mabkcruisers

1 hour ago, riffatsea said:

There is no reason to shuttle back to the airport to get transportation to the cruise port unless you are planning to use the cruise line transportation.

We hate waiting for those buses so we'd prefer to either go directly to a hotel near the port( Crowne Plaza or Doubletree have shuttles to the port) or use uber/lyft from the LAX hotel.

Depending on the day of the week getting to the port in the AM could have traffic issues.

Thank you!  We were planning to arrange for our own shuttle (learned that after using the cruise line buses a few too many times).  We are now looking at San Pedro hotels instead for when we arrive.  

Thank you so much! This is really helpful. Hadn’t considered staying in the port area with such a late arrival. We are on the Emerald for a 3 night coastal too!

1.  Looking for a precruise hotels near LAX- arriving at midnight the night before so we just need a place to sleep.

2.  Also need recommendations for shuttle service to the port- we assume we will use hotel shuttle to return to LAX in the morning for the best options. 

Thanks for your help!

We stayed at the Homewood Suites (Mary Brickell) and loved it. Walking distance to many great restaurants. Havana 1957 was very fun on a Friday night- live music and Cuban coffee!

I was looking online at a few like British Colonial and the only thing I do NOT like is that most say you must pay with a credit card, why won't they take cold hard cash? That seems ridiculous because I do NOT take my CC off ship...it stays in safe! How did you pay and where did you go?

I think the issue is that they are a hotel. I don't think many hotels these days take anything but a credit card for payment. The hotel guests that are also using the restaurant/pool bar just have everything charged to their rooms, so I don't think the bar takes cash either. However, we have given an extra cash tip to our attendants.

What website do you guys use to pre book for the hilton? i found like 3 sites.

 

Thanks

I think the one we have used is bahamascruiseexcursions dot com

I looked online and saw there were several options now, but as I recall there used to be just one way to make the reservations. I believe they ask for a deposit and you pay the balance when you arrive.

Looking to visit a resort for the day when we travel on Oasis on August 21st. Have been looking at reviews for The Hilton Nassau and it seems like it is a good deal. $60 pp including $40 pp food/drink. What is everyones take on this? Any other resorts I should consider. Also, when is the best time to book. I want to make sure that the weather will be good for that day.

 

SC

We have found it to be the best spot and deal in Nassau, but we have had full days there (all onboard at midnight- not that you can stay that long at the British Colonial). We have always made our reservations at least a month before sailing, but those have been spring break cruises. Also, being that it was spring break, we did have some noise from Señor Frog's and the booze cruises. However, the Colonial itself was quiet.

On another note....Enjoy this cruise! Wish we were back onboard!

Michael can you find out if the rumor is true that they are not serving Stella on the Empress? [emoji3]

Pretty sure Stella was available in the Schooner

1. Are they doing brunch daily in the MDR as advertised or is that not happening?

On our 7/9 sailing it was only on sea days. Mimosas and Bloody Marys were served at our table. You had to wait in line to be seated, so you couldn't pick your own table. It was really popular on the last sea day. We didn't have to wait long, but there was a decent line when we left. If there was an item you wanted that wasn't on the buffet (that day it was French toast), they would make it for you.

DH always charges his with an AC adaptor. That being said, his Fitbit is toast after our last cruise. It will no longer hold a charge at all. While looking online it seems that this is a common problem with them over time, and they are replacing it because it is still under warranty. However, the problem started after our day at the beach on Grand Cayman. It was July and incredibly hot. I am wondering if several hours exposed to the heat is to blame. He had a really bad blister on his wrist where it was as well. I know that some batteries have been known to do that with the Fitbits. My iPod wouldn't work that day either. It shut down because it was too hot. Just something to think about if you are going to be where it is super warm.

http://www.beyondships.com/Cruise-articles-Super-cruiser.html

Thank you!

this concerns me, passengers are now responsible for going to Guest Services on the last night and ask for a copy of their charges. Then they'd have to quickly go over it to see if there are any extraneous charges to contest. If they don't do that, then when they get the emailed copy, and there's something amiss, it will be their word against RCI's customer service rep

We were surprised to not have a final statement, but it was an easy solution. We did have a mid-cruise bill in our stateroom on Day 3 which was new for us. All was as we expected on our statement so no concerns. I am just wondering if we disembarked before they were all delivered.

He's on the Empress until the end of this month. Then he goes to the Enchantment until October. Then he'll be on the Harmony TA. Then he moves to the Freedom for at least a year.

Just curious, is there any way to find out how to spot him? :) We were on the Empress earlier this month, and we heard he was onboard, but we didn't have any idea what he looked like.

