Our first cruise experience and it was wonderful. Despite the negative reviews, we found everything on the Empress to exceed our expectations. Yes, the pool is very small and you don't have all the bells and whistles of the bigger ships, but the atmosphere of the smaller ship more than makes up for some of the larger ship amenities. We never waited in line for beverages and there were servers attending to the pool deck everyday. The dining room was great as was the attendant that was responsible for our cabin. The staff was awesome and the ship was spotless. The ports of call were great too. All expectations were met and we never felt like the ship was crowded. If you are looking for a ship with mini golf and waterslides, then this is not the ship for you. If you are looking for a laid back, relaxing trip, then book the Empress.