island escape cruise ship scrapped island escape cruise ship scrapped

If it looks similar to another ship regularly based in the UK, that's because the ship was built to almost mirror the Astor of 1981, which most recently sailed as Saga Pearl II for Saga Cruises. My supervisor did her first cruise on the Escape a few years ago and likewise, she now enjoys cruising. Much like a flight on EasyJet, EasyCruise promised "unbundled" pricing, with surcharges for everything from onboard meals to cabin service. In 1988, Home Lines merged with Holland America Line, and Homeric became Westerdam. However, the applications of the charter agency for berthing the ship at Harnosand met resistance from local politicians. The AIS position was reported 7 minutes ago. You can imagine the uproar on the ship! She became MS Island Escape in 2002 being renamed once more as MV Ocean Gala in 2015. [20], In February 1988, a chiropractor named Scott Rolston murdered his wife Karen Waltz by strangling her and dumping the body overboard in order to make it look like a drowning. At the time of her construction, she was the largest cruiseferry in the world. Horizon was removed from the Celebrity Cruises fleet in 2005 and was passed around to various operators before landing with Pullmantur in 2017. Carnival Fantasy Carnival Fantasy Debut Date: March 1990 Sailed For:. While it is not uncommon to see cruise ships built in the 1970s and 1980s go to the breakers due to breakdowns or changing SOLAS (Safety Of Live At Sea regulations), older vessels are usually transferred first to another, smaller cruise operator -- a market that is often referred to as "secondhand tonnage." On November 30, 2021 the former Costa NeoRomantica was confirmed to be destined for a Pakistani shipbreaker. The ship is widely expected to head to India for scrapping after being observed underway from its anchorage and waiting for a transit position at the Suez Canal. Island Escape was drydock-refurbished at Damen Shiprepair Brest (France)/shipyard then renamed "Ocean Gala". Global Dream II, which was designed to hold more than 9,000 . However, Chatziginnis said that steel prices globally have increased dramatically over the past few months and residual value has increased by nearly $100 per ton in each of the major ship recycling counties. The ship enjoyed short stints with P&O Australia as Pacific Star and with Spanish operator Pullmantur as Ocean Dream before being transferred, but not renamed, to Peace Boat in 2012. Norwegian Dream also had the unfortunate notoriety of being involved in a dramatic collision in 1999 with the cargo ship Ever Decent in the English Channel. sector You would probably be looking at something like $80 per ton, for example, he added. She then sailed towards northern Europe, however the plan never materialized and she spent the summer of 2016 and into 2017 hopping around Europe going from one layberth to another. The vessel was in Denmark and completed its five-year survey with class society DNVGL. She operated under Royal Caribbean as the Viking Serenade and was with them for about 10 years. The ship arrived in early August at Aliaga, Turkey and was beached alongside sister Carnival Fantasy and former competitor Sovereign. Its career with Princess was remarkably short -- just 12 years -- and in 2002 it was renamed A'Rosa Blu. Lets say youre taking delivery of a cruise vessel and, lets say, from Piraeus. In 2009, Rhapsody was sold to Israel-based Mano Maritime, and operated cruises from Haifa under the name Golden Iris. All Cruise Ships Sold or Scrapped Due to the Pandemic Beaching Date: January 2021. The vessel was ordered to Vard Vung Tau Ltd in December 2019 (when the shipbuilding contract was signed) and its construction officially started in June 2020, with the keel-laying ceremony. It was to have had a sister-ship named Costa Olympia; instead, that vessel became Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sky. [22][23], Island Escape was featured in a mini-series TV documentary which consisted of 10 episodes. The ship was a throwback to another era, offering taps for hot, cold and sea water in cabins; a feature which had been abandoned for some time on contemporary Western liners. Thomson Cruises has operated the Island Escape under their all-inclusive Island Cruises since starting March 2013. Shes had a rather interesting career. Floating Accommodations claimed that a sale might be necessary to cover losses they would incur if Migrationsverket failed to pay a SEK 54M kronor (USD 6,44M) bill the company had sent to the agency for the costs of running the vessel. What Made It Special: Originally built as a Baltic cruise-ferry, Star Pisces was purchased by Star Cruises in 1994 and sailed for Singapore. Restaurants and food bars:Island Restaurant(British and international buffets),Beachcomber Restaurant(24 