 |
 |
|
Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Maricel Chan
Email: maricelchan@usa.net
Age: 27
Occupation: Exec Asst
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Sovereign
SailingDate: 03/27/00
Itinerary: Miami-Nassau-CocoCay-Key West
Cabin: 6551K
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 93
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 96
CabinAmenities: 93
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 96
FoodMidnightBuffets: 96
CabinSteward: 94
ShoreExcVariety: 93
FoodVariety: 96
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 87
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 98
GoodForFamilies: 96
LoungeService:
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 96
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 96
OverallPortsofCall: 93
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 96
EmbarkDisembark: 94
DiscoNightclubs: 94
DeckSpace: 94
Stabilization: 96
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 24 Apr 2000
Time: 23:54:54
Remote Name: c40730-b.pinol1.sfba.home.com
Remote User:
Comments
This was a first-time cruise for me, my husband and 3-year old daughter. We did not get the air/sea program
because we wanted to stay in Miami for a few days, which we did prior to the cruise. The embarkation line was
quite long, but it went by quickly. We had all our forms filled out before we checked in but were told that one of
the forms was no longer good so we had to fill out the new ones. We had an inside stateroom that came with
two bunk beds. It was not a big room, and we didn't expect it to be since we did not get a suite or anything like
that. We had our cabin steward put the beds together and had plenty of bed/sleeping space for the three of
us. My daughter did not use the bunk bed because we were afraid that she might fall off the bed. Our
luggages got dropped off as soon as we checked out our room. After that we headed to the buffet at the
Windjammer Cafe. There was a good variety of food and pretty tasty, too. Some had indicated that the food
were not hot enough at the buffet, but I thought it was not that bad. We had our lunch/snack outside the cafe.
After that, we decided to just hang out by the pool deck, relax and listen to the carribean band playing. We
wanted to stay longer, but we decided to go and sign up for the excursions. There were a lot of people trying
to sign up. They only required those who are interested in certain tours such as jet ski in CocoCay to get in
line. For the rest of the tours, just fill out the form and drop in the box. We picked the Blackbeard excursion in
Nassau, and my husband signed up for a 9:00 waverunner tour in CocoCay. After all the sign ups, it was time
to get ready for the main seating dinner. We had our dinner for all four nights at the Kismet dining room. It was
pretty nice, and the service was great, especially to our 3-year old. The head waiter was always attending to
our needs, the asst waiter gave me coke instead of iced tea twice, but he was also nice. The food was not
bad, not that "gourmet", but not casual either. We were seated with another family of three from Florida. The
first night was a little awkward, but the following nights were much better. Our timing was perfect because it
was spring break, so there was a good variety of people at the cruise. After dinner, we went back to our cabin
to freshen up and learned that we didn't get in the Blackbeard Cay excursion but were put on the waiting list.
We attended the children's program's orientation. I thought that they had great programs for the different age
groups. Unfortunately, our daughter did not want to be in the program so we ended up tagging her along with
us, which is fine, after all this vacation was supposed to be a time for us to spend together. We watched the
shows, and they were pretty entertaining. The next thing we know, it was midnight and we headed to the
midnight buffet.
The ship was already docked in Nassau when we got up the following morning. The sailing was pretty smooth,
and we didn't hear any noise so we had a good night sleep. We went up to Windjammer to get some
breakfast. The food was good, but I was disappointed that they did not have any corned beef hash (which is
my favorite). But that's okay, I'm not going to die without it. We heard an announcement that some of the tours
got canceled because of the strong wind. We took a limo with four guys (teenagers) from the cruise to Atlantis
in Paradise Island. Atlantis is nice, but they won't let you in their beach area or other facilities unless you're a
hotel guest or you can always pay $25 per person, which we thought was pretty expensive. We walked around
the hotel and decided to head back to downtown to do some shopping. I preferred to shop at the dept stores
instead of the straw market because I didn't feel like haggling and bargaining that day so I don't really know
good of a deal you can get at the market. I was only asked twice by natives to get my hair braided, I heard that
some ladies were bombarded with that. We head back to the ship to grab lunch at the Windjammer, and my
husband decided to stay at the cabin with my daughter to take a nap. I decided to go back to do more
shopping, and we agreed to meet at the beach real close to the ship. Unfortunately, I got carried away with the
shopping. Although running late, I started to walk towards the beach but decided to head back because the
short way to the beach was in the middle of construction and didn't want to take the long way. My husband
and daughter had already left for the beach when I came back to our cabin, so I decided to wait for them by
the pool. The next thing I know, they were there looking for me. They were also running late so they decided
not to go. We then got ready for our formal night. Everyone at the cruise was dressed up. We had a good
dinner and also felt more comfortable with our dinnermates. After dinner, we went to get our pictures taken.
