Swanky new Majestic Princess makes her comeback in the Med as a good family ship

• The Majestic Princess has undergone a makeover.
• Most notable new additions to the ship are centred around dining, however, the overall look is more appealing for the family market.
• The revamped ship is currently sailing the Mediterranean, with a strong Australian presence aboard.

Every woman knows that a 40th birthday celebration is a milestone. It’s also a fabulous moment to undergo a makeover and kick up your heels to celebrate.

This is precisely what the Majestic Princess has done – celebrating 40 years of Princess Cruises’ sailing in the Mediterranean by undergoing a two-week dry dock refurbishment and re-emerging as a family-friendly cruise ship of choice for Aussies year after year.

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Majestic Princess’s success in the Australian market

Most notable new additions to the ship are centred around dining.

Culinary favourites of the cruise line have now been integrated onboard the Majestic. Popular Irish bar and pub O’Malley’s, Italian Trattoria Sabatini’s, popular Pizza place Alfredo’s, the Salty Dog Café, Ocean Terrace Sushi Bar and Bellini’s bar have all been added to the ship’s list of onboard dining options.

Interestingly, if you were a first-time cruiser on the Majestic, you would be none the wiser to the new additions as they seamlessly blend into the existing décor of the ship. But for those who have spent time aboard the ship prior to the transformation, they’d note that Sabatini’s has replaced the old Harmony restaurant, which was dedicated to Chinese cuisine and the Asian market.

Another subtle enhancement along these lines is in the spa and wellness centre, where several new massage and treatment rooms have been added. This wouldn’t be notable but for the fact that they have replaced the previous line-up of karaoke-themed rooms, which are clearly now deemed obsolete.

This Australian travel journalist must make mention at this point that perhaps a decision to hold onto at least a few karaoke rooms would have been wise, as this is in fact a wildly popular Aussie social pastime and could have become a top feature onboard the ship, had many passengers known it existed.

Princess is known for being the crowd pleaser for families. The additions of these dining venues are a testament to this intergenerational market. But beyond the culinary focus, rebranded shopping venues have taken centre stage – literally now positioned alongside the heart of the ship’s social stage, the piazza.

And in a bold new demonstration of being dedicated to keeping the kids happy at sea, there’s a first-time ever for the fleet addition to the shopping zone, the Candy Store.

While being slightly American in theme, this is a shopping zone dedicated entirely to all things sweet and sticky. One can only assume this is going to appeal to all kids onboard, including the big-kid variety.

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Upgrades on Majestic Princess:

Deck 5

• O’Malley’s Irish Pub: Classic Irish comfort food served pub-style from hearty
  burgers to fish and chips and even late-night bites are paired with an extensive beverage selection, including a curated selection of beers and whiskey flights. Live music makes this place a true gathering place where
• Memories are made (formerly Vines Wine Bar).
• Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria: The cruise line’s signature authentic Italian trattoria with a taste of Tuscany and beyond, featuring cherished family recipes from handmade pastas to robust sauces and rich slow-braised meats (formerly Harmony Restaurant).
• Good Spirits At Sea: Where every drink is an experience, this bar is inspired by the hit TV series, Good Spirits. Expert mixologists deliver live demonstrations, immersing guests in the culture behind each hand-crafted cocktail cocktail (replaces Piazza Bar).
• The Shops of Princess: EFFY: featuring pieces of the New York City-based jewellery brand known for its craftsmanship and high-quality gemstones (formerly Calypso Cove)
• Confectionery: A Victorian-style confectionery adorned with ornate jars of colourful sweets, this shop invites you to pick and choose your favourite treats from a vast selection of sweet delights (formerly Calypso Cove).
  

Deck 6

• Bellini’s Cocktail Bar: A celebration of life and love fills this Bellini-inspired cocktail bar with Italian flair as guests sip on refreshing bellinis, hand-crafted cocktails and a carefully curated selection of wines (replaces Good Spirits At Sea and Princess Photo Gallery).
• Captain’s Arcade: Featuring classic and interactive video games (formerly Churchill’s Video Arcade).

Deck 7

• Ocean Terrace Sushi Bar: A contemporary sushi bar overlooking the Piazza, sushi lovers delight with expertly handcrafted sushi rolls, fresh nigiri or sashimi and maki rolls (formerly Ocean Terrace Bar).
• The Shops of Princess: EFFY: In this additional space, EFFY will expand its jewellery selection, offer bespoke consultations, and hold insightful seminars. An EFFY Lounge will be dedicated to curating select luxury pieces (formerly Cartier).
• Princess Photo Gallery: For prints and photo downloads (formerly the Library). Deck 16
• Alfredo’s Slice: A poolside pizza lovers’ paradise serving authentic Neapolitan pizza crafted from scratch and made-to-order (replaces Chopsticks Noodle & Dim Sum Bar).
• The Salty Dog Grill: For a quick bite, this poolside grill serves cooked-to-order favourites such as delicious burgers with house-baked buns, 100% all-beef hot dogs, street tacos, loaded fries and more (formerly Lobster Bar & Grill).

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What’s next for Majestic Princess?

While the new-look ship has debuted in the Mediterranean, this has not excluded Australian cruise enthusiasts from enjoying her newfound features. Out of the total 3560 guests onboard this week (and the ship is currently sailing at one hundred per cent occupancy), almost four hundred are Aussies and Kiwis.

They’re a long way from home, you might remark. But in fact, this is a perfect demonstration of the trend some Australian travellers are now showing, preferring a fly-cruise holiday over a backyard experience.

One of the more popular options this winter in Australia is for a sun-kissed Mediterranean escape. There’s a reason why Princess is basing six of their ships from the fleet in Europe’s waters in 2025, including the Majestic Princess, Sky Princess, Regal Princess, Emerald Princess, new ship Sun Princess and the next ship to join the fleet this coming October, the Star Princess.

While the Majestic Princess will enjoy swanning her way around the Greek Islands, Turkey’s coastline and alongside Italy’s iconic beaches and ports, she does have a busy schedule ahead. After this season wraps in July, she will make her way onto Canada and New England for the August to September season, and then onto the
Caribbean from October to December to finish out the year.

And if there’s any remaining doubt around whether the new revamp will get the tick of approval from Aussie travellers, then here’s the best part. Despite the brand-new upgrades and improvements to the ship, Princess has remained loyal to the original fares that passengers have been paying to sail on the Majestic.

No extra costs are being passed on to guests for this flash-harry overhaul. And if I know one thing about Aussie travellers, it’s that they love a free upgrade. That’s a big hip-hip-hooray for Princess Cruises.

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Check out Rose Kelly’s exclusive interview with the captain of the Majestic Princess.