Carnival Fascination Explained

Carnival Fascination, originally Fascination, was a cruise ship built at Helsinki, Finland in 1994. For most of her service with Carnival Cruise Lines she operated out of San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 2017 Carnival Fascination was chartered to the US Government to assist with hurricane relief work in the Virgin Islands. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic the ship was withdrawn from service and in November that year sold for conversion to a hotel ship for Century Harmony Cruise Ltd, that renamed her Century Harmony. However, in October 2021 she was sold for scrapping, arriving at Gadani, Pakistan as Y Harmony in February 2022.

Carnival Cruise Line

The ship was the fourth of Carnival Cruise Lines' built by Kværner Masa-Yards at its Helsinki New Shipyard in Finland. She was floated out on July 1, 1994, and christened Fascination by Jeanne Farcus. The ship was registered under the Panamanian flag and mostly home-ported in San Juan, Puerto Rico, sailing in the Caribbean year-round.[1] [2] In 2000 her port of registry was changed to Nassau, under the Bahamas flag. During 2007, in common with all of her Fantasy-class sisters, she had the prefix Carnival added to her name.[3]

After the destruction caused in the United States Virgin Islands by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Carnival Fascination was chartered to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from October 15, 2017, until February 3, 2018, to house relief workers at St Croix.[4] [5] This charter cost FEMA $74.7 million.[6] At the end of the charter, the ship was given a further refit prior to returning to Carnival's services out of Puerto Rico.[7]

In July 2020, as a result of Carnival Cruise Line reducing fleet capacity, Carnival Fascination entered a long term lay-up, with no planned date for the ship to return to service.[8] In November 2020, the cruise line announced that the ship had been sold to Century Harmony Cruise Ltd.[9] [10]

Refits

Fascination was given a multimillion-dollar refurbishment while in dry dock during September 2006.[11] [12]

In January 2010 Carnival Fascination was again dry docked to be refurbished.[13]

In January 2013, Carnival Fascination underwent another dry dock.

Areas of operation

Fascination sailed from New York between July 24 and September 4, 1994, before moving to San Juan, Puerto Rico. As Carnival Fascination, she sailed from Jacksonville, Florida to the Bahamas.[14]

In 2013 and 2014, Coco Cay replaced Key West on some of Carnival Fascinations itineraries. Coco Cay is a private island in the Bahamas owned by rival cruise line Royal Caribbean International.[15] In April, 2016, Carnival Fascination re-positioned to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she undertook Southern Caribbean cruises.[16]

Incidents

Power loss

In June 2010, Carnival Fascination lost engine power due to a technical malfunction while returning to Jacksonville, Florida. Power was restored after several hours, and the ship was able to return to Jacksonville, Florida under her own power.[17]

Health inspection failure

In April 2013, it was reported that on February 21, 2013 Carnival Fascination failed a U.S. CDC health inspection after inspectors found insects in food preparation areas, dried food waste, insufficient chlorination in the pools, and insufficient sneeze guards at the salad bars. A satisfactory rating from the CDC is a score of 85 or higher. Carnival Fascination scored 84.[18]

SARS-CoV-2

In February 2020, the ship canceled a call to Saint Lucia over a COVID-19 scare, after a crew member reported illness, with flu like symptoms. The Carnival Fascination docked in Barbados but was not allowed to disembark passengers until the individual was declared negative for SARS-CoV-2.[19]

Century Harmony Cruise

When the ship was sold by Carnival to Century Harmony Cruise Limited and renamed Century Harmony, it was reported that the ship would be converted into a hotel ship in Asia.[20] [21] Although the ship was taken to China for refurbishment, news reports subsequently indicated that the ship's owners were considering scrapping the ship instead.[22] In October 2021, Century Harmony was sold to Nina Services Corp, managed in Singapore, reportedly for demolition in Alang, India, and then renamed Y Harmony.[23] However, she arrived at Gadani, Pakistan on 9 February 2022 and was beached for scrapping on 18 February.[24] [25]

