Royal Caribbean International has announced that at the end of this month, the Empress of the Seas and the Majesty of the Seas will leave its fleet. “Both the Empress of the Seas and the Majesty of the Seas have left their mark on the cruise industry with their revolutionary design and size. Considered the most innovative ships in the cruise industry at their launch, they have continued to make history during their more than three decades of service,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “Saying goodbye to these two beloved ships marks a significant moment in Royal Caribbean’s history—a difficult but necessary one. With new and innovative ships joining our fleet in the years to come, we look forward to our guests and crew continuing to create new memories with us.”.
The Empress of the Seas was the first ship designed for 3- and 4-night cruises when it launched in 1990, with its first voyages sailing to the Bahamas from Miami. The Empress of the Seas also made history as the first cruise ship to depart from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, when Royal Caribbean opened the terminal in 2004. In 2017, the ship was once again in the spotlight when it sailed on the cruise line's inaugural cruise to Cuba.
The Majesty of the Seas also played a crucial role in Royal Caribbean's commitment to continually redefine the industry. The third ship to complete the impressive Sovereign Class was more than twice the size of a conventional cruise ship, being the largest in the company's fleet when it debuted in 1992. Its adventures began with 7-night cruises in the Western Caribbean from Miami.
The ships have been sold to an undisclosed Asia-Pacific-based company, which will release details regarding future sailings at a later date. Customers and travel agents with cruise reservations aboard the Empress of the Seas and the Majesty of the Seas will be contacted by the company and informed of their options.
