Former Carnival-Owned Ship Sold to Chinese Cruise ...

Key Features:

• The previous Costa Magica, which as soon as sailed below Carnival’s Costa Cruises model, has a brand new proprietor.
• She has been offered to Tianjin Orient Worldwide Cruises to develop cruising out of Tianjin, China.
• The vessel will doubtless bear fairly a little bit of repairs and refurbishments earlier than debuting to Chinese language clientele in summer time of 2026.

The previous Costa Magica has modified palms as soon as once more, and is now sure for a brand new life in China.

The 2003-built cruise ship has been acquired by Tianjin Orient Worldwide Cruises to develop the younger firm’s presence within the Chinese language market.

The model solely simply launched in 2023 with Dream (Previously Princess Cruises’ Sea Princess), and primarily homeports in Tianjin, China.

Journey professionals have reported that the 102,784-gross ton ship will probably be renamed as Splendid and can be part of Dream in Tianjin as quickly as summer time of 2026.

Learn Additionally: Former Carnival Cruise Ships, Where Are They Now?

The acquisition worth for the previous Costa Cruises’ Future-class ship has not been publicly disclosed. For context, Carnival Company is the dad or mum firm of Costa Cruises.

Till this level, the two,718-guest ship had most not too long ago been below the possession of a Greek ferry firm known as Seajets.

She was sold to the brand in February of 2023 by the Carnival Company, and has largely been sitting dormant ever since.

As of the time of publication, she is presently docked close to Astakos, Greece.

Seajets had plans to start a celebration cruise line known as Neonyx Cruises, and renamed the vessel as Goddess of the Evening. Nonetheless, these plans by no means got here to fruition.

What Comes Subsequent?

Simply as Tianjin Orient Worldwide Cruises did with Dream, their latest acquisition will doubtless bear some important refurbishments earlier than re-entering service as Splendid.

This ship, which as soon as operated in North America, will doubtless be tailored and revamped to cater particularly to Chinese language clientele.

Upkeep may even virtually definitely be required after sitting dormant for greater than a yr and for a very good chunk of time in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.

Extra work might also have to be completed to carry the re-imagined vessel as much as present sanitary codes.

Notably, the ship was chartered to accommodate over 2,600 safety and law enforcement officials for the fiftieth Summit of the Group of Seven (G7) in June of 2024.

As an alternative, she was detained by Italian police within the port of Brindisi, Italy, as a result of poor sanitary situations.

According to Reuters, investigators discovered “important hygienic-sanitary criticalities and severe lodging deficiencies, which may quantity to the crime of fraud in public provide.”

Extra studies confirmed that many cabins have been rendered unusable by water leaks, malfunctioning bathrooms, and damaged air-con.

And on the final minute, officers have been despatched to remain in native motels as an alternative of onboard the ship – which was an enormous inconvenience.

It’s unclear what work could have been completed on the time to deal with these points, however Tianjin Orient Worldwide Cruises will definitely take motion if passable repairs haven’t been made already.

It’s additionally unknown when the inevitable overhaul will begin, however the 22-year-old vessel is anticipated to start making her method to Asia very quickly.