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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Chris Mitchell
Email: cmitchel@mail.bcpl.lib.md.us
Age: 45
Occupation: Librarian
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-NordicEmpress
SailingDate: June 20, 1999
Itinerary: New York- Bermuda
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 80
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService:
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 80
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 50
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 05 Jul 1999
Time: 07:18:06
Remote Name: spider-pa014.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
Review - Nordic Empress
June 20-27, 1999\
New York-Bermuda
By Christine Mitchell
Age 45
Librarian
Group of 14, in our cabin-myself, husband, son age 11, son age 8
Embarkation: We picked up our Bus at the Baltimore Travel Plaza, arrived to pier about
1-1:30 and they let us go directly to
ship, Bus transferred the luggage so we did not have to transport it after it was loaded
on to the bus. Waited about 20
minutes in line for the cruise check in. No problems with obtaining our ship and sail
cards. On board before 2PM. Went
down to cabin.
Cabin 3139- We were located on the 3rd deck, inside cabin. Very Tiny!! Had read about the
cabin size and they were
correct these cabins on the 3rd deck are tiny. Not much drawer space, small chest with 3
shallow drawers, vanity table
with 4 small drawers. We had 3 closets , 2 with shelves and one rod, one with double rods.
Had no problems with stowing
the clothes, We kept the main stuff for our two sons in suitcases under the beds and just
got them out as needed. Cabin
was somewhat dim due to their use of these compact florescent bulbs in the fixtures, Would
have liked more light, we had
to turn on all of the lights to get a decent amount of light in the cabin. TV remote was
missing battery cover and it was
difficult to get it to operate well. Carpeting and covers on beds were worn and made the
cabin appear dingy and old. Life
jackets were on bed waiting the muster at 4:15. Ice in bucket on dressing table, glasses.
6 pack of coke, sprite etc. ($1.50
each if you use) and bottled water ($2.50 each if you use) Small bathroom with strange
pull UP button to flush... small
shower but had a hand held head that you could remove to use as needed. Lots of hot water,
strange controls but has a
safety mechanism so that you donšt get scalded.
Windjammer Cafe- We went up on Deck 10 for the Welcome Aboard Buffet. No one told us about
this but we knew from
reading on internet. Somewhat long lines but our son Tyler met this waiter Hubert who made
the wait go faster. Fair
selection of lunch entrees. Nice glass windows around for views over the harbor. Small
tables for 2 or 4 with several round
tables for 5 or more available. Drink machines for water and ice tea, sometimes lemonade.
On Left side there is a
hamburger and hot dog line as well as a bar where you can get alcohol or sodas with your
charge cards. Buy coke cards
for kids under 17 for $15 + gratuity for week--put stickers on cruise charge card.
Lifeboat drill- Ship sound emergency signal and everyone heads up to their muster station
on deck six--our cabin attendant
had brought life jackets for our 2 sons so we had what we needed before we got up top. One
of the crew called out cabin
numbers and you responded with the number of people in your cabin. Took about 15 min.
Sailaway from New York; Ship sailed late after 5PM..was sunny and windy on the deck above
the Windjammer, we were
there for awhile and our boys did some swimming in the pool. small pool, not very deep,
there is also a kiddie pool and 3
jacuzzi spas mid deck. Got photos leaving New York, nice view of Statue of Liberty with my
sons. Photographer from ship
was taking photos on deck as well as took a picture as we first boarded the ship. Photos
available for viewing on Deck 6
near the rear staircase.
Carmen Dining Room- We had main seating for dinner so we had to rush to the first dinner
after seeing the Statue of
Liberty. The dress was pretty casual that night since most of the passengers had yet to
get their luggage delivered to the
cabin. We had 2 round tables on the upper level (off deck 5) and were introduced to our
waiter Hubert from Portugal (who we
had met at the windjammer earlier) and the assistant waiter Zolton- Handsome Hungarian
Hunk!!! who made dinner a
pleasure. After dinner we went to cabin to check to see if the luggage had arrived, we had
everything except my suitcase
and tote bag..they arrived after the show that evening.. a relief!!
Strike up the band show lounge- 2 level show room on decks 5-6. Bright colors with couches
and puffy round chairs, small
glass tables,.. difficult to see from some areas of the room-- pretty crowded even tho
they have 2 shows every night. Most
nights was a musical review, mix with dancing and singing. Best shows were the comedian
Sarge and the Los Palpas
Gouchos on another night. Didnšt care for the last show on Sat. night with the cruise
director John Blair singing Neil
Diamond. Too Plastic for me. Had a nice puppet show and magic show on Mon. afternoon at
sea. Puppet show was also
part of the evening show one night. Drinks available as well as coffee which is a cost in
the lounge. Went to show every
night except when in St. George when we opted to shop in town instead.
Walkathon- Did the walkathon on Mon. morning at sea, after that usually did my 5 laps
(each lap = 1/4 mile) earlier to avoid
the crowds. Nice wooden deck on deck 6, sometimes the wind would blow you down the track
and they you would fight it
on the other side. Loved walking with the view of the sea below. Did this every morning of
the cruise..
Captainšs Party- Mon. night is first formal night and everyone is bustling in the
afternoon to be ready for the party. They
have a wonderful puppet and magic show for kids and passengers in afternoon so we decided
to go t here and enjoyed that.
They provide the only FREE drinks at the captains party so you might as well indulge with
the ship picking up the tab.
Several trays of appetizers were making the rounds as well. The photographer is doing a
brisk business in the centrum
stairway doing formal pictures which we had done of our group of 14== cost $19.95 for 8x10
which you can pick up in the
photo gallery on Deck 6 anytime after the next day. Fancy Dinner in the Carmen Dining
Room, canšt remember the Menu-
photographer in dinning room taking pictures there as well.
St. George- getting up to see the voyage in to St. George is a must, they will be making
announcements anyway so you
might as well wake up and see the incredible narrow passage the ship glides thru into the
harbor area. Exciting to glimpse
land from the sea and watch it grow larger as you approach. After arrival we have a wait
of about 30 min or so before they
allow passengers to leave the ship. Docked in St. George you are a short walk down an
alley to the shops and town
square, You can also see the town crier ring the bell and welcome the ship to Bermuda.
Beaches in St. George-we walked to the town square and then took a taxi to the beach, had
planned on Tobacco Bay but
our Taxi driver had recommended we try Ft. St. Catherinešs Beach instead. We were glad we
did when we came over the
hill overlooking Tobacco Bay and saw the sea of people on the beach there. At Ft. St.
Catherinešs Beach there are no
facilities, it is right next to the fort so I dontš know if they would let you use the
rest room there or not...but you could
always walk the 1/4 mile back to Tobacco Bay if you needed to. Lots of passengers were
opting to walk to the beach, I
would say it is about a mile from town, UPHILL..narrow road with no shoulders to Tobacco
Bay, 1/4 mile further to Ft. St.
Catherinešs Beach. Our taxi for 5 was $7--we used the Mini bus on the return trip for $2
per person. Ft. St. Catherinešs
beach is a clear water sandy stretch of beach with just a pinch of shade. Some rocks near
fort for beginning snorkelers ,
gentle sloping beach front perfect for children. Warm clear water was a wonderful
afternoon for our group.
Shops in St. George- there are probably 2 dozen shops in the St. George town square area,
we didnšt venture beyond
there. Tues night they have a semi-street party in he town square with the ritual dunking
with local musical and childrenšs
groups performing in the middle of the square. Food booths and little stands selling
tourist fare, watercolor paintings etc.
are available. We did some quick shopping instead of the evening show aboard the Empress.
