Farewell Regal Empress?

[Jens Boldt]

As Bahamas Celebration is due to begin her sailings on March, 16, for newly launched Celebration Cruise Line, 1953-built Regal Empress (ex-Caribe I, Caribe, Olympia) is awaiting her fate at Fort Lauderdale.

Maritime Matters now reports that Regal Empress is scheduled to depart Fort Lauderdale at midnight on March, 13/14, for an undetermined destination.:-o

brgds,
Jens

[Kai R]

MaritimeMatters reports that RE has been sold to indian breakers for 3 million $. The ship is in Freeport right now.

Regards

Kai

[Ferry-Man]

That is sad, another classic liner sent to the breakers. Can't be that many left...

[Kai R]

Once again an update by Maritime Matters:

"EMPRESS Exit
March 26: REGAL EMPRESS is scheduled to depart Freeport, Bahamas on March 28 with an Indian delivery crew for the long voyage to Alang, India, where the historic former SS OLYMPIA will end her days after a brilliant career spanning 56 years. The ship, long a staple of MaritimeMatters' reports and blogs, will be sorely missed by ship lovers around the world."

Regards,

Kai

[Jens Boldt]

Again some news from Maritime Matters:

As of April, 9, Regal Empress was still at her berth in Freeport. Crew of Norwegian Gem sighted her there on that day.
Though one might assume that this is merely a reprieve...

Regards,
Jens

[Geo. Hale]

Having cruised on the Regal Empress her loss to the breakers at Alang is especially sad. She will be missed by many like myself.
This may not be the place to bring this to bring this up, but I ask for forgiveness as I am new to this site. Does anyone know what happened to the SS Independence which has towed out of San Francisco early last year and then seemed to fall off the face of the earth??? My thanks to anyone who can answer this and point me to where there are more details about her, after she left San Fran.

[Jens Boldt]

Hi vialedante,

take a look here: http://www.maritimematters.com/shipnews200906.html
That's the most recent photo I found.
Edit: You have to scroll down a little bit...:-)

By the way, latest news on Maritime Matters report that Regal Empress has not been beached yet. (But as we all know sooner or later she will... :-( )

Best regards,
Jens

[Jens Boldt]

According to Maritime Matters Regal Empress is scheduled to be beached at Alang today, July 23, 2009.

Regards,
Jens