Sovereign class
Encyclopedia
The Sovereign class is Royal Caribbean International
's third generation of cruise ships.
The three ships of the class were built in Saint-Nazaire
, France
at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique
shipyards. The first modern "megaships" to be built, they also were the first series of cruise ships to include a multi-story atrium
with glass elevators. They also had a single deck devoted entirely to cabins with private balconies instead of oceanview cabins. The first ship, the Sovereign of the Seas launched in 1988, was the world's largest passenger ship in service, breaking the record held by the (originally designed as an ocean liner
. Sovereign held this distinction until 1990 when Norway succeeded her after being refurbished with the addition of two more decks. In 1991, Royal Caribbean International launched a slightly modified sister ship, the Monarch of the Seas. In 1992, the line launched its third and final sister ship, the Majesty of the Seas. These ships were among the largest modern cruise ships to sail during the late 80's and early 90's.
During that time, other major cruise lines also followed suit, building ships that included many of the same features and similar dimensions as the Sovereign-class. Carnival Cruise Lines
launched the Fantasy class in 1990, comparable in size to the Sovereign-class and also featuring a multi-story atrium with glass elevators. Princess Cruises
also countered by launching two ships in 1990 and 1991 to compete with the Sovereign-class, the Crown Princess and the Regal Princess
. They also featured an atrium and two decks devoted to cabins with private balconies instead of windowed "oceanview" cabins.
Since then, newer and larger ships have succeeded the Sovereign-class size. In comparison with the largest cruise ships afloat today, they are less than half the size of the , which is about 154,000 gross tons, and about a third the size of Oasis of the seas
. In 2008, Royal Caribbean relocated the Sovereign of the Seas, transferring her to their Pullmantur Cruises
branch. Other cruise lines have also displaced their older tonnage displaced with new ships introduced into the high growth areas.
In 2007, Monarch of the Seas became the first major cruiseliner in the world to be captained by a woman, the Swede
Karin Stahre Janson, who remained the only one until 2010 when the British
captain Sarah Breton took charge of MS Artemis of P&O Cruises.
, delivered in 1991, completely refurbished in May 2003., inaugurated April 26, 1992
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International is a Norwegian and American cruise line brand based in Miami, Florida and owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.. With 42 ships in service under 5 different brands and one more under construction, it controls a 25.6% share of the world cruise market...
's third generation of cruise ships.
The three ships of the class were built in Saint-Nazaire
Saint-Nazaire
Saint-Nazaire , is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.The town has a major harbour, on the right bank of the Loire River estuary, near the Atlantic Ocean. The town is at the south of the second-largest swamp in France, called "la Brière"...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique
Chantiers de l'Atlantique
Chantiers de l'Atlantique is part of the South Korean STX Shipbuilding Group and one of the world's largest shipyards, based in Saint-Nazaire, France...
shipyards. The first modern "megaships" to be built, they also were the first series of cruise ships to include a multi-story atrium
Atrium (architecture)
In modern architecture, an atrium is a large open space, often several stories high and having a glazed roof and/or large windows, often situated within a larger multistory building and often located immediately beyond the main entrance doors...
with glass elevators. They also had a single deck devoted entirely to cabins with private balconies instead of oceanview cabins. The first ship, the Sovereign of the Seas launched in 1988, was the world's largest passenger ship in service, breaking the record held by the (originally designed as an ocean liner
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
. Sovereign held this distinction until 1990 when Norway succeeded her after being refurbished with the addition of two more decks. In 1991, Royal Caribbean International launched a slightly modified sister ship, the Monarch of the Seas. In 1992, the line launched its third and final sister ship, the Majesty of the Seas. These ships were among the largest modern cruise ships to sail during the late 80's and early 90's.
During that time, other major cruise lines also followed suit, building ships that included many of the same features and similar dimensions as the Sovereign-class. Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Lines is a British-American owned cruise line, based in Doral, Florida, a suburb of Miami in the United States. Originally an independent company founded in 1972 by Ted Arison, the company is now one of eleven cruise ship brands owned and operated by Carnival Corporation & plc...
launched the Fantasy class in 1990, comparable in size to the Sovereign-class and also featuring a multi-story atrium with glass elevators. Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line, based in Santa Clarita, California in the United States. Previously a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises PLC, the company is now one of ten cruise ship brands operated by Carnival Corporation & PLC and accounts for approximately 19% share...
also countered by launching two ships in 1990 and 1991 to compete with the Sovereign-class, the Crown Princess and the Regal Princess
Regal Princess
Pacific Dawn is a cruise ship owned and operated by P&O Cruises Australia. She was built in 1991 by the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy as Regal Princess...
. They also featured an atrium and two decks devoted to cabins with private balconies instead of windowed "oceanview" cabins.
Since then, newer and larger ships have succeeded the Sovereign-class size. In comparison with the largest cruise ships afloat today, they are less than half the size of the , which is about 154,000 gross tons, and about a third the size of Oasis of the seas
MS Oasis of the Seas
MS Oasis of the Seas is an Oasis-class cruise ship in the fleet of Royal Caribbean International. The first of her class, she was joined by her sister ship Allure of the Seas in December 2010. Both vessels cruise the Caribbean from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida...
. In 2008, Royal Caribbean relocated the Sovereign of the Seas, transferring her to their Pullmantur Cruises
Pullmantur Cruises
Pullmantur Cruises is a cruise line headquartered in Spain. It began operations in the late 1990s as an offshoot of the Madrid-based travel agency Pullmantur. Pullmantur Cruises, through its parent company, was purchased by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in 2006.- Overview :Pullmantur Cruises is the...
branch. Other cruise lines have also displaced their older tonnage displaced with new ships introduced into the high growth areas.
In 2007, Monarch of the Seas became the first major cruiseliner in the world to be captained by a woman, the Swede
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Karin Stahre Janson, who remained the only one until 2010 when the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
captain Sarah Breton took charge of MS Artemis of P&O Cruises.
Ships
was the largest ship in the world at the time of its completion in 1988. Transferred to RCL's company Pullmantur CruisesPullmantur Cruises
Pullmantur Cruises is a cruise line headquartered in Spain. It began operations in the late 1990s as an offshoot of the Madrid-based travel agency Pullmantur. Pullmantur Cruises, through its parent company, was purchased by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in 2006.- Overview :Pullmantur Cruises is the...
, delivered in 1991, completely refurbished in May 2003., inaugurated April 26, 1992