Ocean Adventure- If you have kids under 12 you can have a wonderful break from your
children and have them entertained
by the terrific kids connection staff. (Up on Level 10 AFT near the Viking Crown Lounge)
Brochures will have you believe the
kids are separated into 3 different age groups but for the most part the group the week we
were there was all ages together.
The teens had a separate group and we saw them several times on the ship , several dozen
mid teen age kids often
lounging in the halls together talking. Every day they have wonderful fun and creative
programs planned, every night a new
theme including a Men in Black Alien Night, Pirate Night, Pizza Party night, PJ and Movies
night, and the last night is a
Carnival night with games and prizes. Each time your child attends t hey get a
Œdollarš to spend on Sat. when you can
redeem them for prizes. Our 11 yr old was sometimes reluctant to attend the kid stuff
thinking he was too Œoldš for the
group but after we took him there he always had a great time. You can choose if you wish
your child to have to have your
permission to leave the Connection, or you can choose that the ey can only go with a
parent or person you have identified.
We thought the staff was wonderful with the kids , One night when our son experienced
sudden feeling of seasickness...the
staff member found us in the Strike up the Band lounge to bring him to us there. Great
staff and great activities made it
easy for us to have kid free time , it is available 9-12 AM, 7-10PM all days, and 2-5 PM
when at Sea. We didnšt always
take the kids there, but they usually went at least 1 x a day, You can also get
babysitting for $4 per hour per child from
10PM - 1AM which we did one night. I would say only about 50 kids participated in the
programs during the week and often
the group might have about 20. They said that there were 180 kids aboard so a lot of kids
missed out on all the fun!!
Hamilton- I was awake doing my walk when we left St. George for Hamilton,wonderful way to
start the day. More great
views from the ship as we sail into the port. ŒDock right next to the ferry terminal
and horse and carriage stop, across from
all the shops along Front Street. We decide to head to The Dockyard since the weather
doesnšt look great for the beach,
hoping to hit the beach in the afternoon. Buy Ferry/Bus Transportation passes at terminal,
no problem donšt buy ahead as
we did for other people in our group as we did buy one day passes for 2 people for
afternoon hoping for the beach and we
didnšt use them at all. Kids under 16 can use the cheaper student passes which were $5
per day for bus and ferry use.
Very crowded ferry left the Hamilton terminal late but still made it to Dock yard on time.
Shopped and looked around
Dockyard, some in group went to Maritime museum which was interesting to those who like
Historical museums. Small
craft market and shopping mall with tiny stalls and stores at the clock tower. We caught
the express ferry back 1 1/2 hours
later and did all that we wanted to do there. Back to the ship at the same time as the
black clouds were overhead-- which
later turned to rain canceling our hoped for trip to Horseshoe Bay! Big Bummer!!!!!!!!!
Kids watch movies in cabin and I take a
nap.
Rain continued the afternoon causing them to cancel the Harbor Nights street festival in
Hamilton on Wed. PM... Nother
bummer!!! Ship did 2 shows with Comedian Sarge and he did an incredible 1 1/2 hour show
which was funny and enjoyable.
Donšt miss it he is on the boat... made it hard for the Comedian the next night to
follow... ok guy just not as Hot as
Sarge!
Shore Excursions- We did not use any of the shore excursions from the ship. The prices for
our family of 5 made it too
expensive and most of the tours did not have discounts for children. We had planned a
snorkel trip with a private boat
charter for Thurs. afternoon, but had to cancel due to the seas being too rough on the
reef. I donšt know if the ship tours
went as scheduled or not. That was the one activity we had wanted to do the most so in
hindsight we should have
scheduled it for the Tues. in St. George and then had 2 other days to reschedule it if
weather prevented our trip. Next
time!!!! Others in our group purchased bus passes and went to the Crystal Caves, aquarium,
underwater museum etc. so
you can easily make arrangements yourself at much less expense than ship sponsored tours.
A lot of tours sold out early
in the trip so if you are planning to use the tours, buy early or be disappointed.
Horseshoe Bay- Thurs. started out with rain and clouds that broke to sunshine midmorning.
We decided to make a beach
run while the sun was shinning. At this point we still hoped to do the snorkel trip so we
had planned on a quick morning
stop. Picked up a bus near the carriage stop and then transferred at the terminal in
Hamilton to #7. buses were great, we
didn't have any problems, paid cash $2.50 for adult & 1.00 in COINS ONLY to the
driver, get a transfer when you get to the
terminal in Hamilton. Bout a half hour ride to Horseshoe Bay-great vistas, pretty flora
along the route... enjoyed the ride.
Walk about 1/2 mile downhill to the bay... snack shop and porta potties and beach rental
store there. They are working on
the bathhouse so it was not open when we were there. One fresh water shower head was
operational. Beach is beautiful!!
The best I have ever been to. Kids loved the warm surf, clear water and sand. Called to
the boat charter to confirm our
snorkel trip and found out it was canceled due to rough seas. Bummed! Called another
snorkel operator and got the same
info so we decided to make it a beach day. Ate lunch from the food at the snack shop,
about $5-7 per person with drink.
We then moved down a trail to the right as you looked towards the bay...found a wonderful
lagoon bordered by coral rocks
with a beach ,, only a few families lurking there. Stayed the afternoon there sunning and
swimming , boys jumped off the
rocks bordering the beach into the deepest pool of the lagoon. Hiked up the hill tho there
is a shuttle that will bring you UP
TO THE TOP (itšs name) for $1 per person. Was crowded when we made it up the hill and the
first bus was filled already
when it stopped to cram another dozen or so people on it. We waited about 5 min. more and
then an EMPTY bus pulled up
and we got on, nother 1/2 hour ride back to ship and let us off right in front of where
the Nordic Empress was docked.
Quest- Thurs night was the Quest and if you havenšt been to one before donšt miss it....
Didnšt participate but was a hoot
watching the other participants being such good sports. The winning group knew what to
bring and had a table right out
front so that may not have been fair. Lots of laughs, only lasts about a half hour but
great time!!! Sorry, wonšt tell you more
to spoil the fun!!
Shopping in Hamilton- Fri. morning was rain and clouds again... figures after Bermuda was
having a drought and a miss by
Tropical Storm Arlene that the rain hits the week we arrive. Do some shopping in the
stores along Front Street, cute place
called Monkey Town with dozens of different stuffed monkeys dressed in several costumes
for the price of $29.95. Daughter
bought one for her boyfriend. Shops have wide range of items for sale, I opt for some
watercolor prints and a ceramic light
house decorated with hand painted flowers for the dining room. Usual tee shirts, souvenir
items, and upscale jewelry ,
expensive stuff in many stores. Meet to do carriage ride at 11 but it is pouring so we
decide to wait til noon. More shopping
then surprise the sun comes out just before noon for the carriage ride. Cute carriages
with either 1 or 2 horses pulling the
group depending on size. We had a group of 3 so had the one horse carriage. Not a quiet
ride with the street noise of many
mopeds speeding by , not much narration from our guide either. We would choose to do an
evening ride instead if we had
the chance again. Still for $20 for a half hour ride it was not a bad deal.
Sail-away-Leaving Hamilton was sad--I guess that is when the return to reality was hitting
me. Went up on Deck 10 in the
gazebo tables next to the jacuzzi and listened to the calypso band. Sun was shining and
had nice views leaving the port.
