Carnival Cruise Line has announced further cancellations, and it now means that no Carnival cruise ships will sail in March. It delays the resumption of operations until April at the very earliest.
Carnival Cancels All March Sailings
Carnival Cruise Line has announced a new round of cancellations, and the suspension of operations will continue until April 2021. Select ships will also be delayed due to dry dock upgrades. Here is the full list of which ships are delayed and the current situation:
All embarkations from U.S. homeports through March 31, 2021
Carnival Freedom from Galveston through April 10, 2021 (which includes a repositioning of the ship from Galveston to Seattle and a 17-day Carnival Journeys cruise which is not allowed under the current guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC))
Carnival Miracle from San Diego and San Francisco through September 16, 2021 (which includes many 10-day and longer itineraries not allowed under the current CDC guidelines)
Carnival Liberty from Port Canaveral from September 17-October 18, 2021 (to accommodate rescheduled dry dock work)
Carnival Sunshine from Charleston from October 11-November 13, 2021 (to accommodate rescheduled dry dock work)
Carnival Spirit’s 15-day cruise from Singapore to Brisbane on June 12, 2021 (consistent with the current limitations on international travel in place in Australia).
This announcement was expected with many cruisers already noticing on social media that Carnival had removed all sailing in March 2021 from its booking engine.
Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said:
“We are sorry to disappoint our guests, as we can see from our booking activity that there is clearly a pent-up demand for cruising on Carnival. We appreciate their patience and support as we continue to work on our plans to resume operations in 2021 with a gradual, phased in approach.”
Impacted Guests
The Miami-based cruise line is contacting guests and travel agents impacted by the new round of cancellations. The cruise line is offering a Future Cruises Credit (FCC) and onboard credit. Guests can alternatively request a full refund if they no longer want to cruise in the future.
Photo Credit: Igor_Koptilin / Shutterstock.com
The Delays Keep on Coming
As the pandemic sweeps across the United States and the world, cruising continues to be on hold. Carnival Cruise Line hoped to return with a limited number of ships in March 2021, but now this won’t be the case.
The Conditional Sailing Order implemented by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) needs cruise lines to implement many changes to make sure guests and crew remain safe.
With the fleet being on hold for almost a year, it’s not easy to prepare the ships. Crew members need to be brought back and trained along with test sailings. Cruise Hive has already reported on several ships recently returning to the U.S. to start the preparations.
With cruise lines not not being able to offer cruises longer than seven days, many itineraries have been moved until November 2021 and that has impacted operations for ships that sail Carnival Journeys and longer sailings.
It’s going to be a long recovery for the cruise industry.
Previous Cancellations
Carnival has suspended operations since March 2020. The cruise line had previously cancelled scheduled sailings out of Miami, Port Canaveral and Galveston through February 28, 2021.
The original hope was that cruises would resume once 2021 arrived but the return dates seem to keep being delayed. Carnival’s new Mardi Gras which is the most anticipated new cruise ship for 2021 is delayed until April 24 out of Port Canaveral.
One of the oldest cruise ships in the world has been designated to be scrapped. A storied history of more than 55 years sailing the world’s oceans comes to a sad end as the former Cruise and Maritime Voyages liner MS Marco Polo sets a course to the shipbreaking yard in Alang, India.
A fan favorite, Cruise and Maritime Voyages catered mostly for the UK market, focusing on an older, mature crowd that enjoyed indulging in the classic cruise setup. While the line had a steady client base for many years, it was to be one of the first victims in the cruise industry to succumb to the pandemic’s effects.
Unexpected End Of Operations
Cruise and Maritime Voyages’ demise was not something that many would have seen coming just over twelve months ago. As a cruise line with a steady base of fans and growing steadily over the years, December 2019 saw the purchase of two new vessels.
P&O Australia’s Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria were both bought. Still, they never entered service, as March 2019 saw a cease of operations. Subsequently, in June of last year, reports surfaced that the company could not repatriate crew members, pay salaries, and pay bills. The company went into administration on July 20, 2020, and cruise ships went up for auction.
MS Marco Polo was sold at auction in October 2020 as part of CMV’s administration phase for only US $2,770,000. As recently as November 2020, there was still hope for the 55-year-old vessel as she was offered for charter by Offshore Solutions Unlimited. She has now been taken off the website and, according to Cruise & Harbour News, has been designated to be scrapped.
All of CMV’s vessels were sold at auction in October. As Cruise Hive reported on November 24, 2020, MV Astor has already been beached at the Aliaga ship breaking facility in Turkey. Pacific Dawn, which was designated to be a ‘cryptocurrency’ ship called Satoshi, is currently at anchor outside Colon, Panama, but will also be scrapped eventually unless a buyer is found soon.
As for the other CMV vessels, Magellan, Columbus, and the Pacific Aria have been sold to Seajets in Greece. Astoria has been returned to the Portuguese bank that owns her, and Mystic Invest, a relatively new cruise operator from Portugal, has bought the Vasco Da Gama.
55-Years Of Sailing The Seven Seas
These days, very few ships can say they have sailed with passengers for more than half a century. Built-in East Germany for the Baltic State Shipping Company, the 19.860 gross ton and 176 meters long MS Marco Polo was first and foremost an Ocean Liner that sailed on the Leningrad- Montreal route.
Not until 1990, when the vessel was laid up for three years, the ship was rebuilt entirely as a cruise liner for now-defunct cruise line Orient Lines, here MS Marco Polo sailed until 2008. After that, the vessel sailed for Transocean Tours, the German subsidiary of Cruise and Maritime Voyages, and later CMV.
MS Marco Polo is currently sailing on a course to the yard with a reported arrival date of January 9, 2021, making this iconic 55-year old Ocean Liner another in a long line of ships that fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new year did not start well for former Carnival cruise line ship Ocean Dream, formerly known as Tropicale. After a long life sailing the world’s oceans for multiple cruise lines since 1982, she was beached at the shipbreakers in Alang, India, on January 1, 2021.
