End of an Era: Former Royal Caribbean Ship Heads to Alang for Dismantling

A Storied Past

The cruise ship once known as Song of America, which began its journey with Royal Caribbean in the early 1980s, has reached the end of its voyage. This past weekend, the vessel arrived at the Alang Shipbreaking Yard in India, where it will be dismantled. Built in Finland, the ship was a significant part of Royal Caribbean’s fleet, serving the U.S. market for 15 years before being sold to Airtours in the UK in 1999, where it was renamed Sunbird.

A Journey Through Time

Over the years, the ship changed hands and names multiple times. In 2004, it was acquired by Louis Cruise Lines and later chartered to Thomson Cruises. By 2012, it had become part of a ship swap deal and was integrated into the Louis fleet for short cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean. When Louis Cruise Lines rebranded as Celestyal Cruises in 2014, the ship was renamed Celestyal Olympia. It embarked on its first cruise under this new banner in March 2015, traveling from Athens to various destinations including Mykonos and Santorini.

Final Years and Transition

The Celestyal Olympia also served as a floating hotel during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. However, as newer and larger ships entered the market, the vessel was eventually replaced by the Celestyal Discovery and sold to an undisclosed owner in early 2024. Renamed Bella Fortuna, the ship was initially laid up in Turkey before moving to the United Arab Emirates, where it remained docked for eight months.

The Last Voyage

Sailing under the Comoros flag, the ship’s final journey took it to Alang, India, where it will be scrapped. This marks the end of a four-decade career for the 1,400-guest vessel, which has been a part of many travelers’ memories. The dismantling of the ship is a reminder of the ever-evolving nature of the cruise industry, where older ships make way for newer, more advanced vessels.