Cuba bucket list

Empress of the Seas Cruise Review to Cuba

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 19
Helpful Votes: 248

Overall rating:

4.6 out of 5
Empress of the Seas

5 Night Havana Overnight & Cococay (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: September 10, 2018

Ship: Empress of the Seas

Cabin type: Oceanview

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 6 years ago

Review summary

Empress is a smallish ship which lacks some of the activities and dining selection. However Chops is still quality and the dining room experience was great. Cuba was a bucket list destination. It was surprised in its disrepair combined with the great education displayed by its inhabitants. I will return.

Embarkation

4 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5

Windjammer Café

4 out of 5

At the front of the ship you get a great view from the ship. The cuisine is international in scope but focused on American Cuban and Caribbean styles.

Schooner Bar

5 out of 5

It is bigger in area than the Schooners on much larger ships and not a main thoroughfare to get from A to B. Therefore it is a better place to have a drink, for trivia and piano bar events.

Main Dining Room

5 out of 5

With feeer passengers on the smaller ship service was more personal and less harried. The menu was excellent and does not follow the usual format.

Chops Grille

5 out of 5

A large fine dining restaurant it delivers all the quality and service for which Chops is known. Also open for top tier cruisers for breakfast.

Boleros

4 out of 5

Large and spacious this is a popular venue for dancing. The aft deck is a great place to sip a drink and have a smoke. (I don’t but am glad there is a place for smokers).

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

Casino Royale

5 out of 5

The only multilevel casino in the fleet and non-smoking. I wish RCCL would make all casinos non smoking.

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Royal Theater

4 out of 5

Seating is more like a dinner theater with smal coffee tables and benches. The seating is not as comfortable as it looks because the backs do not support properly but the venue is intimate.

Children's Programs

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Ship tip

It is the smallest of the Royal Caribbean fleet so there are fewer venues for dining and activities. But is more intimate and the staff so gracious cheerful and welcoming. Boarding and disembarkation is a breeze

Ports of call

Miami, Florida

5 out of 5

HAVANA, CUBA

5 out of 5
Eye opening but lack of progress on building maintenance is striking. Tour guides are a delight with excellent English skills.

Cococay (Cruise Line's Private Island)

4 out of 5
If you want a day at the beach this a great stop. An extension of the ship in all aspects as you get buffet food. I am not a beach person but was impressed with the activities available.

Disembarkation

5 out of 5
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