Is There Such Thing as a Cruise Ship Graveyard?

By Alice Nichols

Cruise ships are generally associated with luxury, relaxation, and a feeling of being in a floating oasis that takes you away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. However, when these enormous vessels have reached the end of their lifetime, they must be disposed of somehow. Thus, the question arises – is there such thing as a cruise ship graveyard?

The answer to this question is both yes and no. In some ways, cruise ships may be considered to have their own cemetery in the form of ship-breaking yards.

These shipyards are located around the world in places such as India, Bangladesh, China and Turkey. They are where vessels that have come to the end of their life cycle are taken for dismantling and recycling into scrap metal.

The process starts with the vessel being towed to the yard, where it is then stripped down and all its usable parts removed for reuse or sale on the second-hand market. Furniture and fixtures are also taken out before the ship is cut apart into sections for easier handling by crane or other heavy machinery.

However, while this may seem like a grim end for these majestic vessels, there’s actually another option available to cruise lines – they can donate them to science! Although it sounds strange at first glance, donating an old vessel to science has become quite popular in recent years.

These donations allow scientists to use them as floating laboratories or platforms for research purposes. The donated ships can be used as research vessels or to monitor marine wildlife. Some ships have even been turned into floating museums and hotels.

Conclusion:

Overall, while there may not technically be a cruise ship graveyard per se – there are certainly options available for disposing of these large vessels once they’ve reached their end-of-life stage. Ship-breaking yards offer an efficient way of recycling these vessels into scrap metal which can then be reused or sold on the second hand market. Alternatively, cruise lines may choose to donate their old ships to science – allowing them one last chance at adventure before taking part in something truly meaningful!