Three large cruise ships have been beached and await scrapping in Aliaga, Turkey. Including MS Sovereign, formerly Sovereign of the Seas, launched in 1988 with capacity for up to 2278 passengers, it is joined by the MS Monarch and the Carnival Fantasy - the latter has been driven aground - and the Carnival Inspiration is scheduled for scrapping, as well.

Pullmantur Cruises declared bankruptcy last month, which is 49% owned by Royal Caribbean Group. This declaration comes in the wake of the collapse of the cruise industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two other ships, the Carnival Fascination and the Carnival Imagination, have been moved to "long-term lay-up status" with no set timeline for returning to operation. Cruise schedules have been cancelled through the end of October, and the cruise industry is largely suspended worldwide.

According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the cruise industry generates more than $200 billion in economic activity worldwide and supports more than 1 million jobs.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/122340312/giant-ships-beached-at-scrapyard-in-turkey-set-to-be-broken-up