All passenger staterooms (designed by Tillberg Design of Sweden) are stylishly decorated, with premium bedding sets (Egyptian cotton linens, 6 pillows), bedside cabinets, wall-mounted reading lamps, writing desk (direct-dial phone, magnifying mirror, power outlets, USB charger), two armchairs, coffee table, wall-mounted HDTV, modern entertainment systems, large wardrobes, spacious bathrooms (WC-toilet, shower, single-sink vanity), individually/thermostat-controlled air conditioning. Norwegian Dream sailed for Norwegian Cruise Line until 2008, when it was laid up until its 2012 transfer to Star Cruises. Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson Cruises) is a British cruise line operated by TUI UK, offering cruise holidays around Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia. The latter was scrapped in 2017, but Holiday continued to sail on as Magellan for now-defunct Cruise and Maritime Voyages. Cruise & Maritime Voyages purchased Pacific Pearl in 2017 and renamed it Columbus. Cruise Critic will update this article as more details become available. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Horizon managed to avoid the breakfers for two years, but was finally beached in late August 2022. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The car deck was turned into a passenger deck. At the end of December 2015, Sweden's migration agency signed a hotel ship deal to house 1260 refugees on the chartered cruise ship Ocean Gala. The 1982-built MS Ocean Gala cruise ship (best known as "MS Island Escape") was constructed by Dubigeon Normandie SA (Nantes France) as the world's biggest cruiseferry at the time. So, the vessel could be recycled there, but its a totally different market. Rolston was later convicted of her murder. The fully equipped Hair and Beauty Salon offers all of hair, body and beauty treatments. Cruise line: Double occupancy/max occupancy: 1512 / 1863 Crew: 610 Year built: 1982 Tonnage: 40130 Length overall: 607ft (185m) Beam: 89ft (27m) Draught: 24ft (7.3m) Cruising speed: 18 knots It was when she was at this point in her service life, 1991, that she went under her final transformation to a single purpose cruise ship and no longer a cruiseferry. In February 2022, Carnival announced that Ecstasy would take over itineraries from Mobile for Carnival Sensation before being removed from the fleet in October 2022. Kanesaki was murdered in the same manner as Karen Waltz 18 years earlier. Following the collapse of Pullmantur in June 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ship was laid up in the Mediterranean. History [ edit ] The company had initially entered the cruise market in 1973, but due to rising fuel costs the venture was terminated in 1976. In February 2016, Migrationsverket (the Swedish Migration Agency) announced it was close to signing a deal with US Shipmanagers charter company to bring Ocean Gala to Sweden. Bahamas Paradise confirmed to Cruise Critic that Grand Celebration had been sold. Marella Celebration's sister-ship, Marella Spirit (the former Nieuw Amsterdam) was scrapped in 2018. The concept wasn't entirely a success, and despite refitting the ship again to tone down the loud doses of orange decor, EasyCruise One was removed from service in 2008. Island Escape Cruises NZ cancels 12-day Wild West Coast voyage from Broome (Kimberley, Western VARD Vietnam Shipyard (Vung Tau, Vietnam). US Shipbrokers managed the vessel's sale in 2015 and became its commercial management firm. Build a pink sandcastle in Bermuda. What Made It Special: Grand Celebration was launched in 1987 as Carnival Cruise Line's Celebration. After a four-year stint with Iberocruceros, it was purchased by UK-based Cruise & Maritime Voyages in 2015 and renamed Magellan. The certified Helideck (deck 4's/topdeck's aft-positioned helipad) is used for landings of helicopters serving the company's heli-transfers between the yacht and homeport. Ocean and Solo cabins are on Lower Deck (Ocean Deck/deck 2), while the Owner's and Horizon cabins are on Upper Deck (Horizon Deck/deck 3). The number of cruise vessels removed from the worldwide fleet in 2020 was so high that scrap yards have been struggling to keep up with the demand especially when the vessels are registered in the European Union and, therefore, have to comply with stricter regulations. As to marine technologies, the vessel is SOLAS-certified and fitted with the latest-model stabilizers, dynamic positioning system (allows the ship to be stationary without dropping the anchors thus preventing the seabed from damage), fuel-efficient diesel engines, diesel-electric propulsion system, modern HRV/waste-heat recovery system (using the engines' heat for heating the