Majestic to replace Regal in Alaska 2021

[2beaglesmom]

Just got word from princess that our booking for the regal princess departing r/t seattle on may 16, 2021 has been changed to a booking on the majestic for the same date and itinerary Costs and stateroom are the same for us Princess rep said they all got a memo about it last night

 

 

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[Bradiego]

Of course after I booked air and excursions the ship gets changed.  Got the notice earlier today.  We are booked on May 9 and waiting to see what cabin we will get assigned and am hoping everything gets transferred easily.  It said after July 10 our TA will get an email.  Crossing my fingers. Better than getting a notice of cancellation for sure. 

[2beaglesmom]

Of course after I booked air and excursions the ship gets changed.  Got the notice earlier today.  We are booked on May 9 and waiting to see what cabin we will get assigned and am hoping everything gets transferred easily.  It said after July 10 our TA will get an email.  Crossing my fingers. Better than getting a notice of cancellation for sure. 

I was able to get our new booking number when i called princess then you can input the booking number when you search for a booked cruise and you can see your new booking and make new flight reservations


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[Bradiego]

I will have to call tomorrow to get that information.  Thanks for the tip!

[BarbinMich]

Interesting news re the repositioning of the Majestic from the Far East to Alaska itineraries.  Friends of ours sailed on the Majestic a few years ago and reported there were some differences from its sister ships.  Because it was built for the Far East market where, apparently, poker or similar games were quite popular, there were small rooms set aside for such games in addition to the casino (I guess).  Wonder if that area will be reconfigured for Alaska?

 

P.S.  Just looked at the Majestic deck plans and looks like the ship has been reconfigured to the Royal/Regal layout.

Edited July 9, 2020 by BarbinMich

[PoohUnderstands]

16 hours ago, Bradiego said:

Of course after I booked air and excursions the ship gets changed.  Got the notice earlier today.  We are booked on May 9 and waiting to see what cabin we will get assigned and am hoping everything gets transferred easily.  It said after July 10 our TA will get an email.  Crossing my fingers. Better than getting a notice of cancellation for sure. 

Got my new booking number and reservation yesterday, July8th.  Everything is exactly the same, including the stateroom.  We booked an M6 stateroom(Front CC mini) of which there aren't many, so guess was logical would get the same stateroom.  I also have another ship change (Grand to Regal) and am supposed to get that new booking by July 28th.

 

Pooh

[LHARTWICK]

At this point, I'll just be glad to be sailing again in May, if it really does happen.  And it's a newer ship!  Our reservation is for the May 23 sailing.  Just checked our booking on the PCL page - cabin remains the same.  Reading another thread on same topic, many are furious to be moved to a different ship.  I'll just be thankful to be sailing again regardless of line/ship!  

Edited July 9, 2020 by LHARTWICK
added information

[Bradiego]

Something good to report, received my new booking number earlier for Majestic and everything is the same including cabin, air, excursions so all is good.  So ready to get back to cruising!  Thank you for the tip!

[AtlantaCruiser72]

After her summer 2021 Alaska season she will winter in LA doing Mexican Riviera and California Coastal sailings.  So I will be interested to see if Princess make any changes to the ship to remove Chinese signage, change the Hollywood Conservatory to a more usual Sanctuary area, change out some dining venues (Noodle Bar and Lobster Grill for Slice and Salty Dog Grill for example), open up Crooners and get rid of the divider screens, Change Harmony Chinese to Sabatini's, etc.  While some of these venues were fine for the Autralian home market ona seasonal basis, if she is going to be homeported in North America year-round, many US/Canadian consumers would expect her to be more similar to Royal/Regal.  This decision to move her to the North american market still sort of baffles me.

[deliver42]

The ships are so similar. What's the problem?

[modes]

On 7/9/2020 at 12:44 PM, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

After her summer 2021 Alaska season she will winter in LA doing Mexican Riviera and California Coastal sailings.  So I will be interested to see if Princess make any changes to the ship to remove Chinese signage, change the Hollywood Conservatory to a more usual Sanctuary area, change out some dining venues (Noodle Bar and Lobster Grill for Slice and Salty Dog Grill for example), open up Crooners and get rid of the divider screens, Change Harmony Chinese to Sabatini's, etc.  While some of these venues were fine for the Autralian home market ona seasonal basis, if she is going to be homeported in North America year-round, many US/Canadian consumers would expect her to be more similar to Royal/Regal.  This decision to move her to the North american market still sort of baffles me.

Totally agree with all your points.

[nini]

Is Princess pulling out of the Asian market? Could this be the reason?

 

[MJSailors]

   IMO- It would make sense to put a ship that was designed for the Asian market (both itineraries and passengers) to the US.

Due to the recent health crisis, passengers may want to cruise closer to home than venture out  on cruises based in Asian countries. Using this ship for Alaska,Mexico and California itineraries may  very well appeal to customers from the US and Canada.

    It may take some time for customers to have confidence about taking cruises and,possibly,an even longer time for people to have confidence taking cruises out of foreign ports so far from home.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

7 hours ago, nini said:

Is Princess pulling out of the Asian market? Could this be the reason?

 

 

Pulling out of Asia - no.  Reducing China-Centric sailings - yes. 

 

Majestic Princess was built with amenities/features to appeal specifically to Chinese passengers and was intended to sail year round from Chinese homeports, with a predominately Chinese passenger base.  Same with NCL Joy and RCCL Ovation of the Seas.  The market never quite boomed the way the cruise lines predicted and all three ships have had a change in deployment strategy in the last year or so moving these vessels away from China to either North America or Australia/NZ homeports.    

 

RCCL has seen the most success in China and continues to homeport Quantum of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas from Chinese & SE Asian ports and market primarily to Chinese passengers with a year-round series of 4&5 day cruises from Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore.

 

Princess has also previously homeported Sapphire in Shanghai for a good portion of the year and she is moving to Alaska and South America for 2021/22.  We may continue to see Princess serve China/SE Asia in fall 2021-Spring 2022 with other ships, but my guess is the sailings offered with be more focused on appealing to North American, Aus/NZ, and European passenger preferences as opposed to catering to the Chinese market.  Diamond Princess remains in Japan year Round through at least April 2022.

 

 

Edited July 11, 2020 by AtlantaCruiser72

[deliver42]

The Majestic makes more sense than he Regal in Alaska because of the indoor pool. The only one on a Royal Class ship as far as I know.

[V_icki_e]

If anyone is keen, there is a fantastic Facebook group "Majestic Princess Fan Club" that is filled with a great group of Majestic fans.   Mostly NZ/Australian members who have sailed on her and share a wealth of information 🙂 

[nini]

AtlantaCruiser72-

Thank you for the info.