Live from 3rd Sailing of Empress of Seas (June 6 - June 11, 2016)

[LMaxwell]

Can not see menu pic; comes through in thumbnail only. Appreciate you trying. Sounds like they are still ironing out kinks but hope you're having fun with friends.

[Had2cruz]

How do you know they are still bumping passengers off Empress on the next sailing?

 

 

 

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I read it in the roll call for the June 11-16 cruise.

[Garavar]

Can not see menu pic; comes through in thumbnail only. Appreciate you trying. Sounds like they are still ironing out kinks but hope you're having fun with friends.

 

If someone wants it emailed then just email me

[CallieS]

Currently on 3rd sailing of Empress and wanted to post update and/or answer questions for those that are interested. So here goes...

 

- Muster Drill was all on paper, no scanning cards and a little crazy, but not too bad.

 

- AC still doesn't work on 5th Floor, Casino and Guest services is very hot.

 

-Junior Suites are very small, Balcony is smallest I've ever seen.

 

- Dinner was interesting, the menu is completely different from any other ships we've been on. Question for the readers: Is a new menu fleet wide? Or Just empre

 

- First night's dinner had some old dishes like Lamb Shank. There was no escargot, and the desserts were all new and terrible (almond cake, napolean, italian cream)

 

- Brunch was surpisingly good, free Mimosa or free bloody mary tasted decent. You only get 1 though and the food options were about what you get from chops breakfast in a suite, maybe a little more. No menu, but you could ask for eggs cooked to order. The buffet scrambled eggs were terrible as usual.

 

More updates to come

 

I was on the June 2 sailing. Here are some of my experiences compared to yours:

 

I didn't notice deck 5 being hot. Wonder what happened, maybe the freon leaked out. ;) I only walked through the casino a couple times. My impression is that the slot machines give off a lot of heat, and the already mediocre AC can't keep up.

 

On our first night dinner, they didn't have the French onion soup available, but substituted it with escargot. Go figure. They also had escargot on at least one other night. The onion soup was offered the other three nights. The dessert you mentioned, Italian cream, was Italian merengue on our sailing. I thought it was the best dessert of the whole cruise! LOL

[WinksCruises]

I see some of your instagram pics; how do I find Snapchat stuff?

 

Download the Snapchat app for iOS or Android and add friend by name WinksCruises. You'll get to view regular pics and short video clips. Thanks!

[pstone1]

Good morning! Can you tell me if they had the first night's show, Sequins and Feathers? We saw it on the May 28th sailing and it was the best show we've ever seen on RCL. Someone said they did not repeat it on the second cruise. Hoping that was just a hiccup. Thank So!

[Garavar]

Good morning! Can you tell me if they had the first night's show, Sequins and Feathers? We saw it on the May 28th sailing and it was the best show we've ever seen on RCL. Someone said they did not repeat it on the second cruise. Hoping that was just a hiccup. Thank So!

 

Nope, first night was a comedian who was actually very funny. Second night was "Bailamos" i didnt go.

[Garavar]

Update:

 

- No Brunch, Mimosas or Bloody Mary on Port Day. Since we are in Cozumel today we found out there would no brunch and brunch is only on sea days.

 

Contrary to Royal's Website..."Enjoy a sunset on every cruise and decadent Sunday brunch with a complimentary Mimosa or Bloody Mary every day of the week. And the party does not stop onboard. Every night is Saturday, with live music, amazing entertainment, and dancing the night away at Boleros Latin lounge."

 

- Last night the windjammer was closed between 5 and 630 pm. Since this is the only venue to get a snack (no park cafe or pizza place obviously) a lot of people were complaining.

[coaster]

I thought at least Royal would honor what has been advertised. Expectations dropping everyday for this ship.

 

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[johnjen]

Someone posted earlier there was flooding going on Empress. Any updates or truth to this?

[pstone1]

Nope, first night was a comedian who was actually very funny. Second night was "Bailamos" i didnt go.

 

Sad to hear that! I wonder what happened. I'm glad the comedian was funny!

[Garavar]

I thought at least Royal would honor what has been advertised. Expectations dropping everyday for this ship.

 

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Nope, really zero reason to go on this ship. Sunday "Brunch" is just lunch in Main Dinning Room on sea days like every other ship. If it was brunch daily "as advertised" then maybe it would be worth it.

 

I don't like the windjammer, so I am out on Empress

 

 

 

 

 

Someone posted earlier there was flooding going on Empress. Any updates or truth to this?

 

Didn't see actual flooding but saw those big fans for drying carpet on deck 3. Haven't heard anything though.

 

----

 

Update

 

- Our assistant waiter last night said he was on Brilliance when RC transfered him to Empress. He said this is the worst ship he has been on and crew accomdation are terrible. He said if he makes it through his contract he will not renew with Royal if its on Empress. But he put a big emphasis on "If"

 

- I put out a bag of laundry on my bed at around 5 pm (June 7th). When I returned to my stateroom at 8 pm or so my stateroom was made but the bag of laundry was still on the bed. I called house keeping and told the lady that my attendant didn't take my laundry. She did not speak a lick of English and couldn't understand me. I finally not to be rude asked if she spoke spanish, she told me yes so I spoke to her in spanish because I am fluent. She told me she would send my attendant right away to get my laundry.

