In March 2018, after spending several months laid up in Khalifa, she set sail for Alang, where she was beached for scrapping on 4 April 2018 at Kaya plot 103. Photo courtesy of Jalesh Cruises, Peace Boat Ocean Dream at Sea. Breaking Yard: Alang, India. well you can imagine a week with 2 young boys and no chips.never again. Cruise lineIsland Escape Cruises NZ (Small Cruise Lines). Unfortunately, one cruise operator went a wee bit-er-overboard and ordered a giant 9,000-passenger ship that was set to take its maiden voyage early last year. So, the vessel could be recycled there, but its a totally different market. Sip on some of Napa's best blends at The . It also features separate female and male saunas. Most recently, the ship was based out of San Juan, and was due to replace Carnival Fantasy out of Mobile in 2022 prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. While these pioneers had been outclassed by . The shipowner Island Escape Cruises NZ (2006-founded by Peter Bissett) previously owned and operated the 2007-built catamaran Island Passage (IMO 8745216, 24-passenger boat) which was sold in 2018 to Maple Leaf Adventures (Canada) and renamed Cascadia. 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. A few years later she was sold again to Admiral (Royal Admiral) Cruises. The world's longest-serving cruise ship, Astoria, will be scrapped in the coming weeks or months. 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 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. (Updated 1:37 p.m. EST) -- Most modern cruise ships spend 40 years or more sailing the world's seas. At Island Escape Cruises we are passionate about preserving the beautiful water in which we are travelling. In 10 episodes, it showed the working lives of some of the crew, giving an insight into what it is like working on a cruise ship. 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. At the time of her construction, she was the largest cruiseferry in the world. The world's largest cruise ship by passenger capacity is. MS Island Escape ship was operated and owned by Thomson UK under the Island Cruises brand until December 2015. The Beachcomber Restaurant provided 24-hour self-service buffets. On July 23, 2020 Carnival announced that Carnival Fascination would be withdrawn from service and placed in long-term layup. After the COVID-19 pandemic, Carnival Fantasy was sent in early July to Curacao where major fittings and fixtures were removed. In 1985 she was renamed MS Stardancer and in 1990 MS Viking Serenade before being converted to a cruise ship in 1991. Ocean Gala was scrapped in April 2018 in Alang (India), after being laid up for several months in Port Khalifa (Abu Dhabi UAE). In 2009, Rhapsody was sold to Israel-based Mano Maritime, and operated cruises from Haifa under the name Golden Iris. It sounds like its simple, but it isnt always. The luxury boat was constructed by VARD Vietnam (at Vung Tau Shipyard) and is also available for private charters. Enjoy all the activities - from sports and spa treatments to fruit carving and salsa classes. The 10-night "Tropical North Queensland" voyage (priced from NZD 11950 pp) was scheduled for October 2022. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Olsen and setting sail as Boudicca in 2005. Unusually for a film, the ship is actually referred to in the movie as the "M/S Westerdam", and many scenes were filmed aboard the actual vessel. Tropicale had no direct sister-ships; subsequent newbuilds for Carnival revolved around the similarly-patterned Holiday Class and the Fantasy Class, which all shared some design characteristics but without total commonality. As Westerdam, the ship played a leading role in the 1997 comedy film Out to Sea, starring Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon as reluctant dance hosts. Before that could materialize, the ship was sold to Cunard Line, where it took on cruising duties as Cunard Princess. The car deck was turned into a passenger deck. Cabin grades number: 13. Island Escape's staterooms (17 total) are all outside and in suite categories (5 total) accommodating maximum 32 passengers. [10] On 3 December 2015, it was reported that the vessel had been sold and was on her way to Brest, France for dry-docking, to be renamed Ocean Gala. Between January and June 1991, she was converted into a full-time cruise ship at the former[7] Southwest Marine Shipyard in San Diego, California. The ship arrived in early August at Aliaga, Turkey and was beached alongside sister Carnival Fantasy and former competitor Sovereign. The ship was the first vessel in the Star Cruises fleet to sport hull artwork, and was given a stem-to-stern refit in 2013. Our trip we discovered there was an included waiter service area in the MDR that had a special menu, food and service was excellent. Watersports equipment (water toys/kayaks and paddle boards), snorkeling and fishing gear are also provided complimentary. This is quite young for the normal industry in cruising in our understanding, said Chatziginnis. Its interiors were designed by long-time Carnival architect Joe Farcus, who gave Ecstasy an overload of neon, glitz and 1990's colors that have been subtly -- but not overly -- toned-down in the intervening decades. [22][23], Island Escape was featured in a mini-series TV documentary which consisted of 10 episodes. Marina Deck is accessed from Ocean Deck (deck 2). Scrapping began in August 2020, and the ship was totally demolished by February 2021. The cruise ship was the last drydock refurbished at the Damen shipyard (Brest France) in December 2015. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, Which Cruise Ships Will Be Scrapped Or Taken Out of Service? She has been sold for an undisclosed amount of money and will be broken up in Alang. