COVID-19 Cruise Ship Decommissions - Cruising Earth

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COVID-19 Cruise Ship Decommissions

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the global cruise industry, leading to significant financial losses, operational disruptions, and a decline in passenger demand. As a result, many cruise ships were either fast-tracked into early retirement or unexpectedly decommissioned. This page provides a comprehensive list of these cruise ships, detailing their names, specifications, years of service, reasons for decommissioning, and their final fates—whether they were scrapped, repurposed, or laid up indefinitely. Explore how the pandemic reshaped the cruise industry by accelerating the end of service for these iconic vessels.

(Decommissioned ships listed alphabetically by ship name.)

  • 1

    Cruise & Maritime Voyages
    Astor
    Astor - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2020

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap (1.7 million USD) and was beached in Aliağa, Turkey on November 24, 2020. A COVID-19 Pandemic related loss.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1987 / 32 years
    Gross Tonnage: 20,704 GT
    Length: 578.20 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 650
    Crew Capacity: 300

  • 2

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
    Black Watch
    Black Watch - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2020

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap in 2020. Still awaiting scrapping. It could possible be resold and brought back into service.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1972 / 47 years
    Gross Tonnage: 28,613 GT
    Length: 674.10 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 820
    Crew Capacity: 270

  • 3

    Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
    Boudicca
    Boudicca - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2020

    Decomm Note
    In April 2021 she was sold for scrap. On May 17, 2021 the ship was beached in Aliağa for scrapping. She started to be dismantled on July 10, 2021.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1973 / 47 years
    Gross Tonnage: 28,372 GT
    Length: 679.00 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 900
    Crew Capacity: 320

  • 4

    Carnival Cruise Line
    Carnival Fantasy
    Carnival Fantasy - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2020

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap and was beached in Aliağa, Turkey in July 2020. A COVID-19 Pandemic related loss.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1990 / 30 years
    Gross Tonnage: 70,367 GT
    Length: 855.00 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 2,052
    Crew Capacity: 920

  • 5

    Carnival Cruise Line
    Carnival Imagination
    Carnival Imagination - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2020

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap and was beached in Aliağa, Turkey in August 2020. A COVID-19 Pandemic related loss.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1995 / 25 years
    Gross Tonnage: 70,367 GT
    Length: 855.00 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 2,056
    Crew Capacity: 920

  • 6

    Carnival Cruise Line
    Carnival Inspiration
    Carnival Inspiration - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2020

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap and was beached in Aliağa, Turkey in July 2020. A COVID-19 Pandemic related loss.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1996 / 23 years
    Gross Tonnage: 70,367 GT
    Length: 855.00 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 2,054
    Crew Capacity: 920

  • 7

    Carnival Cruise Line
    Carnival Sensation
    Carnival Sensation - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2022

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap (11M USD) and beached in Aliağa, Turkey on April 5, 2022. A COVID-19 Pandemic related loss.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1993 / 28 years
    Gross Tonnage: 70,367 GT
    Length: 855.00 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 2,056
    Crew Capacity: 920

  • 8

    Celestyal Cruises
    Celestyal Experience
    Celestyal Experience - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2021

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap in September 2021. Sailed to the Gadani Ship Breaking Yard in Pakistan for scrapping and beached on December 3rd, 2021.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1993 / 27 years
    Gross Tonnage: 53,049 GT
    Length: 721.80 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 1,578
    Crew Capacity: 662

  • 9

    Century Cruises
    Century Harmony
    Century Harmony - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2021

    Decomm Note
    In October 2021, Century Harmony was sold to Nina Services Corp, managed in Singapore, for demolition. She arrived at a scrapyard in Gadani, Pakistan on February 9, 2022 and beached on February 18, 2022.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1994 / 27 years
    Gross Tonnage: 70,538 GT
    Length: 855.00 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 2,056
    Crew Capacity: 980

  • 10

    Costa Cruises
    Costa Victoria
    Costa Victoria - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2020

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap and arrived in Piombino, Italy on June 23, 2020. A COVID-19 Pandemic related loss.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1996 / 24 years
    Gross Tonnage: 75,166 GT
    Length: 826.80 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 2,394
    Crew Capacity: 766

  • 12

    Portuscale Cruises
    Funchal
    Funchal - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2021

    Decomm Note
    In 2021, Brock Pierce bought the 60 years old ship Funchal, which was laid up in Lisbon for 8 years. He spent $8.3 million USD (Purchase $1.9 million USD + Refurbishing $6.4 million USD) to refurbish the ship with 200 rooms into a floating 5-star hotel.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1961 / 59 years
    Gross Tonnage: 9,563 GT
    Length: 501.00 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 524
    Crew Capacity: 155

  • 13

    Mano Maritime
    Gold Club
    Gold Club - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2022

