The Messy, Booming Business of Recycling Cruise Ships
Thanks to the pandemic, the practice of breaking apart ships and selling them for parts is on the rise.
Ships being broken down for scrap metal at the Aliaga ship recycling port in Izmir, Turkey.
Photographer: Chris McGrath/Getty Images EuropeCarnival Fantasy was a ship famous for its outlandish décor, all-night revelry, and size—back when 2,000 was an incredible number of passengers. The “Fun Ship” vibe it introduced in 1990 came with such whimsical spaces as an Egyptian-themed piano bar, decorated with a fake sarcophagus, and a glitzy glass-topped atrium that was the hub of the social scene.
Today, the Fantasy is attracting a whole different breed of booty-seeker. In July, the 30-year-old ship sailed to the Aegean Sea, wrapping its final voyage in the ship breaking capital of Aliaga, Turkey.