Hello I am confused about the disembarking. I will be going without my passport only birth certificate and ID. So my question is when I disembark I will have to carry my birth certificate or the Sea Pass is good enough??

Whatever you used to board the ship will be fine. Immigration was checking passports (birth certificate in your situation), and the Empress staff was punching Sea Passes to indicate you participated. It was just like the customs process you go through when you exit the ship at the end of your cruise, but you don't have to submit your sheet showing what you are bringing back into the country for tax purposes. We returned to our staterooms after the inspection and put our passports back in our stateroom safes. When we disembarked the ship in Key West we only took our driver's licenses and Sea Pass cards.

We have been on other cruises where we have had ports of calls outside the US and then had our last port in Key West, but this was the first time we had to go through an immigration inspection. It was very informal and quick, but it was a big deal if you didn't participate.

I want to thank you so much for your review! We sail in mid-August for my daughter's 17th birthday.

 

Were there a lot of teens on board? You said that your son didn't do any of the teen activities. Did he meet and hang out with other teens?

Hope the information helped! Yes, there were quite a few teenagers on board. We saw them in the dining room with their families and around the pool deck. We would also see groups of them together around the ship participating in the games and various activities. My sons tend to hang out together quite a bit at home, and they get along well, so the younger one was content to stay with his older brother (18- just graduated from high school). He also enjoyed doing some of the trivia and other activities with the adults. They would go to the movies at night together, and there were always big groups of kids there.

They had a schedule of activities for the teens at guest services on embarkation day. Since there isn't a specific spot for the teens, like there is for Adventure Ocean, they would meet in different locations for the activities. He would say he was going to participate in a certain game, but then he would change his mind at the last minute I think he would have done more if he would have attended the initial "meet and greet" time with them. I think he felt like he would be joining late after that poiint. I could be wrong, but that tends to be his MO.

Hi! I'm starting to plan for my cruise next month on the Empress. What times were the shows? I'd like to make some dinner reservations (I'm on My Time dining), but don't want to miss the entertainment.

 

Thanks so much!!

 

Michelle

Shows were at 7:15 and 9:15, with the exception of Day 5 when "Three" was at 7:45 and 9:45.

Disembarkation Day- We went to breakfast around 6:30. With a long drive ahead of us that day we planned to do self-assist at 7:30. With only a handful of suitcases out the night before we assumed many others had similar plans, and we wanted to be some of the first in line to disembark.

The Windjammer was still doing made to order omelettes this day, and there were plenty of other options for our last breakfast.

We didn't receive a statement on our door, but one was emailed to us later in the day. I went to guest services to ask for a copy before disembarking. While I was waiting I realized they were letting passengers off the ship (it was about 7:20). We hadn't heard any announcements about clearing customs though. I texted DH to spread the word to DS to be ready as there was no line.

We walked off a few minutes later with no wait and were through customs and in our car in the parking garage by 7:40. :) Easiest disembarkation ever! It helped being in the right place at the right time.

Having cruised Nordic Empress an EOS a number of times, I often called her a "pocket megaship." :D

This is exactly how we felt! You had everything you would expect, but it was just a mini-version.

I'm glad to hear the ship is finally coming together. We were on the 2nd voyage that actually sailed and our experience was essentially at the bottom of our many many Royal

 

Caribbean cruise. The ship wasn't ready to sail with paying guests. Did we still have a fun vacation, yes, because we chose to make the best of it. So glad they are now up to speed.

I am so sorry that your cruise vacation was disappointing and not up to RC standards. Had I not read anything on CC before sailing, I wouldn't have known there were any issues at all. I feel bad that those initial passengers (who didn't realize they would be some of the first to sail after the dry dock) didn't have the same cruise experience we did. I feel that we reaped some extra benefits (complimentary wine, "thank you" cake on the pool deck from the kitchen staff, etc.) because the first sailings did not go as expected.

Hi mabkruisers!

 

So glad to read your review of Empress. My first cruise with Royal (first ever cruise) was on Nordic Empress back in 1990 during her inaugural season; so she holds a special place in my heart!

 

There seems to be some confusion as to the Beatles tribute band on board. Britain's Finest has been playing on the Empress since the 7/14 sailing, they are currently playing this week's sailing 7/18 (with standing ovation last night), and will continue on 7/23 sailing. Yes, is you saw "George Harrison" walk past on the staircase, you could be right. That is all his own hair, he does not have to wear a wig for the early 'Ed Sullivan' black suit years (they all have to wear wigs during their normal 2-hour/3-costume change show).

