Just how long do these cruise ships last?

[Kelv_2013]

Last week we were on the Liberty of the Seas in the Western Med and alongside us at Naples was a ship called the MSC Melody. I got chatting to an American guest on board who was a Tour Operator and had travelled extensively over the years, so he knew a lot about cruise ships. I can't recall how we got on to the subject, but we soon established that the Melody was run years back by Premier Cruise Lines in partnership with Disney as one of their "Big Red Boats". He said it was called the Starship Oceanic, although I since believe from Googling away back home that it was its sister ship, the Starship Atlantic. I believe the Oceanic may have been scrapped in 2012.

 

Anyway, this cruise aboard the Liberty was only our third ever and our first in 1992 was a mini-cruise, aboard the Starship Oceanic from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas. As we looked down on the Melody from our balcony up high, the children remarked on just how small it was (35,000 tonnes or so I believe) compared to the Liberty. Of course, we didn't know any better back then, we had only ever been on 6,000 tonne ferries, so it looked large in to us back then.

 

It has got me thinking, just how long can these ships stay in service before being deemed un-seaworthy or failing in meeting today's regulations etc?

 

I realise the Melody wasn't the Oceaniic we sailed on, but its sister, but nevertheless it was great to see it.

[Desert Cruizers]

I was looking for the actual number of years, but couldn't find anything, I am sure someone will have the answer. I know the older ships soon are retired from the cruise service and sold to other countries.

[FLACRUISER99]

It's not the years it's the regulations keep changing & "grandfather clauses" expire.

[AAA75]

I think it has more to do on what people want. Larger ships have more things to do.

[temple1]

I'm sure some of our more knowledgeable members will chime in with actual information soon. IMHO (for what it's worth ;) ) I would imagine it depends on routine maintenance, design, and efficiency.

 

If it is not maintained it will soon rust out or lose performance; if the design does not allow for changes and upgrades; or if the operation due to types of power plants etc. are energy hogs I think it will go from owner to owner to eventually the sad fate of India's salvage operations.

 

I don't think regulations have that much to do with it. If it becomes to difficult to qualify for US ports they will keep moving the ship to ports that are not as restrictive and a passenger base that is less interested in bells and whistles.

[George C]

I like cruising some of gthe older ships sometimes, need Melody about 10 years agom when it was just 20 or so years old. Ship used to belong to Home lines and was called the Atantic and sailed out of NYC about in 1980.

[Aquahound]

The average lifespan of a cruise ship is 30 years. Theoretically, a ship could be kept going much longer with the proper maintenence, upgrades, refurbishments, etc. But eventually, they become too expensive to operate and as they get older, demand goes away because they can't compete with newer ships.

[bradpole]

Exactly, AAA75

 

I appreciate the more options on larger ships, but I still prefer a cozier smaller ship.

 

As for how long cruise ships last, the QE2 was in service for nearly 40 years with Cunard! Also, NCL's first ship the Starward is still sailing for Louis Cruises in the Med, which was built in 1968

[Palmetto Pilot]

The SS France/Norway was in service for 45 years.

[jagsfan]

The SOLAS laws put a lot of older ships out of service to US ports. I sailed on the Atlantic's inaugural out of Tampa, when she was leased by Premier. Very nice ship. I saw poor old Oceanic several times waiting in Freeport to move to the beach in, I guess, India. It was so sad to see her fhere, rusting and lonely. The Royale, of course, sank under tow off the coast of India.

I love seeing some of the older ships start a new life. I have fond memories of a lot of them.

[chengkp75]

The SOLAS laws put a lot of older ships out of service to US ports. I sailed on the Atlantic's inaugural out of Tampa, when she was leased by Premier. Very nice ship. I saw poor old Oceanic several times waiting in Freeport to move to the beach in, I guess, India. It was so sad to see her fhere, rusting and lonely. The Royale, of course, sank under tow off the coast of India.

I love seeing some of the older ships start a new life. I have fond memories of a lot of them.

