- Norwegian Majesty
MS "Norwegian Majesty" is a
cruise ship owned byLouis Cruise Lines , under charter toNorwegian Cruise Line until December 2009. She was originally ordered byBirka Line as MS "Birka Queen" from theWärtsilä Marine Turku Shipyard inFinland , but completed byKvaerner Masa-Yards as MS "Royal Majesty" forMajesty Cruise Line . In 1997 she was sold to Norwegian Cruise Line and lengthened by convert|33.76|m|ftin|abbr=on at theLloyd Werft shipyard inBremerhaven ,Germany .Concept and construction
The "Birka Queen" was ordered by
Birka Line for short cruises out ofStockholm as a running mate to MS|Birka Princess. The ship was ordered fromWärtsilä Marine , but the shipyard went bankrupt in 1990. Operations were soon reorganized under the name ofMasa-Yards , [cite book |title=Siljan viisi vuosikymmentä |last=Malmberg |first=Thure |coauthors=Stampehl, Marko |year=2007 |publisher=Frenckellin Kirjapaino Oy |location=Espoo |isbn=978-951-98405-7-4 |language=Finnish/English |pages=pp. 153-154 ] but the price of the ship was increased in the process, and Birka therefore refused to take delivery. Instead, the build contact was sold toMajesty Cruise Line , who took delivery of the ship onJuly 2 1992 , renaming her "Royal Majesty".ervice history
Following delivery, the "Royal Majesty" set on her maiden voyage, a
transatlantic crossing fromSouthampton toNew York City , onJuly 7 1992 . She was officially christened in New York City onJuly 21 1992 . Following this, she was used on three- and four-night cruises out ofFlorida . In 1995 she initiated a newnorthern hemisphere summer season itenary with cruises fromBoston toSt. George's, Bermuda , returning to Florida for the winter season. In September 1995 she participated in an expedition to the sinking site of RMS|Titanic, spending five days at the site with many survivors from the famous ship onboard, while parts of the "Titanic" were being salvaged.cite web |url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/RoyalMajesty.html |title="Royal Majesty" |accessdate=2008-04-23 |date= |last=Boyle |first=Ian |format= |work=Simplon Postcards |language= ]Majesty Cruise Line ceased operations at the end of the 1997 summer season, and the "Royal Majesty" was sold toNorwegian Cruise Line . [cite web |url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/MajestyCruiseLine.html |title=Majesty Cruise Line |accessdate=2008-04-23 |date= |last=Boyle |first=Ian |format= |work=Simplon Postcards |language= ] She was renamed "Norwegian Majesty", and in 1999 she received a convert|33.76|m|ftin|abbr=on lengthening at theLloyd Werft shipyard inBremerhaven ,Germany . Similar lenghtenings had been carried out on NCL's "Dreamward " and "Windward " the previous year. The lengthening of the Norwegian Majesty however was more technically complicated than those of the other ships, as she had not been designed for such an operation.In 2004 the ownership of the "Norwegian Majesty" was transferred to NCL's parent company
Star Cruises in preparation for potential transfer to the Star Cruises fleet or sale at a later date. She remained in NCL service without other changes. On April 23, 2008 the "Norwegian Majesty", alongside her fleetmate "Norwegian Dream ", were sold to theCyprus -basedLouis Cruise Lines . Louis Cruise Lines had reportedly outbidInternational Shipping Partners with their offer of $162 million. [cite web |url=http://dougnewmanatsea.com/2008/04/18/seatrade-pride-of-america-not-sold/ |title=Seatrade: Pride of America Not Sold |accessdate=2008-04-19 |date=2008-04-18 |last=Newman |first=Doug |work=At Sea with Doug Newman |publisher= ] The deal was completed on July 29, 2008, but the "Norwegian Majesty" will be chartered back to Norwegian Cruise Line until December 2009. [cite web|url=http://www.lloydslist.com/ll/news/star-cruises-218m-norwegian-dream-sale-fails/20017575692.htm|title=Star Cruises $218m Norwegian Dream sale fails|last=Hand|first=Marcus|date=2008-09-30|publisher="Lloyd's List "|accessdate=2008-09-30]Decks and facilities
As "Norwegian Majesty"
Only including decks accessible to passengers.
- "Caribbean Deck" - Outside and inside cabins
- "Biscayne Deck" - Hospital, outside and inside cabins
- "Atlantic Deck" -
Nightclub , bars, shops, games arcade,library ,card room , internet café, dining rooms,bistro , cafeteria, sundeck - "Majesty Deck" - Casino, bar, showroom, suites, outside and inside cabins
- "Promenade Deck" -
Sauna , gym,discothèque , outside and inside cabins, sundeck - "Viking Deck" - Bridge, outside cabins, sundeck
- "Norway Deck" - Observation lounge, children's playroom, suites, outside cabins, sundeck,
swimming pool - "Sun Deck" -
Buffet restaurant, outdoors cafeteria, bar, sundeck, swimming pools - "Sky Deck" - Sundeck [cite web |url=http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/fleet/deckplan.html?shipCode=MAJESTY |title="Norwegian Majesty" - deck plans |accessdate=2008-04-23 |format= |work= |publisher=Norwegian Cruise Line ]
Current Cruises
The Norwegian Majesty is based in
Charleston, South Carolina during the winter months and sails a variety ofCaribbean itineraries. During the spring and summer months, she is based inBaltimore, Maryland and sails 7-day cruises toBermuda .References
External links
* [http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/fleet/shipInformation.html;jsessionid=LP7DTnpyxYDvTZPLz4tbYThj8fg0nnHy!-604855725?shipCode=MAJESTY Norwegian Cruise Line official website for "Norwegian Majesty"]
* [http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=43 CruiseCritic.com review]
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