By
Rebecca Gibson |
Empress of the Seas is to return to Royal Caribbean International’s fleet in March 2016 following a stint with sister brand Pullmantur.
The newly enhanced vessel will homeport in Miami, US, and sail short four- and five-night getaways to Nassau, The Bahamas; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; Grand Cayman and Key West, Florida. In addition to offering fast pier-to-ship boarding with earlier boarding times, the ship will stay longer in ports and guests can enjoy overnight stays in Cozumel on select five-night itineraries.
“We’re excited to welcome Empress of the Seas back to the family, and back to the Caribbean,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO at Royal Caribbean International. “Empress’s short Caribbean getaways will give adventure-seekers the opportunity to party, chill and repeat. They will feel like it’s the weekend every day on Empress.”
Originally launched as Nordic Empress in June 1990, Empress of the Seas was the first to set sail from Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey in 2004. Built in Chantiers de L’Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France, the ship spans nine decks, encompassing 48,563gt and has a double-occupancy capacity of 1,602 guests.
Onboard amenities include a rock climbing wall, new pools and whirlpools, an adults-only Solarium, a spa, a complimentary Adventure Ocean youth programme and a variety of dining options.
“We thank Royal Caribbean for expanding their cruise business at PortMiami,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. “This new deployment further demonstrates the cruise line’s commitment to growing their business in Miami-Dade County. It represents continued economic growth and more job opportunities for our world-class community.”