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A*** Cruise

Empress of the Seas (RETIRED) 223 Cruise Review to Caribbean - Southern

Cruises: 4-6 cruises
Reviews: 3
Helpful Votes: 67

Overall rating:

3 out of 5
Verified Review
Empress of the Seas (RETIRED) 223

11 Night Exotic Southern Caribbean (San Juan Roundtrip)

Sail date: March 27, 2006

Ship: Empress of the Seas (RETIRED) 223

Cabin type: Inside

Traveled as: Family (young children)

Reviewed: 14 years ago

Review summary

First impression of the ship was that it was very small. We had sailed before on larger ships, but this one although faultless in decor and layout, was not what I had expected. The cabins (we had an inside cabin) were a major disappointment. We couldn't unpack 2 of our suitcases (we bought 3 with us, there was nowhere to store the clothes), alright for two people but not for 4. No chairs to sit on in the cabin (no room for them anyway)!! For the first couple of days this caused many an argument, but we got used to it. Food was good, with plenty of choice. Windjammer cafe however was too small and cramped for the amount of people on the boat. A lot of our time was spent queing then trying to find a seat. After two days we used the dining room for most of our meals and this was great. Entertainment was excellent. Plenty of variety for all ages. The cruise director was great too!! The children's club was by far the worst that I have seen. Whilst the staff did all they could the facilities were dreadful. A small dark room with dirty grey carpet. Toys that injured the children (slide) No fresh air entering the room. As stated this was no fault of the staff they were great and I felt so sorry for them having to work in those conditions. The major plus was the fabulous itinerary. The ports of call made this cruise worthwhile. Some of our favourites (St Marteen, Antigua, Barbados), then other ones that we had never visited before. It was really first class. I would reccommend this cruise to a first time cruiser. Personally if I had the chance to go again, it would only be on this itinerary.

Ports of call

St. John's, Antigua

3 out of 5
Have been here a couple of times and I must say I'm liking it better each time we go. We took a private island tour with a chap called Edgar. He was first class, infact I couldn't say enough about him. He was polite, courteous and stayed with us all day for a small amount of money. He took us to a great beach (Longboat Beach) it was beautiful, had the jet ski's, crystal clear water etc etc.
Thumbs Up

Bridgetown, Barbados

5 out of 5
Another beautiful island. We took a private tour from the operators outside. A really nice man called "Carson". Again I couldn't speak a bad word about him. There were 10 in our party and he treated us all with respect, explained everything about where we were and gave us a great tour of the island. Unfortunately the shops shut early on Saturdays and whilst the shopping looked great we didn't make it on time. We ended up on Malibu beach, which was wonderful
Thumbs Up

St. John's, Antigua

3 out of 5
Have been here a couple of times and I must say I'm liking it better each time we go. We took a private island tour with a chap called Edgar. He was first class, infact I couldn't say enough about him. He was polite, courteous and stayed with us all day for a small amount of money. He took us to a great beach (Longboat Beach) it was beautiful, had the jet ski's, crystal clear water etc etc.
Thumbs Up

Bridgetown, Barbados

5 out of 5
Another beautiful island. We took a private tour from the operators outside. A really nice man called "Carson". Again I couldn't speak a bad word about him. There were 10 in our party and he treated us all with respect, explained everything about where we were and gave us a great tour of the island. Unfortunately the shops shut early on Saturdays and whilst the shopping looked great we didn't make it on time. We ended up on Malibu beach, which was wonderful
Thumbs Up

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

5 out of 5
The fabulous shopping, cheap alcohol, cigarettes, jewellery. Cannot fault this island. Been to both sides and prefer the dutch side. However the beaches on the French side were better. Took a trip round both parts of the island on our previous cruise and missed so much of the Dutch side which we thought this time around was much better and more reasonable
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: Shopping, duty free alcohol and cigarettes

Basseterre, St. Kitts

3 out of 5
We arranged a private tour ourselves here. And whilst the island was nice the beach that we were taken to was not great.
Thumbs Up

Oranjestad, Aruba

5 out of 5
We really liked here also. Too bad the weather was fair on our visit. The people were lovely. We took a trip organised by Royal Carribbean on a Catamaran. This was well run and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Beaches looked great. Would like to go back here again
Thumbs Up

Willemstad, Curacao

3 out of 5
First time here. I did like it but don't know if I would go back. Thought that there may have been more to do. Island was very colourful and clean.
Thumbs Up

Castries, St. Lucia

1 out of 5
Been here twice now and cannot find a thing I like about it. I find it very depressing. Extremely poor country. Took a tour round the volcano then a trip back on the catamaran the first time we went. We did enjoy this. This time we stayed around the port, but the shops terrified us. Very strong smell of drugs and people watching us from street corners. This may have been our imagination but I would not want to go back
Thumbs Up

Margarita Island

1 out of 5
Waste of good time. Very expensive to go anywhere. We stayed at the port as we were only there for a few hours. There's a beach at the port which was awful. It was dirty and smelly. No sunchairs or shade. Did not like this port at all
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: Pearls

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

5 out of 5
The fabulous shopping, cheap alcohol, cigarettes, jewellery. Cannot fault this island. Been to both sides and prefer the dutch side. However the beaches on the French side were better. Took a trip round both parts of the island on our previous cruise and missed so much of the Dutch side which we thought this time around was much better and more reasonable
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: Shopping, duty free alcohol and cigarettes

Basseterre, St. Kitts

3 out of 5
We arranged a private tour ourselves here. And whilst the island was nice the beach that we were taken to was not great.
Thumbs Up

Willemstad, Curacao

3 out of 5
First time here. I did like it but don't know if I would go back. Thought that there may have been more to do. Island was very colourful and clean.
Thumbs Up

Castries, St. Lucia

1 out of 5
Been here twice now and cannot find a thing I like about it. I find it very depressing. Extremely poor country. Took a tour round the volcano then a trip back on the catamaran the first time we went. We did enjoy this. This time we stayed around the port, but the shops terrified us. Very strong smell of drugs and people watching us from street corners. This may have been our imagination but I would not want to go back
Thumbs Up

Oranjestad, Aruba

5 out of 5
We really liked here also. Too bad the weather was fair on our visit. The people were lovely. We took a trip organised by Royal Carribbean on a Catamaran. This was well run and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Beaches looked great. Would like to go back here again
Thumbs Up

Margarita Island

1 out of 5
Waste of good time. Very expensive to go anywhere. We stayed at the port as we were only there for a few hours. There's a beach at the port which was awful. It was dirty and smelly. No sunchairs or shade. Did not like this port at all
Thumbs Up
Don't Miss: Pearls

Pros: Itinerary

Cons: Childrens club and The stateroom

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We had a wonderful time