Empress of the Seas Western Caribbean August 18-24

[rafinmd]

Day E7, Saturday, August 24, 2019, Disembark and home

I'll start with a couple of the ship's photos.  The first one is from embarkation.  

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/boarding.jpg

The other is from the formal (aka dress to impress) night.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/formal.jpg

I was out extra early and the moon, while less than half complete, was shining brightly.  I finished my 6-lap walk about 5:45 and had about an hour in my cabin before we entered the port.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/moon0824.jpg

We were the last ship of the day to arrive, passing the Symphony of the Seas about 6:40, then the Carnival Horizon and Conquest and MSC Seaside before reaching the turning basin,

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/symphony.jpg

I went up to deck 11 for our arrival at the dock with a First Officer at the controls while Captain Diego, the Staff Captain, and pilot looked on.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/arrival.jpg

The bright moon I saw early was a bit misleading.  The sun came up as we docked amid a pretty strong cloud cover.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/dawn0824.jpg

My final Chops breakfast (at least until July) was pancakes.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/lastchops.jpg

What could go wrong when booking an early flight?  Most anything.  This time it was a jetway at the terminal that wouldn't connect properly to the ship.  An emergency gangway was set up on deck 2 but self disembark was delayed by about 30 minutes.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/planb.jpg

My tag 16 was scheduled for 9:20 and I left my cabin about 8:30.  My departure lounge was the Royal Theater but getting to it was problematic as the self disembark line ran all the way around the theater and back at least into the Schooner Bar.  I headed up to the balcony until things cleared up a bit.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/selfgo.jpg

Tag 16 was called about 9:40.  Terminal G has a NEXUS lane but they were directing everybody to either lane and the lines moved quickly.  My transfer arrived at Miami airport about 10:30.

I don't fly an awful lot and was surprised to learn that even First Class on American does not include lounge access.  I got lunch at Nathan's before heading to my gate.  I might have gone somewhere outside but there was a major downpour at the airport.  I was also surprised to see that there was no public wifi at MIA.

My 3PM flight to Charlotte was on time but there was absolutely no food served.  I had a craving for Southwest peanuts but NOTHING.

I had about 2 hours at Charlotte.  There was a Panera Kiosk where I got dinner.  I briefly used Panera's wifi.  There was supposedly public wifi in Charlotte but I was unable to get a connection.

My flight to Baltimore ran on time or even a bit early and there were a couple of small snacks served.  We were at the gate just before 9, and luggage started coming off the carousel about 9:30.  A Fast Park van was waiting when I left the terminal and I made a couple of grocery stops on the way home, arriving about 10:45.

My final parting shot will be about the Empress.  I think most ships are unique with individual likes and dislikes so it's hard to finely classify from best to worst but I do have some groupings.  My "Holy Grail" is 4 past and present ships, Crystal Symphony and Serenity, Prinsendam (until the middle of this year), and Crystal Harmony (until 2005).  Empress shares many of the things I love about those ships but doesn't crack that list largely because of the small cabins and frequency of announcements.  At the other end are the ships where once has been enough.  Empress was definitely not there.  Then there are the ok, the very nice, and the big grin ships.  I would place Empress in the big grin category.  I actually probably like it about as much as the Grandeur but my preference is to Empress because it has so many unique characteristics.  She also has some very nice itineraries in the coming summer.  I might have chosen more than one additional cruise on her but already have conflicting commitments on my "Holy Grail" ships so it will for now be one more cruise on the Empress.  The future?

Roy

 

Edited August 25, 2019 by rafinmd

[Pumbaamd]

Thanks Roy. It was fun sailing with you again.

R&D

[rafinmd]

A little update.  I sail to Bermuda July 20.  I am treasurer at my fire department and their annual meeting is July 13 making that sailing impossible, and I have another meeting August 4.  I rechecked my schedule and the next cruise returns August 3 so I asked my TA to book me on the July 27 Canada and New England cruise while my cabin is still available.

 

BTW, what's the procedure now for transferring a booking to a TA?

 

Roy

[Clarea]

14 minutes ago, rafinmd said:

...

 

BTW, what's the procedure now for transferring a booking to a TA?

 

Roy

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/direct-booking-transfer

[watson61]

On 8/19/2019 at 10:01 AM, rafinmd said:

At 1:30 I headed down to my cabin on deck 7.  It is SMALL, and seems smaller with bunk beds protruding from the wall on each side.  It is ok for me but I can hardly imagine 4 people sharing it.  

 

You just gave me a flashback to a Princess cruise where I had one of those rooms with the protruding bunk beds. I kept banging my head on one of them.  It was extremely annoying.

 

I just booked Empress for next April so I'm loving your review.  Thank you!  

This will be my first cruise as a Diamond so I'm a bit disappointed about the DL situation but the 3 free drinks will help me get over it.  I'm not going to bother buying the drinks package for this cruise.  
 

 

 

[Ofmyheart]

I am getting on the empress in a couple of weeks can you tell me a little bit about the evening entertainment?

[Clarea]

2 minutes ago, Ofmyheart said:

I am getting on the empress in a couple of weeks can you tell me a little bit about the evening entertainment?

 

See Compass scans here:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2686747-empress-8-night-eastern-caribbean-🎵-oops-i-booked-it-again-🎵/

 

[rafinmd]

2 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

 

See Compass scans here:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2686747-empress-8-night-eastern-caribbean-🎵-oops-i-booked-it-again-🎵/

 

or here:

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.wordpress.com/programs/empresscompass/

 

Also, an assortment of menus:

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.wordpress.com/menus/empressmenus/

 

Roy