Empress Second Sailing Review

[firemedic1560]

I agree that Royal Caribbean did not deliver the typical Royal experience. On one hand this is very frustrating because I know how it could have been. On the other hand, most of the issues were relatively small and didn't have a huge impact on our trip.

 

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[WrittenOnYourHeart]

My oldest daughter's boyfriend wanted to play some blackjack so we did that after dinner. The dealers were friendly and helpful to him, and we had a great time. Everyone at the table was enjoying themselves with a few exceptions caused by a couple of people that didn't know what they were doing. I totally get that everyone has to learn somehow, and everyone is entitled to play however they wish. The problem with blackjack is that one person can cost everyone else a bunch of money when they hit hands that they shouldn't.

 

I don't do casinos, so maybe the bolded section is obvious to those who do. But I'm confused as to how someone could "hit hands they shouldn't". Is the implication here that someone who doesn't know what they're doing shouldn't be allowed to win? Because that is how it reads to me.

 

Isn't all gambling pretty much just games of luck?

[O2B_CRUZN]

Anyone mind sharing room numbers of the rooms that were bumped?

[Had2cruz]

We too were on the second sailing and your review is pretty much our experience. Actually I think you were quite friendly in your overall review. We were a group of about 15. Overall we had a good time, because we chose to make it a good time in spite of the actually cruise ship experience. This ship is not ready for passengers...simply not. Our issues:

 

1. Chops on First night, party of 12 - After 1 hour and 10 minutes 6 six salads were served. 10 minutes later, still not a single appetizer or soup had been served to any of the other 6. 5 minutes later we made the decision to get up and leave.

 

2. A/C not working adequately. We found the casino to be warm during the day and outright hot at night. Nearly everyone in our group complained their cabin was warm.

 

3. On the last day our bathroom smelled horribly of sewerage (we were on deck 8)

 

4. T.V. in cabin wasn't working and couldn't get anyone to come from maintenance (Guest Services repeatedly didn't answer phone calls. Twice we called and the phone rang 37 times twice in a row before disconnecting. Someone finally answered the third time.)

 

5. Selections in Windjammer were limited and mediocre in quality. Also, food option times in the evening are extremely limited. There is absolutely nothing available other than room service between 9 and 11:30 PM. (Room service took 45 minutes for badly PRE-prepared sandwiches)

 

6. Bar Service was extremely slow. Getting a drink was a 15 - 25 minute undertaking. Thus when you just wanted a water or soda, as OP stated, it wasn't worth it.

 

7. Bought Internet but it would connect our device. Some others in our group also experienced this problem while others had not problem. Those that had service said it was very slow. Those that didn't ultimately received a refund as there is not IT manager on board.

 

Lot and lots a little things over and over all cruise long just added up for a bad overall cruise experience. But as I said we made the most of it and had fun. I'm a roll with it type of person, but I also recognize Royal Caribbean did not deliver what we paid for. Definitely will keep this in mind next time we research a trip. We've been wanting to give Norwegian a try for something different and this probably just pushed us in that direction.

 

Where on Deck 8 were you located? Our cabins for our upcoming cruise are on Deck 8 and there were issues in one of them for the 5/28 sailing.

 

Just waiting for the phone to ring....

[firemedic1560]

I was in 8171 aft.

 

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[firemedic1560]

I don't do casinos, so maybe the bolded section is obvious to those who do. But I'm confused as to how someone could "hit hands they shouldn't". Is the implication here that someone who doesn't know what they're doing shouldn't be allowed to win? Because that is how it reads to me.

 

Isn't all gambling pretty much just games of luck?

 

I'll try to explain. Yes all gambling involves some luck, but blackjack is a game of probability. There are more cards worth 10 points than any other number by a large margin. All players are playing against the dealer, not each other. The object of the game from a players perspective is to make the dealer go over 21, or "bust." Good blackjack players make their decisions based on what the dealer is showing, as our cards are all face up, but the dealer gets one card down. The blackjack definition of "hit" is to take a card. When the dealer is showing a 6, no one should take a card because the dealer has a high probability of busting. When a novice takes cards they shouldn't, they change the order of cards for every hand past them, including the dealer's hand. When I say they "hit hands they shouldn't" it means that they took cards when they should not have and caused other people to lose hands that they otherwise would have won if the novice was playing correctly.

