It is simple to understand the enormity of a skyscraper because it’s being in-built plain sight, every ground constructed atop the one under — however what a few cruise ship? The most recent megaships are simply as huge lengthwise as skyscrapers are tall, and so they’re equally advanced. However you by no means see cruise ships being constructed on-site at a cruise port.
The place, precisely, are cruise ships constructed? We’re glad you requested.
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The place are cruise ships constructed?
The cruise ships that hundreds of thousands of vacationers sail on yearly have been all in-built a cruise shipyard — the place engineers, steelworkers, architects, electricians, designers and different tradespeople spend as much as 18 months on a vessel’s development.
The method on the main cruise ship shipyards, all positioned in Europe, begins with the metal slicing, which may happen months earlier than precise development begins. That occasion is adopted by the keel laying, the inserting of the middle construction, or backbone, of the ship. It hits a milestone on the floatout when the hull is accomplished, the dry dock is flooded and the ship first touches water. The method culminates with sea trials, when a ship’s stability, velocity and maneuverability are examined.
As soon as the ship is deemed seaworthy, the cruise line takes possession of the ship forward of its inaugural cruise — although the ending touches are normally nonetheless being placed on the ship.
The development of a vessel at a cruise ship shipyard is definitely the endgame in a course of that usually begins six or seven years previous to its launch with the cruise line’s ship growth crew. Earlier than the keel has been laid on any vessel on the main cruise ship shipyards, groups have already labored for years on engineering particulars and developed fashions of cabins, pool decks, theaters, eating places and bars. It is as much as the shipyard to show the designers’ and engineers’ imaginative and prescient into actuality.
The precise constructing course of occurs at one of many main shipyards in France, Italy, Germany or Finland. Listed below are the names to know.
Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France
Positioned in Saint-Nazaire on France’s Atlantic coast, Chantiers de l’Atlantique operates on a website the place ships have been constructed since 1835. Trendy cruise ship development was re-established within the Nineteen Eighties.
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Vessels constructed there embody Superstar Cruises‘ Edge Class ships, MSC Cruises‘ Meraviglia and World Class ships, and 4 Royal Caribbean vessels (Concord of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Marvel of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas).
The shipyard has been often known as Chantiers de l’Atlantique since 1955 however was known as Aker Yards after which STX France earlier than reclaiming the Chantiers identify in 2018. It’s now majority-owned by the French authorities.
Fincantieri in Italy
Fincantieri is the world’s largest builder of cruise ships, with ship-building roots stretching again to the early twentieth century. It operates a number of shipyards in Italy and has constructed greater than 100 cruise ships since 1990.
At the moment, one-third of the world’s cruise ships — operated by 18 cruise strains — have been in-built Fincantieri’s shipyards, that are positioned in Marghera (close to Venice), Genoa, Ancona and Monfalcone (close to Trieste). Each large-ship manufacturers, reminiscent of Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Virgin Voyages, and luxurious cruise strains like Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, Seabourn and Viking contract with this shipyard to construct their new vessels.
Meyer Werft in Germany and Meyer Turku in Finland
Meyer Werft, which has been within the ship-building enterprise since 1795, is thought for setting up a number of the world’s largest megaships at its shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Along with Meyer Turku, its sister shipyard positioned in Turku, Finland, the corporate has constructed greater than 55 cruise ships over the previous 4 a long time.
Newer ships embody Carnival Cruise Line‘s Excel Class ships (Carnival Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee), Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas (with 2025’s Star of the Seas presently beneath development) and Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class and first two Oasis Class ships. The shipyard additionally constructed the most recent luxurious ships for Silversea Cruises, 2023’s Silver Nova and 2024’s Silver Ray.
The place are Carnival cruise ships constructed?
From 1996 to 2019, a complete of 15 Carnival ships — from Carnival Future (renamed Carnival Sunshine) to Carnival Panorama — have been constructed by Fincantieri in its Italian shipyards.
Carnival’s newer Excel Class of ships, which embody Carnival Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, have been constructed by Meyer Werft and Meyer Turku in Germany and Finland.
Associated: The 8 lessons of Carnival Cruise Line ships, defined
The place are Disney cruise ships constructed?
Disney Cruise Line‘s two latest Want Class ships, Disney Want (debuted in 2022) and Disney Treasure (debuting in December 2024), have been constructed on the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.
The cruise line’s third and fourth cruise ships, 2011’s Disney Dream and 2012’s Disney Fantasy, have been additionally constructed by Meyer Werft, whereas its first two vessels, 1998’s Disney Magic and 1999’s Disney Marvel, have been constructed by Fincantieri in Italy.
Disney additionally has two extra ships on order: Disney Journey, a vessel it bought whereas it was already beneath development on the MV Werften shipyard in Wismar, Germany, which is now known as Meyer Wismar, set for a 2025 debut out of Singapore; and Disney Future, the third Want Class ship, presently beneath development at Meyer Werft in Germany and set to launch in December 2025.
Disney not too long ago introduced a cruise partnership with Oriental Land Co. Ltd., which owns and operates Tokyo Disney Resort, to construct and function a cruise ship that can sail from Japan year-round. The vessel shall be constructed at Meyer Werft in Germany as a sister ship to Disney Want and is predicted to debut in 2029.
The place are Norwegian cruise ships constructed?
Norwegian Cruise Line‘s two latest ships, 2023’s Norwegian Viva and 2022’s Norwegian Prima, have been constructed at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera, Italy. Norwegian Aqua, scheduled to debut in spring 2025, can be being constructed there.
