This doesn't sit well with me, as I'm not really a fan of this class. I've never sailed on any of the Vision Class, but to me their appearance has always been a little awkward somehow. And for a while now I've felt their exterior design has aged badly, making them look older than they are.

But, in the end, my wife and I are big fans of the 4-day run out of Port Canaveral, so I'm sure we'll end up trying whichever ship they place here.

Another thing I've thought about is that I could swear I heard someone mention that the Sovereign Class was ideal for these short runs because they had low-speed diesels and a slow cruising speed. It's my understanding that the rest of the fleet are faster-cruising ships (in comparison). That led me to think that one of their other ships would be less efficient on the same run. Maybe someone better-versed in this can clarify or elaborate (Ernst...you out there?).

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Originally posted by Rego007:
...but to me their appearance has always been a little awkward somehow. And for a while now I've felt their exterior design has aged badly, making them look older than they are.

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I had a good cruise on 'Splendour', but I must admit that compared to the 'Radiance' class it felt a little dated, a bit like a prototype in fact.

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Originally posted by nycruiser:
I have a feeling they will replace the Sovereign with a Voyager class ship (doubt a Freedom class). Remember Disney will be introducing their big new ships in 2010 so RCI will also have a big ship of their own serving the market.

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Originally posted by Waynaro:
I agree with this idea. My understanding is that the Vision-class ships were designed for higher speed, longer voyages. The Voyager-class et al were designed for the milk run.

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Look at Legend and Splendour, they have the long European, Asian and South Pacific Voyages, while Navigator will be doing the 4 and 5-day Caribbean itineraries during the winter season. I think that RCI might announce anyday a new class of around 130,000 tons, these ships will take the place of the Radiance-class while they take the Vision-class and so on.

[ 10-07-2007: Message edited by: Carlos Fernandez ]

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Originally posted by cruiseshipluver:
Wow, time is flying really fast. Sovereign Of the Seas is 18 years old right?

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Originally posted by dougnewman:

Faster than you can imagine. She's 20 .

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MIAMI, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced today that Royal Caribbean International's Sovereign of the Seas will be reassigned to the company's Pullmantur fleet, and the Los Angeles- based Monarch of the Seas will assume Sovereign of the Seas' sailings out of Port Canaveral. These changes will take place in October and November 2008.

MIAMI, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced today that Royal Caribbean International's Sovereign of the Seas will be reassigned to the company's Pullmantur fleet, and the Los Angeles- based Monarch of the Seas will assume Sovereign of the Seas' sailings out of Port Canaveral. These changes will take place in October and November 2008.
"We are fortunate that our mix of brands allows us the flexibility and opportunity to expand in key strategic markets and to diversify in existing ones," said Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Adam Goldstein. "We thank our partners at the ports of Los Angeles, Ensenada, Catalina and San Diego for our outstanding and ongoing relationship. We look forward to providing our Monarch of the Seas guests with exceptional vacations as we visit those locations through next fall."

Sovereign of the Seas' last scheduled sailing for Royal Caribbean International will be on October 31, 2008. Two subsequent cruises, scheduled for November 3 and 7, will be canceled, and guests booked on those cruises will receive a full refund and an onboard credit for rebooking an earlier Sovereign of the Seas sailing during 2008 (excluding holidays). All rebookings must be made by December 31, 2007. All guests currently booked on Sovereign of the Seas on or after November 10, 2008, will be re-accommodated onboard Monarch of the Seas.

Monarch of the Seas will make its last regularly scheduled sailing out of Los Angeles on October 13, 2008. All guests currently booked on a subsequent sailing will receive a full refund and an onboard credit for rebooking a three, four or five-night Caribbean sailing, or a seven-night Mexican Riviera sailing, onboard Royal Caribbean International in 2008 (excluding holidays). All rebookings must be made by December 31, 2007.

On October 17, 2008, Monarch of the Seas will reposition to the East Coast when it departs Los Angeles on a 16-night Panama Canal cruise to Miami. The ship will then undergo a scheduled, weeklong dry-dock before welcoming its first Port Canaveral guests for three and four-night Bahamas sailings starting November 10, 2008.

Royal Caribbean International has established a special help desk to assist its guests and travel agents impacted by these changes. The toll free phone number is 1-888-281-9344.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France. The company has a combined total of 35 ships in service and seven under construction. It also offers unique land- tour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Latin and South America and New Zealand. Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com, www.celebrity.com, www.pullmantur.es, www.azamaracruises.com, or www.rclinvestor.com.

I do think RCI did an amazing job refurbishing this class of ship. They really look renewed and ready to sail another 10 years. I have always loved the pool area. Very expansive.

I'm looking forward to sailing on both!

Remember the parties we went to for the launch of Monarch and Majesty! OH the memories...

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Originally posted by jeremya:
Ernie,

Remember the parties we went to for the launch of Monarch and Majesty! OH the memories...

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Yes, I remember them well! We were so young and crazy back then!

Those employee parties (both Royal Caribbean and Carnival) were WILD!

Too much fun.

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Originally posted by Cunard Fan:
Are they going to put any ship on the LA to Mexico run, to replace Monarch?

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Nothing has been stated yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if they devoted another class of ship to the 3&4-day market in Southern California, perhaps one of the Vision Class ships? Usually the big cruise lines "trickle down" their tonnage into various markets as they get newer ships.

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Originally posted by DAMBROSI:
Hey Ernie, I've been on both MONARCH and SOVEREIGN. They're both fantastic.

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Good to hear. I'm looking forward to sailing on both. Also, after sailing on SOVEREIGN I will be at Diamond level on Royal Caribbean.

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Originally posted by nycruiser:
Wow I am suprised about the announcement. I really though they were going to put a Voyager class ship there! Now I am curious what ship will take over the Monarch. Its like musical cruiseships!

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They are. Mariner is heading around next year. Now just who knows which ship will replace mariner from Port Canaveral??

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Originally posted by Dave the Wave:

They are. Mariner is heading around next year. Now just who knows which ship will replace mariner from Port Canaveral??

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Originally posted by recab:

One of the earlier Voyagers.

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Interesting and from a good source. Perhaps Navigator? or will it continue 4-5's from Lauderdale? Explorer? But is has the marine lab, no? Best guess would be one based in Miami since Freedom class is out of there. Adventure stays in San Juan, Voyager moves to NY for the summers.