boudicca cruise ship scrapped

Cruise And Ferry

Former Fred Olsen cruiseship Boudicca to be recycled in Turkey

First of a famous Norwegian cruiseship trio hits the beach after accommodation role fails to materialise

Turkish ship recyclers are set to finish off one of two cruiseships that UK-based Fred Olsen Cruise Lines sold for use as accommodation ships in September 2020.

The 28,600-gt Boudicca (built 1973) was beached at Aliaga on Wednesday after spending several month laid up in Turkey alongside identical sistership Black Watch (built 1972).

Its demise marks the beginning of the end of a trio of cruiseships ordered by three prominent Norwegian shipowners that collectively operated them under the banner of Royal Viking Line.

Each of the partners — Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, Nordenfjeldske Dampskibsselskab, and AF Klaveness & Co — owned one ship. The Boudicca was built as Nordenfjeldske’s Royal Viking Sky.

The trio was regarded as being at the top of the cruiseship chain when first built. They went on to have extraordinarily long and successful careers under a variety of different owners and, quite remarkably, were all withdrawn from commercial service at the same time.

Had it not been for the Covid-19 pandemic, they would probably have soldiered on for several more years.

Unfulfilled accommodation role

Fred Olsen offloaded the Boudicca and Black Watch when it was able to purchase two newer, larger ships from Carnival Corp’s Holland America Line brand.

In September, their sale to undisclosed Turkish interests was announced, with the vessels described as heading for new roles as accommodation ships.

They sailed off to Tuzla, but were left anchored off the port until they were laid up at a naval shipyard in Pedik at the end of November.

The identity of the buyers remains unknown, with even the IHS Ships Register and other maritime databases yet to update their listings to reflect their new ownership.

It is unclear whether the Black Watch — built as the Royal Viking Star — will follow the Bouddica onto the beach.

The final ship of the trio — the 28,500-gt Albatros (ex-Royal Viking Sea, built 1973) — was sold last October by German cruise operator Phoenix Reisen to an Egyptian resort company that is currently rebuilding it into a floating hotel in Hurghada.

The Bouddica is the 25th cruiseship sold for recycling since the onset of Covid-19.

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VIDEO: Fred Olsen classic cruise ship Boudicca beached in Alang for scrapping

In scenes that will break many a heart among classic cruise ship enthusiasts, Fred Olsen’s vintage liner Boudicca was run up onto the beach this week to be cut up and sold for scrap.

Boudicca’s final voyage to the scrapyard capped a venerable career, during which the ship sailed many millions of miles under the ownership of seven different cruise lines and carried ten different names.

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She was launched in 1973 as Royal Viking Sky for the luxury cruise line Royal Viking Line, and was sold 18 years later to become Sunward of Norwegian Cruise Line.

During her time with Royal Viking Line, the ship became one of the first to undergo the increasingly popular refit practice of lengthening, in which the vessel is cut in half, a mid-section is inserted, and then the three blocks are welded back together.

The new 30-metre mid-section increased her passenger capacity by 400 to 900, and the additional 7,000-gross tons provided her with more public rooms and amenities. A second swimming pool, an enlarged reception area, and new penthouse suites were also added.

Sunward briefly operated as Birka Queen under charter to Birka Cruise, as well as Golden Princess for Princess Cruises.

The ship was then sold to Star Cruises, who renamed her SuperStar Capricorn. In 1998 SuperStar Capricorn was chartered by Star Cruises to Hyundai Merchant Marine, who renamed the ship Hyundai Keumgang for cruises from South Korea to North Korea, but those operations failed in 2001 and she was returned to Star Cruises.

Boudicca spent 15 years with Fred Olsen Cruise Line

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In 2004, the ship was sold to Iberocruceros and renamed Grand Latino for Mediterranean cruising out of Spain. In 2005, she was sold to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and renamed Boudicca.

Fred Olsen invested significantly in upgrading and renovating the ship, including new engines. In 2018, it sent her back into dry dock for another major refit that was intended to extend her service life for another ten years at least.

All 462 cabins were stripped out and redesigned, along with all her public rooms and dining facilities. However, just two years later the COVID-19 pandemic struck, forcing all the world’s major cruise lines to cease operations globally.

The financial strain of the pandemic forced many to sell older cruise ships, and Boudicca and her fleetmate Black Watch were sold , reportedly to the same buyer (the fate of Black Watch remains unknown).

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Tagged as: Boudicca , Fred Olsen Cruise Line , scrapped

Published by Shaun Ebelthite

Founder and editor of Cruise Arabia & Africa. I try to create the best news and information specifically for cruise passengers taking cruises to and from Dubai (where I live) and South Africa (where I was born). You can contact me at shaun(at)cruisearabiaonline.com. View all posts by Shaun Ebelthite

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Here are all the cruise ships we've lost to the COVID-19 crisis

It's been a tough 12 months for hardcore cruise fans -- and not just because cruising at many lines has been completely shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cruise lovers also have had to grapple with the unexpected news that some of their favorite cruise ships were never coming back.

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Facing a huge drop in revenue due to the cruising hiatus and spiraling financial losses , many of the world's biggest cruise lines over the past year have shed a significant number of ships from their fleets in what amounts to permanent downsizing.

Holland America , for instance, has permanently removed four of its 14 ships since last summer -- a 29% reduction in its fleet size. Princess Cruises since September has removed five ships from its fleet (two of which already had been scheduled to leave). The brand now is down to just 14 vessels.

In a few cases, entire cruise lines -- all relatively small ones -- have shut down permanently , with most or all of their vessels unlikely to ever return to service.

Not all the ships are gone forever

In many cases, the ships that cruise lines have shed from their fleets have been sent to scrapyards to be disassembled. They'll never sail again.

But in some cases, the vessels have been sold to another cruise line or a ferry company. That means that when cruising resumes, they may have a second life operating as a cruise ship or a ferry somewhere else in the world.

One deacquisitioned vessel -- Princess's Sun Princess -- is destined for an even more unusual future. It has been sold to a Japan-based non-government organization (NGO) that runs educational programs designed to promote peace around the world.

