So Long, Sovereign

[WeMissSeaView]

According to CruiseMapper, Sovereign is now located with Monarch.  Sovereign must now be beached.

[ONECRUISER]

1 hour ago, WeMissSeaView said:

According to CruiseMapper, Sovereign is now located with Monarch.  Sovereign must now be beached.

Sovereign, my first Cruise 32+ years ago... World's first "Mega Cruise Ship" I remember that Cruise looking down on Tiny Carnival and Princess Love Boat sized ships

Edited July 23, 2020 by ONECRUISER

[CSHS1979]

43 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said:

Sovereign, my first Cruise 32+ years ago... World's first "Mega Cruise Ship" I remember that Cruise looking down on Tiny Carnival and Princess Love Boat sized ships

 

Totally different memory.

I remember seeing her or one of her sisters in St Thomas in '91 on the 69,000 ton Crown Princess(1600 pax). She wasn't that much bigger, but boy could they pack in the passengers. 😱

Probably why we never sailed her until right before she left for Pullmantour

[emeraldcity]

I was one of her first passengers ... I sailed on the February 6, 1988 sailing (sailing #4). She was so beautiful. So sad that it's over for her.

[MISTER 67]

I'll never forget waiting to sail on Dolphin Cruise Lines 20,000 ton Seabreeze out of Miami in 1990, we were with another couple and we were by the aft pool looking at the Sovereign docked right behind us and we were all shaking our heads saying no way would we ever sail on a ship that large. Oh well I guess we were wrong but I will go out on a limb and say we won't sail on a ship like the Oasis with 6,000 passengers. Largest ships we have sailed on are the Freedom of the Seas, Royal Princess and the MSC Divina, all with about 3,500 passengers, plenty large enough for us.

[WeMissSeaView]

Picture of both ships together at the end.

[ONECRUISER]

2 hours ago, CSHS1979 said:

 

Totally different memory.

I remember seeing her or one of her sisters in St Thomas in '91 on the 69,000 ton Crown Princess(1600 pax). She wasn't that much bigger, but boy could they pack in the passengers. 😱

Probably why we never sailed her until right before she left for Pullmantour

Yeah didn't take long for Princess, Carnival and NCL ships built same size. But in 1988 ships around Sovereign that day the "Love Boat" ship was 19000 GT with 600 passengers, Carnival's was 18000 GT and NCL was 10000 GT... Each carrying passengers that could fit in one or two Oasis Class Life Boats.

Edited July 23, 2020 by ONECRUISER

[How'sBartCruisin'?]

50 minutes ago, WeMissSeaView said:

Picture of both ships together at the end.

I never sailed on either ship, but what a sad sight to see.  Thank you for your service, Monarch and Sovereign!!!

[TYMAN]

July 1994 was the first time on the Sovereign. Did a 7 night Western Caribbean. I remember my DW and I "bought" one of the race horses that were to run against other "horses" on the pool deck. We had to bid on the horses. We got to decorate them and also do a commercial on the ships TV. Our horse looked beautiful!!! Came in last. Yep, drank heavy that night. lol!! One last note.....loved the Tween deck!!! Great place for a cabin!

Edited July 23, 2020 by TYMAN

[CSHS1979]

7 minutes ago, TYMAN said:

July 1994 was the first time on the Sovereign. Did a 7 night Western Caribbean. I remember my DW and I "bought" one of the race horses that were to run against other "horses" on the pool deck. We had to bid on the horses. We got to decorate them and also do a commercial on the ships TV. Our horse looked beautiful!!! Came in last. Yep, drank heavy that night. lol!! One last note.....loved the Tween deck!!! Great place for a cabin!

 

DH was a big fan of the jockeys back in those days

[jalves]

I remember how small the cabins were

 

[TYMAN]

3 minutes ago, jalves said:

I remember how small the cabins were

 

I think 109sqft for interior and 120 for oceanview......I do remember in early 90's you could go into the shop the sells alcohol, buy a bottle and take it with you if you paid 10% upcharge. We would get an Absolut Vodka, pay the 10% upcharge, then give our cabin steward $20 to keep us stocked with OJ. What a great deal! Would sit by the pool all day drinking screwdrivers.......wait, I'm starting to figure out why my liver has a dislike for me. Ha! 

