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Journalist and historian Peter Knego has traveled the world for four decades documenting cruise ships and ocean liners. He has sailed on more than 300 ships, along the way amassing hundreds of thousands of images and over a thousand hours of video. Included in his inventory are ships now headed for the scrapyard. Pictured, the Carnival Fantasy.

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Bidding farewell to a number of cruise ships

Journalist and historian Peter Knego has traveled the world for four decades documenting cruise ships and ocean liners. He has sailed on more than 300 ships, along the way amassing hundreds of thousands of images and over a thousand hours of video. Included in his inventory are ships now headed for the scrapyard. Pictured, the Carnival Fantasy. Photo Credit: Peter Knego

Journalist and historian Peter Knego has traveled the world for four decades documenting cruise ships and ocean liners. He has sailed on more than 300 ships, along the way amassing hundreds of thousands of images and over a thousand hours of video. Included in his inventory are ships now headed for the scrapyard. Pictured, the Carnival Fantasy.

The first in one of the most successful cruise ship platforms ever, the 70,367 gross ton Carnival Fantasy was built in 1990 as the Fantasy. The Carnival Fantasy also has the dubious distinction of being the first Carnival ship to be sold for scrap while still in Carnival service and is now being broken up at Aliaga, Turkey. The Fantasy's Club 21 Casino was typically eye-popping with its vivid lighting effects and wild color schemes.

Like its sisters, the Fantasy, which was renamed the Carnival Fantasy in 2007, featured whimsical entertainment decor by legendary architect Joe Farcus. This is his Egyptian-themed Cleopatra's Bar.

Shortly after the Carnival Fantasy was beached at Aliaga, it was joined by its sibling, the Carnival Inspiration, the sixth ship in the eight-member Fantasy Class.

There was nothing low key about the Carnival Inspiration's decor. This is the ship's Brasserie Bar and Grill buffet dining area.

The 70,367 gross ton Inspiration was built in 1996 and renamed the Carnival Inspiration in 2007. Like its sisters, it boasted a multi-deck, skylight-topped, neon-fringed Atrium.

In a move to downsize and cut expenses during the Covid crisis, Holland America sold its twin flagships Rotterdam and Amsterdam to British-based Fred. Olsen Cruises this summer. The 61,849 gross ton, 1997-built Rotterdam will be renamed the Borealis when it enters service for Fred. Olsen next year.

The Rotterdam was recently refitted with Lanai cabins that open directly onto the ship's teak-lined, fully encircling promenade.

Both the Rotterdam and the Amsterdam have spectacular Crow's Nest observation lounges that will be very popular on Fred. Olsen's long, scenic voyages.

The Rotterdam's near twin sister the Amsterdam will become Fred. Olsen's Bolette when it enters service for the British-based line next year. Both the Amsterdam and the Rotterdam feature twin uptakes that were inspired by those of the 1959-built steamship Rotterdam that is now a floating hotel and museum in its namesake city.

The Amsterdam and its sister feature a sliding glass Magrodome over their midships pool areas that prove handy during inclement weather.

One of the more imposing decorative features aboard the Amsterdam is the huge world clock sculpture in the center of the ship's three deck tall atrium.

Now without an operator, the 55,819 gross ton Vasco Da Gama, shown here in Holland America Line livery, joined the CMV fleet in 2018. It was originally the 1992-built Statendam, the first in a four-ship platform designed for Holland America Cruises.

The Statendam and its sisters were designed with epic double-deck dining rooms in their sterns. This is a starboard-facing view from the balcony of the Statendam's Rotterdam Dining Room.

The Veendam was the fourth member of the Statendam Class quartet, also consisting of the Ryndam, the Maasdam and the Statendam. The hulls and machinery of these ships are largely based on that of the 1991-built Costa Classica, which is currently Bahamas Paradise Cruises' Grand Classica.

Like its sisters, the Veendam, which has since been renamed the Aegean Majesty, featured a spectacular two-deck, aft-situated dining room.

The Veendam's Atrium is dominated by a Murano glass sculpture by Italian artist Luciano Vistosi.

Holland America has also sold its two oldest, smallest ships, the 1993-built Maasdam and the 1996-built Veendam to undisclosed Greek buyers. The 55,575 gross ton Maasdam was the third ship in the Statendam Class quartet.

The double-deck Show Lounge begins two full decks of public spaces on board the Maasdam.

The Maasdam was built with 29 deluxe staterooms separate sitting areas and bedrooms.

The 73,192 gross ton Sovereign was the largest cruise ship in the world and the first all new "mega cruise ship" when it was completed in 1988 as Royal Caribbean's Sovereign of the Seas. It was transferred to Pullmantur and renamed the Sovereign in 2008.

Sovereign of the Seas boasted a multi-tiered, 1,050-seat showroom with excellent nightlines called the Follies Lounge.

Covid-19 spelled the end for Royal Caribbean's three-ship, Spanish-speaking Pullmantur Cruises division. As part of Royal's divestment of Pullmantur's assets, the blue hulled Sovereign is currently being scrapped at Aliaga, Turkey, alongside its sister ship, the Monarch.

Pullmantur's 73,941 gross ton Monarch, which is also being scrapped at Aliaga, was built in 1991 as Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas and shared "world's largest cruise ship" status with its twin sister, the 1992-built Majesty of the Seas, until 1995.

The Monarch and the Sovereign featured Viking Crown Lounges that were suspended from their funnels, offering spectacular 360-degree views through canted, full length windows.

The Sovereign and the Monarch featured a huge midships lido with two large pools and plenty of sunning deck space.

Pullmantur's third ship, the 46,801 gross ton Horizon -- shown as built for Celebrity Cruises as the Horizon -- is currently at Piraeus, Greece, being stripped of equipment and fittings after being sold to Turkish shipbreakers.

The Horizon has a spacious midships lido and pool. It was the first entirely new ship built for Celebrity Cruises and entered service in 1990.

Guests entered the Horizon via the aptly named Horizon Lobby, which was quite modest compared to the multi-deck atriums aboard the current Celebrity Cruises fleet.