Back from the Empress O/T Seas - Review

[Michuck]

We just got back this morning from the Empress of the Seas. We were on her 12 years ago when she was the Nordic Empress, and felt in a way like we were coming home....this is one ship you can go back home to without being disappointed.

 

I can't tell you how much we enjoyed these 4 days. We personally prefer the smaller ships (although the Radiance class is our favorite). It seems the staff are so much friendlier and seem to interact with each other in a less hurried manner. The Empress was certainly no disappointment in this regard. We couldn't believe not only were there no chair hogs, but there were lounges available at any time we went out there. Such a pleasure!! The pool patrol were also out, that may have had something to do with it.

 

The food was very good.....as always, the escargot on formal nite were 'to die for'. The black angus steak was so tender, you could cut it with a fork. We found the pastries were much better than we've experienced in the past on RCCL - much more flakey and moist, and that was a great improvement - love those pastries with coffee in the morning!! The duck was excellent too. We ate dinner at the Windjammer one nite - there was open seating in the dining room for dinner the nite we were in Cozumel, and just felt like something much more casual. It wasn't disappointing - the spaghetti was cooked to perfection, and the salads outstanding.

 

We didn't go to any of the shows, but did watch the Love & Marriage game on TV. What a hoot!! The couple that were married for 54 years were a riot - they had their grandkids in the audience and kept telling them to cover their ears - I'll bet they'll never look at Grandma and Grandpa in the same way again!! LOL!!

 

Our room steward was outstanding as well. He made beautiful towel animals on all nites but the first.

 

We got off the ship in Key West, but it was soooo hot and sticky, just walked around a little and returned to the ship (we'd been there a number of times before, so didn't feel like we 'had' to stay out there).

 

We arrived in Cozumel at 1:00 p.m. (stayed there until 10 p.m.), and after a relaxing morning at the pool, headed to our favorite beach there, Paradise Beach. It's a clean beach, and for $8 (used to be $5), you get a wrist band that gives you use of all the water toys - trampoline, floater mats, kayaks. They have beach chairs, umbrellas, tables, and awesome guacamole - a must - and beach service for food and drinks. They have showers and changing rooms. The cab fare was $6 each way per person.

 

Our last day was a day at sea - my personal favorite....Although somewhat overcast most of the day, it was perfect for napping out on deck. We spent some time in the casino too (okay, too much time), and won two decent jackpots, and 3 smaller ones, but I gave a lot of it back at the tables....just couldn't get a good streak going!

 

The sailing itself was so smooth, that if we didn't look out a window, we wouldn't have even known we were even moving.

 

Disembarkation and customs was a breeze - from the time we walked off the ship to the curb to wait for the bus to take us to our car, couldn't have been more than 15 or 20 minutes.

 

Complaints - I ate too much, I gambled too much, I didn't sleep enough, should've taken more naps, shouldn't have taken so many clothes and shoes (after 20+ cruises, you'd think I'd learn!!)

 

Any questions, just ask away, and I hope I can answer them...

 

 

Michele

[PVDCruiser]

Sounds like you had a great time!

 

Right after the cruise on the Mariner I actually thought that maybe we aimed too high for a first cruise, which would raise our expectations too much. But every time a see an Empress review, my opinion slowly changes!

[bas7]

Michuck,

.

Your opening sentence says it all for me. It was like coming home again. I'm sailing for the first time on the Empress of the Seas, it was my first choice of all of RCCL's ships, not only for the great price I got as a solo passenger, but because of the intimacy of the ship. I love getting out of big cities, not floating on them.

 

I'm glad you were even able to find somethings have even improved, such as the pastries. And even though your last day was overcast, you made the best of it. You snoozed. You sound like my type of person, very positive.

 

Thanks for sharing your voyage, and I'm glad that you had a good time.

