Hoski

My wife and I, along with another couple we're cruising with, booked tonight too!

I’m so glad it showed up for you!  Pretty sure it isn’t happening on mine but that is prob. Good since we already have the drink pkg.  jane

Don't overpack.   Take mix and match.  Black is your friend.  Just me, but I skip the suit and tie for formal night and take slacks and dress shirt that I wear a couple other times.  Use the extra space for another pair of shorts and tie shirt.     

Highly recommend that you explore the entire ship on your arrival and see how many options are available for you to enjoy.  One week is not a lot of time to enjoy all of the ship.  The ship is so large you have to spend several hours to check everything out.

Don't let the attitude of others dictate your enjoyment of the cruise.   So often we read stories of people having "bad" cruises because of things that didn't even effect them directly (how people dress, how others act,  unrealistic expectations etc).    A bad day as sea is better than a great day at work!

Always check your cruise compass and mark acclivities you  will like to do.
bring swimsuit in your carry on bag so you can use the pool/flow rider on the first day were its not really busy.
Consider staying on the ship on one of the ports days so you can enjoy it when its empty.
Remember that for each cabin you allow to bring two bottles of wine.
Check the Main dining room seating after you board the ship , if you do not like it , most of the time you can change it.

Reserve your shows and dining times (if you have my time dining) in the cruise planner online in advance of your cruise.
Almost everything is less expensive if purchased prior to your cruise (drink packages, excursions, etc.) and watch for the cruise planner sales.
 

No pager, they have your phone number and they can find you based on your card. 
They did not ask where we were going. 
You need to pick up at the end of each session unless they are signed up for a meal with the club and you need to sign them up for that ahead of time.
Phone number
We used the late night option 2 or 3 times. 
They probably won't fall asleep because they will be playing fun games with other kids and the staff. 
They do have mats for them to crash on if they want.
You can pick them up before the session is over.
No water activities but they may go other places.  Our daughter didn't because she only went after dinner then for late night.
You will get the week's kids' compass on the first day.  Extras by the guest service desk through the week.
We found they schedule was very general and we couldn't count on any one activity.
 
Another item of note is they played games and got prizes each late night.  My daughter got some nice items for free from the staff each late night.  The hourly fee is very reasonable plus she got free stuff, not a bad deal.
 

Thanks everyone, I have purchased in my cruise planner.  I will be dressing up but hubby will not.  I like 1920's style so I'm excited for it.

Thanks everyone, I have purchased in my cruise planner.  I will be dressing up but hubby will not.  I like 1920's style so I'm excited for it.

Thanks everyone, I have purchased in my cruise planner.  I will be dressing up but hubby will not.  I like 1920's style so I'm excited for it.

Since it's only $49 on Empress, planning on finally booking it! 

I've traveled with a teenage girl for a number of cruises since she was 16.  The cost of the wifi is worth it's weight in gold if they will reply to you when you text them, something one of mine is not.  Nothing worse then sending a message and getting nothing back for hours.
In your case I'd tell them they must absolutely stick together and do not under any circumstances leave the other one at any time.  Safety in numbers.  
The reality is a ship is full of passengers who represent a cross section of our society.  This potentially includes the type of people we don't want on the ship or interacting with our daughters.  It's easy for something to be slipped into a drink (including a glass of water) or for someone to approach with a story like "your parents sent me to find you".  Standard things you likely have discussed at home also apply.  What can and does happen on land does happen on cruise ships.  I'm not trying to scare you but understand a ship is not a magic place where bad things don't happen.  No background checks are performed on any one who books a cruise.  

My teens have been wandering the ship on their own since they've been in the teen club.  My now 12yo is a bit immature and will have more boundaries whereas my now 15yo didn't have as many boundaries at that age.  Each child is different and so you need to decide what is right for you. What do you do at home?  Can they go to the movies or mall by themselves?  The ship is a relatively small place and as safe as anywhere with some common sense.  Here is what we do:
1.  We have the Voom on everyone's phones (kids and adults).  They check it enough and if you want you can tell them that they need to tell you where they are and tell you when they change locations.  There are places like the slides where they won't have their phone but you can make allowances.
2.  They are never allowed in another person's stateroom.  NEVER!  I don't care if its their new best friend of the same gender on the cruise.  And no one can come in their stateroom.
3.  Never allowed to climb on furniture or lean over the railings.  I get an eye roll when I remind of that rule and they tell me they aren't stupid.
4.  They may not break curfew (whatever you decide curfew to be).  My older kids (not my immature 12 yo)  stick to the ship curfew which is 1am unless we have a shore excursion planned and that is usually midnight.  They need to wake their dad up to say they are back (yes we are lame and can't keep up).  Sounds late but you'll be surprised at how many friends push the curfew.  Many younger teens (12/13 yo) will have an 11-midnight curfew.
5. They need to get their own drinks (water, mocktail, soda).  Teenage girls know why and they should have that rule at home too. 
I think the teens just like to hang out.  They'll meet their new friends at the teen club and wander the ship and talk.  

My two cents worth... Without having any real knowledge.  My understanding is that they have the freestyle machines on the ships that are primarily in the us so they can easily restock them.  They also seem to keep them on Voyager size and above where there are typically more kids.  There wasn't one on my vision cruise and I'm guessing they won't see the need to put it in empress where the average age is a bit older and people feel more comfortable just asking for a pop at a bar.  Jane

I stopped reading after the author started talking about their dangerous drive through a "Level 2 alert area". 
And not mentioning that Level 2 is the second lowest level which is also given to the "dangerous" countries of Germany, Denmark, and the UK. 

I went with Allianz.  They have one annual plan that covers everyone in the household, otherwise each person needs a policy.  Options vary by state of residence so it becomes complicated to compare notes from me as a "westerner".  

Yes, every time you pass a bar or order a drink also get a bottle of water to take back to the cabin. 

You won't need your passport at these ports.  I've been to them all.  You will leave it in the safe.  We are required to take them off in Cuba but that is the only one for us so far.

I will always buy insurance based on our experience.  My family of 4 cruised the Eastern Caribbean in the summer of 2015 (kids were 13 and 8).  I purchased insurance because my husband and I have elderly parents and if something came up, we would have to cancel our trip.  Never in a million years would I think it would be my 8 year old son who would get sick.  We had a medical disembarktation in St. Maarten, my son was in the hospital for 2 days and we had to make new arrangements to fly back to the West Coast.  We had to pay everything up front (over $6,000 -- last minute plane tickets are insanely expensive!) but thanks to insurance, we were reimbursed for everything.  Our insurance was less than $200 through Travel Guard.  Like others mention, be sure you know what your insurance covers before purchasing.

No.  The package is for fountain drinks...HOWEVER, I am a Coke snob and I hate fountain cokes (same objections that you have).  I have had a few "issues" where the attendant balks at giving me a canned coke (most notably at the WJ on Liberty 2 weeks ago) but 100% of the times I have insisted, I was able to get a can when I asked.  I am always able to get a canned coke in the casino and in the Diamond or Suites lounge.  They will tell you that the package only includes fountain drinks but will eventually concede if you insist.

Previous post on this.
 
 

I just wanted to let y’all know that I made the decision to get myself the refreshment package and my son the soda package! Thanks for your help and your kindness! 

Hubby says this also until he gets dry at night and chugs all the water in the fridge.

It seems most of the fleet has them but not the Empress.  What's the chances that Empress will get them during her brief dry dock?