The Ocean Dream is the latest in an ever-increasing list of ships that have been beached in India and Turkey over the last year. Companies are hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and are forced to eliminate costly and financially ineffective vessels.
In the last 12 months, Carnival Cruise Line has scrapped Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration, and Carnival Fantasy, sold Carnival Fascination, while another former Carnival Cruise ship is also heading for the shipbreakers in India, Grand Celebration.
You can watch the cruise ship beached in Alang, India below:
Carnival’s first new-build ship
At the time she was built, Tropicale was a first in many different ways. While Carnival was sailing with Mardi Gras, Carnivale, and TSS Festivale, the line needed to increase its presence. Building a new ship was the only option to remain competitive with the stiff competition in the Caribean; Tropicale was ordered and delivered in 1982.
Built at the Aalborg Værft, Denmark, in 1981, Carnival Tropicale could hold 1,022 passengers. As-built, she weighed in at 36,674 gross tons and measured 204.76 metres from bow to stern.
She was the first vessel to feature the iconic winged funnel, designed by Joe Farcus, who would significantly influence how cruise ships would be designed and built in the future. Due to the success of Tropicale, Carnival cruise line ordered Carnival Holiday in 1985, Carnival Jubilee in 1986, and Carnival Celebration in 1987.
Tropicale for Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Tropicale sailed for Carnival cruise line from 1982 until the year 2000. As Carnival cruise line grew in size and took on larger vessels, the line used Tropicale mainly for test voyages in places like Alaska, New Orleans, Tampa, and Puerto Rico. She became a front runner in what would ultimately become incredibly popular cruise destinations.
A Lifetime Roaming The High Seas
Tropicale was transferred to sail for Costa Cruises in the year 2000 and was renamed Costa Tropicale. During her 40-year career as a cruise ship, she was a testament to the build quality of the time. Tropicale sailed for five different operators and was renamed several times as well.
After sailing with Costa Cruises until the year 2005, she was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia under the name Pacific Star, where she sailed until the year 2008. In 2008 she left Carnival Corporation and sailed for Pullmantur and renamed yet again to Ocean Dream.
The vessel’s last assignment was for the Peace Boat organization. Peace Boat is a Japanese NGO that raises awareness internationally for human rights, sustainability, environmental protection, and other global causes. Peace Boat had operated Tropicale, or how it was now named Ocean Dream, since 2008.
In 2020 the organization purchased the former Princess cruise line ship, Sun Princess, marking the end of the line for Tropicale. The end of the line sadly ended on a beach in India, amongst other iconic vessels made obsolete by the pandemic.
The winners have been revealed in the 2020 Cruise Ship Awards. Cruise Hive readers have been voting since mid-September on their favorite cruise ships, cruise lines, and ports. Finally, we come to announce which ones have come out on top.
In this year’s annual awards, we scaled back due to the global pandemic. With most of the cruise industry on pause since March 2020, it would not be right to include all our usual categories. Instead, the awards mainly focused on 2021 and what we’ve got to look forward to.
There are a total of six categories in which readers have been able to vote in. only one vote was allowed in each category, and any suspicious activity or repeat IPs were not counted.
Most Anticipated Cruise Region for 2021
Caribbean
A new category introduced just for 2020 is “Most Anticipated Cruise Region for 2021” and we aim to get readers excited for the year to come once the industry makes a return.
It comes as no surprise that the Caribbean received more votes than any other. All the major cruise lines sail in this region with so many exciting ports to explore. The Caribbean has the weather everyone prefers, and plenty of cultures to experience. You can read the full list of results in order below:
Caribbean
Alaska
Mediterranean
Northern Europe
Pacific
South America
Asia
Baltic
Bahamas
Asia
Hawaii
British isles
South Africa
Mexican Riviera
In a close second came Alaska, but there could be a long wait to enjoy the region as Transport Canada has banned cruise ships through February 2021. That means cruises out of Vancouver are a no go for a while. However, Seattle could be an option moving forward.
In third came the Mediterranean, always a popular choice for cruise vacations. the region just missed out on the second spot.
Best Cruise Line Web Site in 2020
Photo By: Russell Otway
Cruise Line websites were a major factor for 2020 as guests scrambled to find out about cancelled sailings. Cruise lines are posting the latest developments on the suspensions, and as demand starts to go up for 2021, there is no doubt the first call will be the official sites.
Carnival Cruise Line took first place in this category, followed by Royal Caribbean, and then in third was Norwegian Cruise Line.
Carnival Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean International
Norwegian Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Celebrity Cruises
MSC Cruises
Costa Cruises
Viking Cruises
Holland America Line
Cunard Line
American Queen Steamboat Company
P&O Cruises
Virgin Voyages
P&O Australia
Aida Cruises
Best Cruise Homeport in the United States for 2020
Photo Credit: Francisco Blanco / Shutterstock.com
In 2019, Port Canaveral was voted best cruise homeport, but this year it has turned around, and PortMiami has taken the top spot. The cruise capital of the world received the most votes, and more recently during the suspension, cruise ships have started to return to Miami so port activity is picking up.
PortMiami, Florida
Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale), Florida
Port Canaveral, Florida
Port of New Orleans, Louisiana
Port of Galveston, Texas
Manhattan Cruise Terminal, New York
Cape Liberty Cruise Port, New Jersey
Long Beach Cruise Terminal, California
Port of Baltimore, Maryland
Port of Tampa, Florida
Port of Seattle, Washington
Port of Jacksonville, Florida
Port of Mobile, Alabama
Port of Los Angeles, California
Port of Charleston, South Carolina
Best Cruise Line in 2020
Photo Credit: richard pross / Shutterstock.com
Cruise Hive readers have chosen, and Carnival Cruise Line has become the best cruise line of 2020. Carnival operates a total of 24 cruise ships, including the recently delivered Mardi Gras. This comes after the cruise line has had a difficult year and sold off four of its older Fantasy-class ships.
