Great small ship

Empress of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 42

Overall rating:

4.6 out of 5
Verified Review
Empress of the Seas

8 Night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: October 25, 2019

Ship: Empress of the Seas

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

Great cruise. If you complain about the size or lack of amenities then you did not do your research. We researched extensively and knew what to expect. Smaller ships have their place just like mega ships.

Embarkation

5 out of 5
Very quick and efficient

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5
Buffet area tended to get crowded. My Time dining worked great for us and we ended up with the same waitstaff most nights. I would have liked the NY Strip to be smaller but thicker.

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5
Pool one day. Whirlpool a few times but not really hot. Disappointed that there was not a sauna/steam room. Karaoke a few times. Went to most of the shows.

Entertainment

5 out of 5
Top notch shows. Excellent musicians, dancers and singers.

Children's Programs

No children

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
Stevo, our room steward, was attentive and thorough. Our waiters provided great service.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5
It is not a large ship so it is a calmer experience. Layout was good but a little tight in the Windjammer Cafe. I was disappointed that there were not more quiet places to read. The library was at the Centrum, the hub of the ship.

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5
Cabin was the right size for what we paid. It was always clean and our bed and pillows were perfect for us.

Ship tip

This is a smaller ship so fewer activities but more interaction with staff and fellow passengers. Different ships for different people.

Ports of call

Miami, Florida Did not visit port

We are Floridians so we have visited before.

Perfect Day At Coco Cay, Bahamas

5 out of 5
Excursions were pricey. Found a great spot on the beach and relaxed.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

5 out of 5
Walked through Old Town. It was beautiful.

Tortola, British Virgin Islands

4 out of 5
No excursions. Toured with a local driver and had a great time.

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

4 out of 5
No excursions. Spent the day on the beach near the port.

Disembarkation

5 out of 5
Smooth
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7 Comments

wgammon1    4 years ago

Glad you had a good cruise. Thanks for the great review.

Gheemaster38    5 years ago

This will be my first small ship. I am looking forward to the experience. No waterslide and since we are going in Feb less teens...

Morley3059    5 years ago

Agreed! While we did have a great time on the Norwegian Epic, we had a great, more personal experience (and better food) on the smaller Norwegian Spirit. Regardless, it pays to do your research and be flexible.

almtsbb    5 years ago

LTCruiser exactly what I like to do on a cruise.

NJCruiseGuy    5 years ago

Glad you enjoyed it. We love the smaller ships as well and don’t need to be entertained constantly or have a waterpark / amusement park onboard to enjoy ourselves. It seems many have forgotten (or never learned?) the joy of just watching the ocean go by, reading a book, doing a crossword puzzle or taking a nap.

DebandMarkC    5 years ago

Love the smaller ships! Don't care about water slides and all the bells and whistles of the overcrowded mega ships

15mustang    5 years ago

We love smaller ships. More relaxing.

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