water used in cabin showers and in the galley/kitchen), catalytic converters (reducing NOx emissions to ~90%). ISLAND ESCAPE CRUISES The Spirit of The South Pacific Our Destinations Kimberley - Australia May - September 2022 Broome to Broome Kimberley - Australia September 2022 Broome to Darwin Tropical North Queensland - Australia October 2022 Ultimate Fiordland - New Zealand December 2022 - March 2023 Tahiti April - June 2023 South Pacific Coming in 2023 The vessel was last operated by the Japan-based Peace Boat Organization as the Ocean Dream. Fares for the Ultimate Fiordland cruise started from NZD 13950 (~USD 8750 / GBP 7240) per person with double occupancy (2022 currency exchange rates), and are inclusive of overnight hotel and breakfast (in Queenstown), 9-night cruising (on the yacht Island Escape), as well as 2x helicopter transfers. At the time of her construction, she was the largest cruiseferry in the world. The food was awful, but the entertainment was good, and the captain was very funny, but in the whole it was just like a glorified ferry. You can imagine the uproar on the ship! Photos of abandoned, stripped cruise ships show how deeply the cruise industry is sinking. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Breaking Yard: Alang, India. [19] The next port turned out to be Khalifa, Abu Dhabi, for continued service. The vessel ISLAND ESCAPE (IMO: 9903994, MMSI 538009093) is a Passenger (Cruise) Ship built in 2021 (2 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Marshall Islands . Other onboard amenities include gift shops, video arcade, internet caf, swimming pool, sports deck, Infirmary/medical center. But Crown Princess was rendered outdated by the introduction in 1995 of Sun Princess and in 1998 by the huge Grand Princess. If it looks similar to another ship regularly based in the UK, that's because the ship was built to almost mirror the Astor of 1981, which most recently sailed as Saga Pearl II for Saga Cruises. In 1991, the ship was renamed Marco Polo; an iconic moniker it would keep with it for the next three decades despite changing operators several times. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. What Made It Special: Few people likely sailed Ocean Dream during the eight years it spent sailing for Japan-based Peace Boat, but more likely know it from its past life as Carnival Cruise Line's trendsetting Tropicale. The ship had a long career with Carnival, serving until 2009 with the line and acting as relief housing during Hurricane Katrina. Ships at the end of their lives are considered hazardous waste and it is. The ship's main dining options included The Oasis Restaurant (waiter service, a-la-carte priced menu, cover charge applied, reservations required) and The Island Restaurant (serving British and International buffets, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner). Island Escape docked at Ajaccio, Corsica. Details for the ship Island Escape , IMO 8002597, Passenger ship, Position Mediterranean Sea with current real time AIS position and ship photos by vesseltracker.com. The 1800-passenger ship Island Escape was sold by Thomson Cruises to Cruise Holdings Inc (a consortium of South Florida-based investors) in December 2015. The vessel joined Thomsons fleet in April 2009. The other sad consequence of the pandemic is that many relatively young cruise ships are getting scrapped. She was built in 1982 by Dubigeon-Normandie S.A., Nantes, France for Scandinavian World Cruises (a subsidiary of DFDS) as the cruiseferry MS Scandinavia. What Made It Special: Cruise fans will remember SuperStar Aquarius better as Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Wind. MS Island Escape had 3x restaurants, two of them buffet-style. Norwegian Dream also had the unfortunate notoriety of being involved in a dramatic collision in 1999 with the cargo ship Ever Decent in the English Channel. TUI Group, which owns Marella, would not comment at the time on whether the ship would be sold to another line or sent to the breakers. Carnival Inspiration, at the time the latest in the line's class of "SuperLiners", brought Art Nouveau touches to public rooms like the Paris Lounge, while the Rhapsody in Blue piano bar offered ebony and stone panelling offset by aqua accents. Tropicale was in service with Carnival until 2000, when it was transferred to Costa Cruises as Costa Tropicale. Island Cruises was a cruise line that was founded as a joint venture between Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and First Choice Travel PLC, each of whom owned 50% of the company. The cruise line has nothing to do anymore with the vessel. Initially, permission was sought for a 4 year stint 20162020 in the Harbour of Hrnsand. Happy Father's Day to all you Island Dads! To honor the ships that have met their ultimate fate, here is some history on nine vessels that got scrapped in 2020. This is why her stern is so angular and steep. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Carnival Fantasy Carnival Fantasy Debut Date: March 1990 Sailed For:. Cunard Princess was sold to MSC Cruises in 1995, where it enjoyed a 14-year career with the popular European cruise line as their Rhapsody. The third in a trio of newbuilds for Carnival, Celebration was part of the Holiday Class that would later pave the way for the highly successful (and somewhat similarly-designed) Fantasy Class. Your personal data will be processed and information from your device (cookies, unique identifiers, and other device data) may be stored by, accessed by and shared with third party vendors, or used specifically by this site or app. If it hadn't been for I.E. 7-day round-trip from Palma de Mallorca -Tue Oct 13 (Palma de Mallorca, departing), Thu Oct 15 08:00am to 04:00pm (Olbia), Fri Oct 16 08:00am to 06:00pm (Naples), Sat Oct 17 07:00am to 07:00pm (Civitavecchia (Rome)), Sun Oct 18 08:00am to 05:00pm (Calvi), Mon Oct 19 12:00pm to 07:00pm (Port Mahon), Tue Oct 20 (Palma de Mallorca, arrive). Just updated! After months off Suez as channel workers floating accommodation and calls at Limassol she finally passed through the canal on 2 May 2017, heading down the Red Sea, it was speculated she was heading to Alang for Scrapping. Built: 2020/2021. Rupert Neate. By late-August, the first cuts were being made to Carnival Fantasy's bow, and by early 2021 the ship was gone. Star Pisces was sold for scrap due to the collapse of Star Cruises' parent company, Genting Hong Kong, in 2022. Olsen Cruise Lines in 1996 and renamed Black Watch. Note: In 2021 was launched the 30-passenger superyacht Island Escape, owned by the New Zealand-based company and travel brand Island Escape Cruises Ltd. sector Watersports equipment (water toys/kayaks and paddle boards), snorkeling and fishing gear are also provided complimentary. What Made It Special: Built for Celebrity Cruises in 1992 as the sister-ship to Horizon, Zenith was famous for its distinctive style. MV Ocean Gala cruise ship was built for Scandinavian World Cruises (DFDS) as "ms Scandinavia". Much was made about it and sister-ship Regal Princess (1991), which both had distinctive "domes" situated above their navigation bridges. Why not join the UKs largest cruising forum? She then relocated to Scandinavia and sailed on their flagship route Oslo-Copenhagen. Note: Between 2002-2015, "MS Island Escape" was named the 1982-built cruise liner Scandinavia (IMO 8002597), Alang India-scrapped in 2018 as "MS Ocean Gala". In May 2022, the ship was confirmed sold for scrap following the bankruptcy of Genting Hong Kong's cruise holdings, which included Star Cruises and luxury brand Crystal Cruises. Like Monarch, it was stripped of all valuable fittings in Genoa in June 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 1990 when Admiral was merged into Royal Caribbean, she was transferred to Wallenius Wilhelmsen which is owned owned by the Wilhelmsen family who are the largest shareholder in Royal Caribbean and instrumental in their founding. In April 2009, the ship joinedThomson UK (now Marella Cruises)as "Island Escape". A piece of Carnival Ecstasy -- a vintage roadster -- will live on. [11], In February 2016, Ocean Gala was offered as a floating accommodation facility through the website Floating Accommodations, managed by US Shipmanagers, a Florida company[12] and it was announced that the Swedish Migration Agency have signed a contract to use the Ocean Gala as an asylum hotel for 1790 asylum seekers. It was never a trendsetting ship, however; as years went on it lacked the bells-and-whistles of the newer Norwegian vessels but found a home in Asia operating voyages for Star Cruises. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. She became MS Island Escape in 2002 being renamed once more as MS Ocean Gala in 2015. A quick and confident return of demand is paramount for the industry to rebound; otherwise, we should expect to see further delays and removals in an attempt to balance things out, VesselsValues cargo analyst, Guy Cooper, told Cruise Industry News. Monarch, together with older sister Sovereign, were reportedly stripped of their interior fittings and artwork in Genoa. Whether you're a veteran cruiser or looking to set sail on the sea for the first time, everyone is welcome on our forum to participate in the hottest conversations in the cruising world. She is headed to India and will arrive at the scrap yard in Alang at the end of the