Royal Caribbean has announced that Empress of the Seas will sail short cruises from Miami once it returns to the fleet. The ship has spent some time with Spanish based cruise line Pullmantur, with a return to Royal Caribbean in March 2016.
Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International said:
“We’re excited to welcome Empress of the Seas back to the family, and back to the Caribbean. 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.”
Empress of the Seas will offer 3 and 5 night voyages from PortMiami. The sailing will include calls at Nassau, The Bahamas; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; Grand Cayman and Key West, Florida. The vessel will also stay in port longer than usual so guests can enjoy amazing Caribbean sunsets. The cruise line will also offer authentic Mexican culture and cuisine during overnight stays in Cozumel, Mexico on select 5-night cruises.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez said:
“Miami welcomes Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas to the Cruise Capital of the World. We thank Royal Caribbean for expanding their cruise business at PortMiami. 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.”
The ships return to the Royal Caribbean fleet will offer passengers a relaxed onboard atmosphere with no formal nights and flexible dining options. There will be new Las Vegas shows and the newly reimagined Boleros Latin Lounge where guests can party all night. The cruise line will also offer fast pier-to-ship boarding with earlier boarding times of 11:00 a.m.
Originally launched as Nordic Empress in June 1990, the ship 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 48,563 gross registered tons, and has a double-occupancy capacity of 1,602 guests.
