blog - Page 580 of 605

Former Carnival Cruise Ships, Where Are They Now?

Carnival Cruise Advice

Melissa Mayntz

-

Mar 1, 2022

Former Carnival Cruise Ships, Where Are They Now?

Carnival is one of the largest and most popular cruise lines in the world. More than 20 ships in its fleet sail 365 days a year all over the world, with new ships always being developed and new itineraries being explored.

Yet even while Carnival Cruise Line adds newer, larger, and more advanced ships to its fleet, older ships are quietly transferred, sold, or scrapped when they can no longer be sufficiently upgraded or updated for today’s Fun Ship experience. So which vessels are the former Carnival Cruise ships, and where are they now?

In This Article…

Mardi Gras
Carnivale
Festivale
Tropicale
Holiday
Jubilee
Celebration
Carnival Destiny
Carnival Triumph
Carnival Victory
Carnival Fantasy
Carnival Fascination
Carnival Imagination
Carnival Inspiration
Carnival Sensation
Carnival Ecstasy
What Ships May Become Former Ships Next?

Mardi Gras

Carnival’s very first ship was originally built in 1961 as RMS Empress of Canada for Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd. In 1972, she was purchased by Carnival Cruise Line and renamed Mardi Gras, serving loyally until 1993. At that time, the ship was sold to Eprotiki Line and renamed Olympic.

Over the years, she was renovated and renamed repeatedly, being called Star of Texas, Lucky Star, and Apollon at different times in her career. In 2000 she was laid up in Greece, and in 2001 reentered service for 3-4 night sailings throughout the Greek Isles. In 2003, the ship was finally sold for scrap.

The name of the ship does live on with Carnival’s first Excel-class LNG-powered Mardi Gras cruise ship, which was delivered to the cruise line at the end of 2020.

Carnivale

Built in 1956, this ship was originally RMS Empress of Britain for Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd. In 1964, she became SS Queen Anna Maria of the Greek Line, and in 1976 she was sold to Carnival and rebranded as the second Fun Ship.

In 1993, as newer ships were being built exclusively for Carnival Cruise Line, Carnivale was transferred to Fiesta Marina Cruises, then a subsidiary line of Carnival Cruise Line intended to service a Spanish-speaking market.

Carnivale Cruise Ship — Rich Turnwald/Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 4.0

She served as the line’s only ship under the name SS Fiesta Marina, but was sold in 1994 to Epirotiki Line when Fiesta Marina Cruises was discontinued. When she joined Epirotiki Line, she was renamed Olympic, and in 1996, she was transferred to Royal Olympic Cruises.

In 1997, the ship was sold to Thomson Holidays and renamed The Topaz, then in 2008 it became the Peace Boat of Topaz International. In 2008 the ship was laid up, and while it was at anchor it suffered significant damage and was eventually scrapped in India.

Festivale

Originally built as RMS Transvaal Castle in 1961, this ship had several names with sales and transfers to different lines until it was eventually sold to Carnival Cruise Line in 1977. She was rebranded, updated, and entered service as Festivale in 1978, after being converted from serving primarily as a cargo vessel with only very limited passenger capacity.

In 1998, Festivale was purchased by Premier Cruise Line and became Big Red Boat III. The line, however, went bankrupt in 2000, and the ship had become dilapidated and was not considered worth additional upgrades or renovations. She was sold for scrap in 2003.

Tropicale

The first ship ordered specifically for Carnival Cruise Line, Tropicale was under construction in 1981 and entered service with the fleet in 1982, the first vessel to bear the line’s distinctive “whale tale” funnel.

In 2001, the ship was transferred to Costa Cruises and renamed Costa Tropicale until 2005, when she was transferred again, this time to P&O Cruises and renamed yet again to become Pacific Star.

In 2008 the ship was sold to Pullmantur Cruises to become Ocean Dream, and in 2012 she was chartered by Peace Boat for their mission of raising awareness internationally for human rights, sustainability, environmental protection, and other global causes.

In late 2020, it was announced that the ship, along with another vessel in the Peace Boat fleet, was to be replaced with a larger ship, and Ocean Dream was sold for scrap in early 2021.

Holiday

Built in 1985, Holiday underwent several major renovations during her service in the Carnival fleet. One of the largest was in 2003 and again in 2005, after she was used as temporary housing for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

In November 2009 the ship was officially retired from Carnival Cruise Line and transferred to Ibero Cruises as MS Grand Holiday, receiving a new paint job and entering service with her new parent line in 2010.

Holiday Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: Carl Carpenter (Creative Commons/Flickr)

In 2014 the ship was sold to Cruise & Maritime Voyages and renamed Magellan, entering her new family in spring 2015 as the line’s flagship.

Though she was replaced as flagship in 2017, she served the line proudly until the global shutdown of operations in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In early 2021, the ship was auctioned off and scrapped at the Alang Ship Breaking Yard in India.

Jubilee

This ship debuted for Carnival Cruise Line in 1986 and served well until 2004, when she was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia and renamed Pacific Sun. At that time, the wings were removed from her iconic funnel and she was repainted.

In the summer of 2012 the ship was sold to the Asian line HNA Cruises and renamed Henna. That line shut down in November 2015, and the former Jubilee was laid up as a buyer was sought. None was found, however, and the ship was scrapped in the spring of 2017.

Celebration

Built in 2015, this ship was part of the Carnival fleet until 2008 when she was retired to Ibero Cruises and renamed Grand Celebration. In 2014 she was transferred again, this time moving to Costa Cruises to become Costa Celebration.

Before her inaugural voyage with that line, however, she was purchased by Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and instead retained her name of Grand Celebration. She kept her iconic funnel, but was repainted.

Celebration Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: Jon Worth (Creative Commons)

She debuted with that line in early 2015 and sailed two-night cruises to the Bahamas year-round, until the cruise line suspended operations in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the cruise line struggled with debt during the shutdown, Grand Celebration was sold for scrap, and she was officially broken up in March 2021.

Carnival Destiny

Carnival Destiny is relatively unique among Carnival’s former fleet. The ship was launched as Carnival Destiny in 1996. In 2013, she underwent the line’s largest ever refit that renewed nearly every guest area onboard, for a cost of $155 million.

Decks were expanded, more than 150 additional cabins were added and much of the ship’s layout was altered to incorporate new lounges, bars, and dining venues. Because of the scope of the redesign and renovations, the decision was made to completely rename the ship to Carnival Sunshine. Today, the ship still sails with the Carnival fleet, but as Carnival Sunshine rather than Carnival Destiny.

Carnival Triumph

Similar to Carnival Destiny, Carnival Triumph has ceased to exist as an original ship after being refit to join the Sunshine class of vessels. Carnival Triumph was originally in the Destiny class, and first set sail in October 1999.

Her most notorious moment in the spotlight was in February 2013, when an engine room fire resulted in power and propulsion losses, and the ship was adrift for several days before being towed to Mobile, Alabama. Despite that incident, the ship served the cruise line well until her renovation and rebirth in 2019.

That $200 refurbishment included the addition of new dining, bars, and entertainment options, the adults-only Serenity area, the WaterWorks aqua park, and the energetic SportSquare facilities. Because the renovation was so extensive, the ship was renamed Carnival Sunrise, and continues to sail today under that new name and identity.

