Majesty Of The Seas

The 1992-built cruise ship Majesty of the Seas was the last Sovereign-class vessel in the RCI-Royal Caribbean fleet. In 2015, RCI announced that in 2016 Majesty OTS will join Pullmantur Cruises (RCCL's brand in Spain) under the name "Pullmantur Majesty". However, later RCI stated that the newly-refurbished liner remains in the fleet, but the refurbishment plans were adjusted to lower the drydock's cost.

The vessel (IMO number 8819512) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311734000) and registered in Nassau.

Majesty OTS was once again planned to leave RCI's fleet in 2019 and join Pullmantur. The sistership Monarch of the Seas was transferred to Pullmantur in 2013. However, in early-July 2019, RCI announced that Majesty OTS will be homeported in Port NOLA (New Orleans) in 2020 (January through April).

History - construction and ownership

In mid-December 2020, RCG-Royal Caribbean Group sold the ships Majesty OTS (28-years-old) and Empress OTS (30-years-old). Empress was sold to the India-based company Cordelia Cruises. The new shipowner of Majesty OTS was not disclosed at the time. A total of 60x Majesty OTS cruises (itineraries scheduled between March 6, 2021, and April 30, 2022) were canceled.

The ship's planned by RCI 2021-2022 itinerary program included 7-day Florida-Bahamas and 7-day Western Caribbean voyages leaving roundtrip from homeport NOLA New Orleans. The Bahamas roundtrips were planned to visit Key West Florida, Nassau and CocoCay. The Western Caribbean roundtrips had planned visits to Mexico (Cozumel, Costa Maya) and Honduras (Coxen Hole on Roatan Island).

Between December 22, 2020, and January 29, 2021, the liner (renamed to just "MS Majesty") remained at anchorage off Port Souda (Crete Island, Greece). Since January 30, it is docked at Port Piraeus-Athens. As shipowner was listed Saturn Oceanway Inc, which contracted Campbell Shipping via the subsidiary "Campbell Cruise And Yacht Management Ltd". In late-March as the new shipowner of Majesty OTS was listed Eaglepower Shipping Ltd - the company that owns SeaJets Ferries Greece. On February 1, 2021, the vessel arrived from Sauda and docked at Port Piraeus. The AIS transmitted for the last time on February 8th (at 14:05 UTC) showing it docked in Piraeus.

When operated by Royal Caribbean, Majesty OTS was owned by Majesty of the Seas Inc, Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311734000) and registered in Nassau. The vessel was last refurbished (by RCI) in 2016. On November 8, the vessel anchored in Sauda Bay (off Port Sauda-Chania Crete) and remained at anchorage through January 2021.

SEAJETS Greece (1989-founded) is a Cyprus-based shipping company that specializes in passenger and cargo ferry services exclusively in the Eastern Mediterranean (Aegean Sea). Seajets' fleet includes mainly fast-ferries (14x high-speed catamarans, max capacity 2100 passengers + 600 cars) plus 3x conventional Ro-Pax vessels (max capacity 1300 passengers + 400 cars). Seajets operates from homeports Piraeus-Athens, Lavrion and Crete (Heraklion and Rethymno) interconnecting 26 Cyclades Islands (Crete including) with 260 connections.

The 2750-passenger ship Majesty OTS underwent a considerable bow-to-stern refurbishment in early-2007 at a cost of ~USD 36 million. After the makeover, Majesty returned with the RCI's signature venues, including the new Vitality at Sea (wellness complex/spa and fitness), new restaurants, fully redesigned teen venues, redesigned pool deck, fully renovated passenger staterooms (new carpets, bedding, HDTVs). The Viking Crown Lounge was redesigned, as well as the Centrum Atrium's shops. Still, standard cabins (inside and outside) remained one of the industry's smallest (sized 120 ft2 / 11 m2).

Majesty OTS also didn't receive any additional cabin balconies, so its balcony staterooms remained priced as premium.

The ship's 2016 drydock refurbishment was revised, dropping the initial plans for adding the specialty dining venues Izumi and Sabor, or a waterslide. The revitalization included Suite cabin renovations, updates of the Casino, bar lounges and Vitality At Sea (wellness), adding RCI's signature Jumbotron (large-sized poolside movie screen), Splashaway Bay (aqua park for kids), VOOM WiFi (fast Internet), family jacuzzis (on Lido-Pool Deck).

Itineraries

Until 2019, Majesty of the Seas itinerary program was based on short breaks (3- and 4-day) to the Bahamas leaving from homeport Miami to Nassau and Coco Cay (Royal Caribbean's private island). Since March 2019, the liner offered cruises to Cuba leaving roundtrip from homeport Port Canaveral (Orlando, Florida USA). The itineraries visited Cuba's capital city Havana (day visit and overnight). The first cruise (itinerary March 25) prices started from USD 540 pp. Bookings were opened on July 14, 2017.

