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Escapade: tour the eerie casino ghost ship stranded in Florida

Angela Kennedy

19 May 2022

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This Ship is Left To Float Forever as The Abandoned Casino Cruise Liner is Full Of Lonely Blackjack Tables and Rusty Slot Machines

By Mark McConville

EERIE images have revealed the abandoned remains of a casino cruise ship that was once listed for sale for around £3m after being shut down for illegal gambling and numerous crashes.

Haunting pictures show the disused roulette wheel with hundreds of discarded chips, dusty gaming tables and old slot and poker machines.

Other spooky shots show the exterior of the once-glamorous ship, empty tables and chairs and a lonely blackjack table.

The creepy pictures were taken by an urban explorer known as Abandoned Southeast aboard the casino cruise ship, Casino Royale.

“The lower levels of the ship were reserved for gambling and the top level featured an open deck for sightseeing, as well as a restaurant,” they said.

“The ship is outfitted with dozens of gaming tables and 200 poker machines are spread across 6,000 square feet.

“In the early 2000s, the vessel operated in the Gulf of Mexico until a previous operator was shut down for routinely allowing passengers to gamble illegally in state waters.

“The ship was raided by law enforcement after Homeland Security was alerted to claims of near-shore gambling. The previous owners pled guilty to charges of illegal gambling.”

Casino cruise ships offer passengers a unique opportunity to gamble at sea, where they are free of any federal regulations. According to U.S. law, passengers can legally gamble once they are three nautical miles from shore. Casinos must remain closed until the ship is out past that three mile limit.

The cruise ship was sold to new owners who offered the incentive of a free cruise to garner attention for its inaugural trip, where disaster struck.

“Around midnight during its inaugural cruise, the ship ran aground on a sandbar two miles from shore,” added Abandoned Southeast.

“After coming to a jolting halt, the ship was stranded. The Coast Guard attempted to tow the ship, but the tow lines snapped. Due to a low tide they were unable to move the massive 600-ton vessel.

“The Coast Guard could only reach passengers by helicopter, so they decided to wait until morning during high tide before extracting the stranded passengers and crew. Luckily, no one needed to be immediately rescued.

“By noon the next day, a majority of the passengers and crew were evacuated. Everyone was off of the ship by 6:00 PM. The cruise ship was able to dislodge itself without the weight of the passengers during high tide.

“After an inspection for leaks by the Coast Guard, the ship made it safely back to the marina. An investigation by the Coast Guard revealed passengers were gambling illegally throughout the night. The operating company suspended the Captain with pay until an internal investigation was complete.

“A week after the ship ran aground, the company’s Vice President stated their internal investigation found no wrongdoing by the Captain. The Vice President said the crew gave out decks of playing cards to keep guests entertained and they were also allowed to sit at the tables, but the games were not operational.

“Passengers that were interviewed by the Coast Guard reported they were allowed to gamble for hours after becoming stuck. One passenger reported the slot machines were not turned off until 4:00 AM. Regardless of the conflicting stories, the Coast Guard allowed the cruise ship to keep its certification of inspection and keep operating.”

A year after the first incident, the cruise ship ran aground again. This time it was not immediately reported to the Coast Guard. The crew said they briefly scraped the bottom and never stopped.

This conflicted with passenger reports that said they were stranded for roughly two hours before the cruise ship was able to free itself. The crew was unsure if they needed to contact authorities since they were not in an emergency situation.

After the incident the Coast Guard removed the certificate of inspection from the vessel, which means it cannot operate with passengers.

“A meeting was held with the owners and the Coast Guard however there was no set date for the certificate to be reinstated,” said Abandoned Southeast.

“The owners ultimately decided to list the ship for sale for $4 million several years ago. Without a buyer, the vessel remained moored. The Coast Guard ordered the owner to move the ship farther south in 2016 to avoid Hurricane Matthew.

“A lack of maintenance has left the vessel in rough shape due to years of neglect. Today, the cruise ship remains moored while plans for a renovation are in the works.”

For more information see  www.abandonedsoutheast.com

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Colourised Images Reveal What Life Was Like For WWII Troops Away...

40+ Photos of Cruise Ship Left Abandoned For Years

The Costa Concordia was one of the best cruise ships in the world, with 1,500 cabins, a multi-level theater, a casino, and could accommodate over 4,000 passengers at a time.

It was a luxurious ocean city paradise that wowed everyone who stepped foot on it.

Unfortunately, disaster struck on January 13th, 2012 when the ship hit a rock formation only two hours after setting sail on a seven-day cruise. The marvelous ship sank and no one saw it again… until now.

It took a herculean effort to pull the Costa Concordia from the water, and the effects of the tragic crash are now more apparent than ever.

For the first time ever, photographer Jonathan Danko Kielkowski got a rare chance to board the ship to take a look inside. The photos he took are incredible.

The Costa Concordia left its port in the Italian town of Civitavecchia with 4,252 passengers on board. No one had any idea they’re heading for disaster.

Photo credit: Jonathan Danko Kielkowski

Now the cruise ship has become a ghost ship. When German photographer Jonathan Danko Kielkowski got a chance to get onto the ship to see what things looked like inside, he took haunting photos like this: people’s belongings still scattered around the hallways and rooms.

This used to be a magnificent theater that would hold hundreds of people. Now it is in ruins.

Somehow, the beautiful artwork in the grand halls miraculously survived the crash.

The wreckage of the command room where engineers said to have a heated argument with the captain about the boat’s increasingly dangerous speeds.

