- In what is a sure sign of the times amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the 1991-built MS Monarch has arrived at a Turkish shipbreaking yard for dismantling.
- With cruises around the world suspended due to the pandemic, the former Royal Caribbean ship was sold for scrap along with the MS Sovereign and MS Horizon.
- All three were part of the fleet of Pullmantur Cruises, a Royal Caribbean subsidiary.
With cruising all but suspended worldwide, an article in Traveller talks about several large cruise ships being beached in Aliaga (Turkey) to be scrapped.
The ships include MS Sovereign, formerly Sovereign of the Seas, considered by many to be the world’s first “mega cruise ship” when it launched in 1988 with capacity for 2278 passengers.
Two other ships are seen in the videos, MS Monarch and Carnival Fantasy, with one clip showing the latter being driven aground in preparation for scrapping.
A fourth ship, Carnival Inspiration, is also reportedly bound for the scrapyard.
Bankruptcy due to pandemic
The owner of MS Sovereign and MS Monarch, Pullmantur Cruises, declared bankruptcy last month following the collapse of the cruise industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Royal Caribbean Group, which owns 49% of Pullmantur Cruises, indicated last month the two ships would be sold.
MS Sovereign launched to great fanfare in the late ’80s. At 73,529 gross tonnes and 268 metres long, it was the world’s largest cruise ship at the time and kicked off a new era of giant cruise ships.
MS Monarch was also a “Sovereign Class” ship. Both operated under Royal Caribbean’s banner before being transferred to Pullmantur in 2008.
Carnival cruises for sale
Last month Carnival Cruises announced the sale of Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration as part of a place to reduce capacity and focus on newer ships.
Two other ships, Carnival Fascination and Carnival Imagination, have been moved to “long-term lay-up status” with no set timeline for returning to operation.
Carnival recently announced it would delay its plans to resume cruising in Australian waters, cancelling six cruises scheduled between September 25 and October 29.
The cruise industry is largely suspended worldwide following the coronavirus outbreak, with several high-profile cases of infections spreading throughout ships and passengers being refused entry to ports for weeks.
Hurtigruten suffers a setback
The world’s first international cruise line to resume sailing, Hurtigruten, suffered a setback after it was reported on Sunday 41 crew on board its ship, the Roald Amundsen, had been infected with COVID-19 following two cruises in Norway.
Norway has announced a 14-day ban on cruise ships with more than 100 people docking at its ports.
- According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the cruise industry generates more than $200 billion in economic activity worldwide and supports more than 1 million jobs.
- In Australia, CLIA estimates if suspension of cruising continues into the summer peak, it could cost the economy $1.4 billion and put 4800 jobs at risk.
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Source: Traveller
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