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Empress B2B 14 nights On The Biggest Little Ship July 2019


twangster

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Day 6 - Bridge Tour

On our final sea day back to Miami the C&A bridge tour was offered.

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Empress has variable pitch propellors.  Shaft speed is controlled by the engine room and is mostly fixed.  Ship speed is controlled by varying the pitch of the propellors.  I had noted our wake seemed to indicate we weren't using both propellors equally.  This voyage doesn't require both to maintain schedule so we often run on one drive while the other propellor is trimmed to minimize drag.  This is more efficient.  If more speed was required they would call on both equally.

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Really enjoying the pics.  It really does feel like a bigger ship with all those big open areas.  I found all the windows helped a lot on makes.  Thanks so much for the galley tour... So interesting!  And the flag ceremony is one of my favorite things on the ship... Especially in the centrums!  Jane

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4 hours ago, twangster said:

Day 6 Galley Tour

While waiting for other guests to arrive at the galley tour I asked Louis what the guest count was on this sailing.  Somewhere around 1,790 he thought.  With a capacity of 1,840 that's pretty good, 97% of capacity.  Doing the math, if 540 are C&A members that means 1,250 are first time on Royal.

I haven't been in the MDR yet on this voyage so I grabbed a picture.

Thanks @twangster for all the great kitchen pictures. 

As a former professional cook and chef, I have thought of taking a Galley Tour, but have not yet (but have done the All Access on Explorer my first cruise.)

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1 hour ago, Ken23 said:

Thanks @twangster for all the great kitchen pictures. 

As a former professional cook and chef, I have thought of taking a Galley Tour, but have not yet (but have done the All Access on Explorer my first cruise.)

One of the benefits of being Diamond Plus.  These tours are free.  I don’t think I did it on Explorer but I have on sister ships like Adventure.  Those ships have a two deck galley if I recall.  Empress being smaller they have to go vertical more.  

I enjoy the tours because you learn so much.  I remember on Adventure the Sous Chef asked if we knew why they keep track of food temperature so closely.  It’s because we have 5,000 crew and passengers on board but only 5 beds in the medical center he explained.  Chef humor but a good point.  

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10 hours ago, Ken23 said:

Thanks @twangster for all the great kitchen pictures. 

Your blog is awesome as always!  Also thanks for all the gorgeous pictures (especially) loved the up close flamingo pictures!  Are you taking your camera scuba diving that you mentioned? 

The Empress sure is a beautiful (little) ship!  I would love to sail on her someday!  I LOVE that there is lots and lots of large windows everywhere!  I'm a  huge window lover!  Michelle

 

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In the main theater was Three Sequins and Feathers, a celebration of showgirls from yesterday, today and tomorrow with live music from the Empress orchestra and the High C's horns.

I have to admit I don't always find small ship entertainment to be all that but this was a really good performance so I'm going to go overboard with the photos.

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The band did a great job, always nice to have live music.

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Quite impressive and not the small ship kind of show I've seen on other ships.  Great cast with strong vocals.

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11 minutes ago, twangster said:

Late night Windjammer was very popular.  Looks like people have found the midnight buffet on Empress.

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I've noticed that on most of the Cruise Compasses I've read concerning our cruise, it lists that the WJ closes at 9:30 and does not include it on the late night snacks listing. Is this ship specific or just an unposted thing?

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Day 7 Miami

Not a bad view to wake up to.

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Back to terminal G.

Consecutive cruises met in the Schooner Bar at 9:30am.  Regular guests were still trickling off.  At 10am around 11 of us were escorted off.  Bit of a wait as we were held waiting for a mother/child B2B guests who didn't come down on time.  CBP did a quick glance at out documents and we immediately turned and headed back on board.  Time off ship ~ 14 minutes.  

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By 10:14am we were back on board with complimentary champagne and mimosa's waiting for us in the Schooner Bar.  #winning

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New beverage cups on this cruise in honor of Royal's 50th.

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As I start the rinse, lather and repeat phase of this B2B I'm going to slow down on posting.  I'm going to wait until day 3 to buy Voom since I'll have cell coverage in Key West tomorrow so I may disappear for a bit.

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9 minutes ago, FManke said:

I've noticed that on most of the Cruise Compasses I've read concerning our cruise, it lists that the WJ closes at 9:30 and does not include it on the late night snacks listing. Is this ship specific or just an unposted thing?

