Empress B2B - 14 Nights on the Biggest Little Ship

[RickinStl]

On 7/24/2019 at 10:58 AM, twangster said:

The Captain announced there are over 11 million Crown and Anchor members worldwide and 540 were on this sailing.

 

 365 Gold,  84 Platinum,  25 Emerald,  43 Diamond,  17 Diamond Plus, 6 Pinnacles.  Top cruiser 3,488 points. 

 

 

That's almost half the ship lol

 

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, twangster said:

 Made me wonder if they created a cheaper cup for non-Freestyle ships.

^This.

[John&LaLa]

38 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

^This.

 

You do know that RFID chips are extremely cheap.  Companies use them for inventory tags

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, John&LaLa said:

 

You do know that RFID chips are extremely cheap.  Companies use them for inventory tags

Yes, but RCI may also want to eliminate a huge stock of cups from ships which don’t have Freestyle machines which could be used later on ships which do. 

[vegascruiser1]

Loving your review. Looking forward to hearing about the 8 night, we will be doing the same itinerary in September. 

 

Happy cruising!

[Merion_Mom]

10 hours ago, twangster said:

 

It's a thin bottom.   Holding it up to the light it's translucent and I don't see a chip in there.  Made me wonder if they created a cheaper cup for non-Freestyle ships.

 

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Good point.

[twangster]

16 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

You do know that RFID chips are extremely cheap.  Companies use them for inventory tags

 

Im guessing the hard plastic cups with a thicker bottom may be more expensive but they have space to embed the RFID chip.  

 

The new style feels thinner, has no insulating properties, seems lighter and feels cheaper.   

[twangster]

Day 7 Turn Around Day Miami

 

Some general observations and housekeeping items...

 

The balcony dividers do open at least for pressure washing the balconies like they did this morning.

 

 

The Viking Crown Lounge is unique to the fleet.  Upper ring is the gym.

 

 

Best gym views in the fleet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Chops for my cruise #2 reservations.  This is the sitting area right across from Chops.

 

 

The beverage cups of Empress.  I'm not sure I've seen this kind of variety in beverage cups on one sailing before.

 

First we have the new but now old beverage cups offered in Boleros.

 

 

The old style old design cups that have been around for several months near the Windjammer.

 

 

The old style new cups available on the pool deck.

 

 

Welcome aboard cake!

 

 

This line at Shore Excursions lasted for hours.  Have these new to Royal cruisers not heard of the Cruise Planner?   So many people booking excursions on the ship.   

 

[twangster]

Miami Sail Away

 

The Crown and Anchor Loyalty Ambassador hosts a Diamond and up sail away behind Boleros on deck 6 outside.  Since Empress doesn't have a Diamond Lounge this event is offered.

 

Louis our LA is there to greet us.

 

 

It's a great covered location to take in the sail away from.

 

 

Several officers drop by to greet guests.  This included the Hotel Director, Revenue Manager, Marketing Manager and a few others I forget to note their positions.

 

 

Oh that Miami traffic.  You know it's bad when a cruise ship is going faster than the traffic.

 

 

We passed Symphony of the Seas as we departed.

 

The not so little, biggest ship as seen from the biggest, little ship.   

 

 

 

 

Cheers and Happy Anniversary to @Lovetocruise2002 and hubster who embarked Symphony today. 

 

 

Miami beach was pretty popular today.

 

 

[twangster]

Chops dinner using the D+ BOGO, again.  Rinse, lather, repeat.  Gotta love that view.

 

 

Crispy Goat Cheese Salad.

 

Grilled Black Peppered Bacon appetizer.

 

Back to the nine ounce filet.

 

Ice Cream Sundae for dessert.

 

Yum.

[twangster]

Despite the storms brewing in the Miami area the seas are very flat tonight.

 

 

One thing I noted in the Cruise Compass for tomorrow.  We are changing ship time this sailing, going back one hour after Key West unlike the 1st leg of this B2B when we did not change ship time.

[DancerMama25]

22 hours ago, twangster said:

 

I received a different new style on the 1st leg.  No handle, but soft like the new style.  Big bendy straw.  Can't see where this one has an RFID chip embedded.  

 

 

 

They also had the hard plastic ones on the 1st leg but not in the 50th theme.  So it's like there are 3 different versions on the ship right now.  

 

This is what we had on Navigator in late June.

[twangster]

Day 8, Cruise 2 Day 2 - Sunrise

 

I went to bed early and woke early in time to catch the sunrise.  A sliver of a moon was high above us.

 

 

 

 

 

I know people like to sleep in but this is often a great time to see the awe of sunrise.

 

 

 

 

In the distance the tall towering clouds would sparkle with a bolt of lightning occasionally.  

 

 

As it became brighter some fellow sunrise enthusiasts ventured out.

 

 

The rising sun started to highlight the clouds even before it peaked up above the horizon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

Finally the sun started to breach the horizon.

 

 

 

 

We had been following another ship into port and I was thinking it might slip into the prime

Mallory Square location leaving us possibly at the Naval pier but it appears the first ship in got the Naval pier.  

 

 

On the bridge wing display you can see just how narrow the shipping channel into Key West actually is.   

 

 

The sun ventured behind a cloud briefly.

 

 

 

It's the Celebrity Equinox!

