Royal Caribbean has announced they will be transferring the oldest member of the fleet to the Pullmantur Cruises brand. From 2016, Majesty of the Seas will sail under the Pullmantur brand, ending a 24-year association with Royal Caribbean.
Majesty of the Seas was built in 1992 as part of the Sovereign Class – recognised as the first specially-built mega-ships in the industry. Sister ships, Sovereign of the Seas and Monarch of the Seas, were both transferred to the Pullmantur brand in 2008 and 2013 respectively.
The new addition will increase Pullmantur’s total fleet capacity by 20%, becoming the fourth ship in the fleet.
Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, explained: “Majesty of the Seas has created wonderful memories for millions of guests, and we expect this record of success to continue as she transitions to Pullmantur. The vessel’s transfer is an excellent business opportunity for both Royal Caribbean and Pullmantur. We are fortunate that our mix of brands allows us the flexibility and opportunity to expand in key strategic markets.”
The Majesty of the Seas has developed a reputation for introducing first-time cruisers to holidays on the seas.
Over the past 40 years, Pullmantur have been recognised as a leader in the Spanish cruise market, with a daily capacity of more than 11,000 passengers. With more than half of its business located in Latin America, the company is continuing to target this demographic.
Pullmantur president and chief executive officer, Jorge Vilches, continued: “The transfer of Majesty of the Seas will play an important role in Pullmantur’s Latin American growth strategy, and helps us become one of the most widely recognized brands in that market. The additional capacity will help us meet the rising demand for Pullmantur’s distinctive Latin-style cruise holidays.”
Pullmantur has been fully owned by Royal Caribbean since 2006.
Images sourced via Flickr Creative Commons. Credits:Jim Crocker, News Oresund