One bright spot in all the downsizing for cruise fans is that not all cruise companies have been shedding ships. Among major lines resisting the trend to downsizing -- at least so far -- are Norwegian Cruise Line , MSC Cruises , Oceania Cruises , Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn , Silversea and Celebrity Cruises .

Still, it's been an unprecedented year for fleet downsizing. Here, a look at some of the most notable ships that the cruise world has lost, organized by line:

Carnival Cruise Line

The world's second-biggest cruise line by passenger capacity has shed four of its oldest ships over the past year. All four were from the line's once-iconic Fantasy Class series. The eight ships in the series began debuting in 1990 and for many years were the workhorses of the Carnival fleet, helping the brand grow from a small line into the cruising colossus that it is today.

Carnival Fantasy

Sailing since: 1990

Status: Scrapped

Carnival Fantasy was the first of eight Fantasy Class vessels at Carnival that debuted in the 1990s, innovative for their time. At around 70,000 tons, it was one of the world's largest ships when it first began cruising. But it has been eclipsed over the years by far bigger, more modern vessels with more amenities. By comparison, Carnival's newest ship -- the 5,282-passenger Mardi Gras -- measures 181,808 tons.

Unlike more modern vessels, Carnival Fantasy lacks a large number of balcony cabins -- the type of cabins everyone wants these days. Balcony cabins were much rarer three decades ago when it was built.

Based until recently in Mobile, Alabama, Carnival Fantasy carried 2,052 passengers at double occupancy.

Carnival Fascination

Sailing since: 1994

Status: Sold to Century Harmony Cruise Ltd. (renamed Century Harmony)

Like Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Fascination was a Fantasy Class ship built in the 1990s. For many years, it sailed for Carnival out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, though it originally debuted in New York. It had been scheduled to replace the Carnival Fantasy in Mobile, Alabama, next year.

The ship's new owner, a Chinese company, reportedly plans to turn the vessel into a floating hotel.

Carnival Imagination

Sailing since: 1995

Status : Scrapped

Carnival Imagination was a fixture in recent years in the port of Long Beach, California, where it was based for short, inexpensive getaways to Ensenada, Mexico.

Like Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Fascination, it was one of Carnival's eight Fantasy Class ships. Unlike some of the others, it had been retrofitted over the years with extra balcony cabins. But that wasn't enough to keep it from the scrappers during the past year's downturn.

Like its sisters, Carnival Imagination measured about 70,000 tons and held just over 2,000 passengers, based on double occupancy.

Carnival Inspiration

Sailing since: 1996

Like its recently scrapped sister ship Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration was most recently based at the Port of Long Beach in California, and it was a favorite among Californians looking for an inexpensive short getaway. Like Carnival Imagination, it sailed quick trips to Mexico.

Carnival Inspiration carried 2,056 passengers, based on double occupancy, and measured about 70,000 tons.

Holland America

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted Holland America's managers to cut back the line's fleet sharply. In all, the brand has lost four ships over the past year -- nearly a third of the vessels it operated at the start of 2020.

With their departures, Holland America now only has 10 ships -- fewer than it has had in many years. That said, Holland America is scheduled to get its 11th ship later this year with the debut of the 2,668-passenger Rotterdam. Currently under construction at a shipyard in Italy, the vessel was ordered long before the coronavirus crisis began. It'll take the place of a ship of the same name that was one of the four that left the fleet in recent months.

The four vessels that have left the Holland America fleet over the past year include its three oldest vessels — Maasdam, Veendam and Rotterdam. All were built in the 1990s.

Sailing since: 1992

Status: Sold to Seajets (renamed Aegean Myth)

Maasdam's small size -- it measured just 55,000 tons and carried 1,258 passengers -- made it a favorite in the Holland America fleet among cruisers who like the intimacy of smaller ships. But its small size also made it a prime target for the chopping block. Smaller ships generally are less efficient and less profitable than bigger ships.

Its new owner, Seajets, is a Greek/Cypriot ferry company operating ferry services in the Aegean Sea.

Status: Sold to Seajets (renamed Aegean Majesty)

Like Maasdam, Veendam had a lot of fans at Holland America due to its intimate size. Measuring just 57,000 tons, it was part of the same Statendam Class to which Maasdam belonged, although it held slightly more passengers -- 1,350 at double occupancy.

Like Maasdam, Veendam also was sold to Seajets, the Greek/Cypriot ferry company.

Sailing since: 1997

Status: Sold to Fred. Olsen Cruises (renamed Borealis)

Holland America's flagship up until last year, the 1,404-passenger Rotterdam was the sixth vessel to carry the Rotterdam name at Holland America -- a storied line that has its roots in the 1800s.

Measuring about 61,000 tons, Rotterdam was slightly bigger than Maasdam and Veendam. It was part of the line's somewhat newer Rotterdam class.

Its new owner, Fred. Olsen Cruises, is a British line catering almost entirely to British cruisers.

Sailing since: 2000

Status: Sold to Fred. Olsen Cruises (renamed Bolette)

British line Fred. Olsen Cruises also acquired the 1,380-passenger Amsterdam from Holland America, renaming it Bolette. Together, the two ships are replacing two older, smaller Fred. Olsen vessels (Boudicca and Black Watch) and will take over their itineraries once the line resumes sailings.

The replacement of the two ships is increasing Fred. Olsen's overall capacity by about 30%, making it one of the few lines that actually has grown considerably in size on a passenger capacity basis during the recent cruise industry shutdown.

Princess Cruises

The Princess fleet has undergone a significant downsizing over the past year with five ships departing. Three of the ships — Sun Princess, Sea Princess and Pacific Princess — were sold as part of an effort to cut costs during the coronavirus-caused global shutdown. Two others — Golden Princess and Star Princess — already had been scheduled to leave the Princess fleet even before the coronavirus pandemic began (though their departures were accelerated). As previously planned, Golden Princess and Star Princess were transferred to a Princess sister company, P&O Cruises Australia.

With the departures, Princess is down to just 14 vessels.