 

Best,

 

Bruce

 

Holland America, ms Volendam, December 16, 2004, 11 Day Southern Carribean

Holland America, ms Zuiderdam, April 9th, 2005, 7 Night Eastern Carribean

 

Soon To Sail on RCCL, Empress of the Seas, October 10th, 2005, 7 Night Eastern Carribean

[alexeliz]

just wondering if there is a kids club onboard. My girls are 6 & 11

 

I was interested in the 11 day cruise but now I am having second thoughts as people seem to say it is geared for an older crowd and not for young families. The itinerary is what cought our attention.

[Michuck]

There were lots of kids on this cruise (we don't have any, but did see the Adventure Ocean room as it has floor-to-ceiling windows), and those kids were having a blast! They put on a funny little 'show' in the dining room (there had to be about 30 children - all ages - the last nite, and they were wonderful!) It was very funny - they all came in dressed as pirates saying that they were coming to take all our desserts from us.....other cute stuff too, and it was clear from their participation and enthusiasm that they must've had a wonderful time in this program...

 

Michele

[Jocru]

We will be on the Empress 11 days in Jan. Is there a safe in each of the cabins?

Thank you in advance for any reply.

[alexeliz]

I'm contemplating the 11 day in Jan. as well. No rooms with baliconies available. I can't imagine a room for 11 days without fresh air. Hopefully one will pop up quickly.

[leahjade]

Michuck - question for you - we're on the same exact cruise next week and were planning a similiar itinerary. You stated that the taxi ride to Paradise Beach was $6 each way Per Person - is that correct?? I never heard of a taxi ride charging by person. And since we are a family of 5, we may be deciding to forget our trip to Paradise Beach! We certainly don't want to pay $60 in cab fares plus $40 at the beach.

[CruiseNut7]

Michele, thank you for sharing your cruising experience on the Empress of the Seas.

 

I sail on her next month, August 25th, same itinerary. We booked a junior suite to enjoy a balcony. I hear that these junior suites basically are deluxe balconies compared to other lines. Since I've been sailing on the larger ships lately, I'm sure I will enjoy the Empress.

 

How are the alternative restaurants? Since her refurbishing, is she still sparkling?

 

Thanks again!

[Michuck]

Re Safes:

 

We were in an inside cabin (steerage as DH says), and there was no safe in our room. There may be safes in other categories though....

 

Re Taxis in Cozumel:

 

You're probably right that the $12 is just a flat fare, no matter how many passengers. Since it was $12 for me and DH, I just looked at it as being $6 per person. Re the charge for Paradise Beach, that's only if you want to use their water toys. Otherwise, the beach is free.

 

Re Alternative Restaurants:

 

The only alternative restaurant on the Empress is Portofinos. Can't comment on it as we didn't eat there.

 

Re Cleanliness:

 

She's a clean ship. Sparkling? Hmmmm....wouldn't quite say that. I'm sure some things would make the type of person who looks for things to complain about have a few things to say. We just don't let anything (other than really, really bad/obnoxious/gross things get to us.) Frankly, we found that it was the passengers who more often than not made things look messy .... how difficult is it to make sure your paper towel is in the trash bin in the ladies room and not on the floor or left on the counter?

 

One interesting thing.....there were areas of the hallways that, to me smelled like chocolate peppermint. No sewage smell at all!!

 

Michele

[Squire5000]

Michuck:

 

Thanks for the review. We're doing the same run in a few weeks. We have plane reservations out of FLL at 11. Do you recall what time they started the disembarkation process?

[Emmabelle]

Hi Michele,

 

We're on the July 28th, four nighter. You mentioned that it was hot while in Key West, while you were sailing back from Cozumel on the sea day was it very hot or did the breeze make it comfortable? I'm also hoping that it won't be too hot to lay out by the pool while in port. Thanks for the review, glad you enjoyed it. :)

[melis74]

Michele - THank you so much for the great review! We will be sailing on her soon and can't wait!

 

Diane - DH & I will be on the cruise w/you in a JS as well. We got my brother and SIL a JS also for a belated Honeymoon. Counting down the days!..and hoping for no rough weather!

