Royal Caribbean International’s Empress of the Seas has departed the UK bound for Malta, where it is rumoured the ship is planned on being scrapped.
Currently passing the western tip of France, according to Marine Traffic, the former Pullmantur ship, which returned to Royal Caribbean operations in 2016, is heading for Marsaxlokk in Malta. This industrial port is where both Monarch and Sovereign were stripped of valuables and heavy equipment, before heading to the beaches of Aliaga, Turkey.
It looks likely that Empress of the Seas is following this similar pattern, however Royal Caribbean has made no announcement regarding plans for the ship. Royal Caribbean ignored our request for a statement.
Empress of the Seas has remained in UK waters since arriving in Southampton on 5 June to repatriate crew members. Royal Caribbean expects to resume cruises in October and Empress of the Seas is scheduled to resume cruises out of Florida, making her sudden voyage to Malta rather suspicious.
Despite these unusual movements, until Royal Caribbean confirm their plans for the ship, or until the ship reaches the shores of Aliaga, it remains just a rumour.