This bedroom looks somewhat still intact, but creepy. You can find hundreds of these abandoned rooms on the Concordia.

Passengers were enjoying in this casino hours before the deadly disaster, drinking and gambling. If only the ship had better luck with its sailing…

The crew used to work in these halls, but look at them now.

The disaster happened so quickly that many of these beds were never even slept in.

The surviving passengers later said that it was like a scene from Titanic.

This amazing staircase with its emerald-colored finish continues to shine through the damage.

The photos from this disaster are as haunting as the photos we’ve seen of the Titanic’s wreckage.

This is a part of the gigantic elevator with some remaining water.

You can still see the old emerald elevator here. Still quite majestic among the ruins.

Floating the Costa Concordia

The creepiness of this abandoned ship will give you goosebumps. SHARE these photos with your friends on Facebook!

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Inside abandoned $465 million ‘Fantasy’ cruise ship left shrink-wrapped with poker chips still on casino tables

These haunting images show the inside of abandoned $460 million ‘Fantasy’ cruise ship left shrink-wrapped with poker chips still on casino tables.

Jetstar passenger takes over PA system

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A luxurious cruise ship that was once part of the esteemed Fantasy fleet is now counting down her last days before being dismantled.

While the glory days of Carnival Inspiration are well in the past, the shipwreck of the once-lavish $465,000,000 cruise liner still looks fascinating, The Sun reports.

Built during the 1990s at the Helsinki New Shipyard, the cruise ship set out for its maiden voyage on April 1, 1996.

As part of the Fantasy-class fleet by the Carnival Cruise Line, it promised an unforgettable journey to its passengers – one that was filled with pure luxury and sheer exquisiteness.

The massive cruise ship – almost 262 metres long and 32 metres wide – was characterised by its small bow, bulky hull and relatively flat superstructures.

At its peak, Carnival Inspiration could cruise up to 2,500 passengers along with 920 crew members.

And it offered a plethora of amenities to cater to diverse traveller preferences, including luxurious suites with private balconies offering impeccable views of the ocean, speciality restaurants, and live musical theatres.

Carnival Inspiration also featured numerous bars and lounges where passengers could unwind with refreshing drinks.

There was even a waterpark on the top of the deck for customers on board to enjoy.

But like all good things come to an end, Carnival Inspiration also had a limited life.

In 2020, just after the pandemic, the cruise’s parent company decided to retire Carnival Inspiration, along with her sister Fantasy.

The decision came after the cruise company looked to reduce costs after the unprecedented global shutdown.

Carnival Inspiration made its final voyage to Aliağa, Turkey, where it now sits beached, waiting to get demolished.

Harrowing pictures of the shipwreck, however, offer a glimpse of the past of the fancy cruiseliner.

One image shows the eerie-looking glass atrium spread across multiple levels where once passengers used to gather to listen to live music and attend golden ball gatherings.

Other pictures reveal the Blue Iguana Tequila bar of the ship which still has all the seats intact.

A lavish restaurant, where once unique delicacies were served, now sits deserted with chairs and tables collecting dust.

And the Shakespeare Library, with beautiful medieval architecture, is now left to rot – with tall candle holders and bookshelves awaiting their fate.

One particular picture shows the casino of the ship – frozen in time – with poker chips still lying intact across the poker tables.

There was even a Rock and Roll disco inside the cruise with two huge guitars mounted on the entrance of the club.

But the only sound that now plays inside is that of a ticking clock that constantly reminds the cruise ship of its ill fate.

Another abandoned cruise is the MS Astor that first hit the waters in 1986 and carried passengers on cruises for 34 years before arriving in the graveyard of ships destined for the scrapyard.

One image shows a retro bar, frozen in time, with drinks still on the tables.

In another harrowing picture, a deep empty crater sits where the pool once was and deck chairs are assembled beside.

A third image shows a flashy gym with an incredible sea view – where the equipment is now gathering dust as it hasn’t been used in years.

The incredible theatre was also captured in a snap showing many empty chairs still in place to watch a performance that will never happen.

Inside the Aliağa shipyard

The Carnival Inspiration has joined over 670 abandoned ships in the cruise ship graveyard in Turkey where sea vessels go to die.

More Coverage

The Aliağa shipyard in western Turkey is one of the largest ship recycling facilities in Europe and sees pleasure vessels stripped apart and left to rot everyday. Sat on the ports of Izmir the cruise ship graveyard is constantly full of glamorous boats now in a state of disrepair. After being decommissioned and no longer deemed fit for service the pricey ships are delivered to the ship breaking yard where workers get down to business tearing them apart.

Footage online shows the giant cruise liners stacked up one by one either waiting to be dismantled or already stripped for all they’re worth. The recovered metals from a single ship can bring in up to $6 million in profits when everything has been recycled for future construction or sold on. But its not just fancy cruise ships that go to Aliağa to waste away as drill ships, ferries, offshore rigs and giant tankers are all also stripped for their valuable parts. The Aliağa yard is seen as the second largest graveyard for ships, but top spot goes to Alang in India’s Gulf of Khambhat, which recycles more than half of the world’s decommissioned cruise ships alone.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission

A man has surprised his partner and passengers on board by taking over the PA system on their flight to Bali.

