Key Aspects:
- The former Royal Caribbean ship Majesty of the Seas is being offered for sale at an asking price of $40 million.
- Adjusted for inflation, the price is a nearly 95% discount from the vessel’s original construction price of $300 million.
- If not sold, it is likely the ship will be scrapped, as the other two Sovereign-class ships were in 2020.
Ever want to set sail on a cruise without crowds, without lines, and without getting kicked off on debarkation day? For the right price, an eager cruise fan can own their very own cruise ship, the former Majesty of the Seas.
The ship is now being offered for sale through Yachtworld, a Miami-based boat sales platform and multiple listing service, listed as a “1992 Custom 880′ Cruise Ship” for $40 million USD.
While the listing does not specifically say the ship’s name as Majesty of the Seas, the ship for sale could be no other vessel. While she was renamed Majesty in December 2020 when she was sold to the Greek ferry company Seajets, which renamed her a second time in 2021 to Majesty of the Oceans, the ship’s identity is clear.
Described as built in 1992, measuring 880 feet in length, having 73,941 gross tons, most recently refurbished in 2016, with a passenger capacity of up to 2,767 guests, and hosting 912 crew members, all the stats on the ship add up to Majesty of the Seas.
The ship is also listed as Sovereign class and built by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, both of which also correspond to Majesty of the Seas.
Furthermore, despite there being no mention of Royal Caribbean in the listing, photos in the listing show the iconic crown and anchor logo at the bottom of the pool. Key structural features on the ship also confirm she was once a Royal Caribbean vessel, including the aft-facing rock wall and the circular Viking Crown Lounge that was characteristic of the line’s early new builds.
The only variation of “Majesty” that appears in the listing is in the phrase, “Thanks to a dazzling, top to bottom renovation, this popular 880’ cruise ship is more majestic than ever,” though the most recent renovation was a decade ago.
Nevertheless, the description notes that, “The ship is well priced making it an excellent value and unique opportunity.”
Is $40 Million an Excellent Value?
When she was built 34 years ago, Majesty of the Seas cost $300 million. According to US Inflation Calculator, when adjusted for inflation to 2026 dollars, this would have been an original price tag of roughly $720,470,000.
With her price tag now a mere $40 million, that represents a discount of nearly 95%.
In comparison, Icon of the Seas is one of the most expensive cruise ships ever constructed with a whopping price tag of roughly $2 billion.
We can’t, however, compare the two ships by price tag alone. While the former Majesty of the Seas still boasts a casino, show theater, fitness center, outdoor theater, two pools, four hot tubs, retail space, 11 elevators, six dining venues, and other features, a more apt comparison would be her price per gross ton. This would make it comparable to home prices related to square footage.
At the current sales price and using the stats provided in her current sale listing, Majesty of the Seas now costs roughly $541 per gross ton, while the 248,663-gross ton Icon of the Seas cost $8,043 per gross ton.
This makes the now-for-sale ship a bargain in comparison, though admittedly there is no way to calculate the resale cost depreciation on a cruise ship.
End of an Era
While the sales listing for the ship is currently active, there is no indication of a potential buyer and such information is generally kept confidential.
It is possible that a new cruise line might invest in the ship and return her to service, or if the vessel is not sold, she may instead be scrapped.
The two other Sovereign-class ships, Sovereign of the Seas and Monarch of the Seas, were both scrapped at the Aliaga shipyard in Turkey in 2020. Should the former Majesty of the Seas face the same fate, it would be the end of an era that many cruise guests remember fondly.
If anyone is interested, the Powerball estimated jackpot is $600 million for the Saturday, October 17, 2026 drawing. What’s $40 million of that prize if not just a small investment to own your own cruise ship?
