From: nev@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (nancy.e.ellard-vass)
Subject: Trip Report - Royal Caribbean's Soverign of the Seas
Organization: AT&T
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 18:20:51 GMT
Keywords: As promised.....  LONG

As promised, a trip report of Royal Caribbean's Soverign of
the Seas. I have tried to do the best I can, with jet-lag,
cruise-lag, etc...

Saturday - Cruise Starts!
--------------------------
Left Newark airport for Miami. I wasn't feeling well, and
wound up with an inner ear infection. Neadless to say as
we were desending into Miami my head felt like it was going
to expolde. For the next 2 days I was deaf in one ear, but
with a visit to the ships doctor and a antibiotic, I was on
my way to enjoying the cruise. 

Boarded the ship at 1:00pm dumped our luggage in our cabin
and went to the pool deck for a buffet lunch.
After lunch, toured the ship (and all 13 bars), went back to
the cabin, took a shower, and got dressed for dinner.
Dinner was pretty good, I don't think you get excellent food
on any cruise line.

For dinner I had roast duck ala orange, it was ok, not
crispy but just ok. The fresh vegetables that accompanied
the meal were good. Can't think of what we had for dessert,
but I know I was stuffed!

After dinner we saw a Caribbean revue, it definately was a
broadway quality show! after the show we went to sleep... a
very long day.

Sunday - At Sea
---------------

Got up, ate breakfast--I think I had eggs benedict, but I'm
fussy when it comes to eggs. After some pleading, I got a
hard poached eggs benedict.

Went back to the cabin, but on my bathing suit and headed to
baste in the sun! Had a few drinks (after a few I forgot the
name of them). At noon stayed up on the pool deck and had
their buffet lunch instead of looking presentable to go back
to the dining room. As you probably noticed, most activities
involve food, or money (drinks). After lunch, back to the
cabin, took a shower and toured the shopps.
My mind draws a blank, but I think I took a nap and then the
usual, got dressed for dinner after dinner saw a show,
walked around on deck after the show, went to sleep.

Monday - At Sea
---------------
Same as Sunday. Except this was a formal night in the dining
room, before that we had the Captain's cocktail party, and
then dinner, show, walk, sleep.

Tuesday - St. Thomas 10:00am to 5:00pm
-------
Arrived in St. Thomas (Charlotte Amalie). My husband and I
went to some of the shops in town. There are NO
bargains, in fact I purchased 5 bottles of Cruzan rum at
$4.50 a liter, the man at the liquor store started to charge
me $7.50 for each liter. I alterted him that the rum was
$4.50, I guess he tried to get one over on the stupid
tourist-NOT! After 45 minutes in St. Thomas I headed back to
the ship. And did the usual, baste, eat, shower, get
dressed, wine tasting seminar, special Captain's cocktail
party for returning Royal Caribbean guests, dinner, show,
walk, sleep.

Tuesday - San Juan 10:00pm 
--------------------------
The ship arrived in San Juan on Tuesday night for any of
those party people who wanted to "do" the night club scene.
I could barely keep my eyes open and you guessed it went to
sleep.

Wednesday - San Juan until 2:00pm 
----------------------------------

Took the Bacardi tour at 9:00am. After a nice tour of Old
San Juan and New San Juan we arrived at the Bacardi factory.
They allowed us 20 miutes before our tour to "drink up" and
try all 7 varieties of Bacardi rum. Of course, I tried all
7, and went back for more. Well... half enebriated (sp?) we
went on a fast 10 minutes tour of the bottling plant. I
wasn't that impressed. After the tour we had another 20 minutes
to "re-fuel" with some more Bacardi in our system and head
back to town.

The bus took us to Old San Juan, not too far from our ship.
We walked around for a hour, had several free pina coladas
that all shops who cater to tourists had, and then headed back to 
the ship, as the ship was leaving at 2:00pm.

I enjoyed what little time we had in San Juan. I would of
rather stayed more in San Juan and skipped St. Thomas.

Thursday - At Sea
-----------------
Like Monday, another formal night, I think we saw 2 shows
that night, and attempted to stay up for the midnight
buffet, never made it.

Friday - Cococay Bahamas 9:00am to 5:00pm
-----------------------------------------
Private island owned by Royal Caribbean. It was nice they
had floating mats you could rent, snorkeling equipment, etc.
They gave us a barbeque on the beach with ribs, chicken, etc.
We stayed about 4 hours and then we had enough of the sun
and headed back to the ship. 

This was the grand buffet, I tried to stay up for it, but
couldn't do it. I heard it was wonderful.

Saturday - Back in Miami
------------------------
Up at 6:00am, off the boat at 9:00am.

Synopsis
--------

I throughly enjoyed this cruise! it was no comparison to
their Nordic Prince I took last September. The ship was
clean, the food was pretty good. They had lots of
activities. It I hadn't been on medication I may of stayed
up for the midnight buffets, I regret not seeing any of
them.

The few negative comments I would make, and this is
strickly my opinion, is that with 2,400 people on the ship it
is crowded. After 5 days of these people pushing and
shoving, I wished I had a stun gun for some of them. It
seemed like the older people (70+) acted like they never ate,
word of caution: stay the hell out of their way at any buffet,
they are slow as sh*t in the food line but will knock down,
mame, and kill to get in the line first! Also a sudden burst
of energy somes over them just as they are about to head
over to the dessert table.  They have 2 in each
hand! I almost asked one lady "don't they feed you enough at
the home?" My husband threatened to walk away if I said it,
so I was good.

Money warning: Royal Caribbean issues you a credit card, you
have to use it for all purchases as they do not accept cash.
Yes, this means if you want a can of soda, a pack of gum,
they charge it to your Royal Caribbean account. Well....
many afternoon drinks, a bottle of wine with dinner every
night, a massage, 1 tee shirt outfit with shorts, 1 bottle of 
perfume, 2 bottles of Mum's champagne, tours, pat'e four grais (sp?),
and other items came to a wopping $499.51! So keep a running
tab of how much yopu spend, it adds up quick.

If you are interested in any other info about the ship, you
can email me or call.

Nancy
att!hoqax!nev


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