Cuba bucket list
Empress of the Seas Cruise Review to Cuba
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
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Windjammer Café
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
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
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
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
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
Casino Royale
The only multilevel casino in the fleet and non-smoking. I wish RCCL would make all casinos non smoking.
Entertainment
Royal Theater
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
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
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
Cococay (Cruise Line's Private Island)