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Abandoned Southeast

Preserving the Past | 200+ Abandoned, Historic, and Forgotten Places

Diamond Royale

Built as a side-wheel diesel excursion boat for New York’s Seaport Line, the ship was completed in 1985 by Offshore Shipbuilding of Palatka, Florida. It was modeled after the turn-of-the-century steamboats from Hudson River & Long Island Sound. The boat was christened as the M/V Andrew Fletcher and would ferry passangers around New York Harbor on 90-minute cruises with a narration of the harbor’s history.  In the 1990s, the Andrew Fletcher was converted into a gaming boat by Jacksonville naval architects DeJong and Lebet.

The ship’s website described the Diamond Royale as being “the finest casino cruise vessel” with two floors of Las Vegas-style gaming. The ship was outfitted with 240 slot machines and 18 tables for roulette, blackjack, craps, and poker. According to a grand jury indictment, the floating casino ferried passengers from the Bull River near Savannah on illegal gambling cruises.

In November 2011, agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Coast Guard, armed with search warrants, boarded the casino cruise ship. Federal agents seized more than $986,000 in cash onboard and an additional $6 million from the alleged illegal gambling proceeds. The prosecutors also wanted to seize the boat itself. This was not the first time that Diamond Casino had been in trouble with authorities. A few months prior, federal agents performed a raid on the casino’s headquarters, seizing laptops and documents.

Federal prosecutors indicted the ship’s general manager and two boat captains were charged for their involvement. During a 16-month period, from July 2010 until November 2011, passengers were allowed to gamble as the ship sailed less than three miles offshore. Federal law states that casino ships must be three miles offshore in federal waters before passengers are allowed to gamble. Apparently, Diamond Casino did not adhere to this rule. The indictment read that “on a regular and routine basis, the boat’s operators unlawfully opened and operated the casino aboard the vessel within state waters of Georgia and South Carolina.” The defendants faced a maximum of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The individuals charged all pled guilty and were sentenced to probation. As part of the prosecution’s agreement, the Diamond Royale was to be forfeited to the federal government.

In 2012, the crew of the Diamond Royale moved the ship farther up the coast to South Carolina where it was abandoned. After sitting for nearly a year, the ship’s owners owed the local shipyard over $300,000 in unpaid storage and maintenance fees. In 2013, the shipyard filed a lawsuit in court seeking to seize and resell the vessel to recoup the money.

The owner of the Diamond Royale never responded so the judge ruled in favor of the shipyard. The U.S. Marshals office attempted to sell the Diamond Royale at auction for $100,000. Without a buyer, the ship continued to sit idle. Vandals broke windows and painted graffiti on the boat. Last year, the Diamond Royale was sold to salvage company and towed to Florida. Once the boat is completely dismantled, it will be towed several miles offshore and sunk to create an artificial reef.

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That’s a great picture of the sunset through the broken glass.

I love your Blog!

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Architecture , Art , Design & Built Environments

The unloved boats: 8 abandoned cruise ships & liners.

Article by Steve , filed under Destinations & Sights in the Travel category

MS World Discoverer

The German-built and Liberian-registered cruise ship MS World Discoverer enjoyed a 25-year-long, mainly trouble-free lifespan as a mid-sized (roughly 225 passengers and crew) passenger liner plying the South Pacific with occasional sorties into the frosty Arctic and Antarctic oceans.

On April 30th of 2000, the World Discoverer was sailing through the Sandfly Passage in the Solomon Islands when she struck an uncharted rock or reef. Captain Oliver Kruess heroically nursed the listing liner into shallow Roderick Bay in the Florida Islands, where all aboard were safely evacuated. The World Discoverer, however, remains where it was beached in 2000, stripped of anything valuable by local islanders.

Looking like an outtake from Life After People, the World Discoverer ‘s exploring days are over for good and unlike most other coastal shipwrecks it will probably remain where it is, slowly rusting and moldering away in its sheltered cove, for some time to come. There’s only one thing that worries environmentalists: sometime in the future the World Discoverer’s metal fuel tanks will finally rust through, releasing unknown amounts of poisonous toxins into the sea and onto the beaches.

Queen Elizabeth 2

The jewel in the crown of Britain’s venerable Cunard Line, the ocean liner QE2 sailed the seven seas as both a transatlantic ocean liner and as a premium cruise ship from 1969 until her retirement on November 27th, 2008. Subsequently, the liner was purchased by Istithmar, the private equity arm of Dubai World, whose stated intention was to convert the vessel into a 500-room floating hotel to be moored at the Palm Jumeirah offshore resort in Dubai.

Due to the world financial crisis and its lingering effects on business in Dubai, virtually no work has been carried out on the ship and rumors have persisted the virtually abandoned QE2 would either be sent to Asia, either to be scrapped in China or converted into a floating luxury hotel, shopping mall and museum… and so it goes.

TSS Duke of Lancaster

Launched in 1956, the TSS Duke of Lancaster was built at the Belfast shipyards of Harland & Wolff where the RMS Titanic was constructed almost a half-century earlier. The 4,450 ton, 1,800 passenger steamer operated as a passenger ferry on the Heysham-Belfast route and as a cruise ship calling at a variety of European ports from Spain to Norway for the better part of two decades. In November of 1978, the venerable Duke was retired from service on the seas… a new, landlocked career was about to begin.

In August of 1979, the ship was moved to Llanerch-y-Mor near Mostyn, Wales to become a static leisure center known as “The Fun Ship”. Legal issues and turf tussles with the local council crippled the ownership group’s business model, however, and the Duke’s slab sides were gradually covered by rust and unauthorized graffiti. The latter must have given somebody an idea because surprisingly, there’s life in the old Duke yet: as the largest open air art gallery in the UK.