hours a dayself-service buffets, international theme nights). The ship was the first foray into cruising for low-cost European air carrier EasyJet. In 1985 she was renamed MS Stardancer and in 1990 MS Viking Serenade before being converted to a cruise ship in 1991. GMS also vets the requirements of the original owner for regulations that need to be complied with and then guides them with how to proceed with the scraping in the best interests of the cruise industry. Saw it in BCN before we had booked our first cruise, had been looking at it in the Thomsons brochure - then when we saw it decided definitely not, but again wouldn't do if we all wanted the same. MS Island Escape had 3x restaurants, two of them buffet-style. Things when silent and she reappeared in the Middle East late last year and now its been confirmed that she is currently enroute to India. In 2022, it was scheduled to take over runs from Mobile, Alabama before Carnival announced in February 2022 that the ship would no longer return to service for the line. Happy Father's Day to all you Island Dads! Island Escape Cruises was launched in 2006 by founder and CEO Peter Bissett. Most recently, the ship was based out of San Juan, and was due to replace Carnival Fantasy out of Mobile in 2022 prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. MV Ocean Gala cruise ship was built for Scandinavian World Cruises (DFDS) as "ms Scandinavia". The onboard meals are prepared by professional chefs using the freshest ingredients, including local seafood and the guests' daily catch. Ocean Gala Ship Review | CruiseMapper Renamed Norwegian Sea in 1997, the ship operated the line's famous "Texaribbean" voyages from Houston for many years in the mid-1990's before being transferred out of the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet in 2005. [9] Thomson Cruises has operated the Island Escape under their all-inclusive Island Cruises since starting March 2013. Homeported from Mobile for the last decade, Carnival Fantasy was due to be replaced by Carnival Fascination in 2022. Chatziginnis said the average scrap value in India is $400 per ton. In July 2022, Golden Iris was sold to shipbreaking interests, ending the vessel's 47-year career. The most popular among bars onboard - the Pub, just like your local. Cruise & Maritime Voyages acquired the ship in 2013 where it sailed a wide array of itineraries. Breaking Yard: Alang, India. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If the vessel has to be recycled in compliance with a regulation of the European Union, you would probably be looking in Turkey for something like $200 per ton equivalent because of their very limited capacity of the yards, which are compliant with European regulations, Chatziginnis explained. Join Island Time as we share the latest in cruise news. Length: 53.5 metres. It arrived for scrapping in December 2021, and was beached soon after. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Norwegian Dream sailed for Norwegian Cruise Line until 2008, when it was laid up until its 2012 transfer to Star Cruises. Following the 2015-2016 refit at Damen Brest, Ocean Gala headed to Scandinavia to serve as a floating hotel for workers involved in the refugee crisis. The roundtrip from Broome WA visits the Buccaneer Archipelago's Horizontal Waterfalls (Day 2), Doubtful Bay and Sale River cruising towards Red Cone Creek (Day 3), Careening Bay (Day 4), Naturaliste Island's Mitchell Falls (Day 5), Jar Island's Vansittart Bay (Day 6), King George Falls and encourage in Faraway Bay (Day 7), cruising along Sand and Cassini Islands and anchoring in Swift Bay (Day 8), wildlife watching in Swift Bay (Day 9), cruising through Prince Regent National Park and King Cascade/terraced waterfall (Day 10), Montgomery Reef (Day 11), Hidden Island's Silica Beach and anchorage at Mission Bay/tour of Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm (Day 12), arrival/debarkation in Broome (Day 13). The ship has . Operating short two-night cruises to Freeport from West Palm Beach, Grand Celebration also took on a number of humanitarian roles, most recently aiding the people of Grand Bahama Island in the wake of 2019's Hurricane Dorian. It certainly put me off ever wanting to book a cruise on herWilba. So, ultimately the ownership and responsibility of the vessel would be transferred to the owning entity that would be buying the vessel. Prior to the pandemic, the ship's value was in the $95 million range. