Majestic International Cruises Inc. was formed in the late 1980s by a group, comprising of interests in both the commercial and cruising shipping sectors.
Their purpose was the establishment of a cruise line with medium size cruise vessels that would offer to potential niche market long-term charters, 3+ to 4 star quality vessels together with management and operational services of comparable high standards.
The first cruise vessel, the M/V OCEAN MAJESTY, 10400 GRT, with 274 staterooms, was introduced into the market place in 1994.
The investment on this vessel, which was practically totally reconstructed prior to her entering service, came to over US$ 50 million, and the product that emerged was a very modern, practically new cruise vessel of great charm and operational value.
She was chartered to Page & Moy, one of Britain’s most respected and demanding cruise vessel Charterers, for about 200 days per year, and her long association with this company has been renewed up to the autumn of 2009. Majestic extended the trading duration by fixing short term charters to many smaller charterers such as AllWays Travel of Belgium, Voyages of Discovery of UK, Halcon of Spain, Templeton Tours of USA and others.
For the summer of 2010, the OCEAN MAJESTY was chartered by Turkish Tour Operators APEX Tours of Istanbul, who operated the vessel on 3/4/5/6/7 day cruises to the Eastern Mediterranean, Greek islands and the Dalmatian coast, departing and terminating in the port of IZMIR. After a very successful 2010 season, APEX Tours chartered again the vessel in 2011. Also for 2012 she was sailing out of Izmir on a program similar to the one performed in 2010/2011. For years 2013 and 2014, she is on time charter to the German tour operators Messrs. HANSA TOURISTIK GmbH. During September / October 2013 and for a total period of 35 ndays, OCEAN MAJESTY was on time charter to the Russian tour operators Messrs. METROPOLIS CRUISE.
Messrs. HANSA has renewed the charter for 2014 season (140/150 days).
In 1998 the second vessel was added to the fleet. The larger, elegant classic S/S OCEAN EXPLORER I, 20000 GRT, totaling 406 staterooms.
The average size of her staterooms is probably amongst the largest existing at that time on any cruise vessel of her size, and her public rooms have an exceptional air of grandness and spaciousness.
After a nearly US$ 20 million conversion, the OCEAN EXPLORER I embarked on a spell of Round the World Cruises. Later, due to her extraordinarily spacious and classic staterooms and public areas, she was chosen by various Charterers to serve as an admirable floating hotel, hosting guests for, amongst others, the Lisbon Expo 98 and the G8 Economic Conference in Genova.
This vessel was eventually sold at the end of 2004.
The M/V OCEAN MONARCH was acquired in 2002. This 15800 GRT, 231 stateroom vessel, in the well tried by now company’s operational philosophy, underwent a radical US$ 5 million improvement conversion, and in the spring of 2003 entered service on charter to a German cruise ship Tour operator HANSA, to the end of August and in subsequent years. She then joined her sister ship, the M/V OCEAN MAJESTY, in the service of Page & Moy, who have chartered this vessel for three yearly summer seasons.
The undisputable highlight of her 2003 summer season was the hosting onboard by Religion, Science and the Environment, of the SYMPOSIUM V: the Baltic Sea. This event is held under the auspices of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the head of the Orthodox Church.
During his eight-day stay onboard, His All Holiness, the Patriarch, received on the vessel a number of international statesmen and dignitaries, including the Prime Minister of Finland amongst others.
The vessel operated 3/4 day cruises out of Piraeus during season 2006/2007, and was sold to another cruise operator at the end of year 2007.
The M/V OCEAN COUNTESS was acquired in February 2004. At 17600 GRT and with 400 staterooms, she was extensively converted and upgraded in the spring of 2004 at the cost of over US$6 million. In September 2004 she was hosting the guests of the French Television Authority and some members of the French Olympic Committee, chartered by a French company as a floating hotel during the Olympic Games 2004, in the port of Piraeus.
In summer 2005, the vessel was chartered by Spanish major Tour Operator, Travelplan, part of the Globalia Group of Companies, for their summer cruising program from Valencia.
In December 2005, the vessel was chartered to a major German Tour Operator. Then to Louis Cruises for one season and during year 2008 the vessel performed 3/4 day cruises ex Piraeus to the Greek islands and Turkey.
During winter 2008/spring-summer 2009, the vessel was on charter to other Spanish Charterers. For years 2010, 2011 and 2012, Ocean Countess is on charter to British Tour Operators Cruise and Maritime Services until end October 2012 for about 250 days per year. The vessel was cruising exclusively out of UK ports to the North European Fjords, the Baltic, Round UK and South to the Mediterranean waters, and in early 2012 she was chartered to HEEREMA MARINE CONTRACTORS NEDERLAND B.V., a Dutch contracting company. The vessel was sold in February 2014.
Majestic International Cruises Inc. are looking forward into the future and are already planning their further expansion in the exciting and wonderful world of cruising.
The Executive team of Majestic International Cruises comprising of Mr. Michael Lambros, Mr. Costa P. Zalocosta and Mr. Theodore Kontes perform the full operation of the vessels and between them have a combined 150 years’ experience in the cruising industry.
As part of a major shipping group, Majestic International Cruises as cruise ship managers/operators have access to all the expertise that may be required including but not limited to technical, insurance, financial and legal matters.
The executive team and the most important senior officers of the company are:
- Michael Lambros, Chairman and Managing Director with 55 years’ experience in cruising industry,
- P. Zalocosta, Director responsible for all commercial activities of the company and Deputy M.D. Also, he is responsible for organizing all matters pertaining to passengers’ activities and welfare on board with 50 years’ experience,
- Theo Kontes, Fleet Operation Manager responsible for the whole operation on board and ashore with more than 40 years’ experience,
- Captain Stelios Seremelis, acting as the Port Captain of the group. Captain Seremelis has a great experience with previous good service on cruise vessels as Staff Captain and Master. He is fully responsible for the employment of all deck department officers and crew, the appointment of port agents and the itineraries of the vessels, when cruising.
- Panos Adonelos, shore based Hotel Director. He is responsible for all Hotel department matters (employment of crew, food purchasing of hotel stores, etc)
- All technical matters concerning engine room repairs, maintenance, classification, supplies of spare parts, deck and engine stores, dry-docking insurance claims and all legal matters are carried out by our affiliated company “CHARTWORLD SHIPPING CORPORATION” operating in parallel a fleet of about sixty cargo, reefer tanker ships.
