Reportedly, the Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line ship Grand Celebration (previously named "Carnival Celebration" and "Costa Celebration") has been sold for scrap. The sale price remains undisclosed. The vessel is currently en route to India's Alang Ship Breaking Yard (world's largest) after it departed Freeport Bahamas on November 15.
Rumors about Grand Celebration started when a shipbroker listed the vessel as sold, but the company (shipowner) denied it publicly. A worker at Alang India has revealed that the ship was expected to be beached in the first week of January 2021 (if tides permit), which corresponds with the AIS data of the vessel's estimated time of arrival (January 3).
During the global shutdown of the industry due to the health crisis, Bahamas Paradise was in the news spotlight regarding the treatment of its crew members and refusing to pay its shipboard employees while they continued to work. The cruise line denied the claims but later agreed to pay US$875.000 to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by a total of 275 crew members who claimed they had not been paid for months.
3 months after the court settlement the crew members are still waiting to be compensated. According to a lawyer representing Bahamas Paradise the company needed to raise money for the settlement fund as it struggled to stay afloat, and bankruptcy was a “possibility.”
Currently, the company has paused all new reservations (both online and over the phone) and has the following message on its website's homepage:
“Dear Customer,
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is pleased to announce that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has lifted the no-sail order and provided new guidelines for cruises to resume sailing. Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is now working to comply with all requirements to ensure a safe return for guests to Grand Bahama Island.
Thank you for your continued support and patience during these difficult times. We will be accepting reservations very soon. In the meantime, please call 800-995-3201 for further information or any questions you may have.”
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line operated exclusively voyages from the USA to The Bahamas (roundtrips from homeport Palm Beach Florida).