Sovereign very dissapointing

[topdownblondandme]

Last week (4/25/05) my wife and i took 8 other people cruising, 7 for the first time. We went last april on the Nordic Empress(Empress of the seas now) our first cruise and it was a ten. we ranted and raved all year about how great it was, and we got a jolt of cruise downer reality on this one. I am presently working on a formal review under the review section of the board, but wanted to get a brief summary in here before anyone else makes a decision to go or not to go on this ship. simply put, the last cruise was a 10, this one at best a 5 1\2 - 6. I highly doubt I would book on this ship again. we are also going to look at other cruise lines for next years cruise (we want to do at least 1 a year). we spoke with the guest relations manager on the ship for 30 -45 min. the last night. she wrote down over a page of stuff and told us that it was unacceptable. she was supposed to meet us the next morning, (before getting off) and give us some "feedback" on what we had discussed. I spoke with her on the phone in the morning, she told me she would be out in about 5 min. I waited 15, tried to call her and got no answer on the phone after that from her we waited another 10 or 15 min and we had to get off the ship. at this point we are not real happy with RCCL. I spoke with other people who had cruised before and many of the things we were not satisfied with , they said also. If you read the reviews that are on this board now,(especially the negatives, other than the sewer smell) most of it is true. the experienced cruisers reviews were right on the money as far as the service (i give it a 2), the food ( i give it a 3 1\2 -4)

the entertainment (3 at most), getting on and off the ship was a breeze (5 out of 5). and last but not least, WHOEVER CAME UP WITH FORMAL NIGHT ON THE NIGHT WE WERE DOCKED IN NASSAU SHOULD BE FIRED. absolutley ruined the day. tuesday after Coco Cay would have been 1 million percent perfect. we sure were not the only people who felt this way. especially since we called RCCL the week before and ask them when it was and they told us it was tuesday. Anyone want details you can email me at jtnemeth@bellsouth.net

[brn2crz]

Sorry you were unhappy.

Why not just post the details here?Thats what we are here for after all.. Cruise Critic :)

I don't read much about this particular ship.Be interested to have your input.

[topdownblondandme]

the things i have are very lenghty, we just got in sunday night and i have to work 12 hr shifts, so till i get home i don't have much time. i will probably do it this way when i get time, because when you put the reviews on, it takes forever for them to get posted. i'll try to do it in the next day or 2.

thanks

[Nessa1dc]

So sorry to hear about your bad experience with SOS. I sailed on her in the early 90's. She was beautiful then. I have heard some discouraging things. I was thinking of using the SOS for me and my DH's wedding anniversary next year. I will think again.

[maggieworkman]

I'm getting nervous about our June cruise on Sovereign. The past 3 reviews I have read have been bad. Although the one before that was good.

 

But we are first time cruisers and won't know any better, so hopefully we will have fun.

 

Maggie

[dyanna72]

I too do not like the idea of formal night being on the only port of call (Nassau) in which we are there until midnight. Hope they change this before we sail in August.

[danajjj]

I'd like to know what disappointed you too. We sailed on her after you--4/29 and were very pleased. It was a great weekend getaway for us, and we would definitely sail on her again. I'm sorry this cruise didn't live up to your expectations but am glad you are going to cruise again.

[Cruising89143]

WHOEVER CAME UP WITH FORMAL NIGHT ON THE NIGHT WE WERE DOCKED IN NASSAU SHOULD BE FIRED. absolutley ruined the day. tuesday after Coco Cay would have been 1 million percent perfect. we sure were not the only people who felt this way. especially since we called RCCL the week before and ask them when it was and they told us it was tuesday. Anyone want details you can email me at jtnemeth@bellsouth.net

 

Just an FYI, Carnival does the same thing for formal night on their short cruises to Nassau.

 

I look forward to my cruise on the Sovereign this Friday. I will be sure to report back my findings on the ship. I also look forward to reading your report.

[HMK]

We were on the 4/25 cruise and we loved it! We had a blast on the ship!!! We found the ship to be very clean and the service great. We are 1st. time cruisers and we can't wait to book another one.

[BahamasGirl18]

I agree with HMK.....I love the SOS and did not see anything wrong with the ship or the service....Can't wait to be on board again on Monday!

[kc320]

As far as formal night being better after Coco Cay, do you really want to be sporting that nice sunburn in all your formal pictures?? Which is what happens to many if not most people, especially this time of year when they haven't had much sun "pre-cruise". And truthfully there really isn't that much going on in Nassau after 5 or so any how unless you go to one of the casinos, which you could do after dinner on the ship anyhow.

[Emmabelle]

We had fun on our April 18th cruise, of course it doesn't compare to a big ship, but we still had fun, and have booked the Empress for July, not because we didn't enjoy the Sovereign, but because we want to do a different itinerary. I hate to see people picking on her, she's an older ship and sometimes peoples expectations are too high.

[1CRUISINGMAMA]

I was also on the sovereign of the seas last week 4/25-4/29. I am a first time cruiser and I really had a ball and enjoyed the cruise. I really didn't see all the dirt and stains that people are complaining about and perhaps I wasn't looking very hard to notice it either. I was there to relax and enjoy and did just that. I not trying to be nasty or anything if your going to look for things to complain about you will find it. I ship had over 2500 people on it and they did a good job keeping things together. Yes they were a few things here and there but nothing to say I will never cruise on this ship again. I think people really expect to much from the cruise line itself. You can stay at the best hotels and get treated worst.

[Guest OBAYbee]

Just an FYI, Carnival does the same thing for formal night on their short cruises to Nassau.

 

I look forward to my cruise on the Sovereign this Friday. I will be sure to report back my findings on the ship. I also look forward to reading your report.

