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Ship Details
Began service: January, 1988 Refurbished:
January 1999
Guest capacity: 2,276
Total staff: 840
Length: 880 feet
Passenger decks: 14
CDC
inspection score: 94
Sovereign of the Seas Overview
The Sovereign of the Seas cruise ship departs from
Orlando, Florida. Throughout the year, she offers ocean cruises to Bahamas.
Check Dates & Prices
for cruises to Bahamas.
Royal Caribbean's 17-year-old Sovereign of
the Seas, half the size of the Voyager class ships,
was once the largest and most elaborate cruise ship at
sea. In the past few years, it was showing its age, not
only in the normal and expected wear and tear of an older
ship, but also in its amenities as well. But, rather than
retire the Sovereign or sell it off to a European
tour-and-cruise company, Royal Caribbean decided to give
the ship a major facelift. The public rooms have been
upgraded, adding areas that are popular on its more modern
ships, and expanding its teen and children's programs.
The newly refurbished Sovereign of the Seas has
a whole new look and a young, vibrant attitude. Big verandahs
were added to 62 of its cabins, the dark and closed-in
buffet area was scooped out and expanded, lounges were
rearranged to maximize space, a la carte food options
(Johnny Rockets, Seattle's Best Coffee, Ben and Jerry's
Ice Cream) have been added, and two teen and children's
areas have been created.
Sovereign now sails three- and four-day Bahamas
itineraries from Royal Caribbean's new port in Cape Canaveral,
and is an example of a successful ship refurbishment.
Cabins
Most of the cabins on Sovereign are tiny.
The new fabrics and carpeting can't do anything to make
them bigger, but they are clean and new looking, with
great storage spaces and roomy bathrooms. Superior oceanview
categories are slightly larger than regular oceanview,
with more storage options. Each cabin has a small TV,
newly renovated bath with shower, and two twin beds that
can be made into a queen. |
Deck 10, where the upper level of accommodations
are to be found, has seen the addition of 62 balconies. The suites:
owner's, grand, royal
and mini, have been beautified and refinished. All
of the suites on this level have bathtubs, large TV's and elaborate
storage space.
Note: The porcelain bathtubs are nice, but they are raised about six
inches from the floor and are very deep. They are difficult to use
for a stand-up shower for those over six-foot-tall, and they are really
hard to get into and out of for those with hip or knee joint problems.
Dining
Sovereign of the Seas has two main dining rooms: Mirage
on Deck 4 and Illusions on Deck
3, each with two seatings. Meals are elaborate and well planned,
and even on the shorter itinerary, traditional fare like lobster and
prime rib is available. The pastry chef is exceptional, preparing
desserts that look like works of art.
The buffet (or cafeteria-style) restaurant is located forward on Deck
11. The food at Windjammers is freshly prepared,
with a carving station and additional areas including traditional
and deli fare, Asian eats, salads, and desserts. The drink station
is also located here.
Johnny Rockets is like a 1950's-style drive-in restaurant, with big
juicy burgers, thick malts and shakes. There is a surcharge of $3.95
per person to eat here, and the sodas, malts and sundaes are served
a la carte. Sorrento's Pizza has tables that resemble
pizza slices and bright-red chairs. There is no charge for this restaurant.
Room service is more elaborate than on most other cruise lines, with
hot breakfast items and even a modified dining room menu available
to all guests, not just those in suites.
Sovereign of the Seas also offers midnight snacks that are
delivered to the lounges (Boleros, Schooner
Bar, Voltage) and casino where you
can enjoy them between midnight and 1am.
Entertainment
All of the entertainment on this ship is fabulous, from the
silly waiters in Johnny Rockets, who occasionally
break into song, to the elaborate productions in the beautifully refurbished,
Follies Lounge.
The new production show for the Follies Lounge, "Dancin'
Thru The Movies," is elaborate, colorful and joyous. There are
occasional headliners in the theatre as well.
Bolero's features a Latin-flavored band, Tropical
Breeze, plays jazz tunes, salsa and merengue, and several line-dance
songs. Late in the evening, it transforms into a dueling-pianos venue.
For quieter evening, there's piano entertainment in the Schooner
Bar and guitar music in the Viking Crown Lounge.
Caribbean Wave hangs out on the pool deck enhancing
the atmosphere with calypso and reggae.
The new disco, Voltage, hosts rockin' beats most
of the time, including "Rock-a-Roake" for those brave enough
to take the microphone, and the band Devilicious
providing contemporary tunes.
