My wife and I booked our first cruise for our 10 year anniversary and traveled with her sister and her husband. I did not know what to expect, so I went in with a fairly open mind. I have to tell you, the crew on our ship, The Empress of the Seas, was outstanding. Every person on the ship went above and beyond to make sure we had an enjoyable experience. The food was awesome considering they were having to feed a thousand people in a couple of hours, the activities on the ship were plentiful and a lot of fun. The ship was very clean and in great shape. The cabin was small, but we did not want to spend the extra money for a larger room, so I was okay with what we had. It was very clean and the room was always made up while we were out and about, so when we came back, we had a fresh room to greet us.

The shows at night were a blast and there was a good variety of attractions to cater to everyone's taste. The ports were great and the excursion we purchased was exactly what we thought it would be. The cost of this cruise was waaaaayyyyyyy less than any other vacation I have been on. The cost of hotels for five nights and unlimited food for 6 days would have cost triple what this cruise cost. Overall, my first cruise experience was a total success, largely due to how awesome the ship and crew were.

This ship is small, but it has a lot of heart. The crew clearly loves their jobs and they are fun and that enthusiasm is contagious. The next time I cruise, it will certainly be with Royal Caribbean. If you want to have an amazing trip, book the Empress of the Seas, you won't be sorry!