One of the oldest cruiseships still in existence looks set to end its long career on the breakers’ beach at Alang.

Highseas Ltd, a St Vincent & the Grenadines-registered entity that bought the 22,100-gt Marco Polo (built 1965) at auction for $2.77m in October, appears to have U-turned on its plans to keep the vessel trading.

Shortly after Highseas bought the ship from Cruises & Maritime Voyages (CMV), sources within the purchasing company indicated to cruise media that an accommodation ship charter in Dubai had been lined up.