You Could Own a 28-Year Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship for $40 Million
A legendary Royal Caribbean cruise ship that carried millions of guests across the Caribbean over nearly three decades has quietly appeared on a boat sales website — and it could be yours for the price of a luxury Manhattan penthouse.
The former Majesty of the Seas is listed for sale on YachtWorld, the Miami-based marine marketplace, for $40 million. The listing describes the ship as a “1992 Custom 880′ Cruise Ship” — stopping short of naming her outright — but every detail points to the iconic vessel: 880 feet in length, 73,941 gross tons, built by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France, last refurbished in 2016, and carrying up to 2,767 passengers with a crew of 912.
Photos in the listing make the identity unmistakable. The crown and anchor logo is still visible at the bottom of the pool. The circular Viking Crown Lounge — a signature of early Royal Caribbean newbuilds — is still intact. The aft-facing rock wall is still there too.
A Near-Historic Discount
When Majesty of the Seas launched in April 1992, she cost Royal Caribbean $300 million to build. Adjusted for inflation, that figure climbs to approximately $720 million in today’s dollars. At $40 million, the asking price represents a discount of nearly 95% from her original construction cost.
For context, Icon of the Seas — Royal Caribbean’s current crown jewel — cost roughly $2 billion to build. On a per-gross-ton basis, that works out to about $8,043 per gross ton. Majesty of the Seas? A mere $541 per gross ton.
Still a bargain? That depends on what you plan to do with her.
What You’d Be Getting
Despite her age, the ship remains far from stripped. The listing touts an extensive list of onboard amenities still in place:
- Two swimming pools and four hot tubs
- Casino and show theater
- Rock climbing wall and basketball court
- Spa, salon, and fitness center
- Disco and kids center
- Multiple dining venues and 11 elevators across 13 decks
The listing even leans into the pitch: “Thanks to a dazzling, top to bottom renovation, this popular 880′ cruise ship is more majestic than ever” — though that renovation was a decade ago in 2016.
How She Got Here
Majesty of the Seas served Royal Caribbean from her debut in 1992 until March 2020, when the pandemic-era cruise shutdown accelerated her departure from the fleet. Royal Caribbean sold her to Seajets, a Greek ferry company that operates a fleet of 29 vessels. Seajets renamed her Majesty, then again to Majesty of the Oceans in 2021.
She is the last surviving ship of Royal Caribbean’s original Sovereign class. Her two sisters — Sovereign of the Seas and Monarch of the Seas — were both scrapped at a Turkish shipyard in 2020. If no buyer emerges, the same fate likely awaits her.
So… Who’s Buying?
No buyer has been publicly identified, and such deals are typically kept confidential. Possibilities range from a startup cruise line looking for a low-cost vessel to enter the market, to a resort or entertainment developer repurposing the ship as a stationary attraction — or, of course, a very ambitious private buyer.
For what it’s worth, the Powerball jackpot sat at an estimated $600 million the week the listing gained attention. At $40 million, Majesty of the Seas would barely make a dent.
