The Costa Magica has been sold to Seajets, a Greek ferry operator, according to Greek media reports and multiple industry sources.
The ship represents another Carnival Corporation vessel leaving the Costa fleet as the world’s largest cruise operator continues to shed less economical capacity.
Of note, it is the newest and biggest vessel to exit a Carnival-owned brand, with the Magica having the capacity for 2,720 guests at double occupancy and having been built in 2004 at a cost of $400 million. It was one of three ships Carnival said would leave the fleet in December. The AIDAaura will also be retired, and a yet-to-be-named Costa ship will follow.
The Marios Iliopoulos-led Seajets has purchased multiple secondhand cruise ships since the start of the pandemic. A handful of ships have since been scrapped, while the former Maasdam was sold to French start-up CFC and will soon enter service.
The Magica will soon join a number of other ships in a layup in Greece under the control of Seajets, including the former Veendam, Pacific Area, P&O Oceania and Majesty of the Seas.
While the former Maasdam was sold to CFC, Seajets has also retired some ships for scrap value including the Columbus and Magellan, two ships that it bought at auction following the demise of Cruise & Maritime Voyages
Explorer Dream Capacity: 1,804 guests Tonnage: 76,800 Year built: 1999 Former names: SuperStar Virgo Move: Chartered to Resorts World Cruises; to be renamed Resorts World One Date: January 2023
Rejoining its former fleet mate Genting Drem, the ex-SuperStar Virgo is set to debut in Singapore in February before kicking off a program of short cruises to nowhere departing from Hong Kong.
AIDAaura Capacity: 1,270 guests Tonnage: 42,200 Year built: 2003 Move: To be retired from AIDA Cruises’ fleet Date: January 2023
Pacific Venus Capacity: 696 guests Tonnage: 26,518 Year built: 1998 Move: Withdrawn from service as operator shuts down cruise business Date: January 2023
One of the market’s only three Japanese-flagged cruise ships, the Pacific Venus is now facing an uncertain future. Currently laid up in a shipyard in Japan, the 696-guest vessel was built at the Ishikawajima shipyard in Tokyo.
Costa Venezia Capacity: 4,232 guests Tonnage: 135,500 Year built: 2019 Move: Ended last cruise for Costa ahead of being transferred to Carnival Date: December 2022
Sailing from New York City on a year-round basis, the Venezia will be part of the new Carnival Fun Italian Style concept, which mixes Costa’s Italian heritage with Carnival’s experience and service.
Braemar Capacity: 977 guests Tonnage: 24,344 Year built: 1993 Former names: Crown Majesty, Crown Dynasty and Norwegian Dynasty Move: To be sold by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Date: November 2022
In late November, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines announced plans to rationalize its fleet and concentrate on modern tonnage. As a result, the British brand decided to retire Braemar from service.
Currently the smallest vessel of the fleet, the 1993-built cruise ship has been laid up in Scotland since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of the announcement, Fred. Olsen is also said to be looking for a buyer for the vessel, which has a capacity for 977 guests in double occupancy.
Originally built for Costa Cruises, the vessel is set to offer a unique product, combining Carnival’s experience with special touches from the European country.
Following the Venezia, which will sail year-round from New York, the Carnival Firenze is also set to join the concept in 2024 and launch service from California.
Two Newbuilds Two new builds are entering service for core Carnival Corporation brands in 2023.
Originally ordered for AIDA Cruises, the new Carnival Jubilee is currently being built in Germany by the Meyer Werft shipyard. Joining the Mardi Gras and the Carnival Celebration, the XL-Class ship will debut during the fourth quarter, offering Western Caribbean cruises out of Galveston.
A sister to the Seabourn Venture, the Seabourn Pursuit is set to become Carnival Corp’s second expedition ship. Under construction in Italy, the vessel is scheduled to enter service in October, ahead of a winter season in Antarctica.
In addition is a yet-to-be-named new build for Adora Cruises, Carnival’s joint venture in China.
More Efficient Fleet While new ships enter service, Carnival continues to withdraw smaller and less efficient ships from its fleet.
The number is up from 54 per cent occupancy in the first quarter of 2022 when cruise operations were still being restarted across the globe.
Return to Asia and World Cruises Following a three-year gap, several Carnival brands are returning to Asia in early 2023.
While Seabourn is set to offer a series of Southeast Asia itineraries during the entire winter season, Princess and Holland America are returning to Japan in the spring.
Several brands – including P&O, Cunard, Costa, Princess and Holland America – also resumed their world cruise itineraries in January, offering long global voyages that visit several international destinations and countries.
Named Adora Cruises, the new brand will serve the local market, offering itineraries from several Chinese homeports.
In addition to two ships acquired from Costa, the joint venture is set to operate a pair of new builds, which are currently being constructed at a shipyard in Shanghai and are scheduled for 2023 and 2025 deliveries.
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