Loved Havana, unhappy with the cruise lines.

Empress of the Seas Cruise Review to Cuba

lindar103sc

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 3

Helpful Votes: 35

Overall rating:

3 out of 5

7 Night Best Of Cuba (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: April 06, 2019

Ship: Empress of the Seas

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

was high, itinerary changed literally just around time of final payment. There’s no way they didn’t know sooner. No extra compensation provided to passengers. No one I spoke to was happy with the change to Cozumel. Rooms were small, old fashioned showers, carpet coming apart, rubber lining in the shower coming apart. Soda package price is outrageous. We are diamond plus, no extra benefits (no way we could eat a wile bowl of fruit when fruit was available at all venues). Jewelry prices were higher than in port and selection was minimal. Entertainment was mediocre, Elton John singer gave me a headache with his awful voice. Muster drill people were dismissed while the captain was still talking. Some elevators had problems (wouldn’t stop or wouldn’t move). Check in process lacking, first time cruiser line was shorter than diamond plus, yet RCL reps were pulling people out of line to move them to the front. Of all places photographers were not set up when tour bus passengers got off the ship in Havana ( which is where I was looking forward to a photo). Scrambled Eggs in the windjammer on day six were cold, as if they just been taken out of the refrigerator.

Embarkation

2 out of 5

We are Diamond +, line was twice long as first time cruiser line. Staff did nothing to address.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Food was excellent, soda package is outrageously expensive, $15 a day!!!!

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Pool, only one, very crowded.

Entertainment

2 out of 5

Dancers were good but singer and comedians were mediocre.

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

Service good, staff in dining room attentive. Staff in Windjammer did not stop one to ask if we wanted beverages.

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

Ship is old and run down, carpet coming up, dings in the walls.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Ship tip

Cabin 9626, very small, much noise came through the walls.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Miami, Florida

3 out of 5

Cozumel, Mexico

1 out of 5

Nothing to do at this port, excursions are very costly.

Thumbs Up 1

CIENFUEGOS, CUBA

4 out of 5

Tours should not include 3 hr drive time to get to and from the site.

Thumbs Up 1

HAVANA, CUBA

5 out of 5

Loved it, had a great tour guide, enjoyed the excursions very much.

Thumbs Up 3

Disembarkation

3 out of 5

Lot of confusion, after waiting awhile in line, others were brought in to cut in. Luggage pick up was a disaster. No identification of where to pick up your luggage.

2 Comments

hunny68 5 years ago

My first cruise was on this ship 2 years ago and I loved it. Yes it's an older ship but you know that when you book it. You also know the price of all drink packages when you book too. We did self disembarking and it was beyond smooth.

Thumbs Up 0

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onlysail 5 years ago

What a moaner. Bet your fun to sail with. You need to read the T&C regaurding port changes

Thumbs Up 0

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Other reviews of this sailing

Not the best for even our group of 5 adults. Like Royal Carribean, in general just not this ship. Disappointing to only list 2 Cuba ports, not the 3 as advertised! Charged 50 dollars for a towel that we turned in so verify that they COUNT correctly.