And thereafter, we are arranging the transportation from point A to point B, Chatziginnis said. 9 Cruise Ships Scrapped in 2020 - Cruise Radio 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. To avoid increased costs for heating and since Ocean Gala did not comply with Finnish-Swedish Ice Class Rules, the vessel left the port 3 November 2016. Much like a flight on EasyJet, EasyCruise promised "unbundled" pricing, with surcharges for everything from onboard meals to cabin service. Homepage - Island Escape When CMV collapsed in the summer of 2020, Marco Polo was sold at auction. Thenwas immediately chartered and deployed inScandinavia (Kristiansand, Norway) to serve asa floating hotel for social workers involved in the Syrian refugee crisis. She has been sold for an undisclosed amount of money and will be broken up in Alang. What Made It Special: Carnival Ecstasy was the second Fantasy Class ship to be constructed for Carnival, and entered service in 1991 to wide acclaim. The world's largest cruise ship by passenger capacity is. Ships at the end of their lives are considered hazardous waste and it is. On June 23, Costa Victoria arrived in Piombino, Italy for scrapping after being purchased by Genova Trasporti Marittimi. Sporting one of cruising's most unique profiles, Astor was built in 1987 for Safmarine before the contract was sold to the Marlan Corporation. 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. The luxurious boat also features an outdoor spa pool/Jacuzzi. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Sadly, Astor was sold for just $1.7 million at auction, and was beached in Turkey on November 24, 2020 for scrapping. Why not join the UKs largest cruising forum? My supervisor did her first cruise on the Escape a few years ago and likewise, she now enjoys cruising. She was finally renamed MS Ocean Gala 1 before being scrapped in 2018. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The cruise line has nothing to do anymore with the vessel. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. Since 2002, the renamed ship (MS Island Escape) was deployed in the Mediterranean (during summers) and in South America (in the winters). The ship was noted for its small size and angular funnel uptakes, as well as its dark wood-panelled interiors that recalled the grand oceangoing ships of yore. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. The ship was also renamed Norwegian Wind, and continued to sail for Norwegian until it was transferred to Genting-owned Star Cruises in 2007. Thomson Cruises buy Splendour of the Seas ship from Royal Caribbean 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). A piece of Carnival Ecstasy -- a vintage roadster -- will live on. On its way to Esbjerg, a short stop was made in Tallinn to refuel. What Made It Special: The sixth vessel in Carnival's Fantasy Class, Carnival Inspiration brought more of the same whimsical Carnival fun to the line, wrapped up in longtime interior designer Joe Farcus' sometimes wacky interior decor. Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the construction process was hampered (lockdowns, restrictions, supply chain disruptions) and the yacht's delivery was delayed ~7 months. Spacious and indulgent, yet intimate . After a stint at layup, Zenith arrived at Alang in September 2022 under the name "Singa", where it will be broken up. 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. [22][23], Island Escape was featured in a mini-series TV documentary which consisted of 10 episodes. The ship was finally sent to the breakers in 2022. What Made It Special: Grand Celebration was launched in 1987 as Carnival Cruise Line's Celebration. 915. yard no. Shame Ocean village left us as we enjoyed that one. Happy Father's Day to all you Island Dads! The third ship of the pioneering Royal Viking Line spent many years as a German cruise ship named Albatros and just recently was also sold for scrap. The youngest to be scrapped as of this writing is the 1996-built Costa Victoria, while the oldest vessel to head to the breakers was the beautiful 1965-built Marco Polo (the famed ex-ocean liner previously known as Aleksandr Pushkin). When we boarded we had a letter in our cabin to say that 'due to operational reasons' we wouldn't be doing this. UK cruise ships scrapped in India's 'ship graveyard' - BBC News When it emerged, it boasted a new midsection complete with a new dining room, new bars and lounges, and additional passenger accommodation. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. In 1985 she was renamed MS Stardancer and in 1990 MS Viking Serenade before being converted to a cruise ship in 1991. Since then, shes been trying to find work. Its because it once contained two ramps so cars could roll-on and roll-off. Following the line's collapse, the ship was auctioned off for just $5.3 million to Greek-owned Seajets. His first ship was the Norwegian Majesty. Its whimsical Joe Farcus-designed interiors were wild, bright, and vibrant, and wholly unique from Carnival Fantasy's later sisters. The ship was sold for just under $12 million dollars, and was beached at Alang, India for scrapping on November 30, 2020. The agency feared that the influx of asylum seekers would pick up again in the coming months due to warm weather. Following the 2015-2016 refit at Damen Brest, Ocean Gala headed to Scandinavia to serve as a floating hotel for workers involved in the refugee crisis. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, Which Cruise Ships Will Be Scrapped Or Taken Out of Service? My supervisor did her first cruise on the Escape a few years ago and likewise, she now enjoys cruising. By late-August, the first cuts were being made to Carnival Fantasy's bow, and by early 2021 the ship was gone. Thomson sold Island Cruises to TUI Travel in 2009. 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). It was to have had a sister-ship named Costa Olympia; instead, that vessel became Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sky. Photos of abandoned, stripped cruise ships show how deeply the cruise industry is sinking. What Made It Special: The lead vessel in Norwegian Cruise Line's Dreamward-class, SuperStar Gemini began life as Dreamward, and was joined by sister-ship Windward in 1993. What was meant to be one of the world's largest cruise ships is being prepared for its maiden voyage - to a scrapyard. Horizon managed to avoid the breakfers for two years, but was finally beached in late August 2022. [15][16], According to media, the compensation from the Swedish Migration Agency at SEK450/asylum seeker would generate SEK805,500/day if the asylum hotel was operated at full capacity.[17]. The shipowner Island Escape Cruises NZ (2006-founded by Peter Bissett) previously owned and operated the 2007-built catamaran Island Passage (IMO 8745216, 24-passenger boat) which was sold in 2018 to Maple Leaf Adventures (Canada) and renamed Cascadia. Bahamas Paradise confirmed to Cruise Critic that Grand Celebration had been sold. [24], "MS Scandinavia (1981)" redirects here. New company Bissett said Island Escape Cruises (NZ) Limited is a new company that will commence cruising in New Zealand from November until April 2022. 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.. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In January 2021, it was confirmed that Costa Victoria would be towed to Aliaga, Turkey to begin the scrapping process. Island Escape - Passenger ship, IMO 8002597, Callsign C6SK4, Flag Bahamas - vesseltracker.com Olsen and setting sail as Boudicca in 2005. Other onboard amenities include gift shops, video arcade, internet caf, swimming pool, sports deck, Infirmary/medical center. 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. Floating Accommodations claimed that a sale might be necessary to cover losses they would incur if Migrationsverket failed to pay a SEK 54M kronor (USD 6,44M) bill the company had sent to the agency for the costs of running the vessel. All Rights Reserved. At the height of the pandemic, however, those values could be as low as $90 for EU-flagged ships. In 2016 a deal was struck with the Swedish Government to use her as housing for the European refuge crisis. Island Escape staterooms (768 total) ranged from Standard Inside and Outside triple and quad cabins (fitted with twin single beds and bunks) to Outside Premier (bigger than standard, with table, chair, sofabed), Outside Deluxe (larger than the Premiers), Balcony (with a mini-fridge). Repeats of the documentary were later shown on Bravo. 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. 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. US Shipbrokers managed the vessel's sale in 2015 and became its commercial management firm. If the vessel has to be recycled in compliance with a regulation of the European Union, you would probably be looking in Turkey for something like $200 per ton equivalent because of their very limited capacity of the yards, which are compliant with European regulations, Chatziginnis explained. Like all aspects of life, the global health crisis has had a significant impact on the cruising industry. An outdoor observation deck (forward on deck 3/at the bow) is furnished with bench seats and small coffee tables. 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. Migrationsverket insisted that the agreement to house asylum seekers on Ocean Gala had been null and void since July. [citation needed] After being withdrawn from Scandinavian World Cruises, she briefly sailed for DFDS Seaways. 