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The third in a trio of newbuilds for Carnival, Celebration was part of the Holiday Class that would later pave the way for the highly successful (and somewhat similarly-designed) Fantasy Class. Island Escape Cruises NZ (Small Cruise Lines), Island Escape cruise ship arrested in Broome WA, unable to restart sailings. At Island Escape Cruises we are passionate about preserving the beautiful water in which we are travelling. In October 2021, it was reported the ship was sold for $3.6 million in cash to a buyer out of Dubai. On September 20, 2022, Marella Celebration was confirmed beached for scrapping. Ocean Suites are with either one King-size double bed, two single beds/twins or one single bed. Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the construction process was hampered (lockdowns, restrictions, supply chain disruptions) and the yacht's delivery was delayed ~7 months. Norwegian Escape Cruise Ship | Norwegian Escape Deck Plans | Norwegian Like its sister, Zenith had a unique layout that included a large oversized reception area and numerous cozy dining and lounge venues that would form the basis for newer, larger Celebrity vessels designed in the late 1990's and early 2000's. Our trip we discovered there was an included waiter service area in the MDR that had a special menu, food and service was excellent. She joined the fleet of Thomson Cruises in April 2009, but retained her name. Celebration found a new lease on life as Grand Celebration, the lead vessels for Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. Cruise Ship Island Escape. What Made It Special: The lead vessel in Norwegian Cruise Line's Dreamward-class, SuperStar Gemini began life as Dreamward, and was joined by sister-ship Windward in 1993. A total number of cabins: 768 (of which 3 Suites, 472 Oceanview, 284 Inside, 28 Single, 4 Wheelchair accessible). She was built in 1982 by Dubigeon-Normandie S.A., Nantes, France for Scandinavian World Cruises (a subsidiary of DFDS) as the cruiseferry MS Scandinavia. Shame Ocean village left us as we enjoyed that one. Both vessels were also notably designed by famed Italian architect Renzo Piano. The documentary was initially broadcast in the UK during 2002. MS Viking Serenade was launched as the cruiseferry MS Scandinavia in 1981. Get the latest breakingcruise news. To honor the ships that have met their ultimate fate, here is some history on nine vessels that got scrapped in 2020. It was when she was at this point in her service life, 1991, that she went under her final transformation to a single purpose cruise ship and no longer a cruiseferry. Whether you're a veteran cruiser or looking to set sail on the sea for the first time, everyone is welcome on our forum to participate in the hottest conversations in the cruising world. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The 10-night "Tropical North Queensland" voyage (priced from NZD 11950 pp) was scheduled for October 2022. The car deck was turned into a passenger deck. Carnival Inspiration, at the time the latest in the line's class of "SuperLiners", brought Art Nouveau touches to public rooms like the Paris Lounge, while the Rhapsody in Blue piano bar offered ebony and stone panelling offset by aqua accents. Spacious and indulgent, yet intimate . [19] The next port turned out to be Khalifa, Abu Dhabi, for continued service. When Crown Princess debuted in 1990, it was a game-changer for Princess Cruises. Island Cruises was a cruise line that was founded as a joint venture between Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and First Choice Travel PLC, each of whom owned 50% of the company. It also sailed with Norwegian Cruise Line for a brief period of time between 1991 and 1993 as its Sunward. In late 2016, Ocean Gala was planned for deployment in Central/Latin America and South America. If it hadn't been for I.E. New company Bissett said Island Escape Cruises (NZ) Limited is a new company that will commence cruising in New Zealand from November until April 2022. [10] On 3 December 2015, it was reported that the vessel had been sold and was on her way to Brest, France for dry-docking, to be renamed Ocean Gala. The largest accommodations were the Club and Island Suites, having a separate bar and lounge area. (Updated 1:37 p.m. EST) -- Most modern cruise ships spend 40 years or more sailing the world's seas. The voyage features an overnight in Queenstown, bus transfer to Fiordland NP's Milford Sound (Te Anau Lake, for a 20-minute helicopter tour and joining the yacht in Doubtful Sound), stopping in Pickersgill Harbour (Dusky Bay), cruising Dusky Sound and Breaksea Sound (Disappointment Cove, Sunday Cove, Third Cove), cruising Moana Uta (Wet Jacket Arm's marine reserve, up to Herrick Creek), overnight anchorage off Oke Island, navigating Vancouver Arm (bay) and Broughton Arm (Southland, Murihiku), then continuing north to the Fiordland sounds Nancy and Charles (Day 8), Caswell and George (Day 9), Bligh and Milford (Day 10). Island Escape | Flight Centre After months off Suez as channel workers floating accommodation and calls at Limassol she finally passed through the canal on 2 May 2017, heading down