Aegean Majesty

Former names: Victoria Amazing (Victoria Cruises China), MS Veendam (Holland America Line)

Aegean Majesty current position

Aegean Majesty current location is at East Mediterranean (coordinates 38.25851 N / 22.07720 E) cruising en route to AIGIO. The AIS position was reported 5 minutes ago.

Current Position

Specifications of Aegean Majesty

Year of build1996  /  Age: 28
Flag state Bermuda
BuilderFincantieri (Marghera, Italy)
ClassHAL STATENDAM
Building costUSD 150 million
Engines (power)Wartsila-Sulzer (34.56 MW / 46346 hp)
Speed20 kn / 37 km/h / 23 mph
Length (LOA)219 m / 719 ft
Beam (width)31 m / 102 ft
Gross Tonnage57092 gt
Passengers1350 - 1620
Crew588
Passengers-to-space ratio35
Decks13
Cabins675
Decks with cabins5
Last Refurbishment2016
Sister-shipsMS Maasdam (CFC Renaissance), MS Ryndam (Celestyal Journey), MS Statendam (CMV Vasco da Gama)
Former namesVictoria Amazing (Victoria Cruises China), MS Veendam (Holland America Line)
Christened byMary Frances Debbie Reynolds (MS Veendam)
OwnerMediterranean Dream Inc
OperatorVictoria Cruise Lines

Aegean Majesty Review

Review of Aegean Majesty

The 1996-built (as "MS Veendam") cruise ship Aegean Majesty is the 4th and last Statendam (S-class) vessel of HAL-Holland America Line. The sisterships (by design) are the former HAL boats MS Statendam/Vasco da Gama, MS Ryndam/Celestyal Journey, and MS Maasdam/CFC Renaissance.

Note: Under both names (Aegean Majesty and Victoria Majestic) the ship is currently booked to visit several ports (all with multiple overnight stays, up to 5 nighs/6-days) including in the period 2023-2025. The future voyages visit destinations in Europe (Le Havre-Paris France, Piraeus-Athens Greece, Portimao Portugal, Gibraltar UK), South America (Rio de Janeiro Brazil), and Asia (Naha Japan).

History - construction and ownership

On August 12, 2022, was announced that in 2023 (May) will be inaugurated the new cruise brand "Victoria Cruise Lines" (website victoria.cruises) with a two-ship fleet - the sisterships Aegean Majesty (VICTORIA AMAZING) and Aegean Goddess (VICTORIA MAJESTIC).

  • The Paralimni Cyprus-based Victoria Cruise Lines company specializes in residential cruise shipping and is led by Olavs Zvinelis (CEO). The adults-only, all-inclusive travel brand provides a residential travel experience by allowing stateroom rentals for long-term occupancy (minimum 6 months).
  • Victoria Majestic was scheduled to depart from PortMiami (Florida USA) on February 1, 2023.
  • Victoria Amazing was scheduled to depart from Livorno (Italy), on April 1, 2023.
  • Victoria Cruises' cabin rates start at USD 8000 (inside cabin), US$10000 (oceanview), US$16000 (balcony). Travel and rental options are offered only to adults (18 yo or older).
  • All interior cabins on both ships were fitted with a 100-cm/40-inch LCD monitor for real-time sea views and sounds provided by 10x HD cameras.

in July 2020, Carnival Corporation (via Holland America Line) sold 4 liners. MS Amsterdam and MS Rotterdam were sold to Fred Olsen Cruise Lines (renamed "MS Bolette" and "MS Borealis"). MS Maasdam and MS Veendam were sold to an undisclosed buyer. In late-August was revealed the new shipowner's name - Eaglepower Shipping Ltd (Seajets Ferries Greece). The Greek ferry company operates the fastest ferries in the Cyclades Islands and starts a cruise shipping division with all 3 liners - Aegean Myth (HAL Maasdam), Aegean Majesty (HAL Veendam) and Oceana (P&O UK). For the cruise vessels was contracted Optimum ShipManagement Services SA (Piraeus-based company) that also manages the Celestyal Cruises fleet.