 

 

Have a wonderful trip!!

[Cruising89143]

Have a wonderful trip!!

 

Thanks and I plan to!!!!:)

[Merion_Mom]

Maggie, relax, you're going on a cruise, you don't have to lift a finger, you will have a BLAST!

 

Although I am not as experienced as many on these boards, I have jumped into cruising with a passion. So far, we have cruised three times on Voyager class ships, LOST a cruise on a Radiance class ship, are booked on a (soon to be stretched) Vision class ship, and are booked and HYPER-EXCITED about going on the Sovereign this coming winter vacation, including New Year's Eve, our absolute favorite time to be on a cruise ship. We have SO LITTLE hesitation about cruising the Sovereign after these other cruise experiences that I have booked us BACK TO BACK for a full week, duplicating port calls at both CocoCay and Nassau.

 

I'm not concerned; don't you be, either. :D :D :D

 

Carol

[SaylorGirl]

I've sailed the Sovereign three times once when she was new and the last two just in the last couple of years. Yes, she is getting older but she is such a beautiful ship, you really appreciate her lines after being on the "mega-liners". I think part of the problem is its hard to keep everything ship shape when they are doing two turn arounds a week, that has to be hard on any crew. Even in the dining rooms with only 3 or 4 days they hardly get a chance to know the passengers. Even so for just that quick get away I don't think you can beat sailing on the Sovereign.

 

Next time you might like trying one of the larger ships. Happy Sailings.

[herb]

topdownblondeandme-

 

not meaning to take away the discussion of Sovereign, but you mentioned you had sailed on Empress of the Seas and enjoyed it... We are contemplating that cruise for 11 nite to S. Caribbean and would love to know what you thought was so much better on that ship compared to Sovereign (we have sailed on Majesty of the Seas--somewhat comparable to Sovereign in '95 and were pleased)

[Cruising89143]

I've sailed the Sovereign three times once when she was new and the last two just in the last couple of years. Yes, she is getting older but she is such a beautiful ship, you really appreciate her lines after being on the "mega-liners". I think part of the problem is its hard to keep everything ship shape when they are doing two turn arounds a week, that has to be hard on any crew. Even in the dining rooms with only 3 or 4 days they hardly get a chance to know the passengers. Even so for just that quick get away I don't think you can beat sailing on the Sovereign.

 

Next time you might like trying one of the larger ships. Happy Sailings.

 

It's funny when someone uses the words "mega liners" when describing today's new builds. I remember when the Sovereign was brand new and how everyone was talking about how large she was. Now she is considered smaller.

 

I agee with the ships doing the three and four day cruises. They do take much more of a beating than those doing the longer cruises.

[Nliedel]

The formal night was the same night as Nassau when I took the SOS a couple years ago but we left Nassau well before sundown so it was not an issue. I would love for them to change this before I take another short cruise next spring.

'

I too remember when the Souvereign was the "Mega" liner and just huge. They grow up so fast ;)

[Chief Cruiser]

I, too, also dislike formal nights being on port days. But, I always know this before sailing and make decisions and judgements concerning my day around that. I have been on the SOS twice and wouldn't hesitate to book it again. The SOS crew has been voted the best crew for RCI for a few years straight and they certainly proved they were deserving of that award when we sailed both times.

 

Sorry your cruise didn't go well for you, but you have to reasonable about things as well. Every cruise is different, every ship is different, every crew is different, just like everyday is different. My very first cruise was anything but what I expected it to be, but I think that was more my fault by having unrealistic expectations. I didn't have a bad time and I am not saying that I did not enjoy my cruise. But, I learned very quickly to make adjustments, properly plan, and always take a positive attitude. Since then, I have enjoyed my cruises more throughly even though everything wasn't just perfect or as I expected it to be. I am a firm believer in that most of the time, and I do understand some things happen from time to time that impacts your cruise experience, but most of the time, a cruise is what you make of it.

 

Better luck next time.

[Merion_Mom]

'

I too remember when the Souvereign was the "Mega" liner and just huge. They grow up so fast ;)

Nancy, LOL! :D

 

Carol

[wallie5446]

Royal Caribbean's 17-year-old Sovereign of the Seas, a smaller vessel than most of the lines' others (it's roughly half the size of its Voyager class ships!), was once the largest and most elaborate cruise ship at sea. When built in 1988.

 

The expectations of the cruising public have changed so much over the past decade or two that what used to be considered top of the line is now regarded as tired and passe.

_________________________________________

 

This is from the CC page about the different ships. And sad but true there is no way to expect the same things on the 3-4 days trips as we do on the week+ trips.

[Cruising89143]

Royal Caribbean's 17-year-old Sovereign of the Seas, a smaller vessel than most of the lines' others (it's roughly half the size of its Voyager class ships!), was once the largest and most elaborate cruise ship at sea. When built in 1988.

 

The expectations of the cruising public have changed so much over the past decade or two that what used to be considered top of the line is now regarded as tired and passe.

_________________________________________

 

This is from the CC page about the different ships. And sad but true there is no way to expect the same things on the 3-4 days trips as we do on the week+ trips.

 

Cruisers have been spoiled due to cruise lines pumping out new ships year after year. Now anything over ten years old seem ancient to some. Now that the building boom has slowed down people are going to get a taste of reality. I see nothing wrong with the older ships as long as the cruise lines keep them up and clean.

[wallie5446]

Gordon I was on another thread this morning and someone mentioned finding their old promo video of the Celbrity Meridian. I have that one, and it would be an eye opener for some today. They would call it the 'Dark Ages', but the Meridian at one time was the Flag Ship for Celberity.