If you are considering cruising with Royal Caribbean, beware the Empress of the Seas. While all of the staff and crew were friendly and professional, the actual ship was tired and dated. Areas are clean, but in need of renovation. Our cabin felt more like we were in a mobile home.
Because this is RC's smallest ship there was quite a bit of rocking. My husband was seasick for 2 of our 4 days.
The pool on this ship is extremely small. Both the pool and the hot tubs were overrun with children without adult supervision. The adult hot tub had children in it constantly and with staff watching were never asked to go to the family friendly tub.
Do not stay on a low floor. We were woken about at 6am each time we arrived at port because all of the internal workings of the ship were below us. What would start as a hum would turn into the room rumbling like there was an earthquake.