Where are cruise ships constructed?

Witnessing the construction of a skyscraper is straightforward, with each floor rising above the last. But what about cruise ships? The latest megaships stretch as long as skyscrapers do in height, presenting their own intricate designs. However, you won't spot these vessels being built at a cruise port.

So, where do cruise ships actually get built? We're glad you inquired.

Where do cruise ships get constructed?

The cruise ships that millions of travelers embark on each year are all crafted in a cruise shipyard, where teams of engineers, steelworkers, architects, electricians, designers, and other skilled workers dedicate up to 18 months to the construction of each vessel.

At the major cruise shipyards, all situated in Europe, the process begins with steel cutting, which can occur months before actual construction starts. This is followed by the keel laying, the placement of the ship's central structure, or spine. A key milestone is reached during the floatout when the hull is finished, the dry dock is flooded, and the ship first makes contact with water. The process concludes with sea trials, testing the vessel's stability, speed, and maneuverability.

Once the ship is confirmed to be seaworthy, the cruise line takes ownership ahead of its maiden voyage, although final touches are often still being added.

The construction of a vessel at a cruise shipyard is actually the final phase in a journey that typically begins six or seven years before launch with the cruise line's ship development team. Long before the keel is laid at leading cruise shipyards, teams have spent years perfecting engineering details and creating models for cabins, pool decks, theaters, restaurants, and bars. It falls to the shipyard to bring the vision of designers and engineers to life.

The actual construction takes place at one of the major shipyards located in France, Italy, Germany, or Finland. Here are the key names to remember.

Chantiers de l'Atlantique in France

Situated in Saint-Nazaire on France's Atlantic coast, Chantiers de l'Atlantique has been a shipbuilding site since 1835, with modern cruise ship construction being revitalized in the 1980s.

Notable vessels constructed at this yard include the Edge Class ships for Celebrity Cruises, the Meraviglia and World Class ships for MSC Cruises, and four ships for Royal Caribbean (Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and Utopia of the Seas).

The shipyard has been known as Chantiers de l'Atlantique since 1955, previously operating under the names Aker Yards and STX France before reclaiming its original name in 2018. It is now predominantly owned by the French government.

Fincantieri in Italy

Fincantieri is the largest cruise ship builder in the world, with a history in shipbuilding that dates back to the early 20th century. The company operates several shipyards across Italy and has produced over 100 cruise ships since 1990.

Currently, one-third of the world's cruise ships, operated by 18 different cruise lines, have been constructed in Fincantieri's shipyards located in Marghera (near Venice), Genoa, Ancona, and Monfalcone (near Trieste). This shipyard serves both major brands like Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Virgin Voyages, as well as luxury lines such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, Seabourn, and Viking.

Meyer Werft in Germany and Meyer Turku in Finland

Meyer Werft, established in 1795, is renowned for building some of the largest megaships in the world at its shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Alongside its sister shipyard, Meyer Turku in Turku, Finland, the company has delivered more than 55 cruise ships in the last four decades.

Recent ships include the Excel Class vessels from Carnival Cruise Line (Carnival Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee), Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas (with the Star of the Seas set to launch in 2025 currently under construction), along with Royal Caribbean's Quantum Class and the first two Oasis Class ships. The shipyard also constructed the latest luxury vessels for Silversea Cruises, namely 2023's Silver Nova and 2024's Silver Ray.

Where are Carnival cruise ships constructed?

Between 1996 and 2019, Fincantieri built a total of 15 Carnival ships — starting with Carnival Destiny (now known as Carnival Sunshine) up to Carnival Panorama — in its Italian shipyards.

The newer Excel Class ships from Carnival, including Carnival Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee, were constructed by Meyer Werft and Meyer Turku in Germany and Finland.

Where are Disney cruise ships constructed?

The two latest Wish Class vessels from Disney Cruise Line, Disney Wish (launched in 2022) and Disney Treasure (set to debut in December 2024), were constructed at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.

The cruise line's third and fourth ships, Disney Dream (2011) and Disney Fantasy (2012), were also built by Meyer Werft, while its inaugural vessels, Disney Magic (1998) and Disney Wonder (1999), were constructed by Fincantieri in Italy.

Disney has two additional ships on order: Disney Adventure, a vessel acquired during its construction at the MV Werften shipyard in Wismar, Germany (now called Meyer Wismar), slated for a 2025 launch from Singapore; and Disney Destiny, the third Wish Class ship, currently under construction at Meyer Werft in Germany, expected to launch in December 2025.

Disney has recently formed a cruise partnership with Oriental Land Co. Ltd., which owns and operates Tokyo Disney Resort, to develop and operate a cruise ship that will sail year-round from Japan. This vessel will be built at Meyer Werft in Germany as a sister ship to the Disney Wish and is projected to debut in 2029.

Where are Norwegian cruise ships constructed?

The two latest vessels from Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Viva (2023) and Norwegian Prima (2022), were constructed at Fincantieri's shipyard in Marghera, Italy. The upcoming Norwegian Aqua, set to launch in spring 2025, is also being built there.

