Fake, Made Up and Completely Impossible Virtual Cruise Trip Report

[twangster]

3 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

Through the magic of the internet, we just scored a cabin aboard this cruise!

 

We're out of practice, but we plan to ease in by relaxing a lot, eating a lot, and attending Diamond Lounge every single day.  Is 4:30 the start time?

 

Welcome aboard!

 

On this cruise it's 5 o'clock all the time, so it's DL happy hour... all the time.  🙂 

 

Also feel free to use your unlimited happy hour drink coupons at any bar, at any time, for any drink.  My made up cruise, my rules.  

Edited August 4, 2020 by twangster

[Ocean Boy]

6 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

Welcome aboard!

 

On this cruise it's 5 o'clock all the time, so it's DL happy hour... all the time.  🙂 

 

Also feel free to use your unlimited happy hour drink coupons at any bar, at any time, for any drink.  My made up cruise, my rules.  

I was just going to ask about this and then I saw your post. I need my Cosmo on the rocks.... with something other than New Amsterdam vodka thank you very much.

[twangster]

Day Three

 

Riding in the Royal Transporter is a lot like riding the Ultimate Abyss.  Keep your elbows in at all times but otherwise it's a fun ride.

 

Now onto the next ship on this virtual fake cruise...
   

• "The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." - Mark Twain
• "It ain't over till it's over." - Yogi Berra 
• "I don't have to believe everything I read on the internet." - Me

Given the rumor mill that has been in full swing I'd thought I'd return to my favorite little ship with the biggest heart - Empress of the Seas.  

 

For those that haven't heard, speculation fed rumors have Empress leaving the fleet.  Royal Caribbean denies these rumors so I'm going with that.  Just in case, I'm planning this next segment of my virtual cruise on my favorite little ship.

 

As long as she is being offered I'll keep booking cruises on this little gem.  Debating her fate can be experienced in other threads, this is my small tribute to her and I thank you for keeping this thread that way.

 

[twangster]

Welcome aboard Empress of the Seas.  We'll enter into the Centrum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

Aft of the Centrum is the Schooner Bar.

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

Empress has a unique Viking Crown Lounge.  

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

She also has the best Boleros in the fleet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

Time for sail away with a Diamond and above event:

 

 

Sailing past the largest cruise ship in the world while on the smallest cruise ship in the fleet.  

 

 

 

 

I looked at my watch and it was 5 o'clock.  Cheers!

 

 

[twangster]

Let's wander forward for some forward views.

 

 

 

 

Looking at these pictures I remember the smell of the ocean air.  Closing my eyes brings me right back to this moment.  

 

Edited August 5, 2020 by twangster

[twangster]

It doesn't take long for today's sunset to arrive.

 

Where better to take it in than the aft deck behind Boleros?

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

It's always 5 o'clock on this cruise.  That means it's happy hour at the Schooner Bar!  

 

Balcony wine courtesy the CAS.

 

[twangster]

Some night views around the ship. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think I'll spend a few days on Empress.  There are a couple of ports I want to visit while I'm in the Caribbean.
 

[twangster]

Since I'm staying, I might as well eat dinner in my favorite Chops in the fleet.

 

 

Oh that bread!  Remember?

 

 

I miss this wedge salad.

 

 

The 16 oz. bone in ribeye.

 

 

Banana Sundae for dessert.

 

[twangster]

The MDR on Empress with ample views to the sea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever wonder if a piano in the MDR is just a decoration?  Not on this ship.

 

 

Edited August 5, 2020 by twangster

[twangster]

Sunset at sea is the best.

 

 

I spotted a Celebrity.  That's the Silhouette of the Equinox.  

 

 

 

 

I looked at my watch and it was 5 o'clock.  Cheers!

 

[twangster]

Some evening photos from around the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's fitting to visit this next port of call while on Empress of the Seas so I'm staying put for the night.  

 

Time to give the Royal Transporter crew a break.

Edited August 5, 2020 by twangster

[NumnuT]

BEST THREAD EVER!!!

please keep it going till we can cruise again..😁

loving all of the stunning photos of places I haven't been & ships I haven't been on.

Superb review as usual!

Cheers

Craig

 

 

[TRUEBLUE66]

Excellent idea! Looking forward to lots more great photos and twangster commentary. 

I can see why Empress is your favourite small ship.

[ipeeinthepool]

Thanks for taking us to the Empress, that was the first ship for my DW and I and still has a special place for us.  I really like those windows in the MDR.  Thanks for the pictures.  She will always be a very special ship for us.  

[JBSteelerfan]

Love the new DL happy hour policy you've implemented!!  Is there a charge for Chops?  You have me craving a ribeye at 530am!

[Ocean Boy]

I was never on Empress but we were docked next to her in Hamilton, Bermuda and I remember wondering what the ship looked like inside. Awesome pictures.

[Ocean Boy]

49 minutes ago, JBSteelerfan said:

Love the new DL happy hour policy you've implemented!!  Is there a charge for Chops?  You have me craving a ribeye at 530am!

Nothing like a nice pre-breakfast steak to hold me over until the Windjammer opens.🙂

[Sea Dog]

I sure hope they don’t scrape Empress. I want to sail on her badly. Your pictures do her beauty justice. Btw, I’ll join you at happy hour. What were you drinking? Looks like a jack and coke. A Manhattan for me please!

[NancyIL]

 

Thank you for this wonderful thread, and especially for the lovely photos of Empress! I'm booked on her out of Montreal in September 2021, so I hope that the reports about her imminent demise are wrong.

[Tree_skier]

3 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

I was never on Empress but we were docked next to her in Hamilton, Bermuda and I remember wondering what the ship looked like inside. Awesome pictures.

How Royal hasn't put @twangster on some sort of retainer is beyond me.