During the year, Carnival has continued to keep guests updated and support crew members. During the festive period, the cruise line launched “Operations Happy Holidays” and delivered more than 10,000 cards to workers. Even president Christine Duffy has been keeping morale up with advice and hope.
Carnival Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean International
Celebrity Cruises
Princess Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
Holland America Line
MSC Cruises
Costa Cruises
P&O Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Viking Cruises
Disney Cruise Line
Crystal Cruises
Seabourn
Cunard Line
Aida Cruises
P&O Australia
In second place came Royal Caribbean International which has a total of 24 ships, no identical to rival Carnival. In third came Celebrity Cruises which is much smaller but has recently found a new spark thanks to the new Edge-class vessels.
Most Anticipated New Cruise Ship for 2021
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival’s new Mari Gras cruise ship has received more votes than any other cruise ship for the most anticipated new cruise ship for 2021. Cruise Hive already detailed the results of this category.
There were some really exciting new ships in this category, some of them were supposed to have arrived in 2020 but the pandemic forced delays. We now look forward to a busy 2021 with new ship debuts. Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas came is second and she will arrive in April 2021. Discovery Princess from Princess Cruises completed the top three.
Mardi Gras (Carnival Cruise Line)
Odyssey of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Discovery Princess (Princess Cruises)
Valiant Lady (Virgin Voyages)
Disney Wish (Disney Cruise Line)
Costa Toscana (Costa Cruises)
MSC Seashore (MSC Cruises)
Rotterdam (Holland America Line)
AIDAcosma (Aida Cruises)
Viking Venus (Viking Cruises)
Mardi Gras was delivered by the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland towards the end of December 2020 and is the first ship in the fleet powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). She’s over 180,800 gross tons and is the ninth-largest cruise ship in the world right now.
Most Anticipated Future Class Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock.com
We finally come to ‘Most Anticipated Future Class Cruise Ship’ and Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class has come out on top with the most votes. Not a huge deal is yet known about this future class but they will be huge at around 200,000 gross tons.
The first of these vessels will arrive in 2022 and the cruise line has ordered a total of three. these will be the first cruise ships to be LNG powered for Royal Caribbean.
Icon-Class (Royal Caribbean)
New Generation LNG-Class (Princess Cruises)
Leonardo-Class (Norwegian Cruise Line)
World-Class (MSC Cruises)
Global-Class (Dream Cruises)
The Icon-class ships were also the winners of the 2019 Cruise Ship Awards. In second came the new generation of LNG for Princess Cruises and in third the Leonardo-class for Norwegian Cruise Line. Plenty of new ships to look forward to in the years to come.
Thanks for Voting!
It has been a tough year but hopefully, the altered 2020 Cruise Ship Awards have provided some hope on what’s to come in 2021. Thanks to all our readers for taking the time to vote!
Carnival Cruise Line’s new cruise ship has come out on top in Cruise Hive’s annual Cruise Ship Awards. Mardi Gras is the most anticipated new cruise ship for 2021 according to readers of the website.
Mardi Gras Comes Out On Top
It doesn’t really come as a surprise that Carnival’s new Mardi Gras has become the most anticipated new cruise ship for 2021, according to Cruise Hive readers. The ship has no doubt been the most talked about for year’s and after months of delays, she will finally begin sailing in April 2021.
The ship was up against nine new cruise ships that will begin sailing for the first time in 2021. Mardi Gras received more votes than any of the other ships.
In a close second place came Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas that will debut in April 2021. In third came Princess Cruises’ Discovery Princess that is set to debut in November 2021.
Mardi Gras is the largest every Carnival cruise ship and is powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The new mega-ship was recently delivered from the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.
She’s 180,800 gross tons with a guest capacity of 5,282 at double occupancy along with 1,282 crew members. The ship is currently the ninth-largest in the world and features the first roller coaster at sea called BOLT.
Photo Credit: Jarmo Piironen / Shutterstock.com
The ship will begin Caribbean cruises out of Carnival’s new Terminal 3 a Port Canaveral, Florida on April 24, 2021. She was originally scheduled to debut on August 31, 2020, out of Copenhagen.
2020 Cruise Ship Awards
The 2020 Cruise Ship Awards was more low key this year due to the global pandemic and the impact on the cruise industry. Most cruise lines remain on hold since first suspending operation in March 2020.
With just over two months of cruising this year, we decided to remove several categories and introduce new ones that focus more on what’s to come. The awards were more low-key this year, but as major cruise lines begin cruises in the first half of 2021, things can start getting back to normal.
Here is the full order of the result:
Mardi Gras (Carnival Cruise Line)
Odyssey of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Discovery Princess (Princess Cruises)
Valiant Lady (Virgin Voyages)
Disney Wish (Disney Cruise Line)
Costa Toscana (Costa Cruises)
MSC Seashore (MSC Cruises)
Rotterdam (Holland America Line)
AIDAcosma (Aida Cruises)
Viking Venus (Viking Cruises)
Voting opened up on the Cruise Ship Awards in mid-September and since then readers have been able to vote in six different categories. We only allow voting once from each IP address so any repeat votes were discarded. Any suspicious voting was also left out.
Take a look at our dedicated Cruise Ship Awards page to see all the results over the years since our annual awards first started in 2014.
It was recently reported that the former Carnival cruise ship named Carnival Fascination will become a floating hotel in Asia. This came after the ship’s new name was seen on the aft.
It’s lead us to some exclusive photos showing the Fantasy-class cruise ship in Gibraltar during December 2020 and some right before Christmas. When the vessel was still operated by Carnival Cruise Line, she had been in a cold layup in Cadiz, Spain since the end of July 2020.
Take a look at the photos below exclusively for Cruise Hive from Tony Davis:
Former Carnival Fascination
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Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
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Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Due to the suspension of cruise operations that first started in March, the cruise line has needed to put several ships into a long-term layup. Carnival has also sold three other Fantasy-class vessels, including Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Inspiration, and Carnival Imagination. They are all currently being scrapped in Turkey.
