Inside the abandoned £240 million 'Fantasy' cruise ship, shrink-wrapped with poker chips still on casino tables
A LUXURY cruise ship that was once part of the prized Fantasy fleet is now counting down her final days before being decommissioned.
Although the glory days of Carnival Inspiration are far behind us, the shipwreck of the once lavish £240 million cruise liner still looks fascinating.
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The cruise ship, built in the 1990s at Helsinki's new shipyard, set sail on its maiden voyage on April 1, 1996.
As part of Carnival Cruise Line's Fantasy-class fleet, it promised its passengers an unforgettable journey – filled with pure luxury and pure refinement.
The enormous cruise ship – almost 262 meters long and 32 meters wide – was characterized by its small bow, bulky hull and relatively flat superstructure.
At its peak, Carnival Inspiration could carry up to 2,500 passengers, along with 920 crew members.
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And it offered a plethora of amenities to meet travelers' diverse preferences, including luxury suites with private balconies with impeccable ocean views, specialty restaurants and live musical theaters.
Carnival Inspiration also had numerous bars and lounges where passengers could relax with refreshing drinks.
There was even a water park on deck for customers to enjoy on board.
But like all good things come to an end, Carnival Inspiration also had a limited life.
In 2020, just after the pandemicdecided to retire the cruise's parent company Carnival Inspiration, along with its sister Fantasy.
The decision came as the cruise line looked to reduce costs following the unprecedented global shutdown.
Carnival Inspiration made its last trip to Aliağa, Turkeywhere it now sits on the beach, waiting to be demolished.
Inside the Aliağa Shipyard
THE Carninal Inspiration has joined more than 670 abandoned ships in Turkey's cruise ship graveyard where seagoing vessels die.
The Aliağa Shipyard to the west Turkey is one of the largest ships recycling facilities inside Europe and sees how pleasure boats are taken apart every day and left to rot.
Located in the ports of Izmir, the cruise ship graveyard is perpetually full of glamorous boats that are now in a state of disrepair.
After being decommissioned and deemed no longer fit for use, the expensive ships are delivered to the breaking yard where workers go down. company tear them apart.
Online images show the giant cruise ships piled up one by one, waiting to be dismantled or already stripped for all they are worth.
The recovered metals from a single ship could make up to $4 million (£3.15 million) in profits if everything is recycled for future built or resold.
But it's not just luxury cruise ships that head to Aliağa to languish, as drillships, ferries, oil rigs and giant tankers are all stripped of their valuable parts.
The Aliağa yard is considered the second largest ship graveyard, but the top spot goes to Alang in India's Gulf of Khambhat, where more than half of the world's decommissioned cruise ships alone are recycled.
However, poignant photos of the shipwreck offer a glimpse into the luxury cruise ship's past.
One image shows the eerie-looking glass atrium, spread over multiple levels, where passengers once gathered to listen to live music and attend golden ball gatherings.
Other photos show the ship's Blue Iguana Tequila bar, with all the seats still intact.
An opulent restaurant, which once served unique delicacies, now stands abandoned with chairs and tables collecting dust.
And the Shakespeare Library, with beautiful medieval ones architecturenow lies rotting – with tall candlesticks and bookshelves awaiting their fate.
One particular photo shows the ship's casino – frozen in time – with poker chips still intact on the poker tables.
There was even a Rock and Roll disco in the cruise with two huge guitars mounted on the entrance to the club.
But the only sound inside now is that of a ticking clock that constantly reminds the cruise ship of its fate.
Another abandoned cruise is the MS Astor which first hit the water in 1986 and carried passengers on cruises for 34 years before entering the graveyard of ships destined for the scrap heap.
One image shows a retro bar, frozen in time, with drinks still on the tables.
In another poignant photo, a deep empty crater sits where the pool once was and lounge chairs are lined up next to it.
A third image shows a flashy gym with incredible sea views – where the equipment is now collecting dust having not been used for years.
The incredible theater was also captured in one get it with many empty seats still in place to watch a performance that will never happen.
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