whatever. It was pretty funny actually. If you are afraid of birds........um........don't eat there. You have lots of new friends once you sit down. There was one lady getting ready to eat her hotdog adn the bird took it out of the bun. Some little buthead threw a bun at our feet when we were walking and we almost got attacked................INCOMMING.........Honey save your self.

COCO LOCO NICE AND JUICY..........JUICY JUICY

We catch the tender and head back. Some girl had a little too much fun and shared her lunch with the fish over the side of the boat. I don't care who you are....puking over the side of the boat thats funny.

COCO LOCO NICE AND JUICY..........JUICY JUICY

We decide to eat dinner in the Windjammer. Not a good idea. Please see above warning.

Went to the show.........Carl Strong.........funny, funny, funny. I don't care who you are thats funny there. Went to the clubs and had another great night.

Day 3.......Nassau

We didn't have anything planned here so we just walked around and saw all there was to see...................Fast forward to one hour later we are sitting by the pool relaxing in the sun. We have been there before and we should have known to book something but we didn't. Oh well more room for us around the pool.

Went to dinner.....excuse me sir you need to be formally dressed for this evenings dinner. That was my snotty voice. Captains dinner. We sit down to eat and here comes on of the HM couple smiling from ear to ear. They went to Atlantis that day put in $1. Let me say that again put in $1. And won $800. We could not have been happier for this couple. They were all excited because that would cover the remaining money they owed on their wedding reception. When good things like that happen to people who need it you tend to smile a little wider.

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Again went to the clubs and had a great time.

Last day...........day at sea great way to unwind. Went to dinner and HM couple again went to casino on ship put in about $2 and won enough to cover their tips. This is getting a little much. I only have so much happiness to give.

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General remarks. SHip is in great shape. We really enjoyed the ship after a while. I will never..........let me say that again never have a room on the second floor again. At the time of booking we had two choices. Interrior room 6th floor. Window 2nd floor. The oars took up too much space and it was way too much stair walking for me.

Quest fell in here somewhere......one of the best quests I have ever seen. Totally different Quests'. Thats all I'll say.

The clubs were awesome. We had a great time every night. I only wish they would do more with the VC lounge. On other ships this is a club and a great place to hang all night. On this ship its a place to smoke cigars and look around. Which i'm sure some people really enjoy.

If you are an experienced cruiser.......fair warning. There were 2600 people on board. 150 were repeat cruisers. THats alot of fresh fish. It didn't bother us but I know some people really dont have the patience for that many new cruisers.

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Sewer smell.................yea I smelled it. Didn't ruin my vacation though. Plenty of pool chairs. Maybe not in ideal places but someone has to take them.

They did a production show and it was the best one I have ever seen. IT was on music of the 60s-80s. Very enjoyable. And I'm a guy.

Now for the big one......................The JUICY JUICY man. There was a waiter.....and I swear I still hear him. He was the shotguy at dinner. And all you would hear is JUICY JUICY. Getting out of the pool........JUICY JUICY. EAting dinner.......JUICY JUICY. Sitting in the clubs..........JUICY JUICY. Getting a shower......JUICY JUICY.........YOU GET THE IDEA.

I may add to this as things come to me, but if you have any questions please ask.

We met Mr. Juicy Juicy on the Voyager of the Seas in 2003. He was always around the Windjammer in the mornings, serving juice (what else). Always had a crazy hat or wig, or sunglasses. He was hilarious.

Clarksfan1, how is the Disco/Dance club on this ship? (I think it's called the Music Man Disco?) Good DJ?

BobK/Orlando

10/05 RCI SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS

12/05 CARNIVAL LIBERTY

01/06 COSTA MEDITERRANEA

Thanks for the great review, Clarksfan. I nearly spewed iced tea all over my laptop while reading it. We are sailing on Sovereign in August and looking forward to it. Hopefully minus the swollen appendages and dead alligators.

Will keep my eyes open for the "juicy juicy" guy.:D

The disco was very nice. They played a nice mix of music. On our cruise the younger people(me included) kinda took over the music selections. Alot of hip hop being played. Great to dace to if you are into that kind of music.

JUICY JUICY

sorry gotta do it.

I wish someone would quit makin this darn boat sway.

Thoroughly enjoyed your trip report. Thanks for sharing.

i really enjoyed your report-DH and I love the Sovereign-we have sailed her 3 times and the Enchantment 1x. We just got off the Voyager 3 weeks ago and DH swears he likes the smaller ships better:) Great service on the Sovereign! Thanks again!:D

Ah yeah fun review, enjoyed it & laughed a bit...

Never a dull moment eh! I hear the Iggy Pop song playing in my head while reading the review...now your journey should be made into a commerical

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Oh my god, you didn’t like the Windjammer food infidel you should be cast out, a pox on you…………

No just kidding, so what does alligator taste like? You know around us road kill IS fair game. We are going on SOS in Aug looking forward to it more every day. Thanks for the great review.

Alligator tastes like chicken. (So, as an employee of mine once said, "So, why don't you just eat chicken").

I thought it was Coco Loco!

Have been missing most of the rebuild programs, but am disappointed to hear that the VC is still a vacant place on the ship.

We're up in December - my 4th, and DH's 3rd on the Sovereign. Will look for the Juicy Juicy man.

Glad you had a good time!

Wendy

Alligator tastes like chicken. (So, as an employee of mine once said, "So, why don't you just eat chicken").

Alligators also make damn nice boots! :cool:

Alligators also make damn nice boots! :cool:

And Chickens don't? LOL:eek:

Thanks for the great review!! I am still laughing!!

And Chickens don't? LOL:eek:

Never seen Chicken skin boots in a Nocona, Tony Lama or Lucchese catalog. :confused: