Ship Profile: Majesty of the Seas

 Majesty of the Seas in the Caribbean.

Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean

April, 1992. 

Microsoft has just released Windows 3.1, EuroDisney opened for the first time just outside of Paris, and the Bosnian War is in its earliest stage. 

It also marked the maiden voyage of Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas.


The third and last in a trio of newbuilds that would prove to be the template for future cruise ships to come, Majesty of the Seas was as trendsetting as her sisters, Sovereign of the Seas (1988) and Monarch of the Seas (1991).  She featured the trademark Viking Crown Lounge mounted halfway up the funnel of the ship, as well as a sweeping, multi-storey atrium christened "The Centrum", numerous public lounges, and a vast array of comfortable, if slightly cramped, accommodations.

To fully understand the impact Majesty of the Seas and her sisters had on the cruise industry at the time, it's important to look at where the industry was in 1992.  Unlike today - where every cruise line has a fleet of new, purpose-built cruise ships, in 1992 more than half the industry was reliant upon older, hand-me-down tonnage.  The building boom that would run right into the next decade was just starting to ramp up: Holland America Line's Statendam was still a year away from entering into service;  Norwegian Cruise Line had their Norwegian Dream due to launch that December; and Princess Cruises had just launched the brand-new Regal Princess.  The Renzo Piano-designed ship would become the most photographed cruise ship in the world until the launch of Grand Princess in 1998, and Voyager of the Seas in 1999.

By the time Majesty of the Seas came along, it firmly entrenched Royal Caribbean in the mega-ship race.  When Sovereign of the Seas was under construction in 1987, she was the largest cruise ship in the world, and the largest one built in almost thirty years.

At the beginning of 2007, Majesty of the Seas went into drydock for an entire month.  When she emerged, she sparkled like new.  A multi-million dollar refurbishment saw vast improvements to public rooms and staterooms, removing some of the heavy brass and chrome accents popular in the early nineties and replacing them with more traditional woods and soothing colors.  The ship also acquired a Johnny Rockets, Seattle's Best Coffee, an ice cream bar, a vastly updated Bolero's nightclub, and updated "soft" furnishings throughout like new carpeting and upholstery.

Today, Majesty of the Seas operates three and four-night cruises to the Bahamas departing round-trip from Miami, Florida.  For those looking to experience a comfortable, quick getaway aboard one of the first trendsetting cruise ships, it's hard to go wrong.

Prices for Majesty of the Seas Bahamian sailings start at the ultra-low price of $129.00 per person in an inside cabin on a four-night sailing.  For more detailed information, be sure to visit Majesty of the Seas on Royal Caribbean's website.