Jmille58

I just came back from Western Caribbean cruise and I brought my cbd oil. It did not get confiscated. We carried are bags on and it passed security check at the port.  

Filet Mignon at Chops Grille with the Key embarkation day lunch (back when it was actually served in Chops!).
 

Even if ship introduces restrictions such as observing a 2m rule at bar i have it covered 
 

My family and I absolutely will be cruising at first chance. As serious as all this has been, I don't want the fear of "what if" to overrule the possibility of adventure for me. Just as with any disease or pandemic, it very well could hit me or my family at any moment, but the opportunity for memories and living life to its fullest outweighs that fear of there not being a vaccine yet. #StillGoing 

It's frustrating because they have such negatives to say about cruising. Yet if we were going to disney for the week I feel like they would think too much about it.

???

Majesty and Empress aren't going anywhere for awhile - they can go places no other ships can, like Cuba and Hamilton/St. Georges in Bermuda.  Not everyone wants the big flashy bells & whistles, so those of us need something in the Royal fleet too.  There is something to be said for classic-style cruising. 

I just spotted this sign in the galley on Empress of the seas during the all access tour on Thursday. Looks like they will be up on the Royal App starting 11/15/19. 

Actually Empress has newer entertainment like newer ships albeit not Broadway style shows.  When it was refreshed in 2016 they introduced modern entertainment adapted for a smaller stage.   
 
Do not miss Three Sequins and Feathers or ”Three” as they call it on board.   It’s basically the ShowGirl  entertainment from Ovation adapter for a smaller stage.  
See this post from a recent Empress Cruise  
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/14213-empress-b2b-14-nights-on-the-biggest-little-ship-july-2019/&do=findComment&comment=142692
I’m going on Empress in 8 days   A favorite ship of mine but please don’t tell anyone or more people will book her driving up prices   

Royal has learned a lot over the years and you can see that evolution in the ships over the years.  However Radiance class is an exception to that.  Radiance was introduced after Voyager  class was close to having grown to 3 ships (Radiance and Adventure both started revenue sailings in 2001). 
At one point in time Voyager class was never to leave the Caribbean as they were too big for the rest of the world.   Radiance class was built to not exceed then Panamax standards and designed to be cleaner or greener for eco sensitive environments such as Alaska.  They were built with different missions in mind, never to co-exist in the same market.  Fast forward to modern times and Voyager class are all over the globe.  
Radiance class has the lowest suite count of any class and we all know Royal has grown to become focused on the suites.  
Earlier ships suffer in that they were built in an era prior to azipods and used conventional propulsion with rudders.  While you can add guest conveniences like slides and restaurants it's virtually impossible to replace entire propulsion systems and engines to newer technology.  Ships are built around the engines.  They are the very first components that ships are built upon.  Once installed they are there for life.  Sure they are rebuilt from time to time but changing out an entire engine or replacing the drive system is never economical.  It's generally cheaper to sell it off and build a new ship.   
The same can be said for cabins.  Moving walls and infrastructure like plumbing and electrical is rarely cost effective.  It's one thing to add new cabins in open space but moving existing or converting regular cabins in to suites is very expensive and counterproductive if it costs two cabins to create a single suite.  The resulting difference in revenue never pays for the work required plus you have reduced the number of guests on board that reduces on board revenue (four guests in two balcony cabins will spend more on board compared to two guests in a one suite). 
Smaller ships also suffer from a lack of real estate.  There can be literally no room to place slides or a restaurant, or the weight allocation can't be accommodated without making the ship unstable.  Water slides require pumps and water storage tanks that if located up high can make a small ship tend to roll over in the right conditions.  The engineering often doesn't allow it to happen despite what guests or Royal may desire.   
At the end of the day it's much like owning an old car.  An old car is old, requires more maintenance, burns more fuel and doesn't have the latest features.  However it's paid for.  A brand new car is more fuel efficient, runs with little maintenance, has better safety, performance and comfort but it involves a monthly payment.   Keeping an older car can save money in the long term if you can deal with more frequent breakdowns and not having the latest features.  

Uhhh, so you're using your daughters as "wine mules"? Nice Joe, real nice! 

The view of the ocean at night.  I love to go out late at night when it is quiet and there is no land within site to see the ocean.  That is the best feeling in the world to me.

Someone on one of my Facebook groups is on Empress and posted this letter about a Bahamas aid drop..thought it was prettt cool to get the passengers to write notes for the hurricane victims.

Ploy, worked!

I love this little ship.Granted, my first cruise so I have nothing to compare, but it feels kind of like I'm on a private yacht and the owner is a guy with a thick Norwegian accent who comes over the intercom occasionally telling us to enjoy everything on him!

I'm sure most of you R/C followers are aware of what's going down on this ship right now, but just in case: They canceled CocoCay because of the hurricane and then decided it was not safe to return to Miami today so they extended the cruise by three days. A lot of folks bailed in Cozumel and then we sailed to Roatan for the day. We're now at sea heading to George Town for tomorrow, then back in Miami (maybe) on Wednesday.
The three days are totally free! They extended my drink and internet packages at no charge and even the gratuities stopped at 8 days. Instead of getting off the boat in Miami this morning I'm on a whole new adventure, compliments of Royal Caribbean. This is my first cruise ever and man am I a brand new fan of this cruise line!

I just came back from Western Caribbean cruise and I brought my cbd oil. It did not get confiscated. We carried are bags on and it passed security check at the port.