Empress of the Seas.

Class: Empress type
Built: 1990
Registry: Bahamas
Entered service: June 25, 1990 (Maiden Voyage)
Status: transfering to the Pullmantur fleet.
Tonnage: 48,563gross register tons
Length: 692 feet.
Beam: 100 feet.
Draft: 25 feet

Decks: 11
Speed: 19.5 knots, nominal crusing speed (22.4 mph).

Crew: 665
Passengers: 2,020

Notes:
Construction of Empress of the Seas was commissioned by the late Admiral Cruises as the "Future Seas." Admiral was bought by Royal Caribbean in the early 1990s, and the ship was completed as the Nordic Empress. As completed, she featured the largest "Centrum" at sea. She was the first ship outside of the Sovereign class to have such an atrium. Royal Caribbean made minor changes to an upper lounge, which allowed for a fair rendition of the trademark Viking Crown Lounge.

In operation, she gained a reputation as a small, but exceptionally well designed ship. Indeed, few people would suspect she wasn't designed by Royal Caribbean itself. This natural fit with Royal Caribbean's style, enabled the ship to enjoy a long highly respected career with the fleet.

In March 2008, Empress of the Seas will transfer to Royal Caribbeans recently aquired line called Pullmantur. The transfer isn't a reflection on the ship. People often assume such transfers mean a vessel is old, out of date, or worn out. This is very much not the case with Empress of the Seas. As with the Sovereign of the Seas, which is also being transfered to Pullmantur, Empress is unconforming to the publics image of Royal Caribbean ships. In both cases, these ships should enjoy very long and highly regarded careers within the growing family of cruise lines Royal Caribbean operates.

The Empress of the Seas was last renovated in May, 2004.

The main theater is named "Strike Up The Band Showroom."
Main dinning is called "Carmen Dinning Room."