MV Ocean Majesty
MV Ocean Majesty is a Portuguese-registered cruise ship that began service in 1966 as the Spanish ferry Juan March and was later rebuilt for cruise operations.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
MV Ocean Majesty is a cruise ship with a long and unusually varied service history. The vessel was launched in 1966 as Juan March for the Madrid-based Spanish ferry operator Compañía Trasmediterránea. Built as the first of two closely related Albatros-class sisters, she was initially configured for ferry service rather than cruising and was principally used on routes linking mainland Spain with the Balearic Islands. Her sister ship was Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The ship changed identity and commercial role several times during the following decades. In 1985, she was sold to Sol Mediterranean and renamed Sol Christina. That period was relatively brief, after which the vessel was sold to Opale Lines and renamed Kyros Star. She was subsequently acquired by Majestic International Cruises, which undertook a substantial reconstruction. The work transformed her from a ferry-like vessel into a cruise ship, and she entered service under the name Ocean Majesty. Majestic International operated Ocean Majesty for several years and later made the vessel available through charters. In 1994, Epirotiki chartered the ship and renamed her Homeric. The charter lasted approximately one year; when it ended, the vessel returned to Majestic International, resumed the name Ocean Majesty, and continued in charter service. From 1995 onward, Majestic International chartered the ship to several operators. One of the most frequent charterers was Page & Moy, a British vacation company that used the vessel for holiday cruising. From 2013, the ship was operated during the principal May-to-October season by the German cruise company Hansa Touristik. Her career has therefore combined Spanish ferry service, ownership and operation by specialist cruise companies, and repeated seasonal or longer-term charter arrangements. The ship’s employment has also reflected wider disruption in the cruise sector. She was laid up at Chalkis Shipyard in Greece during 2021 and remained out of regular service for roughly two years amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Hansa Touristik returned her to operation for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. In August 2023, Ocean Majesty was withdrawn from cruise service and used as an asylum hotel in Velsen, where she replaced Silja Europa in that role. The available reference material does not establish a subsequent return to cruise operations or a definitive final disposition. Following the laying up and later scrapping of MV Astoria in 2025, Ocean Majesty was described as the world's oldest seagoing cruise ship. The vessel is registered in the International Shipping Register of Madeira, Portugal. Because the ship’s current operating status and ownership arrangements are not fully documented in the supplied material, those details remain subject to review.
History
MV Ocean Majesty was launched in 1966 as Juan March for Compañía Trasmediterránea, a Spanish ferry operator headquartered in Madrid. She was the first of two near-identical Albatros-class sister ships, with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria as the other vessel. In her original configuration, Juan March served as a passenger ferry connecting mainland Spain with the Balearic Islands. The ship entered a succession of new ownership and operating arrangements in the 1980s. In 1985, she was sold to Sol Mediterranean and renamed Sol Christina. She was then transferred to Opale Lines, where she operated under the name Kyros Star. A later sale to Majestic International Cruises marked the most important change in her commercial identity. Majestic International rebuilt the vessel, replacing much of her original ferry-oriented character with a configuration intended for cruise service, and renamed her Ocean Majesty. Majestic International initially operated the rebuilt cruise ship directly. In 1994, it chartered her to Epirotiki, which renamed the vessel Homeric. Epirotiki’s charter lasted about a year. After its expiration, the ship returned to Majestic International and again became Ocean Majesty. From 1995 onward, Majestic International used chartering as a central part of the vessel’s employment strategy, making her available to multiple operators. Page & Moy, a British vacation company, was among the most frequent charterers. Beginning in 2013, German cruise company Hansa Touristik operated Ocean Majesty during the May-to-October season. This arrangement gave the ship a recurring role in seasonal cruise programs despite her age and changing commercial uses. The vessel was laid up at Chalkis Shipyard in Greece in 2021. The interruption was associated with the broader operational consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ship did not return to regular cruise operation until the 2022 season. Hansa Touristik also operated her during 2023. In August 2023, Ocean Majesty left cruise service and was converted temporarily or otherwise assigned for use as an asylum hotel in Velsen. In that role, she replaced Silja Europa. The supplied reference material does not confirm whether she later returned to cruise operations, changed ownership, or was scrapped. It does establish that, after MV Astoria was laid up and subsequently scrapped in 2025, Ocean Majesty was regarded as the world's oldest seagoing cruise ship. The vessel is registered in Portugal's International Shipping Register of Madeira. Her career illustrates the way older passenger ships can be repeatedly repurposed: first as a regional ferry, then as a rebuilt cruise ship, later as a charter platform, and finally as accommodation outside the conventional cruise business. Her multiple names—Juan March, Sol Christina, Kyros Star, Homeric, and Ocean Majesty—correspond to successive ownership, charter, or operating phases rather than to separate vessels.