 

Not sure where you get the impression that SOLAS is different for US ports than for others. SOLAS is an international convention from the IMO, an organ of the UN. The USCG can only enforce SOLAS regulations on foreign flag ships in US ports, not their own stricter regulations. All nations are bound by SOLAS.

 

While Aqua is generally correct, and the design life of a ship is 30 years, some last far longer, as the France/Norway was mentioned, and the SS United States' hull is in very good condition for 50+ years. The main driving force on a ship's life is the classification society's rules on construction and seaworthiness. Every ship is surveyed by the class every 5 years (on a continual basis, generally), and after every 5 years, there are more inspections added (generally dealing with steel thicknesses left after corrosion, etc), and with these new "special surveys" come more repairs required, meaning more cost. After 10 years, the "specials" become very intense (costly), and subsequent ones even more, so frequently the first owner will retire a ship after 10-15 years, and sell it to a line that has a lower profit margin and lower customer expectations. Pullmantur, which cruises almost exclusively in the Spanish market is a prime line for buying older ships. Many times moving older ships to these markets results in lower repair costs because the labor in the area is cheaper.

[amster65]

MSC Melody - Retired in January 2013

 

 

 

Review MSC Melody itineraries and explore the amenities available onboard.

• Year Built: 1982
  
• Last Refurbished: 2001
  
• Gross Tonnage: 35,140 tons
  
• Passenger Capacity: 1,062
  
• Crew Size: 530
  
• Amenities: Fitness Center, Movie Theater, Spa, Casino, Swimming Pool (2) [more]
  

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[hellsop]

For what it's worth, Song of Norway is supposed to be being converted to a casino ship in (I think) Guangzhou, Sun Viking is cruising as Oriental Dragon (and just left Hong Kong about three hours ago), and Nordic Prince is laid up someplace. So at least one of the three original RC ships is still doing what she's been doing for 40 years.

[ehfl]

The SS France was in service for 42 years (later as the NCL Norway) until 2004. She was steam powered and had asbestos problems.

 

I would imagine that modern ships could have a longer lifespan depending on the development of propulsion technology.

[chengkp75]

For what it's worth, Song of Norway is supposed to be being converted to a casino ship in (I think) Guangzhou, Sun Viking is cruising as Oriental Dragon (and just left Hong Kong about three hours ago), and Nordic Prince is laid up someplace. So at least one of the three original RC ships is still doing what she's been doing for 40 years.

 

Yep, and has had 5 owners in the last 15 years. Frankly, some of these Asian cruise ships scare the daylights out of me. Who knows what condition a 40 year old ship owned by a Chinese company, registered in Panama, and classed by China is actually in.

[chengkp75]

The SS France was in service for 42 years (later as the NCL Norway) until 2004. She was steam powered and had asbestos problems.

 

I would imagine that modern ships could have a longer lifespan depending on the development of propulsion technology.

 

Actually, the Norway had a boiler problem, a BIG boiler problem.

 

 

As I've said, the main concern is not propulsion technology, but steel. When you get over 15 years old, and have to start renewing framework and plating in ballast, fuel, and fresh water tanks, you start to have longer drydocks which means longer times out of service, less cruises in a year, and so on in a spiral until it is cheaper to build new than repair old.

[oneputt18]

The Stockholm was built in 1946 and is currently sailing for a Portuguese company under the name Azores.

Stockholm was the ship that collided with the Andrea Doria.

[Kelv_2013]

As a wheelchair user of 13 years now, Im not sure it would have been manageable getting around the Oceanic(Atlantic)/Melody like I did when I was fully mobile all those years back. The Liberty was superb in that respect.

 

The SS France was mentioned earlier. I loved seeing that ship as a child and if Im not mistaken it was the biggest in the world at one time. In the 1970s my Dad fished a lot, off the shore, pier and boats. I went a few times but mostly helped dig the bait. One time he was in the boat more or less still in the Southampton water when the coastguard approached at speed. When Dad told him he had a permit and was allowed to be there the coastguard told him to tell that to the SS France which was fast bearing down on this tiny fishing boat.

 

Happy days!