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. With the ship .css-hghiur{transition-property:var(--chakra-transition-property-common);transition-duration:var(--chakra-transition-duration-fast);transition-timing-function:var(--chakra-transition-easing-ease-out);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;font-weight:var(--chakra-fontWeights-medium);border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;cursor:pointer;color:var(--chakra-colors-blue-base);border-color:var(--chakra-colors-blue-base);}.css-hghiur:focus-visible,.css-hghiur[data-focus-visible]{box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-outline);}.css-hghiur:hover,.css-hghiur[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;}being retired from the Fred. In April 2020, Marella announced that it would immediately remove Marella Celebration from service. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Length: 53.5 metres. This is why her stern is so angular and steep. sector These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Island Escape docked at Ajaccio, Corsica. That vessel also began life as an order for South Africa-based Safmarine. Island Escape was drydock-refurbished at Damen Shiprepair Brest (France)/shipyard then renamed "Ocean Gala". Cafe Brasil (for a cappuccino or afternoon tea, with an interesting book from the library or just browse the Internet), The Mirage Bar (poolside; pampers with al fresco drinks), The Sailaway Bar (to watch the world go by), The Sundowner (the perfect place for live music and pre-dinner drinks), Ocean Theatre (entertainment hub for cabarets, UK comedy acts and West End-style shows), Bounty Lounge (all about game shows and live music), The Lookout Bar (with panoramic view; also offers a late-night disco), The Casino (roulette, Blackjack, poker; a range of slot machines). [20], In February 1988, a chiropractor named Scott Rolston murdered his wife Karen Waltz by strangling her and dumping the body overboard in order to make it look like a drowning. Like its sister, Zenith had a unique layout that included a large oversized reception area and numerous cozy dining and lounge venues that would form the basis for newer, larger Celebrity vessels designed in the late 1990's and early 2000's. In 1994, it became Royal Cruise Line's Royal Odyssey before being acquired by Fred. The ship was also attractive for families who look for out of Palma de Mallorca fly-cruises from the UK. Island Escape Cruises NZ (Small Cruise Lines), Island Escape cruise ship arrested in Broome WA, unable to restart sailings. Like Monarch, it was stripped of all valuable fittings in Genoa in June 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. March Madness! On Main Deck/Ocean Deck are the Salon (starboard Lounge fitted with large sofas) and the Dining Room/Restaurant (portside), both with floor-ceiling windows, comfortable seating and served by the Bar (central-located in-between). Some vendors may process your personal data on the basis of legitimate interest, which you can object to by managing your options below. Shame Ocean village left us as we enjoyed that one. Since 2002, the renamed ship (MS Island Escape) was deployed in the Mediterranean (during summers) and in South America (in the winters). The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. What Made It Special: You may not know the name Karnika very well, but this historic vessel's past names - as Princess Cruises' Crown Princess (1990) and P&O Australia's Pacific Jewel probably ring a few bells. Carnival confirmed on July 23 that the ship had been sold, and the ship arrived in Aliaga, Turkey shortly thereafter for scrapping. After a four-year stint with Iberocruceros, it was purchased by UK-based Cruise & Maritime Voyages in 2015 and renamed Magellan. She is headed to India and will arrive at the scrap yard in Alang at the end of the month. The vessel was last operated by the Japan-based Peace Boat Organization as the Ocean Dream. And thereafter, we are arranging the transportation from point A to point B, Chatziginnis said. The ship helped to spark a newbuild competition with competitor Royal Caribbean that continued until recently. what it is like working on a cruise ship. In 2022, it was scheduled to take over runs from Mobile, Alabama before Carnival announced in February 2022 that the ship would no longer return to service for the line. What Made It Special: Costa Victoria was one of Costa's most distinctive vessels. Did the new carnival Vista but shocking "no chips" on the buffet menu, all rice and jacket potatoes. Cruise Critic will update this article as more details become available. The roundtrip from Broome WA visits the Buccaneer Archipelago's Horizontal Waterfalls (Day 2), Doubtful Bay and Sale River cruising towards Red Cone Creek (Day 3), Careening Bay (Day 4), Naturaliste Island's Mitchell Falls (Day 5), Jar Island's Vansittart Bay (Day 6), King George Falls and encourage in Faraway Bay (Day 7), cruising along Sand and Cassini Islands and anchoring in Swift Bay (Day 8), wildlife watching in Swift Bay (Day 9), cruising through Prince Regent National Park and King Cascade/terraced waterfall (Day 10), Montgomery Reef (Day 11), Hidden Island's Silica Beach and anchorage at Mission Bay/tour of Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm (Day 12), arrival/debarkation in Broome (Day 13). Restaurants and food bars:Island Restaurant(British and international buffets),Beachcomber Restaurant(24 hours a dayself-service buffets, international theme nights). 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. The ship -- a one-off with no other direct sister-ships -- was noted for its abundant open deck spaces and windowed public rooms. 66 Ships | 141,881 Berths | $42 Billion | View. When it emerged, it boasted a new midsection complete with a new dining room, new bars and lounges, and additional passenger accommodation. 