Empress of the Seas 2018 Review (Cuba & More)

[tweetylori]

There just might be video evidence of Quest as well, albeit a teeny taste of it.

 

 

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And lest we forget we were at sea...I took this video...love to hear the waves, and wait for the moon!

 

 

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Good morning Wednesday, October 17, 2018!  Let's make this a good one since it's our last day on this fine ship.

 

 

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We slept in enough that we missed breakfast in Windjammer (ended at 10:45), and we didn't want to do brunch in the Starlight Dining Room again after our unpleasant experience a few days before, so we decided to wait for lunch to open in Windjammer. (11:30).  With a little time to kill, we headed for the Casino to see if we had the winning lotto numbers!  You might think it's silly to spend a buck or two on this since the odds are not great, but I won $100 with three matching numbers on our last cruise, so we played it every night.  No luck though!  Cashier told us she had seen a $2,000 winner before (4 numbers), but had not seen a 5-number winner.  Had hoped to be her first, but sadly it didn't happen.

 

Oh well, let's start the day with a little breakfast juice instead.  Meet Mimosa and Bellini!

 

 

[tweetylori]

We played a few slots, but neither of us were feeling it.  Is it my imagination or do they seem to pay out better at the beginning of a cruise and not later on?   Another reason for me to stick with blackjack when the table feels right.  That can happen any time on a cruise.

 

We managed to kill enough time to hit up the Windjammer when they opened for lunch.  Apparently I was in a pasta/pizza mood.

 

 

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After lunch we must have headed back to our cabin.  I realized I hadn't taken a pic of the door or hallway. 

This is how close to the elevators and the "game room" we were.  

 

 

Edited November 22, 2018 by tweetylori

[tweetylori]

By now we had managed to miss the Towel Folding Demonstration and the Free Ladies Pamper Party.  (we all know what free really means).  We decided to forego the Men's International Belly Flop Competition to go see "The Greatest Showman" in the Royal Theater instead.  Yes, we had seen it before, but it's such a terrific movie, and what a terrific venue to see it in.  The sound was fantastic!

 

 

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And why not have a tasty beverage with that good movie?  Note:  this was the only time I had to go get drinks.  Not surprising that they wouldn't have a Server in the early afternoon at a movie.  The Schooner Bar is nice and close though!   I requested drinks in easy to carry glasses, so as not to spill them.

 

 

[tweetylori]

Before we knew it, it was time for Win-A-Cruise-Royal-Bingo.  I had to drag Husband to this, even though I had managed to win the biggest Bingo prize on our Transatlantic.  On that cruise, he had gone to the bar while I went by my lonesome to play, only to come out to let him know I had just won $1127!

 

 So he did go to the Royal Theater with me, albeit unwillingly. (if karaoke had been happening, I would have been solo, just sayin')  We purchased the lowest option of $39.  This was the first time I had seen where you could buy a package that included a computer element to it.  I was not a fan of that.  Yes it increases the payouts because people have to pay more to get that option (I think it was $79), but it increases their odds tremendously.  One gal who bought that package did indeed win at least twice.  Personally, I will never understand why they don't lower the prices to get more people to play, and quit with the ridiculous multi-chances.  

 

 

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Even our paltry $39 wager got us a couple of those instant win, peel-off things.  The ones that no one ever wins with.  Well, guess what?  

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Three matching ships!  What could it possibly mean???

 

 

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Yes indeed, we had won a dollar!  And guess what I found the other day in my purse?  Yes, somehow I had managed to forget to cash it in on the ship.   

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This day was flying by!  Before we knew it, it was time for our last dinner in the Starlight.  Tonight's dinner dress suggestion (not that it mattered):  "Casual:  sundresses or slacks and blouses for the ladies, sports shirts and trousers for the gentlemen."  

 

 

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The rolls were definitely on the stale side this night, but they were also not the highlight.  Husband's last cheese plate.

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Not the best pic, but here's the menu.

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I told Husband that I was going to splurge and try a wine that was not totally covered by our drink package  It was listed as $14.  

Sure enough, Dharmendra was kind enough to point out what I already knew...that my sea pass would be charged $1.

 

 

[tweetylori]

Husband started with the Ham Croquettes, while I tried the Shrimp & Potato Salad.  I don't remember how he felt about the Croquettes, but I do remember liking the Shrimp & Potato Salad VERY much.  Wasn't sure what to expect, but it definitely exceeded my expectation.

 

 

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So was the $14 glass of wine worth the $1 upcharge?  Not enough to go for a second one, so tried an $11 one instead.

#lastnightmustusedrinkpackage

 

 

 

 

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It was lobster night!  Raise your hand if you've been disappointed by lobster night on a cruise before!  (hand raised).  So I went into it with some trepidation.  Enough so that I asked Fernando if I could do the Beef Tenderloin, but add a lobster tail.  Score!  Husband is not a lobster guy (*****, Ikr?), so he had just the Beef Tenderloin. Note, we both ordered the beef to be medium, but was way beyond that.  My lobster was perfect though!

 

 

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For our final desserts, Husband had the Tiramisu, while I had the Molten Chocolate Cake.  I was too full to do more than just nibble at the Cake, but Husband downed his Tiramisu.

 

 

[tweetylori]

Fernando and Dharmendra were kind enough to slow down long enough for a pic.  We truly appreciate their hard work and are so grateful to them for making our dining experiences on this ship so pleasurable!

 

 

[tweetylori]

Good thing we caught them when we did, because it was another night of crew entertainment in the dining room.

 

 

[accio_7]

Lori, this has been such a pleasure to read that I don’t want it to end! 😭

[crmc]

Thanks for the wonderful preview! We'll be on board the Empress in less than 3 days!

[cmh]

On 11/7/2018 at 6:37 PM, tweetylori said:

Husband & I set sail on Empress of the Seas October 11, 2018 from Miami for a seven night adventure.  Itinerary included Key West, Havana, Cienfuegos & Grand Cayman.

This review will include lots of pics, with a heavy emphasis on food.  To me, food IS culture.  We did food tours in both Havana and Grand Cayman.  I will try to complete this as fast as possible.  Now that it looks like we can actually load pics directly from our computers, it should go much faster than my last review!  As a matter of fact, I don't know that I would even attempt it again without this wonderful new feature.  So, with that said,  here's to 7 nights on Empress!  First drinks on board in the Schooner...Papa Dobles for Husband, Lemon Drop for me.

Thanks for a great review.  We will be on the Empress in April.  Is there an internet cafe on the ship?