Majesty of the Seas was a Sovereign-class cruise ship owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International.[1] She was built at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyards in Saint-Nazaire, France, weighing 73,941 gross tons. She was placed in service on 26 April 1992 offerering 4- and 5-night Caribbean cruises, sailing from Florida. Her Godmother is Queen Sonja of Norway. In December 2020 she was sold to Seajets, renamed Majesty and laid up in Greece. Subsequently renamed Majesty of the Oceans, she is the only remaining Sovereign-class ship, although still out of service in November 2024.

Majesty of the Seas anchored off CocoCay in 2009
History
Bahamas
Name
  • 1992–2021: Majesty of the Seas
  • 2021: Majesty
  • 2021–Present: Majesty of the Oceans
Owner
OperatorRoyal Caribbean International (1992-2020)
Port of registry1992–2005: Oslo,  Norway
2005–present: Nassau,  Bahamas
BuilderChantiers de l'Atlantique (St. Nazaire, France)
Launched21 September 1991
ChristenedQueen Sonja of Norway
Completed26 April 1992
Maiden voyage4 April 1992
In service1992
Out of service2020
Refit12 January 2007
Identification
StatusLaid up in Eleusis Bay
General characteristics
Class and typeSovereign-class cruise ship
Tonnage73,941 GT
Length880 ft (270 m)
Beam106 ft (32 m)
Draught28 ft (8.5 m)
Decks13 passenger decks
Speed22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Capacity2,767 passengers
Crew833

Description

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The ship has a casino and 11 passenger elevators, two of which are glass-walled, various bars, two swimming pools, four hot tubs, a basketball court, and a rock climbing wall. The ship holds 2,350 guests at double occupancy and a maximum of 2,767 guests, and 833 crew members.[2][3]

Service history

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The pool deck at sunset in 2018

On 12 January 2007, Majesty of the Seas entered a 4-week dry-dock period where she underwent a multimillion-dollar refurbishment of the pool decks, all public areas, restaurants, shops, centrum and cabins.

Plans to transfer Majesty of the Seas to Pullmantur in 2016 had been announced on 21 November 2014, however in July 2015, Royal Caribbean reversed those plans, instead stating that Majesty of the Seas would stay with Royal Caribbean International.[4]

Majesty of the Seas was dry-docked after her 29 April 2016 cruise to receive several upgrades, a children's water play area, a poolside movie screen, and modifications to the casino.[5][6]

COVID-19 pandemic

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC reported, as early as 22 April 2020, that at least one person who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 was symptomatic while on board.[7] From 14 March 2020 the ship's cruising operations were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

Sale to SeaJets

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In December 2020, Royal Caribbean sold Majesty of the Seas to Seajets who renamed her Majesty.[9][10] Seajets renamed the ship Majesty of the Oceans in April 2021, while still laid up at Piraeus.[11] The ship is currently on sale for $33,000,000.00.[12]

Scale model

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A 18th scale model of Majesty of the Seas was built in Morsbach, by François Zanella. The model was launched in 2005 and performs river cruises in and around Paris, France.

References

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  1. ^ "Majesty of the Seas Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship". directlinecruises.com. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Majesty of the Seas Fast Facts". Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  3. ^ McGillivray, Robert (5 February 2021). "Is Majesty of the Seas Going to Be Scrapped?". Cruise Hive. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Why Majesty of the Seas is Perfect for Pullmantur". Pullmantur Cruises. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  5. ^ "Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. - Press Releases". rclcorporate.com.
  6. ^ "Majesty of the Seas - Royal Caribbean International". royalcaribbean.com.
  7. ^ "CDC's role in helping cruise ship travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic". Centers for Disease Control. 21 April 2020. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Is Largest Ever to Enter British Port". cruisehive.com. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Royal Caribbean Sells Majesty and Empress of the Seas". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  10. ^ Antoniou, Sakis (3 February 2021). "At SeaJets the Majesty of the Seas". Arxipelagos (in Greek). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  11. ^ Antoniou, Sakis (18 April 2021). "Majesty of the Oceans the new name of Majesty". Arxipelagos (in Greek). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  12. ^ "1992 Commercial Custom for sale - YachtWorld". www.yachtworld.com. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
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