Wild horse racing on deck and lots of gamblers and drinks available for purchase. Party
atmosphere but my heart was
feeling sad leaving the paradise of Bermuda.
2nd Formal Night- Fri. night was 2nd formal night with everyone dressed up and pretty
again. Lots of good choices on the
Menu, enjoyed our dinner waiter and assistant waiter as usual. More photographs in Dinning
room. Also the night for the
midnight buffet.
MIdnight buffet- incredible spread of food that you can view and take photos for half hour
and then it opens up 1/2 hour later,
I think I remember it being 12:30. Awesome decorations all created out of edible
ingredients, ice sculptures, wax statues
etc. 2 separate lines that lead into central desert table with dozens of delicious cakes,
deserts, cream puffs etc. Donšt miss
the ice sculpture that has the steamed shrimp on it next to the sushi... Yum! LInes moved
fairly quickly. You enter the
buffet line on deck 4 and then are escorted to a table on Deck 5 to eat.
Saturday- last day to enjoy the ship. Weather was sunny and seas pretty calm. Watch kids
talent show in afternoon, kids
play shuffle board on deck 6. Relaxing afternoon on deck 6 watching the ocean and the
Horizon follow us back to New
York. This is the night you tip your waiter, assistant waiter and cabin attendant.
Envelopes in cabin for you to enclose the
CASH required, we need more $$ so cashed a check at purseršs desk, $200 limit per cruise.
ATM also available next to
purseršs desk for whopping $5 ATM transaction fee.
Shop some. Had anniversary celebration in Compass Lounge for my parents. Lounge was to be
used as cigar room soon
afterward so the Nordic Empress Staff person was not too happy with our moving the chairs
around for our group. We
restored the room in time for the cigar group and gave her a tip so she ended up being
cordial. Had never seen anyone in
the room during the cruise and didnšt know that it was going to turn into a cigar room
later that evening. Show on Sat. night
featured John Blair (Cruise Director) singing Neil Diamond tunes, not my style but liked
the humorous skit and revue that
followed. Packing up from the week was an ordeal, you have to have your luggage with tags
on it outside cabin by midnight.
Tough squeezing the clothes back into the bags in the cramped cabin. Kids have a fun
carnival night in Kids Connection.
Boo! Donšt want the week to end.
Sunday- we had main dining seating so the breakfast in the Dining room started at 6:45
AM!!!!! Early, liked being served at
our usual table by our waiter Hubert and assistant waiter Zoloton. Sad to say goodbye to
these terrific young men. Stop by
cabin to pick up our carry onšs-- room is already being set up for the new passengers
with life jackets on beds etc. Have
the ship charge bill itemized waiting there no surprises except how quickly the $$ has
added up from coke cards,
photographs, souvenirs etc. OUCH! Have to be out of cabin by 8:30 and we head to Deck 10
and find table and chairs and
chaises to wait out disembarkation. After the windjammer cafe closes about 10 there is no
food or drink available except for
water up on 10. Carousel Pub has bar service downstairs available for cash only and is a
busy place!! Start calling groups
off of ship after 10 AM, airline passengers first, then handicapped persons, we move to
Viking Crown Lounge after 10:30 or
so to cool off from sun and heat on Deck 10. Our bus is called at 11 or so. We leave via
the strike up the band lounge on
deck 4. Off boat, find luggage and have porter pile it up on cart, go thru immigration
with slip filled out and head to bus in
terminal....Feel rushed after sitting all morning long. No fun on Sunday on Nordic
Empress!!!!!!! Atmosphere is definitely
different when you can no longer be a charge customer on ship.
Bus- find bus for Baltimore. and wait an hour or so before leaving, delayed by one
passenger forgetting his carryon and
leaving it in the lounge aboard the ship. Leave about noon and arrive in Balt. about 4PM
speeding thru lots of traffic on the
Jersey Turnpike... Bummer lugging the luggage and jumping in the hot car. Liked it a lot
better a week before when we were
heading north!!
Back home- had sensation of being aboard ship for more than 3 days after return, dizzy
feeling, spacey head and motion
when awake that finally faded mid week. Hard to adjust to the vacation being OVER-- watch
the video we had taken and
talk about it endlessly... was a vacation of a LIFETIME-- want to go again!
Overall Impressions:
Positive- Public areas of ship are sparkling, kept spotless and beautiful. Glass elevators
never failed to give a visual thrill.
Food in dining room small portions for those not wanting to over do but can have multiple
entrees , deserts etc. as wanted.
Lots of great variety, good breads, wonderful deserts!!!Windjammer cafe has wonderful
views from windows. Nice cooked to
order omelets available in Windjammer. Liked having ice cream bar in afternoon , hot
dog/hamburger if wanted available.
Calypso Music by pool was terrific. Pool Waiters were entertaining. Lots of chaise
lounges. Nice tables near windjammer
out of wind and rain for being outside with out having elements bother you. Lots of towels
(skimpy) on deck for use after
pool. HOT water in shower!!!!! Nice smelling shampoo and conditioner in little paper
containers in bathroom every day.
Cruise staff very friendly and accommodating. Loved dinners at our round tables with our
group.Bus passes were easy to
use in Bermuda. No problems with leaving or returning to ship while in port. Waiter and
Assistant waiter were incredible,
polite, competent and gracious the entire week. Variety of shows good. Kids Connection
wonderful escape for kids and
parents. Bermuda was beautiful! Hot Jacuzzišs were relaxing. Deck Six for walking was a
terrific start to the day.
Photographers were available for pictures that you had no pressure to purchase. Room
service was quick and good. Liked
gaining an hour on return to New York on last morning to make that early breakfast
time.Water in dinning room tasted fine.
Gourmet bites in lounges at midnight were creative and delicious. Midnight buffet was
incredible. Laughed at Quest. Daily
Compass was informative and included a pocket sized version to carry along for the day.
Negative- Carpeting and wallpaper in hallways and room were shabby, lights in cabin were
compact florescents bulbs that
created dim and dreary atmosphere, Cabin TV had fuzzy picture and remote that was
unreliable. Need clock in Cabin.
Didnšt like breakfast in dining room, too slow and didnšt like being seated with whoever
walked in with you. Long lines at
times in Windjammer cafe- wait for omelettes, toaster etc. Soft Drinks in Dining Room were
often flat and undrinkable,
didnšt have problem in bars as much. Water on Deck 10 had off taste possibly due to
plastic tubing?? Often difficult to find
ice. Elevators are small for capacity of ship and had to wait for long time to find one
available. Public bathrooms had
flushing problems quite often. Bridge tour only available one day and filled up before we
could sign up for it. Felt waiters at
lunch and breakfast in Dining room were not as attentive since they would not receive a
Œtipš for you later that week.
Tipping policy makes you uncomfortable but insures good service. Cabin attendant did
minimum fix beds, change towels.
Lack of after show time activities , karaoke and disco were only options available most
nights, Disco was usually empty.
Would like comedian in lounges, small bands or something different. Pitiful shops on
board, one cruise line merchandise,
one jewelry and small duty free-- Library??? --I am a librarian and brought books along
but besides paperbacks and
magazines available for purchase there is nothing available. No movie theater, maybe could
even have large screen TVšs in
areas near Centrum for group viewing, not fun to be in cramped cabin watching fuzzy TV.
