Scandinavia ex StarDancer, Viking Serenade, Isalnd Escape, Ocean Gala Arrives at Scrappers.


Ocean Gala in Happier Days as Royal Caribbean's Viking Serenade - Ship was Beached in India for Scrapping.
Ocean Gala in Happier Days as Royal Caribbean's Viking Serenade - Ship was Beached in India for Scrapping.

It is with sad news that I report the Ocean Gala 1 was beached in Alang, India in early April.  The Ocean Gala 1 started her career as the Scandinavia of Scandinavia World Cruises. The ship was designed with an extensive car deck and was supposed to be used to carry cruise passengers from New York to the Bahamas with a second ship connecting from the Bahamas to Cape Canaveral. This was done in an effort to attract vacationer that wanted to take their cars with them and have a Bahamas, Orlando vacation combination.  Sailing were supposed to be every 4 days.
 
The effort proved unsuccessful and the Scandinavia was placed on the 7 day New York ->Bahamas route until she was re-positioned to Northern Europe. The ship was sold to Admiral Cruises as the Star Dancer and was later moved to the Royal Caribbean (after Royal purchased Admiral /Eastern Steamship / Western Steamship Line). The car deck was removed and replaced with staterooms. In addition the ship was fitted with a crown lounge – signature of Royal Caribbean ships and renamed the Viking Serenade sailing Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe and the West Coast.
 
The Viking Serenade last sailed as the Island Escape for Island Cruises until 2017 but her lack of balcony cabins and age of 36 made finding further employment difficult. Under the name Ocean Gala 1 the ship arrived at Alang on March 30th, 2017 and was beached on April 4th.
 
1982–1985: Scandinavia;
1985–1990: Stardancer;
1990–2002: Viking Serenade
2002–2015: Island Escape
2015–2017; Ocean Gala
2017-2018: Ocean Gala



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