[WeMissSeaView]

I was just on the Majesty in March, so it is real sad to see the two sister ships on the beach.  I wonder if the Majesty will be there sooner than later.  Never sailed on the Sovereign, but sailed on the Monarch five times.
 

[hloakes]

Sovereign was our first in 2003. It started us on a love for cruising that lasts until today. While it is sad to see her beached and getting ready to be dismantled, time marches on and technology moves us forward. 

[ipeeinthepool]

13 hours ago, MISTER 67 said:

I'll never forget waiting to sail on Dolphin Cruise Lines 20,000 ton Seabreeze out of Miami in 1990, we were with another couple and we were by the aft pool looking at the Sovereign docked right behind us and we were all shaking our heads saying no way would we ever sail on a ship that large. Oh well I guess we were wrong but I will go out on a limb and say we won't sail on a ship like the Oasis with 6,000 passengers. Largest ships we have sailed on are the Freedom of the Seas, Royal Princess and the MSC Divina, all with about 3,500 passengers, plenty large enough for us.

 

I have the exact opposite memory.  I remember sitting on the rear of the Empress looking down at this tiny ship behind us around 1991.  It was a ship from Dolphin cruise lines.  We were all shaking our heads wondering why anyone would sail on that very small ship that looked very dated and said no way we would ever sail on a ship that small.  Since the Empress all of the ships that we have sailed on have been larger.  The Sovereign was the next step after the Empress. 

Edited July 24, 2020 by ipeeinthepool

[KeywestK]

Sovereign was our very first cruise, June 1994, 7-night eastern Caribbean.  Wonderful memories......

[BigAl94]

Another view

[flamingos]

Our first cruise as well - we were supposed to sail in September, 1992, but Hurricane Andrew had other plans for us. We rescheduled for May 1993 and got an upgrade because our travel agent said we deserved it.  

 

The highlight of the trip was leaving St. Thomas and the QEII went out before us. They let out a long blast as they passed us, and we answered back, as did another ship in harbor.  We thought this was a normal thing that must happen every cruise.  🙂

[darthvadrouw1]

Footage of Monarch's beaching

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPpY9EMSWeM

Edited July 24, 2020 by darthvadrouw1
link

[MISTER 67]

9 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 

I have the exact opposite memory.  I remember sitting on the rear of the Empress looking down at this tiny ship behind us around 1991.  It was a ship from Dolphin cruise lines.  We were all shaking our heads wondering why anyone would sail on that very small ship that looked very dated and said no way we would ever sail on a ship that small.  Since the Empress all of the ships that we have sailed on have been larger.  The Sovereign was the next step after the Empress. 

From early 80s to the late 80s we sailed on lines who had ships that were former great ocean liners, ships like Sitmar's Fairwind, Costa Riviera, Carla Costa, Regency's Regent Star and Dolphin's Seabreeze. To this day those were some of the best cruises we have been on out of 62. Those old ocean liners had character and what was better was that the lines were not bottom line companies, there was no penny pinching like there is these days. The food was great especially on Sitmar with a different theme every night such as Italian night, French night, Caribbean night and American night. Costa did the same, Costa's food was very good but Sitmar's was just a tad better. On formal nights Cavier and Champagne were always served. Sitmar along with Costa always had Italian dishes every night along with American dishes beside what was on the menu for the themed night. Drinks were much less than at a restaurant in the States. BTW Costa at the time was family owned as was Sitmar.

Entertainment was very good and those old liners all had dedicated cinemas.

No skimping on prizes for trivia and other competitive activities, some very nice prizes including trophies. One cruise on Sitmar I got just about involved in every activity and won  trophies and other prizes after winning 3 trivia games, golf putting and driving contests and a chess tournament. Bottom line, big is not better, our favorite ships these days are HAL's Vista class ships which are about 86,000 tons with 2000 passengers. We also loved the Rhapsody of the Seas which is about the same size as the HAL ships.