[ctsharpie05]

We too were on the second sailing and your review is pretty much our experience. Actually I think you were quite friendly in your overall review. We were a group of about 15. Overall we had a good time, because we chose to make it a good time in spite of the actually cruise ship experience. This ship is not ready for passengers...simply not. Our issues:

 

 

 

1. Chops on First night, party of 12 - After 1 hour and 10 minutes 6 six salads were served. 10 minutes later, still not a single appetizer or soup had been served to any of the other 6. 5 minutes later we made the decision to get up and leave.

 

 

 

2. A/C not working adequately. We found the casino to be warm during the day and outright hot at night. Nearly everyone in our group complained their cabin was warm.

 

 

 

3. On the last day our bathroom smelled horribly of sewerage (we were on deck 8)

 

 

 

4. T.V. in cabin wasn't working and couldn't get anyone to come from maintenance (Guest Services repeatedly didn't answer phone calls. Twice we called and the phone rang 37 times twice in a row before disconnecting. Someone finally answered the third time.)

 

 

 

5. Selections in Windjammer were limited and mediocre in quality. Also, food option times in the evening are extremely limited. There is absolutely nothing available other than room service between 9 and 11:30 PM. (Room service took 45 minutes for badly PRE-prepared sandwiches)

 

 

 

6. Bar Service was extremely slow. Getting a drink was a 15 - 25 minute undertaking. Thus when you just wanted a water or soda, as OP stated, it wasn't worth it.

 

 

 

7. Bought Internet but it would connect our device. Some others in our group also experienced this problem while others had not problem. Those that had service said it was very slow. Those that didn't ultimately received a refund as there is not IT manager on board.

 

 

 

Lot and lots a little things over and over all cruise long just added up for a bad overall cruise experience. But as I said we made the most of it and had fun. I'm a roll with it type of person, but I also recognize Royal Caribbean did not deliver what we paid for. Definitely will keep this in mind next time we research a trip. We've been wanting to give Norwegian a try for something different and this probably just pushed us in that direction.

 

 

May I ask what your room # was?

 

 

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[EntropyGuardian]

I'll try to explain. Yes all gambling involves some luck, but blackjack is a game of probability. There are more cards worth 10 points than any other number by a large margin. All players are playing against the dealer, not each other. The object of the game from a players perspective is to make the dealer go over 21, or "bust." Good blackjack players make their decisions based on what the dealer is showing, as our cards are all face up, but the dealer gets one card down. The blackjack definition of "hit" is to take a card. When the dealer is showing a 6, no one should take a card because the dealer has a high probability of busting. When a novice takes cards they shouldn't, they change the order of cards for every hand past them, including the dealer's hand. When I say they "hit hands they shouldn't" it means that they took cards when they should not have and caused other people to lose hands that they otherwise would have won if the novice was playing correctly.

 

Someone playing at the same blackjack table has marginally more of an effect on the outcome than someone sitting in the next slot machine. Or a "bad" roulette bet has on the outcome of the ball bounces.

 

You should be happy there was an extra player. You got to see 2 more cards of the shoe.

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

I'll try to explain. Yes all gambling involves some luck, but blackjack is a game of probability. There are more cards worth 10 points than any other number by a large margin. All players are playing against the dealer, not each other. The object of the game from a players perspective is to make the dealer go over 21, or "bust." Good blackjack players make their decisions based on what the dealer is showing, as our cards are all face up, but the dealer gets one card down. The blackjack definition of "hit" is to take a card. When the dealer is showing a 6, no one should take a card because the dealer has a high probability of busting. When a novice takes cards they shouldn't, they change the order of cards for every hand past them, including the dealer's hand. When I say they "hit hands they shouldn't" it means that they took cards when they should not have and caused other people to lose hands that they otherwise would have won if the novice was playing correctly.

 

 

But unless the rules specifically state that "When the dealer is showing a 6, no one should take a card" and that is explicitly explained by the person teaching them the game, I don't see how it is wrong and they "hit hands that they shouldn't". It seems like they won, you lost, and you're not being a good sport about losing.

 

It is random "rules" like this (and I question if they are really rules or just things that regular gamblers have decided are rules so people playing by the actual rules don't know them) that are a big part of why I refuse to waste my money on gambling.

