Empress of the Seas Review

3.0 / 5.0
0 reviews

First timers with older kids

Review for the Western Caribbean Cruise on Empress of the Seas
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dsky227@comcast.net
First Time Cruiser • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Aug 2016

The timing was right for us.... right between summer jobs and school. We traveled our first cruise with our two children/young adults (2 boys ages 20 and 17). We shared a cabin that included 4 twin beds. Two beds folded down from the wall. Housekeeping took the time to fold the beds up during the day and set them up each night as part of their turn down service. It was a nice touch.

The Empress of the Seas is the smallest ship in RCI's fleet. For the actively inclined, its somewhat wanting. It has only one small pool, a rock climbing wall, a couple of ping pong tables, shuffle board and a jogging track. That's it. And there weren't a lot of people my kids age. And there were no organized activities for people my kids age. (OK, there is a teen club for kids 12-17; but my 17 yo wasn't interested hanging with 12 yos and if I were a parent of a 12 yo, I wouldn't want my kid hanging out with 17 yos. )Still, I think my kids had a great time.

My kids went to almost all of the dancing classes. And seemed to enjoy dancing late into the night. They also really enjoyed dining in the main dining room. We did the My Time Dining... but, enjoyed the wait staff we had the first night so much, we ended up requesting to sit at their station for the rest of the crew. (WooHoo Jose and Benni!) The food was really good and the menu changed every night. Jose and Benni steared us clear of offerings that might not show the kitchen in its best light and brought out samples of stuff we didn't order that they thought we might enjoy trying. It was really fun.

Cabin Review

We were in 3627, an interior cabin. Cabins are tight.... yet, efficient. We did fine with four mostly adults in one cabin. The excellent house keeping staff helps make it work. Turning down and putting up the stow away loft like beds each night that the kids slept on. Tending to wet towels and messed up beds multiple times a day.

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