1st RCCL cruise - Sovereign OTS Owner's Suite question

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

We just booked the Sovereign OTS for 8/31/07.

 

After looking at the cabin choices online we decided on cabin 1510 (OS).

 

Having sailed MANY times on Carnival, we pretty much have everything "figured out" with them.

 

What can we expect w/regard to embarkation, debarkation, and general perks associated with booking the owner's suite? Obviously, being our first RCCL sailing, without this cabin we would be a starting from square one.

 

Any insight on this would be helpful - does anyone have any recent pictures of this cabin (or one of the other two owner's suites) or other insights?

 

Thanks!

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Any shows, comedians, or other things which are NOT TO BE MISSED on this ship?

 

Carnival does not have tables for two on their Fantasy class ships - I understand that there are 2-toppers on the Sovereign. Are you typically able to obtain one (are there enough) following requesting one during the reservation process?

 

What are the STAND OUT foods on RCCL? Any MUST HAVE items??

 

CASINO question - When the Carnival Sensation has its 3-day sailing to Nassau (and does not leave until ~ 6 AM the following morning) they open the casino while still IN PORT beginning about 7 PM in the evening. Does the same hold true for this ship, as she stays until 1:30 AM???

 

Thanks again!

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

WOW - You guys really have a busy board here. This thread was already LOST on page FIVE...:eek:

 

If anyone can shed light on any of the aforementioned questions - or if anyone of you has taken a few Carnival cruises, and might be able give me some general tips, it would be most appreciated!

 

Thanks,

 

Tom

[piercetc4]

we have not been on sov. yet- but i can tell you embarkation and debarkation should be a breeze - the os should get you robes in your cabin and 2 cruise credits when you join the crown and anchor society ( free) - after you earn 5 cruise credits you become platinum and get 100 off balcony and suites- and priority boaring- among other things-

have read not to miss the dueling pianos

we will be on sov in sept-

hope others can answer your other questions

welcome to rci

[PH8]

You can request a small table now(but that is usually for 4),,but as soon as you board the ship,you can go see the maitre d' in the dining room.............you can request a table for 2 then.....we have always gotten one that way...............

 

Yes, the casino will be open at night along with the shops onboard......

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Thanks for the advice!

 

Also - is there an expanded room service menu for those in suites (grand/owner's/royal)? If so - what is the difference. I know that on Carnival they only have ONE room service menu - regardless of the cabin you are in.

 

Thanks,

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Also... which night is formal?

 

Can I assume that people tend to follow the dress code in a similar fashion to Carnival?

 

If I wear a tux - will I stand out like a sore thumb??:eek: (I almost do, especially on shorter cruises on Carnival)

 

Tom

[mlleach]

Also... which night is formal?

 

Can I assume that people tend to follow the dress code in a similar fashion to Carnival?

 

If I wear a tux - will I stand out like a sore thumb??:eek: (I almost do, especially on shorter cruises on Carnival)

 

Tom

 

Formal is more informal on the SOS. Other nights, there a lot wearing shorts.

ML

[Cruising89143]

I have sailed on the Sovereign three times and each time both embarkation and debarkation was a breeze but Pt. Canaveral seems to always have their act together no matter what cruise line or that has been my experience.

 

The Sovereign is a nice ship but she is the oldest in the RCI fleet and does not have all the bells and whistles that the newer larger ships have. IMHO one does not get the true feeling of what cruising with RCI is like on the older ships but with that said I still love this ship. One of the places not to miss is the Viking Crown lounge at sunset. A great place for a pre dinner drink.

 

Booking the OS will basically get you priority boarding and two cruise credits once you sign up for the Crown and Anchor Society after you return from the cruise. As far as other amenities there really is none on the Sovereign as she has no Concierge lounge. The room is a good size larger which is good for the Sovereign as she has smaller cabins to begin with. Even the OS will not be as large as you would have on the Voyager, Freedom or Radiance class.

 

On the three night cruises, the formal night is on Saturday when you are docked in Nassau. Dress code will be from one extreme to the other and not much different that what you see on Carnival and if you enjoy wearing your tux then by all means do so. I do believe that they also opened the casino around 7:00 like Carnival does.

 

Room service menu is the same regardless of cabin and they do not offer a hot breakfast on the Sovereign. I guess this is due to being on a short cruise. Not sure if they would bring you the hot items if you call down and ask. They are usually pretty good about trying to make you happy. I have found that there is not a lot of difference on the shorter cruises from line to line. They are catering to the same type of passengers. Most choose the ship for price and the ability to have a few days away to party and gamble.

 

I have some photos of the SOS in my link below.

[rwillis9]

Also... which night is formal?

 

Can I assume that people tend to follow the dress code in a similar fashion to Carnival?

 

If I wear a tux - will I stand out like a sore thumb??:eek: (I almost do, especially on shorter cruises on Carnival)

 

Tom

 

I have not been on a RCI cruise and will be on our first this March, but I was on the Victory last march. From the research I have done and the months of reading on the RCI board, it appears that the shorter cruises (<7 Days) tend to be more casual (suits, dress shirts w/tie and nice slacks kind of thing.) We are going to be sailing a 5 night Splend. of the Seas in March and were told that there will be one Formal night. I am just planning on a nice dark suit and kaki pants and nice shirt the rest of the time. You probably would stick out like a sore thumb, but hey, if you want to dress up I so go for it! I would rather have someone like you in a Tux than the scrub in a T-Shirt and Jeans with Holes in the them. :D

[rwillis9]

cruisingator2,

Thanks for saying that the link in your sig had pics of the Sov. We are thinking of taking a shorter cruise late summer and then a longer one this fall. We are looking at the Sov for the shorter cruise and the pics are great! Thanks again.

[PH8]

I have been on the Sovereign 11 times............you can wear a tux or suit or shirt and tie...........anything goes.......There will be others wearing tuxes...........however,most change after dinner because that is also the night of the Caribbean pool deck party(starts around 11:30).......nobody up there in their formal wear..........

 

 

Like someone else said, dont expect the OS to be like the big ships............it is larger than the other cabins,of course,but not as fancy(to the extreme) of the bigger ships.

 

Also,you get alot of corporate people holding business seminars on the weekenders..............LOTS of partying!!

 

HI ML!! How was Windstar??

[cruisegirl1]

We’ve sailed the Sovereign MANY times. As the previous poster motioned, there few perks (besides space) for the Sovereign suites. (No concierge lounge) You will most likely receive some sort of food amenity sent to your room on formal night There is a small area for priority embarkation at Port Canaveral and you can wait there. There is nothing special in the area – just the ability to enter the ship in the first group.

 

Room service is the same across the ship – the type if room has no bearing on the menu. We have, in the past, had hot breakfast items from room service– but that may have changed. The last three times we sailed the Sovereign ( this past Fall) we did not order room service at all.

 

We find Sovereign Formal night dress varies even from cruise to cruise. The last three – seemed to be dressier than in the past. We did not see many tuxes but also did not see shorts (as noted from another poster). Most men were in suits and the women were in a variety of formal and semi formal attire. On Formal night , the ship offers a late night Caribbean party and buffet on deck so the dress will dramatically change after dinner.

 

The casino does open around 5 or 6 and stays open to the early morning hours.

 

The staff is wonderful

Have a good cruise.

M

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Thanks for all the replies - some very handy information :)

 

Tom