Very Limited room service menu
and no drinks available without charge, even kids could not use their coke cards unless
they went to bar to buy soda there
by glass. Definitely felt lots of sea motion on ship, caused one in group to be very
ill... Long hot wait on Sunday getting
ready to leave ship, should have entertainment planned for waiting. Week went TOO FAST!!!
Name: Dan Michels
Email: danmichels@worldnet.att.net
Age: 29
Occupation: Estimating Department Manager
NumberOfCruises: 9
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-NordicEmpress
SailingDate: May 9-16 1999
Itinerary: Bermuda inaugural cruise
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 75
CabinAmenities: 80
FoodLidoDeck: 75
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 75
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 70
ShoreExcValue: 55
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 85
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 85
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 50
EntertShowLounge: 75
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 60
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 75
DiscoNightclubs: 75
DeckSpace: 75
Stabilization: 75
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 75
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 31 May 1999
Time: 20:07:19
Remote Name: 186.ojus-11-12rs.fl.dial-access.att.net
Remote User:
Comments
I traveled with a group consisting of 3 couples from Miami (where we live) to New York to
catch the inaugural cruise
of the Empress to Bermuda. EMBARKATION: New York has a long way to go to make the
embarkation process
smoother. Even though embarkation didn't officially start until 2:00, we, along with a
couple of hundred other people,
arrived early. We were eventually led into the 2nd staging area at around 1:30...to wait
until they actually started
embarkation at about 5 minutes to 2. They did have reps going through the crowd to make
sure all the paperwork
was in order, which does help the line move faster. Once we got to the desk to sign in,
the process went fairly
smooth. They finally activate your sail and sign card at the pier now vs. on the ship
(hurrah), although they only had
a couple of credit card machines, so the reps had to wait for their turn on the
machine.....
SHIP I've been on the NE
before on it's 4 day cruise from Miami, and was glad to see that RCI has kept the ship
looking as new as possible.
All the public areas were spic and span, and all the brass was polished daily. The centrum
area is beautiful, and a
definite focal point of the ship. The only bad part is that the ship has too few
elevators. The main elevators are in
the Centrum (4 total), so there was always a wait to get an elevator. The other set was
aft, which went to the dining
areas (2 story dining room). At meal times, you had to plan ahead to catch an elevator,
because the stairs were
often backed up 2 decks (our dining entrance was on 4 deck, so everyone that entered on 5
deck blocked the stairs
going down).
DINING: The dining room is beautiful, 2 levels with glass all around. Since we were on
the inaugural 7
day cruise, we enjoyed brand new menus....although some of the entree items twice during
the cruise (not the
lobster, though). Dining room food was good to very good and our waiter was superb. His
name was Ronald from
India, and if you happen to go on this ship, try and request his section. The other food
area, the Windjammer Cafe
leaves a lot to be desired. There were always long lines to the food (only 2 lines), and
there was never any water
available to drink. The water problem was a real bummer to everyone that we spoke with on
the ship. The food their
was okay, nothing to write home about. Breakfast was terrible, though. No matter how
hungry you are, powdered
eggs just don't cut it. Also, the breads in both dining areas were never fresh, they were
always hard as a rock, or
stale.....they must have fired the pastry chef that week. Bad bread part...none of those
awesome breadsticks at
dinner....
ITINERARY: Leaving from New York is an experience!!! A lot of history there, and well
worth the trip. There
is a certain feeling of patriotism you get when you pass the Statue of Liberty that I just
can't describe. Our first day
at sea was amazingly calm, 1-2ft only. Beautiful sunny skys and no waves, what else can I
say? Entering St.Georges
is an experience not to be missed. The ship gracefully passes through a channel barely
wide enough to fit though
with jagged short cliffs on 1 side, and a fort on the other. The ship is greated by the
town Crier ringing his bell
shouting welcome to the ship. While in Bermuda, I recommend buying a 3 day bus pass to get
around the island.
Public transportaion is excellent in Bermuda and very easy to use. We took the bus from
St. George to Crystal
Caves. The cave is an awesome sight, 186 steps down. The stalagmites are really neat to
see, along with the
underground water resorvoir that is crystal clear blue. The tour is about 1/2 hour and
costs $ 7.50pp. After that we
walked to the Perfume factory and the glass studio, both of which are disappointments.
Then we caught the bus
back to the ship, ate lunch, and adventured around St.Georges shops. There is a really
neat town square with an
old pirate ship and torture racks you can take your picture in. I recommend buying any
native artwork here instead
of Hamilton because it is cheaper. After dinner, we walked back into town to walk off the
meal. The ship leaves for
Hamilton early the next morning, and I wanted to see it, so we went to bed early.
HAMILTON: Words cannot describe
how beautiful it is to set sail at dawn and cruise slowly to the other side of the island.
The Zenith passed us on the
way and with the sun rising on her, it made for an awesome picture. Early am we did our
Ship Shape walkathon mile
as we sailed. We docked on Front Street about 10:00 next to the Norwegian Crown. On our
first of 3 days in
Hamilton we decided to bus it to Church Bay to do some swimming and snorkeling. The
beaches really are pink, and
Church Bay has the rough sand, similar to south Florida. The water is so blue and clear,
much nicer than the
Caribbean. Parrot fish actually were swimming right at the surfs edge, amazing to see. We
snorkeled in the 70
degree water (brrrr!!) and took a roll of underwater film with us. Not bad snorkeling, but
by far not the best. A lot of
parrot fish and not much else. After Church Bay we jumped back on the bus and went to the
Royal Navy Yard (a.k.a.
Fisherman's Wharf). The bus allows you to see the countryside of Bermuda at your
leisure...a very beautiful
country. At the Navy Yd we did some shopping and sightseeing. Worth the trip...a lot to
see there. After this, we took
the ferry back to Hamilton (using our bus pass). This is a great way to travel, seeing
Bermuda up close from a ferry.
The ferry dropped us off right next to the ship. Long day, but not over yet. We hit Front
Street to do some window
shopping. They were also having the first Hamiliton Nights street festival of the year
that night. They close the street
and vendors bring native art, etc for visitors to buy....nothing spectacular, though.
Hamilton, day 2: We decided to
use the last day of our bus passes to the hilt!!! We bused it to the Botanical Gardens
(free). Very well kept and
beautiful. I suggest doing it in the morning before it gets too hot, it's very tropical at
the gardens. When we finished
there, we took the bus to Gibbs Lighthouse.
It is a long climb to get to the top and costs $ 5.00/pp. It's worth the
climb, you can see the entire island from up there. Kinda scary at first, but you get used
to it. After this, we bused it
to Horseshoe Bay, another beach. Pink sand with the consistency of baby powder....the
beach is horseshoe shaped
and outlined by cliffs. I recommend not walking from the road to the beach as it is quite
a steep walk and long, try
and catch a cab that is going down to the beach to "hitch a ride". After the
long, hard walk up the hill back to the bus
stop, we went back to the ship. After dinner, my girlfriend and I took a horse and buggy
ride around Hamilton. What
a great experience. The driver told us about the island and the history, along with the
future of the island. Highly
recommended!!!! The inhabitants have a great amount of pride for their island, a
refreshing change from the "Braid
you hair, pretty lady" attitude of the caribbean. Day 3 Hamilton: Since our bus pass
expired now, we decided to walk
around Hamilton and do some shopping. This is the way to do it, save it for the last day.
The ship leaves promptly at
2:30...has to do with the tides, so don't be late.
