Majestic Princess
Product brand
UnclaimedA British-registered Royal-class cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises.
Last updated August 26, 2026
Overview
Majestic Princess is a Royal-class cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises, which forms part of Carnival Corporation & plc. The vessel was built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone, Italy, and entered service in 2017 as the third ship in Princess Cruises’ Royal class, following Royal Princess and Regal Princess. Although it is a ship rather than a standalone corporate brand, Majestic Princess functions as a prominent product and hospitality brand within Princess Cruises’ fleet, selling accommodation, dining, entertainment and destination-based cruise itineraries under its own name. The ship was ordered in 2014 and initially developed with a specific focus on the Chinese cruise market. Princess Cruises announced in 2015 that the vessel would be deployed year-round from China and would receive modifications intended to suit local preferences. Its original onboard concept included Chinese-language signage, announcements and selected services, together with a Cantonese-oriented specialty restaurant, a tea bar, a VIP casino and private karaoke rooms. The ship was named Majestic Princess in October 2015. Its Chinese name, 盛世公主号, was selected within Carnival’s China organization and conveys an idea associated with a grand or prosperous age. Majestic Princess has 18 decks, including 15 accessible to passengers. It measures approximately 144,216 gross tons, is about 330 metres long and has a beam of approximately 38.4 metres. Its diesel-electric propulsion system uses four Wärtsilä engines, with two electric motors driving the propellers. The published service speed is about 22 knots, while the maximum speed is approximately 23 knots. The vessel contains 1,780 passenger cabins and 757 crew cabins; around 81 percent of passenger cabins have balconies. Its maximum passenger-and-crew capacity is approximately 5,600 people. The ship made its maiden voyage on 4 April 2017, operating a five-day round trip from Rome through the Adriatic with calls including Kotor and Corfu. After an initial Mediterranean season, it undertook a 49-day repositioning voyage to Asia and arrived in Shanghai on 9 July 2017 for its Chinese debut. The christening ceremony took place in Shanghai on the same day, with Chinese basketball figure Yao Ming and his wife, Ye Li, serving as godparents or ceremonial representatives. Although originally intended to remain in China year-round, Majestic Princess subsequently received a more international deployment pattern. It operated East Asian itineraries from Keelung during part of the year and Australian and Oceania itineraries from Sydney during another part, beginning its Sydney deployment in 2018. Plans for North American service evolved during the pandemic-era fleet redeployments: the ship was scheduled for Alaska cruises from Seattle in 2021, rather than making its initially proposed West Coast debut solely through Mexican Riviera and California itineraries. It later operated a variety of regional programs, and Princess Cruises announced future Caribbean and European sailings for 2025. Majestic Princess combines the scale and standardized architecture of the Royal class with destination-specific food, entertainment and service programming. Its positioning is that of a large, upscale mainstream cruise ship offering resort-style amenities, balcony-heavy accommodation and itineraries spanning multiple regions. Its operational history also reflects the broader challenges faced by the cruise industry during the COVID-19 period. In November 2022, the ship reported an estimated 800 COVID-19 cases among passengers and crew after a New Zealand voyage, prompting substantial media attention. The vessel nevertheless remains an active Princess Cruises ship and continues to be marketed for international cruise travel.
History
Majestic Princess was conceived as the third Royal-class ship for Princess Cruises. Carnival Corporation ordered the unnamed vessel from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri on 30 July 2014. The order was reported at approximately €600 million and called for a ship sharing the broad design platform of Royal Princess and Regal Princess. The keel was laid at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard on 10 July 2015, and the vessel was floated out on 8 February 2016. The ship’s original commercial plan was closely tied to the expansion of the Chinese cruise market. In May 2015, Princess Cruises said the new ship would be deployed in China year-round and would be adapted for Chinese guests. Planned adaptations included Chinese-language communication, a Cantonese-focused restaurant, a tea bar, private karaoke facilities and a VIP casino. On 9 October 2015, the ship was formally named Majestic Princess. Its Chinese name, 盛世公主号, was chosen by employees of Carnival’s China organization and was intended to express a sense of grandeur and prosperity. After completing sea trials in January 2017, the ship was delivered to Princess Cruises on 30 March 2017. Its inaugural cruise departed Rome on 4 April 2017 for a five-day Adriatic round trip visiting Kotor and Corfu. Majestic Princess spent its first month in the Mediterranean before leaving Rome on 21 May for a 49-day repositioning voyage to Asia. It arrived in Shanghai on 9 July 2017 and was christened there in a ceremony involving Yao Ming and Ye Li. The ship’s deployment strategy changed as Princess Cruises adjusted its regional fleet plans. The original year-round Shanghai program was replaced by a more varied schedule. From 2017 through 2021, Majestic Princess operated East Asian sailings from Keelung for part of the year and Oceania voyages from Sydney for another part. It began Sydney service in September 2018. A proposed United States West Coast debut focused on the Mexican Riviera and California coast, but subsequent fleet redeployment moved the ship into Alaska service from Seattle in summer 2021. Its final Alaska voyage was scheduled for September 2024. Majestic Princess is a large diesel-electric passenger vessel with 18 decks, 15 of which are available to passengers. It has approximately 144,216 gross tons, a length of 330 metres, a beam of 38.4 metres and a draft of 8.4 metres. Four Wärtsilä engines generate approximately 62.4 megawatts, while two electric motors drive the propellers. The ship has a service speed of about 22 knots and a maximum speed of approximately 23 knots. Its 1,780 passenger cabins include a high proportion of balcony rooms, alongside 757 crew cabins. The COVID-19 pandemic affected cruise operations globally, and Majestic Princess became the subject of renewed attention in November 2022. Following a 12-day New Zealand itinerary that included Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, the Bay of Islands and Fiordland National Park, the ship reported an estimated 800 COVID-19 cases among passengers and crew. It departed Auckland on 8 November and reached Sydney on 12 November. The episode formed part of the wider public-health and operational challenges associated with the resumption of cruising. In later planning, Princess Cruises positioned Majestic Princess for additional international markets. The company announced Caribbean and European cruises for 2025, illustrating the ship’s transition from a China-focused launch concept to a flexible global deployment model. The vessel remains an active Princess Cruises product, offering accommodation, dining, entertainment and regional cruise itineraries under the Majestic Princess name.
