MS Crown Iris

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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 - Chalkis.jpg
Crown Iris, in 2018.
History
Name
  • Royal Majesty (1992–1997)
  • Norwegian Majesty (1997–2009)
  • Louis Majesty (2009–2012)
  • Thomson Majesty (2012–2017)
  • Majesty (2017-2018)
  • Crown Iris (2018–present)
Owner
Operator
  • Majesty Cruise Line (1992–1997)
  • Norwegian Cruise Line (1997–2009)
  • Louis Cruise Line (2009–2012)
  • Thomson Cruises (2012–2017)
  • Celestyal Cruises (2017-2018)
  • Mano Maritime (2018–present)
Port of registry
BuilderKvaerner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Cost$229 million[4]
Yard number1312[1]
LaunchedNovember 15, 1991[1]
ChristenedJuly 29, 1992[1]
Completed1992
AcquiredJuly 2, 1992[1]
Maiden voyageJuly 7, 1992[1]
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics (as built[1]
TypeCruise ship
Tonnage
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
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

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 the 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 the MS Louis Majesty from 2008 to 2012 when she was chartered to Thomson Cruises as the MS Thomson Majesty before being returned to Louis Cruises/Celestyal Cruises, as the Majesty. In 2018 the ship 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 July 2, 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 July 7, 1992. She was officially christened in New York City on July 21, 1992.[1] She was christened by Liza Minnelli. 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. 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 on board, while parts of Titanic were being salvaged.[8]

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

On June 10, 1995, Royal Majesty grounded on Rose and Crown Shoal about 10 miles east of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, and about 17 miles (27 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.[9] 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.[10][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.[8] 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 May 7, 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 April 23, 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][13] The deal was completed on July 29, 2008, but Norwegian Majesty was chartered back to Norwegian Cruise Line until October 2009.[3][14]

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

On June 24, 2009, Louis revealed that Norwegian Majesty would be renamed Louis Majesty.[15] On March 3, 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.[16]

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.[17]

On February 10, 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 August 22, 2010 and the next scheduled replacement was due in August 2014.[18]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".

Service as Crown Iris[]

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 April 11 the Crown Iris launching ceremony was held.

Areas of operation[]

As Norwegian Majesty she was based in various US ports and cruised to the Caribbean.[19][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 was 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 Viking deck of Norwegian Majesty

  • Royal Observatory Bar 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 February 27, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Newman, Doug (April 15, 2008). "Lloyd's List: Three NCL Ships Nearly Sold". At Sea with Doug Newman. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d "Louis acquires Norwegian Dream and Majesty". Cruise Business Review. Cruise Media Oy Ltd. April 23, 2008. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 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)". DNV GL Vessel Register. Det Norske Veritas. Retrieved July 27, 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. ^ a b Boyle, Ian. "Royal Majesty". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  9. ^ "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 April 3, 2015.
  10. ^ "NTSB Marine Accident Report" (PDF).
  11. ^ "Cruise Ship Carrying 1,500 Runs Aground -NY Times". The New York Times. June 12, 1995. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
  12. ^ Boyle, Ian. "Majesty Cruise Line". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  13. ^ Newman, Doug (April 18, 2008). "Seatrade: Pride of America Not Sold". At Sea with Doug Newman. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved April 19, 2008.
  14. ^ Hand, Marcus (September 30, 2008). "Star Cruises $218m Norwegian Dream sale fails". Lloyd's List. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
  15. ^ "Louis Majesty | Cruise Ind". Cruiseind.wordpress.com. June 24, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  16. ^ "Two killed as giant waves hit Mediterranean cruise ship". BBC News Online. March 3, 2010. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
  17. ^ "Majesty to replace Destiny in Thomson cruises fleet". Travelweekly.co.uk. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  18. ^ "Five dead on Canary Islands cruise ship". BBC News. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  19. ^ "Norwegian Majesty Cruise Ship from Charleston south carolina Boston Massachusetts". Cruisenetwork.com. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  20. ^ "Norwegian Majesty Cruise Ship". Baltimorecruiseguide.com. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  21. ^ "Louis Majesty Winter Season Canceled? - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News". Cruise Industry News. August 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  22. ^ "Louis Majesty to Drydock This Winter - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News". Cruise Industry News. August 2, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
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