For Carnival Fascination, the future looks bright as she is set to become a floating hotel in Asia. It was recently reported, the ship is to be named Century Harmony under the new owners of Century Harmony Cruise Limited.
The exclusive photos show the current state of the ship. According to the Cruise Ship Tracker, the former Carnival-owned cruise ship has already departed Gibraltar and arrives at Port Said, Egypt, on February 1, 2021. It’s a long journey ahead as the vessel is sailing to Asia to become a floating hotel.
The vessel first entered service for Carnival in 1994 and is over 70,300 gross tons with a guest capacity of over 2,000 at double occupancy. No details have yet been released on what the ship will look like once she becomes a hotel.
Jurgen Bailom, the President and CEO of brand new cruise line Cordelia Cruises, recently announced the purchase of former Royal Caribbean cruise ship Empress of the Seas.
Cordelia Cruises, a continuation of the recently shut down Jalesh Cruises, will be operating the vessel in the Indian Luxury market. Last month, Jalesh Cruises suspended all of its operations and sold its vessel MV Karnika for scrap.
Two Ships Sold- One Known Destination
Empress of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas had been sold to a buyer in the Asia Pacific. Whether or not Majesty of the Seas will also be announced as a new addition remains unclear. What is certain is that Jurgen Bailom has announced that a second vessel will be confirmed soon:
“We are working on adding a second ship to the luxury line; the details of which will be shared in due course of time”
The company has set a course to be the exclusive luxury brand explicitly marketed for the Indian Luxury Market.
Cordelia cruises are owned by a company called Waterways Leisure Tourism Private Ltd., which, according to the statement on Linkedin, has also recently acquired the rights to shut down Jalesh Cruises. Waterways Leisure Tourism Private Ltd. has only existed since November 2, 2020.
Jalesh Cruises Demise Was Shocking
Jalesh Cruises’ downfall, which existed only since January 2019, really came as no surprise. While the pandemic caused the line to suspend its voyages with its sole vessel MV Karnika, there was not much time to build a brand in any case.
With mounting debts, the vessel was shut down entirely, while 60 crew members on board the vessel had to deal with a lack of fuel, power, and basic necessities. At the time, the statement from the company, after stating it was waiting for the delayed response from the Indian High Court, said the following,
“Unfortunately, due to this delay, the ship’s crew live in poor conditions with no fuel, power, etc. We are hoping to get the crew members signed off and relieve them so that they can go home as soon as the legal formalities are completed.”
Whether it is the case now is speculation; however, a tried and tested procedure for shipping companies is to bankrupt one company and continue with a hastily formed new company, as a result of this avoiding having to pay debts, salaries, etc.
Whatever the background on the company itself, the statement from Jurgen Bailom further stated that the company would build upon the legacy of Jalesh Cruises:
“I look forward to your support in continuing the legacy of Jalesh cruises in upholding the spirit, culture, and value of “incredible India” and being the evangelist of ‘Joy’ by curating memorable cruise holiday that delight customers by bringing happiness in their lives.”
The company will, at the very least, have a great ship to begin operations with. Built-in 1989 for Admiral Cruises under the name Future Seas, after the merger with Royal Caribbean, the vessel was re-named Nordic Empress and re-named again in 2004 to Empress of the Seas.
After being added to the Pullmantur fleet in 2008, she was named Empress, while in 2016, she was brought back again to Royal Caribbean.
Before being sold to Cordelia Cruises, the vessel was the oldest in the Royal Caribbean fleet. Measuring 210 meters long and weighing in at 48,562 GT, she was also one of the smallest, with a guest capacity of 1840 passengers.
Which cruise ships are being scrapped or sold directly due to the suspension of cruise operations and the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the cruise industry?
Cruise Ships Bring Scrapped or Sold
With cruise lines around the world pausing operations due to the health crisis, it’s impacting the industry hard. Cruise lines are putting their ships in cold lay-up and have repatriated thousands of crew members to help reduce costs and ride out these difficult times.
We’ll be keeping an eye on the cruise ships that are being sold or scrapped as cruise lines adjust their operations moving forward. We already know that the Carnival Corporation has announced a total of 18 vessels will be disposed of across its nine cruise brands. The list below will be constantly updated on all the latest developments covering many cruise lines.
Majesty of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Even though Royal Caribbean announced earlier during the shut down of cruise operations that they would not be selling any cruise ships, that has now changed. The cruise line has already sold the Sovereign-class vessel to an undisclosed buyer. The good news is that she is not being scrapped and the new owner is set to announce her sailing details at a later date.
Photo Credit: mariakray / Shutterstock.com
Majesty of the Seas is leaving the fleet at the end of December 2020. The ship is over 73,900 gross tons, has a guest capacity of over 2,700 along with over 800 crew members.
Empress of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Royal Caribbean confirmed on December 16 that Empress of the Seas has been sold to a yet to be revealed buyer. The ship is departing the fleet at the end of December 2020. Just like Majesty of the Seas, she is also set to keep sailing under the new owner.
Empress of the Seas was the oldest ship in the fleet and entered service as the Nordic Empress in 1990. Many cruisers have had great memories of the vessel along with Royal Caribbean President Michael Baylay who used to work on the ship.
The Empress-class ship is over 48,500 gross tons and has a guest capacity of over 1,800 along with 600 crew members.
Grand Celebration (Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line)
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is a small cruise line that operated out of West Palm Beach, Florida. The cruise line has been suffering due to the suspension of operations in the United States.
Even though nothing has officially been revealed by the cruise line, the Grand Celebration is likely heading to the scrapyard in India. In fact, the ship seems to already be sailing towards the country.
The ship is well known under the name of Celebration operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She was a popular vessel and part of the Holiday-class of ships that were constructed for the Miami-based cruise line.
