It’s easy to see cruise lines selling ships and assume it’s simply because they need the cash – but that’s just a small part of what’s happening as ships that were carrying passengers just months ago head to new owners, and in some cases, shipbreaking yards.

We like to picture ships as most of us experience them - clean, shiny, and new.  The fact is however that ships don't last forever.  How do cruise ships stay so youthful, and what happens when they get a bit long in the tooth?