What happens to cruise ships when they retire?
Most ships have an official lifespan of 30 years, which leaves us pondering, where exactly do cruise ships end up after they retire?
Buoy does this topic make us sad, but it is aboat time we find out what actually happens.
Awful puns aside, while it is a sad sight to see a cruise no longer doing what it was designed to do, it is not actually all bad news.
Typically there are three options that determine the fate of an old cruise ship.
Most often they are actually offloaded to a less-luxurious cruise line within the same company, or transported to a different part of the globe with smaller market share.
Alternatively, they are sold on the second-hand market to fledgling or budget cruise lines that are not interested in investing in new tonnage.
The Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line owns just two ships, one from Carnival built in 1987 and another built for Costa Cruises in 1991.
Because a majority of the cruise itineraries are just a short two-nights, passengers are less likely to be concerned about cabin decor, but instead look favourably towards the 10 free drinks included on these cruises.
The retro look that characterises most middle-aged cruises built during the cruise boom in the 1990s is becoming increasingly adaptable, particularly for cruise lines offering short trips.
Even 18-year old Carnival Victory continues to contribute a significant portion of revenue to the cruise industry from three and four-day cruise trips.
Another option is, of course, a nicely minted renovation.
According to Bloomberg, the annual ‘Cruise Lines Outlook’ from UBS estimates that by 2020, at least 12 per cent of global capacity will be 25 years old or older, and nearly five per cent will be pushing 30.
Carnival Cruises is just one of the companies that has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in order to revive their older cruise ships, particularly since nine of their 26 ships are over 20 years old.
Group chief executive officer for Carnival Corporations’ Holland America Group and Carnival UK, Stein Kruse, told Bloomberg older ships often have a loyal following and low book value.
“Some of the older ships in our brands are incredibly popular. They are well-kept, well-maintained, and they go on exciting itineraries”
And who could forget the extreme renovation when Silversea Cruises literally split 9-year-old Silver Spirit down the middle in March, in order to accommodate for an expanded pool area and more dining options.
Furthermore, Norwegian Cruise Line has invested $400 million to refurbish nine of its 16 vessels.
As per Bloomberg, Andy Stuart CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line said: “You get to that middle-aged period in a 30-year life, and the ships need a substantial investment. That’s exactly what we’ve done.”
“We don’t see any reason to retire ships,” he added.
And perhaps the older cruise ships who can no longer set sail will hopefully have the long-awaited happy ending like Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2).
One of the most famous cruise ships, 50-year-old QE2, which was part of the Cunard Line and sailed around the world 25 times hosting more than 2.5 million guests, has finally found a new home as a floating hotel in Dubai.
And the ships who don’t fall into the above categories will most likely end up being torn to scraps, or even somewhat sadder, left to wither away.
But fortunately this fate is becoming considerably less heard of, and a future without a cruise graveyard is something we can definitely get behind.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line carnival cruises Cruise Lines Outlook Cunard Line norwegian cruise line silversea cruisesLatest News
Collette goes off the beaten track with Canyon Country tour
To be clear TW is not advocating actually walking off the beaten track. Avoid the coyotes. Stay on the beaten track.
Intrepid & Korean Tourism Organisation team up to give agents a cooking masterclass
These guys learnt that Korean cooking is more than just putting kimchi on 2-minute noodles (as we once thought).
Winner, winner! Intrepid reveals the 9 lucky agents that won $2k
Who won the incentive? Which Intrepid trip will they spend it on? What day of the week is it again? Where am I? Huh?
Corporate Traveller reports 42% increase in Easter traffic this year
Business travellers just love Easter! Expect plenty of chocolate stained documents returning to the office on Tuesday.
Turbulent year wiped $384m off Qantas brand value: Report
Meanwhile, eating tuna at your desk can damage your own personal office brand value by several thousand dollars.
FAMIL: Room-Res & Singapore Tourism Board shows agents the Lion City’s roar
Click this article to see a man very impressed by a 20-layer chocolate cake. We're not kidding, he loved it!
Oceania Cruises offers sailors free pre-cruise hotel stay
Looking for ways to make your holidays as long as possible? Look no further.
Bonza launches new website to compliment app, agent portal
Does news about an airline's website fill you with ecstasy, glee and joy? Get your hit of the good stuff here.
MTA agents attends ‘Lunch ‘n’ Learn’ with AMA Waterways
When organising the event, Lunch 'n' Learn beat out Dinner 'n' Divulge and Breakfast 'n' Banter. Understandably so.
