Empress of the Seas Ready for Cuba

Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean’s senior VP of sales, trade support and service, has confirmed rumours that the line’s smallest ship has been brought back into service to operate Cuba cruises once the island destination puts out the welcome mat for shipboard vacationers.

“That’s the plan,” Freed said during a visit to St. Nazaire’s STX France shipyard to tour the almost completed Harmony of the Seas; the line’s third and largest Oasis class vessel.

The 2,020-passenger Empress of the Seas is currently undergoing a stem-to-stern refit following a stint with Pullmantur Cruises, RCI’s Spanish brand, and will be operating three-, four- and five-night Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico getaways beginning in April.