RC still booking Empress???

[jltnova]

I got an email from Travelzoo today for a deal on a Sept booking out of Philly to Bermuda on the Empress - this was on cruisedeals.com. Even RCI's site is still booking for the Empress with no warning or anything that I've seen. I read though that the Empress was sold and will not be sailing after this month? The press release says anyone booked will be transferred to a different ship/similiar iteniary.

 

Anyone know what's going on with this? I'm looking for a good deal on a local departure (Philly/Cape Liberty/Baltimore) for my family (7 of us) for either Bermuda or Bermuda/Caribbean. I'm just concerned if I booked something to get the good deal I'm wondering if I'll make out better if they switch the reservation or if I'll get screwed over.

[lvtotrvl1]

She will be sailing through Mrch of 2008.

[johnjen]

This may be good news for you and will help clear up any rumors that you may have heard:

 

http://cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=1983

 

Seeing that she's not due to transfer for at least another year to that Spanish cruise line, you haven't got much to worry about.

 

We're booked on Empress this coming July for Bermuda.

[negc]

I got an email from Travelzoo today for a deal on a Sept booking out of Philly to Bermuda on the Empress - this was on cruisedeals.com. Even RCI's site is still booking for the Empress with no warning or anything that I've seen. I read though that the Empress was sold and will not be sailing after this month? The press release says anyone booked will be transferred to a different ship/similiar iteniary.

 

Anyone know what's going on with this? I'm looking for a good deal on a local departure (Philly/Cape Liberty/Baltimore) for my family (7 of us) for either Bermuda or Bermuda/Caribbean. I'm just concerned if I booked something to get the good deal I'm wondering if I'll make out better if they switch the reservation or if I'll get screwed over.

 

You need to relax and re-read the press release. The Empress of the Seas is being transferred to Pulmantour, which is another cruiseline owned by RCCL - but the transfer will not happen until a year from now. Her last cruise as an RCI ship is scheduled to occur on March 7,2008.

 

If you find a good deal for a date before the transfer is due to take place, grab it.:)

[jltnova]

Thanks everyone - I'm seriously retarded - I saw March and didn't exactly see the 2008! I feel better now.

[negc]

No problem. We've all done that at some time or another. I had to go back and check the press release before responding to you to make sure it was 2008.;)

[johnjen]

OP - One great thing about the people on these boards - very seldom will you get people slamming you, accusing you of being ignorant, etc. Your query was totally legitimate.

 

I consider ANY question on these boards perfectly legitimate.

 

Well, any, except for those that might ask about DST compensations, or something nutty like that!

[Mr Veendam06]

I did here this on the ship .I was on the 2/26/07 cruise .Still love the ship .And the ports were great .read my review .Enjoy .

:cool: Mr Veendam

 

I cruised solo for the frist time on the Empress of the seas 2/26/07

had a great table and had a great time. It was an11 day S.Caribbean

cruise out of San Juan .First off i thought i would have to pick up

the ship in St Maarten the next day .almost being snowed in !! I Got

to the airport at 4am on the 26th and my flight was at 6:25 am .It

took an hour to deice the plane ,and we left at 7:30 an .I was on the

ship at 1 pm .The ports on the cruise were St Maarten, St Kitts,

Antigua ,st Lucia, Bardados ,Margarita island, Curacao,Aruba ,and 2

day at sea .Great ports .Have not done a S.Caribbean cruise in in some

time .So i was realy looking forward to this cruise .That and it being

an 11 day cruise .

 

First a little history of me with this ship .We did the 10th sailing

on this ship when it was brand new back in 1990 .Then again in 1999 to

Bermuda from NYC .Both of the cruises were when she was the Nordic

Empress .The new places on the ship are the rock clinbing wall, the

Schooner bar, Boleros ,Potofino's ,witch you pay $20 and is great .And

Ben & Jerry"s ice cream . The cabins on this ship are very small .I

could not take my family back on here in the same cabin again .I would

need 2 cabin now ! This ship holds 2050 people on her when full ,and

on sea days up at the pool it gets very crowed when full .On my cruise

there was only 1500 or so on board . So it wasn"t so bad at the

pool.Also i think this ship has the best wrap around promenade

deck ,it"s wide .I did my 10 mile power walking there every morning at

6:30 am to 8:30 am .It was great watching the sun coming up ,it just

dosen"t get any better i lost 5 lbs's on this cruise!!

 

Now the good news this ship and cruise was the first to get the new

menu"s .That will be going feet wide soon .It was the best food i ever

had on RCCI .This being the 9 time with RCCI .and 3rd time on this

ship .Now i still would not call it the best cruise food i ever

had .But it was very good at lest better then the other RCCI cruises

we have been on .Also there were 2 top guy"s from the head office on

board to check it out .The Carmen dinning room the food tested better

not as blend as before .In the Windjammer cafe it's so much better

then i ever remember before .Another great thing at the Windjammer is

there is food there all day long ! Unlike alot of other cruise

lines ,and you could get Ice tea and Lemon aid all day long HINT

Princess !!!!

 

The show's were very good i went to most of them .Being an 11 day

cruise the night life after 11 pm is not like on a 7 day cruise .And

another funny thing .On a 7 day cruise most people go for the 2nd

seating dinning not on this cruise !! yes it was an olded crowed .But

not to old as i thought would be .One thing RCCI is offering now is

ghost booking.That"s where you do an open booking for $100 and they

fax it over to your TA it's good for 3 years .And when you book your

next cruise with RCCI that's the only depoist need for the new

booking ,and you get a $200 ship board credit . You can't go wrong!

 

Ports i only did 3 tours one in St lucia a train ride around the

island it was great .A tour of Margarita island was good .and a tour

of the rain forest in San Juan the last day it was a great way to

spend the day before my flight home ! Took my time and went to the

great beachs of the islands .Then went back to the ship to have some

lunch .then in the afternoon went to town to shop and walk around

town .I had a great time no rush here !

 

 

In clossing i had a great time on this cruise i love doing an 11 day

S.Caribbean cruise love the ports of call. The great people i met like

always The service in the cabin and dinning room was great The front

desk was very helpful .Would i do this cruise again in a hart beat !!

But there was talk on baord that she may be going to Island cruises

or Pullmenta cruises .Not sure when .This was my 66th cruise and

another great one .We will be on the New Liberty of the seas august

25th 07 of this year .Also doing an 2 day cruise to Nassau on the

Regal Empress with friends in august .And the Explorer of the seas

doing an 12 day S Caribbean cruise from NJ Feb 24th 08 No flying this

time !! Enjoy

:cool: Mr Veendam

[Eelman3]

Hi, RCI Cruise Criticers,

If you are just lurking around these boards and don't seem to have a place to settle, let me invite you to sign on to the RCI Roll Call board and look for the Grandeur cruise out of Baltimore on May 18. There are a few posters there waiting to hear about more cruisers who are interested in getting to know some other cruisers before we sail. Would love to greet you!

Lee (Eelman3)

[shoreless]

OP - One great thing about the people on these boards - very seldom will you get people slamming you, accusing you of being ignorant, etc. Your query was totally legitimate.

 

I consider ANY question on these boards perfectly legitimate.

 

Well, any, except for those that might ask about DST compensations, or something nutty like that!

 

I remember that thread, but I think people just misunderstood the OP; she wasn't asking for monetary compensation, she was asking if there was enough slack time built into the schedule to allow for the same amount of time in each port (i.e., using a different meaning of the word). I know I didn't explain that very well either, but I know what I mean.:D