As we move into 2025, I’ve been looking at what cruise ships are currently laid up, out of service, worldwide. By my accounts there are 14 significant cruise ships currently out of service, some ships are unlikely to return to service and others are more hopeful, with one not even having entered service yet!

Aegean Majesty
Owned by Seajets, who bought several cruise ships during the pandemic, Aegean Majesty is the sole remaining S class ship not having found work. Entering service in 1996 for Hollan America Line, she had an unusual rebuilding in 2009 making her slightly bigger than her fleetmates. She was withdrawn from service in 2020 at the height of the pandemic.

There have been suggestions that her rebuild has made her a difficult-to-operate ship and as such has not been successful in finding a buyer. Carrying 1350 passengers, it would be great to see this as a sensible addition to Ambassador’s cruise fleet as their much discussed third ship.

Aegean Odyssey
This classic ship stopped operating for charterer RoadsScholar in 2023, and has been laid up since. Entered service as a ferry in 1973, before being rebuilt as a cruise ship in 1988 Aegean Odyssey has a passenger capacity of just 380 people.

Aegean Odyssey was substantially rebuilt in 2010 which could give it a few more years of service if and appropriate operator is found.

Astoria
The world’s oldest cruise ship, having entered service in 1948 Astoria has been laid up in the Port of Rotterdam since the collapse of CMV during 2020, it was bought by a crypto millionaire during the pandemic but now is expected to be broken up as it is in poor condition.

Astoria is famous for when built as the Stockholm she collided with the Italian Liner Andrea Doria outside New York leading to the sinking of the Italian liner.

Berlin
This small cruise ship was slated to be converted into a private yacht after a significant rebuilding. The small 352 passenger Berlin was built in 1980 for the German market and has had a variety of operators. The ship was laid up in 2020 when FTI closed its cruise operation. It has been moving around recently so hopefully with 45 year old ship finds a new operator.

Brilliant Lady
An unexpected addition to this list is the brand new Brilliant Lady, completed last year for Virgin Voyages she has been sailing around the Mediterranean unoccupied due to the overcapacity in the Virgin fleet. She still has a lot of time this year to wait out before finally entering service at the end of 2025. With a guest capacity of 2700, 278m in length Brilliant Lady is the largest ship on this list.

Celestyal Crystal
Built in 1980 as Viking Saga and rebuilt in 1990 following a fire as Sally Albatross. This ship, with space for 1016 passengers, was replaced by Celestyal Journey in 2023 and has been laid up in Greece since. I really hope that Celestyal Crystal finds a new role, for me personally, I would love to see it operating cheap cruises around Northern Europe. The ship has been linked to a Japanese cruise line however this has been denied by Celestyal.

Celestyal Olympia
Entering service in 1982 as Song of America for Royal Caribbean. Celestyal Olympia has a capacity for 1575 passengers and the iconic Royal Caribbean Viking Crown lounge around the funnel. I cruised onboard in 2023 – You can read about this here.

This ship was withdrawn from service at the end of 2023 and has been laid up in the United Arab Emirates since May 2024. The likely next destination is unfortunately the scrap yard for this ship.

Funchal
Built in 1961 as a Portuguese Ocean Liner Funchal has been out of service since 2015 when owner Portuscale Cruises closed down. In that time she was proposed as a floating yacht club in Ibiza by Signature Living and was later bought along with the earlier mentioned Astoria by crypto millionaires to be refurbished into a floating static hotel.

This conversion was midway through when a fall in the value of Crypto stopped work. The ship’s status has been quiet since 2021 but with the increase in the value of Crypto in 2024 hopefully, we will see the conclusion of this refurbishment. Funchal would make an excellent Static Floating Hotel.

Goddess of the Night
The second largest ship on this list, Goddess of the Night is 272m long with a capacity for 2700 passengers. Entering service for Costa Cruises in 2004, a sister ship of Costa Fortuna and a near sister of Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Sunrise and Carnival Radiance.

A failed re-entry into service with NeoNyx cruises as a party cruise ship sailing from Athens in 2024 there have been no posts on the associated social media since June, suggesting this idea doesn’t float. Likely to find a new owner perhaps in the far east.

Majesty of the Oceans
Still wearing her Royal Caribbean Logo, but now owned by Seajets the former Majesty of the Sea’s is laid up in Greece with an uncertain future. A Sovereign-class ship, once the largest cruise ships in the world. Majesty of the Oceans was delivered in 1992 and is 270 meters long with a capacity for 2767 passengers. A lack of balcony cabins is likely to lead to Majesty of the Ocean’s joining sisterships Sovereign of the Seas and Monarch of the Seas to be scrapped.

Mantra
Built in 1990 for Renaissance Cruises, Mantra most recently operated for Silversea, as Silver Galapagos until replaced by newly built Silver Origin in 2021 the 88 meter long 100 passenger ship has proven to be adaptable over its service history but could now be at the end of the line at 35 years old.

Minerva
Ordered as a Soviet Spy Ship in 1989, the ship lay incomplete until acquired by Swan Hellenic as Minerva in 1996. The ship passed through a few carters and owners until being reunited with Swan Hellenic until the collapse of parent group All Lesiure Group Plc in 2017. The ship was substantially rebuilt in 2012 adding a whole new deck of balcony cabins which would hopefully make her an attractive addition to a cruise line. She has been linked to a German cruise line for 2025, but as yet nothing official has been confirmed.

Queen of the Oceans
Entering service in 2000 as Ocean Princess before transferring to P&O as Oceana in 2002 this popular cruise ship served the British Market for 18 years until being withdrawn from service in 2020 and sold to SeaJets. At 261 meters and with a capacity for 2272 passengers the former Oceana is a substantial cruise ship. All her sisterships have now left the Carnival group and are operating for other cruise lines, hopefully the former Oceana isn’t far behind.

Radisson Diamond / Saipan Star
The unique cruise ship Radisson Diamond, now known as Saipan Star was blown onto a beach in September 2021 during a storm and remains there to this day. Sadly I think time is up for this wonderful little cruise ship, which will either break up like the former America or be scrapped in situ. It is a shame as this is a ship I would LOVE to sail on.

Are there any of these ships you’ve been on or would like to cruise on?

Thanks,

Liam 🙂