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Questions re Empress of the Seas?

laedw

By laedw,
in Royal Caribbean International

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coaster

coaster

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Yeah I think that there is only something like 5 true suites on this ship.. Could be slightly off with that number. The only other cabins with balconies are Junior Suites. These are nothing special and are Like a regular balcony room on any other ship. No tub in the bathrooms ect. and a TON still available. I got a STEAL on our room with the C&A discounts. Getting 18 pts (9nights) for each of us at around 2k total. By far smallest ship we will have been on.. Hope it's a good time! But hey, it's a cruise... couldn't possibly be that bad :p

Have to say that the best cruises we have been on were close to the size of the Empress along with those that were half the size of Empress. You really get to know the passengers and staff on ships of this size.

Edited by coaster
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iMedic

iMedic

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My partner and I will be on one of the mid April sailings (a quick and dirty little escape!). This will be our first time on a RCCL ship, having done all our previous cruises together on Celebrity.

 

Just a random quick question if I may be so bold, but I was looking at drink packages and was leaning towards the ultimate, but when looking at the deck plan I noticed that there wasn't a coffee bar onboard like Cafe al bacio on celebrity ships. It's entirely possible that I missed it if there isn't a coffee bar, then there's really no reason beyond sparkling water to get the ultimate package.

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Clarea

Clarea

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My partner and I will be on one of the mid April sailings (a quick and dirty little escape!). This will be our first time on a RCCL ship, having done all our previous cruises together on Celebrity.

 

Just a random quick question if I may be so bold, but I was looking at drink packages and was leaning towards the ultimate, but when looking at the deck plan I noticed that there wasn't a coffee bar onboard like Cafe al bacio on celebrity ships. It's entirely possible that I missed it if there isn't a coffee bar, then there's really no reason beyond sparkling water to get the ultimate package.

Normally, the specialty coffee is either at Cafe Latte-Tudes or Cafe Promenade on Royal's ships. However, I just looked at the deck plans and don't see either. Note that specialty coffee is available in restaurants, but I can see that the lack of a coffee bar outside of the restaurants would be a disadvantage.

 

Another beverage that is added by the Ultimate package is fresh squeezed OJ.

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iMedic

iMedic

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Normally, the specialty coffee is either at Cafe Latte-Tudes or Cafe Promenade on Royal's ships. However, I just looked at the deck plans and don't see either. Note that specialty coffee is available in restaurants, but I can see that the lack of a coffee bar outside of the restaurants would be a disadvantage.

 

Another beverage that is added by the Ultimate package is fresh squeezed OJ.

 

Thanks for the quick reply! Glad I wasn't misreading the deck plan, and certainly grateful that I decided to double check it prior to purchasing the package!

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loving2cruise

loving2cruise

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I looked at the RCCL website and saw cruises on the Empress of the Seas. However, I do not see any forums for that ship on the cruise critic website. Has any cruise critics sailed on this ship? If so, please share your thoughts. Thanks in advance. :)

 

 

We cruised on that ship in 2001. It's nice to hear it's making a comeback. As far as I knew, they permanently docked it. :) I remember it being a smaller ship than the ship's today, but it was still very nice.

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coaster

coaster

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We are on the 5 night April 30th sailing and paid $538 total for an outside cabin on the 7th deck. We also received enough OBC to cover gratuities and all other miscellaneous expenses so our net cost will be a little less. I thought that was pretty good for 2 people (about $54 / night pp).

 

Bill

I only wish I had booked in a higher category when the prices were low. Tried to move up to a slightly larger outside a day after our hold on the outside we have now. Price was almost double for all categories the next day.

 

Lesson learned, see a good price and look at every category at that time. Don't do a quick booking thinking you can easily change the next day to a slightly higher category at a slightly higher cost.

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Merion_Mom

Merion_Mom

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We cruised on that ship in 2001. It's nice to hear it's making a comeback. As far as I knew, they permanently docked it. :) I remember it being a smaller ship than the ship's today, but it was still very nice.

 

Not at all. She has been sailing under the Pullmantur banner. Never out of service.

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Powersboyee2

Powersboyee2

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Nice video of the Empress departing on her last cruise for Pullmantur. Love that dark blue hull.

 

 

 

Agreed, nice video. I do have to add that there aren't any passengers on the ship in the video. Is it maybe after they already left after the final voyage? Headed to wherever is next before dry dock? I think a private company has it chartered for a few weeks or something. Not 100% tho.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

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coaster

coaster

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Didn't notice the lack of passengers until I watched it again. Just some crew and officers. Might be one her way to Cadiz Spain according to a post in another thread which advised of the location for drydock. Would make sense as Navantia has done work on a few other Royal ships.

 

Sent from my X10 using Tapatalk

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Clarea

Clarea

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Since the topic is questions about the Empress, here's mine...

 

Will there be a concierge or diamond lounge on the ship?

 

I cannot find an answer.

I've not seen anything about a DL or CL on Empress.

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Nado44

Nado44

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Since the topic is questions about the Empress, here's mine...

 

Will there be a concierge or diamond lounge on the ship?

 

I cannot find an answer.

 

A crew member on Freedom last month speculated that Empress wouldn't have a dedicated DL and that the ship would instead, arrange a one-time, private Diamond gathering at a designated bar.

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Powersboyee2

Powersboyee2

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How does one find out about these C & A discounts?

 

That's an excellent question! I just so happened to read about empress coming back and saw them releasing itineraries for the ship a few days later. When doing a bit of searching around in them and doing a couple mock bookings I was shocked and thought it was an error or something... $900 C&A discount applied etc. I immediately booked a back to back and got the amazing rates. To answer your question... I have no idea lol. Only thing that catches my eye is looking at itineraries on royals website it has bold lettering next to the price and date saying something like SPECIAL DEAL or CROWN AND ANCHOR RATES or something like that I don't remember. If someone has the inside scoop to know which itineraries have this i's love to know as well!

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Clarea

Clarea

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How does one find out about these C & A discounts?

It used to be easy, they would send a list of cruises with discounts every quarter. Niw, you have to do a mock booking logged in (to see the C&A discount) and not logged in, and compare.

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Clarea

Clarea

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Can anyone help with hotels? We just booked for the March 30 sailing and looked at the Hampton Inn Brickell but it is $260 a night. At least on their site.

I've seen that hotel recommended here.

 

You may also want to ask on the Florida Departures forum:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=495

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kbset

kbset

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Can anyone help with hotels? We just booked for the March 30 sailing and looked at the Hampton Inn Brickell but it is $260 a night. At least on their site.

 

We booked with Sleep Inn Miami Airport....paid $149 a night, free shuttle from Airport to Hotel then $10/pp from Hotel to Cruise Dock

 

***We are on the March 30th sailing also :)

Edited by kbset
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