My Favorite Ship is Going Away! :(

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Charles

Guest
Royal Caribbean International's Empress of the Seas to Join Pullmantur Fleet

By Royal Caribbean International on March 26,2007

MIAMI, March 26 -- Royal Caribbean International today announced plans to transfer Empress of the Seas to Pullmantur, the Madrid-based cruise and tour operator that parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. purchased in November 2006.

"Empress of the Seas is a wonderful ship that has served our brand well," said Adam Goldstein, president, Royal Caribbean International. "This transfer will help to increase Pullmantur's capacity and meet demand for its distinctive style of cruise holidays in the European market."

The last voyage of Empress as part of the Royal Caribbean International fleet will be March 7, 2008. Guests booked on all sailings after this date will be contacted by Royal Caribbean International representatives to transfer existing reservations to similar accommodations onboard other Royal Caribbean ships. Royal Caribbean International has established a toll-free number for travel agents and guests with questions regarding the re-accommodated sailings. The toll-free number is (888) 281-9344.

Empress of the Seas joined the Royal Caribbean fleet in June 1990 and was built by Chantiers de L'Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France. She was refurbished in May 2004. The 48,563 gross-registered-ton ship has a double-occupancy guest capacity of 2,020.

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 20 ships currently in service and three under construction. Liberty of the Seas, the cruise line's newest ship, which debuts in April 2007, will share the title of largest cruise ship at sea with sister ship Freedom of the Seas. At 160,000 GRT with a capacity of 3,634 guests double-occupancy, Liberty of the Seas will sail alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami. The line also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand through its cruisetour division. For additional information or to make reservations, go to www.royalcaribbean.com or call (800) 327-6700. For travel professionals, go to www.cruisingpower.com or call (800) 327-2056.

Source: Royal Caribbean International
 
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PH8

Guest
I LOVED the Empress.we were on here when she was still the NE..went to Mardi Gras on her.............whatta great cruise that was....one of the best!
 
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mailew

Guest
Our1st RCL cruise was on the Nordic Empress way back when. Sailed this wonderful ship 3 times. Hate to see it go. Our last trip to Bermuda was on this great ship. It was the trip we received our "Diamond"Pin.
 
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Capt'n Yarrr

Guest
That too was our ver first time at sea, a 3 dayer to Nassua and coco kay=huh
 
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Libby

Guest
It was bound to happen, and I know she will be greatly missed. We've cruise on her twice, but I can understand why RCCL had to give her up.
 
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Libby

Guest
We loved the Zenith, too. At least they're both staying in the 'large' RCCL family since they now own Pullmantur. It would be sadder if they were going to the far east and being junked out and used for casino junkets.
 
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TheBeachBears

Guest
Thanks for the info on the Zenith, it would have been a shame to see her go like the MS Sun Viking.
 
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cruisebuddy

Guest
I just joined today and found this thread. How sad! Nordic Empress was my first cruise ship! It is a wonderful ship and I will miss it. For those of you who have not had the pleasure, I highly recommend sailing her before it's too late. She isn't like the other ships. That is, it isn't the floating city that many of the new ships are today. Then again, it isn't that small. We always said we would try and cruise her again. Now I guess my time is running out.

The sad part to this story is the fact that RCCL keeps making them BIGGER. I thought the Voyager class was on the plus size, but that isn't anything compared to what Genesis will be like. Here's hoping the trend goes back the other way.
 
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