Travelmarvel reveals 2025 South America tours
If you spot any typos in the newsletter today it is because TW became distracted Googling images of Machu Picchu.
Tourists from 5 countries could be BANNED from visiting Australia
Anthony Albanese's immigration laws could impact tourism from certain countries.
Just how many passengers will Qantas & Jetstar hop around this Easter?
Airline workers are ready for gleeful Easter travellers! Also prepared for sticky children with chocolate on their face.
Air New Zealand gets ready for bumper Easter weekend
Air NZ gears up for travelling passengers this Easter, while TW looks to beat our egg eating record. 117 here we come!
Four Seasons Yachts reveals first itineraries to the Caribbean & Mediterranean
These trips look so good we wish there were five seasons! Alright, we'll see ourselves out...
FAMIL: Travellers Choice treats top agents to the wonders of Rotorua
This one's got plenty of famil pics and no one looks shockingly hungover in them! Clearly no TW staffers were there.
European Waterways celebrates 50th anniversary with week-long founders cruise
Plan on celebrating your 50th anniversary with a bottle of Moët and fairy bread? European Waterways has better ideas.
100th route! Jetstar celebrates the launch of Brisbane-Avalon with 12 hour sale
Jetstar knocks a ton and celebrates with a sale while TW once scored a ton and celebrated with about 17 beers.
Record-breaking year for NSW as visitor expenditure soars past $50 billion
Enjoy running round the Opera House? Be prepared to elbow even more tourists out the way.
Norwegian Cruise Line makes play for solo travellers
NCL ensuring you don't have to go trawling Tinder to find a cruise partner. Thank goodness, we were sick of catfishing.
Entire Travel Group’s Canada and Europe 2024/25 brochures are out now
Entire's new brochure is bittersweet; it both informs your clients and makes you envious of the holiday they'll take.
Malaysia Airlines adds 3 new destinations & A330neo seats
More seats means cheaper airfares and more money to spend on overpriced airport sandwiches. Woohoo!
Two divine days onboard Crystal Serenity
It's only pure serenity onboard this ship. Anxiety, agitation and anguish have been rejected by the bouncer.
How the Globus Family of Brands elevates coach touring: Travel Weekly TV with Chris Fundell
Chris' here so you don't think coaches mean peeling your thighs off a sticky leather seat every time you stand up!
The Flight Centre Foundation gears up for massive 2024 with 3 new board members
The foundation looks to invest $200k this year, spurring the TW journos to figure out how to qualify as a charity.
Barking Owl Communications to head up Anantara & Avani in ANZ
Fellow PR competitors had been barking up the wrong tree even thinking of bidding for this job!
Amex GBT to purchase CWT for $871m
It's big deals like this that get a firm handshake - hence the sore hands over at the CWT and Amex GBT offices.
1000MTG’s second global conference reminds agents to ‘strive and thrive’
Alongside messages to 'strive' and 'thrive' were those to 'survive', 'drive', 'arrive' and 'jive' (when appropriate).
Qantas A330 makes “loud bang”, pilots forced to shut down one engine
Qantas refusing to let Boeing have all the headlines in aviation world today!
GX Community Tourism Summit 2024 location revealed!
The new location has arrived and it'll blow your socks off! Time for another trip to Target for more socks then.
Visiting the destination my Mum didn’t want me to
Yet again, this journo has been a stress to his mother. Discover how this trip spurred his mother's anxiety here.
Agents come out of their shells at P&O’s turtle hatchery event
For some, it's a few glasses of bubbles to lure them out of their shell. For these agents, it was a bit more literal.
Boeing cleanout: CEO, chair to go as safety crisis plagues the manufacturer
CEOs are falling thick and fast these days. We should have started up a bingo game with their headshots in the office.
Virgin looks to swap MAX 10 order for MAX 8s amid Boeing delays: Reports
Virgin has changed its order for something smaller. Much like we have to at Maccas following a worrying doctor's visit.
Club Med unveils newest luxury yacht for 2024/25 early bird sale
This yacht is preserved for the early birds! Night Owls may also get onboard depending how late they stay up.
Abercrombie & Kent 2024 Asia Portfolio is here
Round up the family and get planning an Asia jaunt. Or, if they're hard to handle, brush them all and go it alone!
Elevate your earnings: Final days to secure double commission with Inspiring Vacations’ March offer
What could inspire you to sell more Inspiring Vacations? Double commission of course! That's all the inspiration needed.