 

 

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[bigbeergut]

Thanks for the review. I have fond memories of the Empress from about 22 years ago, I think I'll stay away and just keep those memories. I'll also need to remember not to ever sail on anything in the Pulmantur fleet. The poor Empress must have been really sad before the dry dock.

[EntropyGuardian]

But unless the rules specifically state that "When the dealer is showing a 6, no one should take a card" and that is explicitly explained by the person teaching them the game, I don't see how it is wrong and they "hit hands that they shouldn't". It seems like they won, you lost, and you're not being a good sport about losing.

 

It is random "rules" like this (and I question if they are really rules or just things that regular gamblers have decided are rules so people playing by the actual rules don't know them) that are a big part of why I refuse to waste my money on gambling.

 

 

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Just ignore it. It's an old wife's tale. How a player plays at the table has no effect on the game of blackjack. Anyone who tells you different has no idea what they're talking about.

[PhoenixCruiser]

But unless the rules specifically state that "When the dealer is showing a 6, no one should take a card" and that is explicitly explained by the person teaching them the game, I don't see how it is wrong and they "hit hands that they shouldn't". It seems like they won, you lost, and you're not being a good sport about losing.

 

It is random "rules" like this (and I question if they are really rules or just things that regular gamblers have decided are rules so people playing by the actual rules don't know them) that are a big part of why I refuse to waste my money on gambling.

 

 

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No, thats not how Blackjack really works. One should read a book, or two, about the game before even sitting down at a live table. Every player's actions affect the entire table.

 

I enjoy playing Let It Ride because what others do have nothing to do with what is in my hand :D

 

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[Big_G]

But unless the rules specifically state that "When the dealer is showing a 6, no one should take a card" and that is explicitly explained by the person teaching them the game, I don't see how it is wrong and they "hit hands that they shouldn't". It seems like they won, you lost, and you're not being a good sport about losing.

 

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I don't think he said they won... more like they took cards when they shouldn't and everyone lost. A hit isn't winning. It's just taking a card.

[detlionsfan]

Just ignore it. It's an old wife's tale. How a player plays at the table has no effect on the game of blackjack. Anyone who tells you different has no idea what they're talking about.

 

 

The key difference between blackjack and every other casino game is that blackjack has "memory." That means that every card played affects future hands (until the shuffle). So, if you "should" stay and take a hit, then not only did you take my card, but your play affects all the future hands as well.

 

Granted, I've seen this help players just as often so I don't think it really matters; however, there is memory to a deck and bad decisions can affect cards very easily.

[ZoeyVictoria]

Every player's actions affect the entire table.

 

Isn't it possible that the entire table can also be affected in a positive way? I understand the theory that a card taken will change the order of cards for the remainder of the players and the dealer, but isn't there at least a 50/50 chance that the card the dealer then gets will make the dealer bust?

 

I agree with you, PhoenixCruiser; I play 3-card poker for the same reasons you play Let It Ride. I enjoy playing more when the other players are supportive and happy to see each other get good hands, rather than criticizing the play of others.

[PhoenixCruiser]

Isn't it possible that the entire table can also be affected in a positive way? I understand the theory that a card taken will change the order of cards for the remainder of the players and the dealer, but isn't there at least a 50/50 chance that the card the dealer then gets will make the dealer bust?

 

I agree with you, PhoenixCruiser; I play 3-card poker for the same reasons you play Let It Ride. I enjoy playing more when the other players are supportive and happy to see each other get good hands, rather than criticizing the play of others.

 

You are correct Victoria, it can go both ways!

 

As to the bolded part, once again we agree :D I want to have fun, winning or losing, lol!

 

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[firemedic1560]

This will be my last comment on this subject because it really isn't the point of the review. The person I am talking about was the last person in line before the dealer. Therefore, it was very obvious how their decision making was impacting the results. There was no rudeness towards this individual. The dealer was helpful if asked, and even conversation among players was allowed as far as how to play a particular hand. That usually isn't allowed but for whatever reason, the casino bosses were allowing everyone to have a good time and just roll with it.

There are situations where others at the table would have said something to her, but none of us did. We just minimized our bets until she was done losing her money and then we went back to playing as normal.

