Yes, there will be a renaissance in cruise ships when this is all over. Two of the biggest shipyards in Europe that were forced to close due to the coronavirus emergency are taking early steps to reopen.
Industry giant Fincantieri, whose shipyards hadn’t ever closed in a history going back to the age of sail, was forced to stop all work during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. The shutdown stopped finishing touches on Princess Cruises’ Enchanted Princess, which was due to enter service in June. The delay will not be critical as Princess has delayed return to service until at least the end of June.
Fincantieri has called back employees at its shipyards across Italy and work will be ramped up gradually to meet guidelines to keep workers from gathering in large groups. It will mean delays of delivery of ships under construction at the various Fincantieri shipyards including Costa Firenze and Silversea Cruises’ Silver Moon, which were both due to launch this year. A new ship for Holland America Line, the Nieuw Ryndam is in early construction for completion in 2021.
Chantiers de l’Atlantique, located in Saint-Nazaire, France, which had put a stop to all construction, is also resuming limited work, with those working on ships doing so in shifts, with no more than a maximum of 50 per cent of the production team on site at any given time. Subcontractors will also be able to resume work under strict sanitary requirements, and with reduced numbers.
The shipyard is currently in the midst of building MSC Virtuosa, which is scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of the year. Two other ships, Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas and Celebrity’s Celebrity Beyond, are also being worked on, both due for delivery next year.
Meyer-Werft shipyards in Germany did not close, but did enforce strict social distancing rules on workers, resulting in the construction delay of a number of ships including P&O Cruises Iona.
Other ships being built at Meyer-Werft include Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas, due in the fall, Saga Cruises’ Spirit of Adventure and Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish, which isn’t due to sail until 2022.
Carnival Cruise Line’s next ship, Mardi Gras, is being built at Meyer-Werft’s Turku shipyard in Finland and is still scheduled for a debut in November sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida.
