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Empress of the Seas
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Empress Of The Seas
Ship review by Anne Campbell© |
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Onboard Experience Things to Do Dining Ambience
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Best For People Who Want:
A short cruise holiday or Bermuda sailing; extensive fitness and family facilities; two-seating dining; good food and service; a mix of couples and families; Climbing wall; Las Vegas-style floor shows; casino.
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Should Be Avoided By People Who Prefer:
A small ship cruise experience; single seating dining; gourmet food; refined service. |
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Onboard Experience
 The 2,020-passenger Empress of the Seas is distinguished by her airy, nine deck-high atrium called the Centrum and its five deck-high wall of glass, her glass enclosed elevators and sweeping staircases. Acres of glass afford incomparable views of the sea. The stunning Viking Crown lounge, built around the smokestack, is a terrific spot to dance the night away, one of the prettiest lounges at sea. On this ship, one of the most popular areas is the casino, with slots and tables. Royal Caribbean's high quality Las Vegas-style floor shows play nightly in the Strike up the Band showroom. The atmosphere in the spacious two floor Carmen Dining Room is classy with a white baby grand piano and palm trees. Overall Royal Caribbean does a great job and this is good choice for a short cruise or a Bermuda itinerary. |
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Things To Do
Entertainment:
 Royal Caribbean stands out for its high caliber of onboard entertainment. Take in the floor show, dance the night away in the Viking Crown Lounge or enjoy a romantic drink in the Carousel Pub or High Society Lounge. Take a chance in the casino. For children there's the "Kids' Konnection" playroom complete with a space-age theme decor.
Fitness:
Designed for active passengers, Empress of the Seas boasts an extensive roster of fitness facilities. The fitness center at the top of the ship overlooks the Viking Crown Lounge. It has plenty of modern equipment, a separate jogging track, aerobics classes and there's a separate day spa, one deck below. Two large swimming pools and five Jacuzzi whirlpools are located on Sun Deck. The ship also features a rock climbing wall.
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| Dining |
Cuisine:
Nice variety, well prepared and pleasantly presented. Continental cuisine is far from gourmet, but pleases most passengers.
Restaurants:
The Carmen Dining Room has two dinner seatings at 6:00 and 8:30 p.m. as well as for breakfast and dinner. A casual breakfast and lunch service is available in the Windjammer Café which also offers an open sitting dinner service with light meals.
The intimate Portofino restaurant was one of the major additions to the ship during the 2004 rebuild. This Italian specialty restaurant is reservations only and carries a $20 service charge. Another addition was the combined coffee bar and ice cream scoop shop called Latte'tudes, featuring Seattle's Best Coffee and Ben & Jerry's ice cream.
Service:
Don’t expect refined service. The staff is friendly and attentive in both dining and cabin areas.
Attire:
Casual daytime attire is usually worn, and there is at least one semi-formal evening per short cruises, two on one-week Bermuda sailings. Most men wear dark suits instead of tuxes. |
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| Ambience |
Decor:
 A tasteful, soothing modern decor accented by gleaming brass and lots of potted palms and plants complements the subdued atmosphere of the two romantic lounges.
Cabins:
Staterooms on Nordic Empress are tiny (standard inside and lower grade outside cabins are 130 sq. feet). You will find larger cabins with private balconies in the Category C Superior Ocean View Staterooms, and the Royal and Owner's Suites. Each standard cabin has a twin/queen configuration bed, a colour TV, radio and a safe. |
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