 

Glad you enjoyed the entertainment on the show. I remember seeing El Gaucho also, and love his show as well!

 

Best regards,

 

Anita Pederson, Press Agent

Britain's Finest - Ultimate Beatles Experience

http://www.britainsfinestband.com

 

 

 

 

 

http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/showphoto.php?photo=38277

Thank you so much for your comment. We were on the July 9th sailing of the Empress and disembarked on the 14th. I was quoting the band name as advertised in our Cruise Compass and as introduced by the Empress staff.

Key West- After our second day at sea, we were ready to do some walking. DS had never been to the port, so we did the typical sightseeing (buoy, 0 Mile marker, Duval St., etc.). We also went back to Peppers of Key West and had frozen key lime pie dipped in chocolate on a stick. As excpected, since it was July, it was a really hot day. We walked around for about 4 hours and decided to board the ship for lunch. The pool deck wasn't busy then either, since most were still in port, so we took advantage of that time as well.

As others have mentioned, we did have to go through a quick inspection with US immigration before disembarking. This process was for ALL (US and non-US citizens) regardless of whether or not you were going ashore in Key West. They were set up in the Royal Theater starting around 8:30 am and checked Sea Passes and passports. The RC folks punched your Sea Pass card to show you participated. It sounded like there was a hefty fine if you missed it.

Grand Cayman- The tender process was typical- no surprises and the usual wait to get off the ship. We wondered if it might be faster with fewer people onboard but not really. You also had the usual folks who took the elevator to Deck 2 and thought they could join the line right there. The Empress staff was good to let them know the line was beginning up on Deck 4 at that point. A few were able to sneak in thinking no one noticed. Carnival Sensation was the only other ship visiting Cayman that day.

After some research on CC on the port of call board for Cayman, we opted to spend the day at the Royal Palms Beach Club. Taxi ride was $4 USD per person each way. Taxis were easy to get both ways. Royal Palms is the first beach club you come to on 7 Mile Beach.

We had reserved a cabana online for $100 USD before we left. The cabana came with 4 lounge chairs, a table for eating and 4 dining chairs to go with it. We also had cabana service. We ordered a bucket of bottled waters (5) when we arrived and later had a frozen beverage, bottle of beer, 2 cokes, conch fritters, a pizza, and a chicken sandwich. Total bill (including the cabana and service fee/tip) was $193 USD.

DS 15 rented snorkel equipment from a water sports venue adjacent to the property. Not much to see where we were, but he enjoyed the novelty of using the gear.

Beach was very pretty, and we had access to restrooms and food all day. We would probably do again. Without the cabana, admission would have been $2 per person, chairs were $10 each, and umbrellas were $15 each.

There was no wait for the tender to return to the ship. RC had set up a table with water and lemon water for those wanting a drink for the trip over.

Mabkcruisers, what is the average price of a frozen drink on Empress?

 

Thanks!

At the pool bar they had drinks grouped by price on the menu. Your basic daiquiris, margartias, etc. were $10. There was another tier that were $14 (I think) and non-alcoholic frozens were $4.

Daytime Activities-

We found plenty to do during the day on our sea days. We found the best time to use the pool deck was first thing in the morning. Between 8 and 9 you could have your choice of chairs (and you could watch the chair hogs come up to claim theirs and then disappear). We would stay for a couple of hours and then go and grab some breakfast in the Windjammer. The afternoons had the traditional sexiest man competition, belly flop contest, etc. We were surprised they did the belly flop contest because we thought the pool would be too small. There were shaded tables around the pool deck and by the bar if you wanted to be in the shade to watch.

One complaint about the pool deck was the DJ music. We usually prefer Caribbean Roots anyway, but we will listen to the DJ music. However, when the music this time contained some pretty foul four-letter obscenities, we were done. I was surprised in the choice of music with so many little ones around too.

Deck 6 was probably our favorite spot. There are chairs lining the promenade where you can sit by the railing. Of course chair hogs were prevalent here too. One side is a smoking area, so you will want to look for the ash trays if that is an area you want to avoid. At times you could hear the pool deck music there as well. DH and DS were able to run there each morning (around 7).

The activities staff did a great job filling the day with things to do and were a lot of fun. We played trivia multiple times (geography, 80's music, 90's music, sports, etc.) but never won. We were close a couple of times! It was usually in the Schooner, but the last day they tried Boleros for a change of pace. There were the usual spa seminars and dance lessons throughout the day too.

DS 15 thought the teen activities looked fun, but never chose to participate.

We used our free C&A spins in the casino (yes, it was hot in there) but didn't win anything. We didn't make any other donations. :)