 

My attendant came and he said he left it because laundry is closed and that he will pick it up tomorrow morning (June 8) and I will have it back next day at 5 pm (June 9).

 

Question to Readers: This is a first for me, I always give laundry at 5ish and they always bring it back the next day. Is Laundry really closed? Or is he blowing smoke up my <Expletive>? Maybe just on Empress?

 

- When returning from Cozumel, the people confiscating bottles were no lie, 10 feet from the metal detector. They had an honor system of checking your liquour in and I saw A LOT of people sneaking by. Pretty nuts.

[LMaxwell]

If they aren't going to do the brunches or Diamond event they really need to tell people and set expectations properly. Better yet, be consistent and do what is on the site.

 

When I was on NCL Sky last year, similarly priced "party" ship you could get food pretty much all the time and they had a wonderful sports bar open very late. RCI's got to realize a party ship has party people and limited menus and skimpy hours won't cut it.

[jticarruthers]

How do you know they are still bumping passengers off Empress on the next sailing?

 

 

 

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One of my co-workers is getting calls (2 so far) from RCI trying to bump him off the sailing this weekend, he was discussing it with me yesterday.

[monctonguy]

No AC on the whole 5th deck??? I cant imagine being on a ship in the Caribbean and no AC??....especially the casino which is normally so warm from all the machines and the people than tend to hang out there.

 

Don't like the new seapass cards...very blah looking.

 

Doesn't sound like this is much of a party ship? How is the nightlife? Like most other ships or is this one actually appealing to more of a party crowd?

 

Based on the age, condition, cramped rooms, slow bar service...I would say this is the PERFECT ship to do Cuba runs.....as that is exactly what Cuba is like...old, slow, cramped, things not working etc...lol

[Garavar]

No AC on the whole 5th deck??? I cant imagine being on a ship in the Caribbean and no AC??....especially the casino which is normally so warm from all the machines and the people than tend to hang out there.

 

Don't like the new seapass cards...very blah looking.

 

Doesn't sound like this is much of a party ship? How is the nightlife? Like most other ships or is this one actually appealing to more of a party crowd?

 

Based on the age, condition, cramped rooms, slow bar service...I would say this is the PERFECT ship to do Cuba runs.....as that is exactly what Cuba is like...old, slow, cramped, things not working etc...lol

 

The AC works on some parts of the 5th deck, its just those units are clearly trying to cool the whole floor so deck 5 is naturally warm. The Casino however is unbearable. So hot that they have those standing ac fans from Sharper Image.

 

The night life is terrible we went to Viking Crown lounge on June 7 from 10 pm to 2 am with our friends to celebrate my lady's birthday and we were the only ones in there pretty much. The dance floor was empty and there were 2 guys sitting drinking daquiris down from us, a couple on the other side of room and 5-6 people at bar. That's it.

[troykahack]

Here is my Sea Pass card from Majesty 5/27. Still old style.

 

First post. I have some forum posting learning to do.

 

Great forum

 

Edited June 9, 2016 by troykahack

[johnjen]

Didn't see actual flooding but saw those big fans for drying carpet on deck 3. Haven't heard anything though.

 

That's how some folks had their cruises cancelled then. There's also word that there's no AC in certain parts of the ship as well. I forget what thread this is on in here but apparently there's a lot of cruise bookings being cancelled on Empress for the next sailing.

[monctonguy]

That's pretty bad about the nightlife....usually the smaller ships and shorter cruises seem to be better for that. But nothing worse than sitting around a club with 3 ppl in it. Sorry to hear that. My last cruise was like that every single night...pretty disappointing.

 

Glad I didn't book this when it first opened up...sounded like a great ship and experience but obviously it is falling short.

[Retired LEO]

One of my co-workers is getting calls (2 so far) from RCI trying to bump him off the sailing this weekend, he was discussing it with me yesterday.

 

I'd gladly take the cancellation. No calls yet.

[Garavar]

I'd gladly take the cancellation. No calls yet.

 

Me too

[Sandy Sails]

Ten years ago, we hung out in the Boleros Lounge on Deck 5 every night. That's where I'd meet up with this cute guy I met every night at 10 p.m. ;) Isn't there something going on in there every night? Like Quest?

 

I've changed my mind about us celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary next year on the same ship where we met. Yuk.

[ksadonnab]

Me too

 

 

Me Three - I'm starting to lose faith.

[Garavar]

Ten years ago, we hung out in the Boleros Lounge on Deck 5 every night. That's where I'd meet up with this cute guy I met every night at 10 p.m. ;) Isn't there something going on in there every night? Like Quest?

 

I've changed my mind about us celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary next year on the same ship where we met. Yuk.

 

Quest is in the theatre on Day 4. Boleros is too hot, haven't been there. Was there day 1 almost fainted from heat so haven't been back

[BillOh]

 

I've changed my mind about us celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary next year on the same ship where we met. Yuk.

 

How soon do you need to book, I would say with no specific claim to expertise, keep watching reviews for in the coming months, Once the intended CD takes over it might pick up Elvis, while being a first time CD, seems like he could be a good one.