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I was on the Nov. 18th Navigator, the cruise that followed the TA.  I heard that a huge percentage of the people booked on the TA cancelled their cruise - they had the option to do so without penalty when the itinerary was drastically changed from the northern route to Boston/NYC to the southern, Orlando. I'd hate to believe that of the remaining passengers, 60% cancelled their gratuities.  Sounds to me that the crew received 60% less gratuities due to so many cancellations.  I would hope that no one on that sailing blamed the crew for the captain's decision to avoid disastrous weather in the middle of the Atlantic -- 50+ foot seas.

Just got off Thanksgiving Cruise today. We had very calm seas and a smooth sailing.

On 11/19/2018 at 3:21 PM, lbsaady said:

It is not on the Cruise compass 

We are on this cruise. It is NOT on the compass, I am looking at Day 2 compass right now. If I knew how to post a picture I would, but that will have to wait until we get home. My husband stayed on the ship that day and as I was leaving said to me “you just need your seapass card”. I then checked the compass and that’s all it said, seapass card. I brought my drive license just in case, and was so glad I did. REPEAT: does not say photo ID on compass!

15 minutes ago, pspercy said:

 

We stopped at these two on an eastbound TA, in Zeebrugge many went to Bruges but we did a ww1 battlefield tour, very moving. From Le Havre we went to Honfleur which was very pleasant.

We visited Honfleur this past April. It was a rainy, windy, cold day, but still a beautiful place. If we'd had good weather, I think it might be on my list of favorites.  Two years ago on another TA we took a shuttle into the city of Le Havre and stopped in a beautiful park. Also visited the rocky beach.  Plenty of restaurants - most serve mussels!  I enjoyed it.

Except that neither of the Grandeur itineraries are Caribbean ones. If they had not redirected from Bermuda to Nassau, there likely would have been no issues, so yes, absolutely blame the weatherman since the first cruise did not depart until Saturday, when it was evident Bermuda was in the clear.

 

I do take your point though. People do often seem surprised hurricanes exist.

I thought it was odd that they changed the itinerary to Nassau when on Saturday it was evident that Bermuda would have been an easier route back to Baltimore. But maybe they just wanted Grandeur far, far away from Baltimore on Thursday, just in case the storm shifted north (which it did by a hair).

I have heard a few people talk about a “white night” on Empress in lieu of formal night. Is there anymore to this other than everyone is encouraged to wear white?

We were on Empress last week. I think they may have had a White Night, not sure, but they had a “Dress to Impress” night, where people seemed a bit less casual. I saw some women wearing party dresses. That was also the night they served lobster in MDR.

I just got off Empress on Sat and went to the late night Windjammer buffet. They had pizza, burgers, hot dogs, a nacho bar, pre-made sandwiches, cookies, cakes. They probably had more but that's what I noticed.

Thank you!!

Those same issues were going on a year ago when we visited Havana twice. Didn't seem unsafe at all to me.

 

It also does not make any sense that Cuba would be doing that- as they pretty much need as much tourist money as they can get- so it would make no sense at all for them to cut that revenue stream off.

 

If it were me, I'd go in a heartbeat. The best thing about taking a cruise is that you get a better feel of what Cuba is like, so the fear that you naturally are feeling will subside when you get there and meet people.

For us, Cuba was a real eye opener. But the people were great. I’ll leave it at that.

Just off Empress Saturday. Three drinks were loaded on Diamond and above, also an invitation-only sail away party with drinks served, and a Top Tier party with drinks. In addition, we were invited to a Royal lunch. Each table sat with an officer! Wine was served and we were given a special menu with 8 oz. Chops filet with mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus (or choice of salmon or chicken). And a very interesting chat with our officer, who gave us terrific tips on navigating Cuba! It was a fun cruise with wonderful crew.

Just off Empress. No formal nights, but a “Dress to Impress” night, the same night lobster was served in MDR.

We received a brochure from HAL offering balcony cabins for $599 on 7-day cruises. Royal’s skyrocketing prices are becoming unsustainable for this family.

I think we are on the same cruise next week. We’re bringing a 6-pack of bottled water purchased for $1.00 at Dollar Tree and a 6-pack of 16.9 oz. bottles of Pepsi from Walmart @ $3.00. Have never had a problem bringing bottled water or soda onboard!

I am not sure that RCI giving free drinks is necessarily the “right” thing to do, but it doesn’t suck when it happens.

 

JC

Empress does not have a Diamond Lounge.

The answer is "no". But mistakes are sometimes made. ;)

Thank you, hoping for a mistake. :)

Are you suppose to get double points? NO

Will you get double points? PROBABLY

Thanks for your reply! Bob says no, unless we're paying the same as a JS is now selling for. But I sure hope you're right....!!

They changed the rules a while back, and if you pay less than the going rate (see Royal's website for the current JS price), then you don't get the extra points.

Our 8/27 cruise out of Miami is no longer listed on Royal's site. The only other similar cruise is one in September (5 day, sailing to Key West and overnighting in Havana) showing suites as "sold out". Guess we'll have to wait and see -- and hopefully we'll be pleasantly surprised. Thanks, Bob.

I just received an email from Royal regarding adding us to a waiting list to upgrade to JS. It's for our upcoming 5-day Empress cruise, and we'd pay an additional $500. We said yes, please put us on the list. I seem to recall that when you are upgraded to JS you do not receive double points. Is that still true? Even if we pay an additional $500? Bob, I know you will have the answer -- thanks!

I think Empress should, as they are the only ship without a Diamond Lounge. Not getting my hopes up, though. Whenever you think Royal will do the right thing, well, don't get your hopes up.

You will have a better chance of getting a battery operated fan onboard.

Thanks, Bob. :)

I was on the Empress in July and the room was a bit warmer than I prefer. I read the reviews beforehand and bought a battery powered travel fan and it was perfect.

Can I bring a plug-in fan or does it have to be battery operated?

The fallacy here is that you think there is "tone" in the written word. "tone" in the written word is created by the reader. It is you that has decided that I must be presenting this information with a certain tone, not I. .

Ha! That is either plagiarism on your part, or some internet, rote (look it up) response to "tone". I've heard the exact, same, word-for-word reply before. Get original.

Speak for yourself, we love our free 'cheap' drinks, and actually spend a lot of time in the Diamond/Concierge Lounge on our cruises. We would never drink enough to make a drink package worth the money, but certainly enjoy a few free drinks each evening. My husband's favorite perk in the coffee machine in the Diamond lounge. He uses that multiple times a day.

That's us, too. We'd never purchase a drink package, don't drink in the afternoon except for an occasional glass of wine if the dining room is open for lunch. But those cocktail hour drinks are VERY much appreciated, as is the coffee machine. Hope you hear this, Royal: THANK YOU for our lovely perks (and please don't take them away:*:*).

That doesn't seem to be a regularly scheduled event, certainly not daily like on other ships - yes, it can happen, but one can't count on it.

 

Biker, who also attended such an event on sail away from Miami.

So, it is true that Empress is the only Royal ship without a nightly Diamond event?

Lucky you..enjoy! I’m jealous...no DL on their other small ship, Empress. Is that the only ship without a Diamond nightly event?

As usual, you have incorrect information.

 

To the OP, someone posted this copy of the Compass from Empress which shows first a snack back (snacks undetermined) and then even later a sandwich bar

 

https://issuu.com/hochmania/docs/empress_5.21.18/1?ff=true&e=2025714/62332806

Thank you!!