Maintaining cruise ships that aren't in use is very expensive . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". It was removed and will be placed aboard Carnival Celebration in time for that vessel's debut in November 2022. Midship on deck 4 is the Wheelhouse/Navigation Bridge. Prices ranged from NZD 14950 pp (Ocean Suite based on twin share) up to NZD 20950 (Owners Suite). At the end of December 2015, Sweden's migration agency signed a hotel ship deal to house 1260 refugees on the chartered cruise ship Ocean Gala. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. It was, and still is, one of the more sumptuously-decorated FunShips. Retired from the Holland America fleet in 2002, Westerdam went on to serve a short stint with Costa Cruises as Costa Europa before landing in the Thomson/Marella family in 2010, first as Thomson Dream before being rebranded as Marella Dream in 2017. Island Escape's Fiordland experience also features daily Zodiac tours led by an experienced local tour guide. In October 2021, Island Escape Cruises Ltd's owner (Peter Bissett) announced that the company will officially start operations in New Zealand in November 2022. Take care, Helen Star Pisces was sold for scrap due to the collapse of Star Cruises' parent company, Genting Hong Kong, in 2022. Its because it once contained two ramps so cars could roll-on and roll-off. It was beached for scrapping in early June, 2022. Star Princess went on to serve a stint with P&O UK, sailing as Arcadia between 1997 and 2003. And thereafter, we are arranging the transportation from point A to point B, Chatziginnis said. Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson Cruises) is a British cruise line operated by TUI UK, offering cruise holidays around Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia. Thomson Cruises has operated the Island Escape under their all-inclusive Island Cruises since starting March 2013. Ships at the end of their lives are considered hazardous waste and it is. Between 1985 and 1990, she sailed for Sundance Cruises and Admiral Cruises as MS Stardancer. When the pandemic was at its peak lets say around summer 2020 and the first cruise ships started being scrapped, some of them were even getting double digits, like hardly $100 per ton, maybe $90, he said. As many as 13 cruise ships were reduced to scrap in 2020 more than in the five preceding years combined. [1] In 2002, she was transferred to the fleet of Royal Caribbean's new subsidiary Island Cruises as MS Island Escape. It is what got us into cruising and we had fond memories of our trip on her in spite of the Star being a tired ship. What Made It Special: Few people likely sailed Ocean Dream during the eight years it spent sailing for Japan-based Peace Boat, but more likely know it from its past life as Carnival Cruise Line's trendsetting Tropicale. Renamed Norwegian Sea in 1997, the ship operated the line's famous "Texaribbean" voyages from Houston for many years in the mid-1990's before being transferred out of the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet in 2005. Pullmantur filed for bankruptcy protection in June as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. When CMV collapsed in the summer of 2020, Marco Polo was sold at auction. Like Windward, Dreamward went through a complex lengthening procedure in Germany in 1998, but emerged with two unique features: a retractable mast and a funnel that could open hydraulically in order to allow the ship to transit Germany's Kiel Canal -- something the ship, as Norwegian Dream, did on a regular basis, earning legions of fans who would line the canal to watch "their ship" sail the legendary waterway. Palmys kids club is entertaining and imaginative, offering the best childcare and daily activities. In late July, the ship arrived at the breakers in Aliaga and will be scraped alongside Sovereign. The ship was the first foray into cruising for low-cost European air carrier EasyJet. 