Six Empress of the Seas cruises from Miami have been cancelled due to delayed ship renovations. The Empress of the Seas, the smallest and oldest ship in Royal Caribbean’s active fleet, is currently in dry dock undergoing extensive renovations. Those renovations where scheduled to be completed in time for the ship to begin regular cruises from Miami on March 30th. However, renovation delays caused the cruise line to announce on March 18th that the ship’s March 30, and April, 4, 7, 11, 16, and 21 cruises have been cancelled.
Guests who were scheduled to sail on those cruises may move to the same cabin category on another Empress of the Seas sailing between April 25 and July 23, 2016 or may move the same cabin category on any Majesty of the Seas sailing between now and April 29, 2016 – both for the same cruise fare they paid for their original Empress sailing. Those who rebook will receive a $100 per cabin onboard credit. Additionally, passengers who booked their air through Royal Caribbean that transfer to another sailing will receive modified flights at no extra cost. All others who rebook will receive up to $200 for domestic and $300 for international flight change fees. Those who do not wish to rebook will receive a full refund of their cruise fare. All air booked through Royal Caribbean will also be fully refunded.
The Empress of the Seas is in the process of making the transition from sailing as part of the Spanish Pullmantur Cruises fleet. After the renovations are complete, the Empress of the Seas will sail four and five night cruises from Miami to the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean.
According to a March 13, 2016 Travel Weekly article, Royal Caribbean hopes to eventually use the Empress of the Seas for cruises to Miami. The relatively small ship, with capacity for about 1,600 passengers, is considered to be the right size for cruises to Cuba.