Reply #2: Her asbestos is deep within the engine room structures...

[Cooley Hurd]

...and sealed up. The only way the asbestos would be a problem is if she were broken up in the way they break up ships in Alang (i.e. not carefully). Intact, the ship is perfectly safe.

There's an interesting backstory to all of this. NCL, and its parent company, Star Cruises, wants the ship broken up because they're trying to cover up their liability in the fatal boiler explosion in 2003 that killed several crew members. They have the option of selling the ship to a consortium based in Dubai that would safely remove any toxic substances and convert her into a hotel and convention center. But, NCL/Star Cruises sold the ship to the Alang breakers on the condition that they couldn't resell it to anyone else - that it HAD to be broken up or the breakers would suffer a $3 million penalty. So, she's heading for the beach at Alang, and those workers who break her up will likely be exposed to all that crap once they crack her open.

You're very fortunate to have sailed on SS France - she is one of the last great ocean liners. :(