Photo By: Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line
Grand Celebration is over 47,000 gross tons and has a guest capacity of over 1,400 along with over 600 international crew members. There’s likely now a limited number of the crew onboard as she’s set to reach her end.
Sea Princess (Princess Cruises)
It came as no surprise that the Sea Princess has been sold to an undisclosed buyer, it was confirmed by the cruise line on September 21, 2020. It’s not yet known what will eventually happen to the Sea Princess. She could still be scrapped or hopefully sail for another cruise line.
Sea Princess has completed six full world cruises since 2013. She has a guest capacity of 2,000 and was the second oldest in the fleet before being disposed of. The Princess cruise ship is 77,499 gross tons and was last refurbished in November 2017.
Sun Princess (Princess Cruises)
Just like her sister ship above, Sun Princess has also been sold to an undisclosed buyer and this was confirmed by the cruise line recently. It’s not yet known what will eventually happen to the Sun Princess as she could still be scrapped by her new buyer.
Photo Credit: liu yu shan / Shutterstock.com
Sun Princess is the first in her class and made her debut in the Caribbean in 1995. She has a guest capacity of 2,000 with a gross tonnage of 77,441. The vessel was last refurbished in July 2018.
Carnival Fascination (Carnival Cruise Line)
Carnival Cruise Line did not make a surprise by announcing that Carnival Fascination had been sold. It came as the cruise ship was already in a long term lay-up and parent company Carnival Corporation had announced even more less efficient cruise ships are being disposed of across its brands.
Photo Credit: Solarisys / Shutterstock.com
With the Fantasy-class ship being sold it could be heading to another cruise line or likely being scrapped at the Aliaga ship breaking facility in Izmir, Turkey. Her sister ships of Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Inspiration, and Carnival Imagination are already being scrapped there.
The Carnival cruise ship was based out of San Juan, Puerto Rico before the pandemic hit and is 70,367 gross tons with a guest capacity of 2,634 at double occupancy along with 920 international crew members.
Carnival Imagination (Carnival Cruise Line)
The Fantasy-class cruise ship is to be scrapped after recently spending time docked in Curacao to offload any important equipment and items. This was the same situation just before sister ships Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration were also scrapped.
Photo By: Carnival Cruise Line
Even though, as of writing this, Carnival Cruise Line has yet to announce the scrapping of Carnival Imagination, the vessel is heading towards the Aliaga ship-breaking facility in Turkey. The route tracking is showing Aliaga as her final destination. She will likely be beached a few days after arriving in Turkey and the remaining crew will disembark.
Black Watch (Fred Olsen Cruises)
The British-based cruise line announced towards the end of August 2020 that Black Watch will be retired. The cruise line has purchased newer ships from Holland America Line named Bolette and Borealis.
Photo By: Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
It is likely the vessel will be scrapped due to her age. She first entered service for Royal Viking Line in 1972 and was constructed in Finland. Since then the ship has been operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Cruise Line and until her retirement, Fred Olsen Cruises. She’s 28,200 gross tons with a guest capacity over 800. It’s not yet known where the ship will be scrapped.
Boudicca (Fred Olsen Cruises)
Just like Black Watch, it was announced by Fred Olsen Cruises that Boudicca is retiring which will likely lead to scrapping due to her age. This comes after the cruise line purchased two newer ships that will replace itineraries and offer greater capacity.
Boudicca entered service for Royal Viking Line in 1972. Since then the ship has been renamed many times including Sunward fir Norwegian Cruise Line until 1993 and Golden princess for Princess Cruises until 1997. In total, she’s been operated by ten different cruise lines including the most recent Fred Olsen Cruises.
The ship is 28,300 gross tons and has a guest capacity of around 900 along with 320 crew members.
Carnival Inspiration (Carnival Cruise Line)
Carnival Cruise Line has not officially announced the Carnival Inspiration is leaving the fleet but it’s pretty much confirmed. The Fantasy-class ship has already been stripped of all her important items and equipment in Curacao and is currently heading for Izmir, Turkey.
The ship will be scrapped at the Aliaga ship breaking facility which is just north of Izmir. She is following sister ship Carnival Fantasy which is also being scrapped. All the details on the Carnival inspiration leaving the fleet can be found here.
Photo Credit: Stories In Light / Shutterstock.com
Carnival Inspiration debuted for Carnival Cruise Line in 1996 and was constructed in Finland which is the same for other ships in her class. She has a gross tonnage of around 70,360 and a guest capacity of over 2,000.
Costa neoRomantica (Costa Cruises)
The oldest Costa cruise ship, which entered service in 1993, has been purchased by Celestyal Cruises. The ship has been sold due to the impact from the suspension of cruise operations and this comes after parent company Carnival Corp announced 13 cruise ships would be disposed of.
Image Via: Celestyal Cruises
MS Amsterdam (Holland America Line)
Amsterdam has been sold to Fred Olsen Cruises which is a mid-ship cruise line in the UK. The vessel has been sold as a pair with sister ship Rotterdam and will be renamed as Bolette. She’ll be refurbished and rebranded before the end of 2020.
Photo Credit: 1000 Words / Shutterstock.com
The cruise ship has a gross tonnage of over 62,700 making her the largest of the four Holland America vessel to be sold. She has a guest capacity of over 1,300 along with 640 crew members.
MS Rotterdam (Holland America Line)
Rotterdam is being sold by Holland America Line along with sister ship Amsterdam to British-based Fred Olsen Cruises. The UK cruise line will rename the ship Borealis and it will join the fleet later in 2020.
Photo Credit: 1AdesiA1 / Shutterstock.com
The Holland America cruise ship entered service in 1997 and has a guest capacity of 1,400 along with 600 crew members. Once Fred Olsen Cruises has updated the vessel some stats may change.
MS Veendam (Holland America Line)
The Veendam cruise ship has been sold to an unknown buyer and will be leaving the Holland America fleet. Parent company Carnival Corp is selling the ship along with Maasdam as a pair.