Carnival Victory

The third and final vessel to undergo the Sunshine-class upgrade, Carnival Victory first entered the fleet in October 2000. Like Carnival Destiny and Carnival Triumph before her, Carnival Victory was treated to an extensive upgrade and refurbishment.

The renovations had initially been scheduled for April 2020, but work was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic that not only ceased worldwide cruise operations, but also paused shipyard work. The $200 million upgrade was finally completed in Cadiz, Spain, in December 2021.

While the ship was out of service, there were unfounded rumors that she was to be scrapped, but instead the renovated ship – now Carnival Radiance – was the first of her class to receive the updated red, white, and blue livery that debuted with Mardi Gras in June 2021. Today, Carnival Radiance continues to delight guests as part of the Fun Ship fleet, though Carnival Victory has passed into history.

Carnival Fantasy

The first of the new class built exclusively for Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Fantasy debuted in 1990 and would spend 30 years happily sailing for the Fun Ship fleet. During her three decades of sailing, the ship was updated and renovated several times, bringing new features to eager passengers, and always offering amazing voyages for passengers who grew to love all the Fantasy-class vessels.

In March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced a pause on global cruise operations, Carnival Fantasy was removed from service, and in July 2020 it was announced that the ship would be sold as part of fleet modernization plans.

Worth Reading: Looking Back at the Carnival Fantasy Cruise Ship

Those plans had already been in place before the pandemic, but the operational shutdown accelerated the timeline for retiring older, less efficient ships. At that time, Carnival Fantasy was the oldest ship in the Carnival fleet. She was sold for scrap in August 2020, and eventually taken to the Aliaga Ship Breaking Facility in Turkey for dismantling.

Carnival Fascination

The fourth of the Fantasy-class vessels, Carnival Fascination – originally named simply Fascination before all ships had the Carnival prefix added to their names in 2007 – joined the fleet in July 1994. She underwent multiple upgrades and refurbishments during her time with Carnival.

Her most notable achievement was in 2017, when Carnival Fantasy housed relief workers offering aid in the U.S. Virgin Islands after the region was devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. After that service, Carnival Fantasy received what would be her final upgrade with Carnival in early 2018.

Carnival Fascination Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: SeregaSibTravel / Shutterstock

During the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, it was announced that the ship would be retired and would not return to service. Unlike other Fantasy-class vessels, however, Carnival Fascination was sold to another cruise line when Century Cruises acquired the ship in November 2020.

At first it was rumored that she might be converted to a floating hotel, but it was later announced that she would be renamed Century Harmony to set sail in the Asian market.

The ship entered dry dock for refurbishment, but that renovation was incomplete as the local cruise industry restart continued to be delayed in 2021. Eventually, the ship was sold for scrap, and was beached in February 2022 to be dismantled.

Carnival Imagination

Another Fantasy-class vessel, Carnival Imagination first sparked the imagination of guests when she debuted in 1995. She was the fifth of the sister ships in the class, and served the crise line well throughout the years.

In July 2011, Carnival Imagination had a minor incident with her sister ship, Carnival Fantasy, when the two ships collided in Key West while Carnival Imagination was berthed, resulting in stern damage but no injuries.

During her service life, the ship typically sailed short itineraries to Mexico, Catalina, Ensenada, and The Bahamas, depending on where she was homeported at the time, and she was upgraded several times with new and popular features. In August 2020, the ship was sold as part of the fleet’s modernization plans, and she was scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey.

Carnival Inspiration

Carnival Inspiration inspired many cruisers to love the Fun Ship fleet when she first set sail in 1996. She served the fleet well, offering a wide range of itineraries through the years, but ultimately the Fantasy-class vessel was part of the cruise line’s modernization plans during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.

She was listed for sale and became the second of the line’s vessels to be sold for scrap in July 2020, after Carnival Fantasy. Like her sister ships undergoing the same sudden retirement, Carnival Inspiration was first stripped of valuable materials while in Curacao in early July 2020, then sent along to be sustainably recycled and scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey.

When each of the ships is scrapped, materials may be reused in new ships – such as the new designs in Carnival Celebration – used for repairs to other vessels, or refined to be used in other projects.

Carnival Sensation

The third of the Fantasy-class vessels, Carnival Sensation debuted in 1993, serving well over the years from a variety of homeports, sailing to the Caribbean, The Bahamas, and Cuba.

In late August 2005, the ship was chartered to house residents impacted by Hurricane Katrina, as well as relief workers in the region devastated by the Category 5 hurricane.

Carnival Sensation Cruise Ship — Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

During the global pandemic pause and even after some Carnival ships began to sail again, Carnival Sensation remained out of passenger service and instead served as housing for crew members transitioning in and out of isolation periods and quarantine.

It was planned that she would return to service in Mobile, Alabama, but in February 2022 it was decided that the ship would be retired instead, and she was likely quickly sold for scrap.

Carnival Ecstasy

From her debut in her 1991, Carnival Ecstasy, another of the Fantasy-class vessels, delighted millions of passengers, and will continue to do so until she is retired in October 2022, an announcement that was made in February as different Carnival ships were redeployed to cover different itineraries as other ships were scrapped

At the time of her retirement she will be the oldest in the Carnival fleet, and enjoyed various refits and updates throughout her lifespan, the most recent of which was in October 2019.

Carnival Ecstasy Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: Paul Brady Photography / Shutterstock

She is the only Fantasy-class vessel to have the honor of a final sailing season, offering guests the opportunity to revisit the ship if they have fond memories of her, or to sail on her for the first time and make memories before she leaves the fleet.

Carnival Ecstasy’s final voyage is planned to be a 5-day sailing departing from Mobile, Alabama on October 10, visiting Cozumel and Progreso in Mexico, with one day at sea to begin the voyage and another to end the trip. While Carnival Ecstasy is not yet a “former” ship, her end is confirmed and she will undoubtedly be given good treatment in her final days before her retirement.

What Ships May Become Former Ships Next?

Today, the oldest ships still happily sailing in the Carnival fleet with no retirement plans are the remaining Fantasy-class vessels, two of the original eight sister ships that were built for the line from 1990-1998.

Both Carnival Paradise and Carnival Elation have been updated and feature the line’s new Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades, and they sail a variety of itineraries in different seasons.

With the extensive renovations these ships have undergone in recent years, plus their unique position capitalizing on shorter itineraries, it is unlikely that they may will be retired or transferred in the near future, though any changes or redeployments are always possible.

The cruise market continues to evolve into a post-pandemic structure, and Carnival Cruise Line is at the forefront of that evolution as it debuts new itineraries, new features, and new ships for passengers to enjoy.

Undoubtedly more ships will be retired in the years to come, but they will always sail merrily on in the memories of the millions of passengers who have enjoyed their long service.

Wonder of the Seas vs. Titanic – A Giant Comparison

Haiyan Ma

-

Feb 21, 2022

0

Wonder of the Seas vs. Titanic – A Giant Comparison

Currently, Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas is the world’s largest cruise ship, and it is packed with a multitude of activities. With great ships appearing throughout generations, it’s time to cover Wonder of the Seas vs. Titanic. The Titanic is a world-famous ship that was legendary for its generation, yet it is best known today for its tragic demise. So, how do the two vessels compare?

