chill6x6 Posted September 22, 2019 #1 Share Posted September 22, 2019 I'm kinda thinking about this 8-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary out of Miami. It's a pretty good one. I've never been to Virgin Gorda. I guess the Empress is the smallest and oldest ship currently in Royal Caribbeans fleet. What y'all think about it? Would you do it? Would get a OS. I guess the aft ones would be the way to go? I'd appreciate any info you could give me for those that have been on the Empress. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted September 22, 2019 #2 Share Posted September 22, 2019 Some recent Empress threads: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2693466-just-off-empress-824-94-oh-the-places-youll-go-ama/?do=findComment&comment=58291340 https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2693086-empress-questions/?do=findComment&comment=58280793 https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2687714-empress-after-larger-ships/?do=findComment&comment=58117382 https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2687380-just-booked-empress-for-march-2020-did-i-make-a-mistake/?do=findComment&comment=58108510 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beav1279 Posted September 22, 2019 #3 Share Posted September 22, 2019 I loved the Empress. It's a great ship. The staff are AMAZING! Super friendly and totally on top of their game. There isn't a lot of "other" stuff to do on the ship (water slides, roller skating, etc..) but I found it to be relaxing and enjoyable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chill6x6 Posted September 23, 2019 Author #4 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Thanks for the info! I think I'm convinced! Anyone stayed in one of the OS cabins before? Preference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb4534 Posted September 23, 2019 #5 Share Posted September 23, 2019 22 hours ago, chill6x6 said: I'm kinda thinking about this 8-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary out of Miami. It's a pretty good one. I've never been to Virgin Gorda. I guess the Empress is the smallest and oldest ship currently in Royal Caribbeans fleet. What y'all think about it? Would you do it? Would get a OS. I guess the aft ones would be the way to go? I'd appreciate any info you could give me for those that have been on the Empress. Thanks! Empress is a great little ship with a big heart. We sailed her twice to Cuba in an oceanview cabin because the JS and OS were priced out of sight for that itinerary. I would absolutely sail on her again, but only in a JS or OS. If you just like to chill it's perfect. I don't think children , especially teens would like it at all. Virgin Gorda is awesome. Be sure and go to the Baths. If you decide to go on this cruise you will surely enjoy it. Have Fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chill6x6 Posted September 23, 2019 Author #6 Share Posted September 23, 2019 1 hour ago, jmb4534 said: Empress is a great little ship with a big heart. We sailed her twice to Cuba in an oceanview cabin because the JS and OS were priced out of sight for that itinerary. I would absolutely sail on her again, but only in a JS or OS. If you just like to chill it's perfect. I don't think children , especially teens would like it at all. Virgin Gorda is awesome. Be sure and go to the Baths. If you decide to go on this cruise you will surely enjoy it. Have Fun! Thanks so much for the info! So far it seems the consensus is that it's a great ship! They have OS available all the way forward and some all the way aft. Looking at pictures of course I like some things about the forward OS and some things about the aft OS! I'm gonna decide by tomorrow. Only one aft OS remaining! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vavasmom Posted September 25, 2019 #7 Share Posted September 25, 2019 We had one of the forward suites. It was different and unique. I would not do it again. I love sitting on my balcony relaxing and do wake view often. The forward facing suite was very windy when at sea and seemed to bake in the sun. We also had an access door for a public balcony area that seemed to slam way too often. I am booked on empress again for next year. The OS was more than I wanted to spend given we are docked almost the entire trip - otherwise it would have been one of the aft ones 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chill6x6 Posted September 25, 2019 Author #8 Share Posted September 25, 2019 2 hours ago, vavasmom said: We had one of the forward suites. It was different and unique. I would not do it again. I love sitting on my balcony relaxing and do wake view often. The forward facing suite was very windy when at sea and seemed to bake in the sun. We also had an access door for a public balcony area that seemed to slam way too often. I am booked on empress again for next year. The OS was more than I wanted to spend given we are docked almost the entire trip - otherwise it would have been one of the aft ones Thanks for the info! So I just booked it.. Booked 9184! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goofyfanatic Posted September 25, 2019 #9 Share Posted September 25, 2019 Did Empress for the ports (Havana at the time). didn't love the ship but the cruise wasn't for the ship. Seems like you are in the same boat (pun intended) She doesn't have the bells and whistles of the new ships and the cabins are incredibly small. If you don't like small spaces you might want to reconsider the Suite. Enjoy the cruise and the ports you would never get to on one of the "newer and bigger" vessels. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priszm Posted September 26, 2019 #10 Share Posted September 26, 2019 I know you booked the cabin already, but you don't really have to worry about forward/aft in terms of being close to locations you like. The ship is small enough that it takes almost no time to go front to back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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