Johanna Jainchill
For fans of the cruise ships that Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Group are shedding, last week's news that at least three would avoid the scrapyard and continue sailing was a silver lining in an otherwise bleak time for old tonnage.
Ship historian and journalist Peter Knego is among those fans.
"I was thrilled to see that the Costa NeoRomantica will be joining the Celestyal fleet instead of following the newer, larger Costa Victoria to the scrappers," he said. "It is nice to see that some of these mid-sized ships still have a bit of life in them."
The NeoRomantica, which entered service in 1993, was among five ships that Carnival Corp. said were being sold last week as the company continued to act on its pledge to part with 13 ships across its nine-brand fleet. Holland American Line has so far lost four of its 14 ships: The Maasdam (1993), the Veendam (1996), the Rotterdam (1997) and the Amsterdam (2000).
Holland America Line's Amsterdam was sold to Fred. Olsen. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Peter Knego
Knego also said that the Rotterdam and Amsterdam are "an ideal fit" for their buyer, British line Fred. Olsen, with relatively large cabins and suites and classic features like teak decking and a fully encircling promenade deck.
The fallout from the pandemic has presented an opportunity for small cruise lines around the world that typically have built fleets from the secondhand market and can now do so with attractive pricing on relatively newer tonnage.
"Fred. Olsen has benefitted nicely from Carnival's cull and have reportedly been looking at these and other ships for potential purchase for several years, but the price was too high until now," Knego said.
Knego thinks the fate of the slightly smaller and older Maasdam and Veendam may not be as rosy.
"Where they will end up is still a mystery, although it would not be out of the question that their days are numbered since no cruise line has stepped up to announce their purchase," he said.
Of course, newer ship introductions at these brands may be the death knell for the even older vessels they currently operate.
Ship historian and journalist Peter Knego wrote about his visits to the shipbreaking yards at Alang, India, in this 2008 piece for Travel Weekly.
"Just as it has thus far shown with its effect on the elderly and health challenged humans, the virus is having a similar effect on the elderly and less financially secure cruise ships of our era," said Knego.
Knego said that Fred. Olsen's 1972-built Black Watch and 1973-built Boudicca, both former Royal Viking Line ships, have been beautifully maintained and remained extremely popular within the line's fleet until the Covid-19 crisis hit, but "will unlikely find another operator and will most likely be heading to the scrappers."
Also, unless Celestyal is planning a major expansion, the purchase of the NeoRomantica could indicate the end of the road for the line's Celeystal Olympia, which was built in 1982 as Royal Caribbean's Song of America, he said.
Celestyal Cruises' Olympia, the former Song of America. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Peter Knego
In other older ship news, Royal Caribbean group CEO Richard Fain confirmed last week that it was selling the Pullmantur ships, the Monarch, the Sovereign and the Horizon, former Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships from the 1990s (the Monarch of the Seas, the Sovereign of the Seas and Celebrity's Horizon, respectively). Reports from Europe indicate are going to be scrapped in Turkey.
But he also said that as of now, the company has "no plans" to shed others.
"As for the rest of the fleet, we will be looking for selected opportunities," he told travel advisors during a Coffee Chat hosted by Royal Caribbean International senior vice president of sales Vicki Freed, "but our fleet has consisted of largely very modern and efficient vessels which were ahead of their times even when they were built."
And while Carnival Cruise Line has not confirmed it, the 1990-built Carnival Fantasy and 1996-built Carnival Inspiration are both en route to Izmir, Turkey, the site of the shipyard the Pullmantur ships are heading to.
Knego earlier this month had predicted that the NeoRomantica, Maasdam and Veendam were likely to be among the ships Carnival Corp. sells. If his other predictions are correct, Princess Cruises' Sea Princess (1998) and any member of the eight-ship Fantasy class, that last being the Carnival Paradise (1998), could be next.