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On 9/28/2019 at 9:56 PM, Bluemymind said:

we like to stay at Hyatt House for the following reasons. Its the closest hotel to the port and there is a Longhorn steak house and Olive Garden behind the hotel that you can walk to for dinner. There is also a Hyatt Place hotel across the street, both hotels are fairly new. If you get a bay front room you'll be able to see your ship in the morning from your room. You could walk to the port but its at least a half mile if not further, its just easier to take a cab with luggage. 

Would agree about the Hyatt House.  But would recommend Casita Miramar for dinner (walkable or Uber).  On cruise embarkation day the walk from Hyatt House to the Pan American pier is very dangerous (lots and lots of traffic).  Uber to the pier for 5 from Hyatt House was less than $10.

14 hours ago, hallux said:

Not to mention that it's probably a LOT easier to schedule into port there than it is to negotiate to port at a "public" location.

And that RCCLs costs are lower and they stand to make more money stopping at their own islands.

Excuse me for being cynical but TWO RCCL private islands on the same cruise.   Huuummm.

You're trying to make an analogy for parking and I come out of left field with stale piuzza.

Don't you just hate a smart butt?

18 hours ago, jbethel11 said:

@Oceansaway17 Here is an analogy:

 

There are 8 slice in a pizza pie. Let's say that each ship (4 ships total) borrows two slices. That would represent the total amount of parking available for that specific ship. Your ship will borrow two slices as well, and when it returns, the you (returning passengers) will give back those two slices they borrowed a week prior, and the new passengers will borrow those same two slices (this process repeats itself).

But doesn't the pizza get stale over the course of the cruise?

We will have the multi ship problem in early July before Summit leaves.  We are on Empress leaving 7/6/20.   Adventure leaves 7/1. Oasis on 7/4, Summit on 7/5 and Empress 7/6.

On our Christmas 2018 Freedom cruise we had 2 formal days.  Day 2 (Christmas Eve) and Day 6.  We also decided to dress up (jacket and tie, etc.) on Christmas Day.

RCCL offered dinner in the specialty restaurants on Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve for a fee of $75.  It seemed to be the normal menu with champagne added.  We chose Christmas Dinner in the MDFR and were not disappointed.  There was a regular MDR menu (onion soup, escargots, Caesar salad, shrimp cocktail, lamb shank, pappardelle, cod and the usual deserts).  To this they added some specials for Christmas (fried brie, butternut squash soup, roast turkey, beef wellington, ham and 2 holiday deserts). In our opinion, no need to spend the extra money.

12 hours ago, brillohead said:

I cannot even begin to think of a reason to purchase The Key on Empress....  

The only real reason to consider it for our Empress cruise is the two tender ports.  The Chops lunch, departure breakfast and Vroom for all of us are nice to haves (versus gotta haves).  But so is the $535 we'd have to pay for the Key.  That would pay for our gratuities.  The more I think about it, the more I agree with you brillohead.  Thank for the touch of sanity (and reality).

8 minutes ago, blueridgemama said:

 

I can only address the price aspect of your question. $19.99 is the lowest I have ever seen.

Thanks.

In then spirit of full disclosure, I have NOT read all 123 pages of this thread.  But I do have 2 questions about the Key.  

1. We are cruising to New England/Canada on Empress next July.  We have 2 tender ports and am considering the Key for this reason. But the downside I see is that Empress has only 1 entertainment venue (the main theatre) and only one onboard "activity (rock climbing). We normally get a single vroom and share it among the three of us.  So at $25pp per day it would cost us $525 for the cruise.  So the question is has anyone gotten the Key on Empress and did they get their money's worth?

2. I've seen a price of $20 in reviews. Is that the best price anyone has seen?

Thanks.

We are booked for a July 2020 cruise to New England/Canada on Empress.  I love lobster but I will be looking for clam rolls. I love the New England whole belly fried clams. Down here on Long Island we have the old fashioned Howard Johnson's clam strips. Not the same.

Appetizer (I know you didn't ask):  Escargots any and every night they have them.

Entrée : Rosemary Lamb shank, Prime rib

Desert: Most often a chocolate brownie sundae  off the kids menu,

And a bonus suggestion: Ask for savory bites night 1 and they should be there every night.

Looks like no second window on the x164 side.  Oh well, we'll have to settle for the extra space and bed.