The company's Breakaway Class ships—Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway, and Norwegian Escape—as well as the Breakaway Plus Class ships, including Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy, and Norwegian Encore, were all constructed at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany and launched between 2013 and 2019.

The unique Norwegian Epic, which was introduced in 2010, was built at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in France.

Norwegian's Jewel Class ships from the early 2000s, including Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Jade, and Norwegian Gem, were all constructed by Meyer Werft in Germany, along with the Dawn Class vessels (Norwegian Dawn from 2002 and Norwegian Star from 2001) and the 1998 Norwegian Spirit.

The Sun Class ships of the cruise line, including Norwegian Sun (2001) and Norwegian Sky (1999), were built by the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany.

The Pride of America, based in Hawaii and launched in 2005, was originally slated for construction in the U.S. but ultimately had its completion carried out by Lloyd Werft.

Where are Viking cruise ships constructed?

Since the debut of Viking's first ocean vessel, Viking Star, in 2015, all of Viking's ocean and expedition ships—16 in total—have been constructed or are currently being constructed by Fincantieri or its subsidiary, Vard. While Viking Star was built at Fincantieri's Marghera facility, all subsequent ocean ships have been or are being built at the Ancona shipyard, including the newest addition, Viking Vela, which is set to launch in December 2024.

Viking's two expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, were constructed by Fincantieri's Vard subsidiary at shipyards located in Romania and Norway, respectively.

Viking's European river vessels, including its more than 60 signature Viking Longships, were built in Germany by Neptun Werft, a sister company of Meyer Werft.

Where are Princess cruise ships constructed?

Most of the ships in the Princess Cruises fleet, including the upcoming Sun Princess in 2024 and all six ships from the Royal Class—from 2013's Royal Princess to 2022's Discovery Princess—were built by Fincantieri in Italy, along with late-1990s and early 2000s vessels such as Grand Princess, Ruby Princess, Emerald Princess, Crown Princess, and Caribbean Princess.

Star Princess, scheduled to launch in 2025, is currently under construction at Fincantieri's Monfalcone shipyard near Trieste.

Coral Princess and Island Princess were built at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in France in 2003, while Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess were constructed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at a Japanese shipyard in 2004.

Where are Royal Caribbean cruise ships constructed?

Royal Caribbean's latest vessel, the Icon of the Seas, set to launch in 2024, was built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, and 2025's Star of the Seas is currently under construction there as well.

The cruise line's five Quantum Class ships—Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, and Odyssey of the Seas—were all constructed by Meyer Werft in Germany and launched between 2014 and 2020.

The first two Oasis Class ships from Royal Caribbean, Oasis of the Seas (2009) and Allure of the Seas (2010), were both built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, while the remaining four—Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and Utopia of the Seas—were constructed at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique facility in France and had their inaugural sailings between 2016 and 2024.

The cruise line's three Freedom Class ships—Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas—were constructed by Meyer Werft and delivered between 2006 and 2009. Additionally, the five Voyager Class vessels (Voyager of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, and Explorer of the Seas), four Radiance Class ships (Jewel of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, and Brilliance of the Seas), and two Vision Class ships (Grandeur of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas) were built by either Meyer Werft or Meyer Turku, with deliveries occurring in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Where are Celebrity cruise ships constructed?

The Chantiers de l'Atlantique in France built Celebrity's four latest Edge Series ships: Celebrity Edge (2018), Celebrity Apex (2020), Celebrity Beyond (2022), and Celebrity Ascent (2023). Celebrity Xcel, which is also under construction at the shipyard, is set to launch in late 2025.

Celebrity's five Solstice Class vessels—Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Reflection, and Celebrity Silhouette—were launched between 2008 and 2012 after being built by Meyer Werft in Germany.

Celebrity's four earliest ships—Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Constellation, and Celebrity Millennium—were launched between 2000 and 2003, all built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique.

Where 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—were all constructed at Fincantieri's shipyard in Marghera, Italy. The cruise line's two Signature Class vessels, 2008's Eurodam and 2010's Nieuw Amsterdam, were also built there.

The four Vista Class ships—Noordam, Westerdam, Oosterdam, and Zuiderdam—were also built by Fincantieri and launched between 2002 and 2006. Additionally, Fincantieri constructed Holland America's two oldest ships, Volendam (2000) and Zaandam (1999).

Where are Virgin Voyages cruise ships built?

The first three ships of Virgin Voyages—2020's Scarlet Lady, 2022's Valiant Lady, and 2023's Resilient Lady—were all constructed by Fincantieri at its shipyard in Genoa, Italy. A fourth vessel, Brilliant Lady, is currently being built there and is expected to debut in September 2025.

Where was the largest cruise ship constructed?

The title of world's largest cruise ship currently belongs to Royal Caribbean's 5,610-passenger Icon of the Seas, which was built by Meyer Turku in Finland and commenced its maiden voyage in January 2024. Its sister ship, Star of the Seas, is also under construction there and is set to take the title of the world's largest cruise ship upon its launch in August 2025.