sr71pav Posted October 28, 2015 #276 Share Posted October 28, 2015 My parents are aboard Serenade right now, and the loyalty ambassador told them the news about Empress. She said (for what it's worth :rolleyes:) that the plan for Empress is Cuba and, possibly, Panama Canal. I don't know out of what port, but thought I would pass it on as at least partial confirmation of the speculation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulette3028 Posted October 28, 2015 #277 Share Posted October 28, 2015 My parents are aboard Serenade right now, and the loyalty ambassador told them the news about Empress. She said (for what it's worth :rolleyes:) that the plan for Empress is Cuba and, possibly, Panama Canal. I don't know out of what port, but thought I would pass it on as at least partial confirmation of the speculation. Typically staff on board ships are the last to know the details of ship deployments, even the Loyalty Ambassadors. So I take this report from the LA with a large grain of salt. When Royal puts out the itinerary, everyone will know. If is is for early 2016, it should be out soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted October 28, 2015 #278 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Typically staff on board ships are the last to know the details of ship deployments, even the Loyalty Ambassadors. So I take this report from the LA with a large grain of salt. When Royal puts out the itinerary, everyone will know. If is is for early 2016, it should be out soon. I'm surprised you don't know yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjsshipboy Posted October 29, 2015 #279 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Under the new regulations Royal Caribbean can sail to Cuba if it does People to People cruises. As I said in the next paragraph, unless they do something along the lines of Fathom... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LMaxwell Posted October 29, 2015 #280 Share Posted October 29, 2015 My parents are aboard Serenade right now, and the loyalty ambassador told them the news about Empress. She said (for what it's worth :rolleyes:) that the plan for Empress is Cuba and, possibly, Panama Canal. I don't know out of what port, but thought I would pass it on as at least partial confirmation of the speculation. I have relatives on the same cruise. I asked them to ask the LA about Empress. They did on Tuesday and got a resounding "huh?" as a response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted November 2, 2015 #281 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Just off Enchantment. When I asked future cruise lady about Empress, she acted like she never heard of it. Then I said my wife heard on Freedom that she was going to be doing Cuba. Her face lit up and then said, well we were told it's not official, but that is the scuttlebutt around the company, but they were told to keep it to themselves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FIRELT5 Posted November 2, 2015 #282 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Just off Enchantment. When I asked future cruise lady about Empress, she acted like she never heard of it. Then I said my wife heard on Freedom that she was going to be doing Cuba. Her face lit up and then said, well we were told it's not official, but that is the scuttlebutt around the company, but they were told to keep it to themselves And the Concierge on the Liberty states it's going to Austraila & New Zealand ?? Lol. After 30+years of cruising with about 95 voyages completed, imho it all pure speculation at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted November 2, 2015 #283 Share Posted November 2, 2015 They need to make some announcement if they want to have sailings next spring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saab4444 Posted November 6, 2015 #284 Share Posted November 6, 2015 Pullmantur now published a revised schedule on the Spanish website for summer 2016 with Monarch taking over the Norwegian Fjord cruises from Empress but also with some revised Baltic cruises still on Empress during the same time in June/July. Monarch can not do both, strange.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redlobster Posted November 6, 2015 #285 Share Posted November 6, 2015 Found this in my Royal book. Nordic Empress' MDR (Carmen Dining Room) in original configuration. Looks very attractive:) Thank you for the photo...looks very nice even at today's standards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwcruisers Posted November 6, 2015 #286 Share Posted November 6, 2015 As someone who's been away from RC for a few years, I'm really hoping that this happens. We never got the chance to cruise on Empress, before she left the fleet. We were docked right next to her once -- in Cozumel. Compared to Navigator, she was tiny -- but elegant. I'm hoping that RC will put her to good use, maybe sailing some "boutique" itineraries, where the big ships just can't go. Will be watching for the release of her 2016 sailing information! :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redlobster Posted November 6, 2015 #287 Share Posted November 6, 