Some of the lines were pretty long, so be prepared to wait. We met the guys (teenagers) who we shared the
limo with going to Atlantis. They told us that they finally found a "free" beach (not Atlantis) in Paradise Island,
and one of the guys rented a waverunner for $20 for half hour, what a bargain. My husband paid $85 for 50
minutes for the waverunner tour in CocoCay, oh well. We changed to something more comfortable and
headed to The Not so Newlywed game. It was hilarious, a must see. After that was a comedy show which was
also very funny. The midnight buffet was held at the pool deck that night with music and dancing. It was fun.
Disney Cruise was docked right next to us, and we were glad we didn't take that cruise because it was pretty
quiet while we were having a blast.
My husband had to get up early next morning for his 9:00 waverunner tour. My daughter and I kind of slept in
and then head to Windjammer for breakfast. Then the two of us took the tender to CocoCay. It was a small
island but big enough for the cruisers. We got there around 10:30 so there were still plenty of lounge chairs. It
was such a nice day. My husband had a tough time looking for us because more and more people were
heading to the island by the time he was done with his tour. He didn't really enjoyed the waverunner tour
because he had to keep up with the group, he could not take his time or stop to take a look at the
lighthouse/islands if we wanted to. We spent time at the water (kind of cold), someone indicated that the water
in Fort Lauderdale was much warmer. The bbq lunch was wonderful, except it was kind of hard to find tables
under the shade. My husband snorkedled all the way to where the sunken airplane was and took some
pictures. My daughter and I just played at the water, and I was able to get some tan while sipping Coco Loco's.
I wish we could spent more time there. We turned in early that night, almost right after the dinner. We were so
beat we didn't get to see any show.
We didn't sign up for any tour in Key West. My intention was to do some walking exploration. They had conch
trains dropping people off by Mallory Square. There was a parked electric car with a "rent me" sign on it so we
inquired about it. One of the street vendor hooked us up. We paid about $40 an hour for a four-seater one,
with a minimum of 2 hours rental. My husband was sore from the previous day's activities so it was perfect. We
were able to drive up the coast and almost circled the island, except for the highway on the north side where
electric cars were prohibited. After we returned the electric car, we walked around Mallory Square to do some
shopping. We also had a light lunch at Hog's Breath and then did more shopping. It's a pretty neat town, and I
wish we had spent more time here.
Overall, we enjoyed the cruise. The only thing we didn't like about it was the very limited time we spent on
each island and the restricted activities/exploration. On our previous vacations in Hawaii and Mexico (not a
cruise), we had plenty of time to relax and explore. I understand there's a cruise to Bermuda where you can
spend three days or all seven days at the island, so that may be the next cruise for us. But Royal Carribean
has been a wonderful experience, and we will not hesitate to take this cruiseline again for our future cruise,
possibly to Bermuda.
Name: S. Deptula
Email: scoobee@gateway.net
Age: 34
Occupation: Finance
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Sovereign
SailingDate: April 7, 2000
Itinerary: Bahamas/CocoCay
Cabin: 6533G
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 94
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 94
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 94
DeckService: 89
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 91
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 95
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 97
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 94
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 100
AirSeaProgram: 98
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 97
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 89
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 97
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 08 May 2000
Time: 18:25:41
Remote Name: 1cust19.tnt1.brentwood.ny.da.uu.net
Remote User:
Comments
This was our 1st cruise. (1st vacation without the kids).He had waited a long time for this! Our flight from NY
was delayed. I was a nervouse wreck that a rep. from RCCL would not be there to meet us, as planned,
because of our late arrival. Bob was there, with a smile, and had us on a bus withing 10 minutes. We arrived in
port at 4:45 with only 15 minutes before sailing time. We were very happy to find that our cabin was upgraded,
not once but twice. We originally booked the cheapest cabin on deck 2 and ended up on deck 6 which was
wonderful. There was a slight delay getting our luggage because of this upgrade, but nothing to get excited
about. Yes, the cabins are small, but they wer comfortable for us. We didn't unpack everything so we kept the
large luggage under the bed (very comfortable) and carry-on in the closet. There was plenty of room. When
we finally got to the Shore Excursion desk we were very disappointed to find that the tours we had planned to
take were already fully booked. I do not fault RCCL for this. (Remember our flight was delayed) Only 18
people were accepted for the dolphin swim. We did however sign up for the Yellow Bird tour. My advise - sign
up for the tours as soon as you get on board. We had dinner in the Gigi room which was wonderful. Our
waiter, Nuno, was fabulous! So funny and always around when you needed him. The food was delicious
whether it was dinner or breakfast. The portions are not very large, but if you're still hungry after salad,
appetizers, bread, main course and dessert, you could always ask for more. Our favorite bar was the
Schooner, next to the casino.