All scheduled for the 4 ships cruises were canceled or assumed by other HAL ships.

  • A total of 46x Holland America Veendam ship cruises were canceled (November 3, 2020, through October 2, 2021), including 7-14-21-day Western Caribbean and 7-14-21-day Southern Caribbean roundtrips from Tampa Florida (through March 28, 2021), 28-day repositioning Mediterranean to Baltic (Civitavecchia-Rome to Amsterdam), Northern European roundtrips from Amsterdam (14-23-28-37-day Baltic, British Isles, Iceland and Norway Fjords, 2021 June 5 through August 23), 12-26-day repositioning Baltic to Mediterranean (Amsterdam to Civitavecchia), 14-28-day Holy Land roundtrip from Civitavecchia (Italy-Greece-Turkey-Israel-Malta).

Following the vessel's acquisition, Seajets Aegean Majesty was initially docked/moored at Katakolon (Olympia, Greece).

For Holland America Line, the vessel was Holland-flagged (MMSI 246506000) and registered in Rotterdam. For Seajets Ferries, the ship is now Bermuda-flagged (MMSI 310801000) and registered in Hamilton.

Holland America MS Veendam cruise ship

SEAJETS Greece (1989-founded) is a Cyprus-based shipping company that specializes in passenger and cargo ferry services exclusively in the Eastern Mediterranean (Aegean Sea). Seajets' fleet includes mainly fast-ferries (14x high-speed catamarans, max capacity 2100 passengers + 600 cars) plus 3x conventional Ro-Pax vessels (max capacity 1300 passengers + 400 cars). Seajets operates from homeports Piraeus-Athens, Lavrion and Crete (Heraklion and Rethymno) interconnecting 26 Cyclades Islands (Crete including) with 260 connections.

Decks and Cabins

MS Veendam/Aegean Majesty staterooms (675 total) include 193 Balcony Suites (29%), no Standard Balcony cabins, 344 Oceanviews (including 76x Lanai cabins on Deck 3), 138 Inside, 16 Spa rooms, in total 31 cabin grades. Most staterooms are 175-255-ft2 sized oceanviews. Spa cabins are 16 (12x VQ-Vista Suites and 4x IQ-Inside). Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 18, connecting cabins are 97.

The boat has 13 decks, of which 10 are passenger-accessible and 5 with cabins.

Implemented fleetwide in 2019, "Club Orange" program provides exclusive amenities to Suite passengers booked in categories Neptune and Pinnacle. Bonus perks by this program include:

  • priority services (check-in, disembarkation, tendering, dining reservations)
  • 24-hour concierge service (assistance, information, reservations)
  • exclusive dining venue (serving complimentary Pinnacle Grill breakfast and Dining Room dinner, plus exclusive dishes)
  • dedicated Concierge Desk (Guest Services and Tours)
  • room service (a la carte breakfast menu with complimentary gourmet dishes - including smoked salmon, steak and eggs)
  • sparkling wine (embarkation day), Club Orange tote bag, premium bathrobes (cabin use, available for monogramming and purchasing).
  • Club Orange Restaurant is part of the Main Dining Room (designed as separate VIP dining section).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Veendam's restaurants include the Rotterdam Dining Room, the Lido buffet, and the intimate Pinnacle Grill. There is also a casual poolside option for hot dogs and burgers, a coffee bar, and complimentary room service round-the-clock (from hot breakfast choices to dinner selections). The Lido buffet is efficient and has great sea views through its floor-to-ceiling windows. The buffet serves continental breakfast from 6:30 a.m., full breakfast (7-11 a.m.); lunch (11 a.m.-2 p.m.); and dinner (6-7:30 p.m.) Hours are adjusted during embarkation/debarkation and on port days. There are extended hours for ice cream, sandwiches or late-night offerings. Tea and coffee are available at the Lido at all times. The lines are manageable, even at peak times, with lots of available tables.

Follows the complete list of ms Veendam restaurants and food bars.

