Empress of the Seas Review

3.0 / 5.0
0 reviews

Empress of the Seas - The Little Engine that Could

Review for the Western Caribbean Cruise on Empress of the Seas
User Avatar
Never enough cruising
10+ Cruises • Age 60s

Rating by category

Cabin
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service

Additional details

Sail Date: Mar 2018

We chose Empress because of the itinerary. My best friend and I had never been to Key West and could not take a 7 day cruise due to schedule restrictions, so Empress was the logical choice. I wasn't without reservations initially. I was using a wheelchair so I was a bit concerned about accessibility on a smaller, older ship. I was also concerned about the amenities and activities since Empress was not designed with all of the bells and whistles of the newer ships. It was my friend's first cruise and I wanted her to be impressed and to love cruising. I need not have been concerned. We had a wonderful cruising experience.

My embarkation went without a hitch and the wheelchair was no burden. The staff was fully prepared to assist without being condescending at any time. I was able to maintain my independence but have assistance to smooth the way at logical times. The ship itself is smaller and older, but the crew is absolutely delightful! The sailing experience was superior to that of other lines. No, they did not have a separate restaurant or Concierge's service for the suite class/top tier members, but they had special events to compensate for that lack that were very enjoyable. Especially nice was the "Meal with an Officer" event.

Overall, I loved the ship. We sailed in the Royal Suite. The cabin was absolutely beautiful! The menus for dining were varied and delicious. The service of the crew was great and when I requested something extra, I promptly received it. I enjoyed the activities and the shows. The performers maintained the same high level of energy and excitement from the beginning of the cruise until the end. We enjoyed the shore excursions at both ports.

Cabin Review

Cabin Suite

The Royal Suite was aptly named. It was spacious and beautiful. Our cabin steward made sure the cabin was always impeccably clean and never overlooked the small things, like making sure our ice bucket was always full. The balcony was large, with a table and 4 chairs if you care to eat outside and two large loungers for relaxing and enjoying the privacy and sea views. Inside there was a dining table for 6 (in case you wanted to throw a party). The shower had lovely fixtures (rain shower and hand held) and it was larger than expected. The huge Jacuzzi tub was an experience I won't forget. It had a large walk-in closet and for once, my cabin had enough hangers for all my clothes! Lots of storage space too, including a 5 drawer dresser in the walk in. For more info, see the video my friend posted on You Tube. It gives a tour of the entire space.

2 Helpful Votes
previous reviewnext review

Find a cruise

Any Month

Get special cruise deals, expert advice, insider tips and more.By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

© 1995—2024, The Independent Traveler, Inc.