Sun Princess

Status: Sold to Peace Boat (renamed Pacific World)

Unveiled in 1995, the 2,000-passenger Sun Princess was the oldest vessel in the Princess fleet and -- at 77,000 tons -- one of the smallest, too. That made it a logical pick for downsizing.

Its new owner, Peace Boat, is a Japan-based international NGO working to promote peace, human rights and sustainability. It offers cruises that have a program centered on experiential learning and intercultural communication.

Sun Princess, notably, had a turn as a TV star. The ship appeared as the backdrop in 1998 and 1999 for 27 episodes of "Love Boat: The Next Wave."

Sea Princess

Sailing since: 1998

Status: Sold to Sanya International Cruise Development Co. Ltd. (renamed Charming)

A sister to Sun Princess, the 2,000-passenger Sea Princess also was one of the oldest and smallest ships in the Princess fleet. Both of the ships were part of the same Sun Class at Princess with vessels that measured around 77,000 tons.

Its new owners, a China-based company, plan to use it to start a new China-based cruise line for domestic cruising.

Pacific Princess

Sailing since: 1999

Status: Sold to investment firm Sycamore Partners to sail for Azamara

Far smaller than any other Princess ship, Pacific Princess had been an outlier in the line's fleet for some time. Measuring just 30,277 tons, it was nearly five times smaller than the latest Princess vessels such as the one-year-old Sky Princess . It holds just 680 passengers at double occupancy — more than 80% fewer than the newest Princess ships.

Built in the late 1990s for long-defunct Renaissance Cruises, Pacific Princess was a sister to seven other "R-class" vessels that now form the core of the fleets of Oceania and Azamara. It's built more for the sort of intimate, smaller-ship, destination-focused cruising that those two lines offer.

Sycamore Partners, which announced plans to buy the ship in January, plans to incorporate it into the Azamara fleet, which it also is in the process of buying .

Note that this Pacific Princess should not be confused with the original Pacific Princess, which famously served as the backdrop for the original "Love Boat" series of the 1970s and 1980s. That ship was scrapped in 2014.

Golden Princess

Sailing since: 2001

Status: Transferred to P&O Cruises Australia (renamed Pacific Adventure)

The 2,600-passenger Golden Princess was one of a long line of Grand Class vessels at Princess that helped define the brand over the past two decades. Even after its departure (and the departure of the Star Princess; see below), the Grand Class vessels still represent the majority of the Princess fleet.

Princess announced in 2017 that Golden Princess would eventually be transferred to P&O Cruises Australia, an Australia-based line owned by the same parent company. But the transfer was moved up after the industrywide shutdown to cruising operations due to COVID-19.

Star Princess

Sailing since: 2002

Status: Transferred to P&O Cruises Australia (renamed Pacific Encounter)

Like Golden Princess, the 2,600-passenger Star Princess has been transferred a bit earlier than expected to Princess sister line P&O Cruises Australia. But with cruising in Australia mostly shut down, it has yet to sail for its new owners.

The ship was part of the same Grand Class series that included Golden Princess, and it was for many years one of the line's premier vessels.

Royal Caribbean

The world's largest cruise line by passenger capacity has removed two vessels from its fleet over the past year, leaving it with just 24 ships for now. The two vessels -- Empress of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas -- were the lines oldest and smallest ships and increasingly outliers in its fleet. Empress of the Seas, notably, measured just 48,563 tons — three to four times smaller than the big, amenity-filled ships that Royal Caribbean has been rolling out in recent years. Still, both of these vessels were much-beloved by Royal Caribbean fans, in part due to their smaller size.

Empress of the Seas

Status: Sold to Cordelia Cruises (renamed Empress)

Royal Caribbean's oldest ship was increasingly an outlier in the line's fleet, which is increasingly dominated by giant mega-ships that are chock full of amusements . At 48,563 tons, Empress of the Seas was nearly five times smaller than Royal Caribbean's big Oasis Class vessels .

Called Nordic Empress when it originally debuted in 1990, Empress of the Seas also was 30 years old, which is old for a Royal Caribbean ship.

Notably, Royal Caribbean already had removed Empress of the Seas from its fleet once before, in 2008, when it transferred the vessel to the Royal Caribbean-affiliated Spanish line Pullmantur. But Royal Caribbean brought Empress of the Seas back to its fleet in 2016 to operate sailings to Cuba , which only can be done by smaller ships due to limitations at Cuban ports. Cruises from the U.S. to Cuba have since ceased due to changing government policy.

Empress of the Seas' new owner, Cordelia Cruises, is a start-up cruise line in India.

Majesty of the Seas

Status: Sold to Seajets (renamed Majesty)

Sailing for Royal Caribbean since 1992, Majesty of the Seas was the second-oldest ship in the line's fleet. It also was the line's only remaining Sovereign Class vessel -- the Sovereign Class is an iconic series of ships that helped revolutionize the cruise industry. Two other Sovereign Class vessels that originally sailed for Royal Caribbean were transferred years ago to Royal Caribbean-affiliated Pullmantur.

Measuring just 74,077 tons, Majesty of the Seas was popular with Royal Caribbean fans who prefer smaller ships. It carried 2,350 passengers at double occupancy. It sailed out of New Orleans .

Majesty of the Seas' new owner, Seajets, is the same Greek/Cypriot ferry company that bought Holland America's Maasdam and Veendam.

Costa Cruises

The downsizing at Costa Cruises over the past year has been nearly as sharp, on a percentage basis, as the downsizing at Holland America. Four ships have left Costa's fleet, leaving the brand with just 12 vessels.

Costa NeoRomantica

Sailing since: 1993

Status: Sold to Celestyal Cruises (renamed Celestyal Experience)

Dating to 1993, this was Costa Cruises' oldest ship. At 56,869 tons, it also was the line's smallest ship. Those two factors made it an outlier in the Costa fleet and a prime target during the line's recent downsizing. Costa's newest vessel measures more than 185,000 tons.

The ship was part of Costa's Classica Class series and held 1,578 passengers at double occupancy.

It's been sold to Celestyal Cruises, which is known for cruises in the Greek Isles and will sail under the name Celestyal Experience.