The bar is small, but the tables next to the portholes were comfortable and it
was nice to watch the other ships in the distance. The piano player wasn't the greatest singer but he was
entertaining. In the beginning we we tipping the bartenders & wait staff - then we realized that tips were added
to the price of the drinks. Watch out for the Long Island Iced Teas! They really sneak up on you - or me
atleast. The casino was alot of fun. My husband is not a gambler at all. I like the slots. There were some
jackpots hit (not by us), but the machines kept us busy with small payoffs. My favorite slot was 'Roaring
Twenties'. Saturday morning we went into Nassau on our own. As soon as we got off the ship the local people
were all over us like flies on honey. My husband was going to get 2 beaded bracelets, to take home for the
kids, for a 'small donation'. He was going to give the guy a few dollars but he guy GRABBED a $10 and ran
away yellin '2 for $10!' If you don't care for that kind of thing (which we didn't) make sure you get into a
tour.The Yellow Bird Tour was ok. The rum punch was horrible, but the island they took us to was very nice.
We played bingo, went dancing, back to the casino.
Skipped formal night and ate in the windjammer. The food
isn't as fancy but it was very good. Midnight chocolate thing was wonderful. Everything chocolate you could
imagine. My favorites were the fresh dipped strawberries, bananas and especially the grapes. Mmmmmm!
Sunday - Coco Cay. We weren't able to go because of the windy weather conditions. We were bummed! We
were really looking forward to snorkeling, the beach and the bar-b-que. The day at sea was kind of a let down.
To compensate us all RCCL did was give us a choice of a few drinks (none non-alcoholic-not even soda or
water) and only for a few hours in the morning. I think they added a few pool games, but with everyone
poolside on a sunny day it was hard to see or even find a lounge chair. Oh, and the had breakfast open for an
extra hour. The way we see it, we weren't really compensated at all. So anyway, we would do it again - with
Royal Carribean- but we would make it later in the year to hopefully bypass the windy season. (we had heard
Coco Cay was cancelled the week before also) We are even condsidering taking a flight the day before, to
avoid any flight delays, to insure that we had a coice of tours. Its not something we have to do in the next few
years as people of all ages were aboard and seemed to enjoy themselves. If you're still thinking about it - just
do it! It was fun and it was great to get away for a few days.
Name: Jason & Donna VanMeter
Email: vanmeter@creative-net.net
Age: 33/32
Occupation: supervisor/insurance
NumberOfCruises: 0
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Sovereign
SailingDate: April 28, 2000
Itinerary: Nassau/CocoCay
Cabin: 4565L
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 99
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 99
GoodForFamilies: 99
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 99
GoodForSeniors: 85
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 99
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 10 May 2000
Time: 00:40:50
Remote Name: 12.14.220.176
Remote User:
Comments
My husband and I booked this cruise about 6 months in advance for our upcoming 10 year anniversary. We
searched several on-line websites and ended up getting the same identical price from a local travel agency.
Since we were new to cruising, we thought we would choose the air-sea package. After we got our tickets
(about 3 weeks before our sailing date) we figured out we had made a big mistake. We were scheduled to fly
out of Louisville, KY and thought for sure the cruise line would put us on the most appropriate schedule
however we were not scheduled to fly out until 11:30 a.m. with a change-over in Charlotte, North Carolina and
then we were to arrive in Miami at 3:30 p.m. Thanks to the earlier reviews I had read, I knew how important it
was to arrive onboard early, to explore the ship, get unpacked, hit the lunch buffet, etc... According to their
schedule, we would barely be making it to the ship before it sailed.
On a 3 night cruise, you want all the time
you can get. My travel agent agreed and checked with the airlines and found that there was an earlier flight
out of Louisville, leaving at 6:10 a.m., transferring in Charlotte, and arriving in Miami at 10:10 a.m. As it turned
out, the earlier flight was wide open. So, was there a problem getting it changed? Absolutely. It turns out that
Royal Caribbean states we should've paid the extra charge for Custom Air, where you pick your flights.
Common sense should've told them which flight to pick for us. We didn't feel like we should've had to pay extra
for someone at the cruise line to use their brain. After 2 days of calling the custom air department and
complaining, (a supervisor was never supposedly there to talk to), they agreed to change the flight schedule
for a $70.00 charge. I finally gave up and told them to forget it. I didn't feel like I should pay to correct their
inconsiderate error. Funny, after I asked the lady if she had ever heard of cruiseopinion.com, I received a call
the very next day telling me they were going to re-issue the tickets and put us on the flight we wanted at no
charge! I had to federal express the original tickets back to them ($13.00 charge) and I received the new ones
the following week. As it turned out, the flight we had, the transfers at the airport and everything else to do
with the air/sea package turned out to be fantastic.