Photo Credit: pho.stories / Shutterstock.com
The Veendam made her debut for Holland America Line in 1996 and was constructed at the popular Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard in Italy. The ship is over 57,000 gross tons with a guest capacity of over 1,300 along with 560 crew members.
MS Maasdam (Holland America Line)
On July 15 Holland America Line announced it has sold four cruise ships and one of those was MS Maasdam. Currently, the buyer for the vessel along with sister ship Veendam, has not yet been revealed.
Photo Credit: Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock.com
The vessel debuted for Holland America Line in 1993 and is 55,575 gross tons with a passenger capacity of over 1,200 at double occupancy. There is also a capacity for 580 crew members.
Carnival Fantasy (Carnival Cruise Line)
It’s not yet official but extremely likely that Carnival Fantasy, which is currently the oldest ship in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet, will be scrapped. We’ve already reported that important equipment is being taken from the vessel at the cargo dock of Brion Wharf in Willemstad, Curacao.
It’s also been found that Carnival Fantasy’s next final destination is Izmir, Turkey, the region where cruise ships go to be scrapped at the Aliaga ship breaking facility. It will be a sad ending to the popular ship but she is showing her age and Carnival will soon be taking delivery of the new Mardi Gras in February 2021.
Carnival Fantasy entered service in 1990 and has a gross tonnage of 70,367 and a guest capacity of 2,056 at double occupancy. The vessel also has a capacity of 920 crew members but at the moment there is only a limited number onboard.
MS Monarch (Pullmantur Cruises)
The Monarch was operated by Spanish-based Pullmantur Cruises until the cruise line filed for bankruptcy in June 2020. As a result of the cruise line shutting down, the ship was taken control by Royal Caribbean which already partly owned the cruise line.
Photo Credit: Yingna Cai / Shutterstock.com
The ship was previously part of the Royal Caribbean International fleet from 1991 to 2013 and known as Monarch of the Seas. The ship was then sailing for Pullmantur until June 2020. Sadly the vessel is being scrapped at the Aliaga scrapyard in Turkey. She has already been stripped of all the important items in Naples, Italy.
MS Monarch was refurbished for Pullmantur in 2012 and is 73,937 gross tons with a guest capacity of 2,733.
MS Sovereign (Pullmantur Cruises)
The MS Sovereign, which was also part of the Pullmantur Cruises fleet, is being scrapped due to the cruise line filing for bankruptcy in June 2020. The ship has had her valuable and important items removed when it was in Naples, Italy. At the moment the ship is docked in Malta and will be scrapped following sister ship Monarch.
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Sovereign was previously operated by Royal Caribbean International and named Sovereign of the Seas. She was the first in her class and made its debut for Royal Caribbean International in 1988. The ship then started sailing for Pullmantur in 2009, until the cruise line shut down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MS Sovereign was remodeled for Pullmantur in 2008 and is 73,592 gross tons with a guest capacity of 2,733 along with 820 crew members.
MV Horizon (Pullmantur Cruises)
The cruise ship MV Horizon has been known under a handful of different names but the main name Horizon came from the Celebrity Cruises when the cruise line operated the ship from 1990 to 2005. Just like other ships in the Pullmantur fleet, MV Horizon is to be scrapped in Turkey, a sad ending for such an interesting vessel.
Photo Credit: Photomarine / Shutterstock.com
All the important equipment was taken from the vessel in Athens, Greece, and now the ship seems to be awaiting the scrapyard. Royal Caribbean took back control of the ship when Pullmantur filed for reorganization in Spain, which is a form of bankruptcy.
Horizon has also sailed for Island Cruises and Croisieres de France. The ship is 46,811 gross tons with a passenger capacity of 1,442 along with 620 crew members. She was last refurbished to become part of the Pullmantur fleet in 2012.
Oceana (P&O Cruises)
Cruise Hive has already reported that P&O Oceana has been sold by the Carnival-owned cruise line, however, it is not yet known who the buyer is. The good news is that the vessel is not being scrapped and we can hope she will offer cruises again in the future.
Photo Credit: Gail Heaton / Shutterstock.com
P&O Oceana is leaving this month (June 2020) as confirmed by the cruise line. As the vessel was built in 1999, she is fairly new and still has many years to come before heading to any scrapyard. P&O Cruises will also be taking delivery of Iona, a new generation of LNG ships ordered by Carnival. The new ship will no doubt make up for the loss of Oceana once cruises get back to normal in 2021.
P&O Oceana is 77,500 gross tons and has a passenger capacity at over 2,000 along with over 800 crew members.
Costa Victoria (Costa Cruises)
Costa Victoria was the first Carnival-owned cruise ship to be disposed of due to the global health crisis and the suspension of operations. It was a surprising move as the Costa vessel was delivered in 1996 so still had many years to go in its expected service life.
Photo Credit: Shi Yali / Shutterstock.com
The ship was sold to Genova Trasporti Marittimi and there were reports that Costa Victoria was to become a floating hotel for workers at the Cantiere Navale San Giorgio del Porto in Genoa, Italy. Unfortunately, parent company Carnival Corporation needs funds to help ride out these difficult times so Costa Victoria was sold and now to be scrapped.
The Costa cruise ship is over 75,000 gross tons with a guest capacity of over 1,900 at double occupancy along with 766 crew members.
As Galveston is a top vacation destination and a popular cruise port, there’s a huge choice of hotels near Galveston cruise port for cruisers to choose from. We cut through the confusion and list the best hotels for cruisers, including the cheapest and closest places to stay in Galveston.
We also list hotels with cruise shuttle service to and from the port. Some charge a modest fee while other cruise shuttles are complimentary with a “Cruise and Stay” package.
First, a few quick facts about Port of Galveston for cruisers. The port was established in 1825, when Texas was still part of Mexico. It remains one of the oldest ports in the Gulf of Mexico. It is now the 4th busiest cruise port in North America, serving over a million cruisers every year.