Costa Victoria

Unveiled in 1996, this 1,928-passenger vessel was one of the first ships to face the scrappers as cruise lines began cutting vessels in 2020. It was only 23 years old at the time, which was unusually young for a modern-day cruise ship to be scrapped. It had spent its entire career sailing for Costa Cruises.

Measuring 77,000 tons, Costa Victoria was part of the line's Victoria Class series.

Costa Atlantica

Status: Transferred to CSSC Carnival Shipping (Carnival China)

The 2,114-passenger Costa Atlantica has been transferred to CSSC Carnival Shipping, a joint venture between Costa's parent company, Carnival Corp., and two Chinese entities, the Chinese sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corporation and Chinese shipbuilder China State Shipbuilding Corporation. Together they are developing a new cruise brand for the Chinese market.

Costa Atlantica was, notably, the first modern cruise ship to be purpose-built for Costa. It's a sister ship to the four Spirit Class vessels operated by Carnival, a sister brand. It measures about 85,000 tons.

Costa Mediterranea

Sailing since: 2003

Like Costa Atlantica, the 2,114-passenger Costa Mediterranean will be sailing in Asia for a new line aimed at Chinese travelers that will be jointly owned by Carnival Corp. and two Chinese entities.

The 85,000-ton ship also is a sister vessel to the four Spirit Class ships at sister line Carnival.

P&O Cruises

British line P&O Cruises has removed a single ship from its small fleet since the coronavirus crisis began, the 2,000-passenger Oceana. That leaves it with six vessels.

Status: Sold to Seajets (renamed Queen of the Oceans)

Longtime Princess fans will remember Oceana as the Princess ship Ocean Princess. When it originally debuted in 2000, it sailed under the Princess banner with that name. But its time under the Princess banner didn't last long. In 2002, it was transferred to sister line P&O Cruises and sailed for P&O Cruises right up until early last year.

In another tie to Princess, Oceana is a sister to the Sea Princess and Sun Princess mentioned above, which have just recently left the Princess fleet. Like those vessels, it measures about 77,000 tons and carries around 2,000 passengers, based on double occupancy.

The company that bought Oceana, Seajets, is the same Greek/Cypriot ferry company that bought Holland America's Maasdam and Veendam, and Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas.

P&O Cruises Australia

Australian-focused P&O Cruises Australia (a sister line to British-focused P&O Cruises as well as Princess) has shed two ships over the past year but also gained two (from Princess, see above).

Pacific Dawn

Sailing since: 1991

Originally ordered by long-defunct Sitmar Cruises, this 2,016-passenger ship began life sailing for Princess after Princess bought Sitmar. It initially sailed as the Regal Princess and was part of the original Crown Class designed by legendary Italian architect Renzo Piano. It transferred to the P&O Cruises Australia fleet in 2007.

At the time of the industrywide shutdown in 2020, Pacific Dawn had been scheduled to be transferred to British line Cruise & Maritime Voyages in February 2021. But the collapse of Cruise & Maritime Voyages in July brought an end to those plans. For a brief period, efforts were underway to turn the ship into a floating village for digital nomads and crypto enthusiasts. But that quickly fell apart, and the ship was scrapped.

Pacific Aria

Status: Sold to Seajets (renamed Aegean Goddess)

The 1,258-passenger Pacific Aria was originally built as the Ryndam for Holland America, and it sailed for that line for more than two decades. It only was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia in 2015 (Holland America and P&O Cruises Australia share the same parent company).

Like the Pacific Dawn, Pacific Aria had been scheduled to be transferred to British line Cruise & Maritime Voyages. But the collapse of Cruise & Maritime Voyages in July brought an end to those plans. It was later sold to Seajets, the Greek-Cypriot ferry company.

Other ships

In addition to the ships above from relatively large lines, the coronavirus crisis has led to the scrapping or sale of quite a few vessels from smaller cruise companies -- including a few vessels that have been icons of the cruise world for many decades.

These vessels include all three ships that operated for Spanish line Pullmantur, which collapsed in June . One of the Pullmantur ships was the former Sovereign of the Seas , a legendary vessel in the history of modern cruising that originally sailed for Royal Caribbean. Though small by today's standards, it was considered the very first modern mega-ship. It was scrapped in July in a development that was heartbreaking for many long-time cruise fans .

Also scrapped was Pullmantur's Monarch, the former Monarch of the Seas. It was a sister ship to Sovereign of the Seas.

The collapse of British line Cruise & Maritime Voyages also has led to the scrapping of several ships -- specifically Columbus, Magellan, Astor and Marco Polo. Columbus originally sailed as Princess's Star Princess, and Magellan sailed as Carnival's Holiday.

Originally built as the ocean liner Aleksandr Pushkin in 1965, the Marco Polo was one of the oldest ocean liners still sailing until 2020.

Also recently scrapped was one of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line's two vessels: Grand Celebration. Unveiled in 1987, the ship originally sailed at Carnival as Celebration and it played an important role in that line's early years. In addition, one ship from British line Marella Cruises (Marella Celebration) has been scrapped. It originally sailed as Holland America's Noordam.

A second Marella vessel, Marella Dream, has been taken out of service. It had previously sailed for Home Lines as Homeric, for Holland America as Westerdam, and for Costa as Costa Europa.

The collapse of Indian line Jalesh Cruises in October also led to the scrapping of its only ship, a former Princess vessel. And the former Carnival ship Tropicale, which most recently was sailing for Peace Boat, also has gone to the scrappers.

Meanwhile, the fate of Fred. Olsen's newly retired Black Watch and Boudicca, which the line has replaced with two former Holland America ships (see the Holland America section above), is in doubt. Both are iconic cruise ships that originally sailed for the famed Royal Viking Line -- once the world's premier luxury line. But they are now are nearly 50 years old.

Bottom line

Well over three dozen cruise ships were scrapped or sold over the past year as cruise lines struggled to survive. When cruising eventually resumes, fans of such lines as Carnival, Princess, Holland America and Royal Caribbean will find that their favorite brands aren't quite as big as they once were. That said, many lines are moving ahead with long-established plans to add new, built-from-the-ground-up vessels over the next few years.