We couldn't have asked for anything simpler. But, live and
learn. Next time, we will choose their package but pay the additional charge to make sure another incompetent
employee doesn't choose a bad flight for us. I just think it's a shame to have to pay extra to make sure
someone uses common sense. The first night we were on board, the captain made an announcement that we
would be sailing about 1 1/2 to 2 hours late. It seemed that approximately 21 people (using the air/sea
package) couldn't make it to the ship on time. Their flight apparently got delayed. It would've been 23 if we
hadn't got OUR flight changed. The ship left approximately 7:00 p.m. and everything was smooth sailing from
there. We never felt the ship move. Both my husband and myself had gotten the prescription for the motion
sickness patch. We put the patch behind our ear right before we boarded and apparently they worked. On the
day we took the tender to CocoCay, it was a smooth ride over but on the way back, the waves were choppy
and it started raining. The tender was rocking back and forth so hard that the people on the bottom level were
getting soaked from the waves and the people on top were getting soaked from the rain. It was too rough to
get us back on the ship so we sat there in the ocean for about half an hour before they could take a hold of
the tender and get it stable enough for us to get back on. I feel that they did an excellent job. They got some
of the little kids back on first and then a woman that had gotten sick. They really seemed concerned about the
safety of the passengers.
It was really interesting to be sitting on the tender with it being thrashed all over the
ocean and look at the Sovereign and it wasn't even budging an inch. I had read one review where someone
said they couldn't explain it but while they were on board the ship, they never felt it move and they never got
sea-sick, but once they got back home, they felt like everything was swaying. That is exactly what happened to
us. My husband felt that way for a couple of days after the cruise. Mine lasted a week. It's really strange to feel
like your house is moving back and forth but yet your vacation went as smooth as could be! Embarkation was
a complete breeze. When we boarded the bus at the airport, a fellow hopped onboard and told us what
papers to have ready when we got to this ship. Upon arriving, we went right up to the area where they have
plenty of people to help you. We gave them a credit card for our onboard purchases, they checked our i.d.
and gave us our Sail and Sign cards. We had to wait until 12:00 to actually board the ship and was told that
our rooms wouldn't be ready until after 2:00, but this wasn't a problem. We had packed our swimsuits in a
carry on bag and we changed in the bathrooms right outside the pool area. This was, of course, after we went
to the Windjammer for the welcome buffet. The food was just OK, nothing spectacular. They served fried
chicken, salad, sandwiches, etc. You could get iced tea, lemonade, or water. The iced tea was way too strong.
Tip: pack a 12 pack of your favorite soft drinks to enjoy during breakfast or lunch. The only time you could get
free soft drinks was in the dining room.
There was always soft drinks available in your cabin, but if you drank
one, you were charged $1.50. Bottled water was either $2.25 or $2.50. I can't remember the exact price. We
ate breakfast and lunch in the Windjammer every day. Breakfast was always delicious. They had orange juice,
coffee, cereal, oats, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, omelettes, hashbrowns, fruit, etc... Everything was
always cooked just right. For lunch they had hamburgers, sandwiches, salads and quick foods. It was o.k. We
never used room service with all the other food available. We ate dinner in the dining room every night. Our
waiter was Kamuran and our assistant waiter was Tankut. They were both from Turkey. Kamuran was very
nice. One night I asked for 2 shrimp cocktails and he quickly obliged. On the first two nights, when I asked for
a certain dressing for my salad (1000 Island) he told me I needed to try something different, that I could
always get 1000 Island at my local Denny's Restaurant. So, I took his advice and tried the Florida orange
dressing and the Caesar dressing. They were both good, but on the last night, after I pleaded and begged for
1000 Island, he had the assistant waiter bring some to me. We tried alot of different foods, some were
delicious and some were just not edible. We never went hungry, though.
One night we even had to skip
dessert. We were just too stuffed. If it's available, try the strawberry soup for starters. It's wonderful! An
interesting note: we both asked for soft drinks with our meal. We always got the first one, but could never
seem to get a refill. We would ask and ask and ask. Funny, on the last night (tip night) when we sat down, they
immediately brought us each a soft drink, diet for me and regular for my husband. They remembered. Maybe
it's because we always had to repeatedly ask for them on the previous nights. On the last night, we never had
to ask for a refill. Go figure. We had 5 other people at our table: a really nice couple, about our age, from
Miami and 3 men from Quebec. The men from Quebec were very cordial but mostly spoke French with each
other so we couldn't tell what they were saying. The rest of us all had a joke that they must've been talking
about us! We all had a good time and a very pleasant dining experience. There was no lobster available on
the cruise. The first night was Italian night. We both ordered a New York Strip steak which was excellent. The
second night was International night, and the last night was French night. We ordered the Filet Mignon and
Prime Rib. All were cooked just right. On the last night, the waiters sang a song for the entire crowd which was
pretty entertaining. Then the head waiter brought over an anniversary cake to my husband and me and a few
of them sang Happy Anniversary. That was a special touch.
