MS Crown Iris

Birka Queen was ordered by Birka Line for short cruises out of Stockholm as a running mate to MS Birka Princess. The ship was ordered from Wärtsilä Marine,[1] but the shipyard went bankrupt in 1989. Operations were soon reorganized under the name of Masa-Yards,[7] but the price of the ship was increased in the process, and Birka therefore refused to take delivery. Instead, the build contact was sold to Majesty Cruise Line, who took delivery of the ship on July 2, 1992, renaming her Royal Majesty.[1] Due to her past, the ship has some features uncommon for cruise ships, such as the highest Finnish-Swedish ice class.[5]

Norwegian Majesty, docked in St. George's, Bermuda in 2004, while being operated by Norwegian Cruise Line

Following delivery, Royal Majesty set on her maiden voyage, a transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York City, on July 7, 1992. She was officially christened in New York City on July 21, 1992.[1] She was christened by Liza Minnelli. Following this, she was used on three- and four-night cruises out of Florida. In 1994 she initiated a new northern hemisphere summer season itinerary with cruises from Boston to St. George's, Bermuda, returning to Florida for the winter season. In September 1995 she participated in an expedition to the sinking site of RMS Titanic, spending five days at the site with many survivors from the famous ship on board, while parts of Titanic were being salvaged.[8]

Norwegian Majesty, photographed in 2007, while being operated by Norwegian Cruise Line

On June 10, 1995, Royal Majesty grounded on Rose and Crown Shoal about 10 miles east of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, and about 17 miles from where the watch officers thought the vessel was. Investigators found that the officers failed to act on visual cues about the vessel's location, over-relying on the automated bridge system.[9] The vessel, with 1,509 persons on board, was en route from St.George’s, Bermuda, to Boston, Massachusetts. There were no deaths or injuries as a result of this accident. Damage to the vessel and lost revenue, however, were estimated at about $7 million.[10][11]

Louis Majesty, in the harbour of Rhodes, Greece.

Majesty Cruise Line ceased operations at the end of the 1997 summer season, and Royal Majesty was sold to Norwegian Cruise Line.[12] She was renamed Norwegian Majesty, and in 1999 she received a 33.76 m (110 ft 9 in) lengthening at the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany.[1] Similar lengthenings had been carried out on NCL's Dreamward and Windward the previous year.[8] The lengthening of the Norwegian Majesty however was more technically complicated than those of the other ships, as she had not been designed for such an operation.[4]

Thomson Majesty, docked in Split, Croatia, on May 7th, 2013.

In 2004 the ownership of Norwegian Majesty was transferred to NCL's parent company Star Cruises in preparation for potential transfer to the Star Cruises fleet or sale at a later date. She remained in NCL service without other changes.[2] On April 23, 2008 Norwegian Majesty, was sold to the Cyprus-based Louis Cruise Lines. Louis Cruise Lines had reportedly outbid International Shipping Partners with their offer of $162 million.[3][13] The deal was completed on July 29, 2008, but Norwegian Majesty was chartered back to Norwegian Cruise Line until October 2009.[3][14]

Thomson Majesty, docked in Venice, Italy, on August 12th, 2013.

On June 24, 2009, Louis revealed that Norwegian Majesty would be renamed Louis Majesty.[15] On March 3, 2010, three rogue waves hit Louis Majesty, killing two passengers, and injuring a number of others, while on a 12-day cruise around the Mediterranean. The waves, which were reportedly in excess of 26 feet (8 m) high, collided with the side of the vessel, smashing several windows in the saloon area. Water was taken on in the saloon area, which then drained down the decks below. The ship returned to port at Barcelona to receive repairs.[16]

Louis Majesty was chartered to Thomson Cruises from May 2012 and renamed Thomson Majesty. It sailed from Corfu in the summer and the Canary Islands in the winter.[17]

On February 10, 2013, while the ship was docked in Santa Cruz de la Palma in the Canary Islands, five crew members were killed and three others injured during a safety drill when the lifeboat they were in fell into the sea, trapping the occupants. Julian Bray, Marine Analyst in the UK, writing in the Cduck media news blog, confirms that crew were taking part in a training exercise to load, launch, and recover lifeboats, complete a regular risk/ safety programme and to ensure crew members have had recent practical training. Malta’s Maritime Safety Investigation Unit subsequently issued a safety alert following the discovery of significant corrosion on the inner strands of the fall wire involved. The wire rope had parted approximately where it rested over the topmost sheave, when the davit was in its stowed position. The fore and aft davit’s fall wires had been replaced on 22 August 2010 and the next scheduled replacement was due in August 2014.[18]

In November 2017 she joined "Celestyal Cruises" and renamed simply as "Majesty".

As Norwegian Majesty she was based in various US ports and cruised to the Caribbean.[19][20]

As Louis Majesty she was based in Piraeus, Greece and undertook cruises around the Greek Isles.[21][22]

As Thomson Majesty she was based in Corfu, Greece and sailed in the Mediterranean from June–October, and during the winter sailed to the Canary Islands & Morocco.

As Crown Iris she was based in Haifa, Israel and cruise along the coasts of the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and to various destinations in Europe.