Beginning in August of 2012, a commission was offered to Latvian graffiti artist Kiwie who spray-painted a large-scale artwork on the ship’s side. Kiwie’s work was augmented and complemented by a wealth of “bright and surreal” graffiti by acclaimed artists including Dale Grimshaw, Dan Kitchener, Snub23, Spacehop, and Fin DAC. The latter’s eye-popping “Mauricamai” covers most the Duke’s stern and has been breathtakingly captured above by Flickr user Mike .

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You are here : Home » Locations » Leisure » Casino Royale, Romania

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Casino Royale, Romania

• January 10, 2018
• Leisure , Other , Romania 🇷🇴

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The beautiful Casino Royale is a spectacular abandoned Romanian Casino. Built in the early 20th Century in the Art Nouveau style, it overlooks the Black Sea. Its dramatic sea-shell shaped window and extravagant chandeliers are breathtaking to behold.

King Carol I commissioned the Casino. Casino Royale became a major attraction for European royalty and the elite-class. Wealthy and important visitors travelled from far and wide to gamble in these halls. Furthermore, the Casino housed many prestigious events. The visiting Tsars of the Russian Imperial Family were entertained here, for example.

The casino became a hospital during the First/Second World Wars. Later it saw a brief use as a restaurant during the post-war communist regime. The Casino fell into disrepair during the economic decline of Romania in the late 20th Century. Ownership of Casino Royale subsequently changed hands several times. In spite of these efforts, insurmountable repair costs finally forced the closure.

The abandoned casino by the sea

The main entrance hall of Casino Royale features a spectacular staircase. Hanging above them is a large wrought iron and crystal chandeliers. There are matching black iron lamps that stand at the foot of the stairs. Exquisite plaster mouldings decorated the ceilings and archways. There is a large room next to this entrance hall. The walls are pink and yellow, and several Art Deco-style arched windows look out over the Black Sea. Six chandlers hang from the ceiling. The floor here is an eye-catching irregular black and white checked pattern.

Upstairs, is the iconic Casino Royale main hall or ballroom. An immense seashell-shaped window lights the room spectacularly. The facing wall features a painted ship at full sail. The vivid green mould contrasting with the blood-red walls. A stage overlooks the ballroom with a heavy burgundy curtain. An immense chandelier hangs in the centre of the arched ceiling.

The future of Casino Royale

According to the local government, the casino will be renovated imminently. A fence now surrounds the casino. The information board states renovation will be completed in December 2018. In the summer of 2019 renovation work is yey to begin, in fact.

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Amazing !!!

Thanks, glad you like it 😀

Yeah I love this place. Great shot of the inside. The architecture is phenominal. Unfortunately was not able to go to this when I was close by due to being in the hospital. One day though, one day.

Thanks, glad you think my shot does this amazing place justice. Hope you get to see it, a shame to be so close and miss out 🙁

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There is possibly no better pairing for a leisure-seeker than an ocean cruise and a night of casino gaming fun. There are countless cruise ships out there that offer full suites of gambling games for their guests, allowing them to test their card and dice skills at sea in a bid to win impressive cash jackpots. If this sounds like your idea of a good time, check out our list of the world’s 8 most luxurious casino cruise ships below!

Best Casino Cruise Ships

#1: Freedom of the Seas

This luxury Royal Caribbean cruise liner spans over 1,100 feet in length, and offers a myriad of casino options, although its gaming floor is by no means the biggest in the world. Its Vegas-styled Casino Royale section boasts more than 10,000 square feet’s worth of wagering opportunities, not to mention 19 gaming tables offering blackjack and roulette, and more than 300 slots.

#2: Allure of the Seas

This is another Royal Caribbean liner – this time, longer than its sisters Oasis of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas! It boasts its very own exclusive casino that boasts slots, baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and even poker for its passengers to enjoy. Feel free to indulge in a few cocktails at the gaming floor’s built-in cocktail lounge as well!

#3: Norwegian Epic

You can already tell by the name of this ship that you will be in for an epic experience once you have boarded it. The Norwegian Epic spans an impressive 1,081 feet long, and offers its own Epic Casino packed with hundreds of slots and dozens of gaming tables. Along with blackjack, roulette and craps, you can also look forward to on-board Cirque du Soleil shows and many other incredible entertainment options. If you need a change from your favourite online casino NZ games, this is it!

#4: Queen Mary II

This liner might be on the smaller side compared to some of the other entries on this list, but it certainly leaves nothing lacking when it comes to its luxurious on-board casino section. Cunard Line’s flagship vessel is packed with Monte Carlo-style gaming opportunities, including 100 slot machines and a dozen gaming tables. Try your hand at blackjack and three card poker or test your luck in craps, roulette, and various other classic real money games.

#5: Royal Princess

The 1,083 foot long Royal Princess offers a myriad of casino options that will suit slots fans and table game enthusiasts alike. This cruise liner even boasts progressive jackpot games and bingo, making for a social but lucrative gaming experience.

#6: Norwegian Escape

The Norwegian Escape is renowned not only for its exotic Bahamas and Caribbean trips, but also its very own proprietary salon prive. Join Escape Casino for a few rounds of baccarat, craps, blackjack, Let it Ride, three card poker, Pai Gow, Texas Hold’em and more. There are plenty of slots (318) on offer too, as well as live tournaments for those with a competitive streak and a specialized rewards program for regulars.