Even though we chose the early seating for
dinner, we were always too stuffed and too tired to make it to the midnight buffets although we were told they
were excellent. Our cabin steward, Stacey, was excellent. Our luggage was delivered to our cabin around 4:00
p.m. and since we were so anxious to explore the ship, we didn't really bother to put anything away. Not a
problem - when we came back, Stacey had stored everything in the closet for us, nice and neat. Our beds
were turned down, with a mint on our pillows. Speaking of the cabin, we were on the main deck and it was very
small, but very cozy. It has everything you need, it's just compact. My husband and I had a joke between us
the first few days. You had to step up to get to the little bathroom and neither one of us could ever remember
to step up the right way. There is no telling how many times we tore the skin off of the tops of our feet going to
the bathroom. It got to be pretty funny! We never ran out of hot water in our cabin, but heard alot of
complaints from other passengers about cold water. The first day there, we couldn't get the shower head to
stay up in the slot. It kept falling down and hitting us in the head!
The next day we didn't have a problem with
it. I guess Stacey realized there was a problem with it and corrected it. Shampoo, conditioner, and soap is
provided for you so don't bother to bring your own unless you want a particular brand. And don't overpack.
You won't need several changes of clothes. I called and ordered fresh towels one time and they were
delivered (with a smile) within 10 minutes. We never really heard any noise outside our cabin until the last
night. Apparently there was alot of high school-aged kids on our floor and they decided to get a little loud. It
sounded like they were running up and down the halls right outside our door. We just went to our door once
and looked out and they calmed down right away. We never heard anything else from them. CocoCay is the
most beautiful island. You've got to try their frozen drink, the Coco Loco. It's $5.95 and worth every penny. It's
available with or without alcohol. We asked them what was in it and they told us pineapple, papaya, coconut,
and rum. You get to keep the plastic cup it comes in. Be sure to rent a floating mat, $8.00 a day. For lunch at
CocoCay, they fixed a delicious BBQ. You could get hamburgers, BBQ ribs, chicken, baked beans, etc. Once
again though, they only served Kool-Aid and tea. This is why you should pack along your own soft drinks.
On
the island, they have some stands that sell t-shirts and souveniers. They will not come down on the prices
here like they will in Nassau. Speaking of Nassau, we didn't like it. We had heard it was poor and dirty and
they were exactly right. When we first got off the ship, there was a lady to approach us. She put a bracelet on
both of our wrists and told us they were a gift from her to us and they would bring us good luck. When we
thanked her and tried to walk off, she told us she wanted $5.00 from each of us so she could donate the
money to buy a bus for handicapped children. My husband reached in his pocket and handed her $3.00 and
we walked off. Something tells me that no handicapped children will ever see the first penny from this woman!
We then proceeded to the straw market where we were hassled everywhere we walked. They all have about
the same stuff so don't buy the first thing you see. I priced a necklace for my daughter at one booth for $18.00
and walked right around the corner and bought the same identical necklace for $8.00. And everyone has a
'morning special just for you'. We couldn't wait to get back on the ship and enjoy the pool. Several people
went to the Atlantis Hotel on Paradise Island and thoroughly enjoyed it. We should've gone but the straw
market thing wore us both out just haggling with the vendors. Tip: Avoid the market! By the way, the necklace
has already turned colors. While we were docked in Nassau, we noticed the Carnival ship, Ecstasy, right
beside us. The Sovereign looked so much bigger and nicer. However, the Disney Magic was next to us too. It
is absolutely beautiful. It looked to be a little bit bigger than the Sovereign. As for the shows, we really enjoyed
the Newlywed Game on board. The cruise director hosted it and asked the questions and it was hilarious! The
next day, they show it continously on one of the channels in your room, so if you miss it, you can see it on TV.
We also went to a show with an entertainer called El Gaucho. He was a Mexican man that played the piano
and danced. We got bored and left after about 20 minutes. One night we went to the theater and saw a movie.
There was only about 10 people in the whole theater. My husband and I both couldn't get over the ship being
fully booked but nothing was ever crowded. There was always a deck chair available by the pool and clean
towels were always furnished. The bar staff was always coming by to see if you needed anything to drink, but I
never noticed them being pushy. One day by the pool, they had a men's Sexy legs contest which was pretty
funny. They also had an ice carving demonstration and a belly flop contest. Since the Windjammer is on the
same level as the pool, we would go in there every afternoon and get pizza, hot dogs, ice cream, and
lemonade and take out by the pool. We both gained weight while on this trip! Debarkation was so easy. If you
used a credit card when you sign in, you don't have to do anything else on your account. On the last morning,
they slip your statement under your door so you can verify it is correct. If it is, your credit card is simply billed.
