Majesty or Empress to Cuba?

[Sun Lover]

We're looking into a cruise to Cuba this coming Oct. and are trying to decide between these two ships.  We've never been on an RCCL ship smaller than Adventure but this trip would obviously be about the destination, not the ship itself.  Besides the size, what would be the big difference between these 2 ships?  There's an 8 night itinerary on Empress that we like the best but it has 3 sea days and I'm thinking we would be stir crazy trying to find things to do and I'm wondering if it would really make that much difference if we were on Majesty just because it's a little larger.  If anyone has experience with either or both of these ships, please advise.  Thanks.

[cruisegirl1]

We took both empress and majesty to Cuba. We sailed Empress for a week in 2017 and Majesty for 5 nights (with an overnight ) in 2018. You are correct, the destination is the point. Because of the pier in Cuba, they must use a small ship. 

 

 

Both are small, but if everything is the same, I would go with Empress. There are just a few differences, and they may or may not be important to you. Empress has a beautiful boleros with nice outdoor seating. You can smoke cigars back there. Empress also has a chops speciality restaurant.  If you are a C&A D or up, there is no lounge on either, but majesty has a nice nightly event. Empress has no lounge or nightly event.   

 

Empress has a nice brunch in the MDR on sea days with complimentary (unadvertised-you have to know to ask) bloody Marys or mimosas. If I recall, there is no seated breakfast or lunch on sea days, just the brunch. 

 

Majesty has has a slightly larger casino, but (at least last time we sailed Empress to Cuba) the empress casino was smoke free.

 

 

I would go with which ever itinerary and dates worked best for you.   Having the overnight was terrific!  If the 8 night had several Cuba ports, that would be my recommendation. 

 

Enjoy

 

m

[Sun Lover]

Thanks, your info is really helpful.  I love Boleros but hate cigar smoke.  Can people only smoke outside there?

[cruisegirl1]

9 minutes ago, Sun Lover said:

Thanks, your info is really helpful.  I love Boleros but hate cigar smoke.  Can people only smoke outside there?

Yes.   

 

M

[Sun Lover]

Was the cigar smoking pretty well everywhere outside in Cuba and are there restrictions against smoking inside in bars and restaurants?

 

[Cruisegirl6]

That is easy for ME to answer....definately Majesty!

 

Majesty has alot more decks/public areas, an extra large lounge, sorrentos, the deli and Johnny Rockets.  I was on her this past August and was very impressed.

 

Empress for me is way too small and too light of a ship....692', 48,563 GT

Majesty 880', 73,941 GT

If you have bad weather/rough seas the Majesty handle it alot more better.

[theEvilQueen2]

I have had a great time on both ships and never at a loss for something to do. Yes, the cabins are small, pack light.

Our first cruise on Majesty, we opened the door of our cabin, saw how small it was and bust out laughing. Many cruises later, the small ships remind me of when we were young and poor and didn't mind being squished close together.   

 

Happy Cruising. 

[gkbiiii]

The Empress does have an amazing two story multi-tier dining room, while Majesty has none, but just two basic dining rooms. 

[Jam0610]

We have booked the Empress for Oct 17th sailing. Mostly due to date of sailing and stopping in Grand Cayman. 

 

[Rewind]

Majesty will have a second pool on the deck, a larger Viking Crown area, and I think a small sports court.  That's about all the extra that you get.

 

I would really make it about the port stops.  If one has an overnight in Havana, take that itinerary over the other and go see a show.

 

I will also add that the Boleros on Empress looks almost brand new (at least as of a few weeks ago), and the only smoking locations I saw on the entire ship were aft of deck 6 (outside behind Boleros) and one side of the pool deck.  No inside smoking anywhere.

[EatonDoolittle]

IMO - Majesty, having done both.

OV cabin on Majesty was a bit bigger, had a couch and a mini-fridge.  Walls paper thin on Empress, I heard every word the people next door said. Fortunately, they were not newlyweds (if ya know what I mean...)🙄

 

Boleros (Empress) back open deck is wonderful, but as I've mentioned here a few times, on my trip it became unusable due to smokers. Yes, even when underway. 

 

There was a wonderful D, D+ nightly cocktail hour in the Viking Crown lounge on Majesty, (along with 3 drinks on your card), nothing but the 3 drinks on Empress. This was 2017, things may have changed. Appreciated the separate dining room for D and above for breakfast. It was quiet,  peaceful, never crowded, and food arrived hot. I don't remember if Empress did this. 

 

No mini fridges on Empress, other than in the suites. Again this may have changed since 2017, but in that heat, it was nice to have cold soda or water waiting in the cabin. 

 

Majesty has the nice Compass Deli, pizza place, and Johnny Rockets upstairs from the Windjammer. Its good to have other lunch options besides the MDR,  tho Empress does get points for MDR champagne brunch on sea days. 

 

Decide what's important for you on the ship - Cuba does of course remain the main attraction- and enjoy, either way

 

 

 

[ZandZ]

Have not been on the Empress but Majesty has a soft spot in my heart being my first cruise.  I mas making the same choice a few months back and chose the Majesty due to the itinerary.  Cuba is my reason for going, not really the ship, so I chose the one that worked better for me.

[polymedia]

I've been on Majesty 3 times and Empress twice and I'd take Empress. It's a small and old ship, but it has a great vibe. I enjoyed myself much more than on E than on M.