New Cruiser, Some ?'s 7/25 Sovereign

[phyonyxz]

Hello! I just booked a last minute cruise on the Sovereign leaving on July 25th out of Pt. Canaveral, 4 nights Cococay/Nassau. This will be our first cruise and I was hoping to see if I could get a few questions answered!

 

I've been on little jet boats before, without being seasick, but obviously a huge cruise ship will be completely different. How common is it for people to become seasick? I've seen some bracelets/medicine mentioned on the boards that people say work pretty well...does anyone know if RCI offers these free to their passengers or should I pick some up before I leave?

 

We didn't buy travel insurance when we booked the cruise but now I'm worried about all the hurricanes coming up. I thought I read something about how insurance won't cover if there's already hurricanes in the area. Is this true? I looked at insuremytrip.com and found rates for about $50 for the both of us (package deal) and I figure it would be worth it if it would cover expenses due to being rerouted because of weather problems.

 

We're arriving a day early, spending it in Orlando, and going down the next to get to the ship. It says that boarding begins at noon. I want to be able to get on the ship as early as possible, is noon when they'll actually let you on or is this just a basic time they tell passengers so everyone won't rush to get on asap?

 

We booked a guarantee room and it looks like we're in room 6020, right in the front part of the ship. Any comments on this cabin? Are we going to be stuck looking at everyone at the pool?

 

I was hoping to go snorkeling in Nassau, and I've seen a lot of recommendations for Stuarts Cove (granted they're not already booked). On their site it says they have a shuttle for the cruise ships that picks up at 8am for the 9:20 snorkel departure. The itinerary shows us getting to Nassau at 7am. Will we be able to make it off the ship by 8am?

 

Any recommendations of things to do in Nassau or Cococay? We were thinking of doing parasailing in Cococay through RCI, but I'm still tossing that one around.

 

Sorry for the long post...I hope I remembered everything and thanks ahead of time for the help!

[DMage]

First timers... :) I wish I could relive my first cruise again. Hope I can help you out with some of your questions...

 

If you have been on a small boat without getting sick then your odds are extremely slim to be affected by the boat. It is not very common unless the water is rough. I have used Bonine (sp?) on my first cruise but nothing after that. We did have some rough water and I never felt sick. I have read a lot of good things about Ginger Force on the boards, think I will bring it on my next cruise incase my fiancee needs it.

 

I never have used travel insurance so hopefully someone else can be more insightful for you. I have very rarely seen a ship postponed due to a hurricaine, and never cancelled.

 

I will be on the Sovereign in a little over a month, but from what the boards have said, you can board as early as 11, but cannot enter your cabin until 1 or 2. Just go up top and have some food at the Windjammer buffet until then.

 

In regards to your cabin, the location should be good, your only half a level up from the centrum. Sorry, no pool view, as the pool is five decks up. You may have some anchor noise at Coco Cay when they drop to "dock".

 

Can't help you out on the time you can get off the boat at Nassau, as I am never out that early.

 

Things to do in Nassau would be the classic tourings of the Queens staircase and the straw market, as well as maybe a horse drawn cairrage ride around the town. Last time there my group went to Atlantis for the day and did 'The Digg' aquarium. It was an amazing thing to see, and I will be back there again in August.

 

Hope you enjoy your cruise, and like the rest of us, become hooked for life!

[FlaWaterFlirt]

We have been on the SOS a good number of times for both the 3 and 4 day cruise. Most recently over 4th of July weekend and we will be going again in October. You will have a great time.

Sadly, we have never been able to make the Stuarts Cove pickup time. We reserve every time we are going and have yet to make it. Hope you make it!!!!

Looks like the post before answered most of your other questions. If you need more info - just fire away! :)

[kdickers]

We have been on the SOS a good number of times for both the 3 and 4 day cruise. Most recently over 4th of July weekend and we will be going again in October. You will have a great time.

 

Sadly, we have never been able to make the Stuarts Cove pickup time. We reserve every time we are going and have yet to make it. Hope you make it!!!!

 

Looks like the post before answered most of your other questions. If you need more info - just fire away! :)

 

I'm considering taking an Oct sailing on the SOS with my DH and 14 yr old DD. Can you tell me about the activities for that age group??

 

THANKS!!

[kenandlaura06]

Make sure you take Bonine or the like, just in case. My mother was a life long boat rider (has sailed across the Atlantic and Pacific and never got sea sick) and got terribly sea sick on a recent trip...you never know!

[phyonyxz]

Thanks for all the replies so far!

 

FlaWaterFlirt, you mentioned not being able to make it for the pickup time so far? Is that because it took too long to get off the boat? Do you still get charged, even if you don't make it? The email I got back from Stuart's Cove said that we should allow 30mins to get off the boat which seemed a little on the quick side to me. I mean, I would take the later trip but it just seems like it would work out better if we went snorkeling first and had the rest of the day to do whatever, rather than have 7am-noon free, snorkel, then have the rest of the day afterwards. Everyone seems to say that most of the shops close fairly early in the evening.