#7: All Celebrity Cruises Ships

If you have money to spend and want to live it up like a celeb , we recommend that you spend it with Celebrity Cruises! This luxury line offers a wide variety of gambling options, including craps, baccarat, roulette, three card poker, and Texas Hold’em. Their proprietary Fortunes Casinos even offer tournaments for you to take part in.

#8: Oasis of the Sea s

Yet again, Royal Caribbean steals the scene with its casino options. This particular liner boasts an amazing 18,000 square foot gaming floor, complete with over 500 slot machines and 27 tables for your pleasure!

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Leisure World

Former names: fantasy world, asean world, shangri-la world, skyward.

Cruise line Scrapped Cruise Ships

Specifications of Leisure World

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Leisure World Review

Review of leisure world.

The 1969-built (as "MS Skyward) cruise ship Leisure World entered service on December 10, 1969. Together with the sistership Starward (1968-built/2018- scrapped as Aegean Queen/Louis Aura ), both vessels were purposely built for NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line .

The vessel (IMO number 6921828) was owned by the Hong Kong China -based New Century Group (via the subsidiary New Century Maritime Ltd) and operated by New Century Cruise Lines (travel brand and part of the subsidiary New Century Tours Corporation Pte Ltd).

When operated by New Century Cruise Lines, Leisure World was initially Tuvalu- flagged (MMSI 572282000, registered in Funafuti) and later reflagged to Panama (MMSI 374139000, registered in Colon ).

History - construction and ownership

The 800-passenger ship Skyward (Leisure World) was operated by her original owners until 1991 when she was sold to Johnson Sembawang Shipmanagement in Nassau and received the name "Shangri-la World". The boat was used mainly for voyages out of Singapore . Over time, the vessel changed her name several times until she received the name "Leisure World" after a renovation in Jacksonville Florida USA . The vessel was last drydock-refurbished in 2013.

( accidents ) In 1973, many of the ship's passengers became ill due to infected water. In 1979, a boiler room fire caused the ship to shut down its engines and all passengers were transferred to MS Starward.

During its service, the ship was named Skyward (1969-1991/owned by NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line), Shangri-La World and Asean World (1991-92/operated by Johnson Sembawang Shipmanagement), Fantasy World (1992-93/Johnson Sembawang), Leisure World (1993-2021). Shipowners change in 1995 (when NCL sold it to Queenstown Investments Ltd) and in 2000 (when Queenstown Investments sold it to New Century Group's Queenston Maritime Ltd).

The vessel was built by AG Weser Werk Seebeck (in Bremerhaven Germany ) and had min passenger capacity 580 (lower berths), max capacity 900 (all beds), 9 passenger-accessible decks (4 with cabins), powerplant with 2x MAN diesel engines (total power output 12,8 MW), propulsion system based on 2x CPP (controllable pitch propellers), service speed 14 knots (max 16 KN).

As a casino ship, Leisure World's itinerary program was based on cruises to nowhere leaving roundtrip out of homeport Singapore .

In late-April 2021, New Century Cruise Lines (NCCL) retired two of Asia's longest-serving cruise ships - Leisure World (52-year-old) and Amusement World (54-year-old). Commenting on the disposal of both vessels, NCCL said that the COVID crisis had severely affected the operations of the cruise ships, which had been unable to generate charter revenue while at the same time continuing to incur maintenance costs. Coupled with strong scrap steel prices, the company decided to sell the boats to realize its investment in an uncertain market environment.

• Leisure World was sold to NKD Maritime Ltd (India) for USD 3,59 million (~EUR 2,98M/~GBP 2,59M), gaining ~HKD 6,37M (~USD 0,82M) on the sale / based on its book value HKD 21,3M.
• Amusement World was also sold to NKD Maritime Ltd.
• Both ships were sold for scrap metal and departed their anchorage (off Singapore) heading to Alang India .
• Leisure World's AIS transmitted for the last time on July 2, 2021 (at 1:51 UTC), showing the boat at anchorage off Alang's coast.

The New Century Maritime-owned cruise ship Aegean Paradise (1990-built as "Orient Venus") was sold to Victor Restis (Greece) in 2015 for USD 22 million.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Leisure World's Atlantic Deck was devoted to standard Inside and Outside cabins for overnight passengers who purchased a stateroom for a nominal fee.

Leisure World Restaurant (an original Skyward venue) was adjacent to the Galley (kitchen and storage rooms) at the aft end of Rainbow Deck. For breakfast, lunch and dinner, Chinese buffets were available for a nominal charge, with stations in the dining room's forward and central sections. The simple but pleasant restaurant had picture windows on both sides.

The boat was very popular among older Singaporeans, who paid only $23 on weekdays for a day trip with price-inclusive unlimited buffet meals. Those under 55 years old had to pay $43. Another appeal was the low minimum bets at Lido Casino's 40 gaming tables. Bets started at $2 - rather than $25 minimums at Singapore's land-based resorts. Unlike its land-based casinos, the Lido Casino didn't require Singaporeans to pony up $100 to cross the threshold.

The ship's Lido Casino also had 200 gaming machines, but they were less popular.

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New Century Cruise Lines' ships Leisure World and Amusement World sold for scrap

The Singapore-based company New Century Cruise Lines (NCCL) retired two of Asia’s longest-serving cruise ships. The vessels join CruiseMapper...