In its day, Titanic was the largest, safest, most luxurious ship ever built, with the reputation of being unsinkable – which tragically proved untrue on the ship’s maiden voyage.

We have learned a great deal since the sinking of Titanic. It was once known as the world’s largest ship, but more than 100 years later Wonder of the Seas has emerged as the most recent ship to take that title. Will this modern Oasis-class Royal Caribbean cruise ship give Titanic a run for its money? How do the two match up against each other?

In this comparison, we will examine both cruise ships. We will compare not just size, but also the accommodations, cost, and facilities of each ship.

In This Article…

Which Vessel Is Larger?
- Which Ship Is Faster?
- Is Wonder of the Seas Indestructible?
Accommodations
- Laundry
Amenities Compared

Which Vessel Is Larger?

Does size really matter? It does when you are looking at the number of guests and activities. Larger cruise ships can cater to a wider demographic cross-section of individuals. Most passengers on these types of ships are young couples or families. Therefore, they must have a broad appeal in terms of activities.

Since they require a larger appeal due to the demographic, more activities need to be incorporated aboard the ship. Thus, they require a larger ship.

When we compare Wonder of the Seas to Titanic, in terms of sheer volume, Wonder of the Seas is 36% taller and 34% wider than Titanic. It can accommodate 5,518-6,988 passengers per voyage compared to Titanic’s 2,435 passengers.

In a side-by-side comparison:

	*Wonder of the Seas*	*Titanic*
Gross Tonnage	236,857	46,328
Passenger Capacity	5,734	2,435
Crew Capacity	2,300	892
Length in Feet	1,188	882
Top Speed	22 Knots	23 Knots
Passenger Decks	16	9

Wonder of the Seas vs Titanic

In terms of safety, Titanic had only 20 lifeboats onboard, which is only enough to evacuate 1,178 people. The ship required double that amount to ensure space for all its passengers. Wonder of the Seas contains 18 lifeboats. While this seems inadequate, these lifeboats can accommodate 370 people per boat, making the total capacity 6,660.

Wonder of the Seas Stats — Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

Which Ship Is Faster?

Speed is less important today than it was more than a century ago. Guests today care more about the experience rather than getting to the destination quickly. Comparatively, Titanic was faster than Wonder of the Seas, but by a marginal amount. Titanic’s maximum speed was 23 knots, which is only one knot per hour faster than Wonder of the Seas.

Is Wonder of the Seas Indestructible?

Most people learned from the tragic example of Titanic that no ship is indestructible. It would be foolish to believe otherwise. Thinking that any ship is incapable of sinking can lead to reckless decisions based on overestimating what the ship is capable of withstanding.

Technically, there is the possibility that Wonder of the Seas could sink. The likelihood isn’t high, though, due to the security measures put in place to ensure the safety of those on board. Technology has considerably advanced since the sinking of Titanic to ensure that the safety of passengers and crew members. Safety is always the top priority.

Wonder of the Seas Cruise Ship — Photo Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

Weather may attempt or even succeed in capsizing the ship, resulting in its sinking. However, the ship is designed to sink slowly so guests and crew have time to escape. Also, learning from Titanic’s example, all cruise ships are equipped with enough lifeboats to accommodate every passenger on the modern cruise ship.

Accommodations

While it almost seems unfair to compare rooms, if put in its proper context, we can use that to examine the luxury contained within the two ships. Titanic’s best suites were Deluxe Parlor Suites. These suites contained two oversized bedrooms, a private bathroom, dual walk-in wardrobes, and a spacious sitting room with writing desks and a false fireplace.

The look of the suites was very opulent for the times, with four-poster beds elaborately decorated with thick drapes, wood wainscots, and ornate decorations. Third-class rooms weren’t as spacious, as only bunk beds and shared bathrooms were present. This deck only had two bathtubs to serve 710 passengers.

However, most guests felt like royalty to even be aboard such a magnificent ship on its maiden voyage. Accommodations mattered less than the simple privilege of being there if you were in third class.

Titanic — *(Photo Credit:* RV1864 / Creative Commons)

This is an example of luxury at the time. How does it compare to our present-day image of opulence?

Fast-forward over 100 years, and the look of a suite has drastically changed. When going aboard a cruise ship, it is less about making a statement than it is about having fun.

Wonder of the Seas’ best room is the Ultimate Family Suite. It has a private game room, an air hockey table, table tennis, and a private jacuzzi on the balcony. If that isn’t enough, there is a slide that goes from the bedrooms to the living area. The rooms are bright, colorful, and are designed with comfort and fun in mind.

Staterooms and cabins on this cruise ship contain modern standards expected on a cruise ship. Wonder of the Seas has 34 categories of cabins available, ranging from inside rooms with no windows to large rooms capable of sleeping 14 people.

Laundry

On Titanic, bedding was changed daily. This was done despite the fact that there was not a laundry room aboard the ship because of limited supplies of freshwater. Interestingly, Royal Caribbean changes bed linens during the cruise but how frequently depends on the length of sailing and guests’ preferences.

Amenities Compared

While the size of the two ships is impressive, we must also compare the activities on board each ship. It is a wonderful way to illustrate the progression of cruise ships over the past century.

As expected, there were fewer activities available on Titanic. At the time, Titanic was impressive because it had many activities that other ships did not include. Passengers were able to listen to live music, exercise in a gym or play squash, trade tales in the smoking room, and read in the library.

Wonder of the Seas was designed for activities for the entire family. It is known for treating kids like royalty, which would never have been considered on Titanic, which had no youth facilities at all.

Fitness

Titanic’s gyms contained rowing machines, punching bags, exercise bikes, an electric horse, and two electric camels. Wonder of the Seas contains a variety of exercise machines and weights, yet no electric animals are available on board. However, many ships do have outdoor tracks and sports that guests can play outdoors.

Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas — Photo Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

Titanic boasted a prestigious 30’ long squash court, which allowed passengers to play racquet sports. The promenade deck allowed people to engage in dominoes, shuffleboard, and a cerebral game of chess.

Wonder of the Seas contains a sports court designed for volleyball and basketball. Throughout the ship, there are areas for rock climbing, mini golf, surfing, zip lining, ice skating, and laser tag. Guests can even take in a fitness class or go swimming in the solarium. The list seems very impressive in comparison, as do the differences in popular activities of the times.

Swimming Pools

Everyone loves to lounge by a pool or take a quick, relaxing dip to cool off on a hot day. Titanic’s swimming pool was only available to first-class passengers, and there was only one available.

In comparison, Wonder of the Seas has three water slides (Ultimate Abyss, The Perfect Storm, and SplashAway Bay), 10 hot tubs, and four swimming pools available to everyone.

Spas

The preferred method for relaxation on Titanic was a Turkish bath, tanning bed, steam room, trips to the barber, and massages. Fast-forward to the present, and guests can enjoy heated stone loungers, fog showers, and saunas on the Wonder of the Seas.

Furthermore, many of these activities were only available to men aboard Titanic. Now, both genders can enjoy relaxation methods incorporated today.

