Letter from President & CEO Michael Bayley to Crown & Anchor members:
It’s my hope that you and your family are staying safe and healthy.
As a valued Crown & Anchor Society member, I’m reaching out to make sure you
were the first to know the latest news about our beloved Empress of the Seas and
Majesty of the Seas. After more than 30 years with Royal Caribbean, having launched in 1990 and 1992 respectively, Empress and Majesty will be leaving our fleet.
We know this news is bittersweet as many of you have sailed on these ships, and they hold a special place in your hearts thanks to the countless memories you’ve made with your families and friends while on board. The news hits close to home for me as well as I was part of the crew on Nordic Empress (as Empress was formerly called) and Majesty of the Seas when we introduced her to the world.
Both ships made an indelible mark on the cruise industry, helping us to continually raise the bar on the cruise experience and leaving a lasting mark on our brand.
Empress was the first ship specifically designed for short, 3- and 4-night itineraries, with her first cruises visiting The Bahamas from Miami. This was an important milestone in our brands history as we were able to attract new and younger cruise guests to the industry by introducing quick getaways. Empress also made history as the first cruise ship to sail out of Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, when we opened our terminal in 2004. Even just three years ago, in 2017, Empress took center stage once again when she set sail on Royal Caribbean’s inaugural cruise to Cuba. It’s been an incredible journey and one that’s influenced our brand tremendously.
Majesty also played a crucial role in our commitment to continuously redefine the
cruise industry. As the third ship to round out the impressive Sovereign class ships, Majesty was more than twice the size of the average cruise ship at the time — and was the biggest ship in our fleet when she debuted. She started her adventures with 7-night western Caribbean cruises from Miami and quickly blossomed into one of our guests’ favorite ships.
Empress and Majesty’s departures are a major moment in Royal Caribbean history. No doubt, they will be dearly missed — they may be small, but their lasting impact is mighty.
Decisions like these are difficult, but they are part of our necessary evolution to
continue introducing new ships and bring you, our guests, the most innovative ships in the industry.
I know many of you may wonder about the crew members you may fondly remember from your time onboard Empress and Majesty. There is no need to worry. They are still part of the Royal Caribbean family and will be reassigned to other ships once we are back to sailing again.
We know this marks a new chapter in our history, and we are excited about what the future holds, but we cannot forget our past and what made us who we are today. I encourage all of you to share your memories of sailing on Empress and Majesty on my Facebook page; I’d love to see the amazing experiences you had while sailing with these two ships.
As I’ve said before, we miss sailing with every one of you. But calmer seas are ahead, and we can’t wait for that day. Thank you for being a loyal member of our family. Please continue to take care of yourself and your loved ones. Until next time!
All my best,
Michael Bayley
President and CEO
Royal Caribbean International
“Loyal to Royal”
