Live (sort of) Empress 9/22/16

[grneyes]

Hi matt, Going on a 7 day cruise, are there formal nights on a 7 day? Also Chops breakfast is that for D plus too? Love your review and pictures. Thanks!

[MattInFLL]

Dinner in the MDR was very good.

 

Day 3 menu is Latin. Day 4 will be French.

 

The corn chowder is a purée - not "hearty". The pastrami pastry is interesting. The lobster Mac and cheese is more like a hint of lobster. The short rib was tasty and tender. The fried chicken is nothing like KFC lol

 

Tomorrow is our sea day. So it's brunch day.

 

Chops breakfast is for D+ and up.

 

Tonight's desserts:

 

[CAT GIRL]

Matt, on our sailing they had a D+ and up galley tour and Royal lunch in the MTD area. If they offer it you should check it out, I thought it was very good and they had an officer at each table. We had Rosa (the Guest Relations Manager) and she was awesome.

 

Rosa always makes for an interesting table. She is so full of life.

[Megs867]

Menus seem to go in the same order as I have seen in another thread today. Day 1 Italian Day 2 American.

 

Actually looks tasty (American):

 

 

 

Lasagna on Italian night? Had the best lasagna last year on Independence. Hoping to have more :)

 

 

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[MattInFLL]

Meant to add: I don't think there are ever formal nights on this ship. The whole marketing campaign is Party Chill Repeat. In the whole dining room tonight I saw one other guy wearing a jacket. But also didn't see anything "outrageous". :)

[vavasmom]

Matt - is there anyway you could grab a picture of one of the life rings that says Empress of the Seas. Mine from last week did not come out and I always use that as the first photo of my digital album

[grneyes]

One more ? The breakfast in chops is it order of a menu like MDR?

Thanks' for your reply's

[MattInFLL]

Just periscoped from the deck dance party. @mattinfll

[jktheangel]

Ok forgive me but what is this periscope thing???

 

 

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[MattInFLL]

Periscope is an app that is part of twitter and let's you send live video. You can download it to your phone. I understand you can also get it on a PC but l have not done that.

[jktheangel]

Periscope is an app that is part of twitter and let's you send live video. You can download it to your phone. I understand you can also get it on a PC but l have not done that.

 

 

Oh ok. Thank you. I don't have twitter so that explains it.

 

 

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[Lionesss]

Nice thread.

 

Thanks for taking the time

 

So how hard is it to go from star class to steerage?

 

No really, would you sail the Empress again?

Are you bored?

 

Ok was it cost effective, and I mean reasonable.

 

Thanks and keep your post coming.

 

Sea Ya

[MattInFLL]

 

Time for brunch. It is from about 9:30 to about 12:45. It's a buffet with a wide variety of breakfast and lunch selections. Plus an omelette and crepe station. Tons of pastries, fruits, cheeses, etc. You are greeted with a mimosa or Bloody Mary.

 

Very tasty.

 

Last night was Dancing under the stars was very well attended and a fun DJ and lively crowd. It's the "white" theme. I was surprised how many people were wearing white. But don't worry, you won't stand out if you don't.

 

I will try to get a life ring pic.

 

Lioness- yup, definitely got spoiled by Star Class, but I'm so used to weekend cruises on the more "basic" ships and not having suites, that I'm fine :) the difference on a ship like this is that there are certain crew and officers you get to know and if you really needed something there's someone to ask. Amryl, the assistant bar director moved here from Majesty and makes us feel like family.

 

This ship is not a "wow" ship. It's not non-stop activity. It's a chill ship. For us, it's been a nice change and we would definitely come back. And the pricing was very good.

[MattInFLL]

Life rings - take your pick :)

 

 

 

[MattInFLL]

The incredibly odd fitness area. Wraps around the upper balcony of Viking crown.

 

 

The "free" ladies pamper party sponsored by the spa, Viking crown

 

 

It's a sea day and the rock wall isn't open?

 

 

Because someone asked, the D and above 3 free happy hour drinks menu:

 

[puggylicious]

Thank you for posting :)

[MattInFLL]

Cabin thoughts. The bed pushed to one side makes it much easier to maneuver. The drawers have a terrible design. The handle to pull open is at the bottom. So to open the bottom drawer you need to touch your toes. Could be a bit difficult for the older and less than fit :)

 

I'm convinced that the only person who could use the bathroom without becoming intimately familiar with every wall and surface is 5'2" and 90 pounds.

 

There are 3 outlets. 2 under the TV and one at the desk.

 

My A/c is fine. The water pressure is great and it does not smell at all. It gets a little too hot sometimes, though.

 

As for A/c on the ship the casino is problematic. You walk 10 feet and it's like you get a super warm pocket and then a really cool pocket and back and forth. There's no rhyme or reason to it. The portable fans are everywhere.

 

 

 

[MattInFLL]

My favorite event listing so far. If they had Michael Jackson "live" I think we would be making the news.

 

 

The compasses are a little off. Today they are advertising a key west helicopter tour and telling you to come get your Cozumel shopping guides. Problem is we were in Key West yesterday and we aren't going to Cozumel :)

Edited September 24, 2016 by MattInFLL

[FLSteve11]

I did find the fitness center, which is the second deck of the Viking Lounge and wrapping around the top of it, very strange. The being able to see into/up the Viking Lounge, two different sets of music/sounds going on at the same time, and the stairs only being in one corner (meaning you walked all the way around for some equipment) was just strange.

[MattInFLL]

 

 

Edited September 24, 2016 by MattInFLL

[MattInFLL]

Just had a facial at the spa. My therapist was excellent. From Croatia. She totally understood I'm a "regular" and please don't push the products :)

 

She has been on since drydock in Cadiz. She said the good part about the delay is that the crew really got to know each other and they think of Empress as their baby.

 

I would say the camaraderie of the crew does stand out. They want you to enjoy your time on Empress. The only sour puss I've encountered was, funnily enough, the Loyalty Ambassador, who instead of trying to answer a question I know she would know, told me I should just go to the front desk. Hmmm. Oh well. There's always one :)

 

Windjammer offers a "snack" from 3:30 to 5. Its more like a full meal. Hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwich bar (make your own), several hot entrees.

 

I know food is subjective, but I think the food here has been quite good. Fresh and plentiful.

 

I've tried doing a couple of scopes and I keep getting a "connection too poor" message.

[vavasmom]

Thank you for the life ring picture

 

The gym looks less crowded than when we used it. There were people waiting for treadmills - no ellipticals in the gym

 

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[MattInFLL]

Why I cruise :

 

[Megs867]

Why I cruise :

 

 

 

Beautiful I will see that in about 20 days

 

 

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[Biker19]

Thank you for the internet speed test. Between the so-so performance comment and the ping rate, I'd say Empress does NOT have O3B internet.