For a quick get a way, this five day cruise is good. If you don't mind being on a smaller and older ship, you will enjoy it not being so very crowded as on larger ships. The entertainment and activities are good and well orchestrated by the staff. Everyone encountered were polite, professional and worked really hard to make your cruising experience a good one.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Boarding the Empress of the Seas was quick and painless! They are so organized at the port that it was just an amazing experience. You even have time to actually smile for your boarding picture.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Though a smaller Royal Caribbean ship, the food in the buffets, specialty restaurants aNd the main dining room were all presented well and the service was great. They were also very accommodating if you had a request, they tried their best to get you what you wanted and how you asked for it.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
There are plenty of activities on the ship to keep you busy and that encourage participation. The group I traveled with really enjoyed the nightly shows, karaoke and the various game show type events. The contests in the pool area were a lot of fun and done in a great fun atmosphere.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The stage shows were very entertaining and worth your time. You could flow from one event to the other the way they scheduled things so you did not miss much.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
All staff encountered were polite and professional. They too were accommodating if you had a request, they would try their best to make it happen.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
This is one of the older and smaller ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. It was clean and maintained as best it could be. It could use a remodeling to make it shine a bit brighter.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
This was the smallest cabin I have ever had in my history of cruising. Thank goodness you don't spend a lot of time in your room! It did not have a refrigerator which was disappointing, but then they had not real space to put it! The bathroom is typical cabin type bathroom, but I have never had a smaller shower! You literally almost had to get out to turn around and then get back in. No one wants that shower curtain touching their wet body either! This was another tell tale sign that this is an older ship.
Ship tip
Pack lighter if you can. Space is limited with draw space though the closet has ample space for hanging clothing and a lot of hangers.
We had a blast in downtown Tampa! We came in the day before our cruise so we could be in the area and relax. We did just that by staying at the Embassy Suites Convention center, which is five minutes from the port and within walking distance of a lot of great restaurant choices! We did not do an excursion per say, we just walked around and took in the area and people.
Great port! We took the trolley on and off tour with the Butterfly Conservative built in and it was a great thing to do! This tour is becoming the number one thing to do on the island. The trolley allows you, through 8 different stops, to explore the islands landmarks and beach areas at your leisure and then they pick you up when you are ready at the trolley stop. If you like to have a beer or cocktail, there are plenty of great places to have one!
Not my favorite port. Is not cool that you already paid for your cruise and then have to pay an additional $75 to enter into this countries port. We did the air conditioned motorized coach bus tour with a guide. This is a good idea, especially with that heat. This tour is about 3-4 hours long with some planned stops at the major attractions and one shopping point that only sells three (3) things, rum, cigars and coffee. By doing this tour, you skip the locals who may try to sell you bogus items and make fast money. You do need to convert your cash to cups (money with monuments on them) so you can buy things. Slowly but surely they are beginning to take american money but they get you going and coming for they charge you to convert your money plus tax and then again when and if you sell some back. I think possibly this would have been a better port experience if we did an overnight here. It rained and so after our excursion tour we were limited to our activities.
Getting off a cruise ship has never gone smoother! Before we could finish our breakfast in the dining room they were ready for our group to get off the ship! The lines flowed well and the staff were professional and courteous as they escorted you off.
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