  • Pinnacle Grill (62-seat reservations-only seafood/steakhouse restaurant with fine wines selection; free for passengers under 12 yo). The venue transforms into “An Evening at le Cirque” once per cruise via a partnership with NYC “Le Cirque” French restaurant.
  • Rotterdam Restaurant (696-seat, aft Dining Room; features open seating Breakfast and Lunch, two Dinner options – 2 fixed seatings or “Any Time” dining between 5:15 p.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Terrace Grill (fast food pool bar; complimentary)
  • Lido Restaurant (372-seat complimentary buffet restaurant; offers self-service Breakfast 6:00 a.m. -11 a.m., Lunch 11:30 p.m. - 2 p.m., Afternoon Tea, and Dinner 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.)
  • Canaletto Restaurant (Lido Restaurant annex; operates as an Italian restaurant for Dinner, reservations required)
  • Slice (poolside Pizzeria).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The vessel's $2 million art collection retains the overall feeling of stylish and traditional with superb antique Delft, marble busts, armor and paintings of old Holland America vessels on display. Even nightlife - one of Holland America's weak points - has been enhanced by the refurbishment; the open plan of Deck 8 creates a superior vibe in the evenings when the energy of the casino spills over into the bar places, and shoppers in the stores get lured across the walkway to the piano bar when they hear a favorite tune. By day there are trivia games, Bridge, Bingo, Sudoku, movies, cooking demos and mixology classes. Poolside bands play various music on sail-aways and sea days. The New York Times-sponsored Explorations Cafe is ship's active hub throughout the day and evening. It holds more than 2,000 books plus a host of periodicals and DVD library. There are write-on/wipe-off crossword puzzle tables, touch-screen interactive maps and a cubby of puzzles and games. An adjacent card room and computer/Internet stations are also available. Other amenities include: complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service, Supervised Kids Program ("Club Hal"), cruise ship weddings, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry/Self-Serve Laundromats.

Holland America MS Veendam cruise ship

Follows the complete list of ms Veendam lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

  • Atrium (3-deck high midship open-floor area with live performances)
  • Promenade Deck, Walking Track (jogging is not permitted)
  • The Showroom at Sea (600-seat theatre/main show lounge; also serves Holland America’s enrichment program (via a partnership with BBC Earth)
  • Queen’s Room (40-seat meeting room, hosts digital workshops via Microsoft partnership, computer classes, social networks, blogging, photo editing)
  • Photo Gallery & Shop; Art Gallery
  • Wine Tasting Bar, Gourmet Shops (bottles available for purchasing, wine sampling)
  • Wajang Theatre & Culinary Arts Centre (203-seat cinema; offers culinary classes and cooking shows presented in demonstration kitchens)
  • Atrium Terrace with boutiques; Atrium Shops (boutiques for duty-free tobaccos and liquor, perfumes, watches, clothing, HAL logo merchandise, souvenirs); Marabella Luxury Shop
  • Ocean Bar (121-seat Atrium bar and lounge, with dance floor and stage for live performances)
  • Casino (served by Casino Bar and Sports Bar)
  • Hudson Room (40-seat meeting room; used as Cards Room)
  • Half Moon Room (60-seat meeting room)
  • MIX Lounge (has 3 parts, with live music and trivia games)
  • Explorations Cafe (88-seat specialty coffee bar and patisserie; also serves as ship’s Library and Online Centre/Internet computers room)
  • Explorer’s Lounge & Bar (60-seat lounge with bar; classical concert performances)
  • Neptune Lounge (24-seat club venue for Deluxe Suite and Pinnacle guests only)
  • Fitness Center (gym with separate Aerobics Room); 2 jacuzzis
  • Greenhouse Spa & Salon; Lido Pool area, served by Lido Bar and Terrace Grill; Sea View Pool area served by Sea View Bar
  • The Retreat (sun deck area, adults-only)
  • Crow’s Nest (250-seat observation lounge; bar and dance floor; becomes disco at night)
  • Tennis Court; Basketball Court; Shuffleboard
  • Club HAL (kids lounge, complimentary youth programming)
  • The Loft (teens club lounge area, with Video Games Arcade, computers, PlayStations; teen disco)
  • The Oasis (40-seat teen-only outdoor area).