the Red Sea, it was speculated she was heading to Alang for Scrapping. All Horizon Deck cabins are with floor-ceiling glass doors opening to private step-out balconies. On July 23, 2020 Carnival announced that Carnival Fascination would be withdrawn from service and placed in long-term layup. "Costa will be informing guests booked on the next Costa Victoria cruises, who will be guaranteed a re-protection in accordance with the applicable legislation.. Photo courtesy of Jalesh Cruises, Peace Boat Ocean Dream at Sea. I doubt that in the last decade, at least, or maybe even more than this, we have seen so many cruise ships being recycled in a year, he added. When CMV collapsed in the summer of 2020, Marco Polo was sold at auction. Horizon managed to avoid the breakfers for two years, but was finally beached in late August 2022. Built in 1996 at the Bremer Vulkan yards in Germany, it was easily distinguished by its banks of windows at the front of the ship that gave way to a multi-story observation lounge. The sale of the Astoria to a European Union-approved shipbreaking yard, most likely the. Copyright 2023 www.Cruise.co.uk Ltd. All rights reserved. Initially, permission was sought for a 4 year stint 20162020 in the Harbour of Hrnsand. In 1991, the ship was renamed Marco Polo; an iconic moniker it would keep with it for the next three decades despite changing operators several times. Before that could materialize, the ship was sold to Cunard Line, where it took on cruising duties as Cunard Princess. The documentary followed the working lives of crew members and gave insight into what it was like to work on a cruise ship. It was never a trendsetting ship, however; as years went on it lacked the bells-and-whistles of the newer Norwegian vessels but found a home in Asia operating voyages for Star Cruises. The fully equipped Hair and Beauty Salon offers all of hair, body and beauty treatments. The ship -- a one-off with no other direct sister-ships -- was noted for its abundant open deck spaces and windowed public rooms. On January 15, 2021, Seajets reportedly flipped Magellan, selling it to scrapping interests in India and ending the venerable cruise ship's career. [24], "MS Scandinavia (1981)" redirects here. History [ edit ] The company had initially entered the cruise market in 1973, but due to rising fuel costs the venture was terminated in 1976. The ship helped to spark a newbuild competition with competitor Royal Caribbean that continued until recently. By June 2022, workers had already cut most of the forward section of the ship. In February 2022, Carnival announced that Ecstasy would take over itineraries from Mobile for Carnival Sensation before being removed from the fleet in October 2022. Peter Bissett, who launched Island Escape Cruises in New Zealand in 2006, sold the original 24-passenger catamaran, Island Passage, in 2018. The vessel was last owned by the Miami-based Cruise Holdings Inc and managed by Columbia Cruise Services (CCS) in Hamburg and Limassol. For 2023 were scheduled voyages along Western Australia's Kimberley Coast (leaving roundtrip from homeport Broome) in the period May-September (2023) as well as itineraries visiting South Pacific Islands and Tahiti. I think it was the worst cruise ship I have ever been on. To avoid increased costs for heating and since Ocean Gala did not comply with Finnish-Swedish Ice Class Rules, the vessel left the port 3 November 2016. However, its ice-strengthened hull and ample public spaces would serve it well in cruise service. Indulging in every whim is what unforgettable vacations are made of. Much was made about it and sister-ship Regal Princess (1991), which both had distinctive "domes" situated above their navigation bridges. Palmys kids club is entertaining and imaginative, offering the best childcare and daily activities. October 2021. delivered. By the mid-80s DFDS sold her to Sundance Cruise Corp who renamed her Stardancer. ISLAND ESCAPE CRUISES The Spirit of The South Pacific Our Destinations Kimberley - Australia May - September 2022 Broome to Broome Kimberley - Australia September 2022 Broome to Darwin Tropical North Queensland - Australia October 2022 Ultimate Fiordland - New Zealand December 2022 - March 2023 Tahiti April - June 2023 South Pacific Coming in 2023 It was removed and will be placed aboard Carnival Celebration in time for that vessel's debut in November 2022. [10], On 3 December 2015, it was reported that the vessel had been sold and was on her way to Brest, France for dry-docking, to be renamed Ocean Gala. The ship was sold to Chinese interests which, in October 2021, reportedly sold the ship for scrapping, and arrived on-location in December 2021 to be broken up. The 1800-passenger ship Island Escape was sold by Thomson Cruises to Cruise Holdings Inc (a consortium of South Florida-based investors) in