pspercy Posted October 25, 2015 #201 Share Posted October 25, 2015 (edited) Empress is a beautiful ship. I was playing around on Youtube and saw that her atrium actually opens up, unlike Majesty's. The more I explore, she begins to equate more with a Vision-class ship like the Vision or Splendour rather than Majesty and Sovereign. Not a very good pic, but here's atrium in its original splendour:) Edited October 25, 2015 by pspercy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty G Posted October 25, 2015 #202 Share Posted October 25, 2015 I can't wait for her to come back, small ship or not. We did our first cruise on the Nordic Empress and a fe on the Empress of the seas. We will even try to be on her for a milestone cruise where we get the block. Like!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted October 25, 2015 #203 Share Posted October 25, 2015 (edited) Not a very good pic, but here's atrium in its original splendour:) Beautiful atrium, thanks for the photo. I always thought that Sovereign was the first Royal ship to have the multi-deck centrum with glass elevators. Edited October 25, 2015 by clarea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulette3028 Posted October 25, 2015 #204 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Empress is a beautiful ship. I was playing around on Youtube and saw that her atrium actually opens up, unlike Majesty's. The more I explore, she begins to equate more with a Vision-class ship like the Vision or Splendour rather than Majesty and Sovereign. It does seem impressive for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OfTheSeasCruiser Posted October 25, 2015 #205 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Love the pics! I'd be happy to see more if anyone feels like posting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted October 25, 2015 #206 Share Posted October 25, 2015 (edited) Apparently at a recent top tier party not attended by me, but by someone whom I am very close to ;), the staff in attendance said Cuba is the plan. I am paraphrasing slightly. Edited October 25, 2015 by John&LaLa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txcowboy10 Posted October 25, 2015 #207 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Found this in my Royal book. Nordic Empress' MDR (Carmen Dining Room) in original configuration. Looks very attractive:) Beautiful aft dining room! Looking forward to sailing her....even to Cuba :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted October 25, 2015 #208 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Beautiful aft dining room! Looking forward to sailing her....even to Cuba :) Hope they did not mess with it on Pullmantur. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txcowboy10 Posted October 25, 2015 #209 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Hope they did not mess with it on Pullmantur. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk It'll be interesting to see what refurbishment turns out like...hopefully bringing back her grace and beauty while opening up public spaces where folks say adtl cabins had been added. We shall see! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MADflyer Posted October 25, 2015 #210 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Royal had done an extensive dry dock in 2004 prior to the ship taking the Bermuda runs. The 2008 and 2012 Pullmantur dry docks were supervised by RCL, the owner of the ship and left the ship refreshed without any design or structural changes. Portofino's was changed to a venue called WU Fusion, an Asian Fusion concept, that was wonderful. You can see all of the public areas on the Pullmantur website. https://www.pullmantur.es/en/barco/EMPRESS/bares-y-restaurantes.html If you click on more info for the Miramar Restaurant you will find that they have the same furnishings that have just been reupholstered as needed. Even the Schooner Bar was left intact as the Pier Salon and Piano Bar. Those that will miss the 2 level discos from Voyager and Freedom Class might enjoy the lounge/disco on Empress. Spain is one of the leaders in the modern culinary world and the food and service on this particular ship was known to be outstanding. I would be more 'concerned' about what public areas RCI might try to convert to cabins than how the shape was maintained during her years with Pullmantur. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MADflyer Posted October 25, 2015 #211 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Does anyone know what her plans are until "Spring 2016"? I think I read that she was going to still cruise to South America and do some of her scheduled cruises. ! It will be interesting to see what happens on the 28th. The ship sailed from Malaga today for a short trip to Gibraltar and will arrive at Gran Canaria on Wednesday After this is scheduled for 8 days at sea and then a 4 day Brasil segment. After Wednesday it should become evident what is happening when they start cancelling some sailings. One website has cancelled all sailings from Wednesday and another travel agent has just put the crossing in both directions on Sold Out along with the first sailing on arrival in Brazil. Royal just signed a Framework agreement for dry docks through 2017 with Spanish state owned Navantia shipyard at Cadiz Spain. It is unlear if this will include Empress. http://www.navantia.es/noticia.php?id_noti=355 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumbaamd Posted October 25, 2015 #212 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Apparently at a recent top tier party not attended by me, but by someone whom I am very close to ;), the staff in attendance said Cuba is the plan. I am paraphrasing slightly. As much as we loved Empress after three wonderful cruises on her, if Cuba is the plan, count us out. Have no interest in touring a water maintenance facility (sewer plant) and donating our labor. Or to buy the Cuban insurance plan that was a mandatory deal the last time we looked. No thanks. R&D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda/Ohio Posted October 26, 2015 #213 Share Posted October 26, 2015 https://www.pullmantur.es/en/barco/empress/camarotes/categoria-rt-royal-suite-con-terraza.html