Culinary Experiences

Titanic boasted four restaurants: the A la Carte Restaurant, the Verandah Café, the Dining Saloon, and the Café Parisien. The rooms contained detailed lattice work and wicker seating.

Wonder of the Seas contains 21 restaurants guests can select from, including nine complementary venues, three main dining areas, and 11 specialty dining places. The decor depends on the flavor and type of cuisine being served.

Wonder of the Seas Southern Restaurant & Bar — Rendering Courtesy: Royal Caribbean

When you consider dining options, the two menus and restaurant varieties cannot compare. Titanic had a very scaled-back menu when compared to today’s standards, whereas most modern cruise ships have a variety of culinary delights on board.

However, when you compare what was on the menu, the items on Titanic would be considered more fine dining. However, many of us would not consider eating a lot of these delicacies anymore.

The Costs?

Titanic cost $7.5 million to create, or $200 million today. Meanwhile, Wonder of the Seas cost $1.35 billion to build, which is over six times the price of Titanic.

Tickets

According to Lisbnet, the least expensive ticket on Titanic was £7 UK pounds (approximately £800 or $1075 USD today). The cheapest ticket on the Wonder of the Seas is currently $423 (£315).

If you were to book the Ultimate Family Suite over Christmas break on Wonder of the Seas, it would cost you $85,000. It is cheaper when compared to first-class suites on Titanic. The cost to stay in these suites was upward of £870, or $100,000 using today’s currency. The cost of tickets per class was as follows between Titanic and Wonder of the Seas:

First class on Titanic was £870 ($100,000 today) compared to $3,000 for a suite on the Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas
The cheapest first-class cost was $150 ($3,500 by today’s standards); a balcony stateroom on Wonder of the Seas is $1,700, and an oceanview room will cost $1,400
Third-class accommodations onboard Titanic were only from £7 (£800 today) whereas Wonder of the Seas has interior cabins that cost $900 USD

These prices offer a generalization on what to expect. Actual ticket fares depend on season, length of trip, destinations, and the ship’s popularity.

Comparing these two luxury liners reminds us about how much time has changed society. Once, it was all about the destination and reaching it quicker. Traveling by boat was the main method of transportation, which has now been replaced by air travel.

With Wonder of the Seas vs. Titanic, you really can’t define whether one ship is superior to the other. They were both the best of their generation. What becomes evident in their comparison is what aspects of luxury are now emphasized, the advancements in technology, and the demographics that are drawn to cruise line travel.

Both ships are glorious for their time. While Wonder of the Seas may not be considered as elegant or opulent by today’s standards as Titanic was in her time, it does attract a lot of attention from families who want to engage on an exciting cruise.

Former Carnival Fascination Beached at Ship-Breaking Facility

Carnival Cruise News

Robert McGillivray

-

Feb 18, 2022

0

Former Carnival Fascination Beached at Ship-Breaking Facility

Carnival Fascination, formerly known as Fascination and under her current name Century Harmony, has reached her final destination on a beach in Pakistan. The vessel will be broken up into scrap metal in the upcoming months at the ship-breaking yard in Gadani.

It’s a sad end for the Fantasy-class cruise ship, which, until recently, was due to start a new career sailing in China for Century Cruises. Century Harmony arrived in Pakistan on February 9 and was beached today, February 18.

25 Years of Fun

The beaching of Century Harmony on February 18 means the end of an illustrious career at sea. For 25 years, she sailed the seven seas offering guests fun at sea and many happy memories of vacations at sea. Now, all that awaits her is a few months on a beach in Pakistan, where workers will slowly start stripping her down until there is nothing left.

Century Harmony Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: Century Cruises

The Fantasy-class cruise ship is 70,367 gross tons with a guest capacity of over 2,000 and 920 crew members. Built at the Helsinki New Shipyard, she was floated out in 1994. Initially named Fascination, the Carnival prefix was only added later to the Fantasy-class as a part of a Carnival Cruise Line rebranding program.

As Carnival Corporation developed plans to rejuvenate the fleet, it meant the end for the Fantasy class cruise ship. She was laid up in Cadiz, Spain, during the pandemic.

In November 2020, Carnival Fascination was sold to Chinese cruise operator Century Cruises, which renamed her Century Harmony, and intended to use her in addition to the various river vessels the company has sailing the Yangtze River in China. The strict measures in place in China prevented those plans.

Following a short period where the plans changed to make the vessel a floating hotel, she was sold off to a Singaporean trading company which sold her off as scrap metal. She arrived at the Gadani ship-breaking yard on February 9 and was beached today, February 18.

Only Three Fantasy Class Ships Left

With Carnival Fascination being scrapped, there are only three Fantasy-class ships left of the original eight. Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Imagination, and Carnival Fantasy have all been scrapped during the pandemic.

Carnival Sensation will not be returning to sea, and this week it became clear she is also heading for the scrapyard. She is heading for the shipbreaking yard in Aliaga, Turkey, where the three other Fantasy-class ships have also been scrapped.

That leaves Carnival Elation, currently sailing out of Port Canaveral; Carnival Paradise, sailing out of Tampa, Florida; and Carnival Ecstacy, currently sailing out of Mobile, Alabama. However, for Carnival Ecstacy, the end is also near. Carnival Cruise Line announced she would be retiring in October of this year.

All this has to do with the rejuvenation efforts underway at Carnival Corporation. The company wants to be carbon-neutral by 2050 and has started the transition to more effective and more environmentally friendly LNG-powered cruise ships.

Carnival Sensation Set for Scrapping in Turkey

Carnival Cruise News

Emrys Thakkar

-

Feb 17, 2022

0

Carnival Sensation Set for Scrapping in Turkey

It looks like one of Carnival’s oldest ships will be scrapped rather than being sold to continue service for another cruise line. Carnival Sensation is heading for the scrapyard in Turkey, according to reports.

Carnival Sensation to Be Scrapped

Another Fantasy-class cruise ship is set to reach the end of service and not continue sailing after leaving the Carnival Cruise Line fleet. According to a report by TradeWinds, the cruise line has gone for a quick sale, with Carnival Sensation being sold for scrap.

With parent company Carnival Corporation opting for EU-approved green shipbreaking facilities, it’s likely the Carnival cruise ship will be heading for the Aliaga in Turkey. The ship-breaking yard in Aliaga has already scrapped three other Fantasy-class cruise ships that were sold off due to the impact of the global pandemic in 2020.

Carnival Cruise Line announced in January that Carnival Sensation would be leaving the fleet but did not say whether she would be scrapped or sold to another cruise line. It was also announced that sister ship Carnival Ecstasy would leave the fleet after its final voyage from Mobile, Alabama, on October 5, 2022.

Carnival Sensation has not returned to operations since the industry-wide pause started in March 2020. Since then, the vessel has been in a warm layup, hoping to welcome guests again from the Port of Mobile. Even though Carnival Sensation never return to operations, she has been used recently to house crew members positive with COVID.

Days of the Fantasy-Class Are Numbered

Carnival Corp has already made it clear that it’s shifting to a more efficient fleet by offloading its much older ships and growing with more environmentally friendly vessels.

