What Happened to the Ocean Dream Cruise Ship?

By Robert Palmer

The Ocean Dream Cruise Ship was once a shining symbol of luxury and extravagance, but after a series of unfortunate events, it has become one of the most infamous and ill-fated vessels in maritime history.

The Ocean Dream was built in 1991 by the now-defunct Norway-based shipbuilding company, Norsk Skips. It was a beautiful ship, with room for 655 passengers and 250 crew members spread out over 8 decks. It featured three restaurants, five bars, two swimming pools, a spa, and plenty of other amenities that made it a luxurious choice for cruising around the Mediterranean Sea.

Unfortunately, the ship’s luck began to turn in 2006 when it experienced an engine fire while docked in Palma de Mallorca. The fire caused extensive damage to the vessel and put it out of service for nearly two years while repairs were made.

In 2008, the Ocean Dream returned to service but its hardships were far from over. In 2010, it was hit by a powerful wave off the coast of Sicily which caused significant damage to its hull and resulted in dozens of passengers being injured. Then in 2013, another engine fire broke out while the vessel was at sea near Tunisia and forced an emergency evacuation of all passengers and crew.

After this last incident, the Ocean Dream was declared unseaworthy by authorities and its future remained uncertain for several years until finally in 2017 it was sold for scrap metal to an Indian company for just $2 million – a fraction of what it had cost to build initially.

Since then, there has been no trace of what once was one of Europe’s most luxurious cruise ships. It’s tragic demise serves as a reminder that even vessels that have seen great success can succumb to unforeseen disasters if they are not properly maintained or equipped with adequate safety measures.

Conclusion:

The Ocean Dream Cruise Ship went from being one of Europe’s most luxurious ships to being declared unseaworthy after experiencing several unfortunate events including engine fires and damages caused by heavy waves. Ultimately, its fate ended with it being sold for scrap metal after 17 years at sea – serving as a stark reminder that even with proper maintenance accidents can still happen.