MS Marco Polo - the most popular cruise ship of the UK-based company CMV-Cruise and Maritime Voyages, is currently heading (satellite AIS tracking) for India's Alang Ship Breaking Yard, with ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) January 9. Sadly, the unique vessel will be soon beached and scrapped.
Early in 2020, CMV announced the acquisition of 2 bigger ships, but Marco Polo was still sailing when the pandemic struck. Like all CMV boats, she was laid up in the UK where she remained when the company filed for bankruptcy on July 20th.
In October, all the 5 CMV ships were sold at auction in London. MS Marco Polo was acquired by investors (for USD 2,77 million) with reports they were offering the vessel for charter or use as a hotel ship. Marco Polo departed England and sailed through Suez Canal to the Persian Gulf, where was thought to be used in Dubai. However, rumours circulated it was just a technical stop en route to the scrapyard.
Over the weekend, Marco Polo resumed its last voyage and CruiseMapper's satellite tracker is now showing the ship's AIS transmitting as the port destination "ALANG".