American Towns Tourists Ruined

Above, Key West, Florida was one of the towns named. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The term overtourism is something I first heard about in articles about Japan. Besides Japan, it now is applying to U.S. towns.

World Atlas has posted an article on American towns ruined by tourists. I have been to several of them over the years (Key West, Sedona, Moab, Jackson, Carmel-By-The-Sea, Estes Park) and I have to agree with their conclusions on them.

They begin with:

Ask people in a dozen American resort towns how they feel about tourism, and you will hear a version of the same story. Moab traded uranium mining for the crowds heading into Arches, and three million visitors a year now overload its water and sewer systems. Bar Harbor capped cruise disembarkations at 1,000 a day and has defended that limit in federal court since 2022. In Nantucket, the median home now runs about 3.5 million dollars, and the workers who keep the island running commute in by ferry. Each of these ten towns ahead bets on tourism, and each is now wrestling with what it won.

To read more, go here.

Key West Is A Literary Pilgrimage For Fans of Hemingway

Above, one of the many cats at Hemingway House. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2019, a friend and I took a cruise to Havana, Cuba. Along the way, the ship stopped for a day in Key West, Florida.

While there, I got off the shuttle bus to visit the Hemingway Home & Museum. I then took a self-guided tour of the former estate of Ernest Hemingway. There were many cats roaming around. They were descendants of a cat Hemingway had. 

Above, Ernest Hemingway's office. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A piece of trivia: The Hemingway Home was featured in the 1989 Timothy Dalton James Bond movie, Licence To Kill.

AOL posted an article on why Key West is a literary pilgrimage for fans of Hemingway.

They begin it with:

Hemingway's influence in Key West is so strong that it would be difficult to avoid hearing about the writer while visiting the island. The house he lived in with his second wife, Pauline, is now the Hemingway Home and Museum. Hemingway fans travel from all over the world to visit the beautifully preserved property and get a glimpse into the novelist's private life. Besides bedrooms and family rooms, you can go into the writer’s studio, where he worked on masterpieces like "To Have and Have Not" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls." While the house is great, the best part about the museum is seeing the true owners of the property roam around their kingdom: the six-toed cats that are direct descendants of Hemingway's beloved Snowball.

To read more, go here. 

Southern Living: Best Cruise Lines 2026

Above, Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas at Havana Port in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Like anything else, some cruise lines are better than others. 

Since 2001, I have cruised aboard three cruise line ships. The first cruise being with Celebrity to Alaska. The second was to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba with Royal Caribbean. The third cruise was with Norwegian to the Bahamas. 

Southern Living has posted their list off the "best" cruise lines for 2026 as chosen by their readers. 

They begin with:

With 370 ships sailing the world’s oceans, rivers, and waterways, it can be overwhelming to find the one that’s right for you and your family or group of friends. From luxury and adults-only to those filled with onboard adventures and kids’ clubs, there’s a cruise and a cruise line for everyone. 

To help narrow it down, we’ve compiled a list of the best cruise lines chosen by Southern Living readers to inspire you to find the right fit for your next trip. In addition to far-flung global destinations, many of these cruise lines offer enticing itineraries departing from ports close to home in Florida, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, and Texas, too.

To read more, go here.

What Happens To Retired Cruise Ships?

Above, Majesty of the Seas at Havana Port in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2019, a friend and I took a cruise to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba aboard Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas.

The following year, Majesty of the Seas was sold to Seajet in Greece. This took place when the worldwide pandemic hit. Majesty has been sitting and deteriorating ever since.

Some may ask, What happens to cruise ships after they're retired?

To answer that question Yahoo! Life posted an article.

It begins with:

Cruise ships are so massive that some of them are actually bigger than aircraft carriers. But like any other vessel on the ocean, they don't last forever. When their eventual end comes, cruise lines sometimes sell retiring ships to other companies, who repurpose them in various ways. This was the case with the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth 2, which are now floating hotels in California and Dubai, respectively.

