Relaxed uncrowded Cruise
Empress of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Bahamas
5 Night Key West & Perfect Day (Miami Roundtrip)
Sail date: October 05, 2019
Ship: Empress of the Seas
Cabin type: Inside
Cabin number: 9669
Traveled as: Family (young children)
Reviewed: 5 years ago
Review summary
We decided to on this cruise a week before the departure date. This was more like an unplanned cruise for me and my 15-yr old son. I was searching for our Alaska cruise for next year, then, I just saw this cruise which would only cost us about $550 included tax and fees for an interior room. Our round-trip plane ticket heading to the port cost more than the cruise. I must admit the room was tight but well enough for 2 passengers. This ship doesn't have balcony cabins. While the ship only has suites to get a balcony, its only a few square feet bigger than the interior/ocean view rooms. Surprisingly for Royal Caribbean's smallest ship, the common area inside the ship doesn't feel crowded at all. Lounge chairs were easy to find. The area or table that we prefer inside Windjammer, which is by the front of the ship, was always available and you don't have to race for a table. The first full day onboard this ship, which was a day at sea, I always wonder why its not crowded- well except for the pool area. Then I just figured out that there was a low number of passengers onboard the ship based on is capacity. Hence this was Royal Caribbean's oldest and smallest ship, less passengers would choose to take this ship. Service from crew staff was magnificent and always with a big smile and genuine. I didn't see a crew looking tired or upset. The main dining room food choices was not so good as we only went there twice on this trip. We found the Windjammer food choices and quality a little better than the main dining room - its was our first on all our past cruises. My biggest complain on this ship was the sewage smell coming out from the shower drain whenever we use the shower. The drain was also super slow, but it didn't bother us as much as the bad smell. Our cabin was located on the 9th floor, I can't imagine the bad sewage smell from the lower floors. Moreover, when we were getting off the ship from the 2nd deck, I could again smell the sewage smell upon getting of the gangway. This ship doesn't have the bells and whistles that modern ships carry, but this ship still got a lot of spirit in delivering a wonderful and relaxing short cruise.Embarkation
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Onboard Activities
Entertainment
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
Get a room on the top floor to avoid most of the sewage smell from the shower drain.
Ports of call
Miami, Florida Did not visit port
Perfect Day At Coco Cay, Bahamas
Disembarkation
Traveler Photos
