Grand Celebration

Grand Celebration was the later operating name of MS Celebration, a cruise ship built in Sweden for Carnival Cruise Line. Constructed by Kockums Varv in Malmö, the vessel was the last of three ships in Carnival's Holiday class. It entered Carnival service in March 1987 as Celebration and spent more than two decades operating in the company's cruise fleet. The ship's career included a serious maritime collision. On 10 February 1989, Celebration collided with the Cuban freighter Captain San Luis. The freighter, which was carrying cement and reportedly had electrical, navigational, lighting, and steering problems, broke apart and sank. Celebration remained at the scene, rescued 42 survivors, and transferred them to Cuban vessels. Three members of the freighter's crew, including its captain, were reported missing and presumed dead. After retiring from Carnival in April 2008, the ship underwent a substantial refit and returned to service later that year with Iberocruceros, a Carnival subsidiary, under the name Grand Celebration. The refit included revised exterior artwork and updated interiors. When Iberocruceros was discontinued, Carnival transferred the vessel to Costa Cruises in May 2014. It was renamed Costa Celebration in November 2014 and received another refurbishment. Costa's operation was short-lived. On 21 November 2014, one day before the ship's planned inaugural Costa voyage, the company announced that the vessel had been sold to an unnamed buyer. Costa Celebration was removed from the fleet, and future passengers were refunded or rebooked. The buyer was identified in December 2014 as Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, a newly established operator formed by former executives associated with the defunct Celebration Cruise Line. The ship resumed the Grand Celebration name and was prepared for short cruises from the Port of Palm Beach in Florida to the Bahamas. Grand Celebration arrived at Palm Beach in January 2015 for conversion into Bahamas Paradise livery and began its inaugural voyage on 3 February 2015, following last-minute repairs. It remained in service until the COVID-19 pandemic brought the cruise industry to a halt in March 2020. Reports later indicated that the ship had been sold for recycling. After leaving Freeport in November 2020 and making a refueling stop at Port Louis, Mauritius, the vessel continued toward Bhavnagar, India. It was beached at Alang on 14 January 2021, and dismantling began on 9 March 2021.

MS Celebration was a Holiday-class cruise ship whose best-known later identity was Grand Celebration. The vessel was built by Kockums Varv in Malmö, Sweden, for Carnival Cruise Line and was completed in 1986. It was the third and final ship in Carnival's Holiday class, following its two sister ships. The ship entered Carnival service on 14 March 1987 as Celebration. One of the defining incidents in its history occurred on the morning of 10 February 1989. Celebration collided with the Cuban freighter Captain San Luis. The freighter was transporting cement and was reported to have suffered electrical and operational failures that affected its lighting, navigation, and steering. After the collision, Captain San Luis broke apart and sank within approximately 13 minutes. Celebration stayed in the area, rescued 42 survivors, and transferred them to Cuban vessels. Three people from the freighter's crew, including its captain, were reported missing and presumed dead. Celebration remained with Carnival for over 20 years. It left the fleet in April 2008 and subsequently underwent an extensive refit. Later that year it returned to commercial service with Iberocruceros, then a Carnival subsidiary, adopting the name Grand Celebration. The work altered the ship's exterior presentation and refreshed its interiors, allowing the older vessel to continue operating in a different brand context. In May 2014, following the discontinuation of Iberocruceros, Carnival transferred the ship to Costa Cruises. It was renamed Costa Celebration in November 2014 and received another refurbishment. The Costa identity was short-lived: on 21 November, the day before the ship was due to begin its inaugural Costa voyage, Costa announced that it had been sold to an unnamed purchaser. The ship was removed from the Costa fleet and future bookings were cancelled, with passengers offered refunds or alternative bookings. The buyer was disclosed on 23 December 2014 as Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. The new operator had been formed by former executives from the defunct Celebration Cruise Line, which had previously operated Bahamas Celebration. The ship was returned to the Grand Celebration name and prepared for service from the Port of Palm Beach in Riviera Beach, Florida. It arrived there on 6 January 2015 for refitting into Bahamas Paradise colors. During the arrival, the new name had been painted over the Costa Celebration lettering, although the funnel still displayed Costa-related colors. Grand Celebration began its Bahamas Paradise career on 3 February 2015, two days later than initially expected because of last-minute repairs. The ship operated short Bahamas-oriented cruises from Florida until the cruise-industry shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic ended its service in March 2020. In November 2020, reports emerged that the vessel had been sold for scrap. The operator subsequently confirmed that it had been sold to an undisclosed buyer. Grand Celebration left Freeport, Bahamas, on 12 November 2020. During a refueling stop at Port Louis Anchorage, Mauritius, it was renamed Grand and its flag was changed to Saint Kitts and Nevis. The ship then continued toward Bhavnagar, India, near the Alang shipbreaking facilities. It was beached at Alang on 14 January 2021, and dismantling began on 9 March, ending the career of a ship that had operated under Carnival, Iberocruceros, Costa, and Bahamas Paradise identities.

