In September, I headed back north to Cape Canaveral, where I wrote about earlier this past spring, to sail on Royal Caribbean’s Sovereign of the Seas for a Directors Summit for a large travel organization I belong to. This was a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas, and during that time, we spent a good deal networking and taking classes.
Since it was still Hurricane Season, I had to watch out for all the storms that were brewing
during that time of year and of course, the most intense storm of the season named Ike was heading our way. Luckily for us, he went south and ended up in Galveston, TX and presented no problem to us except for more worry lines leading up to departure. As for sailing, the seas were fine and we did not have any issue there except a little roll every now and then.
The Sovereign is an older ship, built in 1988 and was the first of the Mega Ships now common in the industry and broke ground in many ways, including a multi-deck atrium and that it could hold a great deal of passengers. Many ships that followed used her as an example and she quickly became somewhat forgotten as newer cutting edge ships were being built. Although she has been sailing mostly 3 and 4 night Bahamas cruises lately, her time has finally reached an end.
In October, she will be sold to Pulmantur Cruises; refurbished and renamed, she will sail the European market as this is a great area for smaller ships. But, for me, I felt privileged to be able to sail on her because of her groundbreaking ways. It gave me a chance to reflect on how far the cruising industry has come, and for better or worse she still sailed proud.
Since it was still Hurricane Season, I had to watch out for all the storms that were brewing
during that time of year and of course, the most intense storm of the season named Ike was heading our way. Luckily for us, he went south and ended up in Galveston, TX and presented no problem to us except for more worry lines leading up to departure. As for sailing, the seas were fine and we did not have any issue there except a little roll every now and then.The Sovereign is an older ship, built in 1988 and was the first of the Mega Ships now common in the industry and broke ground in many ways, including a multi-deck atrium and that it could hold a great deal of passengers. Many ships that followed used her as an example and she quickly became somewhat forgotten as newer cutting edge ships were being built. Although she has been sailing mostly 3 and 4 night Bahamas cruises lately, her time has finally reached an end.
In October, she will be sold to Pulmantur Cruises; refurbished and renamed, she will sail the European market as this is a great area for smaller ships. But, for me, I felt privileged to be able to sail on her because of her groundbreaking ways. It gave me a chance to reflect on how far the cruising industry has come, and for better or worse she still sailed proud.
