The Empress of the Seas began sailing again for
Royal Caribbean International, launching a schedule of short cruises from Miami
after a $50 million renovation.
The ship sailed
previously for Royal Caribbean as the Nordic Empress from 1990 to 2008 before being transferred to Spanish cruise line Pullmantur. It was transferred back
to Royal Caribbean in a strategy to downsize Pullmantur.
On its
initial cruise, the Empress will visit Royal Caribbean’s private island Coco Cay and Nassau,Bahamas. The ship will then offer four- and five-night getaways from Miami to Nassau; Cozumel and Costa Maya,
Mexico; Grand Cayman and Key West.
Royal Caribbean is seeking permission from Cuba to launch
cruises from the U.S and the 1,840-passenger Empress is the ship that would
likely be used if those approvals are granted.