The used cruise ship market is not slowing down in 2022, with a number of ship transactions kicking off the year.
Among the highlights: Two Carnival Cruise Line ships will leave the Carnival fleet, while the AIDAmira and Silver Explorer have found new homes.
Here are some of the major moves that have taken place recently.
(Note: For a complete market overview, including trade date, see the Used Market Report by Cruise Industry News.)
Carnival feeling
Capacity: 2,040
Tonnage: 70,367
Year built: 1993
Fate: Leaving the Carnival Cruise Line Fleet
Date: February 2022
The Carnival Sensation is leaving the Carnival Cruise Line fleet after nearly 30 years of sailing for the brand.
In a recent announcement, Carnival revealed that the Fantasy-class ship will be leaving the fleet this year along with Carnival Ecstasy.
Future plans for the ship have yet to be announced.
carnival ecstasy
Capacity: 2,040
Tonnage: 70,367
Year built: 1991
Fate: Leaving the Carnival Cruise Line Fleet
Date: February 2022
Carnival’s oldest ship, the 1991-built Carnival Ecstasy, is also expected to leave the company in 2022.
After completing one last program from Mobile, the Fantasy-class ship will bid farewell to the fleet in mid-October.
Carnival did not reveal any additional plans for the ship’s future.
AIDAmira
Capacity: 1,428
Gauge: 48,200
Year built: 1999
Destiny: sold to Ambassador Cruise Line
Date: January 2022
The AIDAmira is leaving the AIDA Cruises fleet in 2022. After only a few cruises since joining the German brand’s fleet at the end of 2019, the former Costa neoRiviera was sold to Ambassador Cruise Line.
The new UK operator plans to add the vessel to its fleet in 2023 and will rename the vessel the Ambition.
Prepared to offer flightless cruises from regional UK departure ports, the 1999-built ship will undergo an extensive refit before entering service for her new owners. The upgrade includes the installation of the latest emission reduction technologies for IMO Tier III compliance.
silver explorer
Capacity: 132
Gauge: 6,130
Year built: 1989
Fate: entry into service for a new cruise line
Date: January 2022
The Silver Explorer gets a fresh start by joining the fleet of Exploris, a new expedition operator.
The French startup plans to operate the 132-guest vessel on expedition trips around the world, starting in December 2023.
Built in 1989, the Silver Explorer was Silversea’s first ice-class ship, which began sailing for the luxury cruise line in 2008 as Prince Albert II.
eastern dragon
Capacity: 882
Gauge: 18,455
Year built: 1971
Fate: Scrapped
Date: January 2022
After five decades of career, the former Sun Viking was beached for demolition in Gadani, Pakistan.
Originally operated by Royal Caribbean International, the 1971-built vessel was part of the company’s original fleet, along with Nordic Prince and Song of Norway.
Most recently named Oriental Dragon, the ship spent its final years as a gaming ship in Asia.