They actually left off one of our drink charges. Your bags have to be outside your door by midnight on the last
night. You are given a color and on the last day, when your color is called, you simply go down to the baggage
carousels and get your luggage on the rotating carousels. It is so simple and then you just walk off the ship.
We were back to the airport in no time. Looking back, this was one of the most relaxing vacations we have
ever had. The weather was gorgeous, the ship was very clean and easy to get around, and the staff was
excellent. We are already talking about booking another cruise for next year. Although the Sovereign is ideal
for a short trip, we want to try one of the newer Royal Caribbean ships for a 7 day cruise. Whatever we do, we
will stick with Royal Caribbean. (Just remember - CUSTOM AIR) Any questions, feel free to Email me. Happy
Sailing!
Name: Karen Hansen
Email: khansen4@ameritech.net
Age: 34
Occupation: engineer
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Sovereign
SailingDate: May 15, 2000
Itinerary: Miami, Nassau, Coco Cay, Key West
Cabin: 5029
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 80
FoodRoomService: 75
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 82
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland: 98
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 20 May 2000
Time: 20:21:11
Remote Name: dyn1-tnt8-64.detroit.mi.ameritech.net
Remote User:
Comments
We loved traveling on the Sovereign of the Seas for a four-day cruise to the Bahamas and Key West.
Ship Appearance and Activities: The public areas of the ship were beautiful and mostly well maintained. The
centrum area was beautiful with the open atrium effect - lots of daylight and glass. Our stateroom was what
we expected, small but with lots of places to store things. I didn't restrain myself when packing and there was
plenty of room for clothes and cosmetics. The only sign that our stateroom was on the older side was the tile
in the shower. It had been patched in a different color than the original and the grout was not in great shape.
Otherwise everything looked nice - not brand new, but not overly worn either.
Entertainment: We went to the evening show every night and enjoyed them all. We had the second (late)
seating for dinner. The first two nights (Miami and Nassau) the showtime for the guests with second (late)
seating was after dinner (10:45 and 11:00). The last two nights (Coco Cay and Key West) the showtime for
the second seating was before dinner at 7:15. Two of the shows featured the 'Wave Revue' Singes and
Dancers in medley-type musicals. 'Rock on Broadway' featured rock songs from Broadway musicals such as
Hair, Chess, and Tommy. 'Blast from the Past' was a 50's show with songs and costumes from that era. The
other two nights, the entertainment included comedians (Don Ware and Jeff the Juggler). They were both
very good.
Dining Rooms: Of the two dining rooms, Kismet was more elegant and up to date. The Gigi dining room was
nice, but the chairs and décor were a little more worn. Our dining room table was at the edge of the center
section of the dining room. Next time, we will request a table near the windows or at least on the outer 'ring' of
tables. Our table was right next to the waiter's station and we could see the tub for food scraps and dirty
dishes. At lunch one day we sat near the windows and this was all hidden from our view - it was nicer.
Food: The 'embarkation snack' in the Windjammer was not at all impressive. Maybe this was because we got
there near the end of the serving time. The food looked like it had been sitting around a while and the variety
wasn't very great. This turned us off on the Windjammer and we didn't eat there again. The food in the dining
room was sometimes good, sometimes excellent. Our waiter often brought over a few of the choices for
appetizers and desserts so we could see what they looked like before ordering, and this was very nice. On
our cruise, the dinner themes were Italian night (shrimp scampi), French night (beef filet with peppercorn
sauce), Caribbean night (mahi mahi with a fruit salsa), and International night (prime rib, scallops, duck).
There were 4 to 6 choices for the entrée every night. Sadly, we did not go to the midnight buffet any of the
nights (too tired and too full from dinner). On Coco cay, they served lunch on the island (bbq chicken and
ribs, hamburgers, etc…). The dining rooms were also open on the ship at lunch. The best drink I tried was
called the Love Connection - a three layer frozen drink with Strawberry Daiquiri on the bottom, Pina Colada in
the middle, and some sort of mango drink on top. It was heavenly!!!
Shore Excursions: In Nassau we did the Catamaran Reef Snorkeling. There were several choices for
snorkeling. The boat was great - a very smooth ride with both sun and shade. We visited two snorkeling sites
- both excellent. We saw a great variety of fish and coral. The seas were very smooth and visibility was great.
The catamaran had a great feature - they had a ramp with steps that lowered into the water and it made
getting in and out of the water very easy.
On Coco cay we went scuba diving. Our guide, Mark, was great. We hadn't been diving in the last 5 years
and he and the other shore staff helped us suit up and check out equipment. Mark accompanied 3 other
guests and us on the 35-foot dive. We swam from shore to the reef (about 10 minutes each way), and the
dive was about 35 minutes long. I was somewhat disappointed by the visibility - maybe the cruise ship kicks
up a lot of sand and silt. The fish and coral were pretty - but we saw more (quantity and variety) on the
snorkeling trip in Nassau. Coco cay was great - a beautiful island with lots of places to relax.
