Cruise Ships That Got Retired or Sold for Scrap Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Faced with decreasing revenues and a lack of passengers during the global COVID-19 pandemic, some cruise line operators are taking an unpopular but necessary step: selling off their ships or taking them out of service and recycling them.

Most modern cruise vessels have service lives of 40 years or more. It is not uncommon to see cruise ships built in the 1970s and 1980’s go to the breakers. Older vessels are often sold first to another, smaller cruise operator — a market that is often referred to as “second-hand tonnage.” However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, you can see now relatively young vessels to be sold or scrapped, as the cruise lines are looking to trim operational costs.

Continue reading

Royal Caribbean Hopes To Resume Cruises in August

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced last week that it plans to resume cruise operations as on August 1 and in China on July 1.

As a consequence of ongoing global public health circumstances, Royal Caribbean Cruises officially announced in a statement it decided to extend the suspension of most sailings through July 31, and sailings from China will be suspended through the end of June.

Continue reading

Carnival, Royal Caribbean Cruises Increase Passenger Screening After Coronavirus Outbreak

Several cruise lines have implemented new travel restrictions this week and boosted their passenger screening procedures.

Cruise operators issued travel advisories to ensure that their guests are not affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Cruise lines are not letting people sail if they have traveled in China amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus that started there.

The coronavirus appeared in Wuhan, China, in December last year. Due to the virus, almost 20 people died and 600 were infected.

Continue reading

Second Norwegian Ship Based at Port Canaveral for Winter Season

The Norwegian Breakaway arrived at Port Canaveral on Saturday, starting a five-month seasonal service as a Port Canaveral-based ship.

The Breakaway is the second Norwegian Cruise Line ship that joins the Port Canaveral lineup as the Norwegian Sun also will be based here for more than seven months from fall 2019 to spring 2020.

The Norwegian Breakaway will replace the slightly older and larger Norwegian Epic at Port Canaveral. The Epic has been based at Port Canaveral for three consecutive fall/winter sailing seasons. Both Norwegian ships will sail a total of 67 voyages from Port Canaveral.

Continue reading