River Empress Entertainment
You won't Vegas-style showgirls, lavish production numbers or a jingling, flashing casino on the River Empress. You will find a piano player/singer who performs music for dancing in the Main Lounge. Sometimes, regional entertainment is brought onboard. Lectures are offered; new for Uniworld are theme cruises on music, art or wines of a region which include guest speakers and visits to related museums, concerts and vineyards at no extra cost.
River Empress Public Rooms
The public areas are beautifully decorated, primarily with soothing shades of pale turquoise, light coral, beige and taupe. The Main Lounge has lots of comfy couches and chairs and is lined with panoramic windows. There's a pale wood bar, a small dance floor with an area for the piano or perhaps a small combo. The adjacent Club Lounge is a smaller, quieter room with luxurious beige leather chairs, needlepoint pillows, a small bar and a chessboard. One deck down is the Salon/Patio, a sunny, casual room with wicker chairs and piles of newspapers, books and board games.
Two laptop computers allow passengers to write e-mails, which are delivered at no cost via satellite twice a day. If replies come in, they will be printed out and delivered to passengers if the subject line includes the cabin number and name. A tiny beauty salon offers hair services only. Atop the top sun deck, there are lounge chairs and a lovely section covered by a glass roof and walls that can be opened in warm weather. There is a free self-service launderette with two washers, two dryers and an ironing board and iron; the front desk provides detergent.
River Empress Spa & Fitness
The 24-hour fitness center -- said to be the largest on a river ship though only a fraction of those on mega-ships -- has two stationary bikes, one treadmill, two elliptical walkers, free weights and six yoga mats. An adjacent room contains a sauna open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Shore excursions are included at each stop and might be a walking tour of a small town or a motorcoach visit to a famous landmark.
