Have you ever wondered what happens to a cruise ship when it's taken out of service?
On average, a well-built cruise ship lasts around 30-40 years. However, large cruise lines often sell off older ships to smaller corporations when they're ready for them to be retired from their fleet—sometimes before the 30-year mark.
For example, Legend of the Seas, the lead ship in Royal Caribbean's Vision Class, sailed for Royal Caribbean from 1995 to 2017 before being sold to the UK-based Thomson Cruises, which was renamed Marella Cruises shortly after the sale. Since 2017, the former Legend of the Seas has operated for Marella Cruises as Marella Discovery 2, despite approaching her 30th birthday.
In some instances, cruise lines sell older ships for scrap, as was the case with Carnival Ecstasy. The Fantasy Class ship entered service with Carnival in 1991 and remained with the company until 2022, having last undergone renovations in 2019.
During the two-week-long dry dock, Carnival Ecstasy received a new video arcade, Bonsai Sushi Express restaurant, and Dreams Studio, as well as some upgrades to its retail stores and other routine maintenance.
After being retired from service on October 15, 2022, the 31-year-old ship was sold for scrapping in Aliağa, Turkey. Less than one month later, Carnival Ecstasy was beached and prepared to be dismantled, with its building materials and technical components sold and repurposed.
She was the second Fantasy Class ship sold in 2022, with Carnival Sensation being the first in February. The 29-year-old vessel was sold for $11 million.
Similarly, Royal Caribbean's Sun Viking entered service in 1972, operating for Royal Caribbean for 27 years. It wasn't until 2021 that the 49-year-old vessel was finally taken out of service.
For the final few years of her life, she operated as a gambling ship in China and Malaysia before being scrapped at the Gadani Ship Breaking Yard in Pakistan in February 2022.
What exactly happens when cruise ships arrive at the "cruise ship graveyard?" While you won't find marked gravestones decorated with colorful flowers, it's the final resting place for ships after their long and storied careers.
A TikTok shared by @ship_spotting_ shows drone footage of the Aliağa Ship Breaking Yard
The one-minute video shows cruise ships, mostly those formerly operating for Carnival Cruise Line, in various stages during the dismantling process and has received over 5.8 million views, 93k likes, and 4,500 comments.
The opening shot features four ships: two with their bows intact, while the other two are already partially dismantled.
It's hard to imagine the millions of passengers who enjoyed vacations on these one-grand vessels. Though the video doesn't show the end result, they're essentially reduced to skeletal remains.
One vessel is identified as Carnival Inspiration, a Fantasy Class ship that sailed for Carnival from 1996 to 2020, when Carnival sold her, along with her sister ship Carnival Fantasy, for scrap. While a far cry from the massive Carnival Jubilee, which entered service in December 2023, the 70,367 gross registered ton ship embodied the excitement of cruising during its two-decades-long career.
Perhaps that's why two Fantasy Class ships—Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise—remain in service today. Though mega-ships are filled to the brim with the latest technology and modern amenities, older cruise ships feature a charm and nostalgic appeal that cannot be replicated.
The clips show Deck 14 of one of the Fantasy Class ships, the former home of the ship's jogging track and mini-golf course, in shambles. Though the jogging track is easily identifiable, the miniature golf's turf has been torn up, with clutter like random pool tables and picnic tables, strewn across the deck.
Aerial shots reveal the once lively lido deck now desolate, with empty pools and a lack of sun chairs. What was once a bustling public space has given way to an eerie silence.
At one point, passengers crowded into the pool to cool off on hot sea days, and guests danced the night away underneath the stars during Carnival's infamous deck parties. Now, the space stands quiet, exposing the stark contrast to the vibrant energy it was hosted.
Another video shows Carnival Inspiration's final moments at sea before running aground
Cruise ships are beached at breaking yards, so the lower hull can be broken. Once they run aground, workers can begin to methodically disassemble the ship's structure, salvaging materials to be recycled and sold.
Clips from a video show Carnival Inspiration as it nears its final resting place, blaring its horn as it maneuvers between two already-beached ships.
The Bridge collides with another Carnival ship, and while not catastrophic, the impact damages a small section of the other ship's railing. At the end of the video, the sight of the now-beached Carnival Inspiration—alongside two other vessels—marks her transition from an operational cruise ship to scraps.
Do you have a beloved cruise ship that was sold for scrap? Share your favorite memories in the comments!
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