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. Palmys kids club is entertaining and imaginative, offering the best childcare and daily activities. After being rebuilt in the early 1990's, Marco Polo entered service with Orient Line until 2008, before becoming part of the Transocean Tours fleet. Thomson Cruises has operated the Island Escape under their all-inclusive Island Cruises since starting March 2013. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Take care, Helen She then relocated to Scandinavia and sailed on their flagship route Oslo-Copenhagen. At this point the end was near. MV Ocean Gala cruise ship was built for Scandinavian World Cruises (DFDS) as "ms Scandinavia". Maritime news site Tradewinds reported on February 15 that Carnival Sensation has been sold for scrap to interests in Aliaga, Turkey. Having always had a passion for the water, after selling his interests in Japanese Shipping Companies, Peter embarked upon designing and building a boutique 24-passenger ship to explore the beautiful waters around New Zealand. 7-day round-trip from Palma de Mallorca -Tue Oct 20 (Palma de Mallorca, departing), Thu Oct 22 09:00am to 06:00pm (Bastia), Fri Oct 23 07:00am to 07:00pm (La Spezia), Sat Oct 24 07:00am to 05:00pm (Villefranche (Nice)), Sun Oct 25 08:00am to 05:00pm (Toulon), Mon Oct 26 09:00am to 06:00pm (Barcelona), Tue Oct 27 (Palma de Mallorca, arrive). Following the 2015-2016 refit at Damen Brest, Ocean Gala headed to Scandinavia to serve as a floating hotel for workers involved in the refugee crisis. The boat has 4 decks, of which 3 are passenger-accessible and 2 with cabins. Karen was either thrown or pushed from the balcony oif their cabin and fell straight down into the water below. [1] In 2002, she was transferred to the fleet of Royal Caribbean's new subsidiary Island Cruises as MS Island Escape. Our first cruise was on her sister ship the Island Star which was bigger and a former Celebrity ship. The vessel was last owned by the Miami-based Cruise Holdings Inc and managed by Columbia Cruise Services (CCS) in Hamburg and Limassol. We have seen a couple of units being sold for recycling in India already, but a couple of units is nothing compared to the numbers weve seen in Turkey so far, Chatziginnis told Cruise Industry News. The onboard Gym is excellent for resistance and cardio training. Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson Cruises) is a British cruise line operated by TUI UK, offering cruise holidays around Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Following the collapse of Pullmantur in June 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ship was laid up in the Mediterranean. It arrived for scrapping in December 2021, and was beached soon after. 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. Designed by Joe Farcus, the ship's interiors recall the grand days of Hollywood, with public rooms like the Beverly Hills Bar named accordingly. The ship was to cater to the Indian cruise market with cruises from Mumbai, India and Dubai, UAE, but Jalesh Cruises suspended all operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. For 2023 were scheduled voyages along Western Australia's Kimberley Coast (leaving roundtrip from homeport Broome) in the period May-September (2023) as well as itineraries visiting South Pacific Islands and Tahiti. Build a pink sandcastle in Bermuda. 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. Like Windward, Dreamward went through a complex lengthening procedure in Germany in 1998, but emerged with two unique features: a retractable mast and a funnel that could open hydraulically in order to allow the ship to transit Germany's Kiel Canal -- something the ship, as Norwegian Dream, did on a regular basis, earning legions of fans who would line the canal to watch "their ship" sail the legendary waterway. Like the rest of the Fantasy Class, its iconic interiors were designed by longtime Carnival architect Joe Farcus, who gave Imagination's public spaces their over-the-top look. 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). Olsen fleet, Boudicca arrived at the shipbreaking yards in Aliaga, Turkey in May 2021 to be broken up. Renamed Norwegian Sea in 1997, the ship operated the line's famous "Texaribbean" voyages from Houston for many years in the mid-1990's before being transferred out of the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet in 2005. [2] Island Escape operated in the Canary Islands and the Western Mediterranean under Thomson Cruises. Once it completes its final voyage in mid-October, it will reposition from Mobile to Miami to discharge crew before being taken across the Atlantic to Aliaga, Turkey to be broken up. [2] The vessel was in Denmark and completed its five-year survey with class society DNVGL. Cruise Ship Island Escape. According to Vagelis Chatziginnis, a senior trader at GMS Leadership (one such company that organizes ship scrapping), most of the vessel scrapping in 2020 took place in Turkey. A piece of Carnival Ecstasy -- a vintage roadster -- will live on. On Day 11, from Milford Sound is complimentary provided a helicopter transfer to Queenstown. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Aft on Marina Deck (deck 1) is the Marina platform used for launching the two Zodiacs (stored forward on decks 2-3) and the water toys (kayaks and paddle boards). 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. It marks the end to one of the most initially optimistic, and then saddest, developments for any vessel over the course of the pandemic. The ships were initially odered for Overseas National Airways of the United States, and Hugh Hefner was reportedly involved in their design. Chatziginnis said the average scrap value in India is $400 per ton.