shelbyleigh73

So, I assume it is safe to say that if a comedian doesn't say "over 18", that they are safe enough for a 9 year old and are more family friendly? Just wondering! Thanks!

1 hour ago, PatMunits said:

I confirm that there's GAGA ball at the kids club. My girl scored a medal there playing GAGA ball this afternoon. 

GAGA ball AND Medals? It just keeps getting better!!!! 🙂

How are the shows in regards to nine year olds? We like shows...didn't miss one on the Disney boats (but they ARE kid friendly), and she loves Broadway (has seen Wicked and Annie). Just wondering about that. 

Thanks! Shelby 

2 hours ago, PatMunits said:

 

2 (again) and three. We have three daughters aged 9, 7 and 5. None of them are bored. We did Playa Mia park in Cozumel and 9 year old did snorkeling in Belize. She's happy. My five year old now demands to go to the kids club several times a day. The pool is small but girls are okay with it and go swimming there daily. 

 

That is awesome. Thank you for sharing this. What does the 9 year old think of the kids club? Lainey LOVED the kids club on Disney...though it seemed I always found her playing video games! haha I told her tonight that I read they had Gaga ball in RC kid clubs, and she is quite excited about that! Please share what the older girls think about CocoCay! Have fun!

3 minutes ago, rafinmd said:

Speaking of Key West, Empress docks right smack dab in  the center of Mallory Square. Very few (and I don't think any of the others are Royal) can dock there.

 

 

 

Taken from the shipwreck museum tower.

 

Roy

that just made me even more excited! My little town just waiting for me and oh so close!!! 

Thanks everyone! I feel a million times better! Again, the size of the ship doesn't matter. I was just worried about the smell and lack of reviews about the kids club. However, my chill travel loving kid will be just fine! We always have a blast on vacation, and this one will be no different! Thanks again for putting my mind at ease. Here we come, Spring Break! 

Now..

Feel free to give me your Royal Caribbean advice! LOL Again...this is my first time with this cruise line! 

Empress.

9 year old.

Single mom.

Cozumel.

Coco Cay.

No need to tell me anything about KW. What can I tell you? 😉 

And...go!

Thanks!

8 hours ago, TheChefslc said:

Good to know. Thank you for the information. 

 

This is what my wife and I are doing. After looking at some pictures and really thinking about it, we figured it will be fun to just have some relaxing time on the ship and then enjoy our ports. We really are looking forward to Key West. We have only been there once but I loved it and cannot wait to go again.

Key West IS.THE.BEST. Love it so! 

10 hours ago, Joseph2017China said:

I stayed in a really old hotel once.  It was 176 years old.  It received a ton of reviews that the hotel smelled, and that the floors creeked and that the rooms were "dated" and the bathrooms were "dated".  So I booked it and we loved it. 

 

The Empress is an old ship and many think it is a ship of the bygone error.  But I had no issues on it.  Every cruise, and class of ship, and destination is different.  Each trip is vacation.  Don't get on a small ship, and complain that it is a small ship.  Just like I have read complaints that they serve Asian food on Asian cruises.  Why would you expect different?  Just like food, why would you expect the ship to grow in size?  So go with the open mind that you selected a relaxing vacation on a classic ship, and you will love it.

To be honest, it was really the smell reviews that were bothering me. LOL The other reason I got worried was because I couldn't find a lot of reviews of where people mentioned the kids club for this particular ship. But I finally found a few things and the kids looked happy.  I don't have a problem with it being small. My daughter isn't at thrill seeker yet, and I'm just too damn lazy to be on a ship that has eight million things to do because I'll feel like I NEED to do them or maybe she'll want to do them.  Again...I'm fine with a book, a mimosa and a deck chair. She's cool as long as she has a pool and ice cream. so I'm thinking I'll be just fine! Everyone has put me at ease about the smell, so I already feel a million times better! I truly want to relax on the boat and do my thrill seeking at the ports. 🙂 

everyone has made me feel better! I don't usually doubt myself about trips, but for some reason (maybe because I booked so fast, I was doubting! But no more! I'm ready for spring break! 🙂 ) 

P.S. I would TOTALLY stay in a 176 year old hotel. And hope that a friendly ghost would visit me. LOL 

11 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

 

And remember the highlight of the trip will be the new Coco Cay waterpark.

 

Keep your trip as Key West is nice too.

 

 

Oh, Key West is better than nice! LOL It's my Happy Place. I actually have been going down there since 1996. There's probably only 3 years I haven't made it down. Sometimes twice a year, and one summer, I actually lived down there with a friend! LOOOOVE it! Was just there a week in July. 

Yeah, I really didn't want to give up that Coco Cay day, so I'm sticking to it. (and all of the responses have made me feel better about that!)  

9 minutes ago, twangster said:

Here is a recent Empress Adventure Ocean handout for their kids program.

 

Empress AO 08-10-19 8 Nt Eastern .PDF 395.63 kB · 0 downloads

 

Stinky?  Not in my experience.

 

 

 

 

Good to know!!! (I think I was worried about that more than anything!) 

Thank you for posting that hand out. I'm sure she will love it! (especially when she sees that they have GAGA Ball!)