Movies are shown on in-cabin TV's on a rotating basis, but only one
movie is played per day on each of the two movie channels, repeating
over and over again. Other TV selections include CNN, ESPN, local
satellite offerings, and shipboard information including port overviews
and shopping.
The large casino has a huge variety of table games,
slots and poker machines.
Fitness & Recreation
Royal Caribbean has positioned itself as the cruise line for
active lifestyles, and Sovereign is no exception. From the
30-foot-tall rock climbing wall at the aft of the ship to the well-equipped
fitness center and spa, opportunities are plentiful for those who
want to keep up their regimen of exercise.
The Sovereign Day Spa and Fitness Center
offers a wide variety of treatments including massages and facials,
and a "dry float" bed that provides hands-off heat and massage
therapy in a dark, quiet room. Exercise equipment includes treadmills,
stationery bikes, weights and cardio machines. Pilates, yoga and spinning
classes are available for a small fee ($5 to $10); aerobics classes
are complimentary. A salon is also available for hair and nail treatments.
There are two pools on Deck 11, with two hot tubs
between them. There is a walk-around track but no jogging track, and
what used to be the sports area with basketball, is now an area for
teens.
Public Areas
Royal Caribbean has "ramped up" the public spaces and entertainment
venues on this ship, with even the names of the rooms indicating hip,
hot action.
There are several conference rooms and a business center on Deck
7. Deck 5's central atrium is home to the
ship's shops, which include the usual logo items, duty-free perfumes,
liquor and cigarettes, and some other specialty items that are put
on display in the middle of the center. Adjacent to the shops is Latte'tudes,
the coffee shop in partnership with Seattle's Best Coffee,
and the ice cream shop featuring Ben and Jerry products,
both available at an a la carte charge.
The Internet Center, or Royal Caribbean Online,
is located both in the Centrum area on Deck
6 and in the Business Center on Deck
7. There are several packages to choose from, and wireless
is also available for those who have laptops with wireless cards.
Hot spots are located in areas surrounding the centrum, but not in
the staterooms.
Smoking is only allowed in limited sections of most bars, on the outside
decks, and in the casino. Cigar smoking is only allowed in the Viking
Crown Lounge.
There is no self-serve laundry on Sovereign of the Seas.
Kids
Royal Caribbean has teamed with
Crayola and Fisher-Price to bring an exciting and enriching environment
onboard its ships.
The entire aft end of Deck 9 has been turned
into Adventure Ocean, the multi-roomed children's
area with age appropriate activities for each group; parents can stay
and play too. And, for 6- to 36-month-olds and parents, there is a
music and movement class.
The other aspect of the new children's center, is the "day
camp" for kids older than 3. Aquanauts
(3 - 5), Explorers (6 - 8) and Voyagers
(9 - 11) all have their own areas in which to play and learn. The
program is free with the exception of Internet time, which ranges
from sending an e-postcard for about 25 cents to using the Internet
at 25 cents per minute.
Note: All children must be completely potty-trained; "pull-ups"
and swim diapers are not allowed at all.
Teens from 12 - 17 have their own spot on Deck 11,
away from most of the crowds. Parents are not allowed. The Living
Room is a colorful, cozy spot with seating areas for chatting
and sipping sodas. Right behind it is Fuel, the new
disco for the teens, complete with a "mocktail" bar and
dance floor. And beyond that is the open back deck for ping-pong,
sunning and deck parties.
In-cabin sitting is available through the purser's desk and must be
booked at least 24 hours in advance, based on availability. Minimum
age is one year; the charge is $8 per hour, in cash, for up to two
children within the same family, $10 per hour for a maximum of three
children in the same family.
Expert Sovereign of the Seas reviews are edited by Michelle, and provided by Ian and Cruise Critic.com,
an award-winning cruise community. This objective information can
help you choose just the right ship for your next cruise vacation.
Check Dates & Prices
for cruises to Bahamas.
Sovereign of the Seas cruise reviews
Cruise
Ship Inspection Report
All passenger cruise ships arriving at US ports are subject to unannounced
CDC inspection. Sovereign of the
Seas Score: 94
Cruise
Critic: Sovereign of the Seas
The Cruise Critic gives Royal Caribbean's Sovereign of the Seas
a 3-ribbon rating.
Web links
RCL
Cruises
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Cruise Line at the company's official Web site.
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