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These Cruise Ships Were Scrapped in 2021

• December 31, 2021

Nine cruise ships were reduced to scrap in 2021. While this is less than the 13 cruise ships scrapped in 2020 , only two cruise ships were scrapped in 2019 and in 2016 – zero.

Cruise Industry News has looked at which cruise vessels ended up in scrapyards this year.

Grand Celebration Capacity: 1,800 Tonnage: 47,262 Year Built: 1987 Last Operator: Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line Beaching Date: January 2021 Breaking Yard: Alang, India

The Grand Celebration was beached in Alang in January , after a long voyage from the Bahamas. The 1,800-guest vessel originally entered service for Carnival Cruise Line in 1987. It also sailed for Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and IberoCruceros.

Ocean Dream Capacity: 1,022 Tonnage: 33,250 Year Built: 1981 Last Operator: Peace Boat Organization Beaching Date: January 2021 Breaking Yard: Alang, India

The ex-Tropicale is another former Carnival Cruise Line ship scrapped in 2021. The 1,022-guest ship arrived in India in January when it was beached in Alang. The vessel was last operated by the Japan-based Peace Boat Organization as the Ocean Dream.

Marco Polo Capacity: 800 Tonnage: 22,080 Year Built: 1965 Last Operator: Cruise & Maritime Voyages Beaching Date: January 2021 Breaking Yard: Alang, India

The Marco Polo ended its oceangoing career in 2021. Following the demise of its former operator, the British Cruise & Maritime Voyages, the 1965-built vessel ended up being sold to Indian breakers in January .

Costa Victoria Capacity: 1,928 Tonnage: 75,000 Year Built: 1996 Last Operator: Costa Cruises Beaching Date: January 2021 Breaking Yard: Aliaga, Turkey

After its quick sale in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 1996-built Costa Victoria was sent for scrapping in 2021 . The former Costa Cruises ship arrived at the Aliaga Ship Breaking Yard in January and was beached soon after.

Magellan Capacity: 1,452 Tonnage: 46,052 Year Built: 1985 Last Operator: Cruise & Maritime Voyages Beaching Date: February 2021 Breaking Yard: Alang, India

The 1985-built Magellan was beached for scrapping in Alang in February , after being auctioned by an English court in late 2020. The vessel was built for Carnival Cruise Line and last sailed for Cruise & Maritime Voyages until the cruise line’s entry into administration in July 2020.

Columbus Capacity: 1,856 Tonnage: 63,500 Year Built: 1988 Last Operator: Cruise & Maritime Voyages Beaching Date: April 2021 Breaking Yard: Alang, India

The Columbus is another former Cruise & Maritime Voyages vessel that ended up scrapped after the company’s demise. The vessel – which was built in the late 1980s – was beached in India in April. The Columbus was originally ordered for Sitmar Cruises and had also sailed for Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises, P&O Australia and Ocean Village.

Boudicca Capacity: 839 Tonnage: 28,388 Year Built: 1973 Last Operator: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Beaching Date: May 2021 Breaking Yard: Aliaga, Turkey

The former Boudicca from Fred. Olsen Cruise Line was beached for scrapping in Aliaga in May . The 1973-built vessel was sold by its former operator in 2020 and was set to become an accommodation vessel before being sent to the breakers.

Albatros Capacity: 830 Tonnage: 28,000 Year Built: 1973 Last Operator: Phoenix Reisen Beaching Date: July 2021 Breaking Yard: Alang, India

The 1973-built Albatros was beached for scrapping in Alang Ship Breaking Yard in July. The vessel was last operated by Phoenix Reisen and had previously been sold in 2020 , with the new owners planning to transform it into a floating hotel in Egypt.

Celestyal Experience Capacity: 1,356 Tonnage: 54,000 Year Built: 1993 Last Operator: Celestyal Cruises (never entered service) Beaching Date: December 2021 Breaking Yard: Gadani, Pakistan

The former Celestyal Experience was recently beached for scrapping at the Gadani Ship Breaking Yard in Pakistan . The 1993-built ship was last owned by Celestyal Cruises. The ship had also sailed for Costa Cruises in Asia as the Costa neoRomantica.

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48 years! R.I.P. ROYAL VIKING SEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

The ships are stripped, as in fittings such as furniture, bedding, lifeboats ... anything that can be sold. It goes out on second hard market.. Stephen  

yes stephen - they have dedicated facilities on site at each yard that have setups for the resale of items from cruise ships - evidently it depends on what buyers are after  

Hello Stephen, the Boudicca was the Royal Viking Sky, the R V Sea is the Albatros........ Cheers Frank  

Hi Frank, You are correct. You see one Viking then you are seen them all.... well, those three. The one you don't mistake is the Sun. Stephen  

MV Boudicca is a cruise ship serving as accommodation vessel at Tuzla, Istanbul Shipyard . She was built in 1973 by Wärtsilä Helsinki Shipyard, Finland as Royal Viking Sky for Nordenfjeldske Dampskibsselskap, Trondheim, which placed the ship in Royal Viking Line service.  

canadian said: MV Boudicca is a cruise ship serving as accommodation vessel at Tuzla, Istanbul Shipyard . She was built in 1973 by Wärtsilä Helsinki Shipyard, Finland as Royal Viking Sky for Nordenfjeldske Dampskibsselskap, Trondheim, which placed the ship in Royal Viking Line service. OTE] she was scrapped 17.5.2021 Click to expand...

Canadian.... Is she still being used as an accommodation vessel or is she now being scrapped? Thanks. Stephen  

Hello Stephen my info is outdated, however my son informs me a couple of minutes ago, she is now beached awaiting scrapping. He has been the safety officer on her and the Black Watch for a long while and was rather emotional sharing the info. Regards Canadian.  

AIS gives her at Alang.  

