Empress B2B - 14 Nights on the Biggest Little Ship

[twangster]

8 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

@twangster

 

Quest in the theater???  I guess that it's the only space for it.  How weird/difficult was that?

 

The problem is that teams close to the front have a natural advantage compared to a team further away.  They get there first and score more points.  Same with Quest on Vision class for some teams.  But it's all in fun so not a big deal.  

 

I think Boleros would be an issue since the deck 6 outside public walkways have windows that look into Boleros.  A junior cruiser walking by could see something... strange.  

[Merion_Mom]

12 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

The problem is that teams close to the front have a natural advantage compared to a team further away.  They get there first and score more points.  Same with Quest on Vision class for some teams.  But it's all in fun so not a big deal.  

 

I think Boleros would be an issue since the deck 6 outside public walkways have windows that look into Boleros.  A junior cruiser walking by could see something... strange.  

 

Anthem does it in Two70, which presents the same problems. 

 

Pffftttt on the junior cruisers!  😄 

[twangster]

Day 6 Galley Tour

While waiting for other guests to arrive at the galley tour I asked Louis what the guest count was on this sailing.  Somewhere around 1,790 he thought.  With a capacity of 1,840 that's pretty good, 97% of capacity.  Doing the math, if 540 are C&A members that means 1,250 are first time on Royal.

I haven't been in the MDR yet on this voyage so I grabbed a picture.

 

 

Gotta love all the windows in the MDR.

 

 

Our guide today is one of the Sous Chefs, Jeyanej.

 

 

Empress has a series of galleys on decks 2 through 5.  Deck 2 is a cold galley, deck 3 through 5 are hot galleys.

Here on deck 5 this little slice of heaven within the galley is dedicated to Chops.

 

 

Fish prep area

 

 

Order up!   Omelettes ready to go to the table.

 

All eggs are fresh, no powdered scrambled eggs are used.

 

 

Down a deck into the bakery.  If you weren't hungry you would be walking in here, it smells so good.

 

 

 

Behind the scenes crew staircase, down to the deck 4 galley.

 

Even the crew only areas haven't escaped Perfect Day marketing.

 

 

Luggage carts used on embark/debark day stored away getting ready for tomorrow's onslaught.

 

Down in deck 2 galley we found the chef responsible for those yummy sandwiches in the Windjammer.

 

 

Seasoning and spice and everything nice.

 

 

Cold stores.  These range from deep freeze to thawing rooms to get items ready to be cooked.  Meats in one, seafood in another, vegetables in another, and so on.

 

 

Beverage stores.  Beer anyone?

 

Vegetable prep area.

 

Meat prep.

 

Pies being prepped, lot's of them.

Lobster night tonight so trays and trays of lobster are being readied.

Our chef talks about the process of preparing the lobster for cooking later today.

Water tight door down on deck 2.

 

Note to self, don't tamper with the water tight door.

 

Hmmm.  Maybe for guests who share the drink package?  (Or crew who tamper with the water tight doors).

 

 

Space is at a premium.  More luggage carts stowed.

[twangster]

Also verified, luggage valet is not offered on Empress.

[twangster]

Day 6 - Bridge Tour

 

On our final sea day back to Miami the C&A bridge tour was offered.  A second officer was our guide today.

 

 

 

 

Empress has variable pitch propellors.  Shaft speed is controlled by the engine room and is mostly fixed.  Speed is controlled by varying the pitch of the propellors.  I had noted our wake seemed to indicate we weren't using both propellors equally.  This voyage doesn't require both propellors to maintain schedule so we often run on one drive while the other propellor is trimmed to minimize drag. This is more efficient.   If more speed was required they would call on both equally.

 

 

 

 

[John&LaLa]

What camera/lens combo are you using?

 

I've pretty much given up on a real camera in favor of my smartphone 

[perfect match]

Thanks, Twangster. I had no plans to book a cruise on Empress. Now, after reading just the first leg of your B2B, I’m wanting to book a cruise on Empress! 😄. Reading your reviews is starting to get pretty expensive for me! 😱

[twangster]

12 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

What camera/lens combo are you using?

 

I've pretty much given up on a real camera in favor of my smartphone 

 

Sony A7III with a 12-24mm plus a Sony RX100VI.

[twangster]

Day 6 WJ Dinner

 

Asian Night.

 

The second most popular crew member tonight.

 

 

The most popular crew member tonight.

 

 

Hit it big in the casino.

 

 

In the Schooner Bar it's Piano Melodies with Olga.