Itineraries

MS Veendam itinerary program was based on Canada and New England cruises (leaving from Quebec City and Boston MA) in the summer, Mexican Riviera cruises (from California) and Panama Canal transits (on repositioning).

Operated between December 22, 2017, and April 2018, MS Veendam cruises to Cuba were roundtrips from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale Florida). HAL's 7-, 11-and 12-days long Cuban itineraries also visited other Caribbean call ports. Prices started from USD 900 per person (with double occupancy) for an Inside cabin. Bookings were opened on May 26, 2017.

In the period November 2020 - April 2021, the liner was to be homeported in Tampa Florida. The program had scheduled a total of 18 Caribbean roundtrips plus 2 Transatlantic crossings.

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Aegean Majesty Wiki

The vessel (Fincantieri Marghera yard/hull number 5954) has volume 57092 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 6604 tons, max draught 7,7 m. The powerplant is based on Wartsila-Sulzer marine diesel engines (models 12ZAV40S, ZA40S) with combined output 34,56 MW (46345 hp). The registered shipowner is MEDITERRANEAN DREAM INC, while the registered manager is OPTIMUM SHIPMANAGEMENT SERVICE.

Named after Veendam Holland (capital city of the Dutch province Groningen), Veendam is Holland America's 4th (last) S-class liner, with sisterships Maasdam (now CFC Renaissance), Ryndam (now Celestyal Journey), Statendam (now Vasco da Gama Nicko). Veendam's Inaugural Cruise/Maiden Voyage was on January 14, 1996. Ship's godmother was Mary Frances Debbie Reynolds (US actress, singer and businesswoman / 1932-2016).

Ship's interior is floral-themed. In the Atrium area is the 3-story-high impressive cut-glass sculpture "Jacob's Ladder". The liner has a USD 2+ million art collection - from classic paintings of life and stylized flowers to flower-themed ceiling murals. A valuable antique is the Japanese samurai armor from the late-17th-century.

(Holland America) MS Veendam refurbishment 2016 review

During drydock 2016 (done at Freeport Bahamas) the Veendam vessel received the following Suite cabin upgrades:

  • furnishings (sofas, chairs, headboards), carpeting, wall coverings, privacy curtains, draperies, bed runners, bed skirts, (vanity), new make-up vanities (quartz stone tops, modern lighting), dressers, dressing tables, nightstands, LED reading lights, wardrobes (with lighted closet rod)
  • cabin decors and amenities (espresso coffee machine, binoculars, free mimosas with in-cabin breakfasts)
  • USB outlet (on the bed's headboard), power outlets, LED ceiling lights
  • BOSE SoundDock (iPod stations)
  • interactive HDTV system (Internet capabilities, free movies on demand)
  • All Suite bathrooms were also renovated.

Veendam ship's 2016 refurbishment was part of Holland America Line's USD 300 million fleet renovation program (scheduled for 2016-2018) that also included updating onboard entertainment, dining and suites fleetwide.

Also in 2016, Holland America Line updated Veendam's shipboard programming (enrichment, entertainment and children) replacing the old "Dancing With the Stars" with "BBC Earth" content.

  • The ship's theatre lounge started hosting daily expert lectures, presentations, a nature-themed game show with BBC Earth screenings and introductions by the crews that filmed these series. A signature concert in the evenings was based on the "Frozen Planet" program (polar regions-themed) - a spectacular multimedia show with live musicians.
  • The ship's children (Club HAL) facilities featured an explorer trail, workshops (including on journalism and filming), and fact shows (animals, dinosaurs).

Holland America-themed cruises featured access to the BBC Earth series creators, sharing behind-the-scenes media and stories. Children had the opportunity to participate in filming workshops.

In 2009, during the drydock refurbishment in Freeport Bahamas, 2 decks of new balcony cabins were added to the ship's rear. The refit also added Lanai staterooms (on Promenade Deck).