5 minutes ago, Kelli0927 said:

I can't give you specific advice about this particular ship, but we have only been on smaller ships (Brilliance, Radiance, Majesty) with our 10 year old son.  He just loved being on the ship.  He didn't really like the kids' clubs, but he usually found a few new friends to play with in the pool and if we were hanging out at the beach on port days.  He's an only child (i'm assuming yours is too), so he is used to being around adults and just enjoyed hanging out with us.  We played pool, darts, trivia, shows, etc.  We have done many "fancier" land trips to Disney, Hawaii, many Caribbean islands with all the bells and whistles, but he is just happy to be on vacation.  If your daughter is similar to this, she will be just fine.  Enjoy your vacation!

Yep! She's a pretty good little travel buddy. She doesn't need me to entertain her in the pool and knows good and well mama is going to watch and wave from the pool chair! LOL This girl will play Uno for two hours straight if I would, so we'll be good if she gets "bored" now and then on a sea day (which I highly doubt). We always carry a pack!

I'm excited! Cruises are just relaxing vacations to me (probably another reason I don't care about being on the mega ships with eight million things to do!  I'm too lazy for that nonsense! haha)

Hi! I will be on that cruise with my 8 year old (she'll just turn 9 before the cruise) as well. I'm hoping the same thing about the kids club. As long as she can get in the pool and have fun in the club, she'll be set! 🙂

8 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

They do have a few guest skating periods.

I'm sure we will have a good time! We'll miss the mouse....LOL...but I'm looking forward to going to a few places where we can splurge on some excursions...like swimming with dolphins or ziplining. I just hope she enjoys the kids club and the boat doesn't stink! haha

9 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

I think you might change your mind if you attended one of their ice shows.

Ahhhh!!! Now if it's a show, yes, you are right!!!! I just assumed it was ice skating for the cruisers.  We love shows! 🙂

15 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

A little late to be asking this, but you could have done better. I assume that’s a spring break week so she will have other kids to play with. 

Well, I know it's too late to be asking all the questions seeing as I have booked. But then I can also change it if need be, so it's really not too late. But I have never gone wrong with any cruise I've been on, so I was excited to get a good price. Ahhh to be back in the days before the internet and have people post that a cruise is stinky! 

13 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

Would it be possible to post some links to the bad Empress reviews?

 

Also, Empress does not have an ice rink.

Oh, I know it doesn't. I was making fun of the ones that do because I personally think it is silly. 🙂

I just googled Empress of the Seas. Some popped up on cruise critic and some other places. I mean there are good reviews too, but when I see a few different people say it's stinky...I worry. 

Hi! I just booked my first Royal Caribbean Cruise on Mar. 29 , 2020 for my daughter (will be 9), and myself. (single mom, 46). I have cruised 3 times on Carnival (between 1995 and 2004....all three were adult, no kids, girls trips!). My daughter has been on two cruises in the past three years: Disney Magic (4 nights) and Disney Dream (3 nights). We love cruises. My daughter said they were the best vacations EVER!  Disney is the best ever, and I didn't mind one penny I spent. However, I'm not a Disney snob...because I LOVE cruises and vacation in general. So! 

I decided to go Royal or Caribbean this time to give my wallet a break and to enjoy a few extra days. This will be a 6 night to KW (my HAPPY PLACE!), Cozumel, and Perfect Day at Coco Cay. I chose it because of the itinerary and price. Every single cruise I have gone on is Bahamas, and I do not want to go to Nassau again! I also love private islands! LOL (Castaway Cay has spoiled me. I really like private islands.)  I also chose inside stateroom because I honestly just need a place to sleep. It's a 3rd deck, mid ship room. 

With that said...now I'm freaking out because of some of the reviews I've read. I don't want to be on a stinky boat! I don't mind small. I really don't think I would like one of those monster 4,000 people ships. On the last two Disney trips, I didn't even get in the pool on the boat. (maybe stuck my feet in). All I need is a mai tai or mimosa, my book, and a deck chair while my daughter plays in the pool or is in the kids club. I'll enjoy my pool/beach days on our stops at KW, Cozumel, and Coco Cay. My daughter does like the pool and smaller slides. So while I hate there isn't a smaller slide or aqua duck she can ride with me, those monster slides wouldn't be up her alley anyways! I just enjoy relaxing. I LOVE eating though I only eat at the places included...main dining room, buffet.  I'm not a shopper. I would like to take advantage of a spa service (couldn't do that on Disney. All my money went to the cruise! haha) 

So, I guess my main questions are:

1. Is it really stinky?

2. Is it TOO small of a boat? (Again. I think a skating rink on a cruise ship is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard of! LMFAO! But to each their own.) 

2. Is this a good boat for a 9 year old? (she likes to sleep in, watch a movie or two,  isn't a big eater so could care less about the food as long as she gets ice cream daily, has a good kids club and has a pool to get in some)?

3. How is the 9-11 kids club on the Empress?

4. Should I change boats? (the bad reviews are freaking me out!) If so, what would you suggest?

Thanks so much! Sorry if I'm rambling! Shelby