CELESTYAL Cruises overnight confirmed the sale of Celestyal Experience (pictured) to an unnamed buyer, despite the vessel having never undertaken a passenger sailing for the line. Experience, which was formerly operated by Carnival Corporation’s Costa Cruises as Costa neoRomantica, was acquired by Celestyal about 15 months ago (CW 20 Jul...
CELESTYAL Cruises overnight confirmed the sale of Celestyal Experience (pictured) to an unnamed buyer, despite the vessel having never undertaken a passenger sailing for the line.
Experience, which was formerly operated by Carnival Corporation’s Costa Cruises as Costa neoRomantica, was acquired by Celestyal about 15 months ago (CW 20 Jul 2020), with initial plans for her to debut with her new brand in Mar this year (CW 28 Sep 2020).
Celestyal Chief Executive Officer Chris Theophilides described the vessel as a “game-changer” for the cruise line, with Experience adorned with the company’s new logo and new livery.
However, ongoing pandemic disruptions pushed back the inaugural sailing by a year, with Celestyal announcing a Mar 2022 debut for Experience about three months ago (CW 11 Jun).
The sale of the ship has surprised the market, with Celestyal saying the deal will “provide the company with increased liquidity which, in combination with zero third-party debt, constitutes a solid financial foundation, thus ensuring a successful restart by Mar 2022”.
It’s understood Experience is worth more than US$20 million, with speculation Chinese interests showed intent in acquiring the vessel after inspectors from China were spotted on board during her lay-up.
The sale leaves Celestyal with its two existing vessels – Celestyal Olympia and Celestyal Crystal – with the cruise line saying both had undergone “significant investment in recent years”.
Passengers disrupted by the sale of Experience will be moved to Celestyal Crystal departures, the cruise line added.