Sometimes, cruise ships are rebranded and continue sailing the world after they're sold. For example, Margaritaville at Sea's newest addition, the Beachcomber, was actually purchased from Costa Cruises. In fact, this is the third ship the Jimmy Buffet-inspired cruise line has bought from Costa. However, the Majesty of the Seas, once one of Royal Caribbean's biggest ships, didn't get a new lease on life. It was sold to Greek ferry company Seajets in 2020. For years, the deteriorating ship has been docked, with no signs of sailing again.

If there is no demand for a ship to be repurposed, it may be scrapped. This was the fate for several Carnival cruise ships over the years, including the Ecstasy, the Fantasy, and the Sensation, among others. The decision to scrap a cruise ship is typically made for a variety of reasons, which can include renovation costs. Essentially, any money spent to modernize an older, outdated ship could ultimately result in a net loss. Some of these ships eventually end up in the largest cruise ship graveyard in the world.

To read more, go here. 

Beloved Royal Caribbean Vessel Now Looks Like A Ghost Ship

Above, Majesty of The Seas docked at Havana Port in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In April 2019, a friend and I took a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba. 

A year later, Royal Caribbean retired Majesty and sold the ship to Seajets in Greece. Then the pandemic hit. Since then, Majesty of the Seas, renamed Majesty of the Oceans, has been sitting unused in Greece. Its future is uncertain.

Above, yours truly aboard Majesty of the Seas. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

The following from Yahoo! Life shows the ship today.

They posted:

When cruise lines like Royal Caribbean build a new cruise ship, they don’t expect it to sail in their fleet forever. Most major cruise lines plan to get about 30 years of life out of each new ship they build, but that doesn’t mean that a ship is scrapped when it’s retired.

Large cruise lines often sell their aging vessels to smaller lines that will refurbish and rebrand them to continue sailing for many years to come. For example, up-and-coming cruise line Margaritaville at Sea is growing its fleet with ships purchased from larger Costa Cruises.

But while Margaritaville at Sea has carried out its expansion plans successfully with refurbished ships, some cruise lines’ plans for acquired ships don’t work out so well.

That appears to be the case for Greek ferry operator Seajets, which bought up eight cruise ships during the pandemic, according to a Cruise Industry News report, including Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas. Some of the ships Seajets purchased have since been sold for scrapping, while others, like Majesty, are laid up and deteriorating in a Greek port.

A recent YouTube video by drone videographer Michael Miller, which was shared in the Royal Caribbean community on Reddit, offers a haunting look at how Majesty now floats like an abandoned ghost ship in a port in Eleusis, Greece.

It is sad that a popular ship is deteriorating away. 

To read more, go here.

10 Must-Do Activities In Key West For Cruise Passengers

Above, salvaged artifacts on display at the Key West Shipwreck Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, I was planning to re-visit Key West, Florida. But those plans were scrubbed when the pandemic hit, so I ended up traveling around the Four Corners of the continental U.S.

I had visited Key West for a few hours as part of a cruise to Havana, Cuba in 2019. I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to go back. I still do, but I am very soured about air travel. It is nowhere near as enjoyable as it used to be.

Cruise Radio has posted a list of the top 10 must-do activities for cruise passengers in Key West. Some of which I did during our stop.

They begin with:

Every trip to the Florida Keys is complete with a visit to Key West. People come from all over the world to experience fun in the sun with the taste of the island life this destination offers its visitors.

From the bars and museums to the endless celebrations, here is a list of eleven popular attractions for your Key West itinerary when visiting Key West, Florida.

To read more, go here.

Carnival vs. Royal Caribbean: Which Is Better?

Above, yours truly on the cruise to Havana, Cuba in 2019. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

TheTravel has posted an article comparing Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. They ask, "Which is better?"

Personally, I have cruised once with Royal Caribbean and never on Carnival. I enjoyed the Royal Caribbean cruise to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba in April 2019. I have no complaints.

The article begins with:

With so many cruise lines to choose from, finding the right one can feel overwhelming—especially for first-time cruisers. Two of the most popular options, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, often come up in the conversation. Carnival recently surpassed Royal Caribbean in total number of ships, but more doesn’t always mean better. So, which cruise line truly delivers the better experience?