The corporate’s Breakaway Class ships (Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Escape) and Breakaway Plus Class ships (Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Pleasure and Norwegian Encore) have been all constructed on the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany and launched between 2013 and 2019.
The one-off Norwegian Epic, which debuted in 2010, was constructed on the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France.
Norwegian’s early 2000s Jewel Class ships (Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem) have been all constructed by Meyer Werft in Germany, as have been its Daybreak Class ships (2002’s Norwegian Daybreak and 2001’s Norwegian Star) and 1998’s Norwegian Spirit.
The cruise line’s Solar Class ships (2001’s Norwegian Solar and 1999’s Norwegian Sky) have been constructed by the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany.
Hawaii-based Pleasure of America, launched in 2005, was initially set to be constructed within the U.S. however ended up being accomplished by Lloyd Werft.
Associated: The 9 lessons of Norwegian Cruise ships, defined
The place are Viking cruise ships constructed?
Because the 2015 launch of Viking‘s first ocean ship, Viking Star, all of Viking’s ocean and expedition ships — 16 in whole — have been constructed or are being constructed by Fincantieri or its subsidiary, Vard. Whereas Viking Star was constructed in Fincantieri’s Marghera facility, all subsequent ocean vessels have been constructed or are being constructed within the Ancona shipyard, together with the road’s latest ocean ship, Viking Vela, set to debut in December 2024.
Viking’s two expedition vessels, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, have been constructed by Fincantieri’s Vard subsidiary at shipyards in Romania and Norway, respectively.
Viking’s European river ships, particularly its 60-plus signature Viking Longships, have been in-built Germany by Meyer Werft’s sister firm Neptun Werft.
The place are Princess cruise ships constructed?
Nearly all of ships within the Princess Cruises fleet, together with 2024’s Solar Princess and all six ships in its Royal Class — from 2013’s Royal Princess to 2022’s Discovery Princess — have been constructed by Fincantieri in Italy, as have been the late-Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s vessels Grand Princess, Ruby Princess, Emerald Princess, Crown Princess and Caribbean Princess.
Star Princess, set to debut in 2025, can be beneath development at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard close to Trieste.
Coral Princess and Island Princess have been constructed within the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France in 2003, whereas Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess have been in-built 2004 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at a Japanese shipyard.
The place are Royal Caribbean cruise ships constructed?
Royal Caribbean’s latest ship, 2024’s Icon of the Seas, was constructed on the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland; 2025’s Star of the Seas can be presently beneath development there.
The cruise line’s 5 Quantum Class vessels — Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas — have been all constructed by Meyer Werft in Germany and launched between 2014 and 2020.
Royal Caribbean’s first two Oasis Class ships, 2009’s Oasis of the Seas and 2010’s Attract of the Seas, have been each constructed on the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, whereas the opposite 4 — Concord of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Marvel of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas — have been constructed in France on the Chantiers de l’Atlantique facility and had their inaugural sailings between 2016 and 2024.
The cruise line’s three Freedom Class vessels (Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Independence of the Seas) have been constructed by Meyer Werft and delivered between 2006 and 2009. The 5 Voyager Class ships (Voyager of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Journey of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas), 4 Radiance Class ships (Jewel of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas) and two Imaginative and prescient Class ships (Grandeur of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas) have been constructed by Meyer Werft or Meyer Turku and delivered within the late Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s.
Associated: The 7 lessons of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, defined
The place are Superstar cruise ships constructed?
Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France constructed Superstar’s 4 latest Edge Sequence ships: 2018’s Superstar Edge, 2020’s Superstar Apex, 2022’s Superstar Past and 2023’s Superstar Ascent. Superstar Xcel, additionally being constructed by the shipyard, will debut in late 2025.
Superstar’s 5 Solstice Class ships — Superstar Solstice, Superstar Equinox, Superstar Eclipse, Superstar Reflection and Superstar Silhouette — have been launched between 2008 and 2012 after being constructed by Meyer Werft in Germany.
Superstar’s 4 oldest ships — Superstar Summit, Superstar Infinity, Superstar Constellation and Superstar Millennium — have been launched from 2000 to 2003 after being constructed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
The place are Holland America cruise ships constructed?
Holland America‘s three latest Pinnacle Class ships — 2021’s Rotterdam, 2018’s Nieuw Statendam and 2016’s Koningsdam — have been all constructed at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera, Italy, as have been the cruise line’s two Signature Class vessels, 2008’s Eurodam and 2010’s Nieuw Amsterdam.
The 4 Vista Class ships — Noordam, Westerdam, Oosterdam and Zuiderdam — have been additionally constructed by Fincantieri and have been launched between 2002 and 2006. Fincantieri additionally constructed Holland America’s two oldest ships, 2000’s Volendam and 1999’s Zaandam.
The place are Virgin Voyages cruise ships constructed?
Virgin Voyages‘ first three ships — 2020’s Scarlet Girl, 2022’s Valiant Girl and 2023’s Resilient Girl — have been all constructed by Fincantieri at its Genoa, Italy, shipyard. A fourth ship, Sensible Girl, is presently beneath development there and scheduled for a September 2025 debut.
The place was the most important cruise ship constructed?
The world’s largest cruise ship, presently Royal Caribbean’s 5,610-passenger Icon of the Seas, was constructed by Meyer Turku in Finland and set sail in January 2024. Its sister ship, Star of the Seas, can be being constructed there, and when it launches in August 2025, it’s going to take over the title of world’s largest cruise ship.
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