• 2021

  Beached at Alang

  [1]MS Celebrationen.wikipedia.org

  The ship reached the Alang shipbreaking area, was beached on 14 January, and entered dismantling in March.

• 2020

  Commercial service ends

  [1]MS Celebrationen.wikipedia.org

  The COVID-19 pandemic halted cruise operations in March, and the ship was later sold for recycling.

• 2015

  Begins Bahamas Paradise cruises

  [1]MS Celebrationen.wikipedia.org

  Grand Celebration departed on its first Bahamas Paradise voyage from the Port of Palm Beach on 3 February.

• 2014

  Transferred to Costa Cruises

  [1]MS Celebrationen.wikipedia.org

  After Iberocruceros was discontinued, Carnival transferred the vessel to Costa, where it became Costa Celebration.

• 2014

  Sold to Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line

  [1]MS Celebrationen.wikipedia.org

  The ship was sold before its planned Costa inaugural voyage and later identified as the first major vessel acquired by Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line.

• 2008

  Carnival retirement and Iberocruceros refit

  [1]MS Celebrationen.wikipedia.org

  The ship retired from Carnival in April, received an extensive refit, and returned under the Grand Celebration name with Iberocruceros.

• 1989

  Collision with Captain San Luis

  [1]MS Celebrationen.wikipedia.org

  Celebration collided with a Cuban freighter, rescued 42 survivors, and remained at the scene while the freighter sank.

• 1987

  Enters Carnival service as Celebration

  [1]MS Celebrationen.wikipedia.org

  The ship began operating for Carnival Cruise Line on 14 March.

• 1986

  Ship completed in Sweden

  [1]MS Celebrationen.wikipedia.org

  Kockums Varv completed the Holiday-class cruise ship in Malmö for Carnival Cruise Line.

A mass-market passenger cruise ship used for Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries under several cruise operators.

• Cruise ship · 2008

  Grand Celebration

  Grand Celebration was the operating identity used by a former Carnival Holiday-class cruise ship after its 2008 refit for Iberocruceros and again from 2015 with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. In its final commercial phase, the ship operated short Bahamas itineraries from the Port of Palm Beach. It was taken out of service during the 2020 pandemic shutdown and dismantled at Alang in 2021.

• 2020

  Retirement and recycling after pandemic shutdownStrategy

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic halted the cruise industry and ended Grand Celebration's Bahamas Paradise operations.

  Action taken

  The vessel was sold to an undisclosed buyer, renamed Grand during transit, and sent to the Alang shipbreaking area.

  Aftermath

  The ship was beached in January 2021 and dismantling commenced in March.

  Source

• 2014

  Sale before Costa debutM&A

  Background

  Costa Celebration was scheduled for its inaugural Costa voyage when Costa announced that the vessel had been sold to an unnamed buyer.

  Action taken

  Costa removed the ship from its fleet and cancelled future bookings, offering refunds or rebooking while the vessel moved to a new operator.

  Aftermath

  The buyer was later identified as Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, which restored the Grand Celebration name and began service from Palm Beach in 2015.

  Source

1. 1MS Celebrationen.wikipedia.org