John, hope 8164 is the mirror image of 8664.  Have that cabin on Empress next July for our New England/Canada cruise

It seems like 7164 and 7664 (and their corresponding cabins on decks 8 and 9) have an alcove with a third bed that makes the cabin a little larger.  They are all outside view.

OK, 2 thoughts.  First we (my wife, 12 y/o son and I)  cruised to Cuba on Empress 2 years ago.  We had stateroom 8000 (approximately 135 sq. ft.) and did fine. Suitcases under the beds gave us plenty of storage room (closet and drawers).  We also hung a shoe caddy on the back of the bathroom door for extra storage.  My son was fine in the Pullman.  The only problem was the hanging Pullman. We had the beds together and it made it difficult to get out of bed at night.  If I were to do it again, I think I would separate the beds for ease of access. The view was forward and there was a viewing area outside in front of the cabin.  Certainly would recommend.

Second, we are cruising Empress again next July to New England and Canada.  I had booked cabin 8500 but after reading this thread, I decided to switch to 8164.  I am intrigued by the alcove and the third non-Pullman bed. No change in price.  Still close enough to go out on the forward viewing area on deck 8.  We shall see how it goes.

I believe that brunch is served every sea day.  Not sure about port days.  I think they may do it on late arrival port days. A more recent Empress cruiser can provide more current info.

On last Christmas' Freedom cruise, specialty dinners on Christmas Eve and Christmas were $75 pp additional (don't remember if 18% is added on). And you joke but the champagne was the only difference from regular nights.  The MDR Christmas dinner turned out to be excellent.

An off topic question. As I said in a previous post, we are sailing on the Empress July 6, 2020. As of now, there are no drink packages or shore excursions on my cruise planner (of course the Key is available).  Those of you cruising next spring and summer, do these items show on your cruise planner yet?

On ‎8‎/‎3‎/‎2019 at 4:00 PM, Noreen411 said:

Hi

 

What do you think of the 7 night Canada/New England itinerary?  Most people are talking about the Bermuda ones.

 

We have been to Bermuda several times (usually on Anthem) so docked at the Dockyard.  It is definitely appealing to dock right in either Hamilton or St George, but we were thinking of trying the Canada/New England itinerary because it’s different than what we’ve done in the past.

 

Some of the ports are short stays and there is only 1 sea day at the end of the trip.

 

Noreen

We booked the July 6 New England and Canada cruise. Times in Newport and Boston are short but I think we have realistic expectations for exploring both. We plan on using the public trolley in Newport to visit Marble House and the Breakers, hopefully walking some of the cliff walk in between. In Boston my son wants to visit The Granery burial grounds (Paul Reveres  grave) and the Central burial grounds. Both are near the Common and easily reachable by the T.  Bar Harbor is a full day (8 am to 7 pm) and gives plenty of time for Acadia and downtown. Still working on Saint John and Halifax, the other 2 "shortish" days.  And you are correct, the last day (Sunday) is the one and only sea day. We are looking forward to the cruise.

43 minutes ago, rafinmd said:

That's correct.  Not sure why it's public space in front of the middle cabins while you had a balcony.  Was your balcony door on the side rather than the front? 

 

Roy

Cabin 8000 (8500 for next July) is an ocean view that looks out on the "porch."  No balcony. There are doors  at the end of both corridors that lead out to the "Porch."

Wow, Chicken parm with SPAGHETTI!  Glad to see they ditched the mashed potatoes.

1 hour ago, rafinmd said:

Running a bit behind I JUST posted yesterday's menu and today's Compass.  I'm a bit concerned about tonight's menu.  Since I'll be at shops instead of the dining room I won't get a closeup picture of the menu.  I took photos on the wall and HOPE they come out all right.  Be prepared to squint a bit.  One thing Empress lacks is the big electronic display boards.

 

Roy

We'll survive.  Thanks.

1 hour ago, coaster said:

Curious if you are going to the brunch in the MDR. I was on Empress last week and found it to be very disappointing as the same selections were served everyday. Irish stew and italian sausage to name ones that were there everyday. I missed the normal lunch menu in the MDR  on sea days. No pasta stations set up either like I was used to on Rhapsody. I just cancelled my January cruise on Empress as I love the ship, but it was very low budget food wise.

Was the tutti salad available?