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Other Scrapped Cruise Ships cruise ships

• American Glory
• Amusement World
• Black Watch
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• Carnival Imagination
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• Carnival Sensation
• Carnival Tropicale
• CMV Columbus
• CMV Magellan
• CMV Marco Polo
• Costa Concordia
• Costa neoRomantica
• Costa Victoria
• Golden Iris
• Grand Celebration
• Marella Celebration
• Marella Dream
• MS Titanic 2
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• Orient Queen
• Pacific Jewel
• Pride of Burgundy ferry
• Pride of Canterbury ferry
• Pride of Kent ferry
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Where do old abandoned cruise ships go?

Old abandoned cruise ships often end up in scrapyards where they are dismantled for scrap. However, some of them have been repurposed as floating hotels and artificial reefs. Below are answers to some related questions:

What happens to abandoned cruise ships?

Abandoned cruise ships have several options. They can be extensively refurbished and relocated to smaller, less popular regions, transferred or sold to other cruise lines, or sent to a cruise ship junkyard for scrapping.

Where do scrapped cruise ships go?

Decommissioned ships are often sent to scrapyards for scrapping. The largest scrapyards for cruise ships are Alang in India’s Gulf of Khambhat and Aliaga in Turkey.

What do cruise companies do with old ships?

When cruise ships reach the end of their useful lives, cruise companies decommission them. They usually go through a process called “beaching” where they are taken to a beach in India or Bangladesh and scrapped.

What is the oldest cruise ship still in use?

The oldest cruise ship still in use is the MV Astoria, which was constructed as the transatlantic ocean liner Stockholm for the Swedish American Line. It was ordered in 1944 and commenced service in 1948.

Do they sell old cruise ships?

Old cruise ships are sold if there is a market for them. However, if a buyer cannot be found, they are often scrapped.

What is the oldest Royal Caribbean ship still in service?

The oldest Royal Caribbean cruise ship still in service is the Grandeur of the Seas, which was unveiled in 1996.

What happens to all the waste food on a cruise ship?

Traditionally, the leftover food on a cruise ship is ground by food pulpers and then pulverized into a paste or slurry. Once the ship reaches land, the waste is transported to a facility for processing, such as a landfill or an anaerobic digestion plant.

What do they do with toilet waste on cruise ships?

Cruise ships are only permitted to release heavily treated human wastewater into the ocean. Solid waste is treated and dehydrated before being disposed of onshore through standard waste disposal methods when the ship is in port.

How much does a cruise ship captain make?

According to recruitment specialists, the salary of a cruise ship captain can range from $92,000 to $190,000 annually, depending on factors such as experience, qualifications, and the employer.

Do they sink retired cruise ships?

Retired cruise ships can be scrapped, scuttled (deliberately sunk), or decommissioned and turned into luxury dockside hotels or ship-museums. Scuttling is conducted by allowing seawater to flow into the vessel’s hull.

What is the largest cruise ship in the world being scrapped?

The largest cruise ship in the world, the Global Dream II, was purchased by Disney after being on the market for 10 months. It was destined to be sold for scrap, but Disney acquired it in January 2022.

Do cruises sink anymore?

Thankfully, very few cruise ships have sunk in modern history. Safety measures, such as having enough lifeboats for all passengers and crew onboard, have been implemented following the Titanic disaster. However, there have been instances where cruise ships sank due to accidents or other factors.

Why do they abandon cruise ships?

Cruise ships are often abandoned because it is more practical and cost-effective to scrap them rather than preserve them. The parts of a ship consist mostly of metal, making scrapping a more viable option.

Do cruise ships leave people behind?

Cruise ships have protocols in place to ensure that passengers are not left behind. However, there may be rare instances where passengers are left behind if they violate the cruise line’s policies or fail to adhere to the ship’s schedule.

Are cruise ships bad for the environment?

Cruise ships have a negative environmental impact. While efforts have been made to mitigate pollution, systems such as scrubbers can transfer contaminants from air pollution to the ocean. The use of new fuel types can help reduce the impact, but more sustainable practices are still needed.

What cruise ship was taken over by pirates?

In 2005, the cruise ship Seaborne Spirit was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia.

What cruise ship sank 10 years ago?

The Costa Concordia disaster occurred on January 13, 2012. The Italian cruise ship struck rocks off the coast of Giglio Island in the Tyrrhenian Sea and capsized.

How many Royal Caribbean ships have sunk?

None of the Royal Caribbean ships have ever sunk. The chance of a Royal Caribbean ship sinking is very small.

Is it illegal to throw things off a cruise ship?

Passengers are liable for any illegal dumping or pollution, including the discharge of any item into the ocean or waterways. It is illegal and against cruise line policies to throw things off a cruise ship.

Are cruise ships luxurious?

Cruise ships offer a range of amenities and luxurious experiences. Many modern cruise ships feature multiple dining options, spas, theaters, pools, and other entertainment facilities to provide a luxurious experience for passengers.

Do cruise ships have jails?

Most cruise ships have detention facilities, commonly known as a “brig,” where passengers or crew members who have broken the law or violated the ship’s rules can be detained.

Do cruise ships have doctors?

Yes, cruise ships have medical facilities with doctors and medical staff onboard to attend to passengers and crew members who require medical attention.

Do cruise ships have WiFi?

Most cruise ships now offer WiFi services for passengers, allowing them to stay connected while onboard. However, the availability and cost of WiFi may vary depending on the cruise line and the ship.

Do cruise ships have casinos?

Many cruise ships have onboard casinos where passengers can enjoy a variety of games such as slots, blackjack, poker, and roulette.

Are cruise ships safe?

