Live (sort of) Empress 9/22/16

[QueensChick]

Matt... Thank you for sharing your experiences. So glad you're enjoying your cruise.

 

 

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[FLSteve11]

Just had a facial at the spa. My therapist was excellent. From Croatia. She totally understood I'm a "regular" and please don't push the products :)

 

She has been on since drydock in Cadiz. She said the good part about the delay is that the crew really got to know each other and they think of Empress as their baby.

 

I would say the camaraderie of the crew does stand out. They want you to enjoy your time on Empress. The only sour puss I've encountered was, funnily enough, the Loyalty Ambassador, who instead of trying to answer a question I know she would know, told me I should just go to the front desk. Hmmm. Oh well. There's always one :)

 

Windjammer offers a "snack" from 3:30 to 5. Its more like a full meal. Hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwich bar (make your own), several hot entrees.

 

I know food is subjective, but I think the food here has been quite good. Fresh and plentiful.

 

I've tried doing a couple of scopes and I keep getting a "connection too poor" message.

 

The Loyalty Ambassador is relatively new on your sailing. The one on our sailing on September 3rd was leaving the ship and going to Allure after our sailing, so you have someone new who started 2 weeks ago. She might be learning the ins and outs of the ship yet.

 

I thought the food was good as well. Maybe it's all the new equipment in the kitchen (they have a couple things that are only on that ship, like the oven, which took them a bit to get used to). I definitely enjoyed the food onboard.

[wikoffclan]

Will be on Empress on Monday! on Deck 8 OV with the bunks. Thanks for the pic of the cabin.

 

 

Could you please tell me where Empress docks in Key West? No info on CruiseTT and one site I found says RCCI docks at the Westin Pier "B" not Mallory Square. Please let me know, when you have a chance. Great review and Great pics. Thanks.

[DisneyDatknee]

Will be on Empress on Monday! on Deck 8 OV with the bunks. Thanks for the pic of the cabin.

 

 

 

 

 

Could you please tell me where Empress docks in Key West? No info on CruiseTT and one site I found says RCCI docks at the Westin Pier "B" not Mallory Square. Please let me know, when you have a chance. Great review and Great pics. Thanks.

 

 

Empress is docking at the navy pier (OM) which has a shuttle into town (5 minutes, and required).

 

 

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[vavasmom]

Check the Key West site. Empress docked at Westin Pier B last week but Outer Mole on the Navy base the cruise before

 

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Edited September 25, 2016 by vavasmom

[MattInFLL]

We docked at OM. Carnival Sensation at the Westin dock. The shuttles are plentiful and quick. But SO hot :)

[wikoffclan]

Thank you for the quick replies!

[MattInFLL]

Quest tonight

 

[MattInFLL]

It's become a rainy day in Nassau. We are next to Enchantment. We did a quick walk for photos before the squall hit.

 

Finally was able to do a Scope because I have an international data package and connected to Bahamas Telecom 3G.

 

We got back just before the storm.

 

Last night we did Viking Crown which was hopping past 2am.

 

I won $100 on the Wheel of Fortune machine but still had the presence of mind to take it and go to bed :)

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 25, 2016 by MattInFLL

[MattInFLL]

General drinks menu from Viking Crown.

 

[MattInFLL]

Schooner menu:

 

 

[MattInFLL]

[Angelsea57]

Please keep them coming,

Great review and photos.

Thank you.

Enjoy your day!

[melbur]

Love your review, reminds me of the old days on the Song of Norway . . .

 

Do you know if there is a 24hr coffee station, or at least an early AM coffee available?

We're on at the end of October and really looking forward to it.

[Megs867]

Since theres no promenade is there still a cafe type place for sandwiches, pastry and coffee or just the windjammer?

 

 

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[Moobaby214]

Thank you for all of the menu pictures, I definitely appreciate it! I hate to ask another favor, but could you get a picture of the Chops menu? Received an offer to have Chops all five nights for $100... So we are considering it :D

[MattInFLL]

There's Cafe Royal for coffee on one side of Boleros. It's open early and stays open late. But WJ is the place for snacks at odd hours. And they are open until 2am. No pizza though.

 

I will try to get a Chops menu but it's the exact same as any Chops menu you see on CC.

 

We went again last night to take advantage of our D+ BOGO, and still the best Chops at sea. I completely recommend it.

 

The onion soup, beef carpaccio, mushroom soup, and bacon appetizers are amazing.

 

Petite filet, veal chop and Spicy shrimp entrees are great too.

 

But 5 nights might be overkill.

Edited September 25, 2016 by MattInFLL

[Megs867]

There's Cafe Royal for coffee on one side of Boleros. It's open early and stays open late. But WJ is the place for snacks at odd hours. And they are open until 2am. No pizza though.

 

 

Thanks! Bummer on the pizza, my grandma will be very happy for the early morning coffee though :)

 

 

 

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[MattInFLL]

Awww. It's that time.

 

 

 

Because of the rain, Schooner was the place to be this afternoon. We had a really lovely chat with a Pinnacle couple who were back to Empress for the first time since 1996. We all agree that we would come back anytime.

[MattInFLL]

[jktheangel]

Matt. Do you know if there are smoking areas and where? Thank you and I have enjoyed reading your thread. This will be our first time on this ship so the info has been great [emoji106]

 

 

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[AZEmom]

Thanks for posting! We are considering this ship as well. Please say hello to my friends Brenda and Victor who are sailing with you...

[MattInFLL]

There is smoking on the port side of the pool deck (left looking forward). Have not noticed elsewhere. The casino air - other than being warm - seems smoke free. But it's so small, not sure how you would split it. My friend told me it was 2 level casino. I guess if you consider 7 steps a floor it is :) more like a split level ranch. :) they were popular in the 80s. Lol. But seriously, for some reason the center of the casino is 7 steps below the rest of it. To be fair the ceiling height of deck 5 is higher so maybe they wanted to make it 7 steps easier to get to the casino. :)

Edited September 25, 2016 by MattInFLL

[MattInFLL]

Compasses

 

[MattInFLL]