2015 I have a bias and that is spending part of each year in Los Angeles as a scaled down test of the West Coast market. Cost of operating at a profit on this ship is lower than the biggies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwcruisers Posted November 6, 2015 #288 Share Posted November 6, 2015 (edited) I have a bias and that is spending part of each year in Los Angeles as a scaled down test of the West Coast market. Cost of operating at a profit on this ship is lower than the biggies. I would LOVE that! Especially if they included some north-bound Pacific Coastal routes in the summer -- and not just have her sailing to Mexico, year-round (like RC has done with past West-Coast home-ports). :cool: Edited November 6, 2015 by wwcruisers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisexlife Posted November 7, 2015 #289 Share Posted November 7, 2015 I don't know what RCI is waiting for, if they don't release the Empress's schedule soon, not many will be sailing in "Spring 2016" like they are advertising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles4515 Posted November 7, 2015 #290 Share Posted November 7, 2015 I don't know what RCI is waiting for, if they don't release the Empress's schedule soon, not many will be sailing in "Spring 2016" like they are advertising. If the plan is to do Cuba they have to get government approval. So that may be what they are waiting for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted November 7, 2015 #291 Share Posted November 7, 2015 I have a bias and that is spending part of each year in Los Angeles as a scaled down test of the West Coast market. Cost of operating at a profit on this ship is lower than the biggies. Why would you think that? It has been mentioned several times that the bigger, newer ships have a much lower operating cost per passenger with considerable more revenue options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulette3028 Posted November 7, 2015 #292 Share Posted November 7, 2015 I don't know what RCI is waiting for, if they don't release the Empress's schedule soon, not many will be sailing in "Spring 2016" like they are advertising. There are plenty of people who will book it even last minute at the right price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthGrady Posted November 7, 2015 #293 Share Posted November 7, 2015 There are plenty of people who will book it even last minute at the right price. I'll be one of those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulette3028 Posted November 7, 2015 #294 Share Posted November 7, 2015 I'll be one of those. I believe it will be interesting to see where it is homeported and the itineraries it will have along with how they refurb it for the current cruiser that they are trying to attract. We just have to wait and see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfcathorse Posted November 7, 2015 #295 Share Posted November 7, 2015 I don't think Empress will be sailing yet Spring 2016. I saw a press release where she will have an extensive dry dock beginning Spring 2016. So perhaps it will be May or June before she's ready for guests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OfTheSeasCruiser Posted November 7, 2015 #296 Share Posted November 7, 2015 I'll be one of those. Me too. Well actually only if the price is right and it sails out of FL or NJ on cruises of 7 nights or less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfcathorse Posted November 7, 2015 #297 Share Posted November 7, 2015 (edited) oops double post Edited November 7, 2015 by wolfcathorse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OfTheSeasCruiser Posted November 7, 2015 #298 Share Posted November 7, 2015 (edited) I don't think Empress will be sailing yet Spring 2016. I saw a press release where she will have an extensive dry dock beginning Spring 2016. So perhaps it will be May or June before she's ready for guests. I don't think anything is really official yet, to be honest (I'm sure Royal knows, but the info I've seen is somewhat contradicting on the dates). I guess we'll find out soon enough. I wouldn't be able to sail on her until Nov/Dec 2016 anyway, so I'm still excited! :) Edited November 7, 2015 by OfTheSeasCruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfcathorse Posted November 7, 2015 #299 Share Posted November 7, 2015 I see my table! It did get a little rocky back there when seas were rough. A few guests couldn't finish their meal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisexlife Posted November 7, 2015 #300 Share Posted November 7, 2015 There are plenty of people who will book it even last minute at the right price. Yes, and those "many people" probably live near you in Florida, a short drive to the ship, and can take 2 days off of work and just go. Living in Maryland, I cannot do that. Many cannot do that. Unless you live within close distance of the port, it becomes impossible to book last minute, unless you have some sort of free flight rewards program, which again, the practical cruiser does not have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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