Both cater to a wide range of travelers, from families with young kids to couples and retirees, and each offers a packed schedule of activities across dozens of ships. In 2025, both lines are also making bold moves with their private island offerings—Carnival is launching Celebration Key in the Bahamas, while Royal Caribbean expects to bring 3.5 million guests to its popular Perfect Day at CocoCay.

In this article, we’ll compare Royal Caribbean and Carnival side-by-side, exploring their differences, similarities, and what makes each a favorite among millions of cruisers every year.

To read the full article, go here. 

Duplicate Southernmost Buoy To Stand In During Seawall Repair

Above, the Southernmost Point buoy in April 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who want to take a selfie at the famous Key West Southernmost Point buoy can continue to do so. But there's a little catch.

The buoy won't be the "real" one or at its location at the Southernmost Plaza. I saw the buoy in April 2019 when the tram I was riding in passed it.

The reason is, the plaza is to be repaired later this summer, so a duplicate buoy is being made to accommodate tourists.

According to the Keys News:

The City of Key West assures the world that the island’s most-photographed landmark, the Southernmost Buoy, will continue to be photographed while the intersection of the Southernmost Point is repaired later this summer.

While the original Southernmost Buoy will be temporarily unavailable to visitors, the city is constructing a new, temporary buoy, which will be placed at the Duval Street Pocket Park, 1400 Duval St.

Past storm events have undermined the existing Southernmost Plaza, according to city spokeswoman Alyson Crean, and the city is readying to repair the seawall and other damage at the corner of South and Whitehead streets. The work will require the closure of the area, impacting access to the existing buoy, Crean said.

The buoy being fabricated will provide visitors and residents alike with the same photo opportunity. In the meantime, the plaza will be repaired and enhanced, and the original buoy will remain at its current location.

To read more, go here. 

 

Royal Caribbean Confirms Its Working On New, Smaller Ship Class

Above, Majesty of the Seas docked in Havana Port in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 2019, a friend and I took a cruise to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba aboard Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas. 

A year later, the ship was sold. Then the pandemic hit. Since then, Majesty has been sitting unused in Greece. It is a 33 year old ship.

It was not a mega-ship that Royal Caribbean has been putting into service in recent years. It had a capacity of over 2,800 passengers. 

Yahoo! Life has posted an article stating that Royal Caribbean is working on a new class of smaller cruise ships.

They begin with:

Royal Caribbean has been talking about smaller ships for a very long time. It seems that every time the cruise line launches a new Icon or Oasis-class ship, its executives get hit with multiple questions about when they will build smaller ships.

In recent years, the cruise line has not exactly dodged these questions. Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty and Royal Caribbean Group CEO Michael Bayley have openly admitted that a smaller class has been talked about.

Neither, however, has given out much information.

Passengers want new, smaller ships because these ships can stop in ports where the larger ships do not fit. Some cruise line passengers also preferred the intimacy of a few people being onboard.

I also prefer smaller ships. 

To read more, go here. 

Getting A Cruise Cabin Upgrade For Free, 10 Secrets

Above, the stateroom during the 2019 Cuba cruise with Royal Caribbean. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my lifetime, I have only taken three cruises. The first was to Alaska, the second was to Key West and Cuba, and the last and most recent (last summer), was to the Bahamas.

The cruises were essentially what we paid for with no upgrades (we weren't offered any) by any of the cruise lines.

There are ways to getting a cruise cabin upgrade. Yahoo! Life has posted 10 secrets to getting a cruise stateroom upgrade.

They begin with:

Just days before a recent six-day cruise aboard Caribbean Princess from Cape Canaveral, I received a fortuitous phone call. It was a customer service representative from Princess Cruises, offering our family of five a free cabin upgrade from our two adjacent balcony staterooms to one of the ship’s ultra-exclusive, multi-room Family Suites.

She asked if I would like to switch, explaining that the upgraded suite would include priority seating for meals, upgraded amenities, and other VIP touches. I agreed (of course), and she explained that this offer is one of the benefits of sailing with Princess; whenever a ship has a vacancy in one of its Family Suites, they offer it to a family onboard as a free upgrade.