 

In regards to Atlantis...is it really worth it? It seems like a lot of people pay quite a lot to either get bracelets from the hotels, or through cruise expeditions. We're 23/29 and I thought that Atlantis may be more of a family thing because of the pools/slides, etc. Honestly I have no idea what exactly is in Atlantis other than a casino, an aquarium and the beach. Since we're staying overnight in Nassau, is Atlantis something we can go to later in the night when everything starts to close down? (We won't spend our time in the casino though)

 

The night we spend in Nassau, this is the only formal night correct? Is the food worth going back to the ship or would we be better off eating in Nassau?

 

(I know I'm always going to think of something else to ask!)

[MomtoCCC]

Hi!

 

We are on the same cruise as you! Just to clarify - we do not spend the night in Nassau - we just stay late (1am) that night. The next day is a sea day - just hanging out on the ship. I went on first cruise last Feb and used Bonine the first 2 days just in case. It made me sleepy but I realized I didn't need it and I didn't take it for the rest of the cruise (water was very calm) I'm going to bring it again in case of rough water but I think after the first day or so you don't really need it.

 

Have fun!

[Merion_Mom]

In regards to Atlantis...is it really worth it? It seems like a lot of people pay quite a lot to either get bracelets from the hotels, or through cruise expeditions. We're 23/29 and I thought that Atlantis may be more of a family thing because of the pools/slides, etc. Honestly I have no idea what exactly is in Atlantis other than a casino, an aquarium and the beach. Since we're staying overnight in Nassau, is Atlantis something we can go to later in the night when everything starts to close down? (We won't spend our time in the casino though)

Go check out Atlantis on its website. You should be able to see enough about it to decide if it's for you or not. http://www.atlantis.com

[DMage]

In regards to Atlantis...is it really worth it? It seems like a lot of people pay quite a lot to either get bracelets from the hotels, or through cruise expeditions. We're 23/29 and I thought that Atlantis may be more of a family thing because of the pools/slides, etc. Honestly I have no idea what exactly is in Atlantis other than a casino, an aquarium and the beach. Since we're staying overnight in Nassau, is Atlantis something we can go to later in the night when everything starts to close down? (We won't spend our time in the casino though)

 

On my last cruise to Nassau I went with a friend who is a big gambler. He actually had a free comp'ed room from them (must have received his name from another casino) so we did the water park, pools, and aquarium. In my opinion, getting a room is not worth it for the pools and 4 big water slides they have. In August when I go with my fiancee we are only going to do the aquarium because it is pretty amazing (and only $25 or so pp). Not sure if they offer younger rates, sorry.

[FlaWaterFlirt]

I'm considering taking an Oct sailing on the SOS with my DH and 14 yr old DD. Can you tell me about the activities for that age group??

 

THANKS!!

 

Hey Kim,

My DD is 11 so in a different age group on the ship. I can tell you that whenever we have cruised with RCCL, she has loved every minute of it. There are plenty of things planned for them to do. Seems like the teens have their own room (I think called Fuel) and I have never seen a teen not appearing to have a good time. Hope this helps some. :o

[FlaWaterFlirt]

Thanks for all the replies so far!

 

FlaWaterFlirt, you mentioned not being able to make it for the pickup time so far? Is that because it took too long to get off the boat? Do you still get charged, even if you don't make it?

 

Yes. By the timer we get off and walk down to the end of the pier and across the street - we just have never made it. Now - it seems like we have missed it by minutes and upon arriving home emailed them to ask if in fact they were even there!!! I have never made a deposit to make the reservation. They have taken and made the reservation with just my name and cruise ship info.

Usually we have dinner on the ship for formal night and then change into comfty clothes and get off the ship. This past cruise (July 4th) we left and went over to Sr. Frogs for a few hours. Formal night food is the same as every other night. Meaning if you have enjoyed it thus far , you will as well on formal night. Just remember - no lobster!! lol

Have fun!:)

[James&Rob]

Hello

 

I was on the sovereign may and june of this year and have her booked again in sept, As for seasickness I dont see many people get sick unless the water is really rough never seen anyone sick on this ship but that doesnt mean it wont happen as for cabin 6020 we was in cabin 6014 on may 2 that is the very first cabin on the front of the ship it is as far forward as you can go It was great no problems at all if your cabin stewars havent changed you will have is stacy and she is great if she is still there tell her James and rob says Hello .as for boarding in may the doors opened at 11am and we was on the ship around 12 but in june it was really raining and the door were opened about 1030 and we was on the ship befor noon the windjammer wasnt even opened when we boarded it opens at 12. Hopefully this will help have a great cruise James