Questions about the empress of the seas

[victory2020]

Hello,

I haven't been on RCCL for almost 20 years - usually sail Princess - but am looking at the Empress to go to Cuba because they seem to have the longest port time. I realize it's an older ship, which doesn't bother me.

A few questions, do they have open seating at dinner or only set dinner times? Do they have tables for 2? Is the dining room open for lunch? Are there refrigerators in the inside rooms? Is there a free steam/sauna in the spa area?

Thanks

[Clarea]

Empress has both traditional (fixed) dining and My Time Dining. They have tables for two.

[LMaxwell]

Which itineraries are you looking at (dates). The ones with longest port times I found were late this year and beginning of next year on Majesty. The only ones I found on Empress didn't have overnight

[victory2020]

I'm looking at May 17, 4 day. In port from 8am till 8pm the next day. Had NCL Sky booked in April then saw this.

[LMaxwell]

36 hour port time is great!!! I don't think there is a fridge in interiors.

[CapeCoralCruiser]

We cruised on Empress twice in the last 13 months. No refrigerator in 8004 (OV) or 8001 (Inside). I have Compasses from the last one, Key West/Havana overnight in Oct '17. No lunch in the MDR, but they did have brunch there, either 9-12 or 9:30-12:30 on three mornings. We had a table for 2 for dinner, MTD. Didn't go to the spa.

[victory2020]

Thank you all for your speedy answers. Does the main dining room have breakfast or just the brunch? - we're not buffet people.

[CapeCoralCruiser]

Checked the Compasses again. The one day they did not have brunch - second day in Havana, they served breakfast in the MDR, 6:30-9. Only Windjammer all other days. I remembered they offered complimentary Mimosas (and Bloody Marys, I believe) during brunch, 1 PP.

[victory2020]

Thanks, the brunch sounds great!

[RlrCstr]

Is there a free steam/sauna in the spa area? Thanks

There is no spa on this ship, so no sauna or steam. The 'gym' is a few basic machines only.

[victory2020]

Thanks for the gym info.

I should also get all your input for best deck/location. We're getting an inside.

[bespin]

We were on the Empress a year ago. As I recall, our inside cabin had a "cooler", but it wasn't a fridge. It wouldn't make things cold, but it would slow down things from becoming room temperature.

[victory2020]

We cruised on Empress twice in the last 13 months. No refrigerator in 8004 (OV) or 8001 (Inside). I have Compasses from the last one, Key West/Havana overnight in Oct '17. No lunch in the MDR, but they did have brunch there, either 9-12 or 9:30-12:30 on three mornings. We had a table for 2 for dinner, MTD. Didn't go to the spa.

I was looking at cabin 8001. I see there is a little deck right out the door in front. Did you get a lot of foot traffic because of it? What is above, the bridge?

[CapeCoralCruiser]

I was looking at cabin 8001. I see there is a little deck right out the door in front. Did you get a lot of foot traffic because of it? What is above, the bridge?

 

Very little foot traffic, very quiet area, not really on the way to anything. The deck in front is accessible from hatches on either side. Sometimes there was a chair or two on the deck, but probably put there by pax, as I once saw crew removing one. There is a stairway leading down to 7, and then one down to 6. Most pax don't know it exists, but is a great place to see forward, just not as convenient to get elsewhere as inner stairways/elevators. Often, the hatches are latched (not locked) from the inside. Bridge is above. We had an excellent view going into Havana harbor.

[victory2020]

Thanks, looks like a good location. I have OBC from this last sale ($100). From what I see I can use it for gratuities. Am I correct?

[CapeCoralCruiser]

Thanks, looks like a good location. I have OBC from this last sale ($100). From what I see I can use it for gratuities. Am I correct?

 

Yes, for gratuities or any other onboard expenses, including excursions.