Thanks. Is your son going to the new Olsen ships... for ROTTERDAM? Wish him well, Great ship. Stephen  

Dear Canadian, Those two photos touched a nerve in me, and I have no connection with the ship or the company! First photo - Ensign still aloft on the after end. Second photo: The "nose ring" cable in the prow to pull her up on the beach. Very sad. Good luck to your son who has now discharged his duty. Best Regards, Dave  

David, could not agree more, I thought the photo was of her at Tuzla, & she had since gone to Alang, but wouldn`t be surprised if she was at Aliaga on sea, be interesting to get proof positive as to her final destination though.  

The Boudicca was pulled up the beach tuesday 18th two days ago , my son has a video of the event which when received i will attempt to post on here. He has been in Rosyth with the Olson fleet since they arrived..The Amsterdam / Renamed Bollette / Rotterdam / renamed Borealis, alongside Freds originals Balmoral and Braemer, the two ex Holland america line, are being refurbished to keep the Fred Olson line customer base in the style they have been accustomed too. they plan to start uk shake out cruises shortly. All the best Can.  

Interesting to see what changes for the decor of AMSTERDAM and ROTTERDAM. Both are beautiful ships. Stephen  

Canadian, thanks for that, but which beach/port?  

Olsen Cruise Lines' Boudicca has been beached in Aliaga yesterday, 17th of May, for scrapping, a video by Instagram user @akansavas shows. The ship was supposed to be an accomodation vessel for a shipyard in Turkey, it was announced upon her sale, but just a few months after the sale materialized, the ship now beaches in Aliaga, with Black Watch expected to follow soon. Canadian.  

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Most-loved cruise ships that have been scrapped for good

Posted: 18 January 2024 | Last updated: 16 April 2024

Cruise ships gone forever

The cruise industry has had to navigate some very choppy waters, especially with the likes of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of drifting back out to sea some of our most-loved ships have been taken out of service, sold or scrapped entirely.

Read on to see if your favourite is among our list of cruise ships no longer sailing the world's seas.

Built in 1991 for Royal Caribbean and known as Monarch of the Seas, this vessel was the largest ship afloat at the time of her launch, accommodating around 2,744 passengers. The first ship in the fleet to be fitted with balconies the groundbreaking facilities included a basketball court, shuffleboard courts and even a rock climbing wall, installed after a refit in 2003. 

Launching in January 1988, Sovereign began life as Royal Caribbean’s Sovereign of the Seas, sailing Caribbean itineraries including stops at Coco Cay (once called Little Stirrup Cay) the line’s private island. The largest cruise ship in the world at the time and regarded a ‘megaship,’ it was the first to flaunt a multi-deck atrium with glass elevators and sweeping staircases. 

Carnival Fantasy

Drawing passengers from across the globe, Carnival Cruise Line owns some of the world's most exciting ships, but the Miami-based operator has sold or scrapped four vessels from their fleet since the start of the pandemic. One of the most beloved was Carnival Fantasy. Entering service in 1990 and the first of Carnival’s Fantasy Class of eight ships, she broke the mould with her revolutionary interior that included a huge atrium. Groundbreaking when launched, this 70,367-tonne, 855-foot (260m) long vessel would be dwarfed by today's megaships but still had a 30-year career sailing around the Western Caribbean and Mexico from Miami, and more recently from Mobile, Alabama. 

Carnival Fascination

Carnival Imagination

Carnival Inspiration

Built in 1987, the 650-passenger Astor was a traditionally-styled ship with teak wood decks and it had a loyal following in Europe, South Africa and Australia. In 2013, Astor sailed for Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) under charter for the Australian market, before becoming a permanent member of the fleet in 2014.

The ship was set to be renamed the Jules Verne and operate Northern European cruises from France in April 2021. However, Cruise & Maritime Voyages collapsed and was placed into administration in July 2020 and the Astor was sold for just £1.2 million ($1.7m). In November 2020 she was beached in Turkey and the ship has since been completely scrapped.

Black Watch

Launched in the early 1970s, the 804-passenger Black Watch was originally owned by Royal Viking Line. With its generous promenade and public spaces, it was once considered among the most luxurious ships in the world. 

After briefly sailing for Kloster Cruises in the 1980s, the ship was transferred to Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) in the 1990s and sailed out of New York. NCL sold her to Fred Olsen in 1996 when the ship was renamed Black Watch in honour of an infantry battalion of the Scottish military. In August 2020, Black Watch was sold as an accommodation ship for workers and is currently docked at Tuzla in Turkey. Hopefully her current guests are enjoying facilities including the pool deck as much as passengers did during Black Watch's 48 years of service. 

Sister ship to Black Watch, Boudicca also began its life with Royal Viking Line, having first set sail in 1973. In the early 1990s Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) purchased the ship and a couple of years later it was chartered to Princess Cruises, sailing as Golden Princess. More owners followed before Fred Olsen acquired her in 2005. 

In 2018, Boudicca’s interior and passenger cabins underwent a major upgrade but sadly the ship followed in its sister’s wake and was sold as an accommodation vessel in 2020. Boudicca will be remembered for her lively entertainment and flamboyant seasonal stops – such as at the flower festival on the Portuguese island of Madeira pictured here – and also for her poignant cruises, including a one-day special for D Day veterans of the Second World War in June 2019. 

Usually adults-only the ship was known for its varied dining spots, friendly service and world cruise itineraries. But following CMV's collapse in July 2020, Columbus was sold at auction for an unknown sum. Bought by a Greek ferry operator she was then sold on again, with the Alang scrapyard in India her final port of call.  

Costa Victoria

Starting life in the mid-1980s as Carnival Cruise Lines’ MS Holiday, Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ Magellan was a small but much-loved ship with British cruise fans thanks to its affordable itineraries departing from Tilbury port, near London, UK. 

Originally built in the 1960s for the Soviet Union's Baltic Shipping Company and first known as the Aleksandra Pushkin, the Marco Polo was one of the last surviving ocean liners built for transatlantic crossings. Designed to withstand broken ice, in her later years the Marco Polo made regular trips to Antarctica. 

Ocean Dream

There were also dalliances with P&O Australia and Pullmantur Cruises, before being transferred to Japanese-based Peace Boat in 2012 and used for their educational and sustainable voyages. The ship sailed as the Ocean Dream until 2020, before she was reported as scrapped in Alang, India in January 2021. 