Leaving Bermuda was beautiful, and sad. AT SEA: Our good fortune
of excellent weather had passed us by because late Friday night, we started with rough
seas...10-12 foot. A lot of
people got sick, as the NE is not known for taking rough seas very well (shallow draft
made for Caribbean smooth
sailing, not North Atlantic). Saturday was filled with cold weather, rain, and 12-14ft
seas. this was the first time there
were no lines at the Windjammer Cafe.... The weather was so bad that the waves were
crashing over the
promenade deck on deck 6 and into the public area doors. The promenade was closed off with
yellow caution tapes,
so if you wanted fresh air,you had to go up top. The crew put huge blow dryers by all the
doors to help dry the
carpets. NEW YORK: I highly recommend getting up early the last day as you enter NY. The
sun is just rising and
shining on the Statue of Liberty, absolutely beautiful!!!
EXTRA TOUCHES: Being a cruise veteran, and having sailed
on RCI twice before, I noticed little things that they cut out to save the almighty
dollar. I found the service to be
lacking in a lot of areas, primarily the Cafe, and shore excursion desk. The cruise
director, Helen, was excellent,
along with the sports director, but a couple other people on the staff were very rude and
obnoxious. It is sad to see
how a once glamourous way of travel has become so commercialized. Don't expect the
pampering you were used to
in the past on this cruise line anymore, sad but true.
SUMMARY: Overall, we had an excellent vacation. Bermuda is
a place I didn't really want to go to before the trip, but it left me wanting to go back
for more. It's not what I expected,
there were no stuffy British folk, and it wasn't overrun with elderly people. It is a
beautiful island that I intend to visit
again. The ship was very nice and can tell RCI does a lot of upkeep on her, in fact, they
were changing out older
carpet during the cruise. The only bad part of the ship is the massive congestion at meal
times and in the Centrum
elevators. Other than that, there isn't much of a problem in navigating around the ship.
There are areas in 7, 8, and
9 deck around the centrum that only have a few chairs next to the floor to ceiling windows
that should have a lot
more. It's wasted space that they should investigate enhancing with couches or even a cafe
bar or champagne bar.
It's such a waste to not utilize those areas with the best views. On a scale of 1-10, here
are my scores: SHIP 8
ITINERARY 10 FOOD 6 SHIP ACTIVITIES 8 OVERALL
Name: John Giglio
Email: gigsjp@aol.com
Age: 22
Occupation: student
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-NordicEmpress
SailingDate: May 23
Itinerary: New York to Bermuda
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 80
FoodRoomService: 70
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 80
CabinSteward: 70
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 95
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 98
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 94
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 96
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 97
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 87
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Jun 1999
Time: 18:06:06
Remote Name: spider-wc022.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
Well, here it finally is: My Nodic Empress review from May 23-30.
I'm 22 and I was traveling with my 21 year-old fiancée. It was my 5th cruise and her
first.
We arrived at the NY port at around 1:30 for embarkation. Nordic is the only ship in NY on
Sundays,
therefore it was not very crowded. We proceeded to the line and were pleased with the
speed at which it
moved. There were at least 150 people ahead of us and we only waited in line for about 25
minutes.
Upon boarding the Nordic we were amazed at the great shape she was in. I had sailed the
Nordic during
her Inaugural Season and couldn't notice any differences. (except for maybe one piece of
carpet in the
Carousel Pub). We checked into our room, and yes it is very small, but definitely not a
big deal. Everything
in the room was in great shape. Another plus was the fact that our luggage was at our door
by the time we
got there!
We then went and checked out the welcome aboard buffet in the Windjammer. The lines were
long while
we waited for food, but would never be this long again during the course of the cruise.
Food was good and
we were happy to get a bite.
Muster drills took place prior to leaving port. The whole process took less than 20
minutes. Sunday was
windy and rainy, so not the best day to leave, but we were happy to get going. We backed
out of the port
and were all set to head down the Hudson when a tugboat came speeding up to us for some
reason.
Someone had missed the ship! They jumped over with their luggage in hand, very funny! Then
we finally
got going.
We had late seating. Our table was on the upper level of the dining room starboard side.
Our waiter was
Prakash from India and our assistant was Zoohair from Tunisia. Both were the highlight of
the cruise.
Whenever I needed something they were both around. Service was prompt, food was excellent!
Double
orders of anything (lobster!!) were never a problem. In fact, our whole table had 2
lobster tails each. I can't
say enough about our two great waiters. I also heard of similar satisfaction from others
aboard. Breakfast
and Lunch in the Dining Room were Open Seating. Therefore, I mostly went to the buffets,
because the
waiters didn't seem to care as much when they weren't waiting on their usual tables.
Buffets were ranged from good to very good. Breakfast consisted of various fruits, cheeses
and meats.
Hot dishes were scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, french toast (yum!), and belgian waffles.
There was
also a cook making omelets and eggs to order. Different rolls, croissants, and danishes
were also
available. The lunch buffet was similar in quantity and quality. Cheeses, sandwiches, and
fruits were also
available. A variety of hot dishes changed everyday, as well as a freshly carved meat.
Cakes, cookies and
desserts were also available. On the port side of the Windjammer was the Hot Dog and
Hamburger bar,
which was also good and open until 5:00 everyday. The one big dissapointment was the lack
of midnight
buffets. There were only 2 during the course of the the cruise. All other nights 'gourmet
bites' were served
in the lounges and casinos. These bites consisted of finger sandwiches, pizza bagels, and
a selection of
pastries. This lack of food at night also created major problems for room service late at
night. We ordered
nacho supreme and a french dip one night at 12:30 and it did not come until 2:30. Heard
the same stories
from other people. It was obvious that the room service staff was not equipped to handle
so many orders
due to the lack of midnight buffets.
Our first show on Sunday night was really just an introduction to staff and some of the
performers. Helen
Kennedy was our cruise director, but this was her last cruise before moving to another
ship. Comedian
Billy Fellows performed on the first 2 nights of the cruise and was very funny.
Entertainment while in port
was limited, but decent. Comedian/Juggler Rick Schnicter was very funny. Wave Revue
singers performed
on the sail back was also good. Another comedian performed on the last night named Rich
Ceisler, also
good.
The sail down to Bermuda was pretty rough. We were caught in a storm and were seas of 8-9
feet for
pretty much the whole day. Some were sick, but it didn't seem like very many at all. Most
slept in and were
out by afternoon when the seas calmed down a bit.
St.George was a nice little place. Tobacco Bay is within walking distance (about 20
minutes), but steep hill.
Tobacco Bay is also very small. Lots of shops right off the boat in St.George.
We left St.George the next morning around 7:00 and it was a beautiful sail around the
north coast of
Bermuda. I recommend waking up for it.
Bermuda was perfect. 80 degrees and sunny everyday. Went to Horseshoe Bay twice. (Take a
cab and
forget about the buses!!!) Took bus on first day in Hamilton, had to stand up for the
entire 35 minute ride,
no a/c, crowded, crazy drivers, just not fun. Took cab next day, 15 minutes, $15, good
deal. Also took a
ride on a horse-drawn carriage one night while in Hamilton $20 for 30 minutes, and was
very nice.
Left Hamilton on Friday afternoon. Seas on the sail home were almost non-existent, 1 foot
waves! What a
difference. We had to look out the window to see if we were still moving. Arrive in NY
Sunday morning right
on schedule. Disembarkation when pretty quickly.
Overall crowd on the cruise was older 40+. However there were a handful of children and a
good number
of twentysomethings like myself. I would expect the amount of children to increase during
the summer
months.