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Century Harmony . Equasis (registration required) . French Ministry of Transport . 11 March 2021.
  2. Fun Ship From Fun City . Cruise Travel . March–April 1994 . 31 .
  3. Dake. Shawn J.. Cruise Ships 2007 the year in review. Ocean Times. January 2008. 12. 1. 2–8. Steamship Historical Society of America: Southern California Chapter.
  4. Web site: Carnival Cruise Line News - Statement Regarding Carnival Fascination. Carnival-news.com. 15 October 2017. 12 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20201129104028/https://carnival-news.com/2017/10/12/statement-regarding-carnival-fascination/ . 29 November 2020.
  5. Web site: Carnival Fascination chartered to FEMA, San Juan departures canceled: Travel Weekly. Travelweekly.com. en. 2017-11-07.
  6. News: FEMA Carnival Charter Cost $74.7 Million. Cruiseindustrynews.com. 2018-01-08. 2018-01-29. en-GB.
  7. Web site: Carnival Fascination. Carnival-news.com. December 14, 2017 . 2018-01-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210118224850/https://carnival-news.com/2017/12/14/carnival-fascination-to-undergo-multi-million-dollar-dry-dock-prior-to-resuming-year-round-service-from-san-juan-in-february-2018/ . 18 January 2021.
  8. Web site: Carnival Cruise Line Announces Update to Fleet Plan - Carnival Cruise Line News. carnival-news.com. 23 July 2020. 23 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201217083202/https://carnival-news.com/2020/07/23/carnival-cruise-line-announces-updates-to-fleet-plan/ . 17 December 2020.
  9. Web site: Line. Carnival Cruise. Carnival Cruise Line Announces Modifications To Fleet And Sailing Plans For Certain Ships. 2020-09-16. Prnewswire.com. en.
  10. Web site: Leggate. James. 2020-09-16. Carnival Cruise Line cancels more voyages, sells 2 ships. 2020-09-17. Cruisemapper.com. en-US.
  11. Web site: Carnival's Fun Ship Fascination to Undergo Upgrades . Carnival Cruise Lines . 11 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080607132137if_/http://www.carnival.com/CMS/Articles/fascination_refurb.aspx . June 7, 2008 . 2 August 2006 . dead .
  12. Web site: Carnival Cruise Lines - News Release . February 20, 2007 . May 20, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070520190102/http://www.carnival.com/CMS/Articles/fascination_refurb.aspx . dead .
  13. Web site: Carnival Fascination Returns to Service from Jacksonville Following Extensive "Evolutions of Fun" Upgrades . Cruisetalk.org . 2 February 2010 . 13 February 2012.
  14. News: Carnival adds more four- and five-day cruises out of Jacksonville, Fla. USA Today . Gene . Sloan . 1 August 2011 .
  15. News: Sloan. Gene. New port for Carnival ships is owned by Royal Caribbean. USA Today. 11 April 2013. 27 February 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20190929181447/https://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2013/02/27/carnival-cruise-coco-cay-island/1950527/ . 29 September 2019.
  16. Web site: Carnival Further Strengthens Leadership Position. Carnival Cruise Lines News. 2 March 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210118230745/https://carnival-news.com/2015/03/02/carnival-further-strengthens-leadership-position-in-new-orleans-with-a-significant-expansion-of-short-cruise-program-carnival-triumph-to-reposition-to-big-easy-in-spring-2016/ . 18 January 2021.
  17. News: Carter. Adam. 5 troubles on Carnival cruises. Cbc.ca. 11 April 2013.
  18. News: Golden. Fran. Carnival ship fails health inspection. USA Today. 11 April 2013. 11 April 2013.
  19. Web site: Carnival Cruise line employee on 'Fascination' tests negative for coronavirus. 2020-02-27. al. en. 2020-02-28.
  20. News: The Last Six Cruise Ship Secondhand Transactions . 11 March 2021 . Cruise Industry News . 6 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210111220809/https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24142-the-last-six-cruise-ship-secondhand-transactions.html . 11 January 2021.
  21. News: Murray . Jo . On the Water: Tsunami History, Catching Up . 11 March 2021 . The Grunion . MediaNews Group . 1 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210102155856/https://www.gazettes.com/sports/on_the_water/on-the-water-tsunami-history-catching-up/article_0c1ebff6-492f-11eb-a1e7-274a86dc16db.html . 2 January 2021 . Long Beach CA.
  22. News: Boonzaler . Jonathan . Former Carnival Corp cruiseships face breakers as new owners get cold feet . 15 October 2021 . TradeWinds . 14 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211014075352/https://www.tradewindsnews.com/cruise-and-ferry/former-carnival-corp-cruiseships-face-breakers-as-new-owners-get-cold-feet/2-1-1081974 . 14 October 2021.
  23. Web site: Loading.... Account.lr.org. February 24, 2022.
  24. Web site: Another Former Carnival Cruise Ship Arrives at Breakers in Pakistan. Maritime-executive.com. February 24, 2022.
  25. Web site: Former Carnival Fascination Beached at Ship-Breaking Facility. Cruisehive.com. February 18, 2022. February 24, 2022.

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