In a recent letter to shareholders from Carnival Corporation Chairman Micky Arison, “Our decision to accelerate the exit of 19 ships as part of our fleet optimization strategy resulted in a more efficient fleet overall and lowered our planned capacity growth to approximately 2.5% compounded annually from 2019 through 2025, down from 4.5% annually pre-COVID-19. We achieved a unit cost benefit from the removal of these less efficient ships from our fleet which will grow from the delivery of the larger and more efficient ships.”

Carnival Sensation in Mobile, Alabama — Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Fantasy, the original ship in the class and purpose-built for Carnival, was the first to be scrapped due to the pandemic at the Aliaga scrapyard. The vessel was beached in July 2021. Carnival Inspiration then arrived at the same facility for scrapping in August 2020. Carnival Imagination was the third in the same class to be beached for scrapping in Turkey in September 2020.

Carnival Cruise Line also sold off Carnival Fascination, but with Chinese-based Century Cruises making the purchase, the hope was that she would remain in service. However, the Chinese cruise line has now decided to sell the vessel for scrap. Carnival Fascination arrived at the Gadani ship-breaking facility in Pakistan just days ago.

With Carnival Ecstasy’s future in question on whether she will be scrapped or continue service under a new operator, there will only be two Fantasy-class vessels reaming in the fleet. Carnival Paradise and Carnival Elation are still set to sail for the foreseeable future.

Carnival Sensation will be a missed ship as she’s been offering fun-filled cruise vacations since entering service in 1993. The vessel was built at the Kvaerner Masa-yards in Helsinki, Finland, at 70,367 gross tons. The ship has a guest capacity of 2,052 and 920 crew members.

Former Carnival Cruise Ship Arrives in Pakistan for Scrapping

Carnival Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

-

Feb 15, 2022

0

The former Carnival Fascination cruise ship has reached the end of her long and productive life, as she arrived in Gadani, Pakistan, on February 9, 2022, to be beached and scrapped. This marks the end of the vessel’s service and a distinguished career that spanned more than 25 years and two cruise lines.

Carnival Fascination at Scrapyard

Workers are already aboard the vessel as it approaches the ship-breaking yard in Gadani, Pakistan, preparing the ship for scrapping. This can involve removing items that may be able to be resold, such as lighting fixtures and other electronics, furniture, china, appliances, and more.

The ship will then be broken into pieces, with the material sold for reuse. It is likely that some of the metal, after recycling, may one day end up as part of a new cruise ship that will continue to delight passengers with the same fun and vitality that Carnival Fascination brought to travelers for so many years.

While several of her sister Fantasy-class vessels were scrapped quickly, Carnival Fascination first seemed to find new life as she was purchased by Century Cruises in November 2020. Her name was to be changed to Century Harmony, and the ship was rumored to be refitted for service as a floating hotel in Asia.

Later, various reports seemed to indicate the startup of a new China-based cruise line that would feature the renamed ship heading up its fleet. The ship did indeed go a variety of refurbishments toward that goal, but the refitting was incomplete.

Unfortunately, the new owners of the once grand cruise ship were unable to financially maintain the vessel as the pandemic pause wore on and travel in Asia did not resume quickly.

The ship was sold again, this time to be scrapped, as her value as raw material far exceeds the value she could bring after necessary refurbishments and renovations to continue sailing.

Notable Service

Carnival Fascination – originally named Fascination until the prefix Carnival was added to all ships in the fleet in 2007 – was the fourth of the Fantasy-class ships built for Carnival when she entered service in July 1994.

She was constructed at the Helsinki New Shipyard in Finland, and spent most of her years with Carnival Cruise Line sailing Caribbean itineraries from various homeports, including New York, New York; Miami and Jacksonville, Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Bridgetown, Barbados.

Carnival Fascination at Sea — Photo By: Carnival Cruise Line

The ship received various upgrades and renovations during her time in the Carnival fleet, including the addition of technology, updated staterooms, and, in 2015, the WaterWorks water park with the Splash Zone and Twister Waterslide.

Her final renovation was in 2018, when Guy’s Burger Joint, the BlueIguana Cantina, Cherry on Top, and other dining venues were added.

Over the years, Carnival Fascination offered Fun Ship getaways to millions of passengers and visited a wide range of ports of call. Yet some of her most memorable service was near the end of her tenure with Carnival Cruise Line.

In October 2017, the ship was chartered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to house relief workers in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This was in response to the devastation from Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, and Carnival Fascination served as home to workers restoring the islands until early February, 2018, after which she entered her final drydock.

Carnival Fascination Cruise Ship (Century Harmony) — Carnival Fascination Cruise Ship (Copyright: **Tony Davis**)

Carnival Fascination ceased sailing, along with the entire Carnival fleet, when the cruise line ceased operations in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At first, she was on hold with anticipation of resuming service, but as the worldwide crises continued, Carnival Fascination was laid up with no firm date for a return to service.

In September 2020, Carnival Cruise Line announced that the ship would be retired, part of a restructuring of the Carnival fleet that involved removing several older, less efficient vessels from operation.

This step had already been planned for the future, but the financial challenges of the pandemic accelerated the fleet’s restructuring and Carnival Fascination was placed on the market.

Last of the Fantasy Class

The scrapping of Carnival Fascination is one step closer to the end of Carnival Cruise Line’s popular Fantasy-class vessels. Her sister ships Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Inspiration, and Carnival Imagination were all sent to the Aliaga ship-breaking facility in Turkey.

Earlier this month, Carnival Cruise Line provided an update on two more Fantasy-class vessels. Carnival Sensation will not be returning from the pandemic shutdown, and the vessel has already been listed for sale. Carnival Ecstasy is still currently sailing, but will complete her final voyage and leave the fleet October 10, 2022.

At the moment, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Elation are the last two Fantasy-class ships that are planned to remain in the Carnival fleet, carrying on the proud tradition of these popular vessels.

San Diego Cruise Parking: What You Need to Know

California

Gillian Birch

-

Feb 10, 2022

0

San Diego Cruise Parking: What You Need to Know

Most travelers departing on a cruise from San Diego opt to drive to the port and use convenient San Diego cruise parking, either at or near the port. One of the things that’s unusual about cruising from the Port of San Diego is that there are no official cruise parking lots at the port.

However, there are plenty of options for private cruise parking lots. We’ve lined up the options to help you find the closest, cheapest and best San Diego cruise parking currently available.

Compared to other major cruise ports, you’ll find San Diego cruise parking is very affordable as there is plenty of competition. We cover long-term cruise parking, handicapped parking, covered parking and oversized vehicle parking close to the port, waterfront and downtown San Diego.

Some include shuttle transport to the cruise port while other budget parking lots expect you to arrange a taxi or Uber ride.

Cruisers can also find budget long-term parking near the airport which is less than 5 miles from the cruise port. Also, many San Diego hotels offer free cruise parking as part of a Stay, Park and Cruise package. This is a smart option if you plan to arrive the day before your cruise departure.

Cruise parking packages include a night’s stay, parking for the duration of your cruise and transport to and from the cruise port. You won’t have far to travel either; the luxury Wyndham San Diego Bayside is located right across the street from San Diego’s two cruise ship terminals.

So let’s haul up the anchor and get started!