The port itself is on the east end of Galveston Island, a 27-mile long barrier island connected to the mainland via the I-45 and the San Luis Pass toll bridge. Most hotels close to Galveston cruise port are found on Galveston Island, so check out our round-up of the most ideal hotels near Galveston cruise port for a pre- or post-cruise stay.
TownePlace Suites Galveston Island is a top Travelers’ Choice with TripAdvisor guests. Enjoy modern comfortable rooms with kitchenettes, free breakfast, pool, and fitness center as well as bicycle rentals for exploring the flat locality along Galveston Seawall.
Distance from port: 7.1 miles
Address: 9540 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 497-2840
Shuttle? No
Springhill Suites
Springhill Suites is one of the most popular hotels near Galveston cruise port with excellent facilities and a family-friendly atmosphere. It has a pool, gym and offers children’s activities. Rooms include bay views, a refrigerator and microwave. You can also enjoy a free breakfast before heading off on your Caribbean cruise.
Distance from port: 3.9 miles
Address: 6303 Broadway St
Phone number: (409) 740-9443
Shuttle? No
Casa del Mar Beachfront Suites
Casa del Mar Beachfront Suites is one of Galveston’s best located hotels. Voted Best Condo Hotel on the Island, it has two pools, business center and balconies overlooking the nearby beach. Rooms have the convenience of a kitchenette making it ideal for longer stays pre- and post cruise.
Distance from port: 4.6 miles
Address: 6102 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: 1-800-392-1205
Shuttle? No
Holiday Inn Express
Another popular chain of all-suite hotels near Galveston cruise port, Holiday Inn Express & Suites ticks all the boxes for cruisers when it comes to beachfront location and amenities. It has 134 rooms with refrigerators, garage parking (fee), pool, fitness center and a complimentary grab-and-go breakfast.
Distance from port: 2.6 miles
Address: 3228 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: 1-900-983-177
Shuttle? No
Beachcomber Inn by the Beach
For a vacation feel before setting off on your cruise, the Beachcomber Inn by the Beach is a boutique budget hotel with pool, free parking, baggage storage and useful post-cruise laundry service. Just one block from the beach, pier and restaurants.
Distance from port: 4.8 miles
Address: 2825 61st St
Phone number: (409) 744-7133
Shuttle? No
Cheapest Hotels near Galveston Cruise Port
Photo By: Carnival Cruise Line
Mariner Inn
The budget Mariner Inn is within easy reach of restaurants and attractions such as the Bishop’s Palace and Bryan Museum. Rooms are clean and comfortable and have some of the best views of any hotels near Galveston cruise port. Excellent value for money.
Distance from port: 1.8 miles
Address: 1602 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 632-2500
Shuttle? No
Pearl Inn
Pearl Inn may not be the most modern hotel but it’s an excellent choice for cruisers looking for budget-friendly accommodation near the cruise port. Rooms are clean and air-conditioned and the resort has an outdoor pool and free parking for guests. It’s a short walk from restaurants, beach and attractions in the East End Historic District.
Distance from port: 1.9 miles
Address: 1002 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 220-3936
Shuttle? No
Best Western Plus Seawall Inn and Suites
Best Western Plus Seawall Inn and Suites is one of the most convenient hotels near Galveston cruise port. Located right at the eastern end of the Seawall, the budget-friendly accommodation includes a range of ocean-view room and suites including some with sofa bed, jetted tub and pillow-top mattress. Rooms have a microwave and refrigerator as well as offering a complimentary breakfast to set you up for the day.
Distance from port: 2.0 miles
Address: 102 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 766-7070
Shuttle? No
Red Roof Plus Galveston Beachfront
A little further from the cruise port, Red Roof Plus Galveston Beachfront has well-appointed rooms with free Wi-fi, air-conditioning, tea/coffee makers and satellite TV. Close to the beach and offering ocean view rooms, this 2-star hotel represents great value for money just a short walk from restaurants, attractions and Galveston pier.
Distance from port: 3.1 miles
Address: 3924 Avenue U, Galveston island
Phone number: (409) 750-9400
Shuttle? No
Rodeway Inn
Definitely worth considering, Rodeway Inn is a little further from Galveston cruise port but it is one of the best value hotels on Galveston Island. It is close to Moody Gardens and the Bayou with an outdoor pool, free parking and complimentary breakfast. Air-conditioned rooms include a tea/coffee maker and refrigerator.
Distance from port: 3.7 miles
Address: 6107 Broadway St
Phone number: (409) 740-2491
Shuttle? No
Closest Hotels near Galveston Cruise Port
Photo: Copyright Cruise Hive
Harbor House Hotel and Marina
Located right on Galveston Wharf with gorgeous bay views, Harbor House Hotel and Marina welcomes cruisers with spacious rooms that include a refrigerator, microwave and Wi-fi. Close to the Strand for shopping and dining, this is one of the closest hotels to Galveston cruise port and convenient for visitors wanting to visit the Seaport Museum and the Tall ship Elissa.
Distance from port: 0.3 miles
Address: No 28 Pier 21, Galveston Island
Phone number: (409) 763-3321
Shuttle? Yes
Tremont House Wyndham Grand
The luxury Tremont House Wyndham Grand Hotelis in the heart of Galveston’s Historic Strand district and conveniently close to the cruise port. Air-conditioned rooms in this historic 1839 building are elegantly furnished. Cruisers will love the Rooftop Bar for views of the cruise ships. There’s also a cafe and upscale restaurant to start your cruise in style.
Distance from port: 0.5 miles
Address: 2300 Ships Mechanic Row
Phone number: (409) 763-0300
Knights Inn Galveston
If you are looking for a no-frills hotel near Galveston cruise port, check out the budget priced Knights Inn Galveston. This 2-star hotel offers basic air-conditioned rooms with microwave and refrigerator as well as Wi-Fi and free breakfast. It’s just one mile from the cruise port too!
