Life Aboard Empress of the Seas: Cruising Begins

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was sent home for vacation, as the ship was still not ready for service. The scheduled time for cruising had to be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances; basically, the ship was not up to Royal standards yet.

The ship had spent nearly a month and a half in Cadiz, much longer than originally scheduled. The concerning aspect was that we had to depart Cadiz, as our time there was up, and cross the Atlantic to the Bahamas to complete the dry dock. I describe it as concerning because there were rumors circulating on the ship that it wasn't fully prepared for the journey, yet we had to proceed. Personally, I believe these were just rumors, as I don't think the shore team or the Officers onboard would jeopardize our safety. So, it was more of an adventure. I realize this should have been mentioned earlier, as I think I left off when we arrived in the Bahamas, not from Cadiz, but oh well.

Naturally, we held a sail away party for the crew as we departed from Cadiz. I recall it being incredibly enjoyable. As a crew, having parties in guest areas without any guests is fantastic! It offers a brief sense of normalcy, making us feel less like staff or crew, hehe...

Upon arriving in the Bahamas, it was a mix of fun, games, and work. Everything seemed to move quickly, with people signing off and being sent home or to other contracts. Meanwhile, my team was busy rehearsing and organizing events for the crew, both to keep them entertained and to ensure that all the systems were functioning properly.

After that, we moved on to Miami, where we welcomed new people, including one of my favorite Adventure Ocean Managers, Arturo, who has since been promoted. Meeting him was a pleasure; I often went to his office to assist with unpacking or even painting. Naturally, we had many enjoyable conversations. One day, we even had to get food from outside because we had been working nearly all day.

Honestly, it was a time filled with fun, learning, and hard work. I was genuinely happy then, as I had an incredible team and wonderful people who supported each other, making it feel just like a family, and a good one at that. I also felt truly loved on that ship, especially during my birthday celebrations, when everyone onboard made me feel very special! Plus, there were plenty of funny moments, like the time I fell off one of those scooters.

In the second part of my contract, I had the opportunity to serve as Cruise Director. It was a trial run rather than an official position, allowing me to explore the role, and I received excellent guidance on board, which boosted my confidence! That period was truly special, with no drama, just work and enjoyment.

Our guests had already joined us onboard, and to be honest, we were excited, though we knew we would miss the time when it was just us. However, we were there to work and bring joy to our wonderful guests!

I have plenty to share about my second experience on Empress before my vacation, all positive! If you're interested in seeing more photos from that time, follow me on Instagram at cc_cruising.

I'll also be posting a video, a lengthy one at that—it's 10 minutes long—capturing the moment when the team onboard let me be the Cruise Director. I must admit, we received fantastic ratings! That was when I truly felt comfortable in my role, and life hadn't thrown any curveballs my way, haha...

Celebrating a special birthday onboard the Empress with an amazing team.