ADS94

Went back to Key West. Was able to catch the Enchantment here. That's a weird feeling, coming back to a port after disembarkation!!

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Ads94. What are your experiences onboard Empress?

 

 

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It's a mixed bag honestly. When I get home I am writing a full review. I'll talk about my biggest disappointment and my biggest positive experience.

The disappointment is that the ship seems to have... Too many teething problems. I'm isolated from it being in the aft owners suite so I'm assuming everything was sped up for me because of the Gold Card, that thing is like a wad of 100s in downtown Havana. I haven't seen a single drop of ice cream on the entire ship, and they are still building and repairing things. It's the little things like this:

That make me unsettled about the quality of service everyone else is getting. The mechanical issues are on everyone's lips except mine, we've been golden in our suite. There is an extreme lack of food variety. It's hands down the worst I've ever seen.

The crew is still learning the ship. Our CD called us the "Majesty of the Seas" twice. It just seems like they could have been trained more, so that's corporates fault more than anything. Confused crew members with regards to C&A benefits, we got charges for drinks a few times when we 100% should not have.

The positive on the flip side is the crew. They are working so hard with what they have. You talk to some of them, they come from the Oasis, Grandeur, Enchantment, Explorer, ect. they are all settling into their roles without a doubt. Daniela is the best loyalty ambassador we've ever had. She's sharp and on the money. I personally think she is the reason we had such a great cruise. Any complaint we had we went to her, and it was fixed within minutes. Unfortunately, I know everyone does not have access to her.

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I've seen a few posts regarding the lack of choices and food for dinner. Did someone post the dinner menu choices? Or a photo of the menu? I'd love to see the link to the post if so.

I will head down to the mdr and see if they have the menu outside. If not, I am not going in tonight, so won't be able to get it for you

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Are children aloud in Boleros?

 

 

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Yes. The video arcade is right in front of the Boleros entrance and they filter between the two areas regularly.

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I'd like to do a report on my cruise next week. How did you post the pictures, I don't know how to do it?

Thanks!!

I downloaded the taptalk app, added this thread and uploaded from there

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What has been good? I am most worried about the AC and lack of food. Are all rooms having AC issues or just some?

 

 

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There is plenty of food. There is a lack of variety of food. But we go to Boleros and they have all types of small snacks for us when we go. Our room's AC works fine, and as I understand it, it's only an issue with some rooms. I am assuming it is ones below deck 6, no proof other than seeing repair folks on those decks below than I do on 7-10.

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Another Facebook review:

 

employees walked off today a quit due to conditions and people demanded to fly home from grand Cayman and today from key west they couldn't wait another day.

 

 

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I've heard rumblings of this, I thankfully haven't seen anything negative, this is one of the best cruises I've been on personally but it's the most glitchy I've ever been on too. I think due to us being in a suite we are shielded from a lot of this and don't see it

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I just read on someone's instagram post that the only option for breakfast and lunch is Windjammer! Is that true? They don't serve breakfast or lunch in the MDR? What a bummer if that is true...we always avoid the buffet. Have the dinner options been pretty good in the main dining room?

I rarely use the MDR. However, it has breakfast.

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In this picture there looks to be a lot of magnets or something on the door? Do cruisers decorate their doors or something?

Yes there's a lot of decorations this cruise

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Gotcha. I'll likely stick with fathom if that is the case. I want to see a bit more of Cuba than *just* Havana.

 

 

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If the leaked deployments are anything to go by, it looks like an overnight in Havana with a stop in Key West, maybe a stop in Havana with a trip to the Bahamas and Key West and then just a Bahamas and Key West on a 5/5/4 pattern

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Any Formal Nights on this "Party Ship"?

There are no formal nights on the Empress

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That reinforces the itineraries that were "leaked" on CruiseCal (and have since been removed). It seems it all depends on approvals and when they come through. Crossing my fingers for Cuba beginning the end of July!

This is what I am hearing as well. It's speculated by some passengers I've talked to who follow it that they intend to blow out the first Cuba cruises like they did with these cruises when booking first started. Also rumours that the Cozumel overnight is a trial run for Havana.

