Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2017 (Berlitz Cruise Guide) (2016)
Sovereign
★★★
Berlitz’s Ratings
Ship: 295 out of 500
Accommodation: 119 out of 200
Food: 225 out of 400
Service: 252 out of 400
Entertainment: 63 out of 100
Cruise: 243 out of 400
Overall Score: 1192 out of 2000
Sovereign Statistics
Size: Large Resort Ship
Tonnage: 73,192
Lifestyle: Standard
Cruise Line: Pullmantur Cruises
Former Names: Sovereign of the Seas
IMO Number: 8512281
Builder: Chantiers de l’Atlantique (France)
Original Cost: $183.5 million
Entered Service: Jan 1988/Mar 2009
Registry: Bahamas
Length (ft/m): 879.9/268.2
Beam (ft/m): 105.9/32.3
Draft (ft/m): 24.9/7.6
Propulsion/Propellers: diesel (21,844kW)/2
Passenger Decks: 11
Total Crew: 820
Passengers (lower beds): 2,306
Passenger Space Ratio (lower beds): 31.7
Passenger/Crew Ratio (lower beds): 2.8
Cabins (total): 1,153
Size Range (sq ft/m): 118.4-670.0/11.0-62.2
Cabins (for one person): 0
Cabins (with private balcony): 62
Cabins (wheelchair accessible): 6
Wheelchair accessibility: Fair
Cabin Current: 110 and 220 volts
Elevators: 13
Casino (gaming tables): Yes
Slot Machines: Yes
Swimming Pools: 2
Hot Tubs (on deck): 2
Self-Service Launderette: No
Dedicated Cinema/Seats: No
Library: Yes
Onboard currency: Euros
A busy big ship for casual, Spanish-speaking family cruising
Overview. This ship is best suited to Spanish-speaking families, young couples, and singles seeking a first cruise at an all-inclusive price that even includes drinks. The high-density ship is well-run, highly programmed, and is geared to families with children.
The Ship. Sovereign has a smart profile and nicely rounded lines. The ship, whose hull is painted a deep blue, sports a lounge and bar that is wrapped around the blue funnel and provides a stunning view. Open deck space isn’t generous, but there’s a wide walk-around polished wood promenade deck. The interior layout is unusual in that most of the public rooms are located aft in a cake-layer stacking, with the accommodation located forward.
There’s an array of spacious public rooms, including a conference room, library, and card players’ room, plus a Monte Carlo Casino. The decor is accented with wood paneling, and some bright color splashes. Children and teens are well catered for, and there’s a whole team of youth activity staff, together with a range of rooms for children and teens. The dress code is very casual. All gratuities and port taxes are included in the cruise fare.
Accommodation. There are 16 cabin price grades. Some cabins have interconnecting doors - useful for families.
Suites. Thirteen suites on Bridge Deck, the largest of which is the Royal Suite, are reasonably large and nicely furnished, with separate living and sleeping spaces.
Standard cabins. The standard outside-view and interior cabins are very small, although an arched window treatment and colorful soft furnishings give the illusion of more space. Almost all cabins have twin beds that convert to a queen-size or double-bed configuration. There is little closet and drawer space. All cabins have a private bathroom, with shower, toilet, and washbasin.
Dining. El Guardiana and El Duero, two dining rooms off the Centrum (lobby), have tables for four, six, or eight persons but none for two. Both have two seatings, with table wines included in the fare. An à-la-carte restaurant offers better menus at an extra cost. For casual meals and snacks, the two-level Buffet Panorama is open almost 24 hours a day, although it is usually congested at peak times.
Entertainment. The Broadway Showlounge has both main and balcony levels, with banquette seating. On the stage is a video wall with 50 screens. A smaller venue for late-night dancing or chilling out is the Disco Zoom.
Spa/Fitness. In the Spa del Mar, you’ll find a gym with fine ocean views, full of cardiovascular equipment. There’s also an aerobics studio, a salon, and sauna, as well as 11 treatment rooms, including one for couples’ massages. An outdoor rock-climbing wall, located on the aft of the ship’s blue funnel, has several climbing tracks.