Majesty OTS 4- and 5-night itineraries to Havana were planned with homeporting in Tampa Florida (April-October 2018) and from Fort Lauderdale (November 2018 through December 2019). Bookings for Royal Caribbean/s 2020 Cuban season were opened on May 17, 2019. The program was based on two liners - Majesty (from Fort Lauderdale Florida) and Empress of the Seas (from Miami). Empress OTS offered 3- to 8-night itineraries with Havana overnights (or late-night departures) plus CocoCay Island (on select cruises). Majesty OTS offered 4- to 6-night itineraries with stops in Havana (overnight), Mexico (Costa Maya, Cozumel), Key West Florida, CocoCay.

In 2020 (January through April) Majesty OTS was scheduled for homeporting in NOLA (New Orleans) for 4-day to 7-day roundtrips to Bahamas (Nassau, CocoCay) and Western Caribbean (Costa Maya, Cozumel, Isla Roatan).

Decks and Cabins

Majesty Of The Seas staterooms (a total of 1177) are in 28 categories and include 63x Balcony Suites (no Standard Balcony cabins), 100x adjoining, 4x wheelchair-accessible, 299x cabins with 3rd/4th bed. Most staterooms are smaller-sized (115-120 ft2/ 11 m2) including 460x Inside and 586x Oceanview. The ship's largest cabins are Royal Suites (700 ft2 / 65 m2) with Balcony (150 ft2 / 14 m2).

The boat has 12 decks, of which 11 are passenger-accessible and 9 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The Moonlight Restaurant (on Deck 3) and Starlight Restaurant (deck 4) are the ship's MDRs (main dining rooms). The only difference between the two is the seat cushions' color: maroon in Moonlight and teal in Starlight. The food is standard dining room fare, including lobster bisque, shrimp cocktail, roast duck, steak and salmon. The waiters make personal recommendations (usually for an appetizer or dessert). A Royal Lifestyle menu features lighter and healthier items. Vegetarian cuisine is also available. Low-sugar, low-salt and other special diets are accommodated, and the whole Royal Caribbean fleet is free of trans-fat.

Follows the complete list of Majesty of the Seas restaurants and food bars.

• Moonlight Restaurant (675-seat aft Dining Room)
• Starlight Restaurant (697-seat aft Dining Room)
• Windjammer Cafe Lido buffet restaurant (546-seat, offers Early Breakfast at 6:30 a.m., Breakfast between 7:00-11:30 a.m., Lunch 11.30-3:30 p.m. and Dinner 6.30-9:00 p.m.)
• Johnny Rockets Restaurant (72-seat burger bar)
• Compass Deli (52-seat complimentary self-service restaurant)
• Sorrento's (pizzeria, next door to the deli, open until late).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

In addition to the events that are being announced in the daily planner Cruise Compass, onboard entertainment features live music and the most recent movies on the big screens in Spectrum lounge and Chorus Line Theater. Trivia and Sudoku puzzles are daily available in the library. Evening entertainment offers individual performers (a magician, comic or musician) and production shows in the Chorus Line Theater. Two shows are usually available each night to accommodate both dining times. Dancing is offered all around Majesty of the Seas, from calypso music poolside and classics in the Centrum to piano sing-alongs in Schooner Bar and Latin flavors in Boleros. Late each night, a game show (The Newlywed Game, Battle of the Sexes) takes place, usually in the Spectrum lounge and draws a large crowd.

Additional amenities include Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Supervised Youth program, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry.

Follows the complete list of Majesty of the Seas lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Photo Gallery and Shop
• The Centrum (7-deck atrium and social hub, offers aerial acrobatics entertainment); A Chorus Line Lounge (1027-seat); Boleros Lounge; Spectrum Lounge and Nightclub; Viking Crown Lounge and Nightclub
• Cafe Latte-tudes Bar (12-seat specialty coffee bar, Starbucks Coffee); Schooner Bar (142-seat piano bar); Mast Bar
• Centrum Boutiques (duty-free; clothes, perfumes, accessories, jewelry, logo souvenirs, General Store/alcohol, and cigarettes)
• Casino Royale
• Royal Caribbean Online Centre (Internet computers room; 24-hour)
• Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center; 2 jacuzzis; 2 pools
• Challengers Video Games Arcade; Fuel Teen Center and Disco Club; The Living Room
• Adventure Beach; Adventure Ocean kids lounge area
• Sports Court (golf simulator, table tennis, basketball court); Jogging Track; Rock-climbing Wall.