The furnishings are updated but this is the Royal Suite on Empress. We had one opportunity to cruise in this cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted October 26, 2015 #214 Share Posted October 26, 2015 As much as we loved Empress after three wonderful cruises on her, if Cuba is the plan, count us out. Have no interest in touring a water maintenance facility (sewer plant) and donating our labor. Or to buy the Cuban insurance plan that was a mandatory deal the last time we looked. No thanks.R&D You don't have to donate any labor. You would have to do some tours like a tobacco rolling plant for example to satisfy the US governemnt that your trip is educational or cultural. Since US companies can't legally sell you medical insurance coverage for care in Cuba you have to buy a local policy so that you have medical insurance. It is $2 to $3 day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w&k Posted October 26, 2015 #215 Share Posted October 26, 2015 WE LOVE EMPRESS!!!! We love the smaller ships and longer trips!!!! We did her first as Nordic Empress 7-days out of Tampa, when it first got there. That's how I first learned to check cabin sizes. 2 sets of dive gear in 117 sq ft. was a feat. We did 11-days out of San Juan in an outside on deck 2, and had enough room for us and the dive gear. As soon as we got home, we looked for the next spring, saw the same cabin open, and did it again. :D We tried for a 3-fer, but sadly, she was leaving a tiny bit too early, so we had to just look at her in the next slip as we departed on the X Galaxy. Something that I haven't seen mentioned by anyone is Jacksonville - from what I recall, she should fit under the bridge. We did a knockout 14-day on X Zenith out of Jacksonville, and we would LOVE LOVE LOVE to repeat that on Empress. If she goes back to San Juan on the longer trips, I'll have to get on a plane. :D Wendy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenashleysmom Posted October 26, 2015 #216 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Ooh, Jax would be awesome!! Sent from my KFTHWI using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philly Steve Posted October 26, 2015 #217 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Wonderful news! We would be eager to sail Empress for a fourth time. Remember when she had the oversized chess board and pieces by the pool? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulette3028 Posted October 26, 2015 #218 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Maybe Royal was right in bringing this old Lady back, considering all the attention she is getting in this thread (just one example). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker19 Posted October 26, 2015 #219 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Maybe Royal was right in bringing this old Lady back, considering all the attention she is getting in this thread (just one example). Any change in the fleet would garner just as much attention - I don't think this particular ship has anything special going for it. If the Splendour sale gets canceled you'll have just as much attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted October 26, 2015 #220 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Maybe Royal was right in bringing this old Lady back, considering all the attention she is getting in this thread (just one example). Why, plenty of posters have said no way. :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulette3028 Posted October 26, 2015 #221 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Why, plenty of posters have said no way. :eek: It is promotion and promotion brings different opinions....and for all the no's there are plenty of 'yesses'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthGrady Posted October 26, 2015 #222 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Any change in the fleet would garner just as much attention - I don't think this particular ship has anything special going for it. If the Splendour sale gets canceled you'll have just as much attention. That'd be nice too, a double treat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MADflyer Posted October 26, 2015 #223 Share Posted October 26, 2015 It is interesting to note that when Admiral Cruises ordered Empress she was going to be joining the 45 year old Emerald Seas and the 36 year old Azure Seas in the Admiral fleet at Port Everglades. The ship was already on the order book when, then RCCL 'purchased' the Admiral brand in 1988. This was the year that Chandris started Celebrity Cruises. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-12-04/business/9102200115_1_admiral-cruises-emerald-seas-royal-caribbean-cruises This 25 year old ship entered service just a little over a year prior to Majesty and with modern refit technology probably has a good 15 years of potential life, if not more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted October 26, 2015 #224 Share Posted October 26, 2015 It is interesting to note that when Admiral Cruises ordered Empress she was going to be joining the 45 year old Emerald Seas and the 36 year old Azure Seas in the Admiral fleet at Port Everglades. The ship was already on the order book when, then RCCL 'purchased' the Admiral brand in 1988. This was the year that Chandris started Celebrity Cruises. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-12-04/business/9102200115_1_admiral-cruises-emerald-seas-royal-caribbean-cruises This 25 year old ship entered service just a little over a year prior to Majesty and with modern refit technology probably has a good 15 years of potential life, if not more. Not so sure about that, 25 years ago the standards were much lower. It was a lot easier to keep a 30+ year old ship operationall. I see 4-5 years left in the RCL fleet. Just long enough until they can replace her Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yj_eugene Posted October 26, 2015 #225 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Ooh, Jax would be awesome!! Jax to Hamilton, Bermuda, would be even more awesome (though I'd bet more on Norfolk for that run). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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