December 2015. Its funny Wilba, we sailed on her whilst the TV series was being made! [2] Island Escape operated in the Canary Islands and the Western Mediterranean under Thomson Cruises. She was finally renamed MS Ocean Gala 1 before being scrapped in 2018. Between 1985 and 1990, she sailed for Sundance Cruises and Admiral Cruises as MS Stardancer. The ship was noted for its small size and angular funnel uptakes, as well as its dark wood-panelled interiors that recalled the grand oceangoing ships of yore. As of November 24, the ship is en-route to Bhavnagar, India, where it will arrive in early January for demolition. The world's largest cruise ship by passenger capacity is. The vessel joined Thomsons fleet in April 2009. The value can depend on various factors, such as the country where the facilities are located or whether the cruise vessel was registered in a EU country. After a four-year stint with Iberocruceros, it was purchased by UK-based Cruise & Maritime Voyages in 2015 and renamed Magellan. It was the second newbuild ever for Celebrity Cruises, and was designed for upscale cruising from North American destinations. What Made It Special Cruise & Maritime Voyages' Magellan began life in 1985 as Carnival Cruise Line's Holiday. In May 2022, the ship was confirmed sold for scrap following the bankruptcy of Genting Hong Kong's cruise holdings, which included Star Cruises and luxury brand Crystal Cruises. Sovereign of the Seas was transferred to Pullmantur in November of 2008 and embarked on its first voyage for the line in the spring of 2009. She was actually christened in New York in September of 1982 and sailed some Bahamanian cruises out of there. Sign up. 9 Cruise Ships Scrapped in 2020 - Cruise Radio Island Escape Cruise Ship | Island Escape Itineraries - CruiseTimetables MS Island Escape (Thomson Cruises), Viking Serenade (Royal Caribbean ), MS Stardancer (Royal Admiral Cruises), MS Scandinavia (DFDS Seaways). Join the forum today by. Note: Between 2002-2015, "MS Island Escape" was named the 1982-built cruise liner Scandinavia (IMO 8002597), Alang India-scrapped in 2018 as "MS Ocean Gala". In 2022, the Island Escape yacht charter cost NZD 325000 (~USD 204K / ~GBP 169K). The vessel was last operated by the Japan-based Peace Boat Organization as the Ocean Dream. Ecstasy made headlines in 1998 when a fire broke out in the ship's laundry facilities and the vessel lost power while setting sail from Miami. In 2016 a deal was struck with the Swedish Government to use her as housing for the European refuge crisis. What Made It Special: Based out of Long Beach in recent years, Carnival Imagination was one of the few Fantasy Class vessels to not have been refitted with additional exterior balcony cabins. When it emerged, it boasted a new midsection complete with a new dining room, new bars and lounges, and additional passenger accommodation. The world's largest cruise company reported a loss of $2.9 billion in the quarter ending on Aug. 31 and announced that it would remove 13 of its older, less efficient ships from its global. Your personal data will be processed and information from your device (cookies, unique identifiers, and other device data) may be stored by, accessed by and shared with third party vendors, or used specifically by this site or app. [11], In February 2016, Ocean Gala was offered as a floating accommodation facility through the website Floating Accommodations, managed by US Shipmanagers, a Florida company[12] and it was announced that the Swedish Migration Agency have signed a contract to use the Ocean Gala as an asylum hotel for 1790 asylum seekers. So, what are you waiting for? What Made It Special: EasyCruise One started life in 1990 as Renaissance Cruises' Renaissance II. Marella Cruises - Wikipedia What Made It Special Easily the most venerable and iconic ship on this list, Cruise & Maritime Voyages' Marco Polo was the last of the "grand dame" ocean liners pressed into cruise service, and one of the few remaining passenger vessels from the 1960's still in active cruise passenger service. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Island Escape Cruises. Ocean Gala has now been beached in Alang. Build a pink sandcastle in Bermuda. The 2021-built cruise yacht Island Escape is a 30-passenger ship owned by Seasons Shipping Co Ltd ((Jongno-gu/Seoul, South Korea-based, 2020-founded company registered in Hong Kong China) and operated under demise/bareboat charter by the New Zealand-based company and travel brand Island Escape Cruises Ltd. Bareboat charter is an arrangement for hiring the ship without the crew or provisions included in the deal. Why not join the UKs largest cruising forum? What was meant to be one of the world's largest cruise ships is being prepared for its maiden voyage - to a scrapyard. It then went on to become the lead ship for budget-oriented (and now defunct) Ocean Village cruises before ending up at P&O Cruises Australia as Pacific Pearl. Marina Deck is accessed from Ocean Deck (deck 2). The youngest to be scrapped as of this writing is the 1996-built Costa Victoria, while the oldest vessel to head to the breakers was the beautiful 1965-built Marco Polo (the famed ex-ocean liner previously known as Aleksandr Pushkin). The certified Helideck (deck 4's/topdeck's aft-positioned helipad) is used for landings of helicopters serving the company's heli-transfers between the yacht and homeport. 