When CMV went into administration in 2020, Astoria was put up for auction in February 2021 and it seemed likely she would never sail again. Hope is on the horizon that she may be spared however, as this piece of maritime history was recently purchased by a Portuguese consortium . 

The Horizon began life in 1990 as part of the Celebrity Cruises fleet, and featured 721 cabins, a Broadway-style show lounge and two pools. In 2005 it became Island Cruises’ Island Star before transferring back to Royal Caribbean and then to its Spanish-owned subsidiary Pullmantur in 2008. 

Marella Celebration

Built in 1984 as Holland America Line’s MS Noordam, Marella Celebration was bought by Thomson in 2005 and continued to sail as Thomson Celebration. Many of the ship's original features were retained including teak decks and artwork dating from the 16th century. When the company was reborn as Marella Cruises in 2017, the 1,250 passenger ship became Marella Celebration. However, there was no celebrating to be done when the vessel left the fleet last April and was said to be scrapyard-bound. 

Marella Dream

A similar fate awaits the Marella Dream, which was built in 1986 as the last new ship for the now defunct Italian firm Home Lines. Two years later, the ship became Holland America Line's MS Westerdam, briefly becoming a movie star in the 1990s comedy Out to Sea which starred Walter Matthau. The ship was transferred to Costa Cruises in 2002 and entered service for Thomson in 2010, before being renamed as Marella Dream in 2017. In 2020 it was reportedly sold for scrap and destined for the Aliağa scrapyard in Turkey. However, the ship has been sitting in limbo in Eleusis, Greece since November 2020.

Grand Celebration

The 1,500-passenger Grand Celebration was more than a cruise ship, she also helped the people of Grand Bahama Island during the devastating events caused by Hurricane Dorian in 2019. However, the ship was sold for scrap during the COVID-19 pandemic and headed for the Alang shipyard in India at the end of 2020.  

Crystal Serenity

Dubbed 'the world's most awarded luxury cruise line', Crystal Cruises' majestic third ship Crystal Serenity welcomed up to 900 passengers to its beautiful staterooms and suites when it launched in 2003. The ship enjoyed regular sailings around the Caribbean and became the first luxury cruise ship to transit the elusive 32-day Arctic route back in 2016.

However, in January 2022, Crystal Cruises' parent company Genting Hong Kong revealed it could be bankrupt by the end of the month. The inevitable happened in February, when Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony were seized by authorities and diverted to the Bahamas with hundreds of passengers still onboard. The US arrest warrant was for an unpaid $4.6 million fuel bill. Crystal Serenity's operations were suspended until at April, but its future remains uncertain.

Now read our review of the cutting-edge Norwegian Prima

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Popular cruise line cancels trip with guests already on board: What happens next?

• Updated: Apr. 30, 2024, 10:05 p.m. |
• Published: Apr. 29, 2024, 6:38 a.m.

FILE - In this June 20, 2016 file photo, the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Empress of the Seas heads out of PortMiami, in Miami Beach, Fla. Royal Caribbean International notified guests aboard Radiance of the Sea the ship will not continue on an already-abbreviated Alaska sailing. Instead, the voyage was canceled and guests must leave the ship and will be sent home. AP

• Leada Gore | [email protected]

Guests onboard a popular cruise line were told their trip was canceled and they were being sent home despite already being on board the vessel.

Royal Caribbean International notified guests aboard Radiance of the Sea the ship will not continue on an already-abbreviated Alaska sailing. Instead, the voyage was canceled and guests had to leave the ship and be sent home, CruiseHive.com reported.

The ship was set to depart Vancouver, British Columbia on Friday and guests were permitted on board. It was announced the ship would spend two days in port undergoing repair with a revised departure date of Sunday, April 28 before returning May 3 as planned.

Later, however, an announcement was made the trip was being canceled due to repairs for a technical issue impacting its propulsion, the website reported, and guests had to leave the ship Sunday by 4 p.m. local time.

“As you are aware, our teams have been vigorously working to have Radiance of the Seas prepared to set sail on our shortened April 26th sailing,” a letter given to passengers in their staterooms read, according to reports by unofficial cruise site RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com reported. “Despite our best efforts, circumstances beyond our control have delayed our sailing further. As a result, we’ll regrettably have to cancel our April 26th, 2024 cruise.”

READ MORE: U.S. travel alert: Cruise line cancels more visits to popular Caribbean destination

What happens to the guests?

Guests will receive a 100% refund on their fare and a 100% future cruise credit for a later sailing. The cruise line opened internet service free of charge to allow for easier travel planning and offered a free open bar until debarkation, reports indicated.

Cruisers who booked flights through Royal Caribbean had their flights automatically rescheduled. The cruise line is also reimbursing any travel change fees up to $250 for domestic travel and $400 for international travel and up to $250 for hotel costs, per statement, per night, for two nights.

READ MORE: U.S. travel alert: Do not travel to this Caribbean nation, popular spot for cruise ship stops

The ship first developed propulsion difficulties last week during a repositioning cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver, causing several stops to be scrapped to accommodate the slower speed.

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A cruise to nowhere: Royal Caribbean sailing canceled after guests boarded

A Royal Caribbean International Alaska voyage became a cruise to nowhere over the weekend, with the line canceling the sailing after guests had already boarded.

The cruise line’s Radiance of the Seas ship experienced propulsion issues, forcing it to shorten and eventually scrap the weeklong itinerary, according to notices shared with guests. The sailing was originally set to depart from Vancouver on Friday.

Charlene Chong, who was on board with her husband, their 3-year and 11-month-old children, and her parents, said passengers were notified Saturday afternoon that the cruise was canceled. The 34-year-old teacher and her husband previously took a cruise for their honeymoon, but this marked their first trip with Royal Caribbean.

“My parents had wanted to go to Alaska for a really long time,” said Chong, who lives in Vancouver.

