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"MS Birka Queen" redirects here. For the other cruise ship with the same name, see MS Birka Queen (1992).

Crown Iris at Chalkis in 2018.
History
Name
  • Royal Majesty (1992–1997)
  • Norwegian Majesty (1997–2009)
  • Louis Majesty (2009–2012)
  • Thomson Majesty (2012–2017)
  • Majesty (2017–2018)
  • Princess Iris (2018–2018)
  • Crown Iris (2018–Present)
Owner
Operator
Port of registry
Builder Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Cost$229 million [4]
Yard number1312 [1]
Launched15 November 1991 [1]
Christened29 July 1992 [1]
Completed1992
Acquired2 July 1992 [1]
Maiden voyage7 July 1992 [1]
In service1992
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics (as built) [1]
Type Cruise ship
Tonnage
  • 32,396  GT
  • 2,600  DWT
Length173.50 m (569 ft 3 in)
Beam27.60 m (90 ft 7 in)
Draft6.20 m (20 ft 4 in)
Ice class1 A Super
Installed power
PropulsionTwo controllable pitch propellers [5]
Speed20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph)
Capacity1,056 passengers (1,256 maximum [6]
General characteristics (after 1999 refit) [5]
Tonnage
  • 40,876  GT
  • 21,984  NT
  • 2,700  DWT
Length207.1 m (679 ft)
Beam
  • 27.60 m (90 ft 7 in) (moulded)
  • 32.3 m (106 ft 0 in) (max)
Draft6.20 m (20 ft 4 in)
Depth14 m (45 ft 11 in)
Decks9 (passenger accessible) [4]
Speed20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)[ citation needed]
Capacity1,460 passengers (1,970 maximum) [4]
Crew620 [4]
NotesOtherwise the same as built

The MS Crown Iris is a cruise ship owned by Mano Maritime. She was originally ordered by Birka Line as MS Birka Queen from the Wärtsilä Marine Turku Shipyard in Finland, but completed by Kvaerner Masa-Yards as MS Royal Majesty for Majesty Cruise Line. In 1997 she was sold to Norwegian Cruise Line as MS Norwegian Majesty and lengthened by 33.76 m (110 ft 9 in) at the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany. [1] She was sold to Louis Cruises as MS Louis Majesty from 2008 to 2012 when she was chartered to Thomson Cruises as MS Thomson Majesty before being returned to Louis Cruises/Celestyal Cruises, as the Majesty. In 2018 the ship was sold to Mano Maritime.

Concept and construction

Birka Queen was ordered by Birka Line for short cruises out of Stockholm as a running mate to MS Birka Princess. The ship was ordered from Wärtsilä Marine, [1] but the shipyard went bankrupt in 1989. Operations were soon reorganized under the name of Masa-Yards, [7] but the price of the ship was increased in the process, and Birka therefore refused to take delivery. Instead, the build contact was sold to Majesty Cruise Line, who took delivery of the ship on 2 July 1992, renaming her Royal Majesty. [1] Due to her past, the ship has some features uncommon for cruise ships, such as the highest Finnish-Swedish ice class. [5]

Service history

Norwegian Majesty, docked in St. George's, Bermuda in 2004, while being operated by Norwegian Cruise Line

Following delivery, Royal Majesty set on her maiden voyage, a transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York City, on 7 July 1992. She was christened in New York City on 21 July 1992 by Liza Minnelli. [1] Following this, she was used on three- and four-night cruises out of Florida. In 1994 she initiated a new northern hemisphere summer season itinerary with cruises from Boston to St. George's, Bermuda, returning to Florida for the winter season.

Norwegian Majesty, photographed in 2007, while being operated by Norwegian Cruise Line

On 10 June 1995, Royal Majesty grounded on Rose and Crown Shoal about 10 nautical miles (19 km) east of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, and about 17 nmi (31 km) from where the watch officers thought the vessel was. Investigators found that the officers failed to act on visual cues about the vessel's location, over-relying on the automated bridge system. [8] The vessel, with 1,509 persons on board, was en route from St. George's, Bermuda, to Boston, Massachusetts. There were no deaths or injuries as a result of this accident. Damage to the vessel and lost revenue, however, were estimated at about $7 million. [9] [10]

In August 1996 she participated in the Titanic Expedition Cruise, an expedition to the sinking site of RMS Titanic. Sailing from Boston, passengers spent five days circling the site with many celebrities and survivors from the famous ship onboard while parts of Titanic were being salvaged. [11]

Louis Majesty, in the harbour of Rhodes, Greece.

Majesty Cruise Line ceased operations at the end of the 1997 summer season, and Royal Majesty was sold to Norwegian Cruise Line. [12] She was renamed Norwegian Majesty, and in 1999 she received a 33.76 m (110 ft 9 in) lengthening at the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany. [1] Similar lengthenings had been carried out on NCL's Dreamward and Windward the previous year. [13] 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. [4]

Thomson Majesty, docked in Split, Croatia, on 7 May 2013.

In 2004 the ownership of 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. [2] On 23 April 2008 Norwegian Majesty, was sold to the Cyprus-based Louis Cruise Lines. Louis Cruise Lines had reportedly outbid International Shipping Partners with their offer of $162 million. [3] [14] The deal was completed on 29 July 2008, but Norwegian Majesty was chartered back to Norwegian Cruise Line until October 2009. [3] [15]

Thomson Majesty, docked in Venice, Italy, on 12 August 2013.