We struck gold with that upgrade, but there are plenty of other ways to ensure an upgraded stateroom. Here's what industry experts say are the secrets to scoring a free cabin upgrade on your next cruise.

To read more, go here. 

9 Quick, Must-see Stops In Key West

Above, the Key West Lighthouse from the Hemingway House and Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2019, a friend and I took a cruise to Havana, Cuba. As part of the cruise's itinerary, the ship made a stop in Key West, Florida for the day.

While there, I managed to visit the Hemingway Home and Museum, the Shipwreck Museum, visited a cigar store and managed to have a Margarita at a restaurant's bar.

The Miami Herald posted a list of nine quick trips for those on a day trip or a cruise with a limited amount of time in Key West. 

They begin with:

So you’ve made it to Key West on your cruise or arrived for a day trip. You have a limited amount of time to explore this tiny tropical island before you pull out for your next stop. 

What are you going to do?

You’ve got options. 

See some history. Tour museums. Visit some landmarks. 

You can always just grab a cocktail and wander Duval Street, soaking up the sun, sights and shops. 

Here’s a Top 10 list of things to do in Key West:

To see what they are, go here. 

11 Free Things to Do in Key West

Above, take the free Duval Street Loop bus and see places like Sloppy Joe's Bar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in April 2019, I went on a cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Havana, Cuba. Along the way, the ship stopped for several hours in Key West. Passengers spent the day roaming around town and toured its attractions and did some shopping and eating (or drinking).

For myself, I toured the Shipwreck Museum and Hemingway House. Those places charged admission, but they were worth it.

However, there are free things to see and to in Key West if one is a little short on cash or a cheapskate.

The Saturday Evening Post (!) has posted 11 free things to do in Key West.

They begin with:

Like any island town that has to import just about everything from gas to groceries, the resort destination of Key West, Florida, can be a pretty pricey place to visit. The good news: You can go for days from dawn to dusk without paying a single dime for sightseeing.

Here are 11 fun Key West freebies.

To see what they are, go here. 

19 Trips to Take In Your 60's

Above, the end of U.S. Highway 1 in Key West. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following doesn't apply to me anymore as I am two years out of my 60s. It is a list of 19 trips to take while one is in their 60s.

The suggestions range from cruises, balloon rides, train rides, ancient Egypt and others at Newsbreak.

They start off with:

While health and finances may present some concerns, the majority of people hope to spend plenty of time traveling in their 60s. There are many destinations and experiences out there for people of all budgets and levels of fitness. Even if you aren’t fully retired yet, there are options for shorter trips too. Let’s take a look at some of the best trips you can take in your 60s.

To read more, go here. 

10 Best Cruise Lines for Seniors and Retirees

Above, a singer with an entertainment group flashes me a peace sign aboard
a Royal Caribbean ship en route to Havana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is at retirement age-plus, the following is for you.

It is a list of ten best cruise lines for seniors and retirees by Nasdaq.com. Here, they describe what ship features and attractions that are best suited for the older generation.

Of the list of ten cruise lines, I have been aboard one of them, Royal Caribbean. That was a cruise to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba in 2019.

They begin with:

New adventures await you after retirement. And what better way to explore the world than on a luxurious cruise? Providing comfort, convenience, and life-enriching experiences for seniors, cruising offers a variety of options tailored to their needs and interests.

Let’s examine the top ten cruise lines for seniors to discover what makes them unique and why they might be the perfect fit for your next vacation.

To peruse the list of cruise lines and what they have to offer seniors and retirees, go here. 

How To Spend A Day In Key West

Above, the marker of the southernmost point of the U.S. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During our 2019 cruise to Havana, Cuba, we made a stop in Key West, Florida for a day of roaming around town.

For me, Key West was the highlight of the cruise trip. So much so, that I wanted to go back in 2020, but the pandemic put an end to those plans.

Above, yours truly enjoying a Margarita in Key West.

For those who wonder how to spend a day in Key West, Southern Living has some suggestions.

They begin with:

When you're in Key West, you're on island time, so cancel the morning wake-up call and let the crashing waves and beach breezes be your alarm. Put on your walking shoes and prepare for a day of blue skies and palm-shaded sidewalks. From brunch to the beach to cocktail hour and beyond, we have plenty of ideas for your stay, so let us put together your ideal itinerary for a day in Key West.