In Key West we took the Nature Kayak tour. We spent about 1 1/2 hours kayaking through the canals,
mangrove swamps and salt marshes of Key West. The mangrove swamps were the best part. The 'streams'
went through forests of mangrove where the mangrove trees grew in a canopy overhead. In many places,
you didn't need your paddle - you could just grab the branches with your hands and pull your kayak along.
There were one-person and two-person kayaks. The water was always very calm with virtually no current. To
us it didn't seem much harder than canoeing. No one on our excursion (about 15 kayaks?) capsized and we
never felt in danger of tipping. We didn't expect to see wildlife but we saw a lot - lots of jelly fish, sea sponges,
fish, and crabs. Our guides were excellent.
If you typically tip guides who provide excellent service, don't forget to bring cash on the shore excursions.
We didn't bring any cash on the snorkeling trip and felt badly that we couldn't tip the crew who were so helpful
and fun.
In Key West, even though there is a pier for the ship, you still need to take a (free) tram into town. You could
walk - but it is about a mile (estimated) walk to downtown along the road with not much to see. The pier is part
of the U.S. Navy base. Our kayak guide said that the city of Key West is negotiating to buy the land. The
trams ran every 15 minutes from the ship to the corner of Duval and Whitehead.
Name: Mandy
Email: twomoodys@prodigy.net
Age: 22
Occupation: radiation therapist
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Sovereign
SailingDate: May 15, 2000
Itinerary: Nassau, CoCo Cay, Key West
Cabin: 3612
FoodDiningRoom: 97
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 98
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 98
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService:
TenderService: 100
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 97
CruiseActivities:
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities: 90
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 22 May 2000
Time: 22:00:35
Remote Name: petrb103-06.splitrock.net
Remote User:
Comments
This was our first cruise. It was a college graduation present from my husband. We could not have asked for
a better time. We were a little concerned because my husband had to have emergency knee surgery less
than two weeks before the cruise but nonetheless we had an excellent time.
Embarkation was a breeze. One of the representatives met us with a wheelchair and helped us through the
entire process. I was concerned about getting seasick while on the cruise. We could not even tell that we
were moving when we left Miami. It was wonderful.
We went to Nassau, CoCo Cay and Key West. All were wonderful. We just needed more time at each place.
At Nassau, we went on the glass bottom boat which was neat. Then we shopped. Everyone was nice at
Nassau. I will say that you sould not go into the straw market unless you feel like being hassled. We had to
leave after a few minutes because you could not look around without being constantly hassled. We also went
on a horse and carraige ride which was nice.
The next day was CoCo Cay. It was great. We chose to snorkel there. The snorkeling there was very easy.
My husband was able to snorkel there with his knee with no problem. We also rented the floating mats which
was nice. We mainly spent the day there just lounging. It was gorgeous.
The last day was at Key West. We did the Trolley tour which I was not impressed with. Our tour guide seemed
like she was an airhead. Maybe with a different tour guide it is better. The shopping was good there. But if
you are looking for a bargain, your best bet is at Nassau.
As for on the ship, our cruise was completely booked yet it never seemed crowded. Our cabin was small, as
to be expected, but there was enough room and the beds were comfortable. Our cabin steward was excellent.
As for food, we went to the Windjammer for the first couple meals. I would highly recommend going to the
dining room for as many meals as possible. The food is better there. There is more of a selection in the
dining room, the service is excellent, and the sodas are free only in the dining room. The Windjammer was
okay but the dining room was much better.
Debarkation was not as easy as embarkation. You have to get your luggage and take it to the buses yourself.
There was no representative to help with this. It proved very interesting to push my husband in a wheelchair
and try to carry all of our luggage by myself. The whole thing just seemed like mass confusion. This is the
only complaint I had about the whole cruise.
Overall, we had a great time. I would like to have had longer at each port but what can you expect with a 4
day cruise. I would definitely cruise with Royal Carribean again.
Name: Perry & Rene Foy
Email: Renefoy@aol.com
Age: 35
Occupation: Operations Manager
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-Sovereign
SailingDate: 4/24/00
Itinerary: Bahamas/Coco Cay/Key West
Cabin: 4069
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService:
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 24 May 2000
Time: 19:06:02
Remote Name: spider-tf013.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
This was our first cruise as a family. We have a 4 y/o son and 7 y/o daughter. We drove to Miami from
Tampa. It was easy to find the cruise terminal; although you might want to make sure that you have directions
as you have to go through some somewhat rough areas of town to get to it. We arrived at 1:30 and parked
the car directly across from the terminal after dropping off our luggage to a bellman. The embarkation
process took about 30 minutes after filling out the necessary paperwork and waiting in line to get our
boarding cards.