On 24 June 2009, Louis revealed that Norwegian Majesty would be renamed Louis Majesty. [16] On 3 March 2010, three rogue waves hit Louis Majesty, killing two passengers, and injuring a number of others, while on a 12-day cruise around the Mediterranean. The waves, which were reportedly in excess of 26 feet (8 m) high, collided with the side of the vessel, smashing several windows in the saloon area. Water was taken on in the saloon area, which then drained down the decks below. The ship returned to port at Barcelona to receive repairs. [17]

Louis Majesty was chartered to Thomson Cruises from May 2012 and renamed Thomson Majesty. It sailed from Corfu in the summer and the Canary Islands in the winter. [18]

On 10 February 2013, while the ship was docked in Santa Cruz de la Palma in the Canary Islands, five crew members were killed and three others injured during a safety drill when the lifeboat they were in fell into the sea, trapping the occupants. Julian Bray, Marine Analyst in the UK, writing in the Cduck media news blog, confirms that crew were taking part in a training exercise to load, launch, and recover lifeboats, complete a regular risk/ safety programme and to ensure crew members have had recent practical training. Malta's Maritime Safety Investigation Unit subsequently issued a safety alert following the discovery of significant corrosion on the inner strands of the fall wire involved. The wire rope had parted approximately where it rested over the topmost sheave, when the davit was in its stowed position. The fore and aft davit's fall wires had been replaced on 22 August 2010 and the next scheduled replacement was due in August 2014. [19] In her later career with Thomson Cruises, she was given a refit adding several balcony cabins to the ship.

In November 2017 she joined "Celestyal Cruises" and renamed simply as "Majesty".

Crown Iris at Venice in 2019.

Service as Crown Iris

Crown Iris at Rhodes in 2022.

In late 2018, Majesty was sold to the Israeli cruise line Mano Maritime and renamed Crown Iris. In early 2019, the ship was refurbished and lengthened in a stretch and total rebuild operation, extending her length to 216 meters. On 7 May 2019, the ship docked for the first time in Haifa port, Israel, and On 11 April the Crown Iris launching ceremony was held.

Crown Iris at Santorini (Picture taken from a small boat taking passengers to the port)

Areas of operation

As Norwegian Majesty she was based in various US ports and cruised to the Caribbean. [20]

As Louis Majesty she was based in Piraeus, Greece and undertook cruises around the Greek Isles. [21] [22]

As Thomson Majesty she was based in Corfu, Greece and sailed in the Mediterranean from June–October, and during the winter sailed to the Canary Islands & Morocco.

As Crown Iris she is based in Haifa, Israel and cruise along the coasts of the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and to various destinations in Europe.

Gallery

  • The upper deck of Norwegian Majesty
    The upper deck of Norwegian Majesty
  • The Viking deck of Norwegian Majesty
    The Viking deck of Norwegian Majesty
  • Royal Observatory Bar of Thomson Majesty
    Royal Observatory Bar of Thomson Majesty
  • The Corridor of Thomson Majesty
    The Corridor of Thomson Majesty

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Asklander, Micke. "M/S Royal Majesty (1992)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  2. ^ a b Newman, Doug (15 April 2008). "Lloyd's List: Three NCL Ships Nearly Sold". At Sea with Doug Newman. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d "Louis acquires Norwegian Dream and Majesty". Cruise Business Review. Cruise Media Oy Ltd. 23 April 2008. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d e Ward, Douglas (2006). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. pp.  440–441. ISBN  981-246-739-4.
  5. ^ a b c "Thomson Majesty (16244)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  6. ^ Miller, William H. Jr. (1995). The Pictorial Encycpedia of Ocean Liners, 1860-1994. Mineola: Dover Publications. p.  110. ISBN  0-486-28137-X.
  7. ^ Malmberg, Thure; Stampehl, Marko (2007). Siljan viisi vuosikymmentä (in Finnish and English). Espoo: Frenckellin Kirjapaino Oy. pp. 153–154. ISBN  978-951-98405-7-4.
  8. ^ "GROUNDING OF THE PANAMANIAN PASSENGER SHIP ROYAL MAJESTY ON ROSE AND CROWN SHOAL NEAR NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS JUNE 10, 1995" (PDF). National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  9. ^ "NTSB Marine Accident Report" (PDF).
  10. ^ "Cruise Ship Carrying 1,500 Runs Aground -NY Times". The New York Times. 12 June 1995. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  11. ^ Ringle, Ken. "NEW DEPTHS FOR TITANIC PROMOTER?". Washington Post. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  12. ^ Boyle, Ian. "Majesty Cruise Line". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
  13. ^ Boyle, Ian. "Royal Majesty". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
  14. ^ Newman, Doug (18 April 2008). "Seatrade: Pride of America Not Sold". At Sea with Doug Newman. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2008.
  15. ^ Hand, Marcus (30 September 2008). "Star Cruises $218m Norwegian Dream sale fails". Lloyd's List. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
  16. ^ "Louis Majesty | Cruise Ind". Cruiseind.wordpress.com. 24 June 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  17. ^ "Two killed as giant waves hit Mediterranean cruise ship". BBC News Online. 3 March 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  18. ^ "Majesty to replace Destiny in Thomson cruises fleet". Travelweekly.co.uk. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  19. ^ "Five dead on Canary Islands cruise ship". BBC News. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  20. ^ "Norwegian Majesty Cruise Ship". Baltimorecruiseguide.com. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  21. ^ "Louis Majesty Winter Season Canceled? - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News". Cruise Industry News. August 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  22. ^ "Louis Majesty to Drydock This Winter - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News". Cruise Industry News. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
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