In this Article…

San Diego Cruise Facts
Getting to San Diego Cruise Terminal by Car
- From the North
Best Cruise Parking Closest to San Diego Port
Budget Cruise Parking San Diego Port
San Diego Cruise Parking at the Airport
San Diego Cruise Parking for Disabled Passengers
Best San Diego Hotels with Stay and Cruise Parking Packages
- Wyndham San Diego Bayside
FAQs

San Diego Cruise Facts

San Diego cruise port has two terminals dedicated to cruise ships. These are at the B Street Pier (1140 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego) and at Port Pavilions on Broadway pier (1000 N. Harbor Drive)

The address for driving directions to San Diego cruise port is: Port of San Diego, “B” Street Cruise Ship Terminal, 1140 Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101.

Getting to San Diego Cruise Terminal by Car

From the North

From I-5 southbound, take the exit for the San Diego International Airport.
Continue straight on to Kettner Boulevard.
Turn right on Laurel Street.
After crossing over Pacific Highway, stay in the left lane (or you will find yourself actually heading to the airport!)
Turn left on Harbor Drive and follow the signs to San Diego cruise terminal.
Traveling from the North and South (alternate route)
From I-5 (north or southbound) exit at Front Street exit and head south.
Turn right on Broadway.
Turn right again onto Harbor Drive and follow the signs to San Diego cruise terminal.

Best Cruise Parking Closest to San Diego Port

San Diego Cruise (Photo Credit: Rich Koele / Shutterstock)

Wyndham San Diego Bayside Garage

Situated right across from the cruise port, parking does not get more convenient than the Wyndham San Diego Bayside Garage! Attached to the luxury Wyndham hotel, the parking company prides itself on top customer service and is happy to provide luggage assistance. Self-parking is in a secure lot and valet service is available for an additional $3 per day. There is a complimentary shuttle service or you can walk across the street to the cruise terminal check-in.

Distance from port: 0.1 miles
Address: 1355 N. Harbor Drive
Tel: (619) 544-8360
Price per day: $14 (Valet $17)
Shuttle: Yes free

ACE Parking

ACE Parking is just 2 blocks from San Diego cruise terminals making parking very convenient. It’s also very easy to reach from I-5. Bookings must be made ahead of time and your reservation ticket must be placed in the windscreen so that attendants can verify your booking. It’s a short stroll across the street to the cruise terminals and the start of your voyage or take a taxi for the short trip.

Distance from port: 0.4 miles
Address: 1109 Pacific Hwy
Tel: (619) 233-6624
Price per day: $20
Shuttle: No

BRIC North Garage

Another San Diego cruise parking lot right opposite the cruise terminal is BRIC North Garage. Their brand new covered parking lot is below the Spring Hills Suites Hotel and operates 24/7.

Distance from port: 0.1 miles
Address: 900 Bayfront Court
Tel: (619) 535-0327
Price per day: $16
Shuttle: No

BRIC South Garage

This BRIC South Terminal San Diego cruise parking lot is also opposite the cruise terminal and Broadway Pier. Located under the InterContinental Hotel, it is operated privately by ACE Parking and is not connected to the hotel. There is a height limit of 7 feet. You can easily park and walk across the road to the cruise terminal with your luggage.

Distance from port: 0.1 miles
Address: 901 Bayfront Court
Tel: (619) 535-0327
Price per day: $16
Shuttle: No

Columbia Garage

Columbia Garage offers San Diego cruise parking in a secure garage. Take a ticket to open the barrier and self-park before checking in at the parking office next to the entrance. Although they do not operate a shuttle, they do offer a convenient private ride to the cruise terminal. At check-in, customers receive a prepaid voucher for an Uber taxi ride to and from the cruise port (value up to $10 each way).

Distance from port: 0.6 miles
Address: 1050 Columbia St
Tel: (619) 814-4200
Price per day: $12
Shuttle: No – Uber voucher provided

Budget Cruise Parking San Diego Port

Port of San Diego, California (Photo Credit: Gerald Peplow / Shutterstock)

Manchester Grand Hyatt Garage

The Manchester Grand Hyatt Garage offers low-cost cruise parking (minimum 4 nights) less than a mile from the cruise terminal. Self parking only in a large secure garage. No pre-booking required; simply take a ticket when you enter the garage and pay at the ticket booth when you return from your cruise. This budget cruise parking lot does not operate a courtesy shuttle to the cruise port and customers must use a taxi or Uber to transport themselves and their luggage to the terminal.

Distance from port: 0.7 miles
Address: 1 Market Place
Tel: (619) 358-6658
Price per day: $6
Shuttle: No

Horton Plaza

Horton Plaza cruise parking in San Diego is a well-priced option within easy reach of the cruise terminals. On arrival at the garage, take a ticket to access the garage on Fourth Ave and F Street. It’s open 24/7. Park in one of the reserved stalls next to the office and check-in. A shuttle will transport you the short distance to the ship.

Distance from port: 1.0 miles
Address: 814 Fourth Ave
Tel: (619) 233-1491
Price per day: $12
Shuttle: Yes

Bayfront Garage

Located beneath the Hilton, Bayfront Garage offers San Diego cruise parking just a short taxi ride from the cruise port terminals. It offers self parking in a secure covered garage. They do not operate a shuttle so you need to arrange a taxi or pick one up outside the hotel.

Distance from port: 1.6 miles
Address: 1 Park Blvd
Tel: (619) 321-4369
Price per day: $10
Shuttle: No

Four Points by Sheraton San Diego Little Italy

Four Points by Sheraton San Diego Little Italy offers well-priced San Diego cruise parking in a covered garage with valet service. Open 24 hours a day, the price includes a complimentary shuttle service to and from the cruise port. Payment is on arrival at the lot.

Distance from port: 1.0 miles
Address: 1617 1^st Ave
Tel: (619) 239-9600
Price per day: $10.95
Shuttle: Yes

San Diego Cruise Parking at the Airport

The Port of San Diego is just 5 miles from San Diego Lindberg (SAN) Airport and there is plenty of long-term parking available at or near the airport. The downside is that once you have parked, you will need to catch a taxi or Uber to transport you and your luggage to the port.

If you’re traveling as a family or group, it could be smart to drop your passengers and luggage off and then for the driver to take the car to the airport to park. Although the official long-term parking at the airport is $32 per day, there are several options nearby offering much cheaper prices.

San Diego International Airport (Photo Credit: 4kclips / Shutterstock)

San Diego Airport Parking Co.

San Diego Airport Parking offers uncovered long-term parking close to the airport. Book online with free cancellation option. It has excellent reviews from past customers. There is a courtesy shuttle to the airport and the cruise port, making this a popular choice with consistently low priced cruise parking.

Distance from port: 2.7 miles
Address: 2771 Kurtz Street
Tel: (619) 574-1177
Price per day: $11
Shuttle: Yes

Laurel SAN Airport Parking

Operating 24/7 as a covered self parking business near San Diego Airport, Laurel SAN Airport Parking is a longstanding business with five star reviews. There’s a free shuttle service to the airport but not to the cruise port. It offers 24 hour security and camera surveillance.