- 2025
Described as the world's oldest seagoing cruise ship
[1]Following the scrapping of MV Astoria, Ocean Majesty was described as the world's oldest seagoing cruise ship.
- 2023
Deployment as an asylum hotel
[1]In August, Ocean Majesty was withdrawn from cruise service and used as an asylum hotel in Velsen, replacing Silja Europa.
- 2022
Return to cruise service
[1]After roughly two years out of service, Ocean Majesty returned to operate for Hansa Touristik during the 2022 season.
- 2021
Laid up at Chalkis Shipyard
[1]The vessel was laid up at Chalkis Shipyard in Greece during the pandemic-related interruption to cruise operations.
- 2013
Hansa Touristik begins seasonal operation
[1]German cruise company Hansa Touristik began operating Ocean Majesty during the May-to-October season.
- 1995
Expanded charter operations
[1]After returning from the Epirotiki charter, Ocean Majesty was made available to a succession of charter operators, including Page & Moy.
- 1994
Chartered to Epirotiki as Homeric
[1]Epirotiki chartered the ship and operated her under the name Homeric for approximately one year.
- 1985
Renamed Sol Christina
[1]The ship was sold to Sol Mediterranean and adopted the name Sol Christina.
- 1966
Launch as Juan March
[1]The vessel was launched as Juan March for the Spanish ferry operator Compañía Trasmediterránea and entered service on routes serving the Balearic Islands.
Transferred to Opale Lines as Kyros Star
[1]After the Sol Mediterranean period, the vessel was sold to Opale Lines and renamed Kyros Star.
Products and positioning
A long-serving, historically significant passenger vessel repositioned from Spanish ferry service into small-ship and charter cruising.
Passenger ferry · 1966
Juan March
The ship's original identity from 1966. As Juan March, she operated for Compañía Trasmediterránea and primarily carried passengers between mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands. Her initial design and employment were ferry-oriented rather than focused on leisure cruising.
Cruise ship
Ocean Majesty cruise service
The vessel's principal modern identity followed a major reconstruction by Majestic International Cruises. The conversion changed her from a ferry-like passenger ship into a cruise vessel suitable for direct operation and charter programs. Hansa Touristik later used her for seasonal cruise itineraries, particularly from May through October.
Chartered cruise ship · 1994
Homeric
During Epirotiki's 1994 charter, the vessel was renamed Homeric. This identity represented a temporary charter and operating phase rather than a permanent change to the ship's long-term name.
Maritime accommodation · 2023
Asylum hotel accommodation
Beginning in August 2023, Ocean Majesty was used in Velsen as an asylum hotel after being withdrawn from cruise service. In this role, the ship provided accommodation rather than passenger cruise transportation and replaced Silja Europa.
Brand decisions
2023
Deployment outside the cruise marketStrategyBackground
After operating for Hansa Touristik during the 2023 season, the aging ship was taken out of cruise service.
Action taken
Ocean Majesty was deployed as an asylum hotel in Velsen, replacing Silja Europa.
Aftermath
The ship's subsequent return to cruise operations or final disposition is not established by the supplied reference material.
- Conversion from ferry to cruise shipStrategy
Background
After several ownership changes, Majestic International Cruises acquired a vessel originally designed for ferry service between Spain and the Balearic Islands.
Action taken
The company substantially rebuilt the ship and repositioned her for cruise operations under the name Ocean Majesty.
Aftermath
The conversion enabled the ship to operate as a cruise vessel and later to serve multiple charterers, including Epirotiki, Page & Moy, and Hansa Touristik.
Recent events
- 2025
Ocean Majesty becomes the oldest seagoing cruise ship after MV Astoria is scrapped[1]
Other
Following the laying up and subsequent scrapping of MV Astoria, Ocean Majesty was described as the world's oldest seagoing cruise ship.
- 2023
Ocean Majesty operates again for Hansa Touristik in 2023[1]
Other
Hansa Touristik operated Ocean Majesty during the 2023 season before the vessel was withdrawn from cruise service later that year.
- 2023
Ocean Majesty begins use as an asylum hotel in Velsen[1]
Other
In August 2023, the ship was taken out of cruise service and deployed as an asylum hotel in Velsen, replacing Silja Europa.
- 2022
Ocean Majesty returns to seasonal service after pandemic lay-up[1]
Other
After being laid up at Chalkis Shipyard in Greece during the pandemic period, Ocean Majesty returned to service with Hansa Touristik for the 2022 cruise season.
Sources1 sources
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