The Future of Cruising: Meyer Werft and Meyer Turku with Full Order Books

Von Frank Vincentz - Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
The Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, and Meyer Turku in Finland are among the world's leading shipyards for building cruise ships. They primarily compete with Fincantieri in Italy and Chantiers de l’Atlantique in France. The order situation is excellent: The Papenburg shipyard is fully booked until 2031, while the Finnish Meyer Turku will be building the world’s largest cruise ships until at least 2027.

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Disney Cruise Line as a Key Partner

A major client for the Meyer Werft in Papenburg is the American cruise line Disney Cruise Line. Almost every year, a new Disney ship is on the agenda. In 2024, the shipyard secured the largest single order in its history: four new ships for Disney Cruise Line with planned delivery between 2027 and 2031. Additionally, the shipyard acquired from MV Werften and now operating as Meyer Wismar will complete the Disney Adventure by autumn 2025. This vessel was originally planned as the "Global Dream" and is set to sail in Asia starting at the end of the year.

Diversification and Financial Realignment

While no new cruise ships will be completed in Papenburg in 2026, the situation improves again in 2027 and 2028 with two newbuilds each. The subsidiary Meyer Yachts also plans to begin construction on its first mega-yacht, the 320-meter long Ulyssia for Ulyssia Residences. The construction period is estimated to take four to five years, with a start planned for late 2025.

In contrast, Meyer Turku is focused on building the Icon Class ships. Following the delivery of the Icon of the Seas and the Star of the Seas, the Legend of the Seas will follow in 2026. A fourth ship in this class is already under construction, with delivery slated for 2027. Options also exist for a fifth and sixth newbuild.

Orders for additional ships after 2028 are very possible. Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean International with their "Project Discovery," MSC Cruises, which is reportedly in talks about a new record-breaking ship class, and the Japanese Disney licensee Oriental Land, which plans a second ship, could fill future order books. Other, not yet publicly known plans from various cruise lines could also emerge.

After financial difficulties, only Meyer Turku is now fully owned by the Meyer family. Following the partial nationalization of the German shipyards in autumn 2024, the family holds only a minority stake in the traditional Papenburg site.

Overview: Planned Ships and Dates

  • 2025: NYK Cruises (Asuka III, Papenburg), Royal Caribbean International (Star of the Seas, Turku), Disney Cruise Line (Disney Destiny, Papenburg), Disney Cruise Line (Disney Adventure, Wismar)
  • 2026: Royal Caribbean International (Legend of the Seas, Turku)
  • 2027: Carnival Cruise Line (Carnival Festivale, Papenburg), Disney Cruise Line (Wish Class 4, Papenburg), Royal Caribbean International (Icon Class 4, Turku)
  • 2028: Carnival Cruise Line (Carnival Tropicale, Papenburg), Oriental Land Company (Wish Class 5, Papenburg)
  • 2029: Disney Cruise Line (New ship class 1, Papenburg)
  • 2030: Disney Cruise Line (New ship class 2, Papenburg)
  • 2031: Disney Cruise Line (New ship class 3, Papenburg)
  • Open Details: Ulyssia Residences (Ulyssia, Papenburg), Royal Caribbean International (Options Icon Class 5 & 6, Turku)