CCL-Carnival Cruise Line announced the sale of Carnival Imagination and Carnival Fascination, which had previously been put on long-term layup and removed from the company’s published itineraries.
The sale of CCL Fascination (1994-built) and CCL Imagination (1995) is according to Carnival Corporation's (shipowner) plan to accelerate the removal of less efficient vessels from its global fleet.
This followed the sale of Carnival Inspiration and Carnival Fantasy in July, which were later both scrapped in Turkey. Upon return to operations, CCL will still operate 4 upgraded Fantasy-class ships (Ecstasy, Elation, Paradise, Sensation) which feature additional balcony cabins and enhanced dining and entertainment options - part of Carnival's Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades.
CCL also informed customers and travel agents it is delaying the return to operations for 4 ships until after scheduled drydock refits are completed in 2021-H1.
The 4 impacted (to be refurbished in 2021-Q1) CCL vessels and resulting cancelled itineraries include:
- Carnival Magic itineraries from Miami Florida will be cancelled until March 13, 2021
- Carnival Paradise itineraries from Tampa Florida will be cancelled until March 19, 2021
- Carnival Valor itineraries from New Orleans will be cancelled until April 29, 2021 (including the Transatlantic voyage from New Orleans on January 25, 2021, and the return from Barcelona on February 26, 2021)
- Carnival Spirit itineraries from Brisbane will be cancelled through May 16, 2021 (the first trip being from Singapore to Brisbane embarking on June 12, 2021).