The former Celestyal Crystal, a cruise ship with a lengthy and varied history, has been beached in Alang, India, where it will be dismantled for scrap. The vessel arrived in Alang in mid-May, marking the end of its sailing days after over four decades of service under various names and operators.
Originally constructed in 1980 as the cruise ferry Viking Saga for Viking Line, the ship later underwent a significant transformation into a full-time cruise ship in the late 1980s and was renamed Sally Albatross. Following a fire in 1990 that severely damaged the vessel, it was extensively rebuilt and continued sailing under the same name.
Over the years, the ship sailed for several well-known cruise lines, including Norwegian Cruise Line as the Leeward, Star Cruises as the Superstar Taurus, and Silja Line as the Silja Opera. In 2007, it was acquired by Louis Cruise Lines, the predecessor of Celestyal Cruises, and was eventually renamed Celestyal Crystal in 2014.
During its time with Celestyal Cruises, the Celestyal Crystal was a familiar sight in the Aegean Sea, offering cruises to the Greek Islands and Turkey. However, with Celestyal’s fleet renewal programme, which saw the arrival of newer and larger vessels, the Celestyal Crystal was retired from service in September 2023.
Prior to its arrival in Alang, there was speculation regarding the ship’s future. In early April 2025, it was reported that the vessel had been sold to a company in the United Arab Emirates, with potential plans for resale as a cruise ship or conversion into a floating hotel. The ship was even briefly renamed Sun Bright as it sailed towards the Middle East.
However, these plans ultimately did not materialise, and the decision was made to send the vessel to the shipbreaking yards in Alang, a well-known destination for end-of-life ships, where they are carefully dismantled, and valuable materials are recycled.