Edited July 24, 2020 by MISTER 67

[jsf]

Our second cruise in 1992 out of Miami great time.

[TYMAN]

9 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 

I have the exact opposite memory.  I remember sitting on the rear of the Empress looking down at this tiny ship behind us around 1991.  It was a ship from Dolphin cruise lines.  We were all shaking our heads wondering why anyone would sail on that very small ship that looked very dated and said no way we would ever sail on a ship that small.  Since the Empress all of the ships that we have sailed on have been larger.  The Sovereign was the next step after the Empress. 

Cruised Dolphin IV back in the mid 90's. Carmen, the Casino Manager, would have my seat saved at the Five Card Poker table every night. I believe there were only 900+/- passengers on board. After that cruise, my DW said no more for that cruise line. Ha! After that, we cruised Majesty Cruise Line on the Royal Majesty. A little fancier than Dolphin but not much bigger. I actually enjoyed that ship. Oops, on a tangent, sorry.....

[CSHS1979]

5 hours ago, MISTER 67 said:

From early 80s to the late 80s we sailed on lines who had ships that were former great ocean liners, ships like Sitmar's Fairwind, Costa Riviera, Carla Costa, Regency's Regent Star and Dolphin's Seabreeze. To this day those were some of the best cruises we have been on out of 62. Those old ocean liners had character and what was better was that the lines were not bottom line companies, there was no penny pinching like there is these days. The food was great especially on Sitmar with a different theme every night such as Italian night, French night, Caribbean night and American night. Costa did the same, Costa's food was very good but Sitmar's was just a tad better. On formal nights Cavier and Champagne were always served. Sitmar along with Costa always had Italian dishes every night along with American dishes beside what was on the menu for the themed night. Drinks were much less than at a restaurant in the States. BTW Costa at the time was family owned as was Sitmar.

Entertainment was very good and those old liners all had dedicated cinemas.

No skimping on prizes for trivia and other competitive activities, some very nice prizes including trophies. One cruise on Sitmar I got just about involved in every activity and won  trophies and other prizes after winning 3 trivia games, golf putting and driving contests and a chess tournament. Bottom line, big is not better, our favorite ships these days are HAL's Vista class ships which are about 86,000 tons with 2000 passengers. We also loved the Rhapsody of the Seas which is about the same size as the HAL ships.

 

Big fan of the unique entertainment found on an Oasis ship, the countless food choices, the activities available, the bars, and so on. Thisi why bigger is definitely better. 

 

But I see your point, it's not for everybody 

[CSHS1979]

5 hours ago, TYMAN said:

Cruised Dolphin IV back in the mid 90's. Carmen, the Casino Manager, would have my seat saved at the Five Card Poker table every night. I believe there were only 900+/- passengers on board. After that cruise, my DW said no more for that cruise line. Ha! After that, we cruised Majesty Cruise Line on the Royal Majesty. A little fancier than Dolphin but not much bigger. I actually enjoyed that ship. Oops, on a tangent, sorry.....

 

We sailed Royal Majesty 3 times. Our first B2B in '95, our first suite, our first Captain's Table. 

 

Even sailed her during her NCL days to Bermuda post stretch

Edited July 25, 2020 by CSHS1979

[TYMAN]

5 minutes ago, CSHS1979 said:

 

We sailed Royal Majesty 3 times. Our first B2B in '95, our first suite, our first Captain's Table. 

 

Even sailed her during her NCL days to Bermuda post stretch

We sailed her twice. Honestly, I have to look back to the dates, but really enjoyed those cruises. There was a DR Manager named Mario, very tall dude with a wing span that was wild. He danced like a big bird, flapping his wings! 😂 We called the dance, the “Mario”!! Never can forget that guy, nor Carmen on Dolphin IV. 
 

wish I can say more, but I’m on double secret probation from TBA.