Luxury Liner Row - Regal Empress

Here are a few photos of my third and final cruise on the Regal Empress. As usual, the service was excellent, and the food was outstanding. The menu had recently been upgraded and included Chateau Briand and Salmon. It was among the best food I've ever had on any ship (not counting Crystal Cruises). Top notch service as well.

Sadly she is gone now, however I have decided to leave my recommendation to sail on her up as a sort of tribute. She was a great ship and is missed by many.

Having recently come back from dry dock (this was only her second trip since her return), the ship was clean on our cruise, and did not look her 50-odd years.

The weather likewise was perfect, the temperature was in the low 80's, and the sea was smooth, and the Regal Empress moved so little that, if you didn't know you were on a ship, you would swear you were on land. The last morning, the sea became a touch choppy so it was nice to feel a bit of movement to the ship.

We received an invitation from Alain Chabot, the hotel manager, to join him on the bridge as we left Nassau. It was amazing and is an experience you almost never get on a larger ship because of all the corporate rules and regulations. Imperial Majesty was one of the best cruise lines in the business!

I know I've said it before, but it is worth repeating. If you are looking for a short cruise with excellent food and service as well as an extremely friendly staff, the Regal Empress can't be beat!

If you want to see a larger version of each photo, just click on it.

The Regal Empress, formerly the Greek Line flagship Olympia.	Imperial Majesty.		Her wonderful cruiser stern.
The ship from the gangway while boarding.	"But why can't I have one?"	Brian, Angela, and Alex in Suite U-90.	Upon arrival at their cabin, Angela and Alex found that the President of Imperial Majesty had sent them a fruit basket.
The corridor to suite U-91. This area used to be a second-class public room, but it was converted into cabins. Fortunately, they left much of the original paneling.	Suite U-91 was my cabin on all three cruises. I booked this cabin based on the recommendation of my friend Peter Knego. This space used to be part of the second-class Card Room.	An original painting in U-91 left over from her days with the Greek Line.	Her lifeboat davits were made by the famed Wellin company of Titanic fame.
	Lifeboat drill.	The harbor at Fort Lauderdale.	Creating a lee.
Brian, and my friends Angela, and Alex.	Getting ready to drop the pilot.	The wake.	During her recent dry docking, new carpet was installed throughout much of the ship, including this Imperial Majesty logo.
An invitation from Brian to cocktails in the Commodore Lounge. The cover art was taken from an original Greek Line menu.	Brian, Angela, and Alex having cocktails in the Commodore Lounge before dinner on the first night out.	During dinner, Alain, the hotel manager, regaled us with stories about his many years at sea.	One of the few real promenade decks left at sea.
	Baked Alaska!	The Olympia dining room. One of the most beautiful rooms on any ship and still mostly original to her Greek Line days.	Note the superb veneer.
A table set for dinner. Her original chairs were removed only a couple of years before this photo was taken.	One of about eight marquetry panels in the dining room.	The original acid-etched mirrors are peach-plate glass. Apparently these stunning mirrors were taken off the ship before she went to the scrappers.	The sideboard in the dining room.
The main staircase. Tell me she isn't a mini Queen Mary! I loved the English figured Sycamore paneling so much I bought 4 panels to mount in my home.	The original first-class library. Unfortunately, this room was off limits to passengers.	Nassau from our suite.	When the ship was in Nassau, almost everyone went ashore. The large pink building on the left is the famous Atlantis Hotel.
Carnival's Imagination.	While in Nassau an America's Cup yacht cruised by.	Regal Empress docked in Nassau.
Crew boat drill.	The crew took boat drill very seriously. Every boat on the starboard side was lowered to the water.	Beauty treatment.	Brian and the Empress.
David and Goliath.	Starboard running light.		Her bridge front had great lines.
We were graciously invited to the bridge for sail away.	Nassau is a Mecca for cruise ships.	We were doing 14 knots.	A bit of chop as we approach Ft. Lauderdale. Another successful cruise coming to an end.