Not sure.  I didn't check any previous Cruise Compasses for Empress before boarding.  It's definitely listed in my current Cruise Compasses for this sailing.  

Late Night Snack 10:30pm to 12:30am

Late Night Burger & Sandwich Bar 12:30am to 1:30am 

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3 minutes ago, twangster said:

Not sure.  I didn't check any previous Cruise Compasses for Empress before boarding.  It's definitely listed in my current Cruise Compasses for this sailing.  

Late Night Snack 10:30pm to 12:30am

Late Night Burger & Sandwich Bar 12:30am to 1:30am 

Good to know. As always, thanks.

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2 hours ago, twangster said:

I have to admit I don't always find small ship entertainment to be all that but this was a really good performance so I'm going to go overboard with the photos.

Agreed, although that's a new show that RC developed when Empress came back. To your point, I think small ship entertainment is still from the "pre-Nick Weir era" and thus, lacks in holding up.

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42 minutes ago, twangster said:

Stray observation...

On the first leg they had a new style beverage cup.  It's a soft plastic with no handle and a big bendy straw.  I can't see where this one has an RFID chip in the bottom to work with Freestyle dispensers on those ship that have them.  

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This is the same cup we had on Ovation, which worked in the Freestyle machines.

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3 hours ago, FManke said:

I've noticed that on most of the Cruise Compasses I've read concerning our cruise, it lists that the WJ closes at 9:30 and does not include it on the late night snacks listing. Is this ship specific or just an unposted thing?

Mariner had a late-night snack time when I was on it last February.

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3 hours ago, twangster said:

 

New beverage cups on this cruise in honor of Royal's 50th.

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The problem I have with all the drink cups is they are too small. I know it's a personal thing and as I am a lazy drinker, besides a big drinker, they just don't hold enough. At home I don't have a travel mug less than 32oz. Oh well, at least with the trips back and forth, I'll get some exercise in. 

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5 minutes ago, twangster said:

All shot with the RX100.  It's easy to carry everywhere and you never know when a sunset will present itself like this.

I bought a RX100 last year to go to Alaska and it is a handy camera. Gotta practice with it more, but fantastic photos for a compact camera.

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Day 7 Turn Around Day Miami

Some general observations and housekeeping items...

The balcony dividers do open at least for pressure washing the balconies like they did this morning.

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The Viking Crown Lounge is unique to the fleet.  Upper ring is the gym.

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Best gym views in the fleet.

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Back to Chops for my cruise #2 reservations.  This is the sitting area right across from Chops.

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The beverage cups of Empress.  I'm not sure I've seen this kind of variety in beverage cups on one sailing before.

First we have the new but now old beverage cups offered in Boleros.

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The old style old design cups that have been around for several months near the Windjammer.

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The old style new cups available on the pool deck.

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Welcome aboard cake!

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This line at Shore Excursions lasted for hours.  Have these new to Royal cruisers not heard of the Cruise Planner?   So many people booking excursions on the ship.   

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Miami Sail Away

The Crown and Anchor Loyalty Ambassador hosts a Diamond and up sail away behind Boleros on deck 6 outside.  Since Empress doesn't have a Diamond Lounge this event is offered.

Louis our LA is there to greet us

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It's a great covered location to take in the sail away from.

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Several officers drop by to greet guests.  This included the Hotel Director, Revenue Manager, Marketing Manager and a few others I forget to note their positions.

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Oh that Miami traffic.  You know it's bad when a cruise ship is going faster than the traffic.

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We passed Symphony of the Seas as we departed.

The not so little, biggest ship as seen from the biggest, little ship.   

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Cheers and Happy Anniversary to @Lovetocruise2002 and hubster who embarked Symphony today. 

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You can read her live blog from Symphony here:

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/14288-“symphony-no-17-celebration-relaxation-exploration-reflection”-–-072719-–-080319/

Miami beach was pretty popular today.

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19 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

The beverage cups of Empress.  I'm not sure I've seen this kind of variety in beverage cups on one sailing before.

First we have the new but now old beverage cups offered in Boleros.

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Although I've always considered my beverage cups only for use on a single cruise, these look really cheap.

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18 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

We passed Symphony of the Seas as we departed.

The not so little, biggest ship as seen from the biggest, little ship.   

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It's funny when you are on board a ship you have this sense of the shear size of even the smallest ships, until you are along side an even bigger one. This happened a few years ago when we were on Serenade in St. John, NB and docked next to Ovation. Felt like the little brother or sister next to her.

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