It's 2021 and its time to reflect over 2020. Due to the pandemic, more vessels have been sold for scrap than any other year. It's affecting every cruise line, so selling vessels is the only way to make profit during these tough times. While some vessels got new owners, most are going to Alang, India or Aliaga, Turkey. The youngest vessel to be sold for scrap is the 1996-built Costa Victoria at only 25 years while the oldest to be scrapped is the 1961-built Marco Polo which at 60 years was the second oldest oceal liner turned cruise ship and the last surviving Soviet vessel.
It's not just some historic ships, even sister ships are being scrapped together! The eldest two Sovereign-class vessels the Sovereign and Monarch are being scrapped next to each other in Aliaga while their third sister Majesty is being scrapped in Alang. The first surviving purpose-built Carnival Cruise Line vessels also been sold for scrap. The Ocean Dream (ex. Tropicale), which was Carnival Cruises Line's first newly built ship is to be scrapped in Alang alongside the two remaining Holiday-class vessels and her younger ex-fleetmates the Magellan (ex. Holiday) and Grand Celebration (ex. Celebration) (the third sister Henna (ex. Jubilee) was scrapped in Alang in 2017). They are to be scrapped next to the two Crown-class Karnika (ex. Crown Princess) and Satoshi (ex. Regal Princess) which were the third and fourth purpose built vessels respectivelt for Princess Cruises. Even three of the eight Fantasy-class vessels Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Imagination, and Carnival Inspiration are being scrapped together in Aliaga.
It's tough to see vessels go, but when the pandemic crashes the cruising industry, reducing fleet is the only way to try to save the company. As newer vessels are better, larger and modern, older and vessels will be retired to make room. With 2021 still bearing the scars of 2020, only time will tell which more vessels will be saved or not.