Distance from port: 1.0 miles
Address: 3008 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 762-0664
Shuttle? No
Luxury Hotels near Galveston Cruise Port
San Luis Resort
The San Luis Resort is a modern luxury resort with spa and conference center. It is one of the finest beachfront hotels in Galveston near the cruise port. Relax and enjoy the pool, lounge bar and family entertainment or spend the day at the beach nearby. The resort is AAA four diamond rated and is close to the fishing pier.
Distance from port: 4.0 miles
Address: 5222 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 744-1500
Shuttle? Yes
Hotel Galvez and Spa Wyndham Grand
Treat yourself to a stay at the upscale Hotel Galvez and Spa Wyndham Grand and extend your cruise vacation with a romantic break. This upscale Travelers Choice hotel near Galveston cruise port has 224 luxury ocean-view rooms, a gorgeous lagoon pool with lounge chairs as well as a full-service spa, fitness center and business center. Rent bicycles to explore the beachfront from this National Trust Historic Hotel of America which has been awarded a four diamond ranking by AAA.
Distance from port: 1.5 miles
Address: 2024 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 765-7721
Shuttle? Yes
Hotels near Galveston Cruise Port with Stay and Cruise Parking Package
Photo: Copyright Cruise Hive
Four Points by Sheraton
Overlooking the gulf, the Four Points by Sheraton pampers guests with a lounge bar, business center, pool and beachfront location. Air-conditioned rooms have quality linens, tea/coffee makers and ocean views. They also offer competitively priced cruise packages including a night’s stay and parking for the duration of your cruise.
Distance from port: 1.6 miles
Address: 2300 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 974-4796
Shuttle? Yes
Beachfront Palms
Beachfront Palms is a mid-priced hotel close to the convention center with beach and Gulf views. Guests can enjoy free Wi-Fi, the outdoor pool and a tasty free breakfast. Rooms were remodeled in 2019 with 50” TVs including HBO plus a microwave and refrigerator.
This popular Galveston hotel offers free cruise parking for guests staying one or more nights. They do not include shuttle transfers to the cruise port but will arrange a local taxi which costs about $8 per person.
Distance from port: 4.5 miles
Address: 5914 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 740-1261
Shuttle service? Yes (third party, fee)
Galveston Hotels with Free Cruise Shuttle
Gaido’s Seaside Inn
Gaido’s Seaside Inn tempts visitors with many free extras making this a great value place to stay, park and cruise. Enjoy a morning dip in the beautiful outdoor pool. Guests can arrange free parking for the duration of their cruise and complimentary transfers to the port as well. Gaido’s is known for its hot breakfast muffins, pancakes, waffles and eggs made from scratch. You’ll be chilled out before your cruise begins!
Distance from port: 2.5 miles
Address: 3700 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 761-5500
Shuttle? Yes
Hotels near Galveston Cruise Port with Shuttle for a Fee
Photo: Russell Otway (Copyright Cruise Hive)
Country Inn and Suites by Radisson
The modern Country Inn and Suites by Radisson is a mid-range hotel with excellent amenities at an affordable price. Guests enjoy free parking, breakfast, lobby coffee and use of the indoor pool and fitness center. Close to Moody Gardens and the beach, it has ocean view rooms.
Distance from port: 2.7 miles
Address: 2818 R 1/2, Galveston
Phone number: (409) 763-5000
Shuttle? Yes
Homewood Suites by Hilton
Homewood Suites by Hilton is another well-located hotel for cruisers with lots of added benefits including rooms with kitchenette, microwave and refrigerator. Guests have free parking and a tasty breakfast as well as children’s activities. There’s a fitness center, pool and shuttle bus service and it’s just steps from the sandy beach. Beat that!
Distance from port: 2.1 miles
Address: 110 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 497-2831
Shuttle? Yes
La Quinta Inn Galveston East Beach
La Quinta Inn Galveston East Beach is a mid-range hotel near Galveston cruise port that has contemporary rooms that include Wi-Fi and a complimentary breakfast. It has an outdoor pool and free parking for guests. It also offers a shuttle service to both the airport and cruise port.
Distance from port: 1.8 miles
Address: 1402 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 763-1224
Shuttle? Yes
DoubleTree by Hilton
The gorgeous DoubleTree by Hilton is located on the Seawall overlooking the beach close to Galveston Island’s Pleasure Pier. Most rooms and suites have ocean views making this one of the most appropriate hotels near Galveston cruise port for cruise passengers to stay. The hotel has a pool, lounge bar and fitness room and is close to the beach.
Distance from port: 1.6 miles
Address: 1702 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 762-4141
Shuttle? Yes
Port of Galveston Hotels FAQs:
What hotel is truly the closest to the Galveston cruise port?
The closest hotel to Galveston cruise port is the luxury Harbor House Hotel and Marina at Pier 21. It is just 0.3 miles from the cruise terminal and close to the Strand for shopping and dining.
Is there a hotel that is walking distance to the Port of Galveston?
There are several hotels within walking distance of Galveston cruise port including Harbor House Hotel (5 minutes), Tremont House (6 minutes) and Knights Inn (12 mins).
What hotels in Galveston offer cruise parking?
There are several hotels near Galveston cruise port offering cruise parking packages. Comfort Inn and Suites on Seawall Blvd is hard to beat for free cruise parking for guests.
What hotels near Galveston cruise port have free shuttle?
Gaido’s Seaside Inn offers free cruise parking for guests and complimentary shuttle transfers. Alternatively, consider Beachfront Palms, at 5914 Seawall Blvd which offers free cruise parking and will arrange transfers with a local taxi company for a fee.
What is the best area to stay in Galveston?
The best area to stay in Galveston is around the Historic Strand District. This downtown area has excellent shopping, restaurants and nightclubs as well as the Pier 21 theater, Seaport Museum and the three-masted Tall Ship Elissa.