Distance from port: 1.1 miles
Address: 1025 W. Laurel St
Tel: (619) 233-0412
Price per day: $10.99
Shuttle: No

WallyPark San Diego Garage Airport Parking

Just 5 minutes from San Diego Airport, WallyPark Garage offers secure cruise parking and airport parking from its central location. It has a choice of options including outdoor self-parking from $13.95 per day, covered self parking from $14.95 and covered valet parking from $16.95 per day. It runs a free airport shuttle every 5 minutes but cruisers will need to take a taxi or Uber to and from the port.

Distance from port: 1.6 miles
Address: 3298 Kettner Blvd
Tel: (619) 295-2832
Price per day: from $13.95
Shuttle: No

San Diego’s Park, Shuttle and Fly

San Diego Park Shuttle and Fly is a family-owned company offering the low prices for San Diego cruise parking at the airport. The parking lot is open and staffed 24/7 and provides safe and secure parking for cruisers and flyers.

Distance from port: 0.9 miles
Address: 3405 Pacific Hwy
Tel: (619) 291 1234
Price per day: $20.99
Shuttle: Yes

San Diego Cruise Parking for Disabled Passengers

Disabled person parking in San Diego is free in certain places for vehicles displaying a special license plate or official placard. These include in specially marked parking spaces, next to a blue curb denoting handicapped parking. Next to a green curb (limited parking time) and an on-street metered spots. The maximum length of time permitted is 72 hours.

However, in garages and off-street parking lots where disabled parking spaces are marked, all patrons must pay the usual charges.

Once you reach the cruise terminal, there are wheelchair friendly elevators and customer service representatives on hand to assist.

Best San Diego Hotels with Stay and Cruise Parking Packages

Wyndham San Diego Bayside

Wyndham San Diego Bayside is one of the closest luxury hotels to the cruise port, so it makes sense to book a package that includes a comfortable night’s stay with free cruise parking. There are various different packages available, so check with the hotel before booking. Generally a package works out cheaper than a night’s stay plus cruise parking in the adjoining lot at $14 a night.

Distance from port: 0.1 miles
Address: 1355 N. Harbor Drive
Tel: (619) 544-8360
Price per day: $14 (Valet $17)
Shuttle: Yes

Other San Diego hotels worth checking out for Stay, Park and Cruise packages include:

Comfort Inn at the Harbor
The Dana on Mission Bay
The Pacific Inn

FAQs

How much to park at the cruise terminal in San Diego?

Prices for San Diego cruise parking range from $6 to $20 per day. Some businesses include complimentary shuttle transport to and from the cruise port.

Where’s the best place to park for cruise from San Diego?

For convenience, there are several cruise parking lots just across the street from the cruise terminals. These include the Wyndham San Diego Bayside Garage attached to the luxury Wyndham hotel, BRIC North Garage and BRIC South Garage. They are all within walking distance of San Diego cruise terminals.

Can I park near the San Diego cruise terminal?

Yes, there are several cruise parking lots just across the street from the cruise terminals. These include the Wyndham San Diego Bayside Garage, BRIC North Garage and BRIC South Garage. They are all just a short walk from the cruise terminal.

Three Crystal Cruise Ships Arrested, One May Already Be for Sale

Cruise News

Melissa Mayntz

-

Feb 6, 2022

0

Three Crystal Cruise Ships Arrested, One May Already Be for Sale

The uncertainty about Crystal Cruises’ future continues to unfold, and both Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony have now been arrested in Freeport, Bahamas. With little official communication from the cruise line, however, much of the detail about this confusing situation is being relayed from crew members who remain on board the ships at this time.

All Three Crystal Cruise Ships Arrested

Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, both of which debarked their passengers in Bimini in recent days, were arrested in the waters off Freeport, Bahamas in the evening hours of February 4, 2022. Shortly after authorities boarded Crystal Symphony, the ship’s captain made the following announcement:

“The ship has been placed under arrest by the local authorities over some unpaid bills, and as bad as it sounds it’s actually quite a good thing to happen. We’ve been told that this will not affect any personnel movement. So the crew movement and the crew sign offs will go as planned, and we are in process of preparing this. So some unfortunate news but it was actually quite expected.”

Federal U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles had granted the arrest order for Crystal Symphony on January 20, 2022, shortly after the ship’s parent company, Genting Hong Kong, filed for bankruptcy. At that time, the ship diverted from its planned debarkation in Miami and instead debarked passengers in Bimini.

Crystal Cruises Ships — Images Via: Crystal Cruises

Part of the debts detailed in the original Crystal Symphony arrest order as well as the bankruptcy filing amount to $4.6 million in unpaid fuel invoices.

In light of the ongoing difficulties for the cruise line, Crystal Serenity was denied entry into Aruba a few days later, and that ship also headed to Bimini to debark its passengers on January 31.

The third ship in the fleet, Crystal Endeavor, finished its Antarctica itinerary on February 4, and has now been placed under arrest in Ushuaia, Argentina, according to Cruise Law News. Because legal offices are closed over the weekend, that ship is temporarily in limbo until Monday, according to a social media post from a passenger on board.

Crew Reactions

While there are no passengers remaining aboard Crystal Symphony or Crystal Serenity, crew members are still aboard and waiting for arrangements to return home. There is some uncertainty about where crew members will be able to debark, and how travel arrangements can be made for the internationally diverse crews to return to their home countries.

When fully staffed, Crystal Symphony would have 545 crew members aboard, while the larger Crystal Serenity would have 655 crew members.

No details about how many crew members currently aboard either ship have been released, but it can be challenging to make travel arrangements for several hundred crew members at once.

Another difficulty can be when different ports and transit countries may have different COVID-19 testing and vaccination protocols in place. Crew members would need to meet those requirements before they are permitted to travel home.

On board the ships, crew members have reached out through social media to report that accommodations are comfortable and January crew salaries are being processed. What is most uncertain, however, is where the ships may travel for crew to debark, though all crew members are expected to be heading home within a week, other than a skeleton crew to operate the vessels.

Ships to Be Sold?

To arrest a cruise ship doesn’t mean handcuffs and jail cells, but all three Crystal vessels are on temporary hold as their legal status is settled. This can mean the unpaid fuel bills must be settled, which can be done if a ship is sold.

Crystal Symphony Cruise Ship — Photo Credit: Vytautas Kielaitis / Shutterstock

A sale listing for a 1995 cruise ship has appeared on the website Yacht World, a database brokers use to sell all types of luxury vessels. The listing in question details the cruise ship as having a guest capacity of 960 passengers, which is the double-occupancy capacity of Crystal Symphony.

Other stats in the listing also correlate with the published stats of Crystal Symphony, and the photos with the listing are of the cruise ship. The ship’s name, however, is not included in the listing, only stock numbers.

No sales price is listed, but the broker managing the sale has additional listings for Carnival ships, including Carnival Ecstasy, as well as recognizable ships from other popular cruise lines.

Two Fantasy-Class Carnival Cruise Ships to Leave Fleet

Carnival Cruise News

Emrys Thakkar

-

Feb 4, 2022

0

Two Fantasy-Class Carnival Cruise Ships to Leave Fleet

Carnival Cruise Line has announced further details on recent ship deployment changes and that two Fantasy-class cruise ships will leave the fleet. This follows a major update just days ago on the Carnival Spirit returning to the U.S. and details on Carnival Sensation and Carnival Ecstasy.

