(Sorry so lengthy! Tried to be as thorough as possible!!)

We chose this cruise because we wanted to celebrate my mother's upcoming 60th birthday and since she had never cruised before this would be the perfect time to do so. The cost was right for us since we brought some other family with us and needed a trip that fit everyone's budget.

The ship as has been mentioned before is an older model. It is not as big with all the bells and whistles many come to expect like from the newest ships. As someone who has cruised before, I was a bit nervous about that aspect. I have only ever been on new ships that have much to offer. HOWEVER, Empress did not disappoint. I actually think the smaller size worked in our favor. It allowed for our group to quickly find certain areas to meet on the ship and locate the activities with ease. Sometimes you can get lost on larger ships. Not a problem with Empress. Read more