Carnival Imagination

Carnival Imagination (formerly Imagination) was a Fantasy-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line from 1995 to 2020. Built by Kværner Masa-Yards at its Helsinki New Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland, she was floated out on July 1, 1995, and christened Imagination by Jodi Dickinson.[1] During 2007, in common with all of her Fantasy-class sisters, she had the prefix Carnival added to her name.[2]

Carnival Imagination leaving PortMiami
History
Name
  • Imagination (1995–2007)
  • Carnival Imagination (2007–2020)
OwnerCarnival Corporation & plc
Port of registry
Builder
Yard number488
Laid downJune 30, 1993
LaunchedOctober 1994
Sponsored byJodi Dickinson
CompletedJune 8, 1995
In service1995–2020
Out of serviceMarch 2020
Refit2007, 2016
Identification
FateSold for scrap, 2020
Notes[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeFantasy-class cruise ship
Tonnage
Length855 ft (261 m)
Beam103 ft (31 m)
Draft7.80 m (25 ft 7 in)
Decks14
Installed power
  • 2 × Sulzer-Wärtsilä 8ZAV40S
  • 4 × Sulzer-Wärtsilä 12ZAV40S
  • 42,240 kW (combined)
PropulsionTwo propellers
Speed21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Capacity
  • 2,056 passengers (lower berths)
  • 2,634 passengers (all berths)
Crew920

The ship underwent an extensive multimillion-dollar renovation in September 2016.[3]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Carnival Cruise Line suspended all North American itineraries from March 14 to April 10, 2020.[4] In July 2020, as a result of Carnival Cruise Line reducing fleet capacity, Carnival Imagination entered a long term lay-up status, with no planned date for the ship to enter back into service.[5]

By August 26, 2020, the vessel had filed a cruise plan for Aliağa, Turkey, the location of several ship breaking facilities. Some industry sources indicated that the vessel would be scrapped.[6][7] The vessel arrived in Aliağa on September 14, 2020 and was beached on 16 September.[8][9] From September 2020 until February 2023 she remained beached awaiting scrapping; some sources claimed that an unnamed hotel had been trying to acquire some of her fittings that would otherwise be damaged or destroyed during the scrapping process. The scrapping process began in February 2023.

Waterslides aboard the Carnival Imagination

Areas of operation

Prior to entering into a long term lay-up in July 2020, she sailed three- and four-day itineraries from Long Beach, California, to Catalina Island, California, and to Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. 3 day cruises departed every Thursday, with a stop in Ensenada, Mexico, 4 day cruises departed every Sunday, with stops in Catalina Island, California and Ensenada, Mexico.

Incidents

Collision with Carnival Fantasy

In July 2011, Carnival Fantasy struck Carnival Imagination while performing a maneuver for mooring. Carnival Imagination was docked when the incident occurred. Minor hull damage was sustained to both ships' sterns, and no injuries were reported.[10]

Coronavirus Pandemic

During the coronavirus pandemic, the CDC reported, as early as April 22, 2020, that at least one person who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 had tested positive within 14 days after disembarking.[11]

Sale of the vessel

Carnival announced to investors in late July 2020 that it planned to remove the "less efficient" of its ships from the fleet; most of the 15 would be sold and a few would be "recycled". While the Carnival Imagination had been said to be heading for long-term layup, some industry insiders believed that Carnival would dispose of this vessel.[12][13]

In late August, media reports indicated the ship had filed a plan to travel to Aliağa, Turkey, where she would likely be scrapped. Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration were already at the scrap yards in that city.[14][15] She arrived at Aliağa on September 14, 2020.[16]

Based on a photograph accompanying an article in The New York Times October 30, 2020 entitled "Where Cruise Ships Go to Die" the Carnival Imagination is being scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey.

Imagination and USS John L. Hall in Key West.

Citations
  1. Smith 2010, p. 40.
  2. Dake, Shawn J. (January 2008). "Cruise Ships 2007 the year in review" (PDF). Ocean Times. Steamship Historical Society of America: Southern California Chapter. 12 (1): 2–8.
  3. "Carnival Cruise Line News". carnival-news.com. September 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  4. Alexander, Curtis Tate and Bryan. "Coronavirus: Royal Caribbean pauses operations globally, major cruise lines suspend US ships". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  5. "Carnival Cruise Line Announces Update to Fleet Plan - Carnival Cruise Line News". carnival-news.com. July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  6. "Which Cruise Ships Will Be Scrapped Or Taken Out of Service Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic?". Cruise Critic. August 26, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020. On August 26, the ship officially embarked on its last journey, sailing from Willemstad, Curacao, to Aliaga, Turkey, where it will be broken up.
  7. "Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Imagination is the 3rd to be scrapped". Cruise Mapper. August 26, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020. The 2,056-guest Carnival Imagination filed a cruise plan for Aliaga, Turkey, the spot of a major ship scrapping operation that became the final resting place for notable vessels like Princess Cruises' Pacific Princess - the "Love Boat.
  8. https://www.vesseltracker.com/de/Ships/Carnival-Imagination-9053878.html
  9. "Carnival Imagination Beached in Turkey for Scrapping". September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  10. "Carnival Imagination accidents and incidents". cruisemapper.com. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  11. "COVID-19 and Your Health". February 11, 2020. Archived from the original on April 22, 2020.
  12. "Another Carnival Cruise Line Ship To Be Scrapped". Cruise Radio. August 26, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  13. "Carnival Corp. is shedding 15 ships across its fleets: Here's what it means for cruisers". Cruise Radio. August 26, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  14. "Which Cruise Ships Will Be Scrapped Or Taken Out of Service Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic?". Cruise Critic. August 26, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020. On August 26, the ship officially embarked on its last journey, sailing from Willemstad, Curacao, to Aliaga, Turkey, where it will be broken up.
  15. "Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Imagination is the 3rd to be scrapped". Cruise Mapper. August 26, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020. The 2,056-guest Carnival Imagination filed a cruise plan for Aliaga, Turkey, the spot of a major ship scrapping operation that became the final resting place for notable vessels like Princess Cruises' Pacific Princess - the "Love Boat.
  16. Thakkar, Emrys (September 14, 2020). "Carnival Cruise Ship Completes Final Journey Before Scrapping". Cruise Hive.

References
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