The first step? Put all your cares away. Key West is a worry-free zone. Trade your worries for a slice of Key lime pie on a stick. After sampling Key West's signature dessert, stroll the white sandy beaches or visit one of the region's historic sites. There's something for everyone in Key West, Florida, so here are some suggestions to help you plan your next trip.

To read more, go here. 

Royal Caribbean Shares Rules Passengers May Not Know

Above, yours truly enjoying a stogie onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

As one goes through life, they learn that there are rules imposed by society, government and companies. 

This also goes for cruise lines. Some have lots of rules and some are more lenient. It is important to know what a particular cruise line's rules are. 

TheStreet has posted an article on Royal Caribbean's rules on board their ships. 

A friend and I took a cruise to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba with Royal Caribbean. I was able to enjoy my cigars without being hassled by the ship's crew. 

The article on Royal Caribbean begins with:

When you take a vacation, there are a lot of rules you typically need to follow. These are generally there to make sure all guests, including you, are safe and have the opportunity to enjoy their time. 

And if we’re honest, some rules are there to protect the interests of the company you’re paying for your vacation. For example, when you visit Walt Disney World, there are rules that prohibit you from allowing your children to swim in fountains or lakes in the theme parks, and ones that govern how many times you can visit each ride through the Lightning Lane entrance if you buy the service.

Cruising is no exception to this. And some of the rules cruisers have to follow are well-known, especially by people who have taken multiple cruises in the past. For example, you cannot buy liquor or wine while in port, or in the ship’s duty-free shop, and then take it back to your room to consume. And you cannot throw anything off of your balcony into the ocean.

On the other hand, there are some rules that aren’t as well known, especially when it comes to where and when smokers can enjoy a cigarette or cigar on a cruise ship. But there is one important rule that Royal Caribbean makes sure its cruisers know.

To read more, go here. 

The Cats of Hemingway Home

Above, two of the Hemingway Home cats. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During the cruise to Havana, Cuba, our ship stopped at Key West, Florida for the day.

While there, I went to the Shipwreck Museum, a cigar shop, a outdoor patio bar and Hemingway Home.

At Hemingway Home, I saw several descendants of author Ernest Hemingway's cats. Some of the cats have six toes. They wandered around the property and mingles with visitors. There's also a cat cemetery on the property.

Garden & Gun has posted an article on the cats.

It begins with:

When the Hemingway Home first opened its foliage-framed gates to the public sixty years ago, visitors got to enter the preserved Key West oasis that inspired one of America’s literary heroes. Today, the property looks much as it did when Ernest Hemingway lived there in the 1930s: typewriters are strewn about desks, vibrant mustard-colored art deco tiles line bathrooms, and of course, dozens upon dozens of six-toed cats roam. “We have fifty-nine cats at the moment, and about half of them have extra toes,” says Alexa Morgan, the director of public relations at the Hemingway Home and Museum. 

To read more, go here.

Royal Caribbean Will Raise Gratuity Rates Next Month

Above, dinner on board Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the
 Seas (now in mothballs somewhere in Greece) in 2019.

  

Last week, I mentioned Norwegian Cruise Line's gratuities when ordering a cocktail from the Norwegian Sky smoking area bar. It was $20 a pop.

It looks like Royal Caribbean will be raising their gratuity rates starting next month.

USA Today reported:

Royal Caribbean International guests may face steeper bills on their next cruise. The cruise line will raise its recommended gratuity rates next month, according to the company.

Passengers staying in suites will pay $21 per guest each day, up from $20.50, while rates for all other cabin categories will increase from $18 to $18.50.

The changes take effect Nov. 1. Travelers who book and pay their gratuities ahead of that date can lock in the current rate, the cruise line told USA TODAY in an email. 

Gratuities are automatically added to passengers’ onboard accounts, but can be adjusted up or down before they disembark. Those funds are “distributed to crew members, including dining, bar and culinary services staff, stateroom attendants, hotel services teams as well as others onboard who work to enhance the overall cruise experience,” according to the line’s websi

I took a cruise to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba aboard Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas in 2919. I don't recall the gratuity amount.  