Upon entering the ship you notice how elegant she is. Although this ship is over 10 years old, she still holds
her own as far as not looking dated. We went to check out our room. We were on level 4. I have to admit that
the room was smaller than I had thought it would be. It has everything you need, but in close confines. We
started going a little stir crazy in the room after a few days. It was just too much 'togetherness'. With no
window it was almost claustrophobic. The beds were very comfortable. The shower is very small and the
shower nozzle kept falling off the wall and spraying the whole bathroom. I would recommend packing a smaller
suitcase so you can slide it under the bed to make more room. On our next cruise we have decided it is worth
spending the extra money for more space and a window. In the Kismet dining room the tables are close but
not crowded. We had a window table which the kids really enjoyed. The pool area is crowded with lounge
chairs but that makes it easy to find one. We felt the ship was a perfect size so that you didn't feel stiffled and
it wasn't so large that you couldn't see it all.
The cruise staff was tremendous. Our cabin steward always had our room serviced without us ever seeing
him in there. We went through a lot of towels but never had to ask for a fresh one as Simms had already
worked his magic on our room. The dining staff was very entertaining. They went out of their way to make the
kids smile. They were very complimentary to the ladies, always making us feel special. Our wait staff for our
table was from Turkey. They indulged our personal questions about their jobs and lives outside of work. The
cruise director was very personable during the shows. He had a tough job during our cruise. A passenger
had jumped overboard and perished, a crew member had a severe heart attack and had to taken back to
Miami and two passengers had to be taken away by ambulance in Key West. The cruise director kept us
informed about what was happening during the tragic times. He kept apologizing for the inconvenience to the
passengers, which was very minimal considering what had happened in just a few days. We were only late
getting to Key West by a few hours. You could feel the ship shake somewhat during the night as the captain
rushed the gravely ill crew member back to Miami for treatment. All in all, I think they handled the situation
very professionally.
Nassau isn't much to talk about. It was very hot there. We went on the submarine glass boat. It was interesting
and not too expensive. We went shopping. The natives were not overbearing. If you don't want to buy from
them just keep walking. You can always bargain with them for a lower price. My son took his Gameboy with
him to Nassau and was inundated by the native children curious to see his toy. He got a kick out of showing
them how to play it. Nassau is worth a quick trip to see but we were ready to get back to the ship. Coco Cay is
our favorite. I would recommend getting there somewhat early to get a decent spot to relax and get a chair. If
you don't want to be in the crowds walk a little further out and you will have more room to spread out. The
kids loved the beach. We touched the stingrays that were swimming around the beach area. The Coco Loco
is delicious. We chose the non-alcoholic version which was $4.95. We truly felt like we were in paradise. The
Bar-b-que was good. It was typical picnic fare. We didn't leave the ship in Key West. We had already been
there before and didn't particularly care to see it again. Once was enough.
The food in the Windjammer was adequate. It is standard buffet style food. We only ate there once for
breakfast and twice for lunch. We preferred the Kismet dining room for our meals. If you want to be treated to
nice food I would recommend going there. In the Kismet dining room you have a choice of about 5 items for
each course. The food was interesting and tasty. It's not super gourmet but it will satisfy most people's desire
for a nice meal that they don't get everyday at home. They even have a children's menu which came in very
handy. The family that we were seated with at dinner was very, very nice. We couldn't have asked for more
pleasant dinner companions. They also had two children. We felt totally comfortable with them and even hung
around together for other activities outside of dinner. The wait staff in the dining room truly made the cruise a
special experience. The Midnight buffet is worth going to at least once. One night is was an international
theme by the pool. The food was OK. Another night is was all chocolate. That was interesting. Room service
was fast but the food choices were limited.
My husband's favorite place was the casino. He developed a kinship with a few fellow passengers who also
dreamed of winning their fortunes. The casino is quite adequate to be on a boat. I think most gamblers will be
happy with the casino's offerings. A few people won $5000 on the slot machines. My children really liked the
kids clubs. I was truly impressed at the caliber of activities that the staff offered the kids. My daughter couldn't
wait for us to drop her off at the club. Kudos to the employees that run this department. The shows were
entertaining. The Not so Newly Wed Game was hilarious. Don't miss this one. The comedian had us rolling in
the aisle.
All in all, I would say that this was a great vacation and a great value. You get your money's worth. We will
definitely cruise with RCL again. They are a class act. I like the air of sophistication that this line offers over
their competition.
Want to book your cruise at a great rate?
Click here.
Questions or comments? Mail to webmaster@cruiseopinion.com.
Copyright ©1996-2001 CruiseOpinion.com. Last modified: June 05, 2000.