Sovereign of the Seas Review/Comments of the 3-7 May Cruise

[rosecitycruisers]

This is our 1st attempt of writing a review/comments of our cruise so please bear with us. This was our retirement cruise so it was kinda a last minute idea. Because it was short notice our documents were e-mail to our TA and she in turn attempted to email them to us, but the format wouldn't open so she had to go back to RCCL and have them put it in Adobe format and worked well and we were able to print them out. The only thing we had to get at the terminial was bag tags and Bahamas custom forms. After reading here about using the hotel/shuttle options we decided to give it a try even though we only live about 5 hours from the Port. We stayed at the Best Western in CoCo Beach and used Art's shuttle service The package cost $79 for the motel and $3pp each way for the shuttle, we will probably use this option again in October when we go on the Mariner.
We arrived at the terminal about 12:15, we noticed those who were driving their own vehicle were stopped by security and their names checked against the passenger manifest. You are checked in by deck or Platinum/Diamond, we checked in as Platinum and were having our first Yellowbird drink about 12:30. By comparsion people we talked to later all said the time was 20-30 max, quicker if you had filled out the online docs.
Let me say a couple of thing about the Sovereign of the Seas at this point, we had never sailed on her before and a lot of comments and reviews posted on this site had led us to believe we would be sorry we had ever booked her. Yes she is old and doesn't have all the glitter of the new ships and in some areas showing her age but then aren't we all. We found her and her crew to be very much in tune and consequently provided a very comfortable setting. By the second day where ever your favorite watering hole was, the waiters were calling you by your first name and knew what you drank. Our favorite place was the Schooner Bar with Kristine and Adrian waiting on us. We found this warmth and friendliness to be all over the ship and I think it spread to the passengers, as we did not hear any complaints from people we met.(My wife never meets a stranger)
Our stateroom was an ocean view on the 5th deck, small but comfortable and our steward Sandy met with us monday afternoon and told us the room would be made up twice a day except for the 1st day as they were handling bagage the didn't have time for the evening turndown...he and his assistant met that goal each day to include the towel animals.
Moving on to the Dining Room...FIRST OF ALL THE 'RANCH' STEAK IS GONE AND THE TENDERLOIN HAD BEEN ADDED BACK ON THE MENU. Our Headwaiter Joseph told me that yes they read the CC boards and they didn't like the ranch steak any better the the passengers did. Our food was well prepared, professionally served in a timely manner and if you ordered rare that's what you got, or medium or well done. We had 2nd seating(which by the way I think should be called Late seating) and we were done by not later then 10 each night, actually we could have finished earlier but we were at a table setting with 6 very congenial people which led to much conversation and interaction with the Waiter and Asst Waiter which again I think was a direct result of the warmth and high engery put forth by the crew of the Sovereign.
Tuesday was supposed to the our CoCo Cay day but because it was raining and not forecast to get any better the Captain turned the ship around and sailed back to Nassau where we spent tuesday afternoon and all day wednesday. Early thursday morning we sailed back to CoCo Cay for a beautiful sunny beach day.
The only negative comment I would make concerns debarkation and this is the result of our world we live in today. In our past cruises when you debarked, you would just hand your custom form to any agent as you hurried to the bagage claim area, well now and maybe some of you have already experienced this..they have set up about 10 custom and immigartion cubicles which all passengers must present their passport and/or birth certificate. They either scan the code on your passport or check your birth certificate name with a computer roster, needless to say this really slowed things down..we did not get off until about 11:30, debarkation for 2600+ started around 7:15. According to a RCCL person assisting this process will be in effect at all embark/debark locations by the end of the year.
All in all we thought is a was a great 4 days, we wished it had lasted longer and yes I'm sure we will go on the Sovereign again, but for now we are looking forward to our Mariner cruise in October.
Jim & Pat [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Enchantment of the Seas 1997
Grand Princess 1998
Carnival Celebration 1999
Enchantment of the Seas 2000
Enchantment of the Seas 2001
Carnival Pride 2002
Carnival Glory 2003
Sovereign of the Seas 5/3/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2004;05;3;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0400[/img]
Mariner of the Seas 10/24/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;10;24;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0400[/img]

[gypsygirl]

Thanks for your review. We're going on her May 17th. Have an oceanview cabin on deck 4. Did you have a window or porthole?

gypsygirl

Emerald Seas 1985
Caribe 1986
Carnivale 1991
Westward 1993
Fantasy 1994
Fantasy 1995
Fascination 1997
Destiny 2001
Enchantment 2002
Sovereign 2004
Serenade 2004

[KellyJean]

Thanks for sharing your experience on the Sovereign with us. Glad you had a good time!

Either something has changed since our cruise last September or we just had a great porter. When we disembarked and got our luggage, we caught a porter close by. He put our bags on a cart, asked us for our forms and took off with us right on his heels. He showed the forms or gave them to someone as we were exiting the terminal. Not sure which but he handled everything for us. From the time we got downstairs, we had our bags and were out the door in 5 minutes.