I hope that I have answered a lot of questions. The cruise was great, made many new
friends, and had a
blast. Bon Voyage!
JOHN
Name: Tom & Patty Campbell
Email: tctax@hotmail.com
Age: 47
Occupation: Accountant,Travel Agent,Track Official,Rental Mana
NumberOfCruises: 12
TravelAgent: Yes
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-NordicEmpress
SailingDate: 7/5/98
Itinerary: Bahamas
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 98
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 99
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 98
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 99
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges: 98
WheelchairAccess: 99
ExerciseFacilities: 99
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside: 97
CruiseActivities: 98
Casino: 98
AirSeaProgram: 96
MedicalFacilities: 95
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 93
DiscoNightclubs: 93
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 96
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Jun 1999
Time: 21:57:52
Remote Name: 86.new-york-28-29rs.ny.dial-access.att.net
Remote User:
Comments
What can be said of a short cruise but I wish I had more time aboard. The cruise itinerary
is what I chose
or I would have taken another ship. The Nortic Empress is a great LITTLE ship in the world
of mega ships,
though the ship is not small. Everyone on board really wants you to have a GREAT time not
just have fun.
DAN (the party man) Whitney and his wife Shannon are the best cruise directors that ever
sailed. I have
taken 12 cruises and fortunately they have been aboard 2 of those cruises. I would have
them do it again
without question. Though I am a travel consultant (2nd in life) and an accountant (1st) I
look for everything
everyone looks for. A good time for the money! I love to party when I am away from home
and try to take
advantage of all cruise offerings. At the wee hour in the am I do the shipshape program
and finish at 10:00
am to eat breakfast on the lido deck. Knowing what island and where I want to go from the
informative
speeches about the island I have a plan of what I want to do and how much I want to spend
that day. Most
ports of call give you a good value for the money if you do your research and I do. In
Nassau go to
Paridise Island and the Atlantis Hotel. The beaches are as great as you can expect. The
hotel doesn't
hassle you that you 'don't' belong. They want you like you want to be there. The casino is
endless. Odds
are good too. Key West is a good place to get lost in. I've been there twice and got lost
twice. usually I
have good bearings but everything looks the same! Asking questions is not a problem and
help is
available. Shops are American and some good deals can be made if you try to get them. The
private
island is a great resting place after all it is a vacation! Overall have fun and look to
enjoy. What you want
is out-there, just look and you will find it.
Name: Kenneth H. Laidlaw
Email: kenneth_laidlaw@hphc.org
Age: 50ish
Occupation: Business Analyst
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-NordicEmpress
SailingDate: Sunday, June 20, 1999
Itinerary: Bermuda
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 98
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 93
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 92
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 93
DeckService: 88
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 80
CasinoStaff: 93
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 89
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 98
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 89
CruiseActivities: 98
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 89
EmbarkDisembark: 82
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 89
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 91
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 02 Jul 1999
Time: 09:41:18
Remote Name: hchp-bh.harvardpilgrim.org
Remote User:
Comments
HELPFUL INTERNET SITES/BOOKS cruiseopinion.com for expectations vitalrec.com for that copy
of the birth certificate
you need culinary.com for those shipboard recipes or how to do that fruit carving yourself
Frommer’s 99 Edition of
BERMUDA @ $15.95 RCCL’s 25th Anniversary Book available on board for $20.00
OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT My wife and I cruised RCCL the week of June 20th to June 27th to
Bermuda with two other
more traveled couples (8 cruises between them) both of whom had sailed to Bermuda before.
This was our first cruise and
we highly recommend first time cruisers going with friends who have cruised before. We
chose to sail to Bermuda from New
York City aboard RCCL’s Nordic Empress.
NOTE: After reading the cruise reviews of those who had previously sailed the NE, we
decided not to share the review
information with our companions. Some aspects were a little discouraging. This turned out
to be the right decision as we
were to learn that RCCL has obviously responded to passengers’ feedback, and
improvements were everywhere. Upon
returning home, I revisited the cruiseopinion.com reviews of the NE and saw for the first
time, reviews of the Bermuda
excursions, namely Michels’ 5/9-5/16/99 review of NE’s Bermuda inaugural cruise
and Giglio’s 5/23-5/30/99 cruise. These
reports reflected quite a turn around which in light of our more recent vacation, seems to
be improving with each following
sailing. Lesson: Check the more recent cruise reviews which match your itinerary in the
days before you leave home.
Reviewers, submit your review before you regain your land legs.
Our choice in itineraries entailed the six of us busing from Boston early Sunday morning
to the Big Apple, normally a 5 hour
trip (with one stop for a quick lunch) on a non-commuter’s day. Not this day!- a
truck had managed jack-knife and turn over,
spilling huge rolls of paper and blocking all northbound travel lanes on the SE Expressway
into Boston. Forewarned by
early morning radio traffic reports, (another tip on what to be informed of), we detoured
through South Boston and managed
to make it to South Station with time to spare. 23 of the 39 passengers didn’t.
Steve, our bus driver, on just his second day
of driving, waited two hours for our no shows, continuously checking with his supervisor
for an OK to move out. We never
met those missing passengers - at this point, we were second guessing our own decision to
forego trip insurance!
EMBARKATION As it was, we arrived at the NYC pier at 3PM and missed our first on board
meal - lunch at noon. The
saving grace was that everyone in NYC was waiting for us. Our credit card was activated at
the pier and we were on board
in no time thanks to a beautifully executed end run around the photographer at the
gangplank. We checked our credit at the
Purser’s Desk and finally made our way to the cabin. Most of our luggage was waiting
for us as we opened the cabin door
and gasped at the size of the room that was to be our resting point for the next week.
The story is heard about the first time traveler who calls the Desk to complain that she
cannot find her cabin bed. The Desk
Clerk asks Where are you right now ma’am? She responds I’m sitting on the
couch!!
LUGGAGE TIP: Put a cruise ship luggage tag on every piece you do not personally carry on,
INCLUDING the luggage
cart(s). One of our two-wheeled carts got separated and we had to do without. RCCL did
credit my account during the
cruise for the cart’s value at some insistence on my part, although I returned it
(and MORE!) to them by way of playing the
slots and Bingo soon afterward. NEWSPAPER TIP: If you really can’t leave the world
behind, when at the Purser’s Desk,
pick up a copy of the daily Cruise Ship editions of the NY Times and the Britain Today,
both are faxed to the ship at 11AM
each day. They’re a convenient size and they’re FREE. GAMBLING TIP: Stay away
from the machine that eats quarters
with the promise of snow plowing heaps of money straight toward you. The coins pile up and
a few spill out the side vents
before anything drops off the front to you. Look at those $20 dollar bundles, beneath the
top bill there’s nothing but one
dollar bills. Some ladies spent hours in front of these evil contraptions! There should be
some extra incentive for the last
jackpot or snowball Bingo game for those who have attended the games all week, else you
should hold out for the last
game only - but then the prize money wouldn’t be so great, would it. Oh well,
exercise moderation in all things as Gandhi
said. CAMERA TIPS: Bring film, and be prepared to take pictures for other people.
You’ll be asking that favor yourself.
Leaving the port of New York City was worth the 7 hour bus trip. Have the camera ready for
remarkable shots of the skyline
(port side) and the Lady in the Harbor (starboard side). Later in the week, I saw a
disposable waterproof camera being used
by snorkel divers that seemed like a neat idea for taking underwater shots.
