MS Empress
3118874
222574136
2008-06-30T01:56:28Z
Squids and Chips
2947772
Disambiguate [[San Juan]] to [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]] using [[:en:Wikipedia:Tools/Navigation_popups|popups]]
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{{Infobox Ship Image
|Ship image=[[Image:NordicEmp1.jpg|300px]]
|Ship caption= The ''Nordic Empress''
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{{Infobox Ship Career
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|Ship name= ''Empress'' (2008-On) <br /> ''Empress of the Seas'' (2004-2008) <br /> ''Nordic Empress'' (1990-2004)
|Ship owner= (2008-On) Club Vacaciones <br /> (1990-2008) [[Royal Caribbean International]]
|Ship operator= (2008-On) [[Pullmantur Cruises]] <br /> (1990-2008) Royal Caribbean International
|Ship registry= {{flag|Malta}}
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|Ship completed= 1990
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|Ship maiden voyage= June 25,1990
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|Ship status= In Service
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{{Infobox Ship Characteristics
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|Ship tonnage= 48,563
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|Ship length={{convert|692|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|100|ft|m|abbr=on}}
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|Ship draft={{convert|25|ft|m|abbr=on}}
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|Ship decks= 11
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|Ship speed= 19.5 kts
|Ship capacity= 2,020 Passengers
|Ship crew= 668
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'''[[ship prefix|MS]] ''Empress''''' is a [[cruise ship]] operated by [[Pullmantur Cruises]] . She was formerly operating for [[Royal Caribbean International]] as '''''Empress of the Seas'''''. The ship was ordered by [[Admiral Cruise Lines]] and was intended to be called ''Future Seas'' and join the other Admiral Ships ''Azure Seas'' and ''Emerald Seas''. However, Royal Caribbean merged with Admiral in 1987, the Admiral brand was dissolved and the newbuild (still under construction) was incorporated into the Royal Caribbean fleet. A few signature Royal Caribbean brand elements were added, including the Viking Crown and Windjammer Cafe. The ship was originally named '''''Nordic Empress''''' and was the final RCI ship whose name did not end with "of the Seas". The name was changed to match the rest of the fleet following an extensive rebuilding that ended on [[8 May]] [[2004]].
''Nordic Empress'' was the first mainstream cruise ship especially designed for the 3 and 4 day cruise market. Her initial itinerary was short cruises to [[the Bahamas]], which then were combined with 3 and 4 day cruises from [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], [[Puerto Rico]]. In 1999, following the sale of ''[[Song of America]]'', ''Nordic Empress'' took over the [[New York]] to [[Bermuda]] route.
In 2000 Royal Caribbean announced that ''Nordic Empress'' would be undertaking a series of cruises in [[South America]]. Shortly after these cruises were put on sale, Royal Caribbean decided to replace ''Nordic Empress'' with ''[[Splendour of the Seas]]'' in the South American itineraries, leaving ''Nordic Empress'' in the Caribbean.
On [[23 March]] [[2007]] it was reported that in March [[2008]] the ''Empress of the Seas'' would be transferred to the fleet of RCI's subsidiary [[Pullmantur Cruises]].<ref>[http://www.cruisebusiness.com/news.php?u=20070326165741 Cruise Business Online: RCI's Empress of the Seas to join Pullmantur fleet], retrieved 29. 3. 2007
</ref> Her final voyage for Royal Caribbean took place on [[7 March]] [[2008]].The maiden voyage as ''Empress'' for Pullmantur Cruises took place on [[15 March]] [[2008]].<ref>[http://www.pullmanturcruises.com/crucerobritt/moonempress.html Pullmantur Cruises<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==Ship Highlights (as ''Empress of the Seas'')==
* Portofino Italian Restaurant
* Latté-tudes coffee house
* Boleros Latin-theme lounge
* Rock-climbing wall
* Themed bars and lounges
* Casino Royale
* Outdoor pool and wading pool
* 3 whirlpools
* Adventure Ocean youth facilities
* ShipShape Day Spa and Fitness Center
Room Service
==Dining (as ''Empress of the Seas'')==
*The main dining hall which overlooks the ocean is called Carmen. Over the course of one’s vacation, the Carmen dining hall requires its guests to dress in formal wear; though tuxedos are not required, men usually wear a suit and women dress in long evening gowns.
*The Windjammer Café is on the main pool deck which offers a buffet for breakfast and lunch. The Windjammer has a more casual menu including such fare as pizza, French fries, and hot dogs.
Room service is available twenty four hours a day.
==Entertainment (as ''Empress of the Seas'')==
*Boleros is the Latin-themed lounge and bar that has different activities going on every night. The karaoke competition is held in Boleros’ lounge as well as dancing competitions to Latin music.
*The Viking Crown Lounge is a lounge during the day, but after 10 p.m. it turns into a night club that is for adults over the age of eighteen. The Viking Crown Lounge closes at 2 a.m.
*The Casino Royale is a casino with over one hundred different slot machines, and multiple poker and blackjack tables. The casino is open all day and until past midnight.
*The Strike up the Band Room is a theatre which shows different musicals or has performers present different dances each night. During the day the theatre has multiple bingo games with prizes that could upgrade your cabin.
==Cabins==
*The cabins are very small{{Fact|date=March 2008}} unless one rooms in a stateroom, which is a larger cabin with a balcony to over look the ocean.
*Every cabin comes with a built in safe, hair dryer, and telephone.
==References==
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==External links==
* [http://www.pullmanturcruises.com/crucerobritt/moonempress.html Pullmantur Page]
* [http://www.khulsey.com/empress_main.html High-resolution cutaway of the ship]
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[[Category:Cruise ships]]
[[Category:Ships of Royal Caribbean International]]
[[Category:Ships built in France]]