Live from Empress - May 20, 2017 (Key West, Havana, and Cozumel)

[Alter Ego]

Bolero's Drink Menu

 

 

 

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[Alter Ego]

Day 2 Planner

 

 

Cuba related inserts

 

 

 

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[JamesEM]

Following along enjoying your reports and photos, I'm interested in taking a cruise too Key West and Cuba.

[starrcards]

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Why would they schedule this event for the Havana port day? If I were invited on my August cruise (and I shouldn't be since I am Gold, one day short of Emerald), I'm not sure I would give up my last 2 hours in Havana to attend.

[MrFunInTheSun]

Thanks for bringing us along.

 

 

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[Biker19]

I do wonder why they no longer have people sit around the piano?

Like many other things on the ship, the space limitation dictates what's possible - probably not enough room for seats around the piano.

[Gordo]

We are very interested in doing this same cruise. Thanks for bringing us along. Have an amazing vacation.

 

 

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[Alter Ego]

Why would they schedule this event for the Havana port day? If I were invited on my August cruise (and I shouldn't be since I am Gold, one day short of Emerald), I'm not sure I would give up my last 2 hours in Havana to attend.

 

 

 

On board time is 4pm (just heard we were given 30 extra minutes.)

 

 

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[Ruskincruiser]

Enjoying your review. Thank you!

[cbusbigred]

Mmm. Food porn. :)

[pbcct12]

Cruising on the Empress of the Sea with my niece as her high school graduation gift. Departure July 19th

Using Tours by locals for a smaller group experuence in Havana, Cosumel and key west. Need two other exploers to share the expense. Less costly and smaller group than ship tours. Email rrsil respo ses to. Palmbeachsandrad@YAHOO.COM

[EatonDoolittle]

Cruising on the Empress of the Sea with my niece as her high school graduation gift. Departure July 19th

Using Tours by locals for a smaller group experuence in Havana, Cosumel and key west. Need two other exploers to share the expense. Less costly and smaller group than ship tours. Email rrsil respo ses to. Palmbeachsandrad@YAHOO.COM

 

This sort of post should be on your roll call, not crashing someone's "live from" review.

[Alter Ego]

Is it still a "live" review when everything is reported hours after the fact?

 

Because we arrived late in Key West, they had the brunch in the MDR. However, as I couldn't seem to get out of my room until 9:15 and wanted to be somewhere at 10, I ran up to the relatively uncrowded Windjammer.

 

 

 

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[Alter Ego]

I wanted to go to the seminar on Cuba that was being presented by a professor.

 

It was not what I expected. It was interesting, but ended before 1900 - just when the US got involved with Cuba's fight for freedom against Spain. I'm sure most people would have expected to hear about the period after this time. He will speak again after the Havana stop, speaking more about the Cuban culture (probably a little more interesting than the talk given). In fact, the first question in the Q&A section started "so you didn't take about Communism..."

 

Right after, the hotel director and cruise director gave another Q&A that was relevant to our stop and provided photos of the immigration process, where the currency exchange is, etc.

 

Some slides from their presentation:

 

 

 

 

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[Alter Ego]

Soon thereafter, we were in Key West.

 

While waiting, we heard a rooster crow. If you are unfamiliar with Key West, they have many live wild chickens/roosters running around. They are protected, just like any bird in the area, and you can't hurt them.

 

 

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[Alter Ego]

I took the "Taste of Key West" excursion from the ship.

 

We went here

For conch fritters, smoked tuna dip and shrimp ceviche

Then we went to

To sample various

And, yes, I tried the hottest one!

 

Our last stop was

For

 

Delish!!

 

 

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[Alter Ego]

I then walked to the southernmost point, which was about 30 minutes away. Was a nice walk, passing several museums, including Hemingway house.

 

Various other sites along the way

 

 

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[Alter Ego]

There is actually a line at the monument; goes fast.

 

 

 

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[Alter Ego]

 

Now I'm back on the ship, enjoying some quiet time in my room. Hope nobody thinks I'm including too many photos!

 

OH- I forgot to mention...in addition to everything else the ship is doing to get us ready for Cuba, they have also given us a list of Spanish phrases.

 

I'm leaving for now; will check back later!!

 

 

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[CruisinMama2003]

Following along....

[Yorkvillain]

Hope nobody thinks I'm including too many photos!

 

 

Not at all. This has been great. Thank you!

[ohbuckeye]

Not at all. This has been great. Thank you!

 

I agree, can never have too many pictures! I love that they are giving you so much information on Cuba. We took a W. Med. cruise and don't remember them giving us a paper with useful phrases for the countries we visited.

[riviera]

Really enjoying this review, especially all the photos. Keep it coming!

We go in September. Thanks for all the photos.

[aichambaye]

Awesome! Keep up the photos!!

 

 

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[Alter Ego]

MDR Menu - night 2

 

 

I could not make up my mind and had two starters. I really liked the white bean soup with ham. The mango salad was not necessarily something I would get again, but it is a light bite.

 

 

I loved the chicken entree! Something about that little bit of lettuce made it really special to me.

 

Coconut Flan for dessert. Another winner, but pushed me over the full mark. Overall, very happy with my meal!

 

 

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