THE SHIP From the Tour of the Bridge: Captain Prash Karnik of India Voyage #915 Passengers
= 1,730 Crew = 694 Total
on board = 2424 Max=2528 The Bermuda excursion is a new concept for the Nordic Empress. I
have to believe that RCCL
has made a note of all the previous criticism expressed in prior reviews with a commitment
on RCCL’s part to do the
Bermuda thing right. The ship was clean and kept very well - no worn carpets, no tattered
bedsheets, and no torn deck
chairs. Our room steward, Manuel from Nicaragua, was fantastic. Our rooms were always made
up when we returned from
breakfast or dinner, and he always informed us of the whereabouts of our companions
whenever we were early or late in
getting about. Many of the day’s highlights were video taped by RCCL and presented
regularly over the ship's cabin TV
channels. This was a definite necessity I suppose for the honeymooners and late risers.
There was the occasional rest
room waiting line and non-functional WC, but sign-off sheets in each room made it clear
that regular inspections were the
routine. I suppose that any passenger notes appearing on these posted sheets would have
gotten some attention at the
next scheduled round. We did note one of the too few elevators were inoperative after the
third day, and did point out a
loose brass hand rail to a crew member who was most appreciative of our concern. The NE
seems just the right size for the
places to go and things to do on board. By mid-week, we got used to the layout and how to
get around. Passengers aboard
future ships of 3-4 times the size of the Empress (coming soon we were told) may find
themselves bewildered even at the
end of longer voyages what with places like ice rinks and mega-malls being offered in
addition I would imagine to 3-4 times
the number of lounges, casinos, showrooms, etc. But size must have its economy, and the
trend seems to offer everything
and more for everybody and more. Still, the sheer number of choices can be mind-boggling
in anything that much larger
than the Empress. Hey, the same trend is seen as you walk down the supermarket cereal
aisle!
STABILITY From our tour of the bridge (not to be missed, by the way), I know about the
self-compensating stabilizers, but
this is still a ship designed for the calmer Caribbean waters now sailing the great
Atlantic swells, no? Conclusion: Bring the
Dramamine, just in case.
DINING We were assigned Table 110 in the Carmen Dining Room at the first sitting. Two
seatings minimized the crowds.
The pleasant surprise was the taste, quantity, variety and presentation of the food. Again
our expectations were surpassed,
in part because we read the reviews of the Nordic Empress’ cruises prior to the
Bermuda excursions. TIP: The evening’s
desserts are always displayed at the Main Entrance of the Carmen Dining Room on Deck 4.
Sugar free desserts (and that
second lobster tail) are available for the asking. This may be your only opportunity to
meet the Head Waiter.
Adding to the positive dining experience was the wait staff, truly a United Nations
sampling. Yes, it took some getting used
to when it came to understanding the varied accents, but this added to the whole
experience. Give it a chance and you’ll
soon be enjoying the friendliness and you may even discover some who have a sense of
humor. Our waiters were Mehmet
Horlu of Turkey and Ahkmed Jouini of Tunisia. The entire dining room was serenaded by the
wait staff on at least three
evenings, so don’t be so quick to leave the table. At the last dinner, our waiter was
kind enough to take a picture of our
table. When he leaned over and actually started to take a picture of the table itself, we
realized that humor is international,
too. NOTE: I did approach MacLean Andrade of India, a remarkably handsome young man, and
told him of the small
amount of fame he had achieved on the InterNet in the cruiseopinion.com reviews. I imagine
a new incentive is now in place
for the waiters to get mentioned in the reviews, so be sure to say hello to Mehmet and
Ahkmed.
More casual open seating dining can be found in the Windjammer Café. There was even a hot
dog/hamburger/french fries
line for fast food junkies. And the midnight snack is not to be missed. Check the Compass
newsletter for serving times.
There was plenty of juices and iced tea and water available. One suggestion, the juices
that are carted around tend to settle
from lack of shaking. Stick to the dispensers or pre-filled glasses at the serving islands
just off the main serving line. Yes,
there was the occasional day old bread, but this was not the norm.
ENTERTAINMENT This was the highlight of the cruise. Under Cruise Director John Blair and
his wife Katrina as Social
Hostess, in addition to a dynamic entertainment staff, over 224 activities were available
for the partaking, not counting the
schedule of disco, poolside calypso music by Caribbean Phase, ballroom dancing and
classical music presentations! Hint:
Don’t miss the NE Farewell Show where you’ll discover another facet of John and
Katrina’s talents. Read the biographies in
the Compass magazine for a hint. From the comedy contrasts of Billy Fellows, Sarge, and
Bert Leigh to the Wave Revue
Singers and Dancers (how do they dance so well when I can’t even walk on board a
moving ship?) the entertainment just
keeps on going. Don’t miss the Not So Newly Wed Game nor the Guest Talent Show, Team
Trivia bouts, nor the Quest
(scavenger hunt as you’ve never seen it before). Give Charles Brunner a listen, he is
an incredibly talented
pianist/composer. Classical music is stupendous in a live performance.
At the Not So Newly Wed Game: Couple married 65 years is asked if stranded on a desert
island, who of your wife’s
relatives would you rather NOT be stranded with? He answers They’re ALL GONE NOW!!
NICE TOUCH: Bert Leigh stayed on board and was available to everyone, exchanging jokes and
telling what so and so in
show business is REALLY like.
BERMUDA We took the Ultimate Water Tour on board the ARGON II. This may be a short walk to
get to the boat, but
worth it. The colors of the water out along Billionaire’s Row is breathtaking. We
chose to take the taxis everywhere. As a
group of six, we split the cost so it was reasonable. A 3 hour tour by taxi costs us
$42/couple. Not all the taxi drivers want
to do the tour. We recommend Eddie Addison in Taxi# 71432 Badge#1129. He gave a personal
account of the island - how
it has changed and is changing. Don’t miss Horseshoe Bay. Again, take a taxi and go
right down to the beach. I climbed
the rocks and got some spectacular pictures with my camera. Visit St.George for historical
sites; go ashore at Hamilton for
shopping. Carol Holding’s Shop on Front St. is recommended. Meals as displayed
outside the restaurants are a tad pricey.
THE ENVELOPE, PLEASE As is the custom, your cabin steward, head waiter, main waiter and
assistant waiter receive
their gratuities in envelopes that you give them near the end of the cruise. We were told
that for some of them, this is their
only compensation. After they received their envelopes, the level of service in the dining
room dropped noticeably. This was
no reflection on the gratuity amounts, but that half of the wait staff has to be diverted
to preparing the entire ship for a new
boarding and for this meal, all the passengers are dining at one sitting not two. At least
that is what we prefer to believe.
DISEMBARKATION Luck of the draw, our #4 White cards were called last, which meant a wait
of more than an hour.
Maybe there was an empty envelope from some one? This would have been the time for some
light entertainment in the
Strike Up the Band Lounge!!
SUMMARY: We would definitely pick the Nordic Empress again. However, rumor has it that she
will not be stopping at
St.George next year, but will anchor at the Navy Dockyard and sail mid-week from there to
Hamilton. She is a much
improved ship judging from past reviews. Her size is just right. We had a wonderful cruise
and can hardly wait for our land
legs to return along with our 5 rolls of film being developed so we can relive our first
cruise - until the next one!
