wblynch

I bought a decent Tag Hauer watch ($1400) on the Serenade of the Seas. It had some complicated stop watch function that I couldn't ever figure out.

When I got home I became frustrated and contacted them. They wouldn't let me exchange it for a different watch since I was not onboard but they did let me return it for a full refund.

I don't think any shop in St. Thomas or St. Martin would do that.

It has been my observation that there is always another good deal.

But I also believe life is short so grab whatever opportunity to enjoy it! 😀

Sad disfigurement

Their strategy worked. They didn't advertise a thing but the buzz here encouraged a lot of loyal RCI cruisers to book early and those people will be most enthusiastic with their reviews.

Now if asked, RCI can claim a computer glitch gave away those prices and wasn't meant to happen.

Merry Christmas, Empress sailers!!

I wish I had booked too but wasn't ready to commit.

My sister and her husband recently sailed round trip from Los Angeles to Tahiti, Hawaii and back on the Pacific Princess, close in size to Empress. I could see similar use for Empress out of California.

Or even 9-nights to Manzanillo and Acapulco against 5 nights to Cabo San Lucas and La Paz out of San Diego.

Possibilities are endless if they cared to try.

Well, We Floridians Need a Special Ship, For RCCL's Future Miami--Havana Sailings!!

Florida NEEDS? Ah, now you're just being greedy. :D

This review makes me want to sail on Coral Princess. quickly, before anything bad happens to her. (..Island...) :(

Yes, most likely. I tend to do very lengthy reviews. I know a lot of people will be interested since the ship is returning to the fleet!

Review WITH pictures please :) :) :)

Every time I've gone in to check on a price or maybe place a booking I get different pricing. Sometimes it shows the C&A discount others not. Sometimes it shows C&A + OBC other times not.

The website seems to just be crazy.

I am so tempted to book now. But it's hard to justify flying all the way from Los Angeles for a 4 or 5 night cruise.

Too bad she's not out here. I would probably book two or three a year.

While on the other hand I see you have only been on RCI once and not the newer ships.

In that case I would recommend Liberty. It's a great class of ship and RCI does a great job. I think you would be very happy.

I have never been on Carnival but I voted for Sunshine based on the ports visited.

Can you take a train to Florida? Might be more pleasant than driving.

I have been wanting to try a cruise from Galveston but reading about the problems of getting to the port from the airports and fog impacting departures and arrivals at the dock has dissuaded me.

We're looking for a summer 2016 cruise and may look into Carnival Sunshine ourselves.

Our RCI Diamond discount is useless with their ongoing $300 obc (refuse to combine with c&a discounts) so who cares about loyalty anymore?

Well Empress won't have the balconies or half the venues of the Brilliance. Does Brilliance still have the gyro controlled billiard tables?

Here is a rendering of a renovated Junior Suite. Hopefully all rooms will get the same upgrades.

Thanks, I am most interested in the public spaces to see what is being done. the Centrum (is there one on Empress?) the shops, bars and entertainment venues.

Or will it just be paint and carpet?

I have a gut feeling that Pulmantur put a lot of wear and tear on her without consideration for appearance.

Thanks for the review. We loved Mazatlan last November. Will be on Crown Princess next month. Can't wait. Last chance to try Sabatinni's (should add, I have no interest in Share)

I was on the Ruby Princess in November. The casino is bad and dead. There should be no noise from the casino above you. There is likely to be no noise inside the casino either.

Royal Caribbean's new strategies are pushing me towards MSC.

We have been sailing Princess recently and although we are booked on Allure for November 2016 that could easily be cancelled.

MSC definitely has my attention.

RCI is getting ridiculous. I guess because they found out China and Dubai passengers will pay any price, they can just increase to their heart's content.

I am not a cheapskate but I do compare pricing. It's stupid to pay more for a steak or tepanyaki dinner on a cruise than the better restaurants at home. (especially considering one would be forgoing the 'free' dinner in the MDR).

Go ahead RCI, price yourself out of the market and we will have some exciting new cruise line to explore.

Your arrogance is disturbing.

Exciting!

Pictures Please

I would sure love to see some pictures of the new decor and enhancements.

She must have to be changed quite a bit from her Pulmantur 'styling'.

I wish they would cut that rock climbing wall off her butt.

When I found out about the MSC status match I went and signed up for the black card.

We made diamond on RCI a few cruises ago in 2007 and don't see ourselves ever making Diamond Plus (besides there is no real benefit).

And now even Diamond status is nearly worthless with Royal Caribbean's new pricing and their refusal to combine both the $300 obc (which everyone gets) with the diamond discount.

Plus their new strategy of moving out of the US market has driven us to consider other lines.

We recently sailed Princess and are going again on Princess in January 2016.

Yes, the Princess experience is not as fun as RCI but RCI abandoned California and don't seem interested in returning (heck, they could have given us the Empress)

So now MSC.

When I signed up for the status match and looked at their offerings I saw Mediterranean cruises that looked very attractive and Caribbean sailings that beat RCI by miles on pricing.

I am reticent to try Carnival or NCL so I'm sure we have some MSC cruises in our near future.

Maybe people are avoiding the Island Princess as a result of her recent changes?

... My thought is, I just got off a 10 day Vision and had I known ahead of time that all the entertainment was geared toward someone double my age, then I probably would have chosen either a 7 day Freedom, or the 5 and 4 day B2B on Brilliance.

I think that's the difference between a 10 day or longer cruise and the 5-7 day cruises.

Not so much the ship, but the demographic of people taking longer cruises usually precludes younger families and couples who are still working.

We took a 15 night Hawaii cruise once and the average age must have been over 75, with us in our late 50's. We definitely noticed the difference and it was on one of RCCL's newest and brightest ships.

So maybe keep that in perspective.

Cool trivia! Thanks! :)

It's also where the term, "Never look a gift horse in the mouth", comes from :)

(don't seem ungrateful by trying to evaluate the value of the gift)

Port Canaveral is only a 20 minute drive for us. Mmmm...choice of sitting home, or easy drive to Freedom or Enchantment again??!! Wonder which one is more boring? ;) :D

 

But seriously, we do love to mix it up. Tampa, Port Canaveral, Ft. Lauderdale, and Seward Alaska is on our next schedule of departure ports. :)

 

I see you have sailed on Monarch and Serenade several times. They are still two of my favorite series of ships. Miss the Monarch still.

Excellent point... I'd rather be on a cruise than sitting around the house or another typical day at work! :D