Kelly

My Cruise Pics: [url="http://community.webshots.com/user/kfrancis5"]http://community.webshots.com/user/kfrancis5[/url]

Cruise Critic Partae Pirates Cruise
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;02;13;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
[img]http://hometown.aol.com/build17/myhomepage/partaepiratessmallsmall.gif?mtbrand=AOL_US[/img]

Carnival Miracle 02/13/05
Sovereign of the Seas, Cabin #4057 - 9/21/03
Brilliance of the Seas, Cabin #8670 - 11/09/2002
Paradise, Cabin E194 - 09/01/2001
Atlantic, 12/1991

[rosecitycruisers]

Kelly I guarantee security has tightened up, what they do is let about 25-30 in the custom & immigration room at a time, then you are directed to one of the agents, this is done before you get to the bagage area then on the way out with your bags is when you hand your form to one of the agents at the door, they check it, look over what you are carrying out and either they will let you go or do a bag check..we were 2 liters over, he ask what we had and then said it was under $10 duty so let us go. I agree we went on the Glory last Sept and it was the way hyou mentioned....so be prepared.

gypsygirl..I think there were some windows on 4 but I don't think many.
Jim

Enchantment of the Seas 1997
Grand Princess 1998
Carnival Celebration 1999
Enchantment of the Seas 2000
Enchantment of the Seas 2001
Carnival Pride 2002
Carnival Glory 2003
Sovereign of the Seas 5/3/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2004;05;3;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0400[/img]
Mariner of the Seas 10/24/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;10;24;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0400[/img]

[Barva]

Yes, security has changed completely at Port Canaveral. We went on the Sovereign at Christmas and then at Easter. It was totally different and tighter feeling in April than in December. And yes, it took longer in April.

The Sovereign is just a wonderful grande dame in our eyes and hearts. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Barbara
Monarch 6/02, 4/03
Enchantment 7/03
Sovereign 12/03, 4/04
Voyager to Canada 7/04
Navigator 12/04

[malefevre]

Was there a midnight buffet?? Did you feel "cramped" on the smaller ship? Did you run into a lot of crowds?? I have a "guaranteed cabin" for the 5-10-04 sailing - no room assignment yet. Any idea if it makes a difference as to whether you check in early, or late, to receive a good room assignment w/ a visit from the up grade fairy? I am all packed...even I'm surpised. My husband couldn't believe I got it all in one carry suitcase.

Lorene
RCCL Nordic Empress 2-1998
Carnival Jubilee 2-2001
RCCL Explorer 9-2003
RCCL Sovereign 5-2004
RCCL Mariner 10-2004

[caribbeancats]

Thanks for the review. We are planning sailing her in August. We have sailed her before & she is a grand lady.

'til Mariner of the Seas
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;1;23;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[rosecitycruisers]

Lorene..I don't think there was a midnight buffet but then doing the late seating food wasn't really on our mind. I'm sure you guy have already been assigned a cabin and yes it kinda felt crowed especially in the Dining room, seem like they really packed in the tables, they can handle over 3000 passengers. However there were always deck chairs and windjamer tables available. Only time it felt really crowded was the morning when everone was hanging out on decks 4,5,&7 for debark. Wished you would give Pat a hint on packing, expecially shoes.
Jim

Enchantment of the Seas 1997
Grand Princess 1998
Carnival Celebration 1999
Enchantment of the Seas 2000
Enchantment of the Seas 2001
Carnival Pride 2002
Carnival Glory 2003
Sovereign of the Seas 2004
Mariner of the Seas 10/24/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;10;24;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0400[/img]

[yarlenna]

Your review made me smile. Sovereign is a wonderful ship - and I am glad you had a good time with her.

[img]http://members.aol.com/SharonWsmn/pg5/catwalk4.gif[/img]
Work like a dog. Live like a pauper. Save all your money. Then Cruise!
[img]http://members.aol.com/SharonWsmn/pg5/catwalk3.gif[/img]

[cantwait2cruz]

HI! You and I must almost be neighbors! By your user name and from: south georgia, I assume you are from Thomasville???????? I am from Valdosta. I was born in Thomasville and lived there a few years ago after I graduated from VSU.

My husband and I are sailing on the Sovereign (for our second time) in September.

Glad to hear you had a great time. Our first trip was wonderful and I fully expect for this one to be just as great!

Toni

Toni

Sovereign of the Seas 5/5/02
Carnival Pride 3/22/03

Counting down to Sovereign 9/20/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;9;20;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[flamingosun]

Sounds as though they have really tightened up security at PC since we last sailed out of here... wasn't that tight in FLL in Apr, either.
A good thing even if it takes a bit longer, I guess.
Gee - your review made me really miss the Sovereign... seems like it's been forever. Can't wait til August. (and Spetember)
Yarlenna - I am really enjoying your running kitties!
[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=939097554&m=765101151"]CLICK[/url] to read about the Roatan CSI School/Orphanage cruisers are 'adopting.'

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;08;23;13;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]   'til we re-board our beloved Sovereign!

then, Sovereign again ...
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;09;24;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

Sovereign 01/02, 11/02, 6/03, 08/03, 09/03
Fantasy 06/2002
Mariner 12/03 , Radiance 04/04

[cruzn buckeye]

We are considering weekend cruise on the Sovereign and are glad to hear that although it is an older ship that people are really enjoying this cruise.
We are considering booking a cat h-oceanview guarantee. Has anyone done this and did you get an upgrade to a higher deck or larger cabin?
Thanks!