I hope this has helped you in your expectations and that the hints and tips will prove to
be helpful. ENJOY! Ken Laidlaw
Name: Cassandra Lane
Email: Xaindra@prodigy.net
Age: 29
Occupation: Social Worker
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-NordicEmpress
SailingDate: May 16, 1999
Itinerary: Bermuda
FoodDiningRoom: 97
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 97
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 96
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 96
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 96
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 11 Jul 1999
Time: 22:56:40
Remote Name: proxy5.ykt.prodigy.net
Remote User:
Comments
My experience on the Nordic Empress was my second cruise with Royal Caribbean and I was
very pleased with the
expereince. Although the Nordic Empress is a small ship, compared with The Enchantment of
the Seas (the first ship I
sailed on) she offers all of the excellent amenities of the larger vessels in Royal
Caribbean's fleet, combined with the
intimacy and of a smaller ship. The food and the dining room staff on the Nordic Empress
were superb. Although the
Carmen Dining Room was relatively small and occasionally felt crowded, the waiters and
assistant waiters worked tirelessly
at providing excellent and friendly service. Furhtermore, they went above and beyond the
call of duty by frequently assisting
a fellow traveller at our table in manuevering his wheelchair in and out of the dining
room. The sailing to Bermuda was
unusually rough, and the stabilizers did little to prevent a number of the passengers and
crew from succumbing to bouts of
mal de mar, however, the large number of people confined to their cabins during the first
two days allowed for pleanty of
room in all of the common areas. During the inclement weather, the cruise staff valiantly
attempted to entertain the
passengers, although it was evident that their experience with the shorter itinerary in
the Caribben had not prepared them
for hundreds of unhappy passengers in need of ammusement. In spite of their lack of
experience with impromptu recreation,
the cruise staff did a very good job at coming up with activities on the spur of the
moment and should be commended.
Overall my experience on the Nordic Empress was excellent, as I would expect from Royal
Caribbean. I remain a devout
member of the Crown and Anchor Society and eagerly anticipate my next sailing. As for
anyone planning a vacation to
Bermuda, I would highly recommend the Nordic Empress for their journey, but bring along
the Dramamine, since the North
Atlantic can be very rough.
Name: Maria Lomangino
Email: Marilom@aol.com
Age: 37
Occupation: Paralegal
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: AmericanHawaii-Independence [Ed. note - incorrect-should be RCI-Nordic.]
SailingDate: July 4, 1999
Itinerary: New York to Bermuda
FoodDiningRoom: 92
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 83
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 88
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets: 89
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 94
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 85
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 88
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff: 92
EntertainmentLounges: 88
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 93
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 88
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 86
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 13 Jul 1999
Time: 19:07:33
Remote Name: spider-ta047.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
My vacation started on a hot, steamy Fourth of July with a 30 minute car ride from
Brooklyn to the ship terminal in New
York City. Traveling with me was my son, age 13, and my mom, age 65. We arrived at the
terminal at 12:30 p.m.
Embarkation was quick and we were greeted by friendly Royal Caribbean staff. By 1:00 p.m.
we were boarding the ship and
were shown to our cabin on the fourth floor. The cabin was somewhat smaller than those we
had on previous cruise lines,
but it was clean and seemed to have enough closet space for the three of us. Our luggage
arrived by 2:00 p.m. and after
unpacking we were now free to explore the ship.
A buffet lunch was being served in the Windjammer Café. The line was slow and long, but
worth the wait since we were all
hungry. Later on during the week the breakfast and lunch lines at the Windjammer were
shorter, as many people opted to
have these meals in the open-seating Carmen Dining Room with waiter service. Food in the
Windjammer Café had a
tendency to be slightly cold and less appealing.
Next stop was to the spa to make a full-body massage appointment. I was disappointed to
learn that most of the
appointments were already taken and that I would have to settle for a time that was not my
choice. I found it hard to
understand how the schedule was full, as it was only 3:00 p.m. and only half of the
passengers had boarded. I did have the
massage on Tuesday evening and was content with the services.
Time now for the life boat drill. Unfortunately, it was almost 100 degrees and wearing the
life jackets added to the heat. But
it was a comfort to know that Royal Caribbean adheres to this drill.
Leaving New York City on Fourth of July is spectacular. The cruise hostess, Catrina Blair,
gave a full description of all the
landmarks that we were passing.
Still time for a tour of the ship before dinner, we ventured to locate all of the lounges.
Our favorite, the Carousel Pub,
became a place that we later would frequent, especially at 5:00 p.m. for Margarita Madness
and at 11:00 p.m. for Karaoke.
The Strike Up the Band Lounge was two decks -- this was the place to see all of the shows
during the week. We found that
if you did not get to the lounge early enough before a show it was difficult to find a
seat. This was annoying to most people.
Once seated, the bar service was very good. Our drinks were never empty for more than a
few minutes. The entertainment
here included three comedians (all very funny), musical variety productions, and a solo
pianist. This lounge was also used
for audience participation evenings. The High Society Lounge was pretty and always had a
big band in the evenings for
dancing. Also, bingo was held here nightly.
The Centrum was the ship's vocal point. An open seven story atrium with running waterfalls
and glass elevators was a
spectacular sight.
By now the casino was open. Much to our amazement, it was two decks and included all
gaming tables and plenty of slot
machines. Not a place that I would frequent, but my mom found it to be a lot of fun,
especially after winning several slot
jackpots!
Our first dinner in the Carmen Dining Room was very enjoyable. Our waiter, Edwin, was
accommodating to everyone. He
made the week in the dining room one of our favorite spots. The food during the week was
delicious. We were always
offered seconds, even on the night when lobster was served. Most people go on a cruise for
the food and worry about
dieting later, but the ship does offer a Ship Shape menu each evening with the calorie
count and fat grams listed. I tried
several of these menus and found them to be tasty. Desserts were different each night and
never did anyone on our table
have a hard time finishing them. The breads were also delicious and changed daily. The
dining room was lovely and situated
on two levels. We were serenaded each evening with live music and often the waiters would
perform after our meals.
The ship's disco, the Viking Crown Lounge, was a fun spot in the late evenings. A good mix
of music was played by the
D.J.
My 13 year old son made friends, but it seemed that more activities could have been
supervised. Most of the children in this
age group roamed the ship in the evenings, going from lounge to lounge. There were no
daytime activities, except for the
pool. But they all managed to have fun.
The pool was crowded when we were at sea. Again, it was difficult to find a seat if you
were a late riser. When the ship was
at port, the pool area was quiet and was a nice place to relax. We took advantage of this
and found it very relaxing. The
poolside games were scarce, but the deck service was plentiful. The waiters all had a
great sense of humor and often
delivered your drink carrying it on their heads. The lounge chairs and pool area could
have been kept a little cleaner.
Our first port of call was St. George. It was worth getting up to the front of the ship to
watch the ship enter a very narrow
passageway into St. George. St. George is more of an historic part of Bermuda. Shops were
in walking distance and there
were plenty of shore excursions for those who were more adventurous.
Hamilton is the most beautiful area, with pastel homes and buildings. Front Street is
right outside the ship's dock. There is
plenty of shopping available. We took advantage of the glass bottom boat tour and found it
quite interesting. There are many
shore excursions available here, including snorkeling, scuba diving, and bell diving. It
is also easy to rent a moped when
you get off the ship. Public transportation is a little safer and is easily accessible
from Front Street.
This was an enjoyable vacation. I would recommend this to families, especially during the
summer. I would travel on the
Nordic Empress again and would definitely take another trip aboard a Royal Caribbean ship.
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