The cruise line warned guests several days before boarding that the ship had a “technical issue with its propulsion system,” according to an email sent to passengers that Chong shared with USA TODAY. The line later pushed the departure back by two days to allow more time for repairs.

Royal Caribbean said boarding would proceed as planned but that the terminal would close Friday evening due to U.S. Customs and Border Protection rules. Passengers would not be able to leave until the ship arrived at Icy Strait Point.

“We were going stir crazy a little bit,” said Chong.

Royal Caribbean gave guests onboard credit worth two days of their fare, a future cruise credit of the same amount, complimentary drinks and other compensation, another email said.

According to Chong, the ship sailed toward a nearby cargo port, but the captain announced Saturday afternoon that the sailing could not proceed and that guests would need to disembark by Sunday at 4 p.m. Chong said she and her family were “lucky” they were local, but she saw other guests scrambling to change their flights and find accommodations.

Your cruise was canceled: Now what?

“We understand the disappointment due to this unfortunate turn of events,” the cruise line said in a letter shared with guests. “We truly extend our sincerest apologies for the continued unforeseen disruptions to your vacation.”

Royal Caribbean gave them their money back as onboard credit with any remaining amount refunded, increased their future cruise credit to 100% of their fare and kept its open-bar policy for the remaining time on board. The line also offered to reimburse trip change fees up to $250 for guests traveling domestically and $400 for international travel and additional reimbursements for hotel and transportation costs, among other compensation.

“Due to a technical issue, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the April 26 sailing," a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said in an emailed statement. "Guests will receive a full refund and 100% future cruise credit, and have been notified directly.” The spokesperson did not comment on the specifics of Chong's experience.

The ship will resume service for its May 3 sailing.

After they got home, Chong and her family booked a trip to Mexico instead – though her parents decided not to join as they were “a bit exhausted by the whole ordeal.” For now, she’s not inclined to use the future cruise credit. “I would like to go to Alaska,” she said. “I'm not sure if I want to go with them.”

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach him at [email protected].

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Boudicca deck plans

Deck layouts, review of facilities, activities, amenities.

Boudicca deck plan review at CruiseMapper provides newest cruise deck plans (2024-2025-2026 valid floor layouts of the vessel) extracted from the officially issued by Scrapped Cruise Ships deckplan pdf (printable version).

Each of the Boudicca cruise ship deck plans are conveniently combined with a legend (showing cabin codes) and detailed review of all the deck's venues and passenger-accessible indoor and outdoor areas. A separate link provides an extensive information on Boudicca staterooms (cabins and suites), including photos, cabin plans and amenities by room type and category.

MS Boudicca (1973-built as "Royal Viking Sky", last refurbished in 2018, sold in 2020, scrapped in 2021) was the second oldest in the Fred Olsen cruise fleet - with fleetmates Black Watch , Braemar and Balmoral . This vessel was originally built for the Royal Viking Line (1972-founded/1998- defunct ) but was also owned and operated under different names by other brands, including NCL-Norwegian , Princess Cruises , Star Cruises, Iberocruceros. The ship entered the Fred Olsen fleet in 2005. In 2020, MS Boudica was sold to a Turkish company to serve as a hotel ship, but in May 2021 was sold for scrap and beached at Izmir 's Aliaga Ship Recycling Facility.

MS Boudicca cruise ship deck plan shows a total of 462 staterooms for 880 passengers (max capacity is 924) served by 330 crew-staff. The boat has 10 decks (8 passenger-accessible, 6 with cabins), 4 restaurants, 9 lounges and bars, 3 swimming pools, 2 outdoor Jacuzzis (large whirlpool hot tubs), 5 elevators.

Boudicca deck plan changes 2018 refurbishment review

During the drydock in 2018 at Blohm+Voss Hamburg (March 17-27), to the ship were added two fibreglass-bottomed boats, each with capacity 12 passengers. The extensive refit also included general maintenance works, cabin refurbishments (all staterooms and public areas), painting all the vessel's interiors and exterior (hull and superstructure).

• All passenger cabins were updated with new carpeting, new soft furnishings, and upholstery, new lamps, new balcony furniture, mini-fridges, electronic safes, flat TVs (interactive system).
• All public areas and venues (bars, lounges, dining venues) were extensively upgraded and redesigned.
• Morning Light Pub (deck 6) was moved to the port side of Secret Garden Cafe.
• The Heligan Room (deck 6, port side) was converted into "Indian Ocean Restaurant".

The list of deck plan changes after the ship's 2015 refurbishment (done by Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven Germany ) includes:

A total of 28 cruise cabins (located on Lido Deck 7) were refitted/upgraded with private balconies. The newly added verandas extend out 4 ft / 1,2 m from the bulkhead of the ship. Fred Olsen balcony staterooms have extremely high booking demand across the line’s fleet. Same terrace balconies were installed on the Black Watch during the ship’s 2014 dry dock refurbishment. Since Lido Deck is also the ship’s Promenade Deck (outdoor walking area), these new verandas are impinging onto but not interrupting the walk-around Promenade. There is a transparent railing between the veranda and the open-deck area. This means less privacy as other passengers will be walking right in front of the balcony screens.

General maintenance works included: new hull coating, modification of the piping system, the ship’s stabilizers and the rudder were repaired and the bow thruster (propulsion unit) was replaced.

Boudicca deck plan changes 2013 refurbishment review

The list of deckplan changes after the boat's 2013 drydock refurbishment (done by Blohm+Voss in Hamburg Germany ) included three new (remodeled) lounge and bar areas:

• Morning Light Pub (former Neptune Bar)
• Cafe Venus (specialty coffee/chocolate shop, around the Library)
• The Grill (specialty restaurant, former Poolside Cafe buffet).

Deck layouts

Deck 03 - marina-cabins-hospital, deck 04 - atlantic-cabins, deck 05 - main-cabins-lobby, deck 06 - lounge-pools-dining, deck 07 - lido-promenade-cabins, deck 08 - bridge-cabins, deck 09 - marquee-suites-pool, deck 10 - sundeck-fitness.

Boudicca deck plans are property of Scrapped Cruise Ships . All deck layouts are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.