Ships Go After First-Time Sailors

The Nordic Empress, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s first ship to be built for mini-cruises, features a smoothly-run program that is aimed at novice cruisers.

Along with Carnival Cruise Lines’ Fantasy, the two new vessels sail year-round, round-trip every Friday and Monday from Miami to the Bahamas, attracting passengers from the U.S. and Canada with packages that include air fare and, if necessary, overnight hotel accommodations in Miami.

Cruises cost $495 to $1,255 per person, double occupancy, depending on cabin, length of cruise and season of the year.

Shortly after embarkation, stewards on the Nordic Empress will discuss how everything in the cabin works. Afterward, during a welcome-aboard program, a lecturer will offer tips on shopping in the Bahamas.

Youth counselors talk of the ship’s activities and sign-in rules to parents and children. Personnel from the ship’s sports and fitness program, beauty shop, shops, casino, and photography concession also explain their services and prices.

In the dining room the first night, the waiter, bus boy and headwaiter will introduce themselves and explain their duties, so passengers can summon the right person for a glass of water or a cup of coffee.

Detailed dress code suggestions are printed on the daily programs and, before the end of the first day, uninitiated cruisers should be completely at ease aboard the 1,602-passenger ship.

Since the vessel is at dock or anchor every day, deck areas were designed to give more shade and breeze.

Because passengers spend less time aboard than they would on longer cruises, the ship has no library, card room or cinema (cabin TV sets play new films throughout the day and evening).

The ship features a central nine-deck atrium called the “Centrum,” that enables passengers to make their way around the ship easily and quickly.

An abundance of glass gives this ship a light and airy look. At the stern, a striking two-deck dining room, the first of its kind at sea, and a two-deck nightclub high above it are walled in glass.

Side walls of the Centrum are glass as well, and forward, at the bow, the self-service Windjammer Cafe also looks out through a wall of glass.

Neither the Windjammer nor the nightclub have nonsmoking sections.

In the two-deck show lounge, sightlines are good from the seats in front and center, but sometimes poor from the back and sides. In the balcony, too many chairs and tables fill the space, blocking access to some seats.

The lounge entertainment is perhaps the best at sea. Two shows, “That’s Entertainment” and “Show Stoppers,” are lavishly costumed and professionally choreographed.

Service is excellent and the food, while not inspired, is mainstream American and unintimidating. Steak, prime rib and lobster are the kitchen’s attractions; the most exotic fare consists of cold fruit soups.

The lowest-priced inside cabins (from $153 to $177 a day per person, double occupancy, depending on cruise and season) are compact and comfortable, with two lower beds, a chair, a built-in dresser and stool, good storage space and tiled bathroom with shower and generous shelf and counter area.

Attractive buys in the higher-price categories are the deluxe outside doubles with private balcony, from $274 to $335 a day per person, double occupancy.

Four extra-large cabins have been designed for travelers in wheelchairs, two insides ($199 to $242 a day per person, double occupancy) and two outsides ($243 to $275 a day per person, double occupancy.)

The recommended tip is $10 a day per passenger.