To read more, go here.

The Points Guy: Cruise Ship Guide

Above, a cruise ship docked at Freeport, Bahamas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Up to now, I have been on three cruises in my life.

The first was with Celebrity in 2001 with my mom and daughter to Alaska. The second was with Royal Caribbean for a cruise to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba in 2019.

The last was two months ago (already?!) with Norwegian to the Bahamas. 

While all were enjoyable, cruising is not my favorite way to travel. I caught some viral bugs with the trips to Alaska and Cuba. I came out unscathed with the cruise to the Bahamas. Considering how many people are packed onboard, it should come as no surprise that one may catch a bug, especially in this era of COVID-19.

I prefer smaller ships (about 2,000 passengers tops) as I don't like crowds. The new mega ships may be nice with a lot of amenities, but I am not thrilled to sail with 3,000 to 5,000 people. I am perfectly satisfied with a smaller ship with good food, plenty of bars, hot tubs/swimming pools and a casino (I've come out ahead on the cruises to Cuba and Bahamas).

Above, the casino during the Key West/Havana cruise. I came
out ahead here playing roulette. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

But, if one is thinking about taking their first cruise, The Points Guy has a guide to 20 popular cruise lines. 

They begin their guide with:

Thinking about booking your first cruise? The sheer range of choices can be daunting. There are more than two dozen lines marketing to North Americans — no two alike.

The list of brands includes everything from giant companies such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, which are household names, to lesser-known small-ship operators such as Windstar Cruises.

Some of the brands — Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, in particular — operate massive vessels that are like giant floating resorts with multiple pool areas, deck-top water parks and other over-the-top amusements. Others specialize in intimate, boutique hotel-style ships.

Some lines, such as Carnival, are aimed at a budget crowd. Others operate vessels that are as luxurious as any upscale resort found on land. A few small luxury players such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises have ships with lavish suites that'll cost you as much as $11,000 a day.

Where should you start your search for the perfect cruise for you? Below, you'll find our quick guide to some of the most popular cruise brands. As you'll see, it's not meant to be an in-depth review of the lines. It's just a short overview — enough to give you a sense of which particular cruise operator might best appeal to you.

Once you've narrowed down the choices to a few brands that you think best fit your style, do a deeper dive into them and their specific ships, their itineraries and home ports and their comparable costs (either on your own or with the help of a cruise-savvy travel agent). Note that TPG has many in-depth guides to individual lines, which you can find by clicking on our cruise line hub pages linked in each segment below.

To read more, go here. 

Cruise Ships Now "Ghost Ships"

Above, Majesty of the Seas docked at Key West in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In April 2019, we took a cruise to Key West and Havana, Cuba aboard Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas. A year later, the ship was sold to Seajets and, due to the pandemic, sat in limbo in Greece unused.

Above, yours truly aboard Majesty of the Seas in 2019. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Two of her sister ships while with Royal Caribbean were scrapped. But, four years later, Majesty of the Seas sits unused. It is now being considered a "ghost ship" along with several others.

What is a ghost ship?

According to Cruise Critic:

They’re not scrapped, but they are not in operation either: they are the ghost ships of the cruise industry, sold during the pandemic and laid up ever since.

How does it happen that ships end up in limbo? Most of these cruise ships here were bought by other operators or holding companies and laid up – nautical speak for when a ship is kept at anchorage or dock somewhere in the world. Technically, they’re kept at the ready to sail again – but the reality is that the longer these vessels are out of service, the more expensive it will be to bring them back into service again. While a skeleton crew of engineers and officers remains onboard, items like swimming pools, toilets, sinks, and galleys quickly fall into disrepair if not kept in constant use.

These cruise ships face an uncertain future: they could be eventually sold for scrap on the cheap, or to a willing buyer with the time – and money – to bring them back to life after almost half a decade of disuse.

These are the ghost ships of the cruise industry we’re keeping tabs on.

They list five cruise liners as ghost ships with the Majesty of the Seas being one of them.

To read more, go here.