This is the problem with message boards in that it is sometimes difficult to impart the correct tone to a conversation. One paragraph out of a two page review has generated more comments than the rest of the 4 days worth of information. All because someone who doesn't even play blackjack took issue with the words I chose to use to correctly describe a situation using the terminology common to the game.

If anyone else has comments or questions about anything else in the review feel free to ask. If you want to know anything else about blackjack, go to you tube or watch Rain Man.

[Jarmo]

firemedic is correct, those questioning.....um, yeah, cool........how does math work?

[OSUZorba]

How was the A/C in most areas? Do you know if you can rent just snorkeling vests on Cococay?

 

Not sure if anyone else answered this, but yes you can get just a vest. I think it was $7 last time I looked. On the other hand you buy your own on Amazon for around $15. My wife and I finally got our own after we battled some strong current in Grand Caymen out on our own and she was pregnant the next time we went snorkeling so I didn't trust her endurance if we got into a similar situation.

[OSUZorba]

Thanks for the review FireMedic. I have no current plans on Empress, but I had thought about taking her to Cuba once those routes start. After seeing the early reviews, I am not sure I would enjoy the ship enough to make it worth it.

 

I am glad you were able to enjoy yourself.

[firemedic1560]

Thanks for the review FireMedic. I have no current plans on Empress, but I had thought about taking her to Cuba once those routes start. After seeing the early reviews, I am not sure I would enjoy the ship enough to make it worth it.

 

I am glad you were able to enjoy yourself.

I might consider a trip to Cuba on her depending on the itinerary and status of the other items that need to be fixed. It won't be any time soon.

 

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[Shop and Cruise]

Thanks for taking the time to do this review. My sister-in-law and I are booked to sale on the Empress July 14 and from your review and others I have to say I am thinking of possibly calling to see if we can be switched to another cruise going around the same time. This though may not be an option because of the short timeline that we are going to be in Miami. We were so looking forward to this break and it is her first cruise and I have cruised before with RCCL and enjoyed every cruise. We are flying from Newfoundland, Canada so flights are booked and I suppose the reality of it will probably come down to we will have to make the best of it but at least we will go into it with our eyes open. The worst things I am not looking forward to encountering is smell in cabins, shower water problems, and AC issues so I hope at least these issues will be corrected by the time we sail. Like I said before I was so looking forward to introducing my sister-in-law to the cruising world so that we could plan future cruises with our husbands. I hope this upcoming cruise does not leave her with a bad cruising experience where she would rather not cruise again. I will keep my eyes open for more reviews from other Empress cruises before mine and hope to see some improvements. Reviews I have read so far mention the same issues and this is what I am weary about.

[UMDelt]

The channel I missed the most was what I call the map channel. The one showing a picture of the ship's chart plotter with so you have an idea where you are

 

:eek: That's my favorite! In fact, I wish they'd add even more realtime data on that screen to help fuel my inner nautical-geek.

[SailingSal]

Two other things I forgot. The outside movie screen was still not working. Picture but no sound. Also the in room TV offerings were very limited. While I enjoy a bit of the Royal Caribbean "how we built this ship" stuff, it repeats often. The channel I missed the most was what I call the map channel. The one showing a picture of the ship's chart plotter with so you have an idea where you are. Seems like they could have fixed that on a $50 million upgrade since they didn't spend it on ice cream machines!

 

Thank you so much for your honest review. I tried to talk my husband into going on Empress again - we had sailed twice on Empress out of New York to Bermuda with our family. At the time it seemed so large to us - it was our second and third cruise. We loved Empress and our children had so much fun. When I read that you didn't have the map channel it made me :)

My husband loves watching the journey of the ship and he too would be disappointed without it.

 

So instead of booking Empress we are going on Enchantment since the itinerary is similar. Your approach to your vacation was so refreshing - you were out to have a wonderful family vacation with great memories. Sometimes we forget that is the purpose of vacations. You have great stories that had some disappointing results - but it didn't ruin your family time. Hopefully there will be some changes on Empress and her future sailings won't fall so short!

[Royal Raynik]

I do have two more questions;

 

Do the rooms have mini fridges in them?

Was there storage under the bed for suitcases?

 

These may be dumb but would be helpful to know!

Thanks again!