The ship underwent an extensive multimillion-dollar renovation in September 2016.[4]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Carnival Cruise Line suspended all North American itineraries from March 14 to April 10, 2020.[5] In July 2020, as a result of Carnival Cruise Line reducing fleet capacity, Carnival Imagination entered a long term lay-up status, with no planned date for the ship to enter back into service.[6]
By August 26, 2020, the vessel had filed a cruise plan for Aliağa, Turkey, the location of several ship breaking facilities. Some industry sources indicated that the vessel would be scrapped.[7][8] The vessel arrived in Aliağa on September 14, 2020 and was beached on 16 September.[9][10] From September 2020 until February 2023 she remained beached awaiting scrapping; some sources claimed that an unnamed hotel had been trying to acquire some of her fittings that would otherwise be damaged or destroyed during the scrapping process. The scrapping process began in February 2023.
Prior to entering into a long term lay-up in July 2020, she sailed three- and four-day itineraries from Long Beach, California, to Catalina Island, California, and to Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. 3 day cruises departed every Thursday, with a stop in Ensenada, Mexico, 4 day cruises departed every Sunday, with stops in Catalina Island, California and Ensenada, Mexico.
In July 2011, Carnival Fantasy struck Carnival Imagination while performing a maneuver for mooring. Carnival Imagination was docked when the incident occurred. Minor hull damage was sustained to both ships' sterns, and no injuries were reported.[11]
During the coronaviruspandemic, the CDC reported, as early as April 22, 2020, that at least one person who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 had tested positive within 14 days after disembarking.[12]
Carnival announced to investors in late July 2020 that it planned to remove the "less efficient" of its ships from the fleet; most of the 15 would be sold and a few would be "recycled". While the Carnival Imagination had been said to be heading for long-term layup, some industry insiders believed that Carnival would dispose of this vessel.[13][14]
In late August, media reports indicated the ship had filed a plan to travel to Aliağa, Turkey, where she would likely be scrapped. Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration were already at the scrap yards in that city.[7][8] She arrived at Aliağa on September 14, 2020.[15]
Based on a photograph accompanying an article in The New York Times October 30, 2020 entitled "Where Cruise Ships Go to Die" the Carnival Imagination is being scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey.
^Dake, Shawn J. (January 2008). "Cruise Ships 2007 the year in review"(PDF). Ocean Times. 12 (1). Steamship Historical Society of America: Southern California Chapter: 2–8.
^ ab"Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Imagination is the 3rd to be scrapped". Cruise Mapper. August 26, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020. The 2,056-guest Carnival Imagination filed a cruise plan for Aliaga, Turkey, the spot of a major ship scrapping operation that became the final resting place for notable vessels like Princess Cruises' Pacific Princess - the "Love Boat.
