After being offline for nearly a month, Royal Caribbean International’s cruise ship ‘Majesty of the Seas’ this month resumed its year-round three- and four-night cruises between Miami and The Bahamas.
The 15-year-old ship was the beneficiary of what Royal Caribbean representatives term a "bow to stern" renovation, which included an overhaul of the guest suites and staterooms among other areas.
Lisa Bauer, Royal Caribbean International’s Senior Vice President of Sales, said the renovation was aimed at raising the ship’s standards for innovation and quality.
"We consistently see an attraction toward shorter trips as the perfect weekend getaway or for corporate incentive travel, so it’s natural to ensure that our ships consistently offer guests what they have come to expect from us," Ms. Bauer said.
Majesty is the third ship in Royal Caribbean’s Sovereign class of ships to be refurbished; Monarch of the Seas got a face-lift in 2003, and Sovereign of the Seas got one in 2004.
Among the specific changes for the ‘Majesty’ were the installation of a new casual dining concept, called the "Windjammer Marketplace," which features Asian, Latin, Mediterranean and American fare in a casual atmosphere.
Two dining rooms were redone and renamed; the Starlight and Moonlight rooms got new décor from the walls, columns and seating upholstery to new carpets and drapery.
Majesty of the Seas now features Wi-Fi access in the staterooms, and new flat screen televisions mounted to the stateroom walls.
The renovated Majesty of the Seas resumes its service at a critical time in the cruise industry, known as the "wave season," and perhaps presages a banner year for the industry.
The Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA) has released projections that 12 new ships – totaling 22,039 beds – are expected to come online in 2007.
The new ships will offer vacationers innovative onboard facilities and amenities, new worldwide itineraries and ports, and outstanding experiential enrichment programmes that appeal to an ever-burgeoning and diverse portfolio of travelers, according to CLIA.
All tolled, the increase in ship capacity translated to a steady growth in available berths, from 227,837 in 2005 to 246,759 in 2006.
CLIA member lines have invested more than $15 billion in 30 new vessels that will enter service between 2007 and the end of 2010. This translates into 73,562 more beds – a 29.8 percent increase from 2006.
- Austin DWI - New York DWI