7-day round-trip from Palma de Mallorca -Tue Oct 13 (Palma de Mallorca, departing), Thu Oct 15 08:00am to 04:00pm (Olbia), Fri Oct 16 08:00am to 06:00pm (Naples), Sat Oct 17 07:00am to 07:00pm (Civitavecchia (Rome)), Sun Oct 18 08:00am to 05:00pm (Calvi), Mon Oct 19 12:00pm to 07:00pm (Port Mahon), Tue Oct 20 (Palma de Mallorca, arrive). The ship was beached for scrapping in July 2022, and the first cutting began in August. The food was awful, but the entertainment was good, and the captain was very funny, but in the whole it was just like a glorified ferry. Having always had a passion for the water, after selling his interests in Japanese Shipping Companies, Peter embarked upon designing and building a boutique 24-passenger ship to explore the beautiful waters around New Zealand. The ship then served short stints with a succession of owners before being acquired by Fred. Unusually for a film, the ship is actually referred to in the movie as the "M/S Westerdam", and many scenes were filmed aboard the actual vessel. Bahamas Paradise confirmed to Cruise Critic that Grand Celebration had been sold. [1] In 2002, she was transferred to the fleet of Royal Caribbean's new subsidiary Island Cruises as MS Island Escape. After being rebuilt in the early 1990's, Marco Polo entered service with Orient Line until 2008, before becoming part of the Transocean Tours fleet. Though lacking in balcony cabins and reflective of an entirely different design of cruise vessel, the ship's old-world charm, open public areas and broad teak decks were enough to make even the most jaded cruiser overlook its shortcomings that included some pretty wicked vibration in cabins near the stern. well you can imagine a week with 2 young boys and no chips.never again. Where Cruise Ships Are Sent to Die - The New York Times Did the new carnival Vista but shocking "no chips" on the buffet menu, all rice and jacket potatoes. On March 1, 2021, it was reported that Columbus was headed east after being sold by Seajets for a tidy profit. Midship on deck 4 is the Wheelhouse/Navigation Bridge. Launched in 1993 as Windward, the midsize vessel underwent a complex stretching operation -- then the largest of its kind -- at the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven in 1998. The global health pandemic put a stop to that. What Made It Special: Sovereign was built in 1988 as Royal Caribbean's Sovereign of the Seas. In October 2021, Island Escape Cruises Ltd's owner (Peter Bissett) announced that the company will officially start operations in New Zealand in November 2022. She is headed to India and will arrive at the scrap yard in Alang at the end of the month. In April 2022 was announced Island Escape ship's Kimberley Australian deployment (July-September 2022) with the new 12-night "Wild Kimberley Coast" itinerary out of Broome. And in that time, we've seen relatively young ships head to the breakers with no chance for a farewell cruise or proper send-off. [18] It does not store any personal data. The World's Oldest Cruise Ship Will Be Scrapped The Cruise.co.uk forum is the perfect place to meet and interact with likeminded cruisers to have invaluable conversations. The ship had a long career with Carnival, serving until 2009 with the line and acting as relief housing during Hurricane Katrina. But with little in common with the more grand transatlantic queen, Queen Elizabeth 2, the ship and sister Cunard Countess never really found the right fit in the Cunard fleet. Cafe Brasil (for a cappuccino or afternoon tea, with an interesting book from the library or just browse the Internet), The Mirage Bar (poolside; pampers with al fresco drinks), The Sailaway Bar (to watch the world go by), The Sundowner (the perfect place for live music and pre-dinner drinks), Ocean Theatre (entertainment hub for cabarets, UK comedy acts and West End-style shows), Bounty Lounge (all about game shows and live music), The Lookout Bar (with panoramic view; also offers a late-night disco), The Casino (roulette, Blackjack, poker; a range of slot machines). Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In July 2020, Costa Cruises sold the vessel to Celestyal Cruises, which promptly refitted the vessel, repainted it in its own livery, and renamed it Celestyal Experience.