The pandemic pause in operations sped up retirements of older ships that were expensive to keep up, he said. Just sitting on it costs a lot of money. It's not like a car you can just leave somewhere and maybe change your battery a year later and it will start, Mathisen said.

Cruise ships are being scrapped in 2026 primarily due to economic inefficiency and environmental regulations. Most vessels have a lifespan of 30–40 years, after which they become too costly to maintain and cannot compete with the fuel efficiency and amenities of modern "newbuilds." High fuel costs and stricter global carbon emission standards make older, less-efficient ships financial liabilities. Additionally, during the post-pandemic industry restructuring, cruise lines accelerated the retirement of older vessels to reduce debt and focus on high-margin, modern fleets. These ships are sent to major shipbreaking yards in places like Alang, India, or Aliaga, Turkey, where their steel and components are recycled to offset the costs of building newer, more sustainable ships.