66 Ships | 141,881 Berths | $42 Billion | View. Marella Celebration's sister-ship, Marella Spirit (the former Nieuw Amsterdam) was scrapped in 2018. The cruise line has nothing to do anymore with the vessel. Cruise & Maritime Voyages purchased Pacific Pearl in 2017 and renamed it Columbus. Since 2002, the renamed ship (MS Island Escape) was deployed in the Mediterranean (during summers) and in South America (in the winters). Zenith was transferred to Spanish-line Pullmantur in 2007, and was set to debut for Peace Boat in 2020. Breaking Yard: Alang, India. While these pioneers had been outclassed by . After the COVID-19 pandemic, Carnival Fantasy was sent in early July to Curacao where major fittings and fixtures were removed. Cruise ship stuck offshore as . [2] Island Escape operated in the Canary Islands and the Western Mediterranean under Thomson Cruises. Ocean Gala has now been beached in Alang. we would never have taken up cruising. Norwegian Escape is ready to whisk you away to The Caribbean from Miami and Orlando, Canada & New England from New York, and the Mediterranean from Rome. The vessel was in Denmark and completed its five-year survey with class society DNVGL. What Made It Special: Horizon was constructed in 1990 as the first of two nearly identical newbuilds for Celebrity Cruises. The ship has . MS Island Escape ship was operated and owned by Thomson UK under the Island Cruises brand until December 2015. Spacious and indulgent, yet intimate . In 1991, the ship was renamed Marco Polo; an iconic moniker it would keep with it for the next three decades despite changing operators several times. When Crown Princess debuted in 1990, it was a game-changer for Princess Cruises. In 1985 she was renamed MS Stardancer and in 1990 MS Viking Serenade before being converted to a cruise ship in 1991. Scrap Values. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. And in that time, we've seen relatively young ships head to the breakers with no chance for a farewell cruise or proper send-off. In August 2016, Ocean Gala was put up for sale for EUR 17,8 million (~USD 20M). what it is like working on a cruise ship. The ship was to cater to the Indian cruise market with cruises from Mumbai, India and Dubai, UAE, but Jalesh Cruises suspended all operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As to marine technologies, the vessel is SOLAS-certified and fitted with the latest-model stabilizers, dynamic positioning system (allows the ship to be stationary without dropping the anchors thus preventing the seabed from damage), fuel-efficient diesel engines, diesel-electric propulsion system, modern HRV/waste-heat recovery system (using the engines' heat for heating the water used in cabin showers and in the galley/kitchen), catalytic converters (reducing NOx emissions to ~90%). Things when silent and she reappeared in the Middle East late last year and now its been confirmed that she is currently enroute to India. The 1800-passenger ship Island Escape was sold by Thomson Cruises to Cruise Holdings Inc (a consortium of South Florida-based investors) in December 2015. At this point the end was near. This is quite young for the normal industry in cruising in our understanding, said Chatziginnis. The documentary was initially broadcast in the UK during 2002. Karen was either thrown or pushed from the balcony oif their cabin and fell straight down into the water below. In July 2022, Golden Iris was sold to shipbreaking interests, ending the vessel's 47-year career. Cruise lineIsland Escape Cruises NZ (Small Cruise Lines). Island Escape - Passenger ship, IMO 8002597, Callsign C6SK4, Flag Bahamas - vesseltracker.com All passenger staterooms (designed by Tillberg Design of Sweden) are stylishly decorated, with premium bedding sets (Egyptian cotton linens, 6 pillows), bedside cabinets, wall-mounted reading lamps, writing desk (direct-dial phone, magnifying mirror, power outlets, USB charger), two armchairs, coffee table, wall-mounted HDTV, modern entertainment systems, large wardrobes, spacious bathrooms (WC-toilet, shower, single-sink vanity), individually/thermostat-controlled air conditioning. Dismantling will commence shortly. It was beached for scrapping in July 2022. Position & Voyage Data Track on Map Add Photo Add to fleet Especially when you have to respect other regulations (like the EU ones), Chatziginnis said. Fares for the Ultimate Fiordland cruise started from NZD 13950 (~USD 8750 / GBP 7240) per person with double occupancy (2022 currency exchange rates), and are inclusive of overnight hotel and breakfast (in Queenstown), 9-night cruising (on the yacht Island Escape), as well as 2x helicopter transfers. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Coronavirus: Updated Cruise Ship Policies and Cancellations, Celestyal Cruises Buys Costa Cruises Ship, Rolling Out the Deals: Why Now Might Be a Great Time to Book a Cruise, Popular Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship To Homeport From Barbados For First Time, Ships Ahoy! The voyage features an overnight in Queenstown, bus transfer to Fiordland NP's Milford Sound (Te Anau Lake, for a 20-minute helicopter tour and joining the yacht in Doubtful Sound), stopping in Pickersgill Harbour (Dusky Bay), cruising Dusky Sound and Breaksea Sound (Disappointment Cove, Sunday Cove, Third Cove), cruising Moana Uta (Wet Jacket Arm's marine reserve, up to Herrick Creek), overnight anchorage off Oke Island, navigating Vancouver Arm (bay) and Broughton Arm (Southland, Murihiku), then continuing north to the Fiordland sounds Nancy and Charles (Day 8), Caswell and George (Day 9), Bligh and Milford (Day 10). She then sailed towards northern Europe, however the plan never materialized and she spent the summer of 2016 and into 2017 hopping around Europe going from one layberth to another. Our first cruise was on her sister ship the Island Star which was bigger and a former Celebrity ship. We have seen a couple of units being sold for recycling in India already, but a couple of units is nothing compared to the numbers weve seen in Turkey so far, Chatziginnis told Cruise Industry News. [21], On May 25, 2006, Micki Kanesaki was murdered by her ex-husband, Lonnie Kocontes, while aboard the Island Escape. For 2023 were scheduled voyages along Western Australia's Kimberley Coast (leaving roundtrip from homeport Broome) in the period May-September (2023) as well as itineraries visiting South Pacific Islands and Tahiti. Join Island Time as we share the latest in cruise news. What was meant to be one of the world's largest cruise ships is being prepared for its maiden voyage - to a scrapyard. The largest accommodations were the Club and Island Suites, having a separate bar and lounge area. Two UK cruise ships have been scrapped on an Indian beach despite assurances they would continue to be operated. ISLAND ESCAPE CRUISES The Spirit of The South Pacific Our Destinations Kimberley - Australia May - September 2022 Broome to Broome Kimberley - Australia September 2022 Broome to Darwin Tropical North Queensland - Australia October 2022 Ultimate Fiordland - New Zealand December 2022 - March 2023 Tahiti April - June 2023 South Pacific Coming in 2023 In 2009, Rhapsody was sold to Israel-based Mano Maritime, and operated cruises from Haifa under the name Golden Iris. Norwegian Dream sailed for Norwegian Cruise Line until 2008, when it was laid up until its 2012 transfer to Star Cruises. The Cruise.co.uk forum is the perfect place to meet and interact with likeminded cruisers to have invaluable conversations. There were plans to convert the ship into a private yacht that never came to fruition, and EasyCruise One (then renamed simply, Cruise One) was placed in long-term layup in drydock. At the height of the pandemic, however, those values could be as low as $90 for EU-flagged ships. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. "Costa will be informing guests booked on the next Costa Victoria cruises, who will be guaranteed a re-protection in accordance with the applicable legislation.. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Sporting one of cruising's most unique profiles, Astor was built in 1987 for Safmarine before the contract was sold to the Marlan Corporation. Repeats of the documentary were later shown on Bravo. Olsen Cruise Lines in 1996 and renamed Black Watch. On November 30, 2021 the former Costa NeoRomantica was confirmed to be destined for a Pakistani shipbreaker. So, ultimately the ownership and responsibility of the vessel would be transferred to the owning entity that would be buying the vessel. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. She became MS Island Escape in 2002 being renamed once more as MS Ocean Gala in 2015. Island Escape Cruises deals are inclusive of all the onboard food and beverages (spirits, wines, beers and champagne by the glass, soda, bottled water, brand teas/coffees), unlimited Wi-Fi, all daily activities (entertainment, boat tours, etc), helicopter transfers (shore-ship-shore). In Turkey, the value is considerably less at $280-300 per ton. Island Escape's inaugural itineraries (planned for season 2021-2022) included Fiordland National Park, Bay of Islands, as well as helicopter golf cruises (leaving roundtrip from Auckland). At the time of her construction, she was the largest cruiseferry in the world. It was to have had a sister-ship named Costa Olympia; instead, that vessel became Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sky. Restaurants and food bars:Island Restaurant(British and international buffets),Beachcomber Restaurant(24 hours a dayself-service buffets, international theme nights). In November 2021, the vessel was sold for scrap to Turkish interests. At the stern (aft on deck 3) there is an Outdoor Lounge (alfresco dining area with two large tables plus couch seating) which is