Empress of the Seas 5/29/04

[Seafoam]

I read on a different post that it takes about a half hour to get to the island, but only about ten minutes to get back....They thought it had something to do with the bar being open on the way there and closed on the way back...LOL... [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[RichNY]

We are seriously thinking about the Champagne Evening Sail,
The Railway Trail Cruise and Bike Tour and the Ultimate ST. George Water Tour.
We plan to book them after we board.

One week to go
Rich & Loretta

[CruisFran]

Champagne Sunset Sail and the Ultimate Water tour are on our agenda! "Carnival" may be a possibility!!

Received word, our bus, from Worcester MA, is leaving later (10:45) than the orig. 9:00. That isn't surprising, as the ship is sailing later than previous trips (which was 4:00)! Anyone else bussing from MA or CT?

Serious packing underway!!! Getting very excited!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[RichNY]

WOW 36 for the M&M....some crew !!

[w770496]

Rich,
Just call Academy Bus to confirm our pick up. They have over 20 passengers, so there is no way they will cancel the bus.

See ya at the park and ride.

Greg

[RichNY]

Hey Greg
Thanks for the infomation.
See you on Saturday.

Rich

[byefairwind]

I just heard they stopped selling buckets of beer. Say it ain't so. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img]

Empress of the Seas
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[Texalana]

Noooooo [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] Where did you hear that awful rumor???

Until Bermuda on Empress of the Seas 05/29/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=CD20CD&cdt=2004;05;29;18;0;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]

[byefairwind]

I read it in a post about booze cards which have also been eliminated. We need buckets of beer! Hopefully this is just bad info.

Empress of the Seas
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[RichNY]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif[/img]
Buckets......we need buckets.

Fran don't tell Eddie

[byefairwind]

Here's where I read it

[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=757100312"]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=757100312[/url]

I may have to cancel.

Empress of the Seas
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[RichNY]

I read it....sad, very sad.
I posted on the RC board , lets see what happens.

The problem is my wife would go without me..shes not a beer drinker. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
Rich

[CruisFran]

I should have taken your advise Rich, and not tell Eddie!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] The poor guy is depressed, pouting in the corner, and mumbling to himself!!

Hey!!...Loretta and I will have a great time, I'm not a beer-drinker either!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img]

[MICHAELHUNTER]

ONLY 2 MORE DAYS!!!!!!

[RichNY]

We have been saved...BUCKETS OF BEER ARE AVAILABLE...YESSSSSSSS

[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=752101412"]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=752101412[/url]

Fran tell Eddie not to JUMP...all is well

Life is good, see ya's on Saturday

Rich & Loretta

[Carmic]

Are you all packed? Can't believe we leave tomorrow. Just want to say "Thank You" for all the information I received from these boards. Hope all have a safe and fun trip.

Carol [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

[RichNY]

Hey Gang
We came back yesterday...it was GREAT with two minor problems.
The M&M was messed up..the location and time were changed and the new invitations were delivered way too late. We only had 12 but we did meet some real nice people.
Getting off the ship was a disaster...we sat for over 3hrs befor the first color was called, but after that it took only 15 mins before we were on our bus..
Riich & Loretta

[MyCousinRachel]

Hi Rich ----

I've been waiting for you to return from the trip. Please write us a review soon. I'd love to hear all the details. My family and I sail on August 21st.

Regards, Laurie

[Seafoam]

I agree, M&M got messed up, is an understatement.

Does anyone know why they took all the matteresses off the ship while we were waiting to debark in Bayonne??? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img]

[byefairwind]

They busted some people with drugs in Bermuda and then searched a bunch of cabins. Found drugs in mattresses. At least that's what I overheard.

Empress of the Seas
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[deedoo]

Just back, had a great time except: 1)The port side of the promenade deck stunk to high heaven of rotten cabbage( I hope) and was rendered unusable for the whole cruise. We are not sun worshippers so we like to sit on this deck.2)We laid out over $100 for soda cards, but at the Windjammer bar were treated like lepers by one bartender for the whole cruise. I finally had a loud argument with him; service improved but not his attitude. 3)First time on RCL partly due to "convenience" of Bayonne. Imagine my chagrin when I learned all NJ residents would be called last to disembark. Unlike all other lines we sailed there was no express disembarkation. They started calling colors at 11:30 but at 10:30 I saw Customs leave the ship and the crew started leaving the ship to pick up new mattresses.4) Service in the Carmen at lunch was bad, but this was due to overstetched staffing which also affected dinner at times. This is in no way a criticism of the wait staff who were excellent!

[RichNY]

They did bust some passengers in Bermuda but I think it was just mattress changing time. The ones that were taken off were put in dumpsters and looked pretty bad.

[w770496]

I was on the 5/29/04 sailing (Hey Rich). I did not experience any smells on deck 4. Was very happy with the lunch service in the dinning room.

I was one of the first off the ship, there is really no need to wait for your color to be called just go to the strike up the band lounge and get off as soon as they start letting passengers off they don't check colors.

Brilliance of the Seas6/17/05
Serenade of Seas 11/27/04
Empress of Seas 5/29/04
Serenade of Seas 10/9/03
Serenade of Seas 9/03
Grandeur Of the Seas 9/96
Sovereign of the Seas
Crown Princess
NCL Seaward
Carnival Festivale 1989

[MICHAELHUNTER]

Just back from Empress 5/29-6/6. Bermuda was beautiful, the water was cold. The weather was 80 and sunny. Went to tobacco bay (small beach and crowded) water was calm and waist level. Horseshoe bay was the nicest beach. The rooms on the empress are very small. The pool is small and there are not enough lounge chairs. The carmen dining room service was excellent. Boarding the ship was simple and very fast (20 minutes) but getting off the ship was a nightmare (over 4 hours!!) My family had a good time, but next time we sail it will be on a newer ship.

[CruisFran]

Back from the Empress...sniff! Had a GREAT trip!! Bermuda was terrific, as always! Great weather, mostly sun, temps in the 80's...and I personally thought the water temp (77 degrees)was fine...although not as warm as it would be in mid-summer. The Bermudians don't go in until the first number is an 8, and second number 4 or 5! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] If only we got that here in New England, ever!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]

Too bad the M&M got messed up!! Did meet 12 very nice people!...hey Texalana!! The location and time was changed, and the invitations were late! Josephine was quite upset with housekeeping!!

We especially enjoyed the 8 night, 3 port itinerary!! Hopefully RCCL will continue it, although we heard that 2005's plan is still unknown...Empress will be in Europe!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]

The only draw-back was disembarkation, which took much too long!! Bayonne, Cape Liberty, is a work in progress, hopefully things will improve in time!

Sure wish we were still cruisin'!!!

Fran & Ed