- 2023
Caribbean and European cruises announced for 2025
[1]Princess Cruises announced future Caribbean and European itineraries for Majestic Princess.
- 2022
COVID-19 cases reported after New Zealand itinerary
[1]The ship reported an estimated 800 cases among passengers and crew following a New Zealand voyage.
- 2021
Alaska deployment planned from Seattle
[1]Fleet redeployments shifted the ship’s planned North American introduction toward Alaska cruises from Seattle.
- 2018
Sydney deployment begins
[1]Majestic Princess began operating from Sydney in September as part of its revised Asia-Pacific deployment pattern.
- 2017
Delivered to Princess Cruises
[1]The ship completed sea trials in January and was delivered to Princess Cruises on 30 March.
- 2017
Maiden voyage
[1]The inaugural cruise departed Rome on 4 April for an Adriatic itinerary visiting Kotor and Corfu.
- 2017
Chinese debut and christening
[1]After a repositioning voyage from Rome, the ship arrived in Shanghai and was christened on 9 July.
- 2016
Floated out
[1]Majestic Princess was floated out at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone yard on 8 February 2016.
- 2015
China-focused deployment announced
[1]Princess Cruises announced that the future ship would be deployed year-round in China and adapted with facilities intended for Chinese guests.
- 2015
Keel laid and ship named
[1]The keel was laid at Monfalcone in July, and the vessel was named Majestic Princess in October.
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Products and positioning
Upscale mainstream cruise experience combining resort-style facilities, broad international itineraries, balcony accommodation, destination programming and Royal-class ship design.
Cruise travel · 2017
Majestic Princess cruise vacations
The core offering is paid passenger travel aboard Majestic Princess, combining transportation between ports with hotel-style accommodation, meals, entertainment and organized destination visits. The ship has operated itineraries in the Mediterranean, East Asia, Australia and Oceania, Alaska, North America, the Caribbean and Europe. Routes and departure ports have changed over time as Princess Cruises has redeployed its fleet.
Accommodation · 2017
Passenger cabins and balcony accommodation
Majestic Princess provides 1,780 passenger cabins across its accessible passenger decks. Approximately 81 percent of these cabins have balconies, supporting the ship’s upscale mainstream positioning and offering private outdoor space during sea passages and while visiting ports. Accommodation forms the base product around which dining, entertainment, shore excursions and other onboard services are sold.
Onboard dining · 2017
Dining and specialty food venues
The ship’s food offer includes regular cruise dining as well as specialty venues. When designed for the Chinese market, its facilities included a Cantonese cuisine-centered specialty restaurant and a tea bar. Dining programming is part of the broader Princess Cruises proposition, combining included meals with additional specialty experiences.
Onboard entertainment · 2017
Entertainment, casino and karaoke facilities
Majestic Princess offers shipboard leisure programming alongside its travel product. Its China-oriented configuration included a VIP casino and private karaoke rooms, while the wider Royal-class design provides resort-style public areas and entertainment spaces. Availability and programming can vary by itinerary, regulation and market.
Brand decisions
2023
Caribbean and European deployment for 2025StrategyBackground
Princess Cruises continued to broaden the ship’s post-pandemic international itinerary mix.
Action taken
The company announced Caribbean and European cruises for Majestic Princess in 2025.
Aftermath
The announcement reinforced the vessel’s role as a flexible global fleet asset rather than a ship dedicated to the China market.
2021
Redeployment to Alaska from SeattleStrategyBackground
Princess Cruises revised the ship’s planned West Coast introduction during broader fleet redeployments.
Action taken
Majestic Princess was scheduled to begin Alaska cruises from Seattle rather than concentrating its initial U.S. program on the Mexican Riviera and California coast.
Aftermath
The ship operated in Alaska until its scheduled final Alaska voyage in September 2024.
2018
Expansion into Sydney-based Oceania operationsStrategyBackground
The ship’s initial year-round China plan was revised as Princess Cruises adjusted regional fleet deployment.
Action taken
Majestic Princess began operating from Sydney for part of the year, complementing its East Asian programs.
Aftermath
The ship developed a recurring Asia-Pacific operating pattern before later being redeployed to North American and other international markets.
2015
China-market customization and deploymentStrategyBackground
Princess Cruises planned to place the new Royal-class ship in China year-round and sought to tailor the onboard experience to Chinese consumer preferences.
Action taken
The ship was configured with Chinese-language communications and selected facilities including Cantonese dining, a tea bar, private karaoke rooms and a VIP casino.
Aftermath
The original China-focused plan was later replaced by a broader international deployment covering Asia-Pacific, Alaska, Europe, the Caribbean and other regions.
Recent events
- 2023
Majestic Princess announced for Caribbean and European cruises in 2025[1]
Other
Princess Cruises announced that Majestic Princess would operate Caribbean and European cruises in 2025, extending the ship’s international deployment beyond its earlier Asia-Pacific and Alaska programs.
- 2022
Majestic Princess reports COVID-19 cases after New Zealand voyage[1]
Other
In November 2022, the ship reported an estimated 800 COVID-19 cases among passengers and crew after a 12-day itinerary in New Zealand. The vessel subsequently docked in Sydney, Australia.
Sources2 sources
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