 

 

With another ship arriving behind us that meant we had a good chance at Mallory Square again.

 

 

Indeed Mallory Square for a second trip in a row.

 

 

 

Edited July 28, 2019 by twangster

[twangster]

The ship arriving after us grew larger and I started to see an outline of a Viking Crown Lounge.

 

 

The unmistakable outline of a Sovereign class ship.

 

Majesty of the Seas.

 

 

 

Looks like RCCL is going to own the port today.

 

 

Majesty is distinctly larger than Empress but also displaced from Cuba.

[twangster]

Kenneth my cabin attendant dropped of some mail this morning.  Apparently I'm invited to the Hotel Director's Table for formal night on day 3.  When I packed for this cruise I brought my scuba gear which took a lot of space (and weight).  As a compromise I packed mostly casual type clothes planning on using the WindJammer a lot.  This wasn't a great cruise to leave anything dressy at home so off I went into Key West to find something that will allow me to "Dress to Impress". 

 

Hint - Key West is a laid back, not so dressy town.  It's wasn't easy finding something.  Lots of t-shirt shops, not so many dress shirts and dinner jackets to be had.

 

Had a slice of Key Lime Pie while I was off.  Yum.

 

Some pictures of Majesty while I was off.

 

 

 

Also I thought more about the new now old beverage cup.  Looking from the inside out I couldn't see an RFID chip.

 

 

However looking from the outside into the bottom when backlit I can see a rectangular antenna near the center and a dark mass to the right of it that I believe to be the chip.

 

 

Not sure why the cup thing became such a focus but now I can move on and get on with my cruise.

Edited July 28, 2019 by twangster

[Merion_Mom]

4 hours ago, DancerMama25 said:

 

This is what we had on Navigator in late June.

 

Oh well.  There goes the "non freestyle machines ship" theory.

[Merion_Mom]

21 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

Also I thought more about the new now old beverage cup.  Looking from the inside out I couldn't see an RFID chip.

 

 

However looking from the outside into the bottom when backlit I can see a rectangular antenna near the center and a dark mass to the right of it that I believe to be the chip.

 

 

Not sure why the cup thing became such a focus but now I can move on and get on with my cruise.

 

 

I should  have read to the end before commenting!

 

New conclusion:  RC is just getting cheaper and cheaper.  😞

 

You are right:  Enough of this, @twangster.  I am LOVING your photos and your excellent commentary.  I almost don't need to go on the Empress myself now!  (j/k - I'm sailing on her in October)

[Jimbo]

Ovation to Empress.....not sure I could handle that......

[twangster]

6 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Ovation to Empress.....not sure I could handle that......

 

I went from Allure in a loft suite to Grandeur in an interior on deck 2.  

 

No problem mon.  

[rt1092]

31 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

I went from Allure in a loft suite to Grandeur in an interior on deck 2.  

 

No problem mon.  

On the Empress did they have a specific place for the "happy hour" like a diamond lounge? 

Or was it just 3 drinks anywhere?

[twangster]

14 minutes ago, rt1092 said:

On the Empress did they have a specific place for the "happy hour" like a diamond lounge? 

Or was it just 3 drinks anywhere?

 

Since there is no DL the Diamond Happy Hour drink coupons are accepted anywhere.  Except room service.   

Edited July 28, 2019 by twangster

[Aduntu]

6 hours ago, twangster said:

Cheers and Happy Anniversary to @Lovetocruise2002 and hubster who embarked Symphony today. 

 

 

 

Awesome. Of all the great photos this one just captures a really nice moment and sentiment.

[John&LaLa]

6 hours ago, twangster said:

Kenneth my cabin attendant dropped of some mail this morning.  Apparently I'm invited to the Hotel Director's Table for formal night on day 3.  When I packed for this cruise I brought my scuba gear which took a lot of space (and weight).  As a compromise I packed mostly casual type clothes planning on using the WindJammer a lot.  This wasn't a great cruise to leave anything dressy at home so off I went into Key West to find something that will allow me to "Dress to Impress". 

 

Hint - Key West is a laid back, not so dressy town.  It's wasn't easy finding something.  Lots of t-shirt shops, not so many dress shirts and dinner jackets to be had.

 

 

Not everyone dresses up. You'll be fine.

You might ask Louis if they have any jackets you could borrow. MJ used to keep some at Guest Services office.

 

 

Food was good

 

 

Wine was good

 

 

Soup was a little different 

 

 

Guest Services Manager was very personable,  and Julie is a riot.

 

Dessert

 

 

One thing was odd, we didnt get to keep the menus, they were running low on covers. So make sure you get a picture of it. 

 

Edited July 29, 2019 by John&LaLa

[twangster]

Key West Departure

 

Guests were better at getting back on board on time this time.  Ten minutes after all aboard time we pushed away from the pier with no names being paged. 

 

The Equinox was the first to leave followed by Empress.  The rock climbing wall was open.

 

 

A lot of parasailing on the other side of Sunset Key.

 

 

Another view of Majesty.

 

 

The distinctive Viking Crown Lounge.

 

 

With Equinox clear of the channel it was our turn to follow the narrow path to the sea.

 

 

Latin night in the Windjammer.

 

 

Not a bad place to enjoy a happy hour drink.