I have recently been widowed and I do not like paying double for a cruise ship cabin. This cruise on Empress offered deals of about 130% so I booked it. I also was on Empress of the Seas a few weeks ago and wrote a review so I won't repeat my comments from that cruise. The staff and crew exceeded my expectations under difficult circumstances since we could not get into Miami on Thursday due to Hurricane Matthew. We had an extra day and, instead of another day at sea, the captain provided an additional stop in Costa Maya. Whatever route the hurricane took we avoided it and had gorgeous weather every day. Free internet time and emergency calls were provided to us. The food, service and activities were just as good on the sixth day as the first five.

Getting off the ship was rather tedious, but that was not the fault of Royal Caribbean. That was due to the Port of Miami under difficult circumstances. When we finally exited the ship taxis, rental car companies, airport transfer buses and parking garage vans were waiting for us even though we were a day late and four hours behind normal disembarkation.