Cruise ships have safety measures in place to ensure the well-being of passengers and crew. They undergo regular inspections and must adhere to international safety standards. However, accidents or incidents can still occur, and it is essential to follow safety instructions and protocols while onboard.

Can I live on a cruise ship full-time?

While it is not common for individuals to live on a cruise ship full-time, some cruise lines offer long-term cruising options, such as world cruises or retirement communities at sea, where passengers can live onboard for an extended period.

Can you retire on a cruise ship?

Retiring on a cruise ship is possible through long-term cruise

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In the Leisure Industry, Cruises and Casinos Work

By Philip Crawford, International Herald Tribune

• June 5, 1993

THE leisure industry traditionally gets a boost when the summer vacation season shifts into full swing, and analysts say that this year should be no different. But with many companies seeking a deeper, less seasonal stability to carry them into the next century, the trend in the sector is toward expansion, both domestically and internationally.

Club Méditerranée SA, the French company that pioneered the mass-market packaged holiday, is looking to Asia, for example, to bolster its wavering bottom line. Cruise ship concerns such as Carnival Cruise Lines Inc., mindful that the floating holiday is perceived by millions as financially out of reach, are adding new capacity and marketing their affordability.

Gaming companies such as Las Vegas-based Circus CircusEnterprises Inc., moreover, are poised to open new casinos, as the somewhat rigid U.S. attitude toward gambling softens, and more states move to legalize it and profit from it. Even beleaguered Euro Disneyland SCA and its hovering parent, Walt Disney Co., are proceeding full speed ahead with the second phase of the French theme park's development.

The upshot for investors, say analysts, is several companies in the sector that look like good buys and a few others that should be approached with more caution.

Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines, which operates 19 passenger ships under four brand names - Carnival, Holland America, Windstar, and Seabourne - is favored by market watchers, many of whom attribute the company's growth of 8 percent last year to shrewd discounting amid an oversupplied market.

But with demand expected to outpace supply, it is the addition of even more capacity that should drive Carnival's growth for the rest of the decade, say experts. The company has committed $1.85 billion to build six new ships, two per year, through 1995. What's more, nearly five million North Americans are expected to take cruises this year, about half of whom will be under 45 years of age with household incomes of under $40,000 per year, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, a trade group.

"Carnival is well-positioned to dominate the industry," said Michael Mueller, a leisure industry analyst with Montgomery Securities in San Francisco. "Only 5 percent of the U. S. population has taken a cruise and even fewer Europeans have. There's enormous growth opportunity. Carnival already has the best balance sheet in the sector and a very savvy management team. Over the next five to ten years, you're going to see them going after more of the U.S. market, and going increasingly global as well."

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which floated its initial public offering in April, is also expectedto do well for shareholders, some analysts noted.

Of course, there are many people with leisure dollars to spend who prefer artificial light - like that found inside a windowless casino - to the blazing sun and the cloying smell of tanning oil. And with the U.S. gambling industry expanding as never before, both the players and the major gaming concerns have at least a chance to win big. Financial analysts are putting their money on the casinos, whose shareholders could be sitting pretty.

States that have recently legalized at least some form of casino gambling include Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Colorado, Mississippi and Louisiana. Some major gaming concerns, moreover, are poised not only to enter the new markets, but also to expand their facilities in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, the two U.S. gambling capitals. Of those companies, experts think Circus Circus is the best bet.

"Circus Circus's stock has been beaten up a bit, and they've had a management shift, but second-half prospects are excellent," said Margo Vignola, a leisure industry analyst with Salomon Bros. in New York. "We think it will continue to outperform. The company also has two new facilities due to open within the year."

Indeed, Circus Circus has plans to open a new amusement park in Las Vegas called Grand Slam Canyon in August. Its newest casino on the Vegas strip, called Luxor, is pegged to open its doors in October. "Basically, we're positive on all of the Las Vegas-based companies," added Ms. Vignola. "When new projects open, traffic goes up, and everybody benefits to a certain extent. We have a 'buy' recommendation on Caesar's World as well."

Mr. Mueller, echoing the "buy" recommendations on Circus Circus and on Caesar's World Inc., another major U.S. gaming concern, said that the current industry expansion may be only the beginning. "A significant amount of the U.S. population is not serviced by gambling at all," he said. "Most of the Midwest and lots of the South are still completely untapped. I think we're in the early stages of this growth cycle."

Meanwhile, things seem less auspicious for Club Méditerranée, which operates over 200 hotels, clubs and resorts worldwide. The company is looking increasingly to the Far East and Asia for expansion, as evidenced by new ventures in southern China and in Vietnam. Club Med's president, Gilbert Trigano, has himself said that China, with its 1.1 billion people, represents the world's next major tourist market.

But analysts remain reticent. "We're sellers of their shares," said Anita Hibbert of Smith New Court Securities in London. "The earnings forecast isn't very positive, and I suspect we haven't seen the worst of the recession in France. Plus, management has been a little sleepy."

Analysts also say that there is no spectacular news for investors in what is perhaps the most highly visible resort concern in the world, Walt Disney Co., nor in its struggling offspring, Euro Disneyland SCA.

"We downgraded Walt Disney Co. from a 'buy' to a 'hold' just after Euro Disney's second-quarter earnings were announced," said Ms. Vignola of Salomon Bros. "Euro Disney has been much more of a psychological and earnings drag on the parent company than we thought it would be. We're also generally cautious on consumer confidence, and that's the key for theme parks."

Euro Disney, which is 49 percent owned by Walt Disney Co., reported a $204 million loss for the first half of fiscal year 1993.