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I have it on good authority from an anonymous source that Royal Caribbean intends to go to Cuba "soon" and the plan is to stay overnight in Havana.

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Thanks for keeping us all up to date with things!! Definitely interested to see if anyone knows anything about Cuba. :)

I'm trying my best! Still have a list of things to get for some people.

Talked to the Next Cruise folks. He explained that Cuba is Royal Caribbean's plan for the ship, but there is zero bookings available for anything after the July 23 cruise.

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Thank you for all the info! Can you tell me if there are any formal nights?

None, it's all causal

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Ah, please do! :D

 

Just an odd question: do you know if those forward areas that look like decks directly under the bridge (not the bow, but above it) are open to passengers?

Deck 6 is open to passengers. The two decks above it are cabins on the side, the middle part is inaccessible to passengers as far as I know, I haven't been down that way on those decks.

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Welcome Back Party, this time with Super Mario! He gave a small talk about why he cruises Royal Caribbean. Had a three part list and all. Said Royal had the best ships, best loyalty programme, and the best staff. He's over 6,000 nights at this point, and he said Royal had given him 17 free cruises so far.

We also received our photograph of the first people onboard. Free! Everyone here had the pleasure of stepping on this wonderful ship first.

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Exterior shots from Grand Cayman

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Royal's hope is Cuba.

 

We will have to wait and see how it plays out.

I'm going to pester the next cruise people tomorrow.

See if they can spill the beans a bit

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Hi ADS94, do they have the ship models for sale on board? Can you please take a couple of pics if they do? Did you get the message I sent you through the Tapatalk app? :D

I did, and I replied. Or so I thought ...

There are no ship models for sale "maybe next cruise" I was told. They just got approval from Royal HQ to sell them (which I thought quite odd, she's been back for all this time)

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Pretty little ship!

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Is there a dedicated lounge for drinks for D, D+, PC from 5-8:30 like on Majesty? or is it only the 3 free on your card at various bars?

 

Thanks! Enjoy!

There is no dedicated lounge. It seems like its just the 3 free drinks on your card. In Boleros, there is a place where you can sit and get free drinks and snacks but it seems to be only open to those in suites. That is what I was told from Daniela.

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Phone problems and a lazy sea day make for a lack of updates! I'll have more today. In the meantime, heres the cruise compasses.

Day 2

Day 3

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How is the food service in the MDR? There is another post on the board stating that service is slow and there is a lack of availability of food. Has this been your experience as well?

I haven't been in the MDR, only the windjammer

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My brother and I are onboard as well. I'm echoing a lot of your sentiments. This is his first RCI cruise and I've told him to be aware that it does not represent your standard RCI cruise.

 

The ship is beautiful and I love the lay out. I love Boleros, the Starlight dining room and the casino. They are all gorgeous and the new seating surfaces, tables, etc. all look great. It was really nice having silverware last night at dinner that may have never been used before -- no water spots or markings from going through the cleaning process.

 

We are jealous of your suite -- I won this booking fro Casino Royale while on the Grandeur in March so we just have an inside stateroom. It is a little claustrophobic -- I'm used to a balcony room.

 

The staff has been wonderful with the exception of our waiter last night. We are on my time but we had a 15-20 delay between every course. Everyone else has been wonderful -- the casino host and dealers, the Windjammer staff and our stateroom attendant.

 

The Windjammer layout is horrendous. It is the only part of the ship that reflects its age. Traffic is horrible and with a sold out booking like this It takes forever to maneuver through the lines. We will be doing breakfast in the dining room from now on, most likely.

 

Overall I love the ship and I am hoping to book a cruise to Cuba when they are announced. Some teething problems though, but that's to be expected.

 

Can we visit your suite? :P

Feel free to drop by! I'm spending time between the balcony and the cabin. Only thing I have left to do today is drop by the next cruise office and the love and marriage game show.

As for everyone else, I'll try and filter back some pictures soon. Haven't done much of anything today!

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