month. Floating Accommodations claimed that a sale might be necessary to cover losses they would incur if Migrationsverket failed to pay a SEK 54M kronor (USD 6,44M) bill the company had sent to the agency for the costs of running the vessel. Chatziginnis said the average scrap value in India is $400 per ton. Island Escape Cruises NZ (Small Cruise Lines), Island Escape cruise ship arrested in Broome WA, unable to restart sailings. Photo: Peace Boat, Sovereign departing Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, at sunset (Photo: Aaron Saunders/Cruise Critic), SuperStar Aquarius, the ex-Norwegian Wind (Photo: Star Cruises), SuperStar Gemini, the ex-Norwegian Dream (Photo: Star Cruises). Get expert advice, insider tips and more. What Made It Special: The third Fantasy Class cruise ship ordered by Carnival, Sensation debuted in 1993 and served the line for nearly three decades. What Made It Special: Debuting in 1993, Celestyal Experience started life as Costa Romantica, and was later renamed Costa neoRomantica to coincide with a sweeping refit of the vessel in November 2021 that added new cabins, additional balconies, and refitted public rooms. Nothing about the last few years has been normal as the world continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. [15][16], According to media, the compensation from the Swedish Migration Agency at SEK450/asylum seeker would generate SEK805,500/day if the asylum hotel was operated at full capacity.[17]. By continuing to use our website you agree to our The government agency was in a race to find new beds before spring when winter contracts signed with hundreds of hotels and campsites to house asylum seekers expire. What Made It Specia: Columbus started life as an order for Sitmar Cruises that was converted into a newbuild for Princess Cruises after the latter swallowed up Sitmar in the late 1980's. Peter Bissett, who launched Island Escape Cruises in New Zealand in 2006, sold the original 24-passenger catamaran, Island Passage, in 2018. And thereafter, we are arranging the transportation from point A to point B, Chatziginnis said. A Weekly Round-Up Of Worldwide Cruise Ship News, Allure of the Seas Cruise Ship to Make Oasis-Class Debut in Galveston, Out to Sea: Keeping Tabs on the Global Cruise Fleet, P&O Cruises Restarts Cruising For First Time in 15 Months on Britannia, Another Big Week for Cruising in England as More Ships Set Sail, Arrive For Restart, Karnika, ex Crown Princess of 1990, at the breakers (Photo: Peter Knego), Carnival Ecstasy (Photo: Carnival Cruise Line), Carnival Fantasy (Photo: Carnival Cruise Line), Carnival Fascination (Photo: Carnival Cruise Line), Carnival Imagination (Photo: Carnival Cruise Line), Carnival Inspiration TA Listings Page Image, Carnival Sensation (Photo: Carnival Cruise Line), EasyCruise One (Photo: Wikipedia/Creative Commons), Golden iris (Photo: Jebulon / Wikimedia Creative Commons), Karnika at sea. The 10-night "Tropical North Queensland" voyage (priced from NZD 11950 pp) was scheduled for October 2022. She was ordered in 1980 by Dannish ferry operator DFDS as the ms Scandinavia. At this point the end was near. Thomson's Island Cruises brand (presented by the cruise liner Island Escape) was providing an affordable resort-style vacation package with numerous onboard attractions for UK travelers as well as friendly ambience and informal dress code. I doubt that in the last decade, at least, or maybe even more than this, we have seen so many cruise ships being recycled in a year, he added. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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 Cruise.co.uk forum is the perfect place to meet and interact with likeminded cruisers to have invaluable conversations. Greg (he/him) is the founder and editor of CruiseInd. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Since then, shes been trying to find work. She is headed to India and will arrive at the scrap yard in Alang at the end of the month. She was our first initiation into the world of cruising, and now we have the bug, been on 7 cruises now, with many different companies, all Med cruises as we live in Mallorca. The onboard Gym is excellent for resistance and cardio training. (2022). What Made It Special: Based out of Long Beach in recent years, Carnival Imagination was one of the few Fantasy Class vessels to not have been refitted with additional exterior balcony cabins. After a short reprieve, the ship was beached at Alang in late November 2022. Saw it in BCN before we had booked our first cruise, had been looking at it in the Thomsons brochure - then when we saw it decided definitely not, but again wouldn't do if we all wanted the same.