 

 

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[Paulxyz2004]

The SS France was in service for 42 years (later as the NCL Norway) until 2004. She was steam powered and had asbestos problems.

 

I would imagine that modern ships could have a longer lifespan depending on the development of propulsion technology.

 

Actually, the Norway had a boiler problem, a BIG boiler problem.

 

 

Actually both is true, though the asbestos Problem was the bigger one. When the Boiler exploded huge amounts of asbestos where blown through the ship. The Boiler while still expensive could have been replaced, but the asbestos Problem was what broke the ships neck. NCL then lied about the Destination when tugging the Norway out of Bremerhaven, as they weren´t allowed to take her out for scrapping without having the asbestos removed. Final outcome was she was scrapped in Alang from poor workers without any protection against asbestos.:(

[chengkp75]

As a wheelchair user of 13 years now, Im not sure it would have been manageable getting around the Oceanic(Atlantic)/Melody like I did when I was fully mobile all those years back. The Liberty was superb in that respect.

 

The SS France was mentioned earlier. I loved seeing that ship as a child and if Im not mistaken it was the biggest in the world at one time. In the 1970s my Dad fished a lot, off the shore, pier and boats. I went a few times but mostly helped dig the bait. One time he was in the boat more or less still in the Southampton water when the coastguard approached at speed. When Dad told him he had a permit and was allowed to be there the coastguard told him to tell that to the SS France which was fast bearing down on this tiny fishing boat.

 

Happy days!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

Since the Liberty calls US ports as home ports for part of the year anyway, it must be ADA compliant. Back in the 70's when the Oceanic was built, there was no concern for mobility issues.

 

The France wasn't the largest ship when built, but was the longest until the Queen Mary 2.

[setsail]

The Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria can be seen in Jamestown:p

 

And, just down the James is a whole fleet of ships from WWII, called the James river fleet. Some were troop carriers

[Kelv_2013]

The France wasn't the largest ship when built, but was the longest until the Queen Mary 2.

 

Thanks for clarifying that for me.

 

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[jagsfan]

I loved the Norway. It was the first ship I ever sailed in that was built for Transatlantic voyages. There were so many size and shaped cabins coated to today when they're factory built and slid into place. Oceanic was the same way, some cabins like closets, some like mini suites. And with divided bathrooms like Disney has.

[chengkp75]

The Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria can be seen in Jamestown:p

 

And, just down the James is a whole fleet of ships from WWII, called the James river fleet. Some were troop carriers

 

Actually, I don't think there are any WWII ships left in the NDRF anchorages (James River, Beaumont, and Benicia) anymore. Most of the WWII era ships were called out for Vietnam, and scrapped afterwards. The current ships are from the 50's to the 70's, and very likely will never move again. Some of the 70's era ships were called out for the Persian Gulf war, with disastrous results, as the machinery failed constantly, and replacement parts were hard to find. The current Ready Reserve Fleet, less mothballed than the NDRF, is mainly 70's to 80's era ships with diesel engines and lots more containerized or RO/RO capability than the older ships.

[reney313]

I loved the Norway. It was the first ship I ever sailed in that was built for Transatlantic voyages. There were so many size and shaped cabins coated to today when they're factory built and slid into place. Oceanic was the same way, some cabins like closets, some like mini suites. And with divided bathrooms like Disney has.

 

We cruised the Norway years ago--it was supposed to be the "farewell" voyage before she went to Europe full time. Then 9/11 hit a few weeks later and NCL decided to keep her put for travel from the US.

 

In any respect, we had an inside guarantee. I was obviously naive when I booked that! I never realized how many different classes of staterooms there could be on one ship. I was SOOO excited when we were "upgraded" to an outside (portal) window. We got to the cabin and it was obviously 3rd class steerage. One upper berth and one lower berth. LOL. The room was L shaped. I think the bathroom was the same size as the closet we slept in.

 

Ahh,..Good times!

 

(I should mention it was also August and we had to divert from 2 different Tropical Storms. It's amazing we made a port of call at all--albeit not one on the original itinerary).