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). Most recently, the ship was based out of San Juan, and was due to replace Carnival Fantasy out of Mobile in 2022 prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. [1] The company operated in Europe, the Caribbean, and South America, aiming its products primarily at markets in the United Kingdom, Brazil and Argentina. It arrived for scrapping in December 2021, and was beached soon after. Homeported from Mobile for the last decade, Carnival Fantasy was due to be replaced by Carnival Fascination in 2022. Tropicale was in service with Carnival until 2000, when it was transferred to Costa Cruises as Costa Tropicale. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Ocean Gala has now been beached in Alang. The ship transferred to Norwegian Cruise Line in 1991 and sailed for a period of time as Westward. I think it was the worst cruise ship I have ever been on. The food was awful, but the entertainment was good, and the captain was very funny, but in the whole it was just like a glorified ferry. The largest accommodations were the Club and Island Suites, having a separate bar and lounge area. Black Watch was noted for its wide, open decks, abundance of public areas; and its unique itineraries. "Costa Crociere confirms that the ownership of Costa Victoria has been transferred to a subsidiary of Genoese company San Giorgio del Porto," reads a statement from Costa Cruises sent to Cruise Critic, while not directly confirming the ship's fate. The sale of the Astoria to a European Union-approved shipbreaking yard, most likely the. She was purchased by Cruise Holdings Inc, a Cypriot shell company with an apparent office in Miami. Holland America extensively refitted and stretched Westerdam between 1989 and 1990, and the ship carried on with the line until 2002, frequently spending its summers in Alaska on sailings out of Vancouver and winters in the Caribbean. Royal transferred her to their UK startup, Island Cruises and she enjoyed a successful career there until she was removed from service and put up for sale in 2015. The summer homeporting in Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Spain) offering fly-cruises from the UK made the ship also attractive for families. In 2018, the ship was leased as an accommodation vessel to MV Werften to house shipyard workers constructing new cruise ships for Dream Cruises and Crystal. By June 2022, workers had already cut most of the forward section of the ship. The idea behind her was that she would double as a cruise ship during the off season. Dining Rooms: Oasis (waiter service, a la carte, a cover charge applied, reservations required). Its funny Wilba, we sailed on her whilst the TV series was being made! Ocean Gala was scrapped in April 2018 in Alang (India), after being laid up for several months in Port Khalifa (Abu Dhabi UAE). 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! Did the new carnival Vista but shocking "no chips" on the buffet menu, all rice and jacket potatoes. It does not store any personal data. The deadly graveyards where cruise ships go to die Midship on deck 3 are positioned both tenders (starboard and portside) each feated with a davit crane. On January 15, 2021, Seajets reportedly flipped Magellan, selling it to scrapping interests in India and ending the venerable cruise ship's career. The documentary was initially broadcast in the UK during 2002. Look for a link at the bottom of this page or in our privacy policy where you can withdraw consent. Star Princess went on to serve a stint with P&O UK, sailing as Arcadia between 1997 and 2003. Maritime news site Tradewinds reported on February 15 that Carnival Sensation has been sold for scrap to interests in Aliaga, Turkey. Here's our running tally of the ship's we've lost in the past few years. [18] What Made It Special: Launched in 1994, Carnival Fascination was the fourth of eight Fantasy Class ships to debut. Breaking Yard: Alang, India. In 1985 she was renamed MS Stardancer and in 1990 MS Viking Serenade before being converted to a cruise ship in 1991. In Turkey, the value is considerably less at $280-300 per ton. Build a pink sandcastle in Bermuda. In 1990 when Admiral was merged into Royal Caribbean, she was transferred to Wallenius Wilhelmsen which is owned owned by the Wilhelmsen family who are the largest shareholder in Royal Caribbean and instrumental in their founding. The ship had a long career with Carnival, serving until 2009 with the line and acting as relief housing during Hurricane Katrina. Look at the Marco Polo it is a 55-year-old vessel It has been operating for, like, more than 50 years now And now, all the other major lines are scrapping all the vessels that were built in the 1990s and the 1980s. Tropicale had no direct sister-ships; subsequent newbuilds for Carnival revolved around the similarly-patterned Holiday Class and the Fantasy Class, which all shared some design characteristics but without total commonality. If it hadn't been for I.E. The 24-hour room service was at extra charge. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The new superyacht Island Escape (VARD Vung Tau yard/hull number 915) was designed by Vard Design (Vard Marine Inc's naval architecture and marine engineering division) and originally planned for delivery in April (postponed for October) 2021. Maintaining cruise ships that aren't in use is very expensive . Its interiors were designed by long-time Carnival architect Joe Farcus, who gave Ecstasy an overload of neon, glitz and 1990's colors that have been subtly -- but not overly -- toned-down in the intervening decades. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. [21], On May 25, 2006, Micki Kanesaki was murdered by her ex-husband, Lonnie Kocontes, while aboard the Island Escape. Norwegian Escape Cruise Ship | Norwegian Escape Deck Plans | Norwegian Its removal leaves just two Fantasy Class ships in service with Carnival: Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise. In 1988, Home Lines merged with Holland America Line, and Homeric became Westerdam. Island Escape Cruises NZ (Small Cruise Lines), Island Escape cruise ship arrested in Broome WA, unable to restart sailings. In 2002, she just became too dated for Royals fleet which was being dominated by the Voyager-class at this point. However, Chatziginnis said that steel prices globally have increased dramatically over the past few months and residual value has increased by nearly $100 per ton in each of the major ship recycling counties. Lets say youre taking delivery of a cruise vessel and, lets say, from Piraeus. In August 2016, Ocean Gala was put up for sale for EUR 17,8 million (~USD 20M). Much was made about it and sister-ship Regal Princess (1991), which both had distinctive "domes" situated above their navigation bridges. 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. Celebration found a new lease on life as Grand Celebration, the lead vessels for Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. Island Escape docked at Ajaccio, Corsica. Despite that, Ecstasy went on to have a long and profitable career for Carnival, sailing mostly shorter itineraries and weekend cruises. What Made It Special: Based out of Long Beach in recent years, Carnival Imagination was one of the few Fantasy Class vessels to not have been refitted with additional exterior balcony cabins. Island Escape - VARD 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). Take care, Helen The latter was scrapped in 2017, but Holiday continued to sail on as Magellan for now-defunct Cruise and Maritime Voyages. Ocean Gala Ship Review | CruiseMapper In 1990, the ship was sold to Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and renamed MS Viking Serenade. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Your personal data will be processed and information from your device (cookies, unique identifiers, and other device data) may be stored by, accessed by and shared with third party vendors, or used specifically by this site or app. Splendour will replace Island Escape, an all-inclusive ship, and its sale comes because of a joint venture between TUI Group and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. . Which Cruise Ships Will Be Scrapped Or Taken Out of Service? (2022) Island Escape yacht Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review - CruiseMapper And then it went bankrupt. In April 2009, the ship joinedThomson UK (now Marella Cruises)as "Island Escape". MS Ocean Gala 1 - Wikipedia Black Watch began life in 1971 as Royal Viking Star, the lead vessel for the much-beloved Royal Viking Line. The ship was sold for . The most popular among bars onboard - the Pub, just like your local. 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. 66 Ships | 141,881 Berths | $42 Billion | View. Island Escape - ship | The Small Cruise Ship Collection She's had a rather interesting career. 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. 