My 2 adult daughters and I chose this cruise for it's destination to Havana Cuba, and the 6 night length worked out with their work and school schedules. We are experienced cruisers and have been on other cruises with different lines. We embraced the idea of going on a smaller ship, and were pleasantly surprised to discover how welcoming and passionate all the staff members were to our needs. The food was delicious in the main dining room, and our waiters were so friendly and attentive to our nightly preferences. The Empress is a lovely, older ship with a warm inviting aura that made us feel at home instantly. We had an ocean view room on the 4th deck, Port side that was kept very clean and tidy.....even with three females who love their shoes and dress for dinner nightly! The nightly entertainment was great and we did not miss a show. Hugo, our tour director was a blast! We planned four excursions with Royal, and every day was so enjoyable! We danced with a dolphin in Nassau, parasailed in Key West, and had the day of a lifetime in extraordinary Havana, CUBA! We did the 7 hour tour with a wonderful lunch included. The Cuban people are so welcoming to USA tourists, and we loved every minute of our visit. Each trip was well organized and we learned so much! In Miami after disembarking we got to visit the Everglades and saw two alligators sunning themselves. This way, we were able to be transported to the airport for our late evening flights to CO and AZ. To summarize, I would like to say that a choice to cruise on the Empress is a desirable one. She is a well maintained, HAPPY ship! You won't regret it, you will have FUN!!