Nordic Empress (1990-2008) — Historic Royal Caribbean Ship

Name: Nordic Empress Overview
Item: Nordic Empress
Author: In the Wake Editorial Team

Nordic Empress is a Nordic Class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean. She entered service in TBD, measures TBD gross tons, and carries approximately TBD guests at double occupancy.

Looking for Nordic Empress info? Nordic Empress is a retired Royal Caribbean ship that served from 1990 to 2008. This page preserves its history, deck plans, and legacy for those who sailed aboard or are researching Royal Caribbean's fleet evolution.

Nordic Empress (1990-2008) pioneered Royal Caribbean's short-cruise market from Miami, offering 3- and 4-night Caribbean getaways. She was known for her intimate size and classic cruise experience with about 1,840 guests at double occupancy. After leaving the Royal Caribbean fleet in 2008, she was sold to Pullmantur and continued sailing until 2020.

A First Look at Nordic Empress

Nordic Empress at a Glance

Dining Venues on Nordic Empress

Nordic Empress dining venue seating with ocean view

Prices can change at any time. These reflect the last sailing captured.

The Logbook — Tales From the Wake

The Ship That Found Her Place

I almost didn't book Nordic Empress. She wasn't built for Royal Caribbean, she wasn't the biggest ship in the fleet, and the three-night Bahamas cruise seemed too short to count as a real vacation. My wife said I was being a snob. She was right.

Nordic Empress joined Royal Caribbean in 1990, acquired from Admiral Cruises where she'd been named Future Seas. At 48,563 gross tons and about 1,600 passengers, she was notably smaller than the Sovereign-class mega-ships that Royal Caribbean was building to great fanfare. Sovereign had launched in 1988 at 73,000 tons. Nordic Empress was two-thirds that size. In the cruise industry's arms race toward bigger and bigger ships, she looked like a step backward.

She was the opposite.

What Nordic Empress understood—or rather, what the fleet planners understood when they deployed her—was that not everyone wanted a seven-night commitment. Not everyone could afford it, and not everyone could take a full week off work. There was a vast, untapped market of people who wanted to try cruising but needed a lower barrier to entry: shorter duration, smaller ship, lower price, convenient departure port.

— Daniel P.

View Official Deck Plans →

Frequently Asked Questions About Nordic Empress

What happened to Nordic Empress?

Nordic Empress Entered service 1990; renamed Empress of the Seas in 2004; sold to Pullmantur in 2008. This page preserves the ship's history and legacy for those who sailed aboard or are researching Royal Caribbean's fleet evolution.

When did Nordic Empress sail for Royal Caribbean?

Nordic Empress was part of Royal Caribbean's fleet Entered service 1990. The ship represented a chapter in the cruise line's development.

Is Nordic Empress still in service?

No, Nordic Empress is no longer in service. The ship left the Royal Caribbean fleet in 2008 when it was transferred to Pullmantur Cruises as Empress of the Seas. Pullmantur ceased operations in 2020, and the vessel was subsequently scrapped. This page preserves its Royal Caribbean history for research and nostalgia.

Where does Nordic Empress typically sail?

During her time with Royal Caribbean (1990–2008), Nordic Empress typically sailed 3- and 4-night Caribbean itineraries from Miami, Florida, visiting ports such as CocoCay and Nassau in the Bahamas. The ship is no longer in active service.

How can I see Nordic Empress's current location?

Use the live ship tracker on this page to see Nordic Empress's current position, speed, and next port in real-time.

Quick Answer: Nordic Empress is a Royal Caribbean ship. This page covers deck plans, live ship tracking, dining venues, and videos to help you plan your cruise.

Best For: Cruisers researching Nordic Empress or comparing Royal Caribbean ships. Use this page to explore deck layouts, dining options, and onboard features before booking.

Key Facts

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
Resources: Deck plans, dining venues, live tracker
Reservations: Book via cruise line or travel advisor

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About the Author

Ken Baker

Founder of In the Wake; writer and editor of the logbook.

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Image Attributions

Nordic Empress in Miami: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Nordic Empress: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

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