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. Cruise lineIsland Escape Cruises NZ (Small Cruise Lines). Ecstasy made headlines in 1998 when a fire broke out in the ship's laundry facilities and the vessel lost power while setting sail from Miami. Ocean and Solo cabins are on Lower Deck (Ocean Deck/deck 2), while the Owner's and Horizon cabins are on Upper Deck (Horizon Deck/deck 3). She was actually christened in New York in September of 1982 and sailed some Bahamanian cruises out of there. That trend is changing, though. MV Ocean Gala cruise ship was built for Scandinavian World Cruises (DFDS) as "ms Scandinavia". The boat has 4 decks, of which 3 are passenger-accessible and 2 with cabins. According to Vagelis Chatziginnis, a senior trader at GMS Leadership (one such company that organizes ship scrapping), most of the vessel scrapping in 2020 took place in Turkey. It was when she was at this point in her service life, 1991, that she went under her final transformation to a single purpose cruise ship and no longer a cruiseferry. Its career with Princess was remarkably short -- just 12 years -- and in 2002 it was renamed A'Rosa Blu. Ocean Gala I (ex-Viking Serenade, Island Escape) To Be Scrapped So, from Piraeus in Greece, we put our crew onboard, and we arrange for the unit to go to Turkey. March Madness! The ship was sold to Chinese interests which, in October 2021, reportedly sold the ship for scrapping, and arrived on-location in December 2021 to be broken up. 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 After being retired from the Fred. 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. Adventure. 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. All Horizon Deck cabins are with floor-ceiling glass doors opening to private step-out balconies. 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. 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. Up to 10% Extra Bonus Discount - Book By 9pm 31st March, Ahoy there! New Zealand owner takes delivery of super yacht Island Escape In late 2016, Ocean Gala was planned for deployment in Central/Latin America and South America. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Asylum hotel plans did not come to fruition and the ship was put back on the market for either sale or charter in August 2016. With COVID-19 halting sailings back in March 2020, most major cruise lines have yet to resume sailing. While it is not uncommon to see cruise ships built in the 1970s and 1980s go to the breakers due to breakdowns or changing SOLAS (Safety Of Live At Sea regulations), older vessels are usually transferred first to another, smaller cruise operator -- a market that is often referred to as "secondhand tonnage." The luxury boat was constructed by VARD Vietnam (at Vung Tau Shipyard) and is also available for private charters. The vessel joined Thomsons fleet in April 2009. In 2016, Thomson cruises replaced Island Escape with Splendour of the Seas. In November 2021, the vessel was sold for scrap to Turkish interests. It marks the end to one of the most initially optimistic, and then saddest, developments for any vessel over the course of the pandemic. In 1994, it became Royal Cruise Line's Royal Odyssey before being acquired by Fred. Both vessels were also notably designed by famed Italian architect Renzo Piano. The concept wasn't entirely a success, and despite refitting the ship again to tone down the loud doses of orange decor, EasyCruise One was removed from service in 2008. What Made It Special Cruise & Maritime Voyages' Magellan began life in 1985 as Carnival Cruise Line's Holiday. 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. As of November 24, the ship is en-route to Bhavnagar, India, where it will arrive in early January for demolition. What Made It Special: You may not know the name Karnika very well, but this historic vessel's past names - as Princess Cruises' Crown Princess (1990) and P&O Australia's Pacific Jewel probably ring a few bells. The ship was then renamed Feodor Dostoevskiy for Transocean Tours between 1988 and 1995 before regaining its original name from 1995 onward. The former Royal Caribbean ship formerly known as the Viking Serenade, will officially be scrapped. MS Viking Serenade was launched as the cruiseferry MS Scandinavia in 1981. 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. Karen was either thrown or pushed from the balcony oif their cabin and fell straight down into the water below. A few years later she was sold again to Admiral (Royal Admiral) Cruises. Zenith was transferred to Spanish-line Pullmantur in 2007, and was set to debut for Peace Boat in 2020. Thomson Cruises has operated the Island Escape under their all-inclusive Island Cruises since starting March 2013. Get ready to chase sunsets on The Waterfront. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. It then went on to become the lead ship for budget-oriented (and now defunct) Ocean Village cruises before ending up at P&O Cruises Australia as Pacific Pearl.