 

 

[twangster]

Nice sunset tonight.  Best place to take it in was deck 6 aft behind Boleros.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

In the main theater was Three Sequins and Feathers, a celebration of showgirls from yesterday, today and tomorrow with live music from the Empress orchestra and the High C's horns.

 

I have to admit I don't always find small ship entertainment to be all that but this was a really good performance so I'm going to go overboard with the photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The band did a great job, always nice to have live music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quite impressive and not the small ship kind of show I've seen on other ships.  Great cast with strong vocals.

[twangster]

Gotta say it...  that feeling you get when you do a back to back.

 

Suckers...

 

[twangster]

New comedian on board, adult only late night.

 

 

Theater was packed, great performance.  I wonder if he'll stay on for the next cruise?

[twangster]

Late night Windjammer was very popular.  Looks like people have found the midnight buffet on Empress.

 

 

Mmmm.  Red Velvet cake.

 

 

[Yorkvillain]

Great job Twangster. I'm glad we get another week of this. 

[twangster]

Day 7 Miami

 

Not a bad view to wake up to.

 

 

Back to terminal G.

 

Consecutive cruises met in the Schooner Bar at 9:30am.  Regular guests were still trickling off.  At 10am around 11 of us were escorted off.  Bit of a wait in the terminal as we were held waiting for a mother/child B2B guests who didn't come down on time.  CBP did a quick glance at out documents and we immediately turned and headed back on board.  Time off ship ~ 14 minutes. 

 

 

By 10:14am we were back on with complimentary champagne and mimosa's waiting for us in the Schooner Bar.  #winning

 

 

New beverage cups on this cruise in honor of Royal's 50th.

 

 

As I start the rinse, lather and repeat phase of this B2B I'm going to slow down on posting.  I'm going to wait until day 3 to buy Voom since I'll have cell coverage in Key West tomorrow so I may disappear for a bit.

[HBE4]

4 minutes ago, twangster said:

As I start the rinse, lather and repeat phase of this B2B I'm going to slow down on posting.  I'm going to wait until day 3 to buy Voom since I'll have cell coverage in Key West tomorrow so I may disappear for a bit.

 

Feel free to post even more pictures of the showgirl show next time around. 💃👯‍♀️😈😀

 

I....uh.....really like the light-up costumes.

[John&LaLa]

34 minutes ago, twangster said:

Day 7 Miami

 

 

Back to terminal G.

 

So, they got the gangway sorted out at Terminal G?

Edited July 27, 2019 by John&LaLa

[tcmagnum]

1 hour ago, twangster said:

Gotta say it...  that feeling you get when you do a back to back.

 

Suckers...

 

One day, I will get to say "Suckers"!!!

[twangster]

53 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

So, they got the gangway sorted out at Terminal G?

 

Guess so, we used it today.

[twangster]

Cruise Compass for the 1st leg attached.

 

Empress CC 6 Night Western 7-21-19.pdf

[Merion_Mom]

2 hours ago, twangster said:

New comedian on board, adult only late night.

 

 

Theater was packed, great performance.  I wonder if he'll stay on for the next cruise?

 

 

It's inevitable.  😉

 

 

1 hour ago, twangster said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New beverage cups on this cruise in honor of Royal's 50th.

 

 

 

 

Interesting. On other ships, they are using a completely new kind of souvenir cup.  Yet for the big 50th anniversary, they are reverting to the old style.

 

Things that make you go hhhhhmmmmmm.............................

[twangster]

15 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

Interesting. On other ships, they are using a completely new kind of souvenir cup.  Yet for the big 50th anniversary, they are reverting to the old style.

 

Things that make you go hhhhhmmmmmm.............................

 

I received a different new style on the 1st leg.  No handle, but soft like the new style.  Big bendy straw.  Can't see where this one has an RFID chip embedded.  

 

 

 

They also had the hard plastic ones on the 1st leg but not in the 50th theme.  So it's like there are 3 different versions on the ship right now.  

Edited July 27, 2019 by twangster

[Merion_Mom]

3 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

I received a different new style on the 1st leg.  No handle, but soft like the new style.  Big bendy straw.  Can't see where this one has an RFID chip embedded.  

 

 

They also had the hard plastic ones on the 1st leg but not in the 50th theme.  So it's like there are 3 different versions on the ship right now.  

 

It has to be in the bottom of the cup, doesn't it?

[twangster]

4 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

It has to be in the bottom of the cup, doesn't it?

 

It's a thin bottom.   Holding it up to the light it's translucent and I don't see a chip in there.  Made me wonder if they created a cheaper cup for non-Freestyle ships.

Edited July 27, 2019 by twangster