Welcome to Your Favorites, where you have the opportunity to share your travel experiences with fellow Internet Travelers around the world.

Royal Caribbean International

MV Sovereign of the Seas

Your Rating:
Reviewed by:Don Tripe
# previous cruises: 1
Date of Trip: January 26, 1999
Itinerary: Caribbean

Our 4-day Miami-Nassau-Coco Cay-Key West cruise on Sovereign was a fabulous success. The ship is big enough to feel `new' even after 4 days, but facilities are cleverly positioned so that you feel comfortable getting around by the first night. We found the service and food to be splendid.

The pool deck is extremely attractive -- some sections have open railings, but nearby others are protected from the wind (so you'll be comfortable watching the ocean in any weather except a storm).

Deck 7 is the promenade; it's more spartan, but it's wonderfully functional. It circles the entire perimeter and is ideal for jogging or walking (with a surface that features excellent traction AND a nice amount of `give.')

The pools are smallish but deep, the jacuzzis are popular (and fill quickly during the day), the health club is A++++.

Formal dining is in the Gigi or Kismet rooms; exceedingly attentive and skillful service, superb lunches and dinners with stylish presentation. Breakfasts were also excellent, but if you need to skip one formal meal a day ... breakfast should be the one.

The Windjammer cafe is the informal dining area; buffet-style food that's surprisingly good for what it is. The upside is decent food, low-key atmosphere, convenience, nice views from window tables.

But if you're serious about enjoying top-grade meals, make the effort to dine at Kismet or Gigi.

Our Tween Deck cabin was small, but EVERY inch of space was designed wisely. After unpacking, we were astonished that the room still had a comfortable, uncluttered feel. (Suggestion: Definitely take only soft-sided or collapsible luggage that will store underneath the bed. A hard-sided suitcase would've eaten up a lot of free space).

Sovereign has all cabins forward ... with the noisier public areas, such as bars and nightclubs, aft. In our four nights, we NEVER heard a creak, rumble, flush, voice, or other sound from the hallway or adjoining cabins.

Our cruise director was exceptional -- entertaining on TV, and present every night at the lounges and floor shows. Despite sailing with about 2,400 people, she and her staff were great about getting to know passengers individually.

The entertainment schedule was a shade heavy on karaoke for me, but the great thing about a megaship is that so many choices are available ... if you don't care for the first half-dozen activities on the day's list, just skip down a few lines and there'll be a dozen others.

The fitness center is at the far stern, with about two dozen stationary bikes and treadmills facing out to the ocean through wrap-around glass. A great way to exercise and enjoy the ocean at the same time.

The sauna was one of the best I've used; both very hot and very steamy. Quite a surprise aboard a ship. The showers and changing area were convenient for quickly making the transition from swim trunks on a pool side lounge chair to a suit for dinner.

The fitness center staff was great; only wish is that they were available more hours during the evening.

With 2,400 people, we saw mostly middle-class & laid-back folks. Overall, mostly couples and mostly Americans -- though the captain gave a country-by-country breakdown of other nationalities during his presentation in the lounge (this cruise line is quite proud of its internationally diverse crew, too). A hefty number of drinkers but none of the falling-down drunks that we've heard about on a different cruise line. Generally an amiable group of people.