The Devil Is In The Detail
American Empress Cruise Review to River Cruises - United States
8 Night Pacific Northwest Splendor (Portland To Clarkston)
Sail date: July 02, 2016
Ship: American Empress
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: 305
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 8 years ago
Review summary
What could have been an incredible experience turned out to be "only" OK. While the crew was exceptionally polite and well intentioned, they were not always well informed/trained or perhaps too few. This was particularly evident in the food/beverage service areas. It seemed that managers were too busy "working" and not managing their staff.
We had a balcony cabin on deck three forward which was surprisingly spacious even for its small size. It was nicely furnished and maintained.
The food was good but not extraordinary. The meals were of comparable quality to those on Princess or Norwegian. We enjoyed the daily wine selection and the generous pours.
The square four person metal dining tables on deck four were terrible. The table legs were positioned so they wound up between your knees. You invariably bumped a leg and spilled something. This was exacerbated by the pitch in the deck which made the chairs and tables slant and often wobble.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Onboard Activities
Entertainment
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
If you can find an open bar, the drinks are very well made and generous.
Ports of call
HOTEL IN SPOKANE
RICHLAND (TRI-CITIES), WASHINGTON
VANCOUVER (PORTLAND), WASHINGTON