The Current Retiring and Scrapping of Client-Favorite Ships

Cruise travel will return, and all signs point to that happening sooner than later as industry executives fervently voice their calls for government agencies to permit it. Nonetheless, cruise ships continue to be forced to depart their fleets to prevent further financial loss and to restart operations more efficiently.

Some of these aging vessels will retire to other brands, but sadly, many will be altogether scrapped prematurely, when they would have seen life in secondary and tertiary markets under ordinary circumstances. 

Carnival Corporation
Having one of the largest fleets to begin with, Carnival Corporation has accelerated the departure of a total of 18 less efficient ships, according to the company’s latest SEC filing, which indicates an approximately 12% reduction of pre-COVID-19 capacity.

Among the confirmed ships are four of Carnival Cruise Line’s Fantasy-class vessels: Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration have already been beached at the shipbreaker destination of Aliaga, Turkey, and Carnival Fascination is expected to follow.

Meanwhile, another four of Italian-based Costa Cruises have either been transferred or slated for scrap (Costa Atlantica, Costa Mediterranea, Costa NeoRomantica and Costa Victoria), as have three P&O Cruises ships: Oceana (formerly Princess Cruises’ Ocean Princess, launched in 2000), Pacific Aria (formerly Holland America Line’s Ryndam, launched in 1994) and Pacific Dawn (formerly Princess’ Regal Princess, launched in 1991).

Other current Holland America Line (HAL) ships that have been cut are Amsterdam (heading to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines), Maasdam, Rotterdam (also on its way to Fred. Olsen) and Veendam. Yet to be confirmed are a remaining three ships, but Princess’ Sun Princess is rumored to be on the list. Cruise Industry News is reporting that it may replace Peace Boat’s current Ocean Dream — which was once Carnival’s Tropicale, launched in 1982.

Speaking of historic vessels from current Carnival brands, Carnival Cruise Line’s former Holiday, launched in 1985, also has an uncertain future; it is up for auction as Magellan after the fall of operator Cruise & Maritime Voyages. The same is true of that brand’s Vasco da Gama (formerly HAL’s Statendam, launched in 1992) and Columbus (formerly Princess’ Star Princess, launched in 1989). Plus, Marella Celebration, HAL’s former Noordam, launched in 1984, has been sold for scrap by Marella Cruises, as well.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
Of the big three cruise corporations, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. is the only one without plans to retire or scrap any of its Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises vessels at this time.

Royal Caribbean Group
As for Royal Caribbean Group, its current Azamara, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Silversea ships are similarly safe for the time being. However, some of its past favorites are not as lucky.

Under the reorganization of the company’s joint venture Pullmantur Cruises, two former Royal Caribbean ships have already begun the scrapping process at Aliaga: Sovereign of the Seas (now just Sovereign), launched in 1998, and Monarch of the Seas (now just Monarch), launched in 1991.

Horizon — originally launched by Celebrity in 1990 — is currently laid up, awaiting a questionable fate, and its sister ship Zenith — originally sailing under Celebrity in 1992 — is on bare-boat charter to Peace Boat. However, following reporting by Cruise Industry News, Zenith also looks to be on the chopping block.

Now may be a good time for clients to take a trip down memory lane. While a Google image search will show the current state of these ships in rather depressing photos and videos, it’s best to remember these vessels in their glory days and to book and plan for a time when we can sail on the remainder of the fleets.