[Michuck]

Time of Disembarkation:

 

Since we didn't have a plane to catch, we weren't really paying attention to what time the first tag colors were called, but it seems like it was around 8:30ish. Taxis were in abundance at the curb.

 

Weather:

 

We unfortunately had rainy weather on our sea day. It was nice for about an hour in the morning, and then turned rainy and a bit windy (still didn't feel any movement of the ship). There's no upper deck over the pool to cut the breeze, so if there is one, you'll feel it.

 

It's very hot in the Caribbean this time of year, and I think whether or not you'll be uncomfortable sitting around the pool is a personal thing. Living in Miami makes me more used to it. What we do is bring an empty, clean spray bottle with is (you can get them at the supermarket), fill it up at the pool (if you don't mind the salt water - I personally love it, or fill it in your cabin), and when it starts getting too hot, we just spritz ourselves down to cool off without leaving our chairs. When it gets unbearable, we get in the pool to cool off.

 

The evenings were delightful out on deck without a jacket or wrap.

 

I hope you enjoy the Empress as much we did.

 

Michele

[leahjade]

Michuck - what were the menu selections like in the dining room? I tried to look on the cruise ship menu site, but the Empress is not listed. Do you have a choice of 4 or 5 entrees? Thanks for your review!

[Michuck]

We liked the menus. There are 4 or 5 choices, plus alternative choices every nite, so there's more like 7 or 8 choices. Chicken, fish (no lobster on the 4 nite), steak, pasta, duck, great appetizer and soup choices, and great desserts. Can't imagine not finding something on the menu that you wouldn't like.

 

Michele

[leahjade]

Michuck - thanks for all the info! Sorry to keep bugging you, but we leave next week, and I keep thinking of more questions! What time were you able to board the ship? Did they have lunch available? We have an early flight, and we were hoping to be able to board early and sit by the pool until departure.

[Kilroy]

Michele,

 

I was wondering if the Card Room is still there on deck 8? They show it in the deck plans on royalcaribbean.com, but I didn't know if this had changed since the refurb.

 

If so, are the tables felt topped by any chance? We are poker players, and glass tables make playing a little more difficult. Thanks in advance for any info.

 

Regards,

 

JK

[jillybabes]

Jocru, we were in an oceanview cabin on deck 8 and there was a safe in the cabin.

 

Leahjade, we arrived at the port around 10:45 and started boarding at 11:30, cabins were not ready til 1 so we went to Windjammer for lunch. Luggage arrived about 3PM. We were on the 5 night to Key West and Grand Cayman. Hope you have a wonderful cruise, she is a great ship...Jill:cool:

[Michuck]

We didn't get to the Port until around 2:00, but we know from other cruises that you can get on board around 11:30. There's lunch in the Windjammer Cafe until, and bars are open 'til just before the muster drill. Jilly, I guess they figure that those of us in 'steerage' don't have anything of value to put in a safe, thus no safe in ours!! (Tee hee!!)

 

Sorry, Kilroy, can't answer your question about the card room - all my cards were played at the Blackjack table in the casino.....

 

Michele

[BMW325]

Thanks for the great review on the Empress. We'll be sailing her on September 3 for 5 nights to Key West and Grand Cayman...........Anyone else?

[JohnSC]

Did you check out the dancing? How was it?

 

John

[Michuck]

Sorry John, we didn't check out the dancing. Should have though since we not that long ago took lessons, but we were either napping, sleeping, out on deck smelling the salt air, or in the casino ..... Made DH PROMISE that next cruise we will dance a night away!

 

Michele

[kimbo444]

Michele

 

Sorry to bother you but we are booking our first family cruise and some of the reviews about the Empress haven't been good. My real question is the cabin space and shower space. I have booked an oceanview room but wondered if I should upgrade to a Superior oceanview room with a little more space. The price is a 1,000 and I'm not sure if it is worth it or not. Can you give me some help - please.

 

Thanks

Kimbo444:)