roof-protected by the Helideck above. Chatziginnis said the average scrap value in India is $400 per ton. We are (then) sending the unit to the recycling facility, and the recycling facility has to pay for purchasing the vessel to recycle in accordance with the standards that were going to agree on, he added. Fun fact is, that in 2002, Island Escape was featured in a UK TV mini-series documentary. Cruise Critic will update this article as more details become available. Though lacking in balcony cabins and reflective of an entirely different design of cruise vessel, the ship's old-world charm, open public areas and broad teak decks were enough to make even the most jaded cruiser overlook its shortcomings that included some pretty wicked vibration in cabins near the stern. The 2021-built cruise yacht Island Escape is a 30-passenger ship owned by Seasons Shipping Co Ltd ((Jongno-gu/Seoul, South Korea-based, 2020-founded company registered in Hong Kong China) and operated under demise/bareboat charter by the New Zealand-based company and travel brand Island Escape Cruises Ltd. Bareboat charter is an arrangement for hiring the ship without the crew or provisions included in the deal. Island Escape Cruises NZ cancels 12-day Wild West Coast voyage from Broome (Kimberley, Western VARD Vietnam Shipyard (Vung Tau, Vietnam). I doubt that in the last decade, at least, or maybe even more than this, we have seen so many cruise ships being recycled in a year, he added. Peter Bissett, who launched Island Escape Cruises in New Zealand in 2006, sold the original 24-passenger catamaran, Island Passage, in 2018. In April 2009, the ship joinedThomson UK (now Marella Cruises)as "Island Escape". What Made It Special Easily the most venerable and iconic ship on this list, Cruise & Maritime Voyages' Marco Polo was the last of the "grand dame" ocean liners pressed into cruise service, and one of the few remaining passenger vessels from the 1960's still in active cruise passenger service. Sovereign of the Seas was transferred to Pullmantur in November of 2008 and embarked on its first voyage for the line in the spring of 2009. In May 2022, the ship was confirmed sold for scrap following the bankruptcy of Genting Hong Kong's cruise holdings, which included Star Cruises and luxury brand Crystal Cruises. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The ship then served short stints with a succession of owners before being acquired by Fred. For season 2023, Island Escape Cruises introduced three new itineraries - "Experience the South Pacific" (Tahiti, Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji), "Experience Papua New Guinea" (Sepik River, Milne Bay, Trobriand Islands, Rabaul), "Experience Tahiti" (April-June/7-night voyage visiting the Leeward Islands in French Polynesia/fly-cruise from Papeete Tahiti to Bora Bora, Tahaa, Raiatea, Huahine). .css-13x0bir{position:relative;max-width:800px;}.css-13x0bir>*:not(style){overflow:hidden;position:absolute;top:0px;right:0px;bottom:0px;left:0px;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:100%;height:100%;}.css-13x0bir>img,.css-13x0bir>video{object-fit:cover;}.css-13x0bir::before{height:0px;content:"";display:block;padding-bottom:56.25%;}. Vard Design. The world's largest cruise company reported a loss of $2.9 billion in the quarter ending on Aug. 31 and announced that it would remove 13 of its older, less efficient ships from its global. After several drydock conversions, the vessel was last rebuilt to passenger capacity 1760 (plus 540 crew). GMS also vets the requirements of the original owner for regulations that need to be complied with and then guides them with how to proceed with the scraping in the best interests of the cruise industry. It operated short cruises for Star Cruises, and became one of the line's smallest -- and most iconic -- ships thanks to its banks of windows inset into its forward-facing superstructure. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In 10 episodes, it showed the working lives of some of the crew, giving an insight into what it is like working on a cruise ship. Top 10 Largest Ships in the World [2022 EDITION]. She then relocated to Scandinavia and sailed on their flagship route Oslo-Copenhagen. If it looks similar to another ship regularly based in the UK, that's because the ship was built to almost mirror the Astor of 1981, which most recently sailed as Saga Pearl II for Saga Cruises. Island Escape Cruises. Like its sister, Zenith had a unique layout that included a large oversized reception area and numerous cozy dining and lounge venues that would form the basis for newer, larger Celebrity vessels designed in the late 1990's and early 2000's. But with little in common with the more grand transatlantic queen, Queen Elizabeth 2, the ship and sister Cunard Countess never really found the right fit in the Cunard fleet. What Made It Special: Built for Celebrity Cruises in 1992 as the sister-ship to Horizon, Zenith was famous for its distinctive style. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. At the time of construction, it was the world's largest cruise ferry. Originally based out of New York, the ship has had a number of homeports over the intervening 26 years. Kanesaki was murdered in the same manner as Karen Waltz 18 years earlier. The ship was sold for . In February 2022, Carnival announced that Ecstasy would take over itineraries from Mobile for Carnival Sensation before being removed from the fleet in October 2022. The onboard meals are prepared by professional chefs using the freshest ingredients, including local seafood and the guests' daily catch. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. What Made It Special: Debuting in 1993, Celestyal Experience started life as Costa Romantica, and was later renamed Costa neoRomantica to coincide with a sweeping refit of the vessel in November 2021 that added new cabins, additional balconies, and refitted public rooms. A few years later she was sold again to Admiral (Royal Admiral) Cruises. MS Island Escape had 3x restaurants, two of them buffet-style. When MS Scandinavia was launched in 1982, she was one of the world's largest passenger ships, and cruising out of homeport NYC New York to The Bahamas. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Much was made about it and sister-ship Regal Princess (1991), which both had distinctive "domes" situated above their navigation bridges. In 1985 she was renamed MS Stardancer and in 1990 MS Viking Serenade before being converted to a cruise ship in 1991. He has been writing about the cruise industry since 2009 and studying it since 1998. On June 23, Costa Victoria arrived in Piombino, Italy for scrapping after being purchased by Genova Trasporti Marittimi. The world's longest-serving cruise ship, Astoria, will be scrapped in the coming weeks or months. What Made It Special: Originally built as a Baltic cruise-ferry, Star Pisces was purchased by Star Cruises in 1994 and sailed for Singapore. Island Cruises was a cruise line that was founded as a joint venture between Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and First Choice Travel PLC, each of whom owned 50% of the company. Adventure. Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the construction process was hampered (lockdowns, restrictions, supply chain disruptions) and the yacht's delivery was delayed ~7 months. In 2016, Thomson cruises replaced Island Escape with Splendour of the Seas. Note: In 2021 was launched the 30-passenger superyacht Island Escape, owned by the New Zealand-based company and travel brand Island Escape Cruises Ltd. If it hadn't been for I.E. Olsen fleet, Boudicca arrived at the shipbreaking yards in Aliaga, Turkey in May 2021 to be broken up. Following the line's collapse, the ship was auctioned off for just $5.3 million to Greek-owned Seajets. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. On July 23, 2020 Carnival announced that Carnival Fascination would be withdrawn from service and placed in long-term layup. When it emerged, it boasted a new midsection complete with a new dining room, new bars and lounges, and additional passenger accommodation. A total number of cabins: 768 (of which 3 Suites, 472 Oceanview, 284 Inside, 28 Single, 4 Wheelchair accessible). The vessel was ordered to Vard Vung Tau Ltd in December 2019 (when the shipbuilding contract was signed) and its construction officially started in June 2020, with the keel-laying ceremony. Details for the ship Island Escape , IMO 8002597, Passenger ship, Position Mediterranean Sea with current real time AIS position and ship photos by vesseltracker.com. A record-breaking 46 cruise vessels could enter service in 2021: 30 ships that are set to debut and 16 more ships that were delivered in 2020 but have yet to enter revenue service. The ships were initially odered for Overseas National Airways of the United States, and Hugh Hefner was reportedly involved in their design. Island Escape SHIP HORN | Cruise ship scrapped Cruises & Travels Crew 16.2K subscribers Subscribe Share 2K views 1 year ago VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER The cruise ship Island. Hair and Beauty Salon, Gym, pool, Sports deck, 24-hour Room service (extra charge), casino, Ocean Theatre, Palmy's Kids' Club, Teens' club, Video Arcade, gift shops, photoshop. After a short reprieve, the ship was beached at Alang in late November 2022. MS Island Escape (Thomson Cruises), Viking Serenade (Royal Caribbean ), MS Stardancer (Royal Admiral Cruises), MS Scandinavia (DFDS Seaways). Take a trip down memory lane to see all of the cruise ships sold or scrapped due to the pandemic in 2020 and so far in 2021. Designed by Joe Farcus, the ship's interiors recall the grand days of Hollywood, with public rooms like the Beverly Hills Bar named accordingly. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". In 2016, Thomson cruises replaced Island Escape with Splendour of the Seas. At Island Escape Cruises we are passionate about preserving the beautiful water in which we are travelling. The boat had 11 decks, of which 9 were passenger-accessible and 7 with cabins. The vessel (IMO number 9903994) is currently France-flagged (MMSI 538009093) and registered in Majuro/Marshall Islands. As Westerdam, the ship played a leading role in the 1997 comedy film Out to Sea, starring Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon as reluctant dance hosts. Carnival confirmed on July 23 that the ship had been sold, and the ship arrived in Aliaga, Turkey shortly thereafter for scrapping. It also features separate female and male saunas. Tropicale was in service with Carnival until 2000, when it was transferred to Costa Cruises as Costa Tropicale. The value can depend on various factors, such as the country where the facilities are located or whether the cruise vessel was registered in a EU country. Happy Father's Day to all you Island Dads! A role of a company like GMS is to organize the entire recycling process. By continuing to use our website you agree to our For other ships with the same name, see, Last edited on 16 February 2023, at 18:52, "Former Southwest Marine shipyard (Los Angeles, California)", "ISLAND ESCAPE cruise vessel 09 July 2012", "Splendour of the Seas Sold to TUI for Thomson Cruises", "Thomson Cruises sells Island Escape to Cruise Holdings", "Floating Accommodations > Our Services > Passenger Vessel > Ocean Gala", "Planerna p asylfartyg gr vidare s vill Hrnsandspolitikerna stoppa etableringen", "Fretaget bakom Ocean Gala: "Finns inget som kan stoppa det", "Kryssningsfartyget p plats och polisanmlt", "Asylbten r framme hamnen polisanmld", "Det blir Ocean Galas nsta hamnstopp Asylbten r framme sydligare breddgrader vntar", A la Casse - Bulletin d'information et d'analyses sur la dmolition des navires n 47, du 1er janvier au 31 mars 2017, "Ocean Gala I (ex-Viking Serenade, Island Escape) To Be Scrapped | CruiseInd", "Death of a Bride of Nine Days a Strange End to an Unusual Courtship", "Man Charged with Strangling Wife Seven Years After Cruise Ship Murder", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MS_Ocean_Gala_1&oldid=1139752900, Car and trailer space converted into cabin space, This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 18:52. Some of these larger cruise ships (are) being laid up in locations like Greece, for example, until more spaces are available to digest in Turkey.. Island Escape was drydock-refurbished at Damen Shiprepair Brest (France)/shipyard then renamed "Ocean Gala". Much like a flight on EasyJet, EasyCruise promised "unbundled" pricing, with surcharges for everything from onboard meals to cabin service. 7-day round-trip from Palma de Mallorca -Tue Oct 13 (Palma de Mallorca, departing), Thu Oct 15 08:00am to 04:00pm (Olbia), Fri Oct 16 08:00am to 06:00pm (Naples), Sat Oct 17 07:00am to 07:00pm (Civitavecchia (Rome)), Sun Oct 18 08:00am to 05:00pm (Calvi), Mon Oct 19 12:00pm to 07:00pm (Port Mahon), Tue Oct 20 (Palma de Mallorca, arrive). The luxury boat was constructed by VARD Vietnam (at Vung Tau Shipyard) and is also available for private charters. Since then, shes been trying to find work. The 1982-built MS Ocean Gala cruise ship (best known as "MS Island Escape") was constructed by Dubigeon Normandie SA (Nantes France) as the world's biggest cruiseferry at the time. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. On November 27, 2020 Ocean Dream was reported sold to scrapping interests, and was beached in Aliaga, Turkey in January 2021. In October 2021, it was reported the ship was sold for $3.6 million in cash to a buyer out of Dubai. Greg (he/him) is the founder and editor of CruiseInd. History [ edit ] The company had initially entered the cruise market in 1973, but due to rising fuel costs the venture was terminated in 1976.