Carnival Cruise Update

The cruise line has provided a further update on ships still waiting to resume operations, including additional details on an update released on February 1, 2022. The new update covers Carnival Sensation and Carnival Ecstasy leaving the fleet, another ship to take over cruises from Jacksonville following Carnival Spirit, and additional cancellations for Australia.

Cruises from Mobile

Carnival Ecstasy is still scheduled to take over Carnival Sensation sailings from Mobile, Alabama, on March 7, 2022. The Fantasy-class vessel will remain sailing from the Port of Mobile through October 10, 2022. The scheduled sailings from Mobile from October 15, 2022, through September 30, 2023, have been canceled, and Carnival is set to announce new plans for cruise operations from the port in the future.

Carnival Cruise Ships — Photo Credit: Joni Hanebutt / Shutterstock

As the cruise line previously announced, we already knew that Carnival Sensation, which was originally set to resume cruises from Mobile on March 7, 2022, was to remain on hold even further.

However, that has now changed as Carnival Sensation, which entered service for the cruise line in 1993, will no longer return to operations. The cruise line has also announced that Carnival Ecstasy, which entered service in 1991, will also leave the fleet after completing her final voyage on October 10, 2022. It’s not known if the two Fantasy-class vessels have been sold for scrap or purchased by another cruise line.

“Our guests have remained passionate and supportive throughout the restart and 2022 gives us plenty of reasons for enthusiasm and excitement as we reach full operations in the U.S., prepare for our 50th birthday celebration, and await the arrival of Carnival Celebration this fall,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Our very loyal guests, our vibrant homeport strategy and our fleet of popular ships are strengths to our advantage as we adapt to changing opportunities and circumstances.”

Cruises from Jacksonville

With Carnival Ecstasy being redeployed to Mobile in early March, it does mean that Carnival Spirit will still replace the voyages out of Jacksonville, Florida, from March 7, 2022.

The ship will continue to sail from the port through April 9, 2022. The following two sailings are canceled as a new ship being assigned from the fleet will begin sailings from Jacksonville on April 23, 2022. Carnival has not confirmed which ship will take over, but it could be one of the remaining two Fantasy-class vessels, Carnival Elation or Carnival Paradise.

Cruises from Australia

When it comes to Australia, Carnival Spirit is set to return down under once the cruise industry is allowed to resume. With the Spirit-class vessel operating in the U.S., the ship’s sailings in Australia are canceled from June 5, 2022, to October 5, 2023.

Carnival Splendor, an Australian-based Carnival cruise ship, will remain on hold even further, with cruises canceled from June 10, 2022, through September 26, 2022.

Cruise Ship Causes Rocket Launch Scrub at Cape Canaveral

Melissa Mayntz

-

Jan 31, 2022

0

Cruise Ship Causes Rocket Launch Scrub at Cape Canaveral

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch planned for January 30, 2022, was scrubbed just seconds before launch because of a cruise ship in the hazard area. The launch has been rescheduled for today, January 31, and the cruise has been unaffected.

Cruise Ship Scrubs Launch

SpaceX had planned to launch a Falcon 9 rocket into orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 6:11 p.m. EST on Sunday, January 30, but a cruise ship in the hazard area forced the launch to be scrubbed.

The rocket’s payload, the Italian Space Agency’s COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation satellite, is part of a fleet of remote sensing spacecraft to monitor shipping traffic, natural disasters, and climate change.

Falcon 9 Rocket Launch from Cape Canaveral - Photo courtesy SLD 45 — Falcon 9 Rocket Launch from Cape Canaveral – Photo courtesy SLD 45

The scrub call went out at T-minus 34 seconds from launch, with the launch director calling, “Hold! Hold! Hold! Aborting launch auto. This is the launch director calling a hold. We have a red range for a fouled range, with a ship in the hazard area.”

SpaceX confirmed the scrub shortly thereafter on Twitter with the following statement: “Standing down from today’s launch of COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation FM2 due to ship in the hazard area; team is setting up for next opportunity tomorrow, January 31 at 6:11 p.m. EST.”

The ship was noted as a cruise liner making its way to the no-go zone that the Coast Guard was unable to clear out of the area before T-minus zero.

Because this launch required a precise liftoff time in order to meet its exact polar orbit destination for satellite deployment, the launch window was instantaneous and could not be delayed even for a few minutes to escort the ship from the restricted area.

This launch has already been delayed three times because of poor weather conditions. It is now rescheduled for Monday, January 31, 2022, at 6:11 p.m. The launch window remains instantaneous.

Which Ship?

The exact cruise ship that caused this delay has not been identified. Two cruise ships departed from Port Canaveral Sunday evening – Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, followed by MSC Meraviglia.

Harmony of the Seas left the port at approximately 5 p.m., turning south once it was out to sea, beginning a 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing. MSC Meraviglia departed Port Canaveral at 6 p.m. to begin a 4-night Bahamas cruise, and was photographed sailing alongside Jetty Park in Port Canaveral just after 6 p.m., not yet clear of port channel.

Joe Bolm hoping to see the SpaceX launch as MSC Meraviglia departs Port Canaveral at 6:08 p.m., January 30, 2022 - Photo Courtesy of Betty Leatherwood Bolm — Joe Bolm hoping to see the SpaceX launch as MSC Meraviglia departs Port Canaveral at 6:08 p.m., January 30, 2022 – Photo Courtesy of Betty Leatherwood Bolm

Because of these ship positions, and because the no-go zone was downrange of the launch site, it is most likely Harmony of the Seas that was responsible for the launch scrub, though either ship could have impacted the launch.

Keeping Cruise Ships Away From Launch Operations

The launch hazard area for ships is different for a polar orbit launch than a launch to the east or northeast, such as for flights heading to the International Space Station.

A Coast Guard investigation of this incident is underway, as all ships are required to be aware of launch operations and to steer clear of restricted areas during launch windows. Space Launch Delta 45, headquartered at Patrick Space Force Base south of Port Canaveral and in command of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, issues launch hazard area maps and coordinates prior to every launch.

Hazard Area - January 30, 2022 SpaceX Launch - Space Launch Delta 45 — Hazard Area – January 30, 2022 SpaceX Launch – Space Launch Delta 45

Space Launch Delta 45 had issued a statement earlier in the month advising mariners to be aware of an increase in southerly launch trajectories and the hazard areas implemented for those launches.

“Due to the unique southerly trajectories, there will be a larger potential impact to air and sea traffic along the southeast coast of Florida. We ask that all pilots and mariners double-check their Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) and Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) to ensure they are fully aware of all pending launch activities,” said Maj. Jonathan Szul, Director of Operations, 1st Range Operations Squadron in the statement issued January 4, 2022.

Worth Reading: Port Canaveral Cruise Parking – What You Need to Know

There have been multiple southerly launch trajectories in January 2022, and more will undoubtedly be planned throughout the year. Whether or not cruise ships can impact launch operations depends on the dates of launches, the timing of launch windows, if launches must be instantaneous, and if the rocket boosters will be landed back at Cape Canaveral.

When launch trajectories are focused in other directions, cruise ship passengers can get amazing views of launches as their ships depart Port Canaveral.