Dennis McAlpine, who tracks Walt Disney Co. for Josephthal Lyon & Ross in New York, said he rates the company a "hold" as well. "The Stateside recovery is very shaky," he said, "and it remains to be seen whether the French will ever adopt Mickey."

Shares in Euro Disney SCA, which are traded independently on the Paris Bourse, are also seen as in a limbo of sorts by analysts.

"We're holders of Euro Disney," said Ms. Hibbert. "They've got to do something dramatic. Their financial structure is untenable, at best. Even under optimal operating margins, they still don't make a profit because of high interest payments and high lease expenses. They say they're going to do some refinancing, and we're waiting to see what happens with that."

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This Southern Town Is One of the Best Food Cities in America With a Boutique Hotel Scene to Match

Asheville’s boutique hotel scene is booming with new properties paying homage to the town’s creative energy and culture.

Matt Kisiday

Nestled among the breathtaking beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains, Asheville has evolved into a bustling hospitality hub boasting critically  acclaimed restaurants , independent boutiques, over 50 craft breweries, and live music venues. 

But in the past year, the town's luxury boutique hotel scene has also grown with several properties inspired by its rich history, culture, and natural beauty, making it possible for visitors to experience the creative, culinary, and historical facets of Asheville in an authentic and immersive way.

"Independent hotels have a different opportunity for expression," Amy Michaelson Kelly, principal and chief operations officer at Hatteras Sky, an Atlanta-based commercial real estate development firm behind several of the town's most notable recent openings, told  Travel + Leisure .

After buying an abandoned 1920s cereal factory, Hatteras Sky partnered with Rob Blood, the founder of Lark Hotels, who operates boutique hotels on the East Coast and California, and opened  The Radical , a 70-key property along the French Broad River in Asheville's River Arts District (also known as RAD, which inspired the hotel's name).

In keeping with the area's creative reputation — it is home to more than 270 artists and working studios—the hotel offers an eclectic setting that features graffiti, some of which had been in the building before its development as a hotel, custom art installations, and a range of public spaces, including a rooftop bar, a restaurant, Golden Hour, dreamed up by Asheville resident and two-time James Beard-nominated restaurateur Jacob Sessoms, and after/glow, a cafe that transforms into a trendy bar with a DJ booth, hanging from the ceiling in a metal sphere.

"It's essentially a living piece of art and a performance space, in addition to the benefit of having 70 hotel rooms," Blood said of The Radical, noting that the property has quickly become an anchor in the community and a hangout spot for many residents. 

Live art demo sessions highlighting different local artists, live music, and a dinner series dedicated to women in business are just some of the most recent events and activities happening on-site and accessible to both the community and guests. 

"One of the reasons I go to Asheville is because I want to be immersed in the community because there's so much richness there. And the only way to get connected to that community is by being surrounded by it," Blood added. 

The property commissioned over a dozen artists to create work displayed throughout the hotel. With their exposed brick walls covered in graffiti, the guestrooms have a raw, industrial-chic aesthetic without skipping luxuries like marble bathrooms with walk-in showers, floor-to-ceiling windows, plush bath robes, and Grown Alchemist toiletries. The restaurant offers hand-crafted cocktails and a seasonal menu featuring the freshest local ingredients prepared in an open kitchen with a wood-fired grill. 

Blood is behind another recent boutique stay,  Blind Tiger,  This one opened in the summer of 2023 in Asheville's Chestnut Hill neighborhood, which is emerging as a wellness hotspot. With just 14 rooms, the hotel sits in a former 1889 private home and feels much more residential, blending vintage and contemporary pieces. The hotel provides guests a letter from their local "host," an Ashevillian who shares their favorite spots and activities in town.

The concept behind Blind Tiger, of which there are two more outposts in Portland, Maine, and Burlington, Vermont, is to make guests feel like "they're staying with a friend who knows everything you should do that's not on Yelp or TripAdvisor," Blood explained. 

However, for those who like to be within steps of downtown,  Zelda Dearest , which opened in October 2023, immerses them in a world inspired by Zelda Fitzgerald, who spent her final years in Asheville (she died in a fire in the psychiatric hospital where she was being treated). The property, for which Amy Michaelson Kelly worked with the Zelda Fitzgerald estate, celebrates the early romance of the novelist and artist and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

The 20-room hotel is spread between three historic Victorian-style mansions, overlooking Biltmore Avenue in downtown's South Slope neighborhood, and oozes an intimate vibe. The spacious rooms and suites, designed by Nashville-based firm Anderson Design Studio, have king-sized beds, separate lounge areas, large bathrooms with walk-in showers, and a smart and sophisticated design sprinkled with art deco references and artwork inspired by Fitzgerald. 

"We wanted to create a feminine property that's residential and collected. Because of [Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald's] travels, we wanted it to feel collected; we didn't want it to feel too uniform," Kelly explained.

The property also has a courtyard-like space and a cozy parlor bar with menus of local brews and wines curated by Sessoms.

The town's most recent boutique opening is in its bustling downtown and pays homage to Asheville's Art Deco heritage.  The Flat Iron Hotel , opened its doors at the end of last month in a landmark historic building of the same name, dating back to 1926. Asheville experienced a building boom during the roaring 20s led by renowned architect Douglas Ellington. Original 1920s design details surround travelers staying at the 71-room hotel — look for the beautiful transom windows — but they also have many modern amenities to take advantage of, such as an upscale Italian eatery and a rooftop bar with stunning views over the town and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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