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap and was beached in Aliağa, Turkey on July 11, 2022. A COVID-19 Pandemic related loss.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1977 / 45 years
    Gross Tonnage: 16,852 GT
    Length: 541.00 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 959
    Crew Capacity: 350

  • 14

    Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line
    Grand Celebration
    Grand Celebration - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2020

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap and was beached in Aliağa, Turkey in January 2021. A COVID-19 Pandemic related loss.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1987 / 33 years
    Gross Tonnage: 47,262 GT
    Length: 733.00 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 1,800
    Crew Capacity: 575

  • 15

    Pullmantur Cruises
    Horizon
    Horizon - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2022

    Decomm Note
    Following the collapse of Pullmantur in June 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ship was laid up in the Mediterranean. After 2 years and no offers Horizon was eventually beached in and scraped in Aliağa, Turkey in August 2022.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1990 / 32 years
    Gross Tonnage: 46,811 GT
    Length: 682.00 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 1,828
    Crew Capacity: 620

  • 16

    Jalesh Cruises
    Karnika
    Karnika - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2020

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap and was beached in Alang, India. A COVID-19 Pandemic related loss.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1990 / 29 years
    Gross Tonnage: 70,285 GT
    Length: 804.00 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 2,014
    Crew Capacity: 621

  • 17

    Cruise & Maritime Voyages
    Magellan
    Magellan - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2020

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap and was beached in Alang, India on January 30, 2021. A COVID-19 Pandemic related loss.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1985 / 35 years
    Gross Tonnage: 46,052 GT
    Length: 728.00 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 1,452
    Crew Capacity: 660

  • 18

    Cruise & Maritime Voyages
    Marco Polo
    Marco Polo - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2020

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap and was beached in Aliağa, Turkey on January 6, 2021. A COVID-19 Pandemic related loss.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1965 / 54 years
    Gross Tonnage: 22,080 GT
    Length: 578.35 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 915
    Crew Capacity: 356

  • 19

    Marella Cruises
    Marella Celebration
    Marella Celebration - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2020

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap in 2020 and awaiting a beaching slot in Aliağa, Turkey. A COVID-19 Pandemic related loss.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1984 / 36 years
    Gross Tonnage: 33,933 GT
    Length: 704.20 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 1,350
    Crew Capacity: 520

  • 20

    Marella Cruises
    Marella Dream
    Marella Dream - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2020

    Decomm Note
    Sold to Turkish shipbreakers and laid up at Perama, Greece. A Covid-19 Pandemic related loss.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1986 / 34 years
    Gross Tonnage: 54,763 GT
    Length: 798.00 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 1,506
    Crew Capacity: 600

  • 21

    Pullmantur Cruises
    Monarch
    Monarch - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2020

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap and was beached in Aliağa, Turkey on July 22, 2020. A COVID-19 Pandemic related loss.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1991 / 28 years
    Gross Tonnage: 73,937 GT
    Length: 880.40 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 2,744
    Crew Capacity: 803

  • 22

    Phoenix Reisen
    MS Albatros
    MS Albatros - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2020

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap and was beached in Alang, India on July 27, 2021. A COVID-19 Pandemic related loss.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1973 / 47 years
    Gross Tonnage: 28,518 GT
    Length: 674.10 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 812
    Crew Capacity: 286

  • 23

    Peace Boat
    Ocean Dream
    Ocean Dream - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2021

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap and was beached in Alang, India on January 1, 2021. A COVID-19 Pandemic related loss.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1982 / 38 years
    Gross Tonnage: 36,674 GT
    Length: 671.80 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 1,412
    Crew Capacity: 550

  • 25

    Abou Merhi Cruises
    Orient Queen
    Orient Queen - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2020

    Decomm Note
    Began listing and capsized after the ammonium nitrate explosion in Beirut Harbor on August 4, 2020.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1989 / 31 years
    Gross Tonnage: 7,478 GT
    Length: 423.00 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 370
    Crew Capacity: 153

  • 26

    Pullmantur Cruises
    Sovereign
    Sovereign - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2020

    Decomm Note
    Sold for scrap and was beached in Aliağa, Turkey on July 23, 2020. A COVID-19 Pandemic related loss.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1988 / 32 years
    Gross Tonnage: 73,529 GT
    Length: 880.31 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 2,850
    Crew Capacity: 820

  • 27

    Star Cruises
    SuperStar Libra
    SuperStar Libra - Decommissioned
    Decommissioned
    2021

    Decomm Note
    On November 3, 2021 she was moved by tugs to a nearby berth in Wismar Harbour to be prepared for scrap in Turkey.
    Ship Statistics
    In Service: 1988 / 33 years
    Gross Tonnage: 42,275 GT
    Length: 709.00 Feet
    Passenger Capacity: 1,480
    Crew Capacity: 740

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