MONARCH OF THE SEAS (Exterior Only)
Royal Caribbean International


MS Monarch of the Seas, later known simply as Monarch, was a Sovereign-class cruise ship built in 1991 at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, for Royal Caribbean International. At 73,941 gross tons, it was among the largest cruise ships of its time, capable of carrying up to 2,744 passengers and 822 crew members. The ship featured a multi-story atrium with glass elevators, two full-sized saltwater pools, a rock-climbing wall added in 2003, a casino, multiple dining venues, and entertainment options like a theater and Latin-themed lounge. Initially sailing short Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida, it transferred to Pullmantur Cruises in 2013 for Southern Caribbean itineraries. Notable for being the first major cruise ship captained by a woman in 2007, Monarch faced challenges, including a 1998 reef grounding and a 1990 fire during construction. The ship was scrapped in 2020 in Aliağa, Turkey, following Pullmantur’s bankruptcy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.