Imperial Majesty Cruise - MV Regal Empress Cruise to Nassau Paradise Island Bahama 2 Night Cruise


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Regal Empress History

MV Regal Empress History The Regal Empress, with her sleek bowed hull, tiered aft decks and traditional charm, recalls a bygone era in sea travel updated with modern services and amenities. In service for more than 50 years, this classic vessel was built in Glasgow, Scotland, as the Olympia, the flagship for the now-defunct Greek Line. The 612-foot-long vessel was the first newly built ship for the 14-year-old line. Previously, all Greek ships were secondhand and this was the first major passenger vessel to be built for a Greek-owned shipping company. The Olympia was launched April 16, 1953, an historic day shared by Britain’s Royal Yacht Britannia which was also launched in Scotland that day. The Olympia’s owners, the Goulandris Group, had a long-standing wish to operate a well-constructed ship that offered travelers a luxurious onboard environment at acceptable prices. Only 10 percent of her original passenger capacity was first class. The remainder traveled tourist class, a category that became popular after World War II. For her first trip from the shipyard, the Olympia sailed down to Belfast and Dublin then across the Irish Sea to Liverpool, and ending the voyage in Southampton. During this voyage, the royal fashion designer Normal Hartnel debuted his “Olympia Collection” of ball gowns and summer dresses. All proceeds from the sale of his collection were donated to the Greek Earthquake Fund

On October 20, 1953, the Olympia made her official maiden voyage. Fully booked with 1,200 passengers, the ship set sail for New York, a voyage that featured stops in Cherbourg, Cobh and Halifax. Following this voyage the port of Bremerhaven in Germany, rather than Southampton, became the ship’s European terminus.

During the first year of service, the Olympia carried almost 23,000 passengers across the North Atlantic. In that same year, she also made three cruises from New York to the West Indies. The fact that the ship was built with two outdoor pools, ample outdoor deck space and was fully air conditioned indicated that her owners intended her for cruising in warmer locations. This is what happened in 1955, when the Olympia was switched to the longer sun route from New York or Boston to Halifax, Lisbon, Naples, Messina and terminating in Piraeus, Greece. The ports of Limassol on the island of Cyprus, and Haifa, Israel, were added in 1961. The crossing usually took 10 days

The ship remained in this service until 1971 when, faced with rising oil prices and dwindling sea traffic due to faster jets, the Olympia was withdrawn from duty and laid up in Piraeus. She remained there until 1981 when Finland-based Sally Viking Line purchased her for its Baltic ferry operations.

In 1982, bearing the new name Caribe, the ship underwent a cosmetic and structural restyling designed for Caribbean cruise service. Additionally, the ship’s steam turbine engines were replaced with more efficient diesels. In 1983 she was purchased by Commodore Cruise Line, renamed Caribe 1, and entered into service as a Miami-based cruise ship.

Bearing a fresh new look and modern amenities complemented by a gracious old-world charm and relatively intimate size, the Caribe 1 quickly developed a loyal following among Caribbean-bound vacationers. This lasted for 10 years until 1993 when Commodore sold the ship to the newly formed Regal Cruises. The Caribe 1 celebrated her 40th birthday with a new name—Regal Empress—and a new career cruising from New York and Port Manatee near Tampa to ports in the Northeast and western Caribbean.

In 1997 the Regal Empress underwent a refit in Mobile, Alabama, that brought her up to the latest international Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) standards. Other upgrades included a new buffet area, some balconied cabins, a children’s playroom and Internet cafй among other changes to meet the needs of today's cruising public. At the same time, careful attention was paid to maintaining the vintage features and ambiance of its long history. These include rich wood paneling, the old fashioned enclosed promenade, the elegant main dining room with its view of the ocean, and a significant number of very large staterooms.

In May 2003, following the demise of Regal Cruises, the Regal Empress was purchased at auction by Imperial Majesty Cruise Line of Pompano Beach, Fla. On June 24, 2003, the Regal Empress celebrated still another milestone in her long history. Taking over the route of Imperial Majesty’s Oceanbreeze, the Regal Empress now offers travelers two-night cruises from Port Everglades to Nassau, The Bahamas, every other day year round.

The ship will continue to sail as the Regal Empress.