Majestic International Cruises
Majestic International Cruises, also known as Majestic Cruises, is a Greek cruise line associated with passenger, charter, hotel-ship, and maritime relief operations in Europe and the Mediterranean.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Majestic International Cruises, commonly referred to as Majestic Cruises, was a Greek-owned cruise line based in Glyfada, a coastal suburb of Athens. The company emerged in the late 1980s from a group involved in commercial production and cruising and subsequently built a small fleet through the acquisition and conversion of older passenger vessels. Its activity was centered on European and Mediterranean cruising, although individual ships also undertook unusual assignments outside conventional leisure service. The company’s first documented vessel was Ocean Majesty, acquired in 1994 after undergoing substantial reconstruction. The ship had previously operated as a ferry and was converted for cruise service, giving Majestic an operating platform during the company’s early expansion. In 1998, the group added a second ship, later renamed SS Ocean Explorer I. Rather than functioning solely as a conventional cruise vessel, Ocean Explorer I served as a hotel ship during Expo 98 in Lisbon, Portugal. It was subsequently laid up and sold to an Indian scrapyard in 2004. Majestic expanded its fleet again in 2002 with the acquisition of a third ship, later renamed Ocean Monarch. The vessel had previously operated in Europe. In 2004, Ocean Monarch was used in a humanitarian role when it was sent to assist relief efforts for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami. This deployment reflected the flexibility of the company’s vessels, which could be used for accommodation, relief, or passenger operations depending on charter and market conditions. The company’s later history was marked by fleet contraction and operational controversy. On November 30, 2013, Ocean Countess caught fire while laid up off the coast of Greece after a blaze began on passenger Deck 5. The vessel had five crew members aboard, all of whom survived. The ship sustained extensive damage and was sold for scrap in Aliağa, Turkey, in 2014. Ocean Countess had previously been under charter to Cruise & Maritime Voyages, but that charter had ended before the fire. In September 2014, Ocean Majesty became one of the first cruise vessels to call at Crimea in several years. The visit attracted criticism because of concerns that the port call conflicted with European Union sanctions connected to Crimea. The episode illustrated the regulatory and geopolitical exposure faced by cruise operators serving destinations affected by international restrictions. By 2015, reports associated with the company indicated that cruising in the Greek islands had declined from the preceding year. Greece’s weakened economic conditions were cited as a factor affecting cruise activity, with Mediterranean operations expected to continue contracting. The available reference material states that Majestic International Cruises was not operating any vessel at the time of the relevant Wikipedia account. Its present corporate status, ownership, website, and any continuing activities are not established by the supplied sources.
History
Majestic International Cruises was a Greek-owned cruise line based in Glyfada, Athens. The group was established in the late 1980s by people involved in commercial production and cruising. The available account does not identify an exact incorporation year, a single founder, or a parent company. The company entered ship operations in 1994 when it purchased Ocean Majesty. The vessel had previously been used as a ferry and underwent major reconstruction before entering cruise service under Majestic. This acquisition established the company’s initial passenger-cruise platform and supported its growth in European and Mediterranean markets. In 1998, Majestic added a second ship, which was renamed SS Ocean Explorer I. The vessel’s role extended beyond ordinary cruise itineraries: it operated as a hotel ship for Expo 98 in Lisbon, Portugal. Ocean Explorer I was later laid up and sold to an Indian scrapyard in 2004, marking the end of its association with the fleet. Majestic acquired a third vessel in 2002. This ship was renamed Ocean Monarch and had previously operated in Europe. In 2004, Ocean Monarch was assigned to a humanitarian function, assisting relief efforts for people affected by the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. The deployment demonstrated how the company’s vessels could be used for temporary accommodation or relief logistics in addition to tourism. The later period brought substantial fleet changes. Ocean Countess, a vessel that had been chartered to Cruise & Maritime Voyages, was laid up after the termination of that charter. On November 30, 2013, a fire broke out on passenger Deck 5 while the ship was off the Greek coast. Five crew members were aboard, and all survived. The fire caused major damage. Ocean Countess was subsequently sold for scrap in Aliağa, Turkey, in 2014. Another notable event occurred on September 17, 2014, when Ocean Majesty called at Crimea. The port call was politically sensitive and prompted criticism regarding possible non-compliance with European Union sanctions associated with Crimea. The episode became one of the most visible regulatory issues connected with the company’s operations. In 2015, reporting described weaker cruise activity in the Greek islands than in the previous year. The difficult Greek economic environment was identified as one reason for reduced activity, and Mediterranean cruising was expected to shrink further. The available reference account states that Majestic International Cruises was not operating any vessel at the time of the Wikipedia entry. It does not establish whether the company was formally dissolved, remained dormant, or continued in another non-vessel-operating capacity. Current ownership, management, financial condition, and website information are unavailable in the supplied material.
- 2014
Ocean Countess scrapped
[1]The damaged Ocean Countess was sold to a scrapyard in Aliağa, Turkey.
- 2014
Ocean Majesty visits Crimea
[1]Ocean Majesty called at Crimea, generating criticism concerning European Union sanctions.
- 2013
Ocean Countess fire
[1]Ocean Countess caught fire while laid up off Greece. All five crew members aboard survived, but the ship was heavily damaged.
- 2004
Ocean Explorer I leaves the fleet
[1]Ocean Explorer I was laid up and later sold to an Indian scrapyard.
- 2004
Ocean Monarch supports tsunami relief
[1]Ocean Monarch was sent to assist relief operations for victims of the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
- 2002
Ocean Monarch acquired
[1]Majestic acquired a third ship and renamed it Ocean Monarch.
- 1998
Ocean Explorer I joins the fleet
[1]A second vessel entered the fleet under the name SS Ocean Explorer I and later served as a hotel ship during Expo 98 in Lisbon.
- 1994
Ocean Majesty acquired
[1]Majestic purchased Ocean Majesty after the former ferry underwent substantial reconstruction for cruise service.
Group established
[1]Majestic International Cruises was founded in the late 1980s by a group involved in commercial production and cruising.
Products and positioning
A small Greek cruise operator focused on European and Mediterranean itineraries, with a fleet history that also included charter accommodation and humanitarian deployments.
Cruise ship · 1994
Ocean Majesty
Ocean Majesty was Majestic International Cruises' first documented vessel. Acquired in 1994, it had previously operated as a ferry and underwent major reconstruction before being converted to cruise service. The ship served as a platform for the company's European and Mediterranean passenger operations and remained notable in the fleet during the company's later years.
Cruise and hotel ship · 1998
SS Ocean Explorer I
SS Ocean Explorer I was the second vessel associated with Majestic International Cruises. Added in 1998 after being renamed, it served as a hotel ship during Expo 98 in Lisbon, illustrating the company's use of ships for accommodation and event-related charter purposes. It was later laid up and sold to an Indian scrapyard in 2004.
Cruise and relief ship · 2002
Ocean Monarch
Ocean Monarch was the third ship acquired by Majestic International Cruises and entered the fleet in 2002 under that name. Previously active in European service, it was also deployed in a humanitarian capacity in 2004 to assist relief efforts following the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
Cruise ship
Ocean Countess
Ocean Countess was associated with Majestic International Cruises and had operated under charter to Cruise & Maritime Voyages. After that charter ended, the ship was laid up off Greece. A fire on November 30, 2013 caused major damage, and the vessel was sold for scrap in Aliağa, Turkey, in 2014.
Brand decisions
2014
Call at CrimeaOtherBackground
Ocean Majesty visited Crimea at a time when European Union sanctions and geopolitical restrictions made cruise calls in the region politically sensitive.
Action taken
Ocean Majesty called at a Crimean port on September 17, 2014.
Aftermath
The port call attracted criticism over whether it violated European Union sanctions relating to Crimea.
2004
Deploy Ocean Monarch for tsunami reliefStrategyBackground
The Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami created an urgent need for relief support and accommodation.
Action taken
Majestic sent Ocean Monarch to assist relief efforts for tsunami victims